![]() The Pepperoni version gets zing from Aleppo pepper, and the plain Cheese isn’t so standard thanks to a blend of Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, and provolone and a sprinkle of herb breadcrumbs. That love comes through in his pies, which elevate even the classics and start with a simple, three-ingredient sourdough. But the fact remained that Westover, whose résumé also includes early stints at Domino’s and Papa Johns, had his heart in pizza. Westover had made a name for himself as a pastry chef (earning a nomination for The People’s Best New Pastry Chef title from Food & Wine) and through cooking in or consulting for restaurants around the country. The story of Birmingham’s Pizza Grace began when chef and owner Ryan Westover finally admitted that he just really likes creating pizzas. Southern Living EditorsĢ212 Morris Ave Suite 105, Birmingham, AL Whether you’re a local, or just visiting, these places aim to make everyone feel welcome. Service and hospitality are also important, as is the way a restaurant supports and treats its staff and the wider community. And there’s truly something here for everyone, at every price point.īut a great restaurant is more than just what's on the plate. From an elegant five-course Mexican tasting menu in New Orleans, to shatteringly crisp Thai fried chicken in Nashville, to sourdough crust pizzas in Birmingham, the food at all of these places is worthy of making a reservation, or even traveling for. The establishments on this list stand out in an industry that’s crowded, competitive, and full of talent. By the time we publish this, there will surely be an exciting new spot that everyone is talking about. Choosing the best of these recently-opened places is no easy feat. From food trucks to tasting menus, our region is blessed with an overabundance of restaurants, with more popping up every day. Which is kind of the point, because, as Jones told Baltimore after the place opened, “I don’t know one person who doesn’t love New Orleans.It’s not hard to find something good to eat in the South. The scene can get lively, our bartender told us. on the weekends, when a DJ usually takes over. New Orleans-style music is played on the sound system until about 10 p.m. ![]() That’s a sin in any town, but especially so in the Crescent City. And while an entree of salmon stuffed with crabmeat and crawfish was serviceable, the accompanying Cajun rice was bland. The charbroiled oysters were overwhelmed by the bath of butter and Parmesan and Romano cheeses that topped them. The Mardi Gras Mambo shrimp, grilled shrimp tossed in house-made sauce served with really good French bread, were tasty, too. We tried a bunch of appetizers and found the gumbo to be spot-on. All your Creole classics are here-jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, red beans and rice, and a number of po’ boy sandwiches. The food menu was shaped in part by New Orleans native Donnie Stykes, who is a friend of the owners. A coffee Old-Fashioned was also well-made, but only contained a tiny hint of coffee. We couldn’t help but fantasize about taking a refreshing sip on a sticky Southern afternoon. Our favorite was the Raspberry Beret, made with gin, lemon juice, raspberry-rosemary syrup, and ginger ale. There’s a Sazerac available, with the classic combination of rye whiskey and absinthe. The Cross Street Hurricane packs a punch just like the original one from Pat O’Brien’s on Bourbon Street that inspired it. Many drinks on the cocktail list will be instantly recognizable to anyone who’s been to Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest. We sat at the bar and were handed a leather-bound folder that contained a plethora of laminated menus and a pad of paper ones for the raw bar. When we walked in on a cold night in December to the band Gramatik’s funky “Just Jammin’,” we knew we were in the right place. Music defines New Orleans’ sense of place. The first thing you notice when you walk into the space, which retains Ryleigh’s framework but has been updated with stylish marble bar tops and other aesthetic touches, is the tunes. The restaurant and bar, housed in the Cross Street building that once was home to Ryleigh’s Oyster, aims to fulfill Baltimoreans’ Big Easy fix with a host of New Orleans-inspired cocktails and cooking. That joie de vivre is precisely what co-owners Ricardo Jones and Matthew Lasinski hoped to capture when they opened NOLA Seafood and Spirits in Federal Hill last October. New Orleans is a town, true, but more than that, it’s a feeling. It’s a world-renowned mecca for Cajun and Southern cuisine, the birthplace of jazz, and a destination for party-seekers from age 21 to 101.
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