 | By CHELSEA SHANNON | Staff writer |
This new year has not quite started the way we expected it. We went to bed on Tuesday night dreaming of king cake in less than a week but woke to tragedy. The true spirit of New Orleans shone through Thursday afternoon as Bourbon Street restaurants and revelers returned to the reopened street. Everyone across the city is still recovering from the trauma of New Year's Day. But we look forward to the positives this year as Ian McNulty lists new restaurants coming in 2025. Poet Wolfe recognizes cocktail bars that have gained national recognition. We also took a look at a newly opened restaurant and bar and behind the scenes at a seafood magnet. Oh, and we are still getting ready for king cake season. 1. Coming together as Bourbon Street reopens. Restaurant staff holding prayer before starting service and a trickle of people returning to the French Quarter were some of what Ian McNulty saw as he spent the day back in a spot made better by the people living and working in it. The Quarter's hospitality industry holds a lot of weight on its shoulders as it moves forward to support the people who live in and visit the city. 2. Let's look forward, shall we? New beginnings lie ahead for several restaurants in 2025. From the transformation of longtime restaurants to debuts, the upcoming year has some new restaurants to get excited about, with some projected completion dates coming soon. 3. An inside look A new hotel restaurant and bar quietly opened in the Central Business District. The Lyons Corner inside Hotel Theo offers a mid-century modern aesthetic in what was once a bottling location for the root beer empire Barq's. Then drawing back the curtains on Casamento’s restaurant, we take a look into how the family affair for three generations continues traditions while moving forward. 4. Who needs a drink? It's been a year, and it's only been a few days, and for some, it is the ripe time to grab a drink at the bar. Well, four New Orleans bars across the city have been named a straight-up good spot in the U.S. to get a martini. 5. 'Tis the season. From King Cake Hub to the Metairie King Cake Drive-Thru, everyone is preparing for their first slice of Carnival season's delicious treat. You can try your hand at a coveted Dong Phuong, try a new one from Hubig's, or stick to the one you get every year. But may the slices you eat this season be plentiful. That's it for the newsletter, but in New Orleans, the food news never stops. Get the inside info every day at Where NOLA Eats. P.S.: Want to support local journalism that matters? Subscribe here. It's our best deal! | 
