I came here with my wife after going downtown for drinks and Im glad we did. It was maybe 30-45 minutes before closing, but the staff was very welcoming and nice. The chef informed us that they were short staffed, but he and the waitress "C" were extremely cool. Food came out in great timing and fresh. 9.5/10, Great vibe there. read more

I've been wanting to visit this place for a while. I came in the afternoon after the pride parade. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to get a parking spot right out front and got a table right away. They have a nice menu with traditional Cajon dishes. They also have good happy hour items (not available that day due to pride parade). We ordered a triple D special - the portion is big! It came with a roasted beef sandwich, jambalaya and fries (we got sweet potato fries and they were so good with brown sugar). We also ordered their wings with Cajun rub - they were so flavorful even without any dipping sauce - but parm garlic sauce was really good). We also got mac n cheese with NOLA roasted beef and fried cheese curds...Soo good! My least favorite was gumbo but still good though. Overall, my experience has been great. The waitress was friendly. I'd come back soon. read more

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I'm sorry but this place is very mid to me. Giving them 3 stars is pretty generous but I do it for the staff because they're solid people and make the vibes better. I got the fried catfish with mac on the side and the batter was crispy but severely lacked salt and same goes for literally every dish I've had here. Luckily they were able to find some Crystal hot sauce in the back and I was able to use that to supplement the lack in flavor. I'm genuinely not sure if they even have a southern cook in the back or if the demographic that this place caters to just can't take salty food, but it'll be a miracle if you see me in there again. Also I'm used to having catfish with red beans and rice, collard greens and Mac as sides but here they're priced as an entire entree which, as you can imagine, will run up the bill real fast. read more

I'd give this place 3.5 if I could but since I can't I'm gonna round it down and give a simple pro and con list: Pros: -Very friendly and considerate bartender/server named CJ. Clearly a very good dude -Didn't bat an eye at us having a baby with us. They have high chairs! It's so hard sometimes to tell what restaurants will be kind/accommodating to a baby so this was appreciated. -My gumbo with fried catfish was really delicious, flavorful, and a massive portion Cons: -Restaurant is looking a bit run down. My chair had a completely busted seat -My wife's hot chicken po'boy with fries was pretty terrible. Basically an unseasoned breaded chicken filet just drowned in hot sauce so it wasn't flavorful so much as just spicy, and the fries were ridiculously undercooked. She said it was one of the worst things she's had out in recent memory. :/ I'd recommend this place for CJ, the jambalaya and gumbo! But maybe stay away from the fries and sandwiches. read more

NOLA on 5th - Gumbo with Fried Catfish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

Chicken strips, wings and the fries were very good here! The chefs know what they are doing here. I was very impressed with the quality of food and deliciousness! We came here to watch the FIFA US game upstairs and the service was great, the drinks were great and the food was delicious with a capital'D'! Parking can be challenging with the construction going on near by. There was a lot of space for groups and the bathroom was on the same floor, so you did not have to travel far. We met the owner, he was very nice and attentive. I would come back again for the food experience. Enjoy! read more

NOLA on 5th - Chicken strips - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

Solid happy hour at Nola on 5th. Def off the beaten path but our server/bartender did a great job pouring drinks, bussing and serving a decently full restaurant. Loved their bowl of gumbo, perfect amount of spice, heat, tempt and loaded with shrimp, okra, and sausage. Also loved their wings with the dry rub and sauces on the side. It keeps them nice and crispy and it's up to you how saucy you want to get. Loooooved the slider flight. The were all pretty good but the smash burger one was my favorite with the crispy edges and fried onions. Casual ambiance and a great outdoor seating area. Def a good spot for another wing Wednesday happy hour read more

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We decided to check out NOLA on 5th for Happy Hour, and it was pretty good. NOLA is a bar-restaurant located on the 1st floor of an old house in Hillcrest with tables inside and out. In many ways, it reminds us of similar divey bar-restaurants in New Orleans. From the Happy Hour menu, we ordered a Cup of Gumbo (4/5 $8 HH), Cup of Jambalaya (4/5 $8 HH), and a Slider Flight (3/5 $14 HH for 4 sliders): Classic NOLA Hamburger Slider, Buffalo Chicken Slider, Roast Beef Slider, and Southwest Hamburger Slider. The draft beer selection is very good, and I enjoyed a Blonde Ale (5/5 16oz $5 HH). The bar tender (Danny) was great -- personable, attentive, and informative. There are two pay lots about a block away on 5th. I took a street space about two blocks away. All-in-all, we enjoyed ourselves ... and look forward to one of their Crawfish Boils. NOLA is definitely good Happy Hour value. read more

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It's Closed. Permanently. Would of loved to try the Po Boy but RIP to this establishment read more

NOLA on 5th - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

Crawfish boil! NOLA held their second one today, and plans to have one every two weeks. Saturday. $35 per person. Includes a bottle of Abita beer(choice of their lager or brown ale),a potato, and a good sized sausage. 4 starts for this crawfish boil. My husband and I spilt an order. The crawfish were well spiced with a noticeable amount of heat from the Cajun spice blend, just how i like it. Husband enjoyed the sausage, and the brown ale hit the spot. Looking forward to another in the future. Tip: Reserve early. We dined at noon and the place was packed when we left. read more

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I love the poboy, it was a catfish & shrimp poboy it was soooo good. The buffalo chicken sliders were also great. I wouldn't recommend the wings there too big, and have no flavor. The shrimp and grits is a waste of money, it's bland and the shrimp are so small, you only get about 5 pieces on top of that the shrimp were burnt. My friend ordered the loaded fries and found hair in it. The drinks are good. And the service was also good, with there only being one server he did the best he could. This was a nice spot despite the hiccups. read more

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I had seen a few mixed reviews for this place but as it's down the street, we'd been meaning to check it out. We had a party of 7 and were seated quickly on a Monday night to watch football and get some din. It was not busy other than just a few people seated at the bar and some seated outside. I ordered the five chicken wings, and as you can see in the photo was given one tiny little wing. I didn't want to say anything but my fiancée asked our server if we could get another legitimate wing and she was happy to do so, and brought me two more to make up for it! That was really nice. The house made Carolina reaper hot sauce is AWESOME! I am going to come back to purchase a bottle. So spicy and it lingers, with a strong vinegar flavor (which I love). The wings themselves were good also. Great fries, too. The shrimp plate was 80% fries, but the shrimp had good flavor and the salad was good also. My fiancée ordered the blue cheese burger and gave it a 7.5/10- it had a thick patty and good flavor. Overall, we would come back to try more items and to watch the game. Love that our pup was welcomed inside :) read more

NOLA on 5th - Shrimp plate - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food is insanely good. Loved my meal and no one in my party had an issue with the food. Seriously delicious! The service is a different story. We had a server who was rude from the moment we walked in. We were standing in the entrance and he walks by and says: UGH MORE? Then he is impatient with us as we are ordering. Making sassy comments repeatedly. Never Checks back on us. Always ready with a rude comment. Glad the food was great. Probably will not return because I can get great food with better service elsewhere. But bless him! Hope he finds joy read more

Cute place. Nice patio seating as well as tables inside. It was very hot but it had good air flow and fans. The food was very good. I had the French dip. It was delicious. Will be back. Bartender/server was attentive and friendly. read more

NOLA on 5th - Got the NOLA French Dip - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

I was really looking forward to Nola on 5th opening, but after a few visits the food just isn't what I hoped for. The flavors don't remind me of New Orleans at all. The catfish was dry, and the roast beef po'boy tasted more like canned pot roast than a proper po'boy. Service could use some tightening up too and while the servers are moving, it still took quite a while just to get drink refills. I love the concept and wanted this to be a regular spot, but right now it feels more like a rough draft than the finished product. Hopefully with some adjustments it can live up to the name. Welp! Onto the next! read more

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I was looking for somewhere new to try and had my yearly craving for good Cajun soul food; I found NOLA on 5th which seemed to have mixed reviews, but also some items I was particularly excited to try. It was a beautiful day out and the open air table was really great to get the nice breezy Hillcrest weather with the sun not beaming down too much to make the experience uncomfortable. The restaurant and bar were nearly empty when we arrived, so service was incredibly fast; the time from ordering to getting our food was less than 15 minutes total, which was great! We ordered a variety of items from the menu, starting with the fried catfish, which was really tasty. It wasn't too overly fried or greasy, the fish was tender and juicy, and the sauce it came with was a really nice accompaniment. For the main courses, we split the New Orleans Trio and the Triple-D Special (Black & Gold Cowboy with Jambalya). The trio, which came with Shrimp Etouffee, Gumbo, and Jambalya, was great overall, although the Etouffee was incredibly salty and became too much to finish. The gumbo was really good and authentic and the jambalya was well cooked, not dry, and made a great side to the po'boy. The Po'Boy was also very good, and I really liked the pairing of slow-cooked beef and fried shrimp, though they beef was a bit tough in the middle of the sandwich. It was made even better with the Cajun hot sauce, which I ended up drowning nearly everyrhing with because of how much I liked it, but truly nothing needed it to be good. Overall, it was a great lunch experience and very friendly service, and while some items were much better than others, I left very content with what I had been given and would recommend this as a casual lunch spot for others. read more

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The food was disgusting it's not what it looks like in the photos. Plate #1 Rice was old and cold shrimp was grilled until it were burnt, my daughter was celebrating her birthday and we decided to check this place out after two bites she said I don't want this cold burnt food it's disgusting Plate #2 was Bayou Shrimp Dinner the shrimp was fried in old shrimp batter and old grease the French fries were ok that was the only thing that looked worth eating. Food totally different from the pictures the restaurant posted. Don't waste your money or your time we were so disappointed in this place. They are no where near New Orleans food not even close! read more

NOLA on 5th - Burnt shrimps cooked in old grease French fries are cold , Bayou Shrimp dinner looks nothing like the photos that are advertised. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love me some good southern cooking. And Nola on 5th definitely has a lot to choose from. I ended up trying the Mac n cheese with roast beef strips on top, as per recommendation by an employee. It was good. Not great, not amazing, but good. The bread was amazing! I definitely want to come back and try something else off the menu to give them a second chance. read more

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Friday night. One server. Not good. She was really working, but when it takes 15 minutes to get a refill on your beverage and she was not able to check in with us at all during the meal - it's just not a good thing. The red beans and rice with sausage was excellent. The catfish feast would have been better with one large piece of fish rather than the over breaded nuggets, but it was tasty. Usually great. Tonight just good. And now the large issue I cannot get over. They added a 4% surcharge. Just pay your people right or raise prices and tell the truth. I'm afraid I will not be back as I do not believe surcharges are right or fair. Goodbye dear friend and I wish you well. P.s. they probably had this for a while but I just caught it. I am truly sad. read more

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Decided to give this place a try.No parking in Hillcrest which I expected paid 17.00 for 2hrs.It was busy for Juneteenth.Found seating... waiting 15min for someone offer us a glass of water or a menu.Waited another 10/15 min to ask a question about how the operation works around here.His response was we're slammed downstairs and upstairs fyi only 3ppl upstairs and all these people are waiting for food which was approximately 30ppl with a wait time of at least 45 mins for food. There are two things that will keep me from returning to this establishment (1) how do you not greet customers (2) nobody eating read more

1st time here (1/9/26 lunch time) and it did not disappoint. The food was perfectly seasoned and authentic. The ettoufee was so rich and delicious. Best po boy I've had in San Diego! Guy Fieri's Triple-D special is a must! Perfect for sharing! There were a few people there with one server/host who was also bartending, he was nice and friendly. Did a great job tending to everyone. read more

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Awesome happy hour offerings on wings and a large beer selection, we were pleasantly surprised! Loved the dipping sauces for the wings, and that the wings are dry rubbed/spiced vs. super saucy. Good indoor and outdoor seating, and very friendly service. Would definitely come back! read more

Decided to give this place another try and had a completely different experience. Server/bartender was friendly and on top of things. Food order was correct and yummy. Got the trio and was satisfied. read more

We came as a party of 6 to enjoy our time together after not seeing each other for several weeks. We came for the bottomless mimosas but stayed for hours because we received the best service from SHAWN, she kept the vibes going and checked on us throughout our visit. Even Gustavo the chef came to check on us and the food was absolutely amazing! This was our first time here but definitely won't be our last! Hope to be served by Shawn again at our next visit! read more

NOLA on 5th - Bottomless mimosas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here last night with my partner and it was a bit of a wait but so yummy! The place is charming with both inside and outside patio seating. We came later in the evening so it wasn't super busy. We were pretty hungry and it took a good 30 minutes to get greeted and given waters which was a bit disappointing-- especially given the low volume of people. Our server apologized for the wait and helped us get our order in. Now despite us being the only people ordering at this point, the food took another 20 minutes. :/ We got the New Orleans Trio and the Dirty fries which I'll admit were really good and really saved the night. Our server also became more attentive and she was actually really sweet and helped talk us through items and even helped get us some additional dressings and bread. We finished with desert and got the White Chocolate Bread Pudding and oh wow was this so so bussin'! Overall a rough start, but the service afterwards and food helped make for a strong finish. I would still recommend as it's such a unique and delicious menu! read more

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I have to say the food is fantastic!! I've never had a po'boy before and it's probably one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Unfortunately service was terrible it took almost an hour to get our food and it's so hot inside no AC no fans nothing just stale heat. I would recommend going after the sun goes down! Good food but not in this heat! read more

NOLA on 5th - Black and Gold Po'boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a definitely "coming back" spot. I had high hopes and low expectations for a Cajun restaurant in San Diego but this place exceed everything I could be imagined. This was a great beginning to my food tour of SD once again. The service was great, and it wasn't a busy 4th of July Friday so I got a very nice seat on the patio. My homie got the Cajun Mac and cheese and it was elite fosho. My poboy was excellent, and the fries were exquisite...but to couple it with the bread pudding?????? Oh man, reminded me why that was my favorite desert, I will be back to try different items! And I can't wait!! read more

NOLA on 5th - Bread pudding! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely amazing experience! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, setting the tone for a great meal. Arlette went above and beyond with her service--she made fantastic recommendations based on my preferences and even paired my meal with the perfect beer, which complemented the flavors beautifully. From start to finish, she made sure I was well taken care of and had everything I needed without ever being intrusive. Her attention to detail, genuine friendliness, and knowledge of the menu truly elevated the entire dining experience and made it feel personalized. The food was incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection--every bite was better than the last. You can tell there's real care put into both the ingredients and presentation. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back again and again! read more

This place is definitely a place to visit. The service from the minute we got in was phenomenal. I went there with three people and one got the omelet and the other and myself just got the eggs, sausage and toast. My food was so very delicious. The only reason I could not give the five was due to my friend thinking the sauce on the omelet was a little much and that it was undercooked. Unfortunate for my friend. But my food has no issues. And if you go here get the bottomless mimosas. Definitely worth it of course. Another thing I liked was the aroma of the restaurant. Not too noisy and tables were separated nicely. I will definitely love to go here again when I can. read more

NOLA on 5th - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came here because of watching Guy Fieri's tv show and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! Anna helped us a very nice experience we are very appreciative. The sandwiches and trio combo are unbeatable. There's plenty of nice sunlight and fresh air to enjoy the great food. Good music too. We're looking forward to coming back! read more

NOLA on 5th - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

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Before I really start this review, yes, this is another Triple D recommendation. Yes, I have been to New Orleans. If you have been following my reviews long enough, you will see I have plenty of experience trying po boys, jambalaya, the fare that makes New Orleans, New Orleans. If this restaurant were in New Orleans, it would fit right in with the others I visited while down in the Big Easy. When I first walked in, I immediately started having flashbacks to the fall of 2022, when I visited the Crescent City. It really did look right out of a New Orleans pub that serves up great food. I know I have already spoiled the review by saying the food is good, but why not talk about why that is? I had to try their Guy Fieri combo, which is a Black and Gold Po Boy (the po boy Guy Fieri tried on his show, along with the jambalaya and your choice of side). I ordered the fries (I know, I know...). The food takes a bit to come out, but when I took that first bite, I knew they had done something right. This is a restaurant that successful combines two Po Boys into one. A Roast Beef Po Boy and a Shrimp Po Boy. Parasols meets Parkway (okay, maybe not quite, as both of those po boys are some of the best in NOLA). Lots of flavor, and the Leidenheimer bread is really what makes the whole thing stand out. For those unfamiliar, Leidenheimer bread is the authentic bread used in New Orleans on po boys. It is the equivalent of an Amoroso roll on Philly cheesesteaks. Without it, it is not an authentic sandwich, just a wannabe. My only complaint is that the sandwich did not come with a lagniappe (I know, I am throwing out a bunch of foreign words). A lagniappe is the French word for little gift. It is the freebie that you get when the po boy spills out the side with the extra meat in the po boy. It does not cost any extra for you, and it does not cost much more for the owner. Everybody wins out because of it. The jambalaya has plenty of heat and has excellent flavor as well. The meats are terrific and the rice that goes with it has good stickiness. The portion is generous, so much so that I could not finish it. I ate enough of it that I would not need a to go box, but I know people who did, and without judgement (I never judge people who take home leftovers). The restaurant does get busy here, with good reason. It was fun to stop here and enjoy a late lunch, and would recommend this place for someone yearning a little bit of something from that little city along the Mississippi River. read more

NOLA on 5th - Guy Fieri Combo (Black and Gold Po'boy with Jambalaya) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

I honestly wasn't going to put in a review but my 4 year old daughter got sick from the mac and cheese from yesterday. I had the trio and the red beans and rice was good but it was very dry. The same with the jambalaya was the same my husband got the Catfish plate and it was heavily breaded but it tasted bland. The service was really good our poor waiter was alone and there was a couple of people in the establishment. read more

NOLA on 5th - Trio bland and dry - Cajun/Creole Near Me - San Diego, California

My cousin was visiting for a couple of days, and I was craving creole food for a while now (random). I've been seeing this restaurant around and suggested this restaurant. It's located next to Breakfast Republic and across of Divo Diva Cafe on Fifth Ave in Hillcrest. There is paid street parking or free street parking off the main road. Parking could be very difficult especially for dinner hours and weekends. My group and I came on a Wednesday which was all day happy hour (score). We ordered their happy hour drinks including $5 draft beers. My cousin was looking forward to the $1 wings during their happy hour. Unfortunately, they didn't have the Crawfish & Andouille Sausage Eggrolls when we went - wasn't too sure if it was out for the day or just out in general because our server mentioned that the menu hasn't been updated for a while (interesting). My cousin ordered 20 wings and was able to demolish everything LOL. My group and I ordered the New Orleans Trio to share as an "appetizer" with four options to choose from: Jambalaya, Shrimp and Andouille Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffe, or Red Beans and Rice. We chose the first three and opted out the red beans (but honestly should have chose that to try because we got a TON of jambalaya afterwards, haha). Of the three, my favorite was the shrimp etouffe. It was very good, flavorful, and creamy. My cousin said it was just fully butter which probably made it so delicious. I felt this had a good kick and the best flavor of the three. Then it was the gumbo which also had good kick and flavor. In my opinion, the jambalaya was the least favorite of the three, and I also got that as an entree as well (regrets). This didn't have much andouille sausage and had the least amount of flavor. Probably also the easiest to make of the three? I wished I had gotten a different entree because my boyfriend also had a side of jambalaya with his Triple-D Special (whoops). So much jambalaya and the least eaten of all the dishes. But now we know for next time! The catfish that came with the jambalaya entree was very good. That was a huge perk to my dish, however, I'd probably get it on its own next time. My boyfriend's Triple-D Special was relatively good. The gravy with the fried shrimp mixed together with the brisket was soooo good. However, without the gravy and flavor of the fried shrimp, the brisket was kind of bland in my opinion. The fries that it came with were also seasoned quite well. Service was a bit lacking at the restaurant because there was only one server on the floor. She did really well to get our items and check up on us. However, she did miss some items which we were totally fine with. Overall, a great place for a taste of New Orleans in my opinion, although never been to New Orleans but it did satisfy my cravings LOL. My cousin's friend who was with us also said the flavors were quite similar to the actual meals at New Orleans so there's that. Definitely will be back for more as that etouffe was very good. P.S. Happy hour daily from 3-6pm and all day on Wednesday! $1 wings and $5 draft beers are such a deal! P.S.S. 4% service charge on your bill. Thankfully they state it on their menu. read more

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I came here for my birthday and was treated like a king! Brunch at Nola was nothing short of amazing. We over course got the bottomless mimosas. The food was SEASONED! And babyyy let me tell you how I put hot sauce on everything but not that day! More of a sports bar vibe but with that good creole comfort food. Thank you Nola ‍ read more

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I'm not quite sure why there are negative reviews, I have always had a great experience here. First time walking in, I was welcomed with open arms. Felt like cheers! Even when packed, they make sure to welcome everyone. Service is incredible. I do see them getting busy but they always make their way back to me. They remember my drink and always have great recommendations. The food is super yummy! Although, I wish they had a bigger brunch option. I have never been to Nola, but super yummy nonetheless. Flavors are always on point and again, they have great recommendations. This seems to have never changed, regardless of the staff. I never feel like I'm a bother, which is usually the case in bar/restaurant settings. They get packed at times, and I know why. Times like this, be patient. I simply grab a drink from the bar while waiting. I'm glad I stumbled upon this place. I will be back! read more

I was here with a friend on Super Bowl Sunday. The Crawfish were a tad bit salty but the corn and potatoes had no flavor at all. We also ordered appetizers prior to the crawfish being ready. The catfish had seasoning on the outside, but not much seasoning on the inside. The cheeseburger sliders were awesome. Those were actually my favorite out of everything we had that day. read more

I went here today for my Auntie's birthday dinner. The service was horrible the redheaded bartender did not greet us upon arrival and then by the time my aunt walked in he Chester us with his hands instead of using his mouth to speak very rude and then the server in the mini prom dress was extremely rude to my family she told us to go ahead and dine in - after asking her to split the tab. She insinuated that her mistakes were because we split the tablet. Your job is to just split a tab and make sure we have a good meal. you guys should hire people who do their jobs effectively and have common sense and maybe your reviews wouldn't be so low and then on top of that on your menu for the wings it says you get two sauces. The server says that one of the sauces is rancher, blue trees if somebody doesn't like ranch or blue cheese they only get one sauce so you need to change that on the menu. if I could give you -5 stars, I would. read more

A MUST stop to eat at. The spices and flavors are authentic to New Orleans cuisine. Owner/Chef is from the Bayou. The menu is not overpowering. It highlights New Orleans dishes very well. Manager Ollie, servers Anna and Josh, the whole team are fantastic! You're welcomed. Very comfortable. It's the California 3C's; Casual, Cool and Comfortable! You know Guy Fierri filmed Diners, Drives and Dives and loves the food at the establishment read more

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Bland food. Gumbo mediocre. Like most people that eat here... you want to give it a shot but it's not worth it.

We were looking forward to some good Cajun, but I'm sorry to say we were not able to try the food. We arrived around 2pm on a Saturday afternoon and were seated right away by the only server. Her only greeting was to ask how many people. She sat us at a table and walked away not saying anything. Twenty minutes later, she still had not even offered us a drink let alone asked if we were ready to order. The last straw was her returning the bill and credit card to the table behind us and returning to talk to her friends/coworkers(?) at the bar. Her friends were more important than the customers, so we left very disappointed. read more

Had the shrimp which was salty and flavorful along with TWO types of fries(both are delicious). The sandwiches are a great alternative to Chic-Fil-A and just as good...if not better!!! Would highly recommend for lunch or catering at work. You won't be disappointed like you would be at Chic-Fil-A once you realize you're supporting a business that has donated to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations and over 90% of political donations went to Republican candidates. I don't believe NOLA on 5th is donating to the above since they are in Hillcrest. read more