The Hotel Monteleone is one of only a few French Quarter hotels rated Four Diamonds by AAA. This luxurious 5-star property is located on Royal Street, one block from Bourbon Street, in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana. After much anticipation, the Hotel Monteleone has revealed the name of its new restaurant, Criollo Restaurant and Lounge, and it is expected to open March 2012. Criollo will offer a fine dining experience that will feature contemporary Louisiana cuisine. It will infuse traditional Creole flavors of Spanish, French, Italian, and African with new spices to create Louisiana Fusion dishes. In additional to phenomenal cuisine, the restaurant will also offer a selected variation of wines and spirits chosen to compliment the flavors in each food. According to Joseph Maynard, the Chef de Cuisine at the Criollo Restaurant and Lounge, “the dishes on the menu present a balance between rich foods and lighter options to cater to a variety of diners.” Located next to the Carousel Bar and Lounge right inside the Hotel Monteleone, the Criollo Restaurant and Lounge will bring some new flavors and fun to the already incredibly vibrant city of New Orleans!