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Bamboula's

3.5 (599 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

Bamboula's Photos

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BAMBOULA'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Casual
Loud
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Bamboula's

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Reviews With Photos

Myra Y.

Best live band / singing and definitely our vibe! The crowd is mixed with different age groups and styles.

Jambalaya
Emma C.

Great spot to stop in on Frenchman street! They were able to accommodate us as a group of 18 last minute thanks to the large even space in the back. We had delicious food and drinks while listening to jazz before heading to another bar. The food was quite pricey, but the jambalaya was excellent, highly recommend!! Our service was good, we had a large group so of course everything took time, but they were very accommodating. One server we had was training so I think the number of people was overwhelming but he did great!

Oysters
Genie M.

The dude at the door explained the drink policy for each set. Then Ellie came and was welcoming on what was going on as far as food drinks. We had beer , salad and cocktails. We were pleasantly surprised with the amazing quality of bar food! Went back a second night! Same great service, food and live music! I will definitely be back when im in New Orleans!

Charles S.

Great Music. Good food terrible service. The good: we heard the New Orleans Rug Cutters play two sets of mostly historic jazz and ragtime. It was great fun. The mediocre: the food was ok. Not great. The miserable: the service. Last time I had service this bad was in Budapest in 1981 -- in the days of the Hungarian Socialist Republic. Not only was the service bad, it was unapologetically bad. I guess you don't go to a music hall for a culinary experience but you'd think they could make something off their own menu and get it out to the table in a reasonable amount of time.

Kimberly A.

We went down to Frenchmen street not really knowing what to expect on a Sunday night. Y'all that street was hoppin'. Overwhelmed we decided to start a Bamboula's because that is where the Uber dropped us. Let me tell ya, we didn't make it anywhere else. Let's start with the cocktails. When in the South Mint Juleps are the flare but it takes balance to make a good one. These were just the way I like them. Every sip was perfect shot of cold bourbon, mint, and a hint of sweetness. Even when the coffee ce started to melt it was like the glass was magically self fulling because the bourbon flavor just got better. Magic I swear. The hubs had the beer on tap well four, maybe 5 lol. Obviously he enjoyed those. Moving on the bites. We just had starters. Fried pickles were what you expect crunchy with a good dip. Heres what you want tho... Boudin balls. They nailed this one. Perfect Cajun seasoned shedded pork is what you see when you open those bad boys up. Not a bunch of rice. Nobody wants to be left with saying where's the meat?! There is a little heat at the end but not over powering. Just enough to make it Cajun. My only wish is they serve four to a plate instead of three. That way we didn't have to share the third one. I always get the smaller half. So far we check off good food and drinks let's talk service. Loved it! I like a place where the people that work there enjoy their job. Our server was friendly, attentive, cool cat. Letting us enjoy the music while keeping the drinks flowing. We sat there at our cozy table top thinking yes, this is what New Orleans is supposed to be good food, good music, good drinks, and a great vibe. We will be adding this joint to our must go list!

Seafood Gumbo
Nelly V.

Food: 3 Service: 2 Ambiance: 1 (back dining area) Cleanliness: 2 Made our way to Frenchmen St for the evening and needed a place to eat that could accommodate a party of 8. First impression walking through was that the place was lively. A band on stage playing and tables crowed at the entrance. The bouncer/host said families could head towards the back where there were plenty of larger tables. This is where things started to go down hill. The tables were dirty, but we let it slide... Figured a group had just left and they didn't have time to come by and wipe it down. No problem. Took over 10 mins for menus to be dropped off. Again. We were patient... Figured they were busy. No problem. We saw several servers come back and forth from the front of the restaurant/bar to the kitchen to the back dining area... Still no service. Kind of a problem. We finally got menus and a round of water and placed our food orders (appetizers and our entrees all at once.) I get we are a larger party, so again, we have grace when it comes to service and time for food... But it took over an hour before anything came out. And when it did, it was our apps and entrees at the same time. Problem. Here's what we ordered: - Pretzel & Crab Dip: both were tasty and dip was dense! - Fried Pickles: was good, but nothing special. - Seafood Gumbo: this was the smallest serving of Gumbo I have ever seen for a dinner entree. Was served in a small cup for $19?! Not worth it. - Jambalaya: again, good but nothing special. We had better jambalaya at other restaurants in NOLA. - Shrimp Poboy: bread was crispy and light, with a decent amount of fried shrimp - La Bayou Oysters: probably the better of the items ordered. Very flavorful. - Also ordered the Nachos, a burger and the grilled catfish platter. Would I recommend this place? maybe... If you're sitting up front and are here for the music, a drink and the vibes. Would not recommend the back dining area for a sit down dinner.

Seafood Bamboula's Nachos
Molly R.

The music was great, the bar/restaurant was very spacious. I was impressed with how late they served food, a nice treat for a night out. We had great service and had a large group that was attended to quickly. Seafood nachos were super tasty!

That's literally over $30. You're looking at.
Robert K.

Well... great atmosphere... they had a jazz band playing on a Tuesday afternoon.. the service was great... and the food was good.. my issue is: is this a food establishment? Drinking place? Music venue? I think they're trying to be all free. However, yes, the food was good. I ordered the seafood jambalaya and even though it was good, it was gone in about two bites. What's up with that? I'm hungry. Come for the music come for a beer or two, but don't expect much from the food literally

The band!
Sonja H.

The chargrilled oysters = amazing! Drinks = so good! Music = entertaining! Highlight = Jessica! This girl was on it! She was the best server so far since arriving in NOLA a week ago!! Thank you!!!

Margaret P.

The performers here caught our attention while walking down Frenchmen Street, so we opted in. The band performing that night was called "The Queen and her Friendz". Wow, talk about talent! They were sooo good. They did an old school medley of 80s/90s hip-hop and it got the crowd moving. They didn't have a cover charge, but security was really stern about us buying a drink at the bar. It was a little aggressive as we were going to buy a drink anyway, but I get it. The place is really big, but most people gathered at the front as they band was there. A great jazz spot for live music on Frenchmen Street!

Christopher M.

Visiting for the first weekend of the 2025 New Orleans Jazz Festival I had spent the day at the Festival and headed back to my lodging near the French Market. Walking through Frenchmen Street was a cultural treat. Restaurants, most with live music, were busy and the shops and bars were doing great. As I passed the open doors for Bamboulas (514 Frenchmen Street) I couldn't resist checking out the music that was in full swing. No cover charge, and the set the band played was amazing. I chose the Ceasar's salad (with a cold poached egg and anchovies, to make it a truly Cajun offering) ($14) and a Pimm's Cup ($14). Service was friendly and prompt, the vibe in the place was congenial, and everyone seemed to be really enjoying the music. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Simran M.

During one of our evenings out on Frenchmen St, we were looking somewhere to have some dinner and came across Bamboula's, where they invited us in. They had a great band playing in the front with some patrons enjoying the scene and we ventured towards the back, where the hall opened up for places to sit and some guests were enjoying the vibe while waiting for their food. The bartender was wonderful and got us the menus. As hungry as we were, we realized there was a bit of a wait for the food (ours in particular) yet he made sure we were okay and checked in on where the food, was which we really appreciated. For the wait, we thought the food was worth the wait. I had the fried catfish basket and my boyfriend had the gumbo.

Jon roniger Good for nothing

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the live music and atmosphere, good cocktails and drinks, and enjoyable local food.

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1 month ago

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3 months ago

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6 months ago

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

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15 hours ago

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3 days ago

$10 HEINEKEN!!! WTF. The ambience was cool but I'm rather disembowling myself than paying ten dollars for a Heineken

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7 months ago

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6 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 months ago

Great vibes, oyster selection and live music, all in one place. And kid friendly too for dinner!

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

Good place to see worthwhile musicians at all times if the day and night while getting some decent drinks.

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 months ago

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7 months ago

Music and food was great! Service absolutely sucked!!!!! Just abandoned at my table no bill no how's the food.

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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Bamboula's Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Bamboula's

Is it family/kid friendly?

Do they offer any kind of a jam session on Sundays or Mondays? And a drummer from the Northwest looking for a venue to play with some of the local group players this coming Sunday or Monday night. Thanks man!?

Scott, I was only visiting NOLA (Wife's Birthday) and we only visited Bamboula's one night, so I don't know. I can tell you it's a great venue for live music and I will visit… 

What is situation on parking?

Street parking. But you can't park directly in front

What is thier signature drink?

A Bamboula?!??

Do you have to be 21 to get in?

After 6pm must be 21 with valid ID

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Review Highlights - Bamboula's

“As mentioned in my review for the Spotted Cat, there are a ton of great jazz clubs on Frenchman Street.”

Mentioned in 72 reviews

Read more highlights

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Café Amelie - Pork chops and grits

Café Amelie

4.3(3.3k reviews)
0.4 mi•French Quarter
•$$

We had an absolutely exceptional dinner at Café Amélie tonight! With the recent rain, the usual…read morepotent French Quarter street smells were washed away, leaving the air beautifully fresh and the temperatures perfectly cool. Though pop-up showers were still lingering, my husband and I decided to take a gamble on courtyard dining--and I am so glad we did! Sheltered under the green umbrellas surrounded by historic brick walls, lush greenery, and rain-kissed citrus trees, the atmosphere was incredibly romantic and peaceful. The courtyard's intimate layout even brought a bit of extra magic to our evening. We sat near another wonderful couple (and their adorable daughter) and became fast friends, sharing laughs and conversation throughout the night. What truly anchored the experience, though, was the incredible service. The staff was remarkably personable, helpful, and welcoming. The dinner itself was excellent from start to finish, showcasing immense culinary skill across every dish. We started with the delicious brussels sprouts and a uniquely seasoned spring/summer gumbo that was unlike any version we've had before (oh, what I would give for the recipe). As for the entrées, the shrimp and grits were phenomenal, and the blackened catfish sandwich with a fresh salad was executed flawlessly...and the bread pudding was fantastic, too! It is rare to find an experience where top-tier hospitality, a breathtaking environment, and great food come together so (seemingly) effortlessly. Café Amélie is an absolute must-visit! We will be back.

We were walking around open to going anywhere for dinner and it was fairly early for dinner. We…read morecame across Cafe Amelie and it looked cute inside and was able to get sat right away. The host was extremely welcoming and friendly. Our server and helpers were over quickly to drop off waters and greet us. I ended up ordered the salmon. With it being so early and only one or 2 other tables besides my friend and me, the food did take longer to come out than I expected it to. Both of us did thoroughly enjoy what we got. The salmon was crispy on the outside with a nice sauce over it. We thought we'd have time to get dessert so we ordered a couple but that too took a very long time. We finally waved down our server to cancel and get the check since we had to be somewhere and he apologized and said their WiFi was going in and out so it could be that it was registering on the kitchen side. That may have explained why our entrees took too long. If it wasn't for the service and the food being great - I would not be thrilled about timing. We got there around 5:30p and had to leave by 7:15p so an almost 2 hours experience that probably could have been 1 hour.

Photos
Café Amelie - The dining room as we were leaving.

The dining room as we were leaving.

Café Amelie - Spring salad

Spring salad

Café Amelie - Thursday November 13, 2025 1:30 pm

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Thursday November 13, 2025 1:30 pm

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar

4.4(2k reviews)
1.0 mi•Central Business District
•$$
Casual dining
Happy hour specials

Good food for a good price and good service. We order the…read morecalamari and the oysters charbroiled, I think that the ousters had too much parmesan cheese but you can take it out or ask for less.

Do NOT be steered away from this place! It may not be the fanciest restaurant in New Orleans, but…read morethe seafood was amazing and the service was spectacular. We came in Saturday night without a reservation and only had to wait a few minutes. Our waitress was amazing from the second we sat down. I really wish I remembered her name because she was super attentive, funny, patient, and honestly made the whole experience even better. My boyfriend and I started with the Creole oysters and OMG... probably some of the best oysters I've ever had. They were incredibly flavorful, and dipping the bread into all that sauce afterward was SO good. My mother-in-law had the fried calamari, which came with remoulade, and she really enjoyed it. For my entrée, I had the jambalaya with chicken and andouille sausage. It was definitely spicy, but really, really good. My boyfriend and mother-in-law both had the grilled red snapper topped with their creamy crawfish sauce, and they loved it. My father-in-law had one of the oyster specials with shrimp and crawfish, which was also excellent. We finished with dessert... boyfriend and I had a chocolate mousse/cake dessert and my in-laws had the bread pudding. Everything was delicious. The atmosphere was casual and fun, they had the football games playing on the TVs, and our waitress was fantastic the entire night. Just an overall great experience. If you love seafood and oysters, definitely give this place a try. I would 100% come back!

Photos
Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar - Gallier's... Great Seafood & Oysters with Cajun Style

Gallier's... Great Seafood & Oysters with Cajun Style

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar - We are right off Bourbon Street (Corner of Canal St and Carondelet St)

We are right off Bourbon Street (Corner of Canal St and Carondelet St)

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar - Gallier Special Dozen Oyster

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Gallier Special Dozen Oyster

Streetcar Cafe - Blackened Salmon and Homemade Iced tea

Streetcar Cafe

4.2(822 reviews)
1.1 mi•Central Business District
•$$
Full bar
Outdoor seating

This was a wonderful little restaurant not a two minute walk from our hotel. (The…read moreInter-continental.) Obviously, being so close it was easy-convenient and priced very reasonably. It also looks like a local hangout with their very comfortable bar. The team here is very friendly and like all places in New Orleans... always looking to help. We were traveling with our friends, which we do often and we're very predicable on what we order for breakfast. Our server came right over to the table to bring us water and take a drink order. After a very quick turn-around she was back with our coffees and we were ready to order. Over easy eggs and potatoes French toast VERY well done friend eggs Over easy with sausage Eggs Benedict (or any variation you have.) All was good. All was fresh and what needed to be hot was. What more could you ask for? We tend to get to breakfast fairly early so it wasn't too busy, but people were coming in through our meal and the place was filling up quickly. I love coming to restaurants where they have a good flow of customers and their regulars. KUDOs to the team at Streetcar Cafe.

Not good. Actually, a tourist trap…read more We wanted fresh fried seafood. The fried 'seafood' platter contains farm-raised imported shrimp, farm-raised imported Swai (a foreign garbage-eating pond-raised fish), and farmed oysters for $26. No thanks. Ok. Switching to gumbo. Uh, their 'gumbo' is a thin broth with virtually no solid ingredients besides white rice. A very few minuscule shreds of chicken and maybe a 6-8 tiny cubes of some tasteless sausage for $17. It did come with a nice biscuit. Be aware of what's being served. Stick to the well-known real-deal restaurants. Not everything is what it claims to be. Nothing real about this ripoff. We'll never go back to this tourist trap.

Photos
Streetcar Cafe - Beignets better than the other famous beignets place

Beignets better than the other famous beignets place

Streetcar Cafe - Panacota, Peppermint tea with honey syrup

Panacota, Peppermint tea with honey syrup

Streetcar Cafe - Our Famous Beignets

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Our Famous Beignets

Bamboula's - musicvenues - Updated October 2026

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