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Of all of Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans restaurants, NOLA is the most casual and laid back but still very nice. Great for a night out with the family or just a casual date night with your significant other. The restaurant is very warehouse district. There are approximately 3 stories…just my guess since I’ve only been on the first and second floor, but the see-through elevators are constantly taking guests up and down between floors.
View from my seat..
Table with a view!
Casual dining at its best!
Enough pictures of the restaurant..let’s get to the food! When “the chef” and I looked at the menu, many of the appetizers stood out to us much more than the actual entrees so we created our very own tasting menu…
Complimentary Ciabatta bread and Cornbread.
Miss Hay’s Stuffed Chicken Wings. Homemade Hoisin Dipping Sauce.
LOVED this dish…I’m typically not a fan of “fusion” types of food, but here, American + Asian = DIVINE! The authentic Vietnamese egg roll stuffing inside a juicy deep fried chicken wing was interesting and leaves you wanting more…
Duck Confit and Fried Egg Pizza. Parmesan Cheese. Truffle Oil. Baby Arugula.
Although it appears large, it’s light and savory…
Aged Allen Benton’s Country Ham Salad. Moonshine Spiked Watermelon. Arugula. Feta Cheese. Citrus-Herb Vinaigrette.
Gumbo of the Day: Cochon and Andouille Gumbo.
New Orleans Style Crab Cake. Spicy Corn Relish. Crystal-Butter Sauce.
Good but not my favorite. The corn relish balanced the heavily seasoned crab cake and gave it a refreshing kick with the Crystal-Butter sauce.
Crispy Smoked Duck and Mushroom Boudin Balls. Tomato-Bacon Jam. Creole Mustard.
NOLA Banana Pudding Layer Cake. Graham Cracker Crust. Vanilla Wafers. Fudge Sauce.
One thing I’ve learned is when you’re craving a good ol’ homemade banana pudding, you won’t get it at these upper echelon restaurants…but what you will get is an overly decadent yet still so delicious version. Not too far from the original homemade kind…fresh slices of banana, light pudding cream, graham cracker crust…loved it!
Great experience at NOLA in Nola! Great service. Cool and casual vibe. Great place for a laid back night but very good food. Props to Mr. Emeril Lagasse!
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I’m a sucker for brunch joints so I’d heard that there was an awesome brunch spot in town and this was the place! It’s located right in the hustle and bustling heart of Magazine St. (Right across from Rendezvous Tavern and next door to Frock Candy boutique store). I didn’t get to try the brunch, because they only do brunch on weekends =( BUT boy was I in for a surprise…
This has got to be THE BEST MAC & CHEESE I’ve EVER had! Elbow macaroni tossed in rich and creamy 5 cheese sauce topped with truffle butter, toasted panko bread crumbs, and shaved parmesan. You have the option of adding Bacon or Jalepenos for a little extra…My boyfriend and I did both. You must try this!!!!
Loaded Gumbo. Chicken, Andouille, Shrimp, Crab, Ham, and Okra, topped with a small scoop of Potato Salad.
Gumbo was delicious! I love places that add a dallop of potato salad to their gumbo instead of rice. The creaminess of the potato salad and the full-bodied flavor of the gumbo just melt together perfectly!
Crawfish Enchiladas. (Special of the day - not on the menu) Very large and heavy dish. Pretty good dish overall, but the heaviness of the dish and strong flavors may bore you after a while.
Fried Catfish Club w/ Remoulade Sauce and Coleslaw. (Specials menu) Very good stuff! The nicely crisp fried catfish is placed in a lighter Roma bread. The combination of pickles, remoulade sauce, and coleslaw go together very well.
If you decide to visit Gott Gourmet, don’t forget that they close on Mondays and brunch is weekends only! I’ll definitely return to try the brunch…and another order of that scrumptious mac & cheese!
