Celebrated Chef Akhtar Nawab To Open First New Orleans Restaurant

Acclaimed chef Akhtar Nawab will open his first New Orleans restaurant within The Standard at South Market in early 2019. The eatery will feature Mexican-inspired dishes highlighting fresh, local ingredients, authentic flavors, and creative execution.

While the location’s name is TBA, the innovative restaurant will build on the success of Nawab’s growing restaurant collection across Brooklyn, Birmingham, and Washington, D.C., all specializing in unique concepts that celebrate local food and flavors.

Nawab is no stranger to expansion and experimentation. Nawab is a well-known figure in the culinary world, having begun his career under chefs like Tom Colicchio and Loretta Keller. With Nawab as its sous chef, Colicchio’s Craft restaurant in New York City was named “Best New Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation. Nawab went on to helm the kitchens at several acclaimed restaurants across New York before opening one of his own, receiving recognition and accolades from The New York Times, New York, Food & Wine, Eater, and more. He went on to mentor the likes of David Chang and appeared on Iron Chef America.

He is currently the partner at Choza Taqueria in New York and has opened Alta Calidad in Brooklyn, Fero in Birmingham, and Prather’s on the Alley in Washington, D.C. 

“We’re thrilled to join New Orleans’ incredible culinary scene,” says Nawab. “I’m inspired by the city – the culture, the people, the care and focus on food and the community that comes with it. We’ve seen how a great neighborhood restaurant can help build that community, and that’s what we’re going for with this location.”

See full coverage in NOLA.com.