The best place we've dined at in Cincinnati. This place is a must go!! The staff, the vibe, the drinks are all great -- and the food is AMAZING!! My husband and I visit from Chicago often, and this was our first time at Nolia, per a recommendation from my mom. We will absolutely be back! The apps, sides, and entrees were so so good, we even got the cornbread and a side of beans to go. We came for a "no kids" date night and would highly recommend. It jumped to the top of our list. It's the perfect, intimate place for a great meal, great drinks, and close to your next "hop-to" spot. Cannot wait to come back in a month when the menu rotates to see what else Chef has up his sleeve. read more

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Want a 12/10 vibe but don't want to sacrifice the quality of food? This place is for you. Literally everything we ordered was cooked to perfection (melt in your mouth pork belly, crispy potatoes, crispy on outside Brussels while being fresh on the inside), the homemade hot sauce elevated everything that came to our table. The jerk rabbit took us back to our Jamaican honeymoon - the flavor profile here is seriously unmatched. Plus, there seemed to be an army of people catering to our every need in a timely manner. read more

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First timers. The place is so cool,. Love the brick and windows. Open kitchen at the entry. The service was very attentive and personal. Service was perfect. Chef stopped by a couple times to check in. Our food was delicious. We were full and didn't get a main or desert. read more

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After booking reservation for Nolia a month ago, the day had finally come for this highly anticipated meal. And let me say-it did not disappoint. Our table started out with a few drinks, the cocktails were quite tasty-I had a hard time deciding and ended up trying two on the menu. What I really like was the variety of cocktails, and they way they put on spin on the classics. For starters my sister and I split the peel n eat shrimp and the skillet cornbread. It was the best cornbread I've ever had, with just a hint of sweet. For the entrees we went with the jalapeño Caesar salad and the pork and peas. The jalapeño Caesar had a hint of spice that wasn't overwhelming, but definitely could tell the jalapeño flavor. Now on the the pork and peas...INCREDIBLE. The rub on the outside was crisp and full of flavor, while the meat was still tender. I was hesitant to order because I typically don't like peas, but the chef made them so well I am now a fan of Nolias peas! While the food and drinks were all stars by themselves, the other thing I loved about Nolia was how welcome you feel when you are dining there. Our server Max was attentive throughout our meal, and Chef Jeff Harris even came over to talk to our table. All of these reasons are why Nolia is now top of the list of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. I look forward to coming back and trying out the rest of the menu ! read more

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So excited for the Cinci food scene! The atmosphere, the food, the drinks all top notch and perfect for an evening out!

No mater what you get to eat, it's sure to be fantastic. That staff is ultra nice and efficient and the chef is so gifted. The space is small but this makes it super intimate and the feel is just really neat. We went for brunch (reservations required) and had the biscuits and fried chicken. Regrettably, I didn't get any pics of the food. The fried chicken was some of the best I've ever had (which, honestly, is hard to do here in cincinnati) - the chicken was served with some sort of molasses-syrup which I mixed with the hot sauce for a fun little dip. The biscuits were good but I saw the waffle go by and think those might be even better. After tasting these I can't wait to try the other sides as they're sure to be 9th Ward legit. Do yourself a favor and book your reservation ASAP. Oh, I did manage did snap a pic of my adorable mocktail that just gets sets the tone for a jolly good time. read more

Nolia - Cash Money mocktail (most of their cocktails can be made as mocktails) - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Nolia is top notch. I have been here twice now, once in September and once in October so two separate menus since they change it ever 90 days or so. The food was amazing both times. Every bite is so flavorful. The cornbread is a must. The pinchos (pork cheek) were bursting with flavor, we savored every bite. The oysters with the Nolia hot sauce were so good, we could have made a whole meal of them. We also split the potato dumplings and the partridge entrees. The potato dumplings were my favorite out of the entrees. The service was also great. We were checked on regularly, but not to the point where it would be annoying. Our drinks were kept full. The servers were knowledgeable of the menu. I loved being able to see the head chef and other cooks at work, being able to see the art of the meals from start to finish. The chefs were so personable with their greetings when we walked in and left, despite being busy. We really enjoyed our experience and I can't wait to come back for the next menu and bring more friends and family read more

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My husband and I came here because we saw it was nominated for a James Beard award, and it did not disappoint! The ambiance is top notch -- it is cozy and classy all at once. The service is amazing -- our server noticed our table was wobbly (we didn't even notice or ask), and he promptly fixed it. The food was the best Cajun I've ever had and offers a unique menu unlike anything else is the area. They have a fun cocktail list as well. What a nice hidden gem! We will be back! read more

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Outstanding service. Creative food choices. Definitely worth the trip. It's a small dining room, so my best advice is to get there early with preservations. The place fills up fast. A little hard to find so allocate extra time for parking. We are already playing our next visit ! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Cincinnati right now. I cannot say enough good things about this place. We don't eat out a lot because of quality is usually not up to par. But that was not the case here. Everything we ate was amazing flavors and well balanced. Lots of play with pickled items for the spring menu. Pictured is jerk rabbit and it was so good. Something different was the chef took time and talked with us to hear us but also share his visions for dishes. He likes to make it a point to visit with customers if he can. We did the peel n eat shrimp and I have not tasted better shrimp. Friends with us from the coast said it was just like at home. Crab Boulettes were maybe my favorite thing of the night. Now they were out of cornbread and chef heard the pain in my voice because I am a cornbread fan. He came out shook my hand said sorry and proceeded to make me homemade chicharrones as a sorry. These were not on the menu. Man I don't like the bagged ones but I'll eat these every day. Again can't say enough good about this place. Go have a nice date night and support this place because this chef and restaurant are my new favorite. Thanks Chef and Nolia staff Cornbread read more

Nolia - Jerk Rabbit - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is Michelin star quality, through and through. The ambiance: Eclectic design, simplicity, comfort. A great vibe. The team: Professionals who know food and wine and craft cocktails. This team appreciates how great is their chef, how pure this experience. Flawless service. The food: Sensational. Flavor combinations that are both bold and delicate. I believe this to be the best restaurant in Cincinnati. Considering our food scene, this is a high compliment. Nolia should get a Michelin star. read more

I want to first say the service here was so friendly and kind! My husband and I celebrate our anniversary here and it was PERFECT! The atmosphere was very homey. It's a tiny restaurant, but the food was amazing! It was so cool to be able to see our food being prepared by the chefs. Everything we had was so deep in flavor! My husband's favorite was the delicious cornbread with whipped butter! We even got one to go! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something new to try! read more

Nolia - Cornbread whipped butter, Brussel sprouts, and crab boulettes! - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I am a food enthusiast and seek out fine restaurants when traveling all across the US. After five nights of exploring the food scene in Cincinnati, I can say this was hands-down my favorite restaurant. The cornbread alone could give this restaurant 5 stars. I love cornbread and this was the best I've ever had. The butter recipe is unique and contains a special sugar/syrup only available in New Orleans and they bring it in for this dish. We had the fresh rockfish special with sauteed mushrooms perfectly cooked in a cream sauce that was light but loaded with flavor. The southern chicken was also incredible, skin on, perfectly crisped but tender inside on a bed of roasted corn and vegetables. The dessert amazing as well. Our server Cole was outstanding--clearly a foodie himself with a passion for this restaurant that you rarely see anymore. His suggestions and knowledge of the menu was fantastic. This is a small restaurant that is easy to miss so map it. The interior was impeccable, relaxed, inviting and not too noisy. This is a must visit restaurant when in Cincinnati, I'm so glad we found it. read more

Had a 5:15 reservation and arrived on time and was immediately served. Got a round of drinks which were really good! Ordered the raw seafood app. for $50. 4 med shrimp, 4 small oysters and 5-6 very small crab claws. App was good, but, didn't think the value was there for what we received. Goat gnocchi was unusual and really good. Been a long time since I had goat. Loads of flavors and textures. Really enjoyed it. Also had the gumbo - very interesting interpretation of a NOLA classic. Duck breast and fried oysters with a light creole sauce. Really good and very different. Overall, great little charming place with a owner that truly cares about his food. This review would be a 4.5 but it won't allow to do 4.5. read more

Service is fantastic, food is delicious but this place is extremely expensive. You can easily spend $100/person and still walk away hungry. Portion sizes are small for what you pay. We were hopeful to have a New Orleans style restaurant but not at these prices. read more

We really enjoyed our meal at Nolia. The atmosphere was pleasant, the tables nicely spaced for a small establishment, and the decor was beautiful. Our favorite dishes were the fried potatoes and the cheesecake but we also really enjoyed the lamb and pork belly. I appreciated that they had good mocktails in addition to wine and cocktails. Finally, the service was great - the team was attentive and the chef stopped to see how we were enjoying everything. We will definitely be back. read more

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Food was flavorful comfort food with a twost in some dishes. Cornbread was amazing. Loved the open kitchen setting and ambiance was relaxing. Service was good. read more

Perhaps I don't have a sophisticated palate, but that was the nastiest food I've ever eaten in my life‼ They only offer four dishes and all of them are lacking in flavor and substance. read more

Food brings people together. When I entered Nolia, I wasn't sure what to expect. Yes I did a little bit of research before hand, but I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into. You see, like most of you, I'm a foodie. I plan vacations around food then look up lodging. I've grown to love the southern region the most because of its rich and diverse current and history of food. It just speaks to me differently than the north. The inside of the restaurant is small and quaint which brings a sort of intimacy with the staff that you may not find in other restaurants. We were seated at what I will call "our seats" towards the back. Our waitress was lovely and the drinks we ordered were spot on. We ordered a few of our favorites after looking over the menu. We started a great conversation about the ingredients in the food and how in-depth the attention was to ancestral ingredients. This led to a conversation with our neighboring diners, which led to a conversation with the diners behind us. You see, that's what food is supposed to do. It starts conversations. It brings you together. Usually in the kitchen. When I noticed this happening, I noticed we were in someone's kitchen. It was a magical dining experience. Each dish we ordered was amazing. The protein selection was only pork and fish with chicken on the brunch menu. So of course we did what we had to do. We made a reservation for the next days brunch. Oh how we loved it! Five stars and definitely a destination restaurant. read more

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Had the most amazing and delicious birthday dinner at Noila Kitchen!!!! The location is intimate, excellent service and you can actually hear yourself talk! Chef and Owner Jeffrey Harris has a phenomenal menu with a lot of GF and Vegan dishes, not to mention he is a Semi-finalist of the James Beard Award. If you haven't tried it you must... read more

Great food and amazing service. My wife is a NOLA native and she and the owner chef talked about NO and the love of that regions food

This place is a vibe! The decor, the music, the smells, and people. I seriously thought I was in Brooklyn. The drinks were pretty, a bit sweet for my taste. The crawfish hush puppies were stellar, very special. The oysters were also great! We also had the flounder and duck and oyster gumbo. The flounder was my favorite, perfectly cooked with superb flavors. The best part was seeing the chef/owner creating the food. He greeted us twice, delivering the food then following up. You should definitely give it a try! read more

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Giving this place 5 stars really doesn't give this establishment the credit they deserve. The environment and ambiance is great for a date night, small birthday or solo dinner. The service was spectacular. Everyone is super respectful and inviting. But the FOOD!!! Some of the best food of my life. The cornbread, the best. Mustard greens, amazing. The duck and oyster gumbo I could eat every day for the rest of my life. Looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of the menu. Jeff Harris is an amazing chef and has done a spectacular job. read more

Less interesting than i expected. Definitely nothing compared to what NOLA actually offers. Oysters were fine, but the crab claws were very dry. Non-alcoholic cocktails were not that good. Corn bread was good. Red fish entree was good. Stew beef entree was alright. read more

Do not eat at this restaurant...horrible customer service Don't know if I have ever been treated more rudely. I will never eat here ...EVER. It takes a lot to make me give such a bad review but they earned it. They don't even deserve the 1 star. read more

Overall, a nice new addition to the city. Nolia is small and quaint inside. I enjoyed that it's based off of an open kitchen concept where you can see the chefs in action. We truly enjoyed the entire meal with our favorites being the Pork & Peas, sweet potato donuts, and peel and eat shrimp. Our least favorite was probably the jalapeño salad as it was overpowered by jalapeño and a bit fishy for my taste. We had solid customer service and would recommend this spot to anyone. Make sure to get a reservation! read more

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A simply great, small, local place to dine. I love southern fare and really enjoyed this upscale southern cuisine option. The bourbon cocktail was great, I had the BEST elevated ham & beans I have ever had, along with tasty greens, and the crawfish app. I ate it alllll. Looking forward to going back soon. read more

First time visit and got to enjoy the final Sunday brunch of the season. Loved the fried green tomatoes with a dill dipping sauce, cooked to perfection. Fried chicken was delicious and seasoned like a grandmother was in the kitchen. The crabmeat was overflowing on the grilled cheese! Special spot everyone should try. Looking forward to the fall menu. Delicious! read more

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Wow! Everything we tried was wonderful. The staff really cares and the kitchen is open, so you can watch everything. This is the only restaurant I've ever found to cook pork the correct way. Only issue I have is that I live in IL and don't make it to Cincinnati very often. I will be back when I do visit. read more

Nolia - The Pork chop large plate. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I did some digging and found out this chef/owner also owns Jimmie Lou's in Oakley's food hall kitchen. I first noticed this place while walking down 14th randomly and decided to look it up. The menu didn't interest me at all, I kept it moving. I stumbled upon the Yelp page again and noticed that they added summer brunch! I made a reservation immediately because I love brunch and I thought the place looked so cute and cozy the time I walked by. Goodness Gracious...the crabmeat grilled cheese was unbelievably good. My husband ordered it and felt like the ends of the sandwich were burnt but I didn't even notice. He always offers to switch meals if I like his food better, sadly, he didn't ask this time. I took a few more bites and moved on to my chicken and waffles. The chicken was crispy, fried hard and well seasoned. This chicken can actually stand alone without the hot sauce and syrup. The syrup is apparently something they use in the south, weird tasting to me. The waffle was average at best, the butter served with it added to the overall taste. The housemade Bloody Mary was SPICY!!!! It didn't say that on the menu but here is your warning, order if you want but make sure you have water lol. Service was exceptional. The chef, server and manager all stopped by to ask about the food. I did ask about the "burnt" grilled cheese but they all said that's how the bread is supposed to be. Listen...if my husband said it's burnt, it's burnt uuuuummmmmmkkkkkkkk. I still loved it and would have happily taken it off his hands. Dinner menu looks a bit more appealing now, manager told me they switched it up again. For now...I'll stick to summer brunch and hope they extend it through fall. read more

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We had the absolute best experience for a late dinner. I had heard and read reviews, but had to try for myself. The ambiance was great. We were seated at the high bar next to the kitchen where we were able to get full view of the preparation of our meals. We started off with the chilled seafood. The oysters were fresh, the crab claws were very tasty and the shrimp were large and sweet. We ordered many dishes, but my favorite was the seared pork belly, the black eyed peas and okra and the cornbread. Ohhhh, that cornbread, lol. The Summer menu will be coming out soon and I will definitely be back. Thank you Chef and staff for a great experience. read more

Chef Jeffery and his team did a phenomenal job with this restaurant! Sticking to "true" southern food, he elevates traditional flavors and foods into something unique to the mid-west. From the the airy sweet potato donuts to the Courtbouillon sauce that makes you slap someone silly, he makes this Clay Street gem feel as if you were in the homes of the Ninth Ward. Will definitely be making my way back soon! read more

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Noila is absolutely worth checking out. Don't be deterred by the out of the way location, miniature space or the cheap silverware. The service was excellent, and the food was exceptional. The dishes are simple but executed to perfection with layers of texture and flavor. The short ribs we're probably the winner of the evening. They were cooked to perfection and I considered licking the salsa Verde off the plate. I've had plenty of salsa verdes before but that one is possibly the best I've ever had. Keep it up Noila! read more

The food was Excellent! I ordered the Braised Beef with Grits and my girlfriend ordered the Redfish. Both entrees were so flavorful. The presentation was A1 and the drink the Waiter recommended- Hibiscus Margarita was good as well. The Chef came and asked us did we enjoy our food as well. That was a nice touch. I will definitely return. read more

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Why five stars, because that's the most I could give. Chef and his crew do everything right. The ambiance, the service and of course the food are all make for a perfect dining experience. It is always a joy to find people who truly enjoy what they do especially when they do it so well. Two suggestions, make a reservation, walk ins are a non event here and request a table near the kitchen. read more

Was not impressed with the food only thing I like was the cornbread and the butter service was great greetings and everything was fine. Hospitality is fine. Seating was good. I don't think I will go back again. read more

If you are looking for quaint, relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere with great food, you found the right place. Staff was kind, gracious and responsive - delightful not doting to us. With an open kitchen the Chef Harris sets the environment with a chill vibe - he's got it under control. Every dish was uniquely prepared and was its own conversation piece - the goat gnocchi's broth, the cornbread's butter, the beef grillades tenderness and peppers. read more

Nolia is not-to-miss, nestled on Clay street and teeming with New Orleans panache. The intimate space, formerly Please, boasts an open kitchen and everything comes straight from Chef to your plate--piping hot. We had the goat gnocchi and hush puppies to start-- two flavorful starters. I had the andouille crusted redfish and my husband had the grillades and grits (a NOLA staple stepped up and done beautifully). They also had delicious mocktails--which I've found are hard to come by in Cincy. The service was second to none with the intimate setting and homey feel-- we really felt like we were guests in the chef's kitchen. We can't wait to go back again this season and next for their new seasonal menu! read more

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I've eaten there often and theres been nothing but exceptional food, good service, nice environment...I keep going back to find a flaw, that's not happening...chef and owner, Jeff Harris, does a great job...you name it, it's really good...fish, meat, vegetables, appetizers, service, all first rate...looking forward to going back really soon... read more

Honestly - probably more like 3.5 stars. It is not that the place is not good - it is. It just isn't great. Service is mediocre at best. Did not course our meal at all - delivered everything we ordered at once... salad, small plates, entrees. Would be fine if we asked for that but we didn't. Ordered: Skillet cornbread (horribly dry and disappointing) Jalapeño Caesar salad (excellent) Okra and grits (good) Fried oyster with corn (oysters good, corn barely warm) Peel and eat shrimp (great flavor but really hard to peel) Pork and peas (wonderfully seasoned and tender meat and terrific peas - by far the highlight) Pound cake (really underwhelming) I would return to try the sweet potato "donuts" and the redfish. But I am really shocked at how mediocre the corn bread and pound cake was at a southern restaurant. read more