Restaurants That Call Lakeview Home

Aug 1, 2011

Lakeview. Ask most New Orleanians and they will probably have less than stellar things to say. I know. I used to be one of them.

Growing up in Metro New Orleans, I always saw Lakeview as some sort of a suburbia stepchild; a kind of middle-class purgatory between the happening heartbeat of New Orleans and the much more suburban city of Metairie. In short, it was boring. Bland. Nothing special. (And that’s coming from someone who grew up on the Westbank.)

Well… not anymore.

If good eats are what you are looking for check out one of the new and happening restaurants that call Lakeview home.

I have a soft spot in my heart for pizza. What’s not to like? Cheese. Bread. A myriad of meats and/or vegetables. It never seems to disappoint; and I can honestly say that Pizza Nola is one of my favorites. With their homemade dough, and quality ingredients, it’s no wonder. Plus, their extensive menu includes other delights such as salads, pastas, paninis and even gelato from the delicious old-Metairie-based La Dolce Nola.

Fans of hand-squeezed margaritas and freshly-made guacamole (and, really, who isn’t), will be excited to hear that French Quarter favorite, El Gato Negro, has opened up a second location. And if you’re in the mood for even more of a Mexican variety, you may want to try the new restaurant on the block, The Velvet Cactus, where they boast authentic and delicious Mexican dishes.

New Orleans favorite, Chef Susan Spicer’s restaurant, MONDO has become a centerpiece in the Lakeview community. With a neighborhood feel and a menu described as “Flavors of the World with a New Orleans Accent,” MONDO attracts patrons throughout the entire metropolitan area. Favorites like the Thai Shrimp and pork meatballs, the wood-fired pizza, and (my personal favorite) the flank steak, will have you coming back again and again.

And that’s just the start. With a growing population and a growing business community Lakeview is becoming quite the destination.

I highly suggest you take the scenic route through City Park, and check it out for yourself.