New Orleans Foodie Restaurant 🍽️✨

This time, I was lucky to meet an Uber driver who had been a chef for over a decade 👨‍🍳. He recommended about a dozen restaurants, and Meril was one of the more affordable options (around $20–40 per person), just a 10-minute walk from the WWII Museum. As someone from Wenzhou who grew up eating seafood, I rarely find seafood in North America done well — it's often masked with heavy cream or sauces that hide the natural flavors. But this restaurant truly knows how to handle seafood! The kitchen is separated from the dining area by a large glass window. My husband and I sat close to it, guessing who the head chef was, who the assistants were, watching the chef shout at someone 😂, and even spotting someone scrolling on their phone while cooking 😆. Okay, now about the food — well, this place actually changes its menu every month 😛, but today’s meal really won me over: 1️⃣ Blue Crab Fettuccine: Buttery, fragrant pasta with fresh, sweet blue crab from New Orleans — finished in just a few bites! 🦀🍝 2️⃣ Clam Flatbread: Basically a thin-crust pizza, but the clams were so fresh and flavorful — I think they even added a touch of wine. Delicious! 🍕🍷 3️⃣ Brussels Sprouts: Roasted until crispy (a North American favorite), though a bit too charred for my taste. Sweetened with what seemed like onion or honey — huge portion, and as someone who wants veggies with every meal, I was satisfied! 🥬🍯 #NewOrleans #NewOrleansTravel #FoodieFinds #MerilNOLA 🎉🍴