Sala, a new restaurant near the New Orleans lakefront, is the latest venture from members of the Riccobono family, owners of the long-running Riccobono's Peppermill, Riccobono's Panola Street Cafe and Cafe Navarre. Siblings Heather and Joe Riccobono opened Sala in December.

Located steps from the West End marinas, Sala seems designed with a younger generation in mind, and the restaurant's decor has a modern, lounge-y feel. A long bar that snakes through the restaurant serves as the focal point. Some appetizers fit an upscale-casual approach, but entrees seem to follow the family's established Creole-Italian roots, and in the end, the most successful dishes are the ones carrying the Riccobono torch.