"Mister Mao isn’t where you go for a taste of New Orleans tradition, but it is the place to expand your horizons while tasting stunningly distinctive food. During “chuckwagon hour” 5-7 p.m. and weekend brunch, priced $50 for two, this sassy Uptown spot offers eclectic bites from roving dim sum carts — think garlic noodles, lechon kawali, and pork lumpia. At dinner, crying tiger hanger steak and blue crab chile verde explode with flavor, balanced by savory cocktails infused with Malört and aquafaba. Dessert is another unpredictable, ever-changing highlight." - Beth D’Addono