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Willa Jean

4.3 (2.7k reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
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Willa Jean Photos

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WILLA JEAN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Trendy
Classy

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Recommended Reviews - Willa Jean

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Kevin T.

Wow!! Willa Jean didn't disappoint. My Brussels sprouts were perfectly cooked and seasoned. Chicken biscuit was next level. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. They also sell fresh pastries to go. Tons of juice and coffee options are available. Service was outstanding. Plenty of seating and I love the decor. Bathroom was really clean. I am definitely working Willa Jean in the rotation next time I am in big easy. Tons of other options on the menu that I can't wait to try.

Halloween cookies
Emrehan K.

Skipped the hour-long wait for a table on a Saturday around noon and did pickup from the bakery counter instead, with 5 min wait. Grabbed cornbread, chocolate chip cookies, chia pudding, all amazing. Sat at the side tables looking outside, which was a nice way to do it. Great workaround if you don't want to wait for a table.

Waffle
Katie R.

Very quick service, great portions, well priced, eclectic but still approachable plate options. I would definitely come back. Biscuits were probably the best I've had in a while. Modern and cozy ambiance.

Gina L.

I love this place! Everything I've tried here has been a hit, and I honestly haven't had a bad dish yet. My go-to is the handover bowl, which is always a favorite! The food is consistently good, which is why I keep coming back. They're almost always busy, so I definitely recommend putting your name on the waitlist as soon as possible because the wait can get pretty long. My biggest complaint, though, is the service. Unfortunately, it's been an issue pretty much every time I've visited. The servers often seem a little disengaged, forget things we ask for, and take a long time to bring out food or other items. During my most recent visit, the table next to us had their food brought out before we had even placed our order, even though we had been seated first. It honestly felt like our server had forgotten about us completely. We shouldn't have to keep trying to get someone's attention just to place an order or get the things we need. I understand that restaurants get busy, but there's a difference between being busy and making your customers feel overlooked. It's frustrating because the food is genuinely so good, and the service doesn't match the quality of the experience. Overall, I still love this place and will probably keep coming back because the food is that good! I just really wish the service were more attentive, organized, and welcoming. With better service, this place would be even harder to beat.

Menu
Emily W.

We came for brunch on a Thursday afternoon and were sat right away. Our server Amari was great and prompt. The inside is super cute and the lights at the bar look like little whisks. The main look to the restaurant is grandmas kitchen especially with the pale green paint. We ordered and had our food in minutes even before our drinks. I got the biscuit with chicken and Tabasco Honey and it was great. A nice large piece of chicken and a lot of honey tabasco which made it sweet and savory. It was so large I couldn't finish it so I am glad I didn't get a side. I would come back for the quick service.

Tara R.

This is specifically for the grab and go coffee counter. It's a great option to grab a coffee or pastry to go. Not super spacious ordering, waiting can be tight trying to stay out of the way plus be acknowledged by barista. Good coffee. Willa Jean the restaurant otherwise is an open airy space. The hostess was cool greeted me upon entry and leaving.

Greg M.

Off the charts good! Used Yelp to find this place. Came in on a Sunday morning and had no issue with getting a table. Ordered some sort of platter that had scrambled eggs, cheese grits, sausage links, bacon and asked for sausage gravy as well. OMG, this thing was huge! Not a big eater of grits, but these were delicious! But the biscuit is worth bragging about. Never had anything quite so flakey. And the sausage gravy was out of this world. No shortage of sausage in it either. Coffee was also good. Server was fast and friendly. Would not hesitate to return.

Avocado  Toast
Richard J.

NFL gameday 3pm game in New Orleans, great breakfast spot blocks from the stadium. Great service and even better food.

Coconut cake
Samantha C.

This review is solely for the Southern coconut cake which I got to-go. I noticed that the cake was quite dense and hard because it was refrigerated when I first purchased it, so I waited until it was room temperature. Outstanding coconut flavor with hints of almond? The cake was light and fluffy, toasted coconut added the much needed textural difference + nuttiness, and frosting/custard layers were full of coconut flavor without being too sweet.

Front entry
Nicole F.

Cute, trendy place for breakfast/lunch. Portions were generous and the staff were really nice. The house made granola over yogurt was good but they had a heavy hand with the honey on top. I think they should put the honey on the side because it became too sweet to finish. The potatoes that come with the eggs are seasoned, heavily! They were good but too salty to keep eating. The sweet potato waffle was ok. The food was just solid but nothing particular strode out. Maybe we should have tried the biscuits or cornbread....

Fried Chicken Salad. Famous Biscuits, fried chicken and hot honey sauce.
Ryan W.

Willa Jean was one of those places that felt special the moment we walked in. The atmosphere is beautiful -- warm, stylish, inviting, and full of charm -- but what really made this place unforgettable for our family was the people. The staff was so kind, genuine, and welcoming, and our experience was made even more special by Michelle. She very quickly felt less like our waitress and more like a sweet new friend. We connected with her on a personal level, and that kind of kindness and authenticity is something you do not forget. She made us feel so comfortable, so cared for, and so at home. It is rare to meet someone who leaves that kind of impression, and we truly cannot wait to come back and see her again. Rocky, the manager, was also wonderful and helped make the whole experience feel extra thoughtful and welcoming. And of course, the food was absolutely outstanding. The fried chicken is, without question, one of the best we have ever had. And the homemade biscuits with hot honey sauce? Completely next level. Our family loved that combination so much, we came back for it twice during our trip -- and honestly, we would have happily gone back a third time. Willa Jean gave us more than just a great meal. It gave us one of our favorite memories from New Orleans. We left feeling full, happy, and genuinely grateful. The next time we are in NOLA, there is no question -- we will be back, and one of the things we are looking forward to most is seeing Michelle again.

bacon  egg  pimento cheese
Cecilia T.

We had an enjoyable breakfast here. Hits: -The pineapple mimosa was well balanced and refreshing. -The egg, bacon, and pimento cheese biscuit was awesome. It was of a size where we ate it with a knife and fork - there was no way to take a bite of something that big. We asked for a soft scramble and it was perfectly executed and the crispiness of the bacon was beautiful. Misses: -The deviled egg Cobb salad was an interesting mix of artisanal baby kale and the brown end of an old head of romaine. The ham was delicious, and the pickled onions were great, but it was way overdressed for my taste, and overall just a miss.

cornbread
Chloe L.

Super clean and modern brunch spot in downtown. Great for a hearty brunch. I would recommend coming for their Golden Hour from 7am-9am for some good deals on drinks/shareable bites. We ordered: - Cornbread: extremely moist. Very different from other cornbread I've had. So good we ordered it twice. This is half off during Golden Hour! - Granola bowl: surprisingly very filling. Very refreshing bite from all the food we've been having in Nola. Only $5 during Golden Hour! - Fried chicken biscuit: not your traditional biscuit but definitely a huge serving. Fried chicken was done nicely but the biscuit was a bit hard for our liking.

veggie omelet

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14 days ago

The biscuits are to die for! The cookies are also a top highlight - I tried the chocolate chip and peanut butter. Highly recommend!

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Willa Jean Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Willa Jean

Do they still serve the Mimosa Bar during brunch?

Can reservations be made? I see an online reservation tab but there are no times available on any days?

No reservations and be prepared for very long waits. The food and service quality have gone downhill recently and I no longer go there. No longer worth it and surly service

They don't serve crawfish anymore?

oh i don't know... i didn' have crawfish when i went.

I do not see mimosas on the menu but did see a pic of some small carafes. Are they unlimited? Please help as the menu is not clear

We were served a bottle of Champagne with three different juices to mix with. Very cool idea.

Does Willa Jean serve lunch on weekends along with or only brunch?

Brunch only.

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4.6(248 reviews)
1.5 mi•Marigny
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I was so excited to get to try Ayu Bakehouse for the first time. On the corner of Frenchmen and…read moreDauphine in a beautiful corner building, it's just so appealing. There are some cute tables and chairs outside as well as about 10-15 seats at counters inside. I was greeted when I walked in and got in line at the counter. The pastries looked so fresh and delicious it was hard to choose just one. I went with a Pan O Chocolat, a chocolate filled croissant and iced latte. The prices are typical for a coffee and pastry. The croissant was so flaky and mouth watering. I ate very slowly enjoying each bite. The iced latte was good as well. I sat right by the espresso machine and enjoyed watching the baristas making coffees. I saw one come out with a perfect heart on top. They also have full bread loaves for sale as well as items for breakfast and lunch. I will definitely be back to try another pastry.

I lucked out by finding Ayu Bakehouse. They happened to be located on the same block as my Airbnb…read more They have a wide variety of baked goods to choose from, with the ham & cheese croissant and parm & chive biscuit being my favorites. I wasn't a fan of the cinnamon roll due to the crunchiness of the raw cane sugar on top. Ayu is a counter service restaurant with a full service coffee setup. The line moves fairly quickly, so don't be deterred if the line is out the door. Seating is very limited, so we took our items to go. Definitely worth the visit!

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Front entrance and outside seating.

Loretta's Authentic Pralines - Praline beignets (3 per order) are amazing but sweet.

Loretta's Authentic Pralines

4.7(678 reviews)
1.2 mi•French Quarter
•$$

Lawd ha'mercy!!! Last couple of trips out there, I had Cafe Du Monde's beignets cos...they're the…read moreones I always hear about. A couple of YouTubers said Loretta's are betta. Our first day back out there, fortunately, the line wasn't too long so I got some plain beignets, a crab beignet and some sweet potato cookies. First thing I ate was the crab beignet. WOW! I'm not the biggest fan of crab but that thing with that sauce...!! Lived up to the hype. I love candied yams and sweet potato pie so I had to try those cookies. Also amazing! Huge. Texture was perfect. Dang!! Now, the beignets. Did I like them more than Cafe Du Monde's? Hands down! Si! Oui! Nai! YES!!!!!!!!!! From the first bite! Dang!!! I still have to try Cafe Beignet's beignets. But Loretta's is gonna be a tough act to follow. I will never come out there and not go to Loretta's. Will someday make a trip to the location at North Rampart Street. And the service...! The young man who took our order was so nice. There was a bit of a wait (just a few minutes. Totally worth it!) but there's seating right across from Loretta's stand. My next visit, I'm bringing some zip lock bags and/or Tupperware cos I'm bringing some Loretta's back home with me. Dang!

We went on Labor Day. We had to go after reading the reviews! It was pouring down rain, and we were…read morestanding under an inkling of an awning where we were continuing to get drenched. One of the customers suggested having the line routed through the inside of the covered market, which was an amazing idea. So I walked to the front of the line and asked the cashier if she would be able to reroute us so we wouldn't all get soaking wet. She was the only person working up front and taking orders, but she was pleasant and kind and said sure. After she finished taking the order she was working on, she came from around the counter and rerouted the line so we could all get out of the rain. After that, the line seemed to move a little quicker too. I'd say we waited about 30 minutes, maybe even 25. We knew what we wanted because we were able to see the menu while we were waiting, but there are no prices listed, so you are a little shocked when you get to the register. I believe one crab beignet was between $8 and $9. I ended up spending about $40 total on two orders of traditional beignets, one crab beignet, a sweet potato cookie, and one order of praline beignets. The traditional and the praline come with three each, but the crab only comes with one. I posted one of my receipts below. Can't seem to find the receipt from my larger order. Now let's get to the taste.... they were amazing! Yes, when you go, try the crab and try the praline. I probably would not buy the traditional beignets again because they are significantly smaller than the Café du Monde beignets, and the taste is not drastically different. So you're paying more and getting less for pretty much the same product. But I would absolutely go back for the crab, the praline, and some of the other items she has. My cousin also had the beignet burger, which she said was great. All in all, it was a great experience. I just wish the beignets were a little bigger and the prices were a little lower, but with the cost of everything going up, I do understand. There's not much of an ambiance because you're pretty much sitting in a covered market. Birds are flying around, tourists are walking through looking at the different kiosks, and there's a lot going on around you. But they made the beignets to order, brought them out really fast, and there was a guy walking around wiping the tables after each person got up because, of course, there was powdered sugar EVERYWHERE. Lol.

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Loretta's Authentic Pralines - Praline beignets

Praline beignets

Loretta's Authentic Pralines - Praline beignets

Praline beignets

Loretta's Authentic Pralines

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Willa Jean - bakeries - Updated October 2026

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