Two New Orleans restaurants that have been magnets for high-profile recognition notched another major accolade this week with the inaugural North America's 50 Best Restaurants list .

Dakar NOLA (3814 Magazine St., 504-493-9396) and Emeril's Restaurant (800 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-528-9393) both made the list, which are unveiled Thursday night during a ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino.

Dakar NOLA was ranked No. 6, and named "the best restaurant in the South U.S.A." in one of the night's special awards. Emeril's was ranked No. 30.

Dakar NOLA was created by chef Serigne Mbaye, initially as a pop-up serving communal meals, giving a modern vision of the chef's Senegalese heritage.

He and business partner Effie Richardson turned this into a tasting menu restaurant in 202

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