Nolia was on my list for a while. The decor and ambience of the restaurant are super cute. Our waiter Scott was very nice and attentive. I was very disappointed with the food. We ordered the carrots, the cornbread, the chicken, and the beans with ham. 1- carrots: they assembled them in advance, put them in the fridge and just give them to you. The menu did say these carrots were roasted but they were so COLD!!! I paid $12+ for 6 small carrots that looked like my 11 year old plated. 2. The cornbread was premade. They had then all in a line so they just warm them up and scoop butter and put it on top. 3- The chicken was super dry, and the seasoning did not have me licking my fingers. It was actually hard to eat. 4. The beans and ham were flavorful and warm BUT worth the $14 for a cup? Absolutely not. My husband asked if I wanted to get dessert but I looked over and it looked like pie you Could get at cotsco. I am so disappointed because I was expecting so much more. I left wanting more. This Place will probably close in less than a year. I just Don't see people wanting to come back for some cold carrots or pay $32 for dry roasted chicken. read more

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Went for our anniversary and had a delicious meal with excellent service! We ordered the tuna starter, cornbread, chicken, and the sea bass. The tuna, cornbread, and Bbq chicken were mouth watering good. Would reorder all the 3! The sea bass was good, but when we go back - I would probably reorder the chicken or try one of the other entrees. It was cooked perfectly but the flavors were a little bland in comparison to the other dishes we ordered. My only complaint was the vegan strawberry shortcake. The vegan biscuit was so hard I couldn't even bite through it without hurting my teeth. Next time, I'll order the cornbread for dessert if I can't find a way to order it with the main meal because it was SO good and I need to have it incorporated in some part of my meal . One last thing - make sure you order the house made hot sauce. It is insane (to the point i bought some to take home with us!). read more

Went back to Nolia on Saturday night and guess what... it's still incredible. The menu is changing on Wednesday and I can't wait to try the new stuff. For the first time we had the crawfish remoulade, oysters, and the turnips. All were bomb. The mignonette for the oysters was crazy good. Perfectly acidic and vinegary. The crawfish remoulade was shockingly light and refreshing. The blue oven bread puts it over the top. The turnips are a surprise to the senses. Seared like a scallop. The peas that come with it are crazy. Service is top knotch. Max made the night awesome. The restaurant is perfect. Would eat there every night if I could. It's clean and the vibes are immaculate. Please go and keep this place busy! read more

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I heard so many amazing things about this place and I really wanted to love it but I think we just came at the wrong menu rotation. We started with strawberry gazpacho which to me tasted like strawberry yogurt with tomatoes and I really didn't like it, it was off-putting. Cornbread was good, albeit there was way too much butter on top that we removed. Our entrees were the rockfish au poivre with shoestring fries and iberico secreto with fried rice, both of which I thought were very bland in both taste and color. However, we were absolutely delighted with roasted carrots and carrot top pesto. read more

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As a former resident of Nawlins I was pleasantly surprised that this spot is a love letter to the wards. Small, quaint and personable the place and service were exquisite. I saw the small expertly curated menu and was happy to explore. Grabbed a glass of Chaos Theory and my partner shared several dishes like the Crudo Yellowtail with Jalapeño , Caviar Waffle, Skillet Cornbread that can also be a dessert , Entree Fish and rounded out with Bread Pudding. We left full, happy and missing my second home of Nawlins. See pic of menu for prices! read more

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What a fantastic experience. Excellent food, service & ambiance. We shared the cornbread & shrimp skewers (banana guac). All 3 of us ordered the scallops and grits and we shared the green beans with snap peas with our entrees. Shared the donuts and homemade ginger ice cream with chocolate chips. I've never heard of or had ginger ice cream but it was the perfect palate cleanser after a delicious meal. We'll be back. read more

I am very torn on this review. This restaurant is up for a James Beard award for new restaurant. I thought the owner was absolutely lovely and I want to support his business. The service was really great. The interior a nice place for dinner. I felt like the food was hit or miss- as I really loved several items and didn't love a couple. My two favorite things were the cornbread and the sweet potato pie. Both were excellent. I also really enjoyed a taste of my friends flounder... And I am a fish snob so I have a high bar and the dish met it. I was not a big fan of the duck and oyster gumbo or in the goat gnocchi. I wouldn't order either again. read more

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Y'all! It's obvious why this restaurant is always booked! Everything from the drink (strong and delicious) to the service (phenomenal), the music, the vibe and of course the FOOD was amazing. I have never tasted a catfish like this one. There was love in it. I ate slow, savored it all and stayed around a while because I was so comfortable. I sincerely cannot wait to go back and try the next menu. read more

Nolia - Goretti Park - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Now this - this dinner was an experience. An experience that deserves five stars, there's no doubt in my mind. I was in town on business and needed to make a dinner reservation, preferably somewhere I've never been. Nolia was recommended and after checking them out on Yelp, I was sold. I made a reservation about a week in advance and while the time slots were limited, that just sealed the deal even more. Make a reservation well in advance, friends. When I arrived I was greeted right away by what appeared to be the entire staff for the night. I didn't know what to expect but the kitchen was right there in the middle of the dining room and I loved it! They were all gathered around discussing their new fall menu and I was thrilled that I happened to be there the first day it was out. While the menu was limited, it was super creative and the way our server described each dish made it very hard to make a decision. Eventually I settled on their cucumber gazpacho to start, on the crab small plate for my entree, the street corn as my side, and their cheesecake for dessert. Everything came out beautifully and it didn't take long for each dish to follow the other. The gazpacho totally changed my mind on cold soups. The street corn was ok. The crab cakes were top notch. And you can never go wrong with cheesecake. It's no wonder that the chef is a 2023 James Beard Award nominee. Not only was the menu and ambiance wonderful, Chef Jeff came right over to our table to make sure everything was great. Talk about amazing service. I was definitely blown away by my dining experience here and I can't wait to come back. I definitely recommend it. read more

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If you're in Cincinnati I HIGHLY recommend visiting Nolia!! We checked into our hotel and found this restaurant on Yelp. Loved the reviews and OMGGGGGG the food is to die!! We kept on ordering plates because everything was just so delicious. My faves were Shrimp Toast, Crudo, Cornbread, Squash & Fish Au Poivre. Note: Menu changes every 90 days!! Plus, the attention to detail we witnessed in the open kitchen was impressive. And, the Chef constantly came by to chat and check on our experience. Edit: You guys!!! The chef just came out and opened the door for us as we were leaving and thanked us for coming. Could this place get any better? Next time, we're in the state of Ohio, we will be coming here! read more

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I usually don't think a lot of restaurants are good here, but this place was really good. We tried the corn bread, pork belly, chicken, and vegetable (maitake). Pork belly was cooked to perfection. It's hard to cook it well since it looked like it was grilled. I also liked that they mixed the Japanese vegetable with an African cuisine based sauce. Somehow they all blended well. Service was amazing and the restaurant has a cute cozy vibe. Definitely coming back for new items :) read more

Superb in every respect. We had the tuna, Carolina chicken, tongue, and Huckleberry drop cakes. Everything was delicious, but the beef tongue was an absolute stand out. The restaurant is small and intimate, with an open kitchen. All of the staff were welcoming and friendly, while turning out amazing food. We found the price point to be much lower than expected for a restaurant of this caliber. read more

This spot is definitely a Cincinnati southern gem. My husband took me here for my birthday dinner and I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance as soon as I walked in the door. The seasonal menu included foods that gave Southern comfort and new feel and classic dishes that hit the spot. The service was exceptional and our server made sure we were even able to meet the chef and owner. I'd say this was definitely a birthday to remember. read more

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Wowowow so happy that we made reservations for their last Sunday brunch for the season. What an absolute gem of a place. Green accents and open kitchen right in the center that makes you feel like you're in someone's Southern home for Sunday brunch, The food was incredible. The fried chicken was crispy and cooked perfectly. Biscuits were fluffy and fresh. The fried green tomatoes were AMAZING. So crispy and thin - paired perfectly with a creamy dill sauce. Also got the stewed okra with grits which was so comforting and filling. Will need to come back here again to check out their dinner menu soon! read more

Nolia - Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Can't say enough! Nolia has put a creative twist and made southern NOLA cooking upscale and delicious! It's got a quaint atmosphere with an open cooking area. I chatted with the staff the whole time. Cocktails were on point with an ode to Ninth! Tip : try the Juvie for an ode to No Limit Soldiers! The redfish is delicate and in a flavorful sauce. Corn Maque Choux topped with two crunchy oysters was delish. They described the oysters as "jerk" which didn't come through tho :( the fried green tomatoes were sizable but fried a bit too hard for my taste. They came with a slamming aioli. My friend had the board and the pickled okra and terrine were to die for! Our waiter Max was excellent! Actually we had the best time with all the staff! read more

Nolia - Purple for Prince! - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Nestled in the heart of OTR, this corner building is small probably seats 20 maximum but it's a very clean kitchen that is also efficient in service. My guy dropped me off so he could find a parking spot and not miss our reservation spot. I was immediately seated where Brooke promptly greeted me with water and a smile. I ordered the fried tomatoes as an appetizer. They came out hot and crispy with a creamy dill sauce that paired very nicely. The tomato itself was a little raw (I like it a little more tender) but tolerable. We both ordered a waffle to go with a 4 piece of chicken, and an order of red beans and rice (small bowl). Keep in mind they only have dark meat at this place. It's just the way it is. The chef brought our meat and waffles out to us. The breading on the chicken was brown, flavorful and crispy. They had a dark molasses type syrup that reminded you of Alaga (old school southern favorite), if it weren't. I shook a little hot sauce on my chicken and drizzled the syrup on my waffle and chicken and ate heartily. It was very good. Even the red beans and rice was a hit in my book. We told the chef we'd be back! For dinner next time! read more

Nolia - Yummy. Is it alaga syrup? Sure does taste like it. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This place brought me back to my southern roots in the most modern way. I loved having collard greens in almost every dish. They had a collab with Pata Roja this night with southern style tacos and soup. The flavor combos were so interesting and delicious. They do use squid in all of their cocktails which is definitely unique but overall didn't really change the flavor of the drink. This is a great cozy spot and is beautifully designed. read more

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Decided on Nolia Kitchen for a 70th birthday celebration and couldn't have made a better choice. The food and service was a solid 5-star experience and the ambiance/vibe was as good as anything in the city. We order practically every dish on the menu and one was better than the next right down to the inventive twist on the classic chocolate chip ice cream. We will be back! read more

By far our fave new restaurant in Cincinnati. Nolia was delish and a great experience. A beautiful space and lovely, attentive service. We had the oyster maque choux, cornbread (couldn't stop eating it), bbq chicken and pork and peas (huge serving). I meant to take pics of everything but honestly we devoured it all and I only got a pic of the cornbread. I would order all of these dishes again but look forward to trying others too. Can't wait to come back. I almost forgot, definitely try their homemade hot sauce. So good! read more

Nolia - Cornbread - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I walked away saying this was one of the best meals I have had in years. We had the best seats in the house adjacent at the bar next to the open kitchen. Its not a big space so it was great to interact with the kitchen, they were very pleasant and answered any questions we had. We had two different types of oysters, East and West coasts. Both were delicious. We had the tuna, cornbread, rabbit and the daily fish. All were wonderful. The cornbread maybe the best I have ever had, very sweet. Overall I would go back in a minute, although it is pricey. read more

Vibes: intimate, cafe-style seating surrounding an open kitchen; bring a date or a couple good friends Tasting notes: - Big Tymers: served in a tall glass; very sweet but refreshing; ginger forward; fizz comes in the back end of the sip; deceivingly strong drink - Crab claws: lightly marinated with herbs; very fresh and sweet meat; appreciated the de-shelling that made it easy to access the meat and dip into the cocktail sauce - Cornbread: very generous dollop of soft butter; bread itself had an incredible crust from the cast iron that made for a delightful and addicting spoonful; neither too dense nor too airy in terms of crumb - Lamb steak: thick, juicy, buttery bite; herbs added a mild flavor; grains were almost creamy - Pickled vegetables: loved the umami-rich paste reminiscent of miso on the collard greens; radish, plum, string beans were very crunchy; complemented the rich fattiness of the lamb - Dunkunu: presented with pansies; lightly spiced with slightly bitter aftertaste; texture itself was a thick mush Other thoughts: - Friendly, attentive service - Above courses were satisfying for two moderately hungry adults and very shareable in portion size - Every table seemed to order the cheesecake, and they ran out near the end of dinner service! Impression: absolutely a dinner to remember - I could eat five more pans of the cornbread and several plates of the crab claws! read more

This was my first time at this restaurant and it was a great experience. The ambiance was cozy with some nice mix of hip hop jams playing softly in the background. The service was quick, friendly, and helpful. The food was outstanding, except for one sour note. We ordered the crab boulettes, which tasted like how crab cakes wished they tasted. The cornbread, which came with what I think was apple butter and was perfect in taste and texture. The brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly with a great charred crisp and had a nice sweet front with a mild spice in its finish. The seafood combo came with good cold seafood accompanied by a very tasty cocktail sauce and some sort of vinegar dip, both of which complimented the seafood well. There was also an order of potatoes cooked to a nice fluffy interior with a great crispy exterior. The main proteins were a jerk rabbit and pork belly. The jerk rabbit was cooked well though the jerk seasoning may have muted some of the more mild rabbit flavors, it was nonetheless cooked and flavored well. The pork belly was ok, it tasted just fine but it was a bit more underwhelming in flavor. Generally, pork belly needs a strong seasoning to cut through the fat and provide a wider range of flavor, something lacking a bit in this dish. The real sour note were the beans accompanying the pork belly. The beans were pinto beans, cooled in literally the worst way possible. They were dry, chalky, and lacking seasoning. I think the idea was to make it in maybe the style of a chinese/asian red bean, but it was bad- but too small of a detail to affects the review. I highly recommend this place! Fyi... Our car got broken into during dinner so be careful where you park. read more

Nolia - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We enjoyed the company of others in the right seating space. Our service was great from the comic of a server. The Giant shrimp was novel.

Delicious!!! The service is great with an open air kitchen. The owner is also the head chef and walks around and engages with everyone. Each dish is prepared with care and they go the extra mile. read more

Everything was DELICIOUS! We tried so many things and really enjoyed all of it. The staff was very friendly and attentive. It was hot when we arrived and they brought a fan out for us to help keep us cool. Highly recommend the corn bread. It's great for an appetizer or my favorite, dessert. read more

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All around incredible dining experience from start to finish. Our service was fantastic, as was our food. We started with cocktails - absolutely loved the Young Thug (definitely try if you enjoy Sazeracs). Then we had the skillet cornbread - the generous helping of butter on top was perfect. Then came the crab boulettes - sort of like crab cakes, but more crab, less breading and more delicious. The sea trout was our main entree - it was incredibly flavorful and I could have finished two easily because it was that good. We finished with the creole cheesecake - again, only regret is I didn't order another dessert because it was so tasty. Highly recommend coming here for the best food! read more

Nolia - Cheesecake - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Have been wanting to try Nolia and it did not disappoint! A very charming little restaurant with an upscale, modern interpretation of southern cuisine. My friend and I split the jerk rabbit, blackened ham, and a side of street corn. While our server told us the jerk rabbit is their most popular dish (and it was delicious) the ham was our favorite - so well flavored and tender, I've never had ham like that before. Served with peach bbq baked beans that had a delightful smokey flavor + a spicy cabbage slaw, both perfect complements. The jerk rabbit was flavored to perfection and came on a plantain mole that was delightful and unique. Corn was also very good. All around a wonderful meal. Gluten free friends - the menu is clearly marked with plenty of options! The food was amazing, but the drinks were mixed. Get the Pitbull, which was almost like a light piña colada! Very good and a much better cocktail vs. the whiskey sour type drink I got. Next time, I'll stick with wine. read more

Nolia - Blackened ham, served with beans and slaw (our fav!!). Jerk rabbit (also very, very good). Side of street corn. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

i was in town for a few days and lucked up on snagging a late dinner resy with my besties. the vibe, food, service, aesthetics - all amazing!!! if you have a chance to check this place out, please do yourself a favor and treat yourself. the establishment is small, but makes for a very cutesy and quaint experience. the food was insane - so good! hats off to the chef - who is hands on in the kitchen and ensures that his guests are welcomed. such a great otr addition - i will def be back! read more

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If you're not willing to go in with an open mind and trust the chef, don't go. This is not for picky and anti seafood people. If you're willing to be open minded and just try the most random insane dishes, you'll love it. Server was super helpful in describing things and we weren't disappointed with anything. Such a fun experience to say we ate all this crazy shit. Chef came over twice and was so kind - so much pride in his food art! read more

My daughter her baby and I went and every part of the dining experience was excellent. GO!!! The baby was treated like a princess. The drink was perfectly made. The appetizer was delicious. The waiter recommended corn bread which we had not ordered! Order two....it is that good. The lamb with carrots was perfection. One of the few restaurant recommendations I would certainly return to. A great dining experience. I wish there were more restaurants like it....Steve read more

I really can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Every dish is incredibly well thought out. Unexpected ingredients and flavors abound. There were no bad bites, but the pecan flounder is worth the reservation. The chef had a little time and spoke to our table for a long time. Made me like this place even more learning his incredible story. Overall, one of my favorites in the area! read more

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Finally made it in to Nolia, and on Mardi Gras no less . Started with some wine (half off full bottles during happy hour), and started with the jackfruit (meaty texture fried, with a sour pickled salad--real interesting but I definitely made use of the house made hot sauce to bump up the flavor), and goat gnocchi( 8/10 gnocchi, 10/10 goat--so tender and not gamey at all!). We went for the duck breast and fried oyster gumbo as a main and it was amazing! Duck breast was well cooked and seasoned and the oyster was well-fried (not too heavy at all). This dish is definitely more meat than gumbo, and I'm all for that. Not pictured, but the blue corn grits side was superb and the dessert rice pudding and ice cream were interesting. I miss Please that used to be here, but will definitely be back again to try the rest of the Nolia menu! read more

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I had heard great things before going but I was sadly disappointed. The food was underwhelming and overpriced. The only good thing was the cornbread skillet. read more

I learned about the restaurant and the chef as he too is a New Orleans native. Since it was my first time in Cincy, I thought it would be a good idea to try a New Orleans style restaurant from a local. On the website I saw that he pulled his influence from going to the candy lady and having corner store meals, so I knew I could relate to him as he seemed down to earth. It also didn't hurt that the restaurant was nominated for a James Beard. I walked in on a Tuesday with no reservation-- the owner greeted me and was very kind and hospitable. There are about 3/4 bar seats in the front, tables for maybe 10/15 in the front and bar seating in the back for maybe 6/8 people. The restaurant is cozy and intimate and only open for dinner. What I loved is that the restaurant's ingredients are either sourced locally or imported straight from Louisiana, so they're using the right ingredients. At the back bar I started off with the City Girl cocktail which was delicious and I should have ordered more cocktails -- I also love that the cocktails are named after female rap icons. For an appetizer I ordered the hush puppies. They're supposed to have crawfish tail and crawfish paste, but I didn't get a hint of crawfish at all. They were tasty, but worth $16 for 5 balls, and I couldnt find the seafood... idk‍ For my entree I was between the flounder and gumbo. Now I never eat gumbo north of Lake Pontchartrain, and I didn't look at the pictures on Yelp before ordering, so I guess this is on me. The bartender really sold it and said if I wanted more food, go with the gumbo, and so I did. For $36 I thought I was getting a BOWL of gumbo with 3 fried oyster and maybe duck fat or duck pieces. When my server brought me a steak knife I thought nothing of it because he had forgotten my initial silverware and straw, so I thought oh surely he's going to bring a spoon for my BOWL of gumbo. No! I was brought out a plate with rice and gravy, 3 okras, 3 fried oyster, garnishes, and 2 chunks of duck breast. That is not gumbo and I was so taken aback because wtf was that. Now, I would expect some gastro, deconstructed bs from someone who's never stepped foot in Louisiana or had traditional gumbo, but my expectations were not met food wise at Nolia. The staff were very kind and friendly, but if you're looking for a traditional southern style meal this isn't for you. read more

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Nolia Kitchen is a beautiful love letter to Southern cuisines from multiple regions. My table started with the cornbread which was a lovely introduction to the menu. My main, the andouille crusted redfish, was recommended by our server. She couldn't have been more right. The rich pork sausage complemented the freshness of the fish, and the lima bean purée was smooth and velvety. I devoured this dish and left eager to try the rest of the menu! We ended with the carrot bread pudding, which I don't recommend. The bites with the dense cake, fruit, and sauce altogether were lovely, but there were too few of those bites. read more

Nolia - Cornbread - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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"An itch Cincinnati needed to scratch" - Chef Jeffery Harris I have passed by this place in OTR and have been wanting to try it for so long. I wanted to try something different and I got the jerk rabbit which was very tasty. My friend got the lamb steak and we split the Brussel sprouts + potatoes. The flavors were delicious and I would order those Brussel sprouts 1928272x. I love the intimacy of the restaurant and the decorations. You get to see the chefs in action cooking your food and they deliver it right to your table. The owner was there and was so passionate and intentional with what he is doing. Definitely recommend coming here! It is a little pricey but definitely worth it. Support a local black owned business today!! read more

Nolia - Jerk Rabbit, Lamb Steak, Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Been wanting to check to this place out since they opened up. I loved the concept and the dream behind it all. The place is small but spacious, very well decorated and spotless. Overall the atmosphere is great, hence its small you still have privacy. One things that stool put for me was the service. The restaurant feels like a higher end place but at the same time it homey. they make you feel comfortable and homey . Their food and drink menu has enough options for all kinds of taste buds. We ordered the the Juvie and the Soulja slim, both were incredibly tasty. Soulja slim is for a fresh sweeter taste, and the Juvie is more of a bitter taste. To eat we had the greens as a side, the Quail and the special of that night which is not in the menu, I believe it's a half bird. Both places were delicious I can't even describe how well cooked everything was. Also, the hot sauce on the table is on point! Plates were a really good portion, so we had cornbread to go, that is deft a must try. I love this place, I will for sure be coming back and highly recomend it. read more

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Purporting to bring the flavors of New Orleans to Cincinnati (while being vegan-friendly), this place clearly had me as a target audience (the vegetarian erstwhile Broadmoor resident who now visits Cincinnati semi-regularly). Their space, while it is a splendid classic brick building that is tricked out inside, is not large and they are heavy on reservations. Walking in left me at a bar in back, which was still nice, but I definitely recommend the rezzy. The cuisine was a sort of Southern and African American tradition that isn't well-represented in the broader American restaurant scene. I've had a lot more banh mi's and pupusas than I've had Hoppin John's. And while I like diversity in my cuisine (a lot, judging by my Yelp profile), this is one American culinary tradition I can get behind. A stewed okra dish over grits did not last long in front of me, with a mysterious spice mix meeting the earthy flavor of high-quality corn. It was washed down by a delicious peach tea, which was a bit pricey for tea (and their menu didn't show the tea for some reason) but with free refills I got three glasses of it. For an entree, I would note that their Hoppin' John-a regional variation on the sort of rice and beans dish that pretty much every culture has-tasted better than my own efforts at cooking this dish at home, despite the fact that I use high quality Carolina Gold Rice and Sea Island Red Peas which I got in Charleston. It wouldn't surprise me if they use the same brand that I do, but whatever sauce was drizzled on top, the fresh garnish, and the hot sauce that came in a bottle with no label all added to a delightfully fulfilling taste experience. I wouldn't hesitate to return, perhaps for what looked like a worthwhile brunch menu. If I ever got to speak to someone in charge, I would ask them this: given that they're claiming to channel the spirit of New Orleans' Ninth Ward, is there anywhere I could go in New Orleans and get a vegetarian-friendly menu even remotely like this? I know a thing or two about the NOLA food scene, and I looked for something like this for years and never found it. read more

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I would say it's overpriced. Food was good but nothing to rave home about.... Server asked me if I wanted to add some tomatoes and did not expect it to be a $15 add... did Jesus cut those tomatoes? read more

2nd time back and there's a new dinner and cocktail menu! (They change every 90 days). We're officially hooked on this establishment!!! Everything we had was absolutely delicious. We did not leave a single morsel of food on the plates. The duck dish, 12/10. read more

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