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Categories: American (New), Cajun/Creole [Edit]
534 Saint Louis StMon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This was our first trip to New Orleans, and this restaurant (including Johnnie's Po-boys, Coop's and Cafe du Monde) definitely made our experience much more memorable. The next time we're here, we may not even chance it and eat elsewhere since we know the food at these restaurants would guarantee a super-delicious meal!
The grilled rib eye with the roasted leeks were so great. The steak was perfect; I haven't had a steak that good in a very long time (and I've gone to several steakhouses recently and nothing compared to NOLA).
My boyfriend enjoyed his fried chicken and his banana pie dessert.
The service was also awesome. Everyone was on point! We're definitely coming back!
The locals told us this is the only barely acceptable restaurant of Emerals, and they are right.
The Gumbo was nothing like you get in the surrounding neighborhood, or even around town.
A few pieces of sausage and chicken the rest just soup served in a very small bowl.
Food entrees' were good but hardly any of it.
Waiter never checked back, totally lacked a personality, was indifferent with a million mile stare.
We left hungry and the tab was $175.
Is this New Orleans?
Nahhh,
You can get much better just footsteps away from NOLA at a dozen other places in the neighborhood for less money.
Also the other local food places will offer a far warmer, fun staff serving you and making your visit memorable.
No reason in the world to come here.
Ya won't meet any locals, they know better.
Rating: I can tell you I have dined just about EVERY restaurant in New Orleans. All my friends calls me a "Food Critic" when we go out to eat. HOWEVER, THIS is by far MY FAVORITE restaurants in New Orleans. Even though I was not fond of Emeril's two other restaurant, this one is REALLY REALLY GOOD and is the BEST!!!!!
Food: Favorite appt Mrs. Hay's Stuffed Chicken wings! If you ask the server they will even tell you is the MOST popular appt there! The crab cake is my 2nd favorite appt. The stuffed chicken wings have a New Orleans/vietnamese style flavor. The GARLIC CRUSTED RED FISH W/ BEURRE ROUGE SAUCE is to die for (Superb)!!! The Rib-eye is my 2nd FAV entree. For dessert the Strawberry Shortcake is F-A-B! I been here 11 times. Yes I said 11 times!! THIS IS A MUST TRY RESTAURANT!!!!!!! We even seen some celebrities occasionally there as well.
Service wise: Excellent, our table of 2 people had 3 waiters complementing our needs throughout the night.
Dined at the bar that surrounds the wood fire kitchen area (there are two bars...this bar is 'in' the kitchen - the kitchen is open to the first floor dining room, so it was great for a solo diner because I could watch the action. Great waiters taking care of me (I got more than one) and I had them pick my wine by telling them I wanted a crisp cold white with my app/salad and then move to a bold red for my entree. The waiter outdid himself, even bringing me three choices of reds to taste and try and pick from.
I ordered TOO much (the entree was bigger than I though it would be) -- had fried green tomato salad (yum) and the duck liver on greens (fantastic...this I'd order again in a heartbeat...the greens were unbelievable). Then I had the ribeye. It too was great but HUGE! Just too much food.
I am going back tonight with my family so will try different items and my do only apps and not an entree....still want to try the stuffed chicken wings.
Best duck Ive ever had. Everything was well worth the price, which wasnt that much at about 30 dollars a dish. If not for the drinks we had (which were 15 a piece) two entrees and two soup apps came out to about 80 dollars. I will definitely be back
On my first trip to Jazz Fest we decided to try Emeril's NOLA. We had a lovely table up stairs with the most attentive server in the WORLD! To start we shared the Arugula and Radicchio tossed in Lemon Vinaigrette with Parmesan, Shaved Bresaola and Roasted Sweet Peppers, delicious. Then I had the Buttermilk Fried Breast of Chicken with Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Country Ham Cream Gravy and Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas. It was the BEST fried chicken I've ever had in my entire life. . . I rarely take left overs home, but this was too good to let go! But then we were stopped by a homeless man on the way back to our hotel who wanted money for food, I gave him the half of my meal I wansn't able to finish and still to this day I think I should have just given him money instead!!! My friend had the Hickory-Roasted Duck with Whiskey-Caramel Glaze, Buttermilk Cornbread Pudding, Haricot Verts-Fire Roasted Corn Salad, Natural Jus and Candied Pecans, it was equally as amazing! Sadly no dessert for us, until we hit Cafe Du Monde at like 3AM! Great food and service!
Acceptable but overpriced. Crab cake was excellent, but I had ordered the gumbo. Go to Cochon instead.
We had to try a Emeril restaurant while in New Orleans. Our food came out in a record breaking 8 minutes from the time we ordered it. The shrimp & grits were unbelievable. The duck was unfortunately dry.
For dessert we had the banana pudding cake which was just ok. We paid the bill and were in and out within an hour. The evening felt rushed. It was as though they were in some kind of competition to see how many tables they could turn in a single TUESDAY night. In the end there were ups and downs during our NOLA visit so we left with mixed feelings.
Ah, a tale of two experiences. Unfortunately it was the weekend of LSU v. Florida and town was overrun with Gators fans. We were seated very late and the restaurant looked like a drunken good ol' boy fraternity reunion. By this i mean it was loud!!!! I asked my waiter if it was always this loud or were most of the other tables in fact screaming. He said it was the latter, but didn't do a damn thing about it. Oh well, i chose not to leave so . . .
On to the food. For two we ordered Wood Roasted Oysters, Duck Confit Pizza with Fried Egg, Mussels in Chardonnay Broth, Goat Cheese-strawberry salad, and side of Cheddar Grits. The waiter and I spoke about how to bring the food out and then to my surprise it all arrived at once. Yikes. The problem was rectified quickly though and apologies all around.
Oysters were good as two or three were included in each hole of the cast iron serving dish. Nice that the broth was not overpoweringly garlic/butter flavor (ala Acme). So we could taste the oysters and the liquid retained a briny flavor.
Mussels were good too as the broth was also redolent of the sea and the wine, while not being too garlicky and buttery. Nice and light.
Pizza disappointed a bit as the dough was delicious but the fried egg was pretty well done and there was no yolk to ooze over the duck and crust. Truffle oil was a nice touch though my wife didn't care for the flavor.
The salad was very good and stood out for its unique dressing, which we inquired about. The waiter claimed it was a strawberry balsamic. Didn't taste like it and upon leaving checked the specials board to find out it was a Cane Syrup-Brown butter vinaigrette. Very tasty, sweet and nutty. the grits were darn good but i would bet that was due to copious amounts of butter (and maybe cream too). Not the kind you'd make at home but I guess thats the point.
For dessert we had the banana pudding cake, with drunken monkey ice cream. Ice cream was very good, cake about what you'd expect.
Would return for the food but the atmosphere was not conducive to a couples night out . . . unless you showed up rip roaring drunk and enjoy screaming to heard.
This restaurant is at the top of it's game in every way. The only thing it lacked as far as I was concerned, was that local charm that makes New Orleans so special. Everything else was perfect. Literally.
The drinks, the food, the service, the timing! It was all flawless. I actually saw a server with a stop watch surveying the restaurant, making sure everything was synchronized, organized and delicious. I was truly impressed.
They serve a variety of modern spins on classic dishes, and also some very uniquely 'Emeril' creations. All in all it was a fantastic meal, and if I had the money, I would eat there once a week.
Of course, by the time I had been eating there a month, they might not be able to fit me through the door!
I've had better, much better.
Had an excellent "lunch" here, which pretty much ended up being our dinner too after the 3 appetizers, main dish and dessert my husband and I ate. The standout appetizer was the crab cake-I have never had better. I loved the buttermilk chicken dish. I almost did not order it because I thought is was kinda lame to order such an "ordinary" dish at this type of restaurant. It was anything but ordinary. I've never been a fan of sweet potatoes but these were so good I looked up the recipe for them. I look forward to another great meal one of Emeril's restaurants.
Being unabashed tourists, our family dined one night at Commander's Palace and the next made sure to book a table at NOLA to check Emeril off of our to-do list. We were happy with both, while still certain that the best food of our trip came from Willie Mae's Scotch House.
The set-up is interesting, with an elevator smack in the middle to transport guests and staff alike between two floors. We dined upstairs with a pleasant view of the street outside. The interior was pleasant and very contemporary, with giant posters of NOLA stamps hanging on the walls.
Service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly, and whenever we had questions he had answers ready. The meal was well-paced with all our needs taken care of. This dinner was in celebration of my little brother's twelfth birthday, and his dessert came with a candle and festive congratulations lettered in chocolate syrup.
The food was decent, though with a strong start and a languishing finish. We were given onion focaccia and jalapeno cornbread muffins - forget the focaccia, the muffins were absolutely delicious. We ordered three appetizers for the five of us. Large portions were a theme of the meal, and these three were plenty to whet all of our palates and even start crowding our stomachs. We ordered the duck confit and fried egg pizza, Miss Hay's stuffed chicken wings, and the pan roasted crab cake. The crab cake was dull, a bit heavy and overdone, but the other two were fantastic. The pizza was intensely flavorful, and while some might say parmesan cheese and especially truffle oil are total cheats, the juicy duck had plenty to say on its own. The stuffed wings were equally wonderful, with tender chicken meat, a nice porky stuffing, and homemade hoisin sauce for dipping.
The entrees were a lot less impressive, with overarching themes of heavy fat and unsubtle cooking served in superhuman portions. The shrimp and grits boasted a flavor profile of lard and barbecue sauce. The buttermilk fried chicken, a mistake after Willie Mae's, was greasy yet not juicy enough. Braised short ribs were fall-apart tender and served with some great beans, but the succulent flavor of fall-apart meat was somewhat missing. The one entree that I'd order again was the garlic crusted Texas redfish with sauce beurre rouge. Like everything else on the table, this dish was sinfully buttery, but here the fat was put to good use and was pleasantly balanced with generous seasoning and a deep layer of garlic.
We ordered three desserts. I was most intrigued by the white chocolate-raspberry bread pudding with red wine sauce and raspberry sorbet, but this turned out to be the worst of the bunch by far. The bread pudding was dry and the sorbet was far too sour. This is a recipe that just needs to be revised entirely. I had no such problems with the warm ooey gooey cake or the pecan pie. The ooey gooey cake was just as yummy as it sounds, with layers of chocolate cake and marshmallows served with coffee ice cream. The pecan pie was not what I expected at all, but it tasted better than I'd imagined. It was a chocolate bourbon pecan pie that bore more resemblance to a nice slice of chocolate cake flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg than a pecan pie. The sweet potato ice cream and caramel drizzle were lovely sweet touches.
Overall I wasn't blown away by NOLA, but I really enjoyed the place. Like its celebrity owner, NOLA may not be at the cutting edge of cooking today, but it churns out solid food with boldness and personality while inspiring affection in its diners.
Modern Creole cooking at its finest. Elements of classic and comfort dishes, paired with those a little more modern. The execution is great for both.
I enjoyed the stuffed chicken wings, it was a great take on one of my favorite snacks. All the fish was cooked to perfection.
The service is fantastic, no detail was spared by the staff while dining. And I always enjoy looking into the kitchens of high-end restaurants, but that is me.
Okay for groups, but you will need a reservation for sure to get a big table together.
Restrooms were clean and stocked, as should be expected in an upscale joint. 4 Flushes
Thank you, NOLA. After arriving in N.O. late on a Friday night, we walked around the Quarter to see what was open. My friend recognized NOLA, so we ran in. It was right at 10 pm, but you accommodated us and gave us a great table after a glass of wine at the bar.
We started out with wood oven cooked flat bread, which was delicious. For entrees, we had the fried chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and the pork loin with skillet cooked sweet potatoes. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy...just like momma's! It had a great sauce on the side of the bowl/plate. The sweet potatoes were a little too sweet for me. The pork loin was tasty, but a little dry. The skillet sweet potatoes were the veggie winner.
Along with our meal, we had a yummy bottle of Pinot Gris. The waitstaff was a little over attentive, which isn't very N.O. But, the building and environment were great!
After our meal, we were ready to hit the bars! Thanks again, NOLA.
I love Emeril so I have come here several times. Everytime I come the food has become less and less impressive. It was really noisy the last time we dined here. Uncomfortably so. However, the starters were great. We had the bbq shrimp and stuffed chicken wings. Mmmmm! The entree, not so much. I had the braised short ribs and some soupy bbq beans. I can't even remember what else was served with it, because I didn't finish it. Yuck! I guess everyone has an off day. I prefer Emeril's to NOLA even though they have some of the same menu items. If you have never dined here, it is definitely worth a try.
My wife and i had some time alone in New Orleans and headed to Nola without a reservation this past Saturday. We were seated in about 15 minutes after having a couple of beers at the small bar near the kitchen.
We both ordered the filet mignon at $38 per plate, a new crab cake with corn relish, and a oyster artichoke bisque, one desert and coffees. Our total was $170 with 20% tip.
The filets arrived overcooked with mine being medium to well as opposed to medium rare. The filets were on the small to medium size and came dressed with a brown sauce. The steaks were tender and delicious other than they were overcooked. The crab cake had some type of batter coating that i didn't care for compared to the expected bread crumb batter that i usually see. The corn relish that the crab cake was stacked upon was spicy and very tasty. i wish there was more of the corn relish.
Service was friendly, but a bit off. We had to remind our waiting for items that we ordered or ask about missing drinks.
the two small small bathrooms were located in the back past the kitchen near the employees backpacks that hung on a wall. Their condition was terrible for such an expensive restaurant. My wife said that the woman's room had a big hole in the sheet-rock and a decorative large roach crawling about. The men's room didn't have any insects but did smell like someone with bad aim had hit every wall.
Overall the food was very good in spots, and off in others. For the money and quality of experience, i would not return.
We came here our last visit to New Orleans because my husband raved about it on his last visit a month before when he was at a convention.
Modern decor...felt like I was in a steel warehouse. I enjoyed the fact I had a good view of the kitchen crew in the back. It reminded me of Hell's Kitchen.
Staff was AMAZING!! Extremely FRIENDLY!! My ice tea or water glass never saw the half way mark. I think they checked up on us every 15 minutes.
Food was delicious. My husband had the Fried Chicken and he isn't a Chicken fan but he loved it from the last visit and ordered it again. It was GOOD!! Very well battered.
I had the Roasted Duck. It was good, but still prefer my traditional Peking duck from Chinatown.
Make sure you make reservations ahead of time to avoid waiting!
First, if you like in a city like Washington, DC, this restaurant is no different than a restaurant like Acadiana. In fact, Acadiana might be better. But the shrimp and grits are definitely better at NOLA than at Acadiana. Easily the best shrimp and grits I've ever had.
I had the buttermilk fried chicken another day. And I had brisket on another day that was great.
It's definitely one of the best places in the French Quarter. I didn't feel like leaving the French Quarter and heading over to Commander's Palace. So if you don't want to leave the French Quarter, this is a great place to go. I never made it to Restaurant August, everyone on my trip told me that that was their favorite place.
As for NOLA, it's simple southern food (duck, shrimp & grits, buttermilk fried chicken, etc.) that has a great taste to it. Great spices/sauces. I was very happy with it and would go here again.
It's expensive. But considering how hard it was to get in here, it must be worth it to a lot of people.
But be warned, if you are from a city like DC and eat at a place like Acadiana, this won't be very special at all. They're the same restaurant (just about). This is made for people from suburbs who like to watch a lot of tv and think that a restaurant owned by a celebrity chef is amazing and so unusual. New Yorkers, with all of their unique restaurants, would be very disappointed.
The resturant is very nice, a bit small but classy. A wonderful experience. Made Reservations, got right in. The whole entire meal was perfect. The food was superb and the dessert was heaven on a plate.
I ordered Roasted Duck with Whiskey-Caramel Glaze and for dessert
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie with Sweet Potato Ice Cream and Caramel Drizzle. Emeril, you da man. (wow I never thought I would say that to a human being.... The food is seriously that good!)
What a meal. My girlfriend and I were in town for a couple days for Jazzfest '09 and we booked a reservation for a special dinner here. We went back and forth on a couple of high profile restaurants in the french quarter and we figured we couldnt go to New Orleans without getting a little Emeril in our system.
I had the smoked duck entree and my girl had the filet. Both were cooked magnificently and the oysters we had as a starter were the epitome of perfection.
Our waiter was a complete class act, he helped us pick out a great wine with dinner and advised us on menu choices which was tough because everything on the menu looked incredible. I thought it was kinda funny that we had 4 waiters, one to take our order, one to refill our wine glass when it got low, one to scrape the table in between courses, and one to fold our napkin and leave it on the table when we got up for the restroom. No joke, but it was kinda over the top but I guess some people like that kinda thing.
I have nothing but great things to say about this place and I'm so happy we decided to have our date-night meal here. Book in advance if you're gonna go on a weekend as this place tends to fill up pretty quick.
Stayed in New Orleans for 2 days 1.5 nights. We tried commander's palace, restaurant August, NOLA, cafe du monde's beignets....
....the only dish my friends could remember was NOLA's Shrimp and Grits. The only thing dish I could remember and wish that I can have it everyday everynight was their duck confit pizza. I felt like I was in cajun heaven when I tried their dish!
the gumbo of the day was so so, the crab cake was unique cos it was fried (so it looked like a potato cake/ croquette) with some yam-taste-a-like topping on it. It was pretty good, but their shrimp and grits was so flavorful i could only think "BAM!!!!" hahaaah! the pizza, they didn't put any base (tomato ones) on it, maybe just olive oil im guessing but the duck oil from the duck confit makes the dough so flavorful, the bland look of this pizza just tricks you. the egg was a nice touch to it, i love it!
Service was really nice, the air conditioner on the upper level was too strong, our whole table was freeeeeezing. but other than that, food really delicious and at a price that won't burn a hole in your wallet so yes Emeril you did it!
Man oh man what a great restaurant! We were deciding between the 3 Emeril's restaurants and am so happy we landed on this one. If you want a romantic evening go for Delmonico, but if you want a fun vibrant environment to have fun with friends NOLA is best.
The pineapple cosmo made with housemade pineapple infused vodka was absolutely delicious. I nearly drank the entire thing in my first sip it was soooo delicous.
Shared 3 appetizers with my aunt - oysters, mussels and crab cakes. The oysters were delicious -- nice breading, great delicated garlic flavor altho a tad on the watery side. The crab cakes came with a great spicy sauce that was awesome. By the time the mussels came we were so stuffed we couldn't enjoy it all but nicely flavored as well.
I think the highlight was the duck -- VERY NICE portion even for my bf who eats a ton. It was perfectly smoked and glazed. just delicious. I would skip the shrimp and grits (a little fishy and the flavors didn't come together). Truly truly delicious food with great atmosphere.
This place is ridiculous. NOLA has (hands down) taken the lead in the race for my favorite restaurant in New Orleans. That is not an easy task.
My first time to NOLA was fabulous. I was actually so stuffed from eating constantly all day that nothing on the menu was sounding good. I told our server to surprise me and I ended up with the most amazing duck. Funny how I found room to gobble that down!
So last night we decided to give it another shot. Somehow I managed to score a last minute 6:45pm reservation on Saturday night. About two minutes before, 2 more people decided to join us. Despite the full dining room, the host managed to accommodate our party of 5 with no problem.
I really wanted to have the server surprise me again, because last time I definitely had the best dish at the table. I was nervous, though, because it's rare that something like that can work twice. So I told our server, Travis, about my concern and he pretty much decided that he knew best. So I went with it.
I really enjoyed my perfectly smooth and refreshing martini while I excitedly waited for my first course. It was BBQ shrimp with a rosemary biscuit. The shrimp was very fresh and tasty, the sauce was light and flavorful, and the rosemary biscuit was interesting and different. So far so good.
Drink two...a champagne cocktail. Oh so delicious with plenty of bitters. Yum. My table mates speculated what my next dish would be. I told them I'd be able to tell by the knife that they brought. Travis was really cool, though, it's like he read my mind. He brought both knives. Damn.
I was in the mood for some meat, but when I took my first bite of the garlic crusted redfish with the beurre rouge sauce, I almost fell over. Unbelievably good. The potatoes with mushrooms and applewood smoked bacon were also delicious. I was a happy girl.
Dinner was polished off with the chicory coffee creme brulee, which was a little to coffee-ey for me. The shortbread that came with it was to die for, though. I was happy to enjoy a glass of LBV port with that as well.
The service here is wonderful. The servers are attentive, knowledgeable and fun. Synchronized service was also a nice touch. The prices seemed very reasonable for the quality of the experience. I will say that I've had the best luck out of everyone when I've let the chef make whatever. I always seem to be thrilled, while everyone else seems to be less so. If you're up for anything, I would definitely say that's the way to go.
For a person with food allergies, it can be daunting when trying new places. The hubby is always willing to try new things with me, but his allergies can raise ugly eyebrows when we try places with Names to them.
NOLA is not one of those places! Our first full night in New Orleans, I wanted to check off an Emeril restaurant and the Passport Around the World Pris Fix Menu drew me in. NOLA was spotlighting Vietnam, that was like a foghorn calling me home. We came in without reservations, and was seated immediately, upon being seated our waitstaff team introduced themselves and the lead waiter asked if we had any allergies or concerns he should be aware of. Hubby was charmed instantly! Coming from SF where dining is an art, no one has ever asked about allergies.
I had the Passport Pris Fix which started with a Shrimp Springroll and grilled bok choy. The springroll could have easily been something family made with it's sweet tender pork, shrimp and veggie filling. Fried to golden perfection and served with a delicate garlic vinaigrette over the grilled bok choy. Hubby decided the Hickory-Roasted Duck with Whiskey-Caramel Glaze, Buttermilk Cornbread Pudding, Haricot Verts-Fire Roasted Corn Salad, Natural Jus sans Candied Pecans. The waiter didn't even bat an eye when we asked to not have nuts. He ensured the flavor will still be amazing with a missing ingredient. When the duck came out - seriously, it could have been a whole duck! Hubby says it was 2 legs and 2 thighs, but still the portion was out of control. The smoky flavor made the duck skin crispy and delightful, the duck meat was tender and soft to the bite - not overdone for the serving size. Hubby loved everything down to the fixing underneath the duck. I had the Lemongrass Grilled Chicken Breast over Jasmine rice with sugar snap peas and ginger black bean sauce. I'm not a big bean fan, but each component truly complimented each other to create a very New Orleans yet Vietnamese inspired meal. The chicken breast was moist and juicy, I loved the grilled flavor with the lemongrass and somehow found myself dipping the chicken in with the black bean ginger sauce. We finished with the coconut flan - amazing! Light, fluffy and soooo rich. Not a big flan fan, but I'm going to try making a coconut panna cotta inspired by this dish.
The waiters were comical and very entertaining, you can see the cohesive team who is very proud of where they work. Knowledgeable in their menu and we were very pleased with everything. For two people - mind you, very decent portions - two entrees, one starter, two desserts and coffee, the meal was about $75 dollars.
It's hubby's first time in the Crescent City and he loved that NOLA was a touch of the familiar but daring enough to be something he's never tried.
I walked right in off the street and was seated within 5 minutes today (off market?). The food was extremely good. I recommend the duck (which I usually don't like or even order). It is hickory smoked, caramelized, and served on a slightly sweet cornmeal pudding. The same cornmeal stuff is used to make the jalepeno corn bread and was very yummy. My duck was served with green beans on the top. They were not cooked enough for my taste (they snapped and tasted just like they smell when you snap them!)-they looked pretty as a garnish though. Warning-this entree consists of both leg and thigh portions. I split the meal with my partner and we both were too full for desert.
We had the wood fired oysters appetizer.-Not as good as Dragos and a bit bland. Of course, I really wanted Drago's Charbroiled oysters so I shouldn't have even tried these.
The service was excellent but a bit rushed. I was surprised at the speed the food got out to us but I must assume the kitchen is used to going full speed and this night there were a number of empty tables near us.
Our friend made dinner reservations for Nola. Note: This place starts to get really crowded around 7:30 so if you dont make reservations, come before then!
We started with shrimp appetizers and gumbo. The shrimp was served in a dark sweet sauce and was very delicious. The gumbo was decent.
I had the filet which was served with a blue cheese infused mushroom and skinned mashed potatoes. With a lack of words, it was simply delicious. Not overdone at all.
The people I was with, which I tasted some of theirs, had the fish special (I forgot what it was) which was nice and peppery, and the duck, which was out of this world succulent. The duck was seriously so tender.
To finish things off, they had some chocolate ice cream covered pecan pie, but I didn't have any, although one of the people I was with (who happened to be an executive chef at a very popular restaurant from home) said the pecan pie was overdone). She said everything else was really really good though.
I had 1 dirty martini for dinner and it was a strong pour, with of course, blue cheese stuffed olives.
In conclusion, this place deserves every bit of 4 star restaurant that it has earned, what a fine dining establishment!
In a word, underwhelming. It was packed and really noisy, we had to yell at each other across the table. The head waiter was fun and cheery at first but after our order was placed became weirdly aloof and indifferent.
We had to ask that he bring us our drinks after 15 minutes of waiting. The redfish was breaded with garlic but was really bland - no flavor at all. The fried chicken plate sounded great on the menu but was basically chicken fingers, though really damn good chicken fingers. The stuffed chicken wing appetizer was awesome. I have no idea how they did it.
I think the oddest thing about the night was when the bill came, there was a charge for an extra wing. We asked one of the assistant waiters (they actually talked to us) about it and he just said the order normally comes with 3 wings and we had 4. Um, okay...we didn't ask for an extra one, but I guess they thought we needed it and had no problem charging us for it. It came off like they were padding the tab and left a bad taste in the mouth from a place that's supposed to be known for exceptional service.
This restaurant was started by renowned Chef Emeril. If you are looking for a nice restaurant with good food and good service in the French Quarter, NOLA should be on your short list.
I sampled from the redfish and sauteed gulf shrimp with smoked cheddar grits entrees which were both quite good, but my entree of hickory-roasted duck with whiskey-caramel glaze, buttermilk cornbread pudding, fire roasted corn salad, and candied pecans was simply sensational and a massive portion as well. Our waiter told me that if I were to order only one entree from here the duck should be it as it is their most popular dish and what they are most well known for. I'm glad he steered me in the right direction.
As for the desserts, in my opinion, they sounded a lot better than they tasted, but they were still pretty darn good and worth saving a little bit of room for if you can.
Hard to rate - We've only been twice and it's been a few years. It was fabulous then, but by now the Emeril empire may have screwed this place up too.
We've had nothing but great food and service here. But it's been five years since we've been. Last visit we had brie pizza, sea bass, duck, and the world's best pecan pie. My only hesitation to going back would be 1) Has the TV/book/restaurant empire of New Englander Emeril Lagasse ruined this restaurant too? and 2) Why bother, when there are so many other great restaurants in town run by native New Orleans chefs? Leave it for the tourists who only want to go home and tell their friends where they ate, not what they ate.
If you're used to eating in strip malls, this place is for you.
I don't know who is impressed by this place - I'm visiting from Seattle and have had better gumbo.
My dining partner and I both got appetizers and entrees. My gumbo was cold, so I sent it back... and it came back lukewarm (at best)! I said I didn't want it, but 20 minutes later the manager brought it, obviously straight out of the microwave. Nice try, low class.
The pocket bread appetizer was pretty good and reasonably priced, as well.
I had the famous shrimp and grits which, while pretty good, were barely a notch above something you'd get at a run of the mill chain restaurant (but twice the price at NOLA). My companion got the fish of the day, which was Mahi Mahi and while she liked it, I thought it was nearly unpalatable.
I suppose if you come here drunk and happy to be on vacation, then you can say you went to a "nice" restaurant. Otherwise, I was insulted at the size of our bill compared to the quality. Beware of the trendy factor here.
The service here was horrible. Waitor had an attitude the whole time, and was real arrogant. Food was very bland and seemed to be coming form a microwave. Expensive for what they are serving. The only thing that was worth special attention was the desserts. It seems Emeril hasn't been by here in years because if he approves of this mess god help us.
My Hubby and I went here last Friday when visiting the city. It was on our quest to "eating" our way through New Orleans and this was the best place to start. We sat at the bar -- cuz thats just how we roll.
There was one lady to our right enjoying a salad and we ordered an awesome and crisp Pinot Grigio. We split everything (a whole meal is wasted on me -- I'm a noshing fool) so we went with the crab cake appetizer.
I can only say.... Oh MY GOD. NO - I MEAN -- OH MY GOD!!!
It was the most amazing crispy crab cake with feta and a creamy sauce around it that had kalamata olives. Hubby rolled his eyes back in his head and I thought he would start moaning -- but thankfully he didn't.
We ate that way too quick. Our bartender Adam was the best -- and somehow conviced us not to continue hopping but to stay here and well, eat some more. We ordered their Gumbo of the Day which was seafood and amazing. Then... Adam told us about their Stuffed Chicken Wings.
Let me tell you the story... Apparently the lady that makes these wings used to only make them for the staff there for lunch. Well one day Emeril comes in, tries these wings and says they are going on the menu. The lady now works there full time.
Adam told us they were "life changing" wings. So of course, we tried them! They are stuffed with a pork, seafood plus many yummy things stuffing and are served with a homemade Hoisin sauce. So delicious.
After 3 glasses of Pinot Grigio and those appies, we walked out very very happy puppies! So happy, we went back for lunch the next day and had the crab cake and the wings just one more time... The Chef remembered seeing us and gave us an amuse buche as a hello gift.
Loved this place -- you really can't go wrong here.
I had the best dining experience at NOLA due to the delicious food, wonderful service, and fantastic ambiance.
My friend and I came here, and we do not joke about eating. Between us two girls, we ordered:
APPETIZERS:
- pizza with white truffles, shredded duck, and an over-medium egg on top. This was by far the most delicious pizza I've ever eaten in my life. You take a slice of pizza, and dip it in the egg yolk...it was heavenly.
- crab ceviche
SIDES:
- mac and brie cheese
ENTREES:
- 3-day brined redfish. This was a great tasting fish with complex flavors but it was done just right.
- duck confit with cornbread and green beans
DESSERTS:
- pecan pie. This was the absolute tastiest pecan pie I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Not too sweet or sticky, which is rare!
- creme brulee. Passable. It wasn't warm enough on the top layer.
- ooey gooey cake with espresso ice cream. The ice cream was the highlight of this dessert and was truly refreshing.
To DRINK:
- I think it was a half bottle of some type of pinot noir. The waiter tried to push a really expensive bottle of wine on us, but the pinot did the trick.
Two and a half hours later, we were stuffed, happy, and very sleepy. The food was absolutely delicious, and the waitstaff really made us feel at home, and even comped one of our desserts becasue we couldn't narrow our choices down to two!! I'd recommend coming here if you do try one nice restaurant in NO. I guarantee a wonderful time.
The service is superior. The 'partner' style of serving works well. These men and women work hard, the service is fast and attentive -- and entertaining.
My servers were Nate and Scott. They served me with in seamless dance that never seemed hurried, yet my meal proceeded apace.
I started with the gumbo. Spicy and dark and flavorful. Then, the buttermilk chicken with bourbon mashed potatoes and gravy. The flavours blended together nicely. For dessert, raspberry bread pudding with raspberry sorbet. Lovely.
I wish I could say I'll be back soon, but then I wish I could say I'll be back in New Orleans soon....sigh. Shall have to start to plot.
lunch, buttermilk Fried chkn, sweet potatoes, beef brisket white beans (looked green) mac and cheese
gumbo
After coming to eat lunch at Nola, I have 2nd guessed all of my other 5 star rating. This place was way over the top. In a good way. Very good. Not being a huge fried chicken fan, I sucked it up and took the waiter's suggestion. I couldn't stop smiling as I enjoyed my meal. Never had anything better. Buttermilk fried chicken (chkn being marinated for 24 hrs), atop mashed sweet potatoes. I can't say anything except the flavors were perfect and I savored every bite. My S.O.. had the beef brisket, white beans (which were actually greenish), and mac and cheese. I honestly didn't try his b/c I was so enveloped in my own meal. I found out later that he also enjoyed his meal, but I wasn't paying attention at the time =)
I had a very bizarre experience trying to dine at NOLA. I made a lunch reservation and started with a salad and when it came out there was something odd mixed in. It was small, hard, oval shaped and orange and then I figured it out...it was the same shape and size as an "One a Day" multivitamin!
So I called over waiter to make sure I wasn't insane and he confirmed that wasn't imagining anything, but then his reaction was not that of shock or contrition, but rather he just matter of factly asked if I wanted another salad. The fact that he wasn't as weirded out as I was creeped me out even more and I ended up just deciding to call it quits and find some place else to eat.
That was a couple of years ago, so I guess I would give it another try the next time I'm in town, but at the time I was very put off by the whole experience.
Incredible. Waited 2 hours to get a table. By that time we were starving - shot the works - appetizers, salad, dinner, and dessert. The kitchen is a spectacle in itself - just a joy to watch. I had the gulf fish on the cedar plank. Seasoned perfectly and tasted great. Just a great night and a phenomenal meal - one of the best I have ever had.
Emeril konws how to run a restaurant. Who cares if the prices are pretty high? You can't beat the service that the NOLA staff puts forth every day. The food is absolutely delicious. I at there about four different times for the month i was in the city. Everything from full course sit down dinners to drinks and appetizers. Every time i came back, the previous visit's waiter or bartender would come up and say hi and shake your hand.
The redfish is one of the most delicious fish plates you will have. The barbeque shrimp is mouth watering (could use some more on the plate).
It is definitely a restaurant that everyone should experience, if you can get in! It helps to know people...
We came here on a whim on our trip to New Orleans, not knowing much about this place (besides that its one of Emiril's). Coming from Chicago, we want a good bang for our buck. All I have to say is: Wow. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in my life.
The atmosphere was classy, yet fun. It was very modern looking, and seated in the main area you can not escape the clanking of the openly visible kitchen.
As the free bread choice, we were given a choice between jalapeno cheddar corn bread and some kind of herb foccacia. I was fortunate enough to try both, but I've got to say, the corn bread was delicious.
I had the Texas Redfish for my dinner, and I will start by saying it was the perfect amount of food. Every bite of my fish was flavorful, and delicious. The sauce that came on it was absolutely perfect. Everything in the dish worked together really well and this was definitely a meal designed to please.
If I ever come back to New Orleans, I'd definitely consider going back here again.
New Orleans, LA
Category: American (New)
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: French
New Orleans, LA
Category: Restaurants
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