We celebrated my son's 26th birthday at Nolia and came ready for great food and exceptional…read moreservice. We got both! Henry was incredible. Fun, attentive, engaging, and gave us great recommendations throughout the evening.
We started with the oysters, Skillet Cornbread, Pork Belly Skewer, and H20 Melon. The cornbread was, without a doubt, the best we've ever had. Subtly sweet, pillowy without being cakey, with this amazing sweet-savory depth. The whipped Steen's butter was the perfect complement. WOW! The pork belly was another standout. The coconut Alabama BBQ was rich and flavorful without being heavy. The melon was beautifully plated, and the country ham added the perfect salty contrast. The oysters were the only miss for me. They had a little more of that "fishy" quality than I prefer, but I'm admittedly particular about oysters.
For dinner, the Jollof was flavorful and beautifully prepared. The Lamb Neck was a little gamier than I personally prefer, but my son clearly disagreed because he devoured it down to the bone.
Then came the IBÉRICO. When I tell you how good this was...we finished it and ordered a SECOND one! The pork with corn maque choux, chimichurri, and lime was incredible. Rich, bright, savory, and beautifully balanced. Easily the star of the evening.
We finished with the Key Lime semifreddo, which was light and airy. I also had a Paper Plane, a simple cocktail that many places surprisingly don't get right. Nolia nailed it. Fresh citrus, quality ingredients, and perfectly balanced.
I also loved the hospitality. The chef greeting guests as they arrive is such a small thing, but it immediately makes the experience feel warm and personal. Between the food, Henry's service, the cocktails, and the hospitality, this was such a lovely place to celebrate my son. If you haven't been to Nolia, GO. And order the Ibérico. Honestly, you may as well order two. We did!