Sahara Cafe – Middle Eastern Dining on the West Bank
May 30, 2009 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
While driving my youngest to and from school, I’ve been watching folks go in and out of the Sahara Cafe for several weeks, preparing for the launch of this new restaurant on the corner of Lapalco Blvd. and Realty Dr. Finally, they are open for business, serving traditional Middle Eastern food in Gretna.
I met up with some friends for dinner this week and we went to check them out. The restaurant just opened about 2 weeks ago, so the staff is still getting familiar with the finer points of the menu, but the service was outstanding and very friendly.
Questions about the food were welcomed and we started off with a table full of appetizers so we could taste lots of different things. Baskets of warm pita bread were quickly refilled as we made our way through grape leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables, falafel (kind of like a hush puppy, but made with ground chick peas), kibby and plates of green and black olives.
Then came the entrees, which were huge! Here are a couple of the plates we ordered:
This is the Gyro Plate – spiced lamb & beef with tahini sauce, hummus and salad
Chicken Shawarma – chicken and onions, with hummus, salad and pita bread on the side
Despite our protests that we were too stuffed for dessert, the owner sent out samples of baklava for the entire table to sample….yum!
Affordable Dining
Appetizers at Sahara Cafe range from $2.99 to $12.99 (for a sample platter), while entrees are priced from $9.99 to $12.99. Four different vegetarian platters are available for only $8.99 and the sandwiches are a bargain at less than $6 for any of them. Kids plates are $5.99 and desserts are hard to pass up since they are all sold for $1.99.
On our way out the door, we had a chance to chat for a few minutes with the owner, who told us that he plans to add outdoor seating in the future, something that will be welcomed when the evenings are cool and pleasant again in the fall.
I’m wishing him the best of luck in his new venture and will definitely be back soon!
The Sahara Cafe is located at 401 Realty Drive in Gretna (just off of Lapalco Blvd and 1 block from Wall Blvd). Hours are from 8:30 am – 10:00 pm, 7 days a week. For more information, to place an order or request a catering menu, call (504) 394-0460.
Are you considering a move to Gretna LA? The West Bank Living Team provides local, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military relocations to and from NAS JRB New Orleans. It would be our pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs and help you settle into our community.
Harvey LA 70058: April 2009 Home Sales and Real Estate Market Reports
May 27, 2009 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Harvey, Market Updates
Current real estate activity in Harvey LA:
168 homes for sale
- High list price $789,000
- Low list price $49,000
- Average list price $211,216
- Median list price $164,900
62 pending sales, price from $53,801 to $515,000
The homes that are active on the market have been for sale for an average of 113 days.
Based on the number of Harvey homes sold in April (22), there is a 7.6 month supply of homes for sale in the area (a balanced market has about a 6 month supply)
Harvey LA 70058 – Number of Homes Sold – April 2009
The number of homes for sale in Harvey is holding steady, while the number of homes sold continues to climb each month as we enter the prime selling season.
What sold in Harvey in April?
Sales by condition:
- 2 homes in FAIR condition
- 8 homes in AVERAGE condition
- 3 homes in VERY GOOD condition
- 8 homes in EXCELLENT condition
- 1 NEW construction home
Sales by bedrooms:
- 4 two bedroom homes
- 10 three bedroom homes
- 7 four bedroom homes
- 1 six bedroom home
With over 160 homes to choose from, buyers are being very picky during inspections, asking for repairs or credits for things they are not comfortable with. Sellers should be sure they know what to expect from a home inspection when putting their home on the market.
Why Do A Pre-inspection When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home?
Harvey LA 70058 – Average Home Sale Price – April 2009
The average home sale price in Harvey continues to bounce around from month to month, but the year to date average is now at $144,699 (down about 6% from last year).
In April, only 2 homes were sold for more than $200,000, and the majority (60%) of the sales were of homes under $150,000. If your West Bank home is on the cusp of that $150k price range, you may want to consider a price reduction to make it more attractive to buyers. The ability to get financing remains tight, so holding out for a small amount of money may not make sense in the long run if your home stays on the market for months.
Buyer Assistance in April
- 7 sellers paid an average of $432 for a home warranty for the purchasers
- 10 sellers paid an average of $5,683 in closing cost assistance to the purchasers
Read: Keep Your Eye On The Bottom Line
All data provided by GSREIN and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
Related Reading:
- Harvey LA Real Estate Market Reports
- Harvey LA homes for sale
- Find out what’s going on in your West Bank neighborhood with a free online market analysis
Are you considering buying or selling a home in Harvey LA? The West Bank Living Team provides local, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military relocations to and from NAS JRB New Orleans. It would be our pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs.
Don’t Forget Why We Are Free
May 24, 2009 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Blog, Lagniappe
On Monday, most of America will be gathering for BBQs in backyards or picnicking at the park or just enjoying a day off from school and work. But don’t let the real reason for the holiday pass without taking a moment to honor the brave men and women who have given their lives in defense of our country, our liberties, our freedom.
May that banner ever wave...
If you know someone serving in the military, thank them…and thank them for me too.
If you don’t know someone serving, you can still express your appreciation for all that they do by adopting a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine.
Don’t ever forget why we are the land of the free…
Lagniappe at the Market – Free Summer Concert Series in Westwego LA
May 23, 2009 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Music and more
I love going to the local farmer’s markets on the weekend and checking out the great stuff that you can find there – everything from fresh produce to local art. So I don’t know how I managed to miss the news about Lagniappe at the Market, a free concert series that started a couple of weeks ago. Since we love live music, the West Bank Living Team packed up kids and lawn chairs and headed out to Westwego to listen to Waylon Thibodeaux play at the Farmer’s Market on Sala Avenue last night.
The weather was unbelievably fabulous…a cool breeze was blowing across everyone who had their chairs set up for the night, waiting for the music to start while enjoying a huge selection of food (I highly recommend the pulled pork sandwiches and the funnel cakes), soft drinks and ice cold beer.
Waylon Thibodeaux is one of my favorite local musicians…he and the band are so entertaining and are keeping alive the tradition of Cajun music in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Usually they perform at the Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street (one of the few clubs with really local music instead of cover bands), but a fire at the club has sidelined that for now and it was wonderful to see them playing on the West Bank again. I shot video of a couple of songs and thought I would share them with you:
If you don’t see the video, click here.
If you don’t see the video, click here.
The concert series ends on Friday, May 29th, with 5 Finger Discount playing from 6-9 pm, so don’t miss out on the final performance. Believe me, it’s a great way to spend a Friday evening on the West Bank!
Ready to move to Westwego? Check out these sites:
The West Bank Living Team provides local, professional real estate services to West Bank home buyers, sellers and military relocations to and from NAS JRB New Orleans…all while having fun! It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs.
SOLD!! 657 Willowbrook Drive Gretna LA 70056 | Gretna Home For Sale in Meadowbrook Subdivision
May 22, 2009 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Featured Listings, We Sold It!
JUST LISTED!
Clean, neat and move in ready in the Meadowbrook community in Gretna, 657 Willowbrook is one of the best bargains in the neighborhood.
This is a great location…easy access to Belle Chasse Highway, Lapalco Blvd and Wall Blvd. means you can get anywhere on the West Bank in a flash. It’s close to Oakdale Park and Playground (check out their great walking track), Paul J. Solis Elementary School, and there are lots of shopping and dining options nearby.
$130,000
- 3 bedrooms
2 baths
1,200 square feet living area
Single car garage
60 x 120 lot
The beautifully updated kitchen is the showcase of this home and the seller is including ALL of the appliances, including the top of the line dish washing drawers, washer and dryer and 2 full size refrigerators. Need a little help getting started? The furniture in the house is negotiable – just ask!
For more information about 657 Willowbrook Drive, contact the West Bank Living Team.
The West Bank Living Team provides local, professional real estate services to West Bank home buyers, sellers and military relocations to and from NAS JRB New Orleans. It would be our pleasure to assist you with all of your real estate needs.
