DiCristina's

Restaurant Review

Anecdotes & Analysis

The opening of the new St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington some years ago triggered the development of a new cluster of restaurants in the area. Most of the action has been in the sandwich-and-salad category at the lunch hour. But many restaurants around there have had good luck at dinner hours, too. And some have become major draws for diners.

DiCristina's is among the most interesting of there. With a pleasant dining room and a large menu of some of the best Creole-Italian neighborhood cafe food anywhere in the area, only the vastly oversize portions keep one from going there often with a clear conscience. Unless you have the discipline to stop halfway through a dish.

Why It's Essential

DiCristina's is as close as St. Tammany gets to the old-time, Italian-accented, New Orleans neighborhood restaurant. Its main influence comes from the archetypal Chalmette restaurant Rocky & Carlo's, including the massive portions, macaroni and cheese everywhere, heavy applications of New Orleans red gravy, poor boys and seafood platters. But this is a much nicer place with distinctly better food.

Backstory

Frank and Maria Pyburn opened DiCristina's in the right place (across from the new St. Tammany Courthouse) at the right time (2004). The courthouse generates a lot of lunch business for that neighborhood. And after Katrina, the many people who relocated to St. Tammany Parish from the washed-away St. Bernard were happy to find a restaurant with the food of (and a family connection with) Rocky & Carlo's.

Dining Room

A big, utilitarian space with minimal decoration, DiCristina's fills with lunchers in a hurry and big family groups at night. It's perfect for the latter, especially when kids are involved. There will be many of those in all age groups. Nobody here will notice if someone of any age is laughing loudly or otherwise having too much enjoyment. The dining room staff could not be friendlier or more accommodating.

For Best Results

Daily specials are very good and should be considered first. (The braciolone, for example, in the last of the four photos) The thin fried onion rings and macaroni and cheese must be included in your order. It gets very busy here around noon; come later if you can.