There’s lots of opening action focused on Mid-City in early 2026, with more projects planned for the next few months from chefs including Alon Shaya (Safta’s Table, Lakeview, February) and Adolfo Garcia Jr. (Dolfy’s, Uptown, March).
The first stationery location for the award-winning Bonafried chicken sandwich food truck opened on January 10 at the corner of Esplanade and N. Lopez. Founders Stephen Maher and Rebecca Elizabeth Hollingsworth leaned into the building’s retro charm, holding onto some signs of its former life as Splish Splash Washateria, including using a front-loading washer door as a window into the kitchen. The opening menu sticks closely to the truck’s greatest hits, including sandwiches with the same great sauces, same oversized slabs of crispy — never greasy —– birds, and same potato rolls. Look for a full menu roll out in the coming months with salads, gluten-free options, and more fun sides.
Gendusa’s Italian Eatery, the family-owned restaurant that served Kenner’s Rivertown District for a decade, is on the move. Although owner Troy Gendusa has a loyal following for the original quaint location at 325 Williams, the chance for tons of parking and a bigger space — at the site formerly occupied by Messina’s at 2717 Williams — sealed the deal. It’s just a seven-minute drive to the new location. The solid menu of Italian specialties, pizza, salads, po-boys, and pasta stays the same…