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Mena's Palace

4.1 (484 reviews)
Closed • 7:30 am - 3:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

Mena's Palace Photos

Business Info

MENA'S PALACE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Mena's Palace

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Reviews With Photos

Red Beans And Rice
John O.

I always say if I ran a restaurant it would be a breakfast and lunch only place. Mena's is that kind of place and it's a formula that must be working for them. They've been doing it for over 70 years. We went with one of the daily specials. It's a lot of food for a very reasonable price. Our choice was the red beans and rice with fried chicken. It's two pieces of chicken, either breast and wing or thigh and drumstick. It also includes a side salad. More food than we could finish. It's a tight room and they use every bit of it to fit customers in. They take credit cards but like a lot of places in NOLA, cash is a little cheaper.

Chicken parmigiana po'boy
Brooke R.

Our group of 4 stopped here for lunch on a weekday because it seemed to be busy, which is a good sign. And we were SO happy that we did! Our table ordered the fried chicken, pork chops, chicken parmigiana po'boy, and catfish po'boy. Everything was good, but the pork chops weren't the table favorite. The service was friendly, fast, and definitely added to the charm of mena's!

Menu offerings shown on the wall
Jeannie T.

There is so many reasons to love Mena's as my family and I ate our way through the French Quarter in New Orleans. First, the warm and friendly staff! Every server knows the menu inside and out and they talk to their customers. And second, the full menu - pleases all and with a full bar on hand! The restaurant is casual and a nicely air conditioned space. Great menu options offering: breakfast till close (which is 3pm daily), sandwiches, soup and salads, as well as large entrees like pork chops and baked chicken with dirty rice. They serve many of the local staples - red beans and rice with smoked sausage, chicken fried steak, shrimp Creole and fried oysters to name a few. I had the best potato salad here and thoroughly enjoyed my muffeletta. It was served warm by request (cold is also an option). My family ordered the breakfast specialties: delicious poached eggs and ham (sliced thick), Cajun smoked pork tasso omelette - pork is rubbed and smoked with Mena's house made Tasso seasoning; comes with grits which you can order the classic style or fully loaded (Cajun style) with more pork and cheddar cheese. We did the fully loaded of course! It was so delicious. Best grits I've ever tried. This is a must try local stop. Just know they are open during the AM hours through 3pm. No dinner service. This is where the locals flock to, opened since the 1950's. Note: website looks dated but it's an updated space and menu when you're there. Located in the historic part of the French Quarter.

Salad and Fried chicken with mashed potatoes

At this point, it's tradition for me to go here to eat when I'm in town. If you come here once, Margret will remember you. The food is good, and the staff is better. Make sure you buy some seasoning to take with you. I like to stock up and use it when I cook at home. It's a piece of the big easy. I will be back to eat here the next time I'm in New Orleans

Catfish po boy
Kaitlin C.

We stopped in for a quick po boy and had an awesome experience! My husband absolutely loved the catfish po boy (his first po boy!) and I got the cheese fries. They have a handful of cheeses you can pick from so you don't have to get stuff with American! All of the staff were so kind and full of infectious joy!!! The kind of folks you want to hug and have a drink with.

Shrimp & grits, fluffy biscuits, jambalaya, with chorizo sausage.
K. F.

Everything from the welcoming in, the wait staff, and food was great! It was a very tight fit to sit at our table. They really make use of every inch of space. The food is so good, you won't mind the tight fit after about 3 minutes. I love this place! Been going every time I'm in New Orleans, for about 10 years now, and I'll continue to visit, and eat at Mena's every chance I get!!

Jennie C.

This place is INCREDIBLE for breakfast. The service was wonderful, cute interior, phenomenal food as would be expected in NOLA. I will be back. Highly recommended!!

Chicken Fried Steak
Jolly Jean M.

Just arrived in NOLA and was looking for a place close to the hotel we were staying at. Ordered chicken fried steak and hamburger streak and it was really good. Beignets were fresh, light and not too sweet which is perfect!! Our server Maira went above and beyond to make sure that my toddler got his food first. She offered him crackers while waiting for his grilled cheese which was really nice. It is definitely worth a visit!!

Veggieletta
Julie H.

Cozy, friendly diner vibe. As a vegetarian visiting Nola, the vegetarian muffuletta sandwich (veggieletta) on their menu was a must try. Service was fast. The bread on my sandwich was deliciously soft and pillowy with a crunchy crust.

Poinsettia and Bloody Mary
Angie D.

Being local and living close to the quarter, I don't know why we sometimes forget about this gem. I think maybe because it's a little bit off our personal beaten path, but still very easy to get to. We have never had bad service, it's always very welcoming and friendly. It's very casual and can get a bit loud and very busy with out of town visitors on the weekends, but it's still worth the visit. There is something special about their pionsetta I don't know if it's the brand of juice or the type of sparkling, but they are delicious! Bloody Mary's are good too. The omelettes are huge and full of cheese and stuffing, my favorite side is the potatoes that are grilled with onions- yum! Plates are large, so go hungry and enjoy.

Red Beans And Rice and Fried Chicken Special
Connie C.

Always great red beans and fried chicken no matter what day of the week it is! Only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the salad served with it had wilted lettuce.

Beignets
Elizabeth A.

Location Just off Bourbon Street Parking It's New Orleans-we walked Atmosphere NOLA cafe Seating Small cafe tables Service Immediate and friendly Menu Brunch, lunch-we were there for beignets. The beignets here were so light and fluffy-very lightly dusted with 10x sugar and cinnamon- delish!! Iced tea was refreshing. The beignets base was croissanty fluffy. Summary What an AMAZING find-right on the cornet-huge menu-beignet's with cinnamon!! Loved it!!

We had the corner window table and this was the restaurant!
Christopher K.

Mena's was exactly what we were looking for! We wanted just a chill breakfast spot that wasn't a tourist trap trying to over charge us for simple food. There were locals dining here and I asked them about the spot. They said they dine here all the time. Great sign right there. The Cajun style andouille sausage and cheddar omelette was ridiculously tasty! We got it with potatoes and they were so savory and delicious. The brioche French toast was not spectacular to look at but was just simple and tasty. Basically what I'd make at home. Also... we overheard people talk about the fried chicken... we don't get it but it looked amazing on the table next to us. Probably worth trying too. This place was great. Thanks Mena's Palace! Highly recommended

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2 months ago

Service was good and food was cool ! Real chilled spot. Drinks was on point for breakfast ! Had the French 75

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1 year ago

It's tiny but mighty! This place serves up a delicious breakfast, with good hospitality. Whenever I'm in NOLA I eat breakfast here daily!

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1 year ago

Very good breakfast and the owner Leo was a great guy to talk with. Very welcoming place.

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Zesty Creole - Taste of Nola

Zesty Creole

4.5(962 reviews)
0.2 mi•Central Business District
•$$

While visiting New Orleans and looking for a place with great food, attentive service, and a quick…read moreturnaround, this is definitely a place to visit! We had Boris as our server, and he stood out from the very beginning. He was not only pleasant and attentive, but also extremely knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations. What really impressed us was that he took our very specific order without a pen or paper--he memorized everything perfectly! The food came out quickly, and the entire staff worked together seamlessly. It was truly a great dining experience from start to finish. And the desserts were to die for! I highly recommend trying the gumbo, shrimp platter, bread pudding, and chocolate mousse. Everything was delicious. The only downside is the parking. Street parking is available, as well as paid parking options, but it can be a little challenging. Overall, a wonderful experience with great food, excellent service, and a fantastic team. Highly recommended!

Stepped in for a quick appetizer and dessert while on a girls trip in October 2026. Opted for the…read morefried green tomatoes, and of course, the beignets. Both were lovely! Fried green tomatoes had a very nice thickness to the cut a good breading that was not too thick and not to thin- stayed well adhered to the tomato. They arrived piping hot, but ever so delicious. The beignets were light and fluffy also piping hot and fresh made to order. I am not a beignet connoisseur by any means however I prefer them light and fluffy versus dense and heavy. These were very good and I certainly got back to get more. The atmosphere is simple, casual. We were able to be seated immediately. This was less busy than some of the other restaurants, but certainly good. Service was exactly what I needed-not over the top and not too little.

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Zesty Creole - Bar

Bar

Zesty Creole - Beignets

Beignets

Zesty Creole - Taste of Nola

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Taste of Nola

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Gallier Restaurant & Oyster Bar

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

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!

Great spot for seafood and oysters! I really enjoyed the oysters here. They have a variety of…read moreoptions to choose from, so I would definitely recommend trying at least one of their oyster dishes. We ordered the creole oysters and seafood penne pasta, and both were solid choices. The oysters came topped with a flavorful creole sauce, while the seafood penne pasta was a hearty and filling portion. Both dishes also came with bread on the side. Service was friendly throughout our meal. There is plenty of seating inside, though the restaurant was pretty packed when we visited! Overall, a great spot if you are craving seafood.

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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

Hot N Cajun - Oysters

Hot N Cajun

4.3(221 reviews)
0.2 mi•French Quarter

In the French quarter/ bourbon street district. On the whim…read moresince we parked our car in the public parking lot next door. Figured might as well Stop to eat before heading back to our hotel . It's either this place or another popular joint across the street. Hot N Cajun won me over seeing their photos on Yelp/Google reviews . I am not much of a southern fried seafood type of person, so their seafood boil platter won me over. We luckily didn't wait to long for a party of 3 . Not much fan fair here, tables lined with Hot N Cajun logos printed on some type of parchment paper on our table. Gloves , bibs , crab claws and wet naps are provided . The menu has no price list, waiter will hand a separate sheet of paper with the most updated market price. We opted for some blue moon beer, lobster boss ( 1 lobster tail, 1/2 lbs of headless shrimp and a cluster of crab legs) of course all seafood combo included corn, potatoes and sausages. Don't like the combo pack definitely can build your own plate. The sauce was so good , I recommend to purchase a bowl of white rice or bread to sop up the flavorful sauce, would not want it to go to waste. Service, food and ambience was great,

Delicious seafood boil. Coming from California where they serve crawfish year around, I learned…read morethat NOLA will not serve frozen crawfish. That's on us, but respect the choice of not serving inferior crawfish. They have multiple sauces and spice levels to tailor to your taste. We always prefer Vietnamese influenced seafood boils with extra sauce and fresh garlic. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, both head on and headless. The lobster, snow crab, and blue crabs were all fresh also. The wings were dry rubbed and I would avoid that. The wait can be long. Restaurant was clean.

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Hot N Cajun - Bar area

Bar area

Hot N Cajun - Dungeness crab cajun

Dungeness crab cajun

Hot N Cajun - Fried Seafood Basket

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Fried Seafood Basket

Bon Ton Prime Rib - Keylime pie

Bon Ton Prime Rib

4.3(121 reviews)
0.3 mi•Central Business District

Went the other night Antonio was our server and did an amazing job. We started with charbroiled…read moreoysters those were so good we ordered another tray, then We got ribeyes and tenderloin, and several sides. The food was amazing, The cocktails were perfect but the Butter cake for dessert stole the show. We were already full but couldn't leave it unfinished. The inside is the perfect, event thought we were dressed casually we weren't made to feel out of place.

I went to Bon Ton Prime Rib for my birthday Saturday 8/29 with a party of 13, and unfortunately,…read morethe experience was a mix of good and bad. The good: The food was really good! Everything we ordered was delicious, and honestly, the food is the main reason I would consider giving Bon Ton another try. I also want to give credit to the host who greeted us. She was extremely friendly, professional, and genuinely tried her best to accommodate my party. The bad: The issue was management. I had a party of 13, and I understood that the restaurant could only seat 10 people at one table. I was told the other 3 guests would be seated at a separate table, and I was completely okay with that arrangement. However, Travis, the front manager, canceled the reservation for my 3 additional guests, so they were never seated. The host was trying her best to help us, but Travis was not very accommodating and made the situation much more difficult than it needed to be. I also asked to speak with a manager because I wanted to understand what happened with the table for my 3 guests. Tre was told that I wanted to speak with him, but he didn't come over when he finished with the table behind me. Instead, he went into the kitchen, came back out, and spoke with my friend instead of me. When he eventually spoke with me, I asked if he was the manager, and he told me no. He also gave me a different name. What makes this even more disappointing is that I wasn't approaching him to complain. I simply wanted to ask about the seating situation and find a solution for my guests. The interaction with management was unnecessary and took away from what should have been a special birthday dinner. I will say again that the food was good enough that I am willing to give Bon Ton another try. Hopefully, next time the service and management experience will match the quality of the food. Shoutout to the host for being kind and trying her best--you could tell she genuinely cared about helping us.

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Bon Ton Prime Rib - Interior of the restaurant

Interior of the restaurant

Bon Ton Prime Rib - Crab cake

Crab cake

Bon Ton Prime Rib - Interior

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Interior

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Hardhide Peach glaze wings

Willie Mae’s NOLA

4.0(504 reviews)
0.7 mi•Warehouse District
•$$

Willie Mae's knows what they're doing. Some of the best soul food in the city!…read moreThe gumbo (seafood) is some of the best you'll get from a restaurant. I really like "the chicken & the egg" appetizer which is a deviled egg with fried chicken and some pepper jelly. The NOLA nuggets (fried catfish bites) are great too. Their friend chicken is excellent, crispy and flavorful. The rotisserie chicken is a delicious lighter option. All of the sides are great. They do a really great Sunday brunch, highly recommend getting a reservation because it gets packed. Very loud and busy on Sundays with live music so don't come here if you're looking for a quiet meal. It's wheelchair accessible and not bad for parties, but it's not a huge place so if you do make a party reservation you can expect to still wait a little while for your table, but trust me, it's worth the wait. Parking is also sparse on nights and weekends so plan accordingly.

Came on a Sunday afternoon and waited an hour. The brunch DJ was awesome and the vibes were high,…read morebut that's where the good news ends. The service was terrible and the food was medicore. We ordered the fried chicken biscuits, and two major things were wrong. One biscuit was half cooked and inedible, and the other had an actual chicken wing inside...my fiance bit right into bones! The only redeeming part was the hot honey. We also tried the 1/4 fried chicken (white meat only, no mixing), which was overcooked, dry, and borderline burnt. The mac and cheese was just as dry and clearly sitting under a warmer for a while and the drinks were totally forgettable. The service was just as bad. Our bartender, which was also our server, didn't check on us a single time. When taking our order, she rudely told my fiance to speak up, yet miraculously repeated the whole order back without us having to say it again. She had no problem being friendly to the other tables around us, though. Management also needs to check bar hygiene: I watched her make drinks back to back while doing other tasks without washing her hands once, and she even handed me a damp napkin that smelled like musty mildew. All hype, zero substance.

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Willie Mae’s NOLA - History in the making!

History in the making!

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fried shrimp platter

Fried shrimp platter

Willie Mae’s NOLA - 1/4 Fried chicken and Mac and cheese

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1/4 Fried chicken and Mac and cheese

Mena's Palace - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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