OxLot 9

Just in case you needed one more reason to cross the 24-mile causeway across Lake Pontchartrain, Ox Lot 9 in the suave Southern Hotel in Covington does the trick. The love child of chef/co-owner Jeffrey Hansell and his wife, co-owner and general manager Amy Hansell, Ox Lot 9 is a sprightly addition to the eclectic Northshore dining scene. This simply sophisticated Southern bistro spotlights chef Hansell's deft homage to Gulf Coast ingredients, including many a Valentine to fresh local seafood. Hansell adds his own Southern twist to dishes like bouillabaisse with the addition of okra, local redfish and shrimp, and poached oysters in Pernod and cream tucked into puffed pastry so good they should be against the law. A well-informed wine list and a brilliant array of craft cocktails add allure to this destination restaurant.