I sure wish I could give this place a half-star or zero. We went there for dinner, so my review is not based on their coffees or music or whatever else has been reviewed already. Arrived at 6:30. Took forever to order. Took forever to get served. At about 7:45 (no exaggeration) our food arrived. It wasn't that good. The waiter NEVER seemed interested in being a waiter or otherwise providing service. Food is slow? Probably not your fault, but how about some communication to tell us what's going on? Didn't even STOP BY between taking the order and serving us. Horrible, horrible, horrible. I've worked in or around the restaurant industry for decades. I was primarily a server and a manager. I've stiffed a waiter three times in my life. This was the third. Congratulations. No chance I'm going back, and high chance that I'll make sure everyone knows about this terrible experience. ** Update: the restaurant owner saw this review immediately apologized the next day. So that's something positive, at least. ** read more

We stumbled upon this place and WOW am I happy we discovered it. Let me tell you it is hard to find a good bartender and I found a GREAT one.. My Amaretto sour was so good!! Lots of places complete stiff you but this place is fair.. Super friendly staff. Food is good. I got the Roast which was perfectly cooked if there was a word better then perfect I would use that word instead the potatoes were really good! My other half got the shrimp po boy and he was in heaven. We got the onion rings for an app and I wasn't a fan, lots of breading and not a lot of onion. This is actually our new date night spot, reminds us of our favorite spot back home! We can't wait to return to explore more of the menu! read more

Cafe Nola - Shrimp Po Boy with Tomato Bisque Soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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We had amazing friendly service with constant checks to see if we had enough coffee, if the food was OK. We enjoyed the Lavender Latte it was delicious read more

Cafe Nola - Lavender Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

We came in for brunch on Sunday and I have to say that our experience was incredible. We had to wait for about 30 minutes but was well worth it. We ordered coffee from the walk-up coffee bar while we waited and got to scope out the food that was being delivered to the high-top tables by the front window. Once seated, we started off with a pitcher of mimosas (for a reasonably priced $18) and deviled eggs. Some of our favorite Entrees were the bacon and ramps, Chesapeake Benedict and Italian Benedict. Our waitress (I wish I could remember her name) was so friendly and accommodating. She even split our checks at the end of the meal without us asking. For a 27 year old who goes out with groups and needs checks split often...the level of accommodation was very refreshing. I'm not from the area but would highly recommend Cafe Nola to anyone visiting. It was a great atmosphere, with great food and a very friendly staff. read more

Stopped here on my way to tubing in Harper's Ferry WV. Was super crowded with brunch folk but there was still room at the bar for me to sit while waiting for a large table to open up. There was a myriad of very tasty cocktails, including a peach bellini which was bubbly, but at the same time rich with peach pulp. By the time I finished my drink, the table was ready. Our waitress was phenomenal at describing the food....I almost felt like I could taste it before it even showed up. I got the Tempeh BLT which was soooo good. I'm not even a vegetarian but that sandwich was the bomb! Thank you Cafe Nola for starting my day on the river right! read more

This place is great for breakfast/brunch, which they now serve all day! I had Salmon Florentine Benedict with a side of fresh fruit, and the Hawaiian Latte, which was basically a salted caramel latte with Hawaiian Black Sea salt. Both were delicious, and I would definitely order this again. My mom got the Migas, scrambled eggs with pico de gallo and avocado on tortillas. Service was great, they were very polite and attentive. read more

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I don't think we've ever actually been to dinner at Nola before and, I have to say, when there isn't a band playing and the crowds are sparse, the atmosphere is actually very romantic! I was surprised because we normally go for brunch or stumble in to have coffee or tea and a little sweet treat after having dinner and /or a few too many drinks elsewhere. I've just never thought of it as a dinner destination. I think last night was kind of a fluke though, because it was the Friday before the long Labor Day weekend and they were pretty dead. We felt kind of foolish for making reservations, but I'm sure it's not always like that. Like I said, I love Nola at night. It's so dark and cozy. I'm a big fan of their breakfast, brunch and lunch menus, but the atmosphere just isn't the same during the day. I was fixated last night on their row of back-lit infusion jars filled with assorted fruits and spices steeping in beautiful multicolored liquors. I don't think I've ever noticed it before and I couldn't stop staring. For last night's dinner, I had their orange glazed duck breast and my boyfriend had the butternut squash fettuccine. Our friends had the stuffed chicken and the crab nachos (appetizer). Out of the four, the chicken looked the best, but I only sampled the duck and fettuccine. The fettuccine was good, but kind of mushy and had a few "plops" of squash puree on the plate for garnish that actually looked kind of unappetizing. (Note to self for future recipes...walnuts and butternut squash are REALLY good together in pasta). I wasn't a huge fan of my duck. Duck is something that I've had a couple of times before and, when I like it, I REALLY like it. It has a strip of fat running down the side of it that's very good (almost "creamy"), but last night the duck was a little on the cool side and the fat was kind of cold and rubbery. The bread accompanying dinner was fantastic; a long, warm, crusty loaf that tasted like it just came out of the oven...and I LOVE that a carafe of ice water is left on the table so you can keep filling up yourself. My only complaint about Nola (and I know it's a dumb one), is the size of the place. It's not especially on the small side, but when there are a lot of things going on all at once, it almost suffers an identity crisis. If there's a band playing and we want to go for a meal, we're crammed into a little dining room with people just having drinks and we can't really have any kind of conversation. Conversely, if we just want to watch the band, we have to try and find a place to sit and endure the dirty looks of people trying to have a nice meal. If we just want to pop in for a cup of coffee and some people watching, we feel weird because we're stealing a table from people who want to sit and have dinner (and spend a lot more money than us with our measly cups of coffee that we're going to nurse for the next hour). I really wish they had a larger dining section separate from the bar/café. Next time we go for dinner, I'll make sure I'm not quite so tired and hungry and I'll get a couple more mixed drinks and a salad and/or split an appetizer. I'm a huge gin and tonic fan and I'm dying to try their cucumber infused gin even though I unfortunately agree with the people who wrote that the amount of alcohol in their mixed drinks is lacking. My pear and almond tini was pretty and tasty, but it really didn't even give me much of a buzz at all (and isn't that the whole point of a martini?). read more

I've been to Nola many times and haven't gotten around to reviewing it, mainly because this place has so much to offer (coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, bar) that I never felt like I had a complete picture of it. Lunch - you must try the seafood chowder if it's on the menu. It's amazing. My husband and I each order a bowl and just slurp it down to the very last drop. Bar/Drinks: We've had good wine here and good beer. You won't find the "typical" beer options, but our server helped us pick out an amazing beer by us telling her what we usually drink. Breakfast/Brunch - Ah, their brunch menu is amazing. Try the Italian Benedict, it's scrumptious. (Skip the mimosa, it should be called OJ in a champagne flute, there was barely any champagne...) Dinner - We've never really had a full dinner, just appetizers, but those are pretty good. Not amazing, but good enough to go with a glass of beer. Overall, I agree with others that the service is hit or miss. The wait staff is definitely on their own schedule and in their own world, but if you're not in a rush, and want to eat some fresh food and have some good drinks, then try it out. read more

One of my favorite places in Frederick for brunch and for drinks! Last night I had the blueberry cake vodka with club soda - it was delicious! My husband wasn't a fan of the spiced pear gin, but the different flavors are always a little hit or miss. The only drawback is that there isn't much room around the bar so it's best to either come before dinner for just drinks or wait until 9pm when they aren't seating for dinner anymore. read more

Love this place! So many choices on the brunch menu. Ordered an Italian Egg Benedict and a Hawaiian Salted Latte. Extremely happy with my order. read more

It's all good at Cafe Nola! Coffee, brunch, lunch, dinner and late night! This place is a must if you're in downtown Frederick. As a musician and quasi-foody, I appreciate the care that the staff takes of their patrons. My personal favs are the "Ninja Turtle", the Vegetable Tempura, and the Black Bean Burger (it's made in-house and super tasty). read more

Great brunch! I had the Anything But Ordinary with mashed potatoes and a Bloody Mary, both were excellent both in taste and presentation. We came without our 4 year old but noticed several kids there (happily). Nice to know we can come back with our little one without feeling out of place. Nice outside seating on a beautiful Sunday. read more

Cafe Nola - Anything But Ordinary - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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I've been a customer to this cafe many times and was always blown away by the service BUT the most recent times I've been I've been taken care of by a new bartender named Matty and let me say he is the reason I'm finally writing a 5 star review. He is so friendly and sociable. He went above and beyond to make sure I had nothing but the best drinks, food, and service. I'm not sure how long he has been with Nola (I would not call myself a regular) but he is a new face for me and I can not say a single negative thing about my dining experiences since being served by him at the bar. read more

Driven by this place a number of times, and have friends who frequent the bar. I finally stopped by to see what all the fuss was about. My friend wanted to see a bluegrass/folk band that was playing tonight, so we decided to get dinner while we were at it. My first impression... it is smaller than I expected. Has a very cozy feel to it. The food: Good. I had the rib-eye which was delicious. Well seasoned, tasty kale and carrots, served on a bed of mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were nice and salty, if maybe a touch on the over salty side, but I wasn't deterred. The drink: TASTY! They have a nice spread of infused liquors, which I had trouble choosing from. The final choice, the Vanilla Lemongrass Martini. EXCELLENT! Not to sweet, but very refreshing. Was tempted by the Pear Almond-Tini and the Black Cherry Bourbon... The service.. Pretty good. They seemed well staffed on this evening. The place was very busy at the bar and dining area. The staff was constantly moving, never idle. The coffee: HOLY COW. Had a latte, which was very well done. The use Illy coffee (yum!), and the milk, well steamed. The latte was nice and naturally sweet. The music. Like I said.. tonight was bluegrass/folk. But judging from the schedule, they have a nice mix of styles they bring in. Later this week, they have an electronica-type band coming in which piques my interest. Bottom line, looking forward to coming back to see if this might be a long term hang out for me. read more

It is more like 3 1/2 stars. Their sweet potato fries are the best I've had, by far. The atmosphere and staff are also great. However, I think I'd stick to the coffee, baked goods (both are great), and the occasional mixed drink. Here is why: They have a cool collection of infused vodkas. I enjoyed their cucumber/mint one, but didn't care for their bloody mary which was way way too salty--I couldn't drink it. My order also included a burger, which was suppose to be medium well but was by far not. Their burger patties are thick so I am sure this is what contributed to it. I had to send it back and eventually got one that was better, but was still not cooked as asked. The staff however handle the whole thing really well so I can't be mad at them and would definitely go back. It is a cool laid back place with great atmosphere. read more

Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. It was busy so, we waited about 20 minutes for table. The ambiance is great. Love the bar with the colorful urns of infused alcohols and the chalkboard writing. It is a small place though, so having to wait for a table was not a surprise. Service was SLOW (the reasoning for 4 stars instead of 5). We spent about an hour and a half there, majority of which was waiting for our food. Drinks seemed to take longer than most restaurants as well. On the up side, our waitress was very pleasant. Food was yummy. First off, I ordered a peach and ginger iced tea, sweetened with honey. It was refreshing and light and I would order it again. Food wise, my husband and I both opted for breakfast type entrees and our friends chose burgers. I had The Scrambler with roasted potatoes on the side. It was good-the potatoes weren't anything special and a little over cooked. My husband enjoyed his egg sandwich-as well as his delicious clydesdale latte (of which I tasted and it was quite yummy). No complaints from our friends on the burger end. Portion sizes seemed normal and I thought that price wise, it was very affordable. Will definitely be back to try the dinner menu. Maybe service will be better? We are looking forward to trying out some of the infusion style alcohols and drinks! read more

This place is so well reviewed that there's not much else I can offer other than they were especially accommodating with my 4 year old. Amazing food (I had the short rib pastrami sandwich) and the alcohol was interesting and extensive. Wonderful place in a town with a lot of good food. read more

Don't get me wrong, cafe Nola has always been my to go brunch/ lunch place and it never disappoints! However, since the new menu, I have not been disappointed with the new orders- Mexican hash (must get!) and crab benedict (not the best but it was sure yummy!!) I have to admit I really do miss the breakfast sandwich choices and more lunch sandwich choices. I'm not sure if it's just me, the service with the new menu is a lot slower and the dirty chai tastes different. read more

Great breakfast. Huevos Rancheros were great. Garlic mashed potatoes were good. Service was great. Food came out quickly. Not a huge helping. They serve illy coffee. We will be back. read more

Cafe Nola - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

This is definitely one of my favorite places to eat downtown, as far as food goes. The service isn't too great however... Very slow. So don't plan on having somewhere to be afterwards. They have amazing infused vodkas. On the flip side it's always so crowed and very hard to get a drink! Management just needs to crack down and this place would be great. It's a nice chill payed back social place to come to, listen to local bands play so I would recommend it for a meet up spot with friends :) all in all I like it, I just would prefer better service. If that was the case I would be giving 5 stars read more

Cafe Nola - Downtown Frederick historical buildings everywhere - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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I'm going to go ahead and give 5 stars here. Great environment, wonderful service (pleasant surprise), and the food was outstanding (also great surprise). My first time here and have heard a lot about Cafe Nola, but was expecting kind of a cookie cutter downtown Frederick experience, but this is a unique place. Full bar, breakfast until 3pm, awesome sandwiches. I had steak and eggs (very good), wife had the scrambler (unique egg dish, has veggies and fruit), mom had the apple and brie panini which was awesome. Julian was our server and really tied up the experience for us. Super nice guy, great smile, and provided 1st class service. Highly recommend!! read more

Server was very disrespectful towards us... ran into us while waiting and instead of saying sorry pushed one of the guest in our groups and then instead of saying excuse me, said "'Move" in an aggressive tone... first experience at this place and did not start off on a good foot. I recommend the management speaking with the employees about their customer service... read more

I've been for drinks in the past, but came in for breakfast. Got there about 10 minutes to 9:00 and it was a good thing, too. By 9:00 there was a line that almost filled the restaurant. Great coffee, great service and delicious food. I had the french toast, which comes with eggs and bacon and apple compote. Delish. I will definitely return. read more

Cafe Nola is the perfect place for a lunch date. My daughters and I love stopping here while we're strolling around downtown Frederick. Our absolute favorite item is the Black Bean Burger which is house-made with black beans, mushrooms, zucchini and squash...extra delicious with a side of sweet potato fries!! Their soups are always winners, too, and we love their hummus. They also have an amazing variety of infused vodkas, gins, rums, whiskeys and tequilas...they are just plain pretty to look at even if you don't have time for a cocktail!! Not to be missed...the Ninja Turtle latte :) read more

Cafe Nola - Black Bean Burger & Sweet Potato Fries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

The place is small and cool. I went came here for brunch. Had mimosas, black hash, and a Hawaiian Sea Salt Latte. Every part of the meal was delicious and the service was good as well. I definitely recommend this place for brunch. I also came here on a Saturday night for drinks. The selection of drinks, cocktails, and brew are good given the size of the place. Definitely recommend this place as a dive bar. read more

We wandered in in search of a simple iced coffee. The place seemed more complicated than that. Kind of a grungy hipster vibe. Think whiskey and waxed mustaches and flannel and exposed gratings, that sort of thing. We weren't sure that they would accept us, meek as we were and only desiring a coffee or something. Anyway, they sure did. The coffee bar area was nice; barista guy was fun and cool. He handled our waffling and marveling over the cold brew coffee with ease. I knock one star off only because, when he rang up our two iced coffee drinks, it was like $8 or something and I was like, "Whut." So it's pricey, ouch. But I'd probably come again, just 'cuz they seemed sort of cool and friendly. read more

I have been going to Nola for years, off and on. The food and drink are usually good - often creative, and definitely quality ingredients. The issue I take with the place is that service is usually poor... extremely slow, often with an "attitude," and if you request for example, to sit in an area that is clearly open, such as outside, you'll be told in a very unaccommodating voice: "you can sit in here." So... if you're in a hurry, Nola is not the place to go. I love supporting homegrown and local, but I don't want to be punished for it! read more

While visiting Frederick, I always make sure to stop at Nola's. It's definitely worth the wait! We went during brunch time and our entire group of 7 enjoyed their entrees. They have a great variety for all sorts of tastes, from meat lovers to vegetarians, Nola's has something for everyone. I absolutely loved the huevos rancheros, served on a crispy tortilla, complemented by salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Their burgers are very tasty too. Our group couldn't have enough of the sweet potato fries perfectly paired with aioli sauce-we went through two orders! NOLA'S=YUM! read more

The food was really good. They have plenty of vegan options. My complaint was the server (Kristen). She was rude.

I love this little downtown cafe, but make it a point to visit when I know I have extra time to spare. I appreciate the care and time they take preparing their food, but it's not fast. That's not a bad thing; it's especially needed to take time to slow down in our super-busy lives. read more

My fiancé took me here to try and I loved it. It's a smaller restaurant with a nice feel. We started off with some interesting infused drinks they make here. We then got the empanadas, beet chips, and vegetarian pot pie. All of which were so tasty and creative. As a vegetarian I am always happy to find a new veg friendly restaurant with a creative menu. read more

Cafe Nola - Some of their infused drinks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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New Review: New management has improved service 100%. Food is good and comes much faster than before. Servers are more attentive. Still a hipster mecca. Live music is usually so loud that having a conversation is impossible. Old Review: Sucks to give this review because I have a few friends that work there. This place is a hipster Mecca. 9/10 times you get terrible service. read more

I went to Cafe Nola for the first time this past Saturday. It was pleasant, I really enjoyed it. The waiter was really nice. I had the crab nachoes which was amazing, I also had the Gorgonzola Burger, it was good. I tried the Ninja Turtle latte I had to get another it was that good. It was a little loud so not the best place for a quite dinner. Serve is a little slow so not the best place for a quick meal (which isn't a bad thing, my friend told me that its not the fastest place). Over all I enjoyed dinning at Cafe Nola read more

Cafe Nola - Crab Nachos - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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The wait (for coffee) was loooong, and when watching the coffee artist he should have shaved off the mound of ground coffee with a knife and not his finger ... meh. But the latte was divine. They use cream AND milk. read more

Cafe Nola - yum - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

This is a great restaurant, a great cafe and a great bar! It is a perfect place to come anytime of day. I have been here countless times. Don't listen to haters from Middletown like Christine M. This place is not for her ilk. This is an establishment for free thinkers and people of taste. I particularly enjoy brunch, a time when it is acceptable to enjoy breakfast, booze and coffee all at the same time. In fact, I am doing so right now: Chesapeake Benedict, an Old Bootsy and an Illy cappuccino. Yum!!!!! read more

Nola has good drinks, it's a cool space, and they do live music some evenings. Worth stopping by (but not on Tuesdays, they're closed).

Pretty much one of my favorite Frederick hangouts. The food is consistently good, and they tweak their menu enough for the dinner entrees to fun and new. During the day, it's a trendy coffee shop. Get the eggs Benedict, drop of a few dollops of cholula on top and damn, perfect breakfast. They use Illy coffee and know how to brew some damn good iced herbal teas. At night, it's a trendy bar with great entrees and mixed drinks to woo any date. Typically you'll see bands come in about 10 and play, mostly indie/folk local bands. The staff are all hipster cool kids but they are friendly despite the stereotype. They really build a rapport with the regulars. read more

I got the Dirty Chai Latte and Lox Benedict and both were great! Loved the vibe of the place too. Only negative was the crust on my English muffin was a little hard and made it difficult to cut but still tasted great. Definitely a place I want to go back to and take out of town people read more

I love the decor here! They have a great selection of alcoholic beverages. My favorite part about this place is the live entertainment. It can get overcrowded very fast but don't let that steer you away! You will love it! read more

Great coffee shop with amazing brunch options. While I love brunch, I forced myself to order the California turkey on cibatta. Others at the table ordered the pulled pork sandwich, the monte cristo, a plain bagel and cup of chili. Everyone's order looked amazing and we all thought our dishes were tasty. The sweet potato fries were plentiful as were the refills on water and attentivness of our server. The white chocolate and caramel latte was good but not outstanding. read more