Content area
Full text
Except for a few surprises here and there, hotel restaurants continue to operate beneath the standards set by free-standing eateries. That statement begs to hear the exceptions, of which the most interesting is Ox Lot 9. The peculiarly-named bistro is the restaurant of the Southern Hotel, in the center of the old downtown of Covington - which is itself experiencing gratifying success.
The Southern began its life long ago as an old-style hotel, but for decades it served as St. Tammany Parish's offices. When the courthouse relocated some years ago, the Southern went empty until entrepreneurs took it over and converted it into a classy hostelry. This proved to be a better plan than anyone expected.
WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
Ox Lot 9's location - diagonally across from fellow North Shore restaurant superstar Del Porto - contributes to the strength of the neighborhood. It has become a restaurant row. Beyond that, in recent times the Ox Lot offers an appealing scene for those who find themselves bereft of cutting-edge restaurants of the kind found Uptown, on Magazine Street, and downtown New Orleans.
WHY IT'S GOOD
When Ox Lot 9 first opened, its menu was hip enough, with lots of splittable dishes and appetizers numerous and varied big enough to fill a table. A lot of what it served was reminiscent of the 1990s and the pre-Hurricane Katrina years. They seem to be about finished with that kind of eats, and...