Overview
Just when you thought New York-style nosh had the American food trend covered in Brisbane, along comes a different interstate taste sensation. The latest Brisbane eatery about to open its doors at Portside Wharf is taking inspiration from the flavours of New Orleans.
Indeed, NOLA's name says it all — it's an abbreviation of New Orleans, Louisiana, after all. The city's famed blend of Cajun specialities and French influences are certain to feature on a smoky bourbon sauce and chipotle-heavy menu. There'll be ’N’awlins bites’ like naked oysters ($3 each), popcorn shrimp with New Orleans remoulade ($14), Southern wings with bourbon and maple sauce ($12 for eight pieces), Corn cobs with chipotle butter ($6) and shoestring fries with smoky aioli ($8). Our stomachs are already rumbling.
In addition to the delicious-sounding tapas, live music and innovatively-themed cocktails will keep things spicy down by the water. With NOLA following in the footsteps of Papa Jack's and Bourbon Street Louisiana Creole, perhaps we'll soon see crab cakes, jambalaya, po boys and gumbo replace burgers and fries as everyone's favourite go-to meal.
The new venture from the folks behind The Crosstown Eating House at Woollongabba doesn't open until mid-year, with an exact date yet to be announced and a full menu announce set for June; however there's good news for those who just can't wait that long. Portside's Restaurant Manx is giving diners a sneak peek of the menu to come, courtesy of some aforementioned tapas teasers (available from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday). Who's hungry?
NOLA will open in June at 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton. For more details, check out the restaurant's Facebook page.