Baru Bistro & Tapas

This South American/Caribbean culinary gallery always slams it out of the park with their amazing cuisine. The steak skewers are a must and are cooked perfectly with a side of possibly the best chimichuri in the city. The lamb sliders are crisped on the edges and melt in your mouth with the perfect combination of flavors and fats. The arepas are very recommended for those who love braised and tender pork. The posta cartegenera is so tender and a great grade and cut of wagyu. It was so tender I had trouble even carrying it into my mouth without breaking apart. The patacones are some of the best I've ever had and are great tapas style sides to share around the table. The service is always accommodating, kind, and treats everyone with respect and equality. On top of all that, the ambiance is the perfect balance of typical New Orleans architecture and Caribbean culture.

This used to be my favorite place to eat churisco skirt steak ... coconut rice ... and flan.


Well, times have changed since the last I visited in 2015.

Came on a Monday evening, and there were three on the dining staff; they all made drinks & served the diners. It was about 6:45p.

It took a minute to get our menus & water. We initially ordered the Lamb Sliders & Meduros. We literally had to look for our server & she had to check on our appetizers bc she may have forgotten.
The wait for the appetizers were about 20-25min.

As soon as that order came, we immediately ordered our entrees so that it would not take another 1Hr to get our food.

The churisco & the jerk chicken was ok. It was btr before as I rmbr it. The coconut rice was not as texturized, too much water/coconut milk; on the soggy side.

I was excited to order my dessert- flan. When I got it, I took two bites; my 1st was to get a taste of the creme, eggs, & crispiness of the sugar on top.... I experienced none of that. I took my second bite & i was no longer confused. The flan tasted stale, maybe it was not made fresh &/or store bought. The consistency of the flan's creaminess was absent & more spongy than anything.

The bathrm. I thought it would be fitting to the type of venue it is, but, it's small & the hand soap & towels are not placed strategically for guests to labouring to find it.

I give this visit a TWO. I was literally embarrassed bc I talked it up so much and to bring the dinner party for a disappointment, did not make me feel good.

Not sure if there will be a next time. Thnx for the experience, anyway=*}

14 years later and I finally get to eat here again. Totally forgot about this place until I was scrolling on yelp and it popped up. Service was great and the food was freaking amazing!!!!!! It reminded me of why I loved this place. Cant wait to come back here.

Came for dinner and it was okay. For apps we tried the tostadas with avocado and mushrooms as well as the papas bravas - both delicious. For the entree I ordered the yellowfin tuna in some kind of smoky adobo sauce. It was alright. The puffed rice or whatever on top added nothing to the dish. The non alcoholic passion fruit drink ($8) was awful. Full of pulp and way too sweet. Don't order it. Overall there are way better places to eat in the city and I wouldn't return. For tapas, head to Costera.

I love love love Baru! They never disappoint, I usually get the whole snapper but they sold out by the time I got there, which explains a lot! However, I opted for the steak instead and it was just as delicious. Jerk chicken? Amazing!! My steak came with fries but I love all things coconut, so the coconut rice is always gonna be added as a side. It's so good. I sat outside for the first time and it was nice, but I think the inside is of course a better and more intimate vibe. The place in general is always a vibe, will 100% be back.

My husband and I stopped in today 4.13.24 for lunch and left disappointed. For drinks, we had one Maracuya and one blueberry mojito both drinks were good. For food, I ordered the Jerk Chicken Burrito and he ordered the Fish Tacos. The jerk chicken burrito had maybe 4 or 5 small pieces of chicken in it, which is not sufficient considering the size of the burrito. The burrito was overpowered by the black bean/cheese mash that was inside of it. It was not a well balanced burrito. Most disappointing of all, both our dishes were barely warm. They were closer to being cold than they were warm and for a $77 lunch, I expected more from Baru.

I went to Baru recently. The food was pretty good but the drinks were just simple syrup on ice. They should test the alcohol content in their bar because someone might be stealing liquor and diluting the bottles to replace the volume.

The reason I'm writing a review is because I feel like I was robbed and not just of alcohol. They just bring bottled water without asking if you want bottled water then charge $10 for 2. So $13 with tax and tip for water I didn't want or order. It's a dirty trick and they should be ashamed. I can afford it, but I didn't want it and it makes me angry to get robbed of any amount.

I I had the absolute worst experience at Baru Bistro and Tapas. From the moment I walked in, I was met with rude and dismissive staff who seemed completely disinterested in providing any level of customer service. The hostess was short and unwelcoming, and when I politely requested to be seated upstairs, she responded with blatant attitude. Throughout the meal, it was painfully clear that the staff had limited English proficiency, making communication nearly impossible. We were outrageously overcharged for subpar drinks (more than priced on the menu), and when we finally received our meals, they were a fraction of the portion size compared to other diners. When we voiced our disappointment to the waiter, she shrugged it off and offered no resolution until we asked for the manager. Despite assurances that the manager would assist us, we were left waiting for an excruciating 25 minutes with no help in sight. In the end, we decided to leave, only to be stopped on our way out with the excuse that our food was finally ready. We arrived on time for our reservation, but left feeling utterly disrespected and unsatisfied. Baru Bistro and Tapas? Never again. Save yourself the headache and dine elsewhere

This place has been on my list since I moved to Nola. Finally tried it out last night and did not disappoint. I started off with a pisco sour cocktail, it was delicious and reminded me of my time in Peru. For the main dish, I ordered the jerk chicken and side of sweet plantains. The jerk chicken and rice was an experience with every bite, absolutely tasting. Service was incredible. I do wish was a little warmer in the restaurant but not a deal breaker. Will definitely return.

We just came for drinks but he Ana making small plate! We will be back for the amazing drinks and food. Try the Guacabello Tapa and the pepino picoso during. Out of this world!