Though Mardi Gras is over, with Fat Tuesday come and gone, there’s always a place where you can go to feel like you’re visiting The Big Easy. The Ninth Ward, a sexy East Village (2nd Ave btwn 11/12th Sts) cocktailery, welcomes the cajun-craving masses with its dungeon-esque front facade. It’s the perfect place to warm up by the fireplace with one of their drinks (their warm ginger berry cider is AWE-some) and I cannot wait to swing by in the warmer weather to visit their spacious backyard.
The biggest surprise of the night was the food – the Hidalgo Grilled Shrimp skewers were nothing short of excellent; the peppery citrus sauce makes the dish (each order has 3 shrimp – order a few, for sure). The biggest testament to their food came from a New Orleans expat who said that the gumbo was phenomenal, even by Nawlins standards. So yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and stamp my approval on it. I also opted to get an order of beignets, which were powdered with sugar and tasty, but a little too dense to be a true beignet.
The Ninth Ward is perfect for drinks (and a bite too) with a date or a group of friends – the booths in the back are perfect for 6-8 peeps. The spot pays homage to New Orleans with the refinement to assure you that shirts are required (sorry guys) and that you won’t be forced to endure cheesy purple/yellow/green color schemes and Mardi Gras beads.
Rhea Recommends... 
I want some of that warm ginger berry cider! Great review!