My friend and I had a reservation for 11am on Saturday and were seated promptly, but it didn't seem like we needed a res as it wasn't as packed as I expected for weekend brunch time. We ordered the Oaxacan Ceviche, crawfish queso, and the chilaquiles. She also ordered a Paloma while I opted for the Passionate Llama. All of the food was really good honestly, with my order of preference being ceviche - chilaquiles - crawfish queso, but maybe it's just cause the queso came out last so I was already getting full by that time. Both drinks were great as well; the Paloma was more on the sweeter side, while I felt that the Passionate Llama had a smokiness to it that I enjoyed. Our server was also very attentive which helped us make a reservation we had at 12:30. While we had originally wanted to try their mimosa flight that we had seen online which was no longer available, we weren't disappointed by the food or drinks that we got instead. read more

This was a great tapas restaurant. They had beautifully crafted drinks that was so flavorful. My fiancé got the chicken empanadas and I got the cauliflower. We also shared one of the ceviches. We were definitely full after these dishes. The ambience was definitely fun and our server was very helpful. read more

See all

Came to Besame for our last dinner in New Orleans. It's been five years since I've last been to New Orleans, and the food rarely disappoints. This was no exception. Cute place, great ambiance, wish they kept it a little lighter for better photos, but I get it. We ordered cocktails to start- the Paloma and the Macua. And both were delicious. Paloma was light and refreshing and the Macua was fruity and delightful. For food, we started with the Peruvian Ceviche, the Pork Empanadas, and the Crawfish Queso. Ceviche had a ton of flavour, but could have used more fish. Lots of cucumber, red onion, but a little more corn and sweet potato would have been nice. The pork empanadas were ok. Honestly, would not order again. The filling to pastry ratio was low and lacked the sauciness that I expect out of a cochinita pibil. It wasn't bad, but I'd pass and maybe try the arepas (we were conflicted on which to order!) Now to the star of the starters...the crawfish queso. YES. You have to order it. Not quite sure if a lot of crawfish flavour comes through, but it does give the queso a little texture. But the queso is tasty. Cheesy, a little spicy. And 100% addicting and I probably could have finished it by myself. Our mains were the Seafood Paella and the Churrasco. The paella was tasty, bits of socarrat (crispy rice) mixed in. The calamari could have been cut thicker, as it shrank and got lost within the rice. Husband says mussels could have been bigger (but we've been spoiled by pnw seafood). The churrasco was good- cooked medium and topped with chimichurri, maybe a little salty? But the papas bravas that came alongside it...they were delicious. If that was on the menu as a side, would definitely order it over and over again. Potatoes were slightly smashed, perfectly fried and tossed in a sauce, but the edges still remained crispy. Definitely would come back (when back in the big easy). Would definitely visit again and if you're in the area, put it at the top of your list. read more

See all

Amazing! Loved the food, service and ambience! Would totally recommend to anyone visiting the area.

This was a last minute reservation in NOLA for our "last supper". Wow! What a surprise to have such delicious food and cocktails! This is what we ordered Guacamole-on point! Arepas-magical Crispy Cauliflower-garbanzo bean hash was spectacular Churrasco-cooked to perfection Tres Leches-best I've ever had and made with a twist Mango Chile Sorbet-perfect amount of spice and sweet Cocktails were great and service was decently paced if you're not in a rush. Ambiance is warm and inviting. The bathrooms are clean and the wallpaper is worth a trip into the loo read more

Bésame - Spicy Margarita!!! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Outstanding light seafood bistro. Menu features ceviches and grilled fishes of Central America. Complete wine selection suitable for pairing with light seafood. Engaged and informed staff helps navigate the menu and explain the preparations. Has a casual atmosphere, mostly younger, trendy locals and tourists. Across the block from The Orpheum, a large, art deco auditorium hosting traveling Broadway shows and large musical productions. A few blocks from The Saenger, home venue for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Dinner was prepared superbly and promptly, enabling us to get a drink before attending a show. Adjacent to a Hotel Hostel, within walking distance to a few large medical institutions. Convenient distance to the French Quarter. Nearby parking garages available and walking distance to theater. Charles streetcar line. Excellent value also. I had shrimp prepared just right, my wife had grilled fish. A few fish tapas choices, all looking delicious and well presented. A GoTo downtown choice! read more

We were bar hopping, and we intended to drop in for a quick drink. We ended up savoring a few of their appetizers while visiting with the owner. What a warm and welcoming space! It was also a nice respite from the cold. While we did not order the drinks, I can highly recommend the crawfish queso and Peruvian ceviche. The crawfish queso was flavorful and creamy. We could actually see and taste pieces of crawfish. The entire dish was utterly irresistible! The Peruvian ceviche: Gulf fish, aji Amarillo, leche de Tigre, sweet potato, crispy corn. Given I have low tolerance for spicy hot, I suspect the aji Amarillo was omitted for my benefit. This was a lovely medley of colors, very refreshing and delicious. Felt it could be a little more tangy but that's a personal preference. These offerings are a welcome change to the heavy breaded, full cream and butter laden dishes typical of NOLA. What a lovely stop and I'm glad other Yelpers brought us to this establishment. I hope others will drop in because this is such a gem. Support small businesses! read more

See all

Always a great time when we have come here. The owner explained that Yelp won't change the days they are open so was pleasantly surprised to find them open on a Wednesday. Quiet relaxing atmosphere and delicious drinks and food. And our server was very wonderful! read more

Bésame - Guacamole, or shall I say the best guacamole I have ever had. Truly delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Went before seeing a musical and had a great time. All of the food and drinks were delicious. Would absolutely go again before my next putting at the Saenger read more

I feel like amazing is an understatement!! What a beautiful location and the food was incredible! The chef came to the table to assure we were pleased with everything. Emily was an amazing server! Wow....just WOW!!! read more

See all

Besame is a must!! It's been a week and I can't get over how amazing each dish was! Definitely recommend the paella, queso, and ceviche! Paella was filled with flavor and so much seafood!! Loved every bite! The queso was probably my favorite! And ceviche was very fresh!!! One dish I could do without was one that resembled a meat pie. It was still savory and delicious but the meat was a tad bit dry. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes! read more

Bésame - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while being that it's by my apartment. I will definitely frequent this establishment. The happy hour is from 2pm-5pm during the week day. Off the happy hour menu I had the pork tacos, and they were delicious. On the happy hour drink menu I had the pineapple margarita, and it was also good. Finally I had the Churassco, and it was amazing, nothing was left on the plate. The staff was also very polite and accommodating. Again I will definitely be going back. read more

See all

If I could give this restaurant 6 stars I would! I had the most amazing experience from the food to the service all of it was perfect. Everything we ordered was very flavorful and I can't wait to go back! What we ordered: -salmon ceviche: is sweet with a little bit of spice and was very delicious and unique -crawfish queso: creamy and tasty, the perfect amount of spicy -fish tacos: the fish was flakey and delicious! It came with pickles onions and coleslaw, if I could add one thing I'd say an aioli could make it even better! -churrasco: the steak was perfectly cooked, very tender and delicious! The potato's that came with the steak were some of the best potatoes I've ever eaten. They were crispy and the sauce was perfection. If you go here and don't order this dish you're missing out -flan: I regret only ordering one flan to share because it was the best flan I've ever had. It was so flavorful Beyond just the food the service was incredible. Our server was genuinely happy to be there and even made a comment about how she is so proud of the food they serve and can confidently endorse everything on the menu. The owner also came out to chat with us which was really sweet. Definitely go try this new hidden gem! read more

See all

Great drink menu. Delicious food and friendly service. Laid back, quiet atmosphere. A nice change from the noise and bustle of the French Quarter. read more

Really good food that is not your normal fare. Service was excellent and the ambiance was nice for the brunch we had before the play at the Saenger theatre. #saenger read more

Excellent food and service No reservation. Fit us in. Small. About 18 tables. Will be back.

During my one day in Nola, Bésame was a spontaneous find that ended up being fantastic! I arrived at 5pm and was seated right away amidst an ambiance of relatively low lighting, faint music, murals, and colored lights. They did not offer the salmon ceviche that I saw highly recommended on Yelp, so I ordered the crawfish queso and the sautéed cauliflower. If you order one thing, do yourself a favor and choose the crawfish queso! Delicious, slightly spicy, not too cheesy while still having a creamy depth of flavor and abundance of crawfish meat. The sautéed cauliflower was also very satisfying -- a light crunch with a perfect amount of acidity and zest from the side vegetables. Next time, I want to try the steak and potatoes. Overall, I highly recommend Bésame. Though slightly farther from the classic Bourbon street, it is so worth it. The service was friendly, the ambiance was charming, and the food was immaculate. read more

See all

What a neighborhood gem! This Latin style tapas joint has everything you could want from South America to Mexican to carribean cuisine. W specialty cocktails are awesome with dried fruit and just the right amount of flavor and spirits. Cauliflower was delightful, loved the salmon ceviche (my fav), guacamole was just ok, people liked the queso it had lots of crawfish, arepas and empanadas were great. The Brussels salad was also light and fresh and super good! Come with a big group so you can sample it all. I preferred the tapas to the platos. Shrimp mofongo and paella were good but not my favorite. Service was great, prompt and kind. Our large groups could thouroghly enjoy ourselves and not worry about noise or being pressed to leave. read more

No pics, but the Crawfish Nacho Dip was so good, I got seconds! Even as a non-seafood fan, the Peruvian Ceviche won me over. The Passionate Lama was yummy and was very passion fruit forward and not overly sweet. The Mango Ice Cream with strawberries and Tajín was a sweet ending. Definitely a spot to try different menu items. read more

Food and service were top notch. We didn't have reservations but they found us a table. I would recommend having a reservation. read more

See all

Food, Service, Ambiance... this little place has it all!!! When first arriving, this place looked so small and tiny with barely enough room for an extended bar area. The drinks definitely started this experience in the right direction. Actually, the service... from the second we walked in, they were on top of it. You MUST have a reservation because the place is small. Back to the drinks...AMAZING! It was not the typical cocktail menu, and it was very welcome. Now the food...ooh la la! We had the chicken empanadas, which were so fresh and bursting with flavor. Then I had the paella, and my boo had the fish and grits. We shared and let me state this clearly... THIS WAS THE BEST MEAL I HAVE HAD IN NEW ORLEANS. So good. I will be back. When I bring friends to New Orleans, I will bring them here. Perfect experience! read more

See all

Excellent little spot with very cool vibes and amazing staff. The drinks were unique and delicious. Give this a try if you want to try lesser known spirits, and interesting dishes. Also really reasonably priced. read more

BEST queso I've had!! 1000% go even if just for the crawfish queso, we went for happy hour and the prices for food/drinks was amazing. The vibe inside is super cute and the service was great :) I really enjoyed the vegetable empanadas and my sangria, my boyfriend really liked the pork tacos and his marg was v strong/spicy. The star of the show was def the queso though read more

See all

Nanjo and Emily, thank you for your amazing service. The food was spectacular. It was just bursting with the right amount of flavor and it touched my soul through my heart. The setting is so sweet and so clean and is just an overall "viiiiibe". I LOVE dancing while I sit and eat and you got that playlist that just . Truly a gem and truly glad I came! Salmon ceviche, flavors robust and a little spicy kick! Chicken empanadas I felt so blessed to be eating them, divine! Divine!!!! Mofongo had its own twist and still, made me think of the beautiful time I once had in Puerto Rico. Can't wait to return and bring my friends and family who visit me here. They'll be sooo glad I did! read more

Nice options and food was tasty. Service is a bit slow and portions are small (guac and lamb lollipops, etc) Nice, chill environment.

Loved the lunch we had at Bésame! The fish and grits were fantastic (whitefish was a great quality and with excellent flavor, and the grits were delicious without being heavy or too buttery, they were different from any other grits I've had before). The tempura cauliflower were delicious. Also enjoyed the Peruvian ceviche. My 7yo liked the guacamole. Churrasco was yummy and the potatoes and egg that accompanied was really good. Kids also enjoyed the chocolate tamal for dessert. read more

Very average. Portions are small and drinks are completely watered down. Also has a 20% tip automatically added for a party of 6+ read more

See all

So good, any of the ceviche are 10/10. After eating so much of the same in New Orleans, this was such a culinary delight. It's got a cute ambiance with a historical twist, and the service was good and fast! read more

Found this place on line and I was not disappointed. The brussel sprouts were so fresh and had fantastic flavors. Our meals of pork for me and steak for my partner had a great blend of tastes. The Cochinita (pork) was served with pickled cabbage that gave it such a fresh blend. We even saved room for dessert, Tres Leches yum. Casual dinning with an upscale meal. read more

The menu is deceptively concise, and that's a great thing! There are just enough options to keep things interesting but not so much as to feel overwhelming. There is a traditional feel to the menu items, but they are designed and crafted with a unique flair that is sure to delight your tastebuds and entice your nostrils. The tapas items are constructed beautifully for the eye and never lacking in flavor! We had the salmon ceviché (to die for!), chicken empanadas (paired with a delicious herbed crema), tempura-battered cauliflower (on top of a bed of chick peas, cumin, pickled red onions, etc), and the paella (almost too good). I could not recommend this combination more! Each dish was delicious and uniquely adapted to contrast one another. Very fresh ingredients and care with spices and accompanying sauces that matched perfectly. We had a very friendly conversation with the owner and got to learn a bit about his life journey and love for culinary arts, and our waitress, Zee, was terrific! Put this on your list of top places to eat while in New Orleans, especially if you're coming to see a show nearby! read more

A true Happy Hour. Cocktails are under $6 and small plates under $8. The restaurant was quite as it was 3pm on a Thursday, but I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting from out of town like myself read more

See all

Great food. Give this place a try. Tuna ceviche was fresh. The pork in the banana leaf was DELICIOUS. Hochanita I believe. Wonderful food. Awesome! read more

Definitely disappointed in the taste of the food. Everything was very pretty but lacked so much flavor the drinks did not taste very good. There's only about five items on the food menu went to another restaurant afterward because we were still hungry, and it definitely is not worth the value. Customer service was OK, but nothing to brag about the location is relatively easy to find. We didn't have a reservation and were still able to get a table. The only thing that kind of tastes good was the fried cauliflower. other than that, you should try a different restaurant. read more

Bésame - Veggie empanadas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Portions are too big for "tapas". Food came out very quickly.....good, but would have been better if freshly prepared. With a little attention to detail, definitely could be 4 stars read more

Absolutely a hidden gem! The Paloma drink is insanely tasty! The ceviche is flavorful! I highly recommend! So glad I made reservations here!

This place was so good! Really hidden gem right off canal. We did brunch and the drinks and food were right on point. read more

See all

Delicious drinks, delicious food, and great service. Also, a lively atmosphere. Would recommen.

This place is a vibe. It's decor was fun and really cool, def recommend getting a reservation because there's not a whole lot of seating. Visited for a Sunday brunch, spicy pineapple margarita was absolutely delicious. To start off food wise my husband and I shared the crawfish queso and salmon ceviche. The queso was good, a little overhyped online in my opinion, but good nonetheless. The salmon ceviche? Absolutely amazing, I think hands down maybe the best ceviche I have ever tried. It was light and refreshing yet still had a nice flavorful kick to it. For entrees we got the Sopes and Mofongo, these were ok overall. Not bad by any means, but I think the ceviche was an amazing knockout dish that was just hard to follow. Overall I would definitely come here again, I think next time I may just order all the ceviches. read more

Bésame - Pineapple jalapeño margarita - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

What a hidden gem!! After living in Mexico City this was a happy find in New Orleans!! Authentic does not start to describe this food read more

Bésame - Chilaquiles - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Was here for a friend's birthday " he loved the lamb chops , He said that he always come here because the lamb chops are his favorite. He also tried other food on the menu, I watched him as he ate them, and i can tell he loved his birthday's dinner. I also had something to eat, it was the chicken salad and it was also a great dish" the salad dressing was delicious, which made me enjoy it even more, the young man that made us feel so welcome was amazing! He made sure that we had everything we needed, and he would check on us to make sure we were happy and enjoying our dinner. He was so kind and nice. He made us feel at home " please stop by and have lunch there you will love the service snd the food and the kindness they will show you.the restaurant was so relaxing that we forgot that we were in the restaurant, it is so home like and cozy, bottom line is we loved it! read more