04/22/19
I've been travelling to New Orleans a lot for work recently and Paladar 511 has become a go-to spot for me for non-creole/non-cajun food. Tucked in a converted warehouse in the up and coming Marigny neighborhood just a couple blocks east of the French Quarter, Paladar has a cool vibe and a mostly modern Italian menu. Their pastas and pizzas are good, and their arancini is definitely worth getting, but this crudo is probably my favorite dish on the menu. It has so many little goodies. The yellowfin tuna is very fresh, clean, and meaty, which is the most important part of a crudo for me. Also mixed in the crudo are crunchy pistachios, smooth avocado slices, some aromatic fennel fronds, and slices of bright mandarin oranges. All this is tossed in a really distinctive cumin vinaigrette. There are a lot of interesting flavors and textures at play in this dish that makes it a must-order every time I visit.