New Orleans to Go Blue Ash Bistro Opening This Week

I’ve been looking forward to the new brick-and-mortar location of one of my favorite food trucks, New Orleans to Go. Tonight owners LaToya and Randy Filson opened the doors of their new bistro to give a few friends and fans a sneak peek.

Both Mapquest and my GPS had a little trouble directing me to their new location at 10921 Reed Hartman. But it’s really quite easy. Just turn into the CMC Office Park at Osborne Blvd., north of Creek Road on Reed Hartman, and it’s the first building on your left. Go straight in the building’s front door and you’ll face the door of the NOTG bistro.

LaToya and lovely new employee Crystal

Toya and Randy have jazzed up the two-room space, making it much more inviting than you’d expect from a spot located in a corporate office park. The walls are fittingly painted yellow, green, and purple, with a stenciled fleur de lys border. Vases on the tables hold Mardi Gras beads instead of flowers. Saints’ memorabilia and NOLA-themed artwork complete the scene.

The new restaurant could open as soon as Tuesday, although there are still a few things to be finalized, including the menu. Muffalettas and red beans and rice, which were served up tonight, are likely to be staples.

The space can’t accommodate a fryer (I’m assuming because it’s not fitted with a required exhaust system). But look for blackened fish po-boys, etouffee, and plenty of rotating specials. They plan to be open 10:00-3:00 weekdays, with hours extending into dinnertime on Friday “Fry-Days,” when they’ll fry items like shrimp for po-boys on their food truck in the parking lot and bring them into the restaurant. Fried oysters should be back next month.

Once the bistro is up and running, Randy also plans to take the truck out a couple more days a week, to downtown, one of the other suburban office parks where they’ve built a loyal following, and sometimes Covington, where they’ve done well with the food truck meet-ups (currently once a month, although the mayor has said he would like to have them weekly). NOTG will also continue to do catering.

Stay tuned to New Orleans to Go's facebook page and twitter account for updates. You can also view their twitter feed on their website. I predict I'll be making plenty of Friday night visits to Blue Ash. How about you?