In Algiers Point, good pizza has been hard to come by, but that’s about to change with the upcoming opening of Nighthawk Napoletana at 141 Delaronde St.
Adrian Chelette will be the man behind the pies at Nighthawk, and you can expect him to bring his take on Neapolitan-style pizza that’s won him rave reviews at Ancora and Margot’s. Nighthawk Napoletana the will take over a space that used to be home to Tavolino, a popular neighborhood pizza joint known for its cracker-thin crusts.
Chelette recently told What Now New Orleans that the buzz around the opening of his new restaurant is palpable.
“We’re there every day, twice a day, and a huge amount of people tell us they’re excited about something going back in that spot, especially something doing wood-fired pizzas and a small, tight food menu,” he said. “So, we know what we’re doing and the neighborhood definitely needs something like this.”
To create the signature charred, bubbly crust of a Neapolitan-style pie, Chelette acquired a handcrafted wood-burning oven from Marra Forni that will serve as a visual focal point. It will be positioned behind a dining counter near the front of the restaurant. Renovations to the space will make the restaurant brighter and more open compared to Tavolino. A full bar will specialize in classic Italian cocktails.
Nighthawk Napoletana is just a stone’s throw from the Algiers ferry landing. The pizzeria’s opening along with a highly-anticipated sake den slated to open next door should make for two compelling reasons to take the ferry over to from the French Quarter to Algiers Point. That being said, Chelette stressed that his restaurant will focus on serving the surrounding neighborhood.
“There’s such a huge community that’s underserved when it comes to a neighborhood spot,” he said. “We just want to really make sure that, first and foremost, this is going to be a neighborhood spot. After that, we can worry about people coming out from the other side of the river.”
