Olde Nola Cookery

"We stopped by this classic little New Orleans spot tucked near Royal Street/Bourbon Street, and the vibe is exactly what you’d expect from an old NOLA restaurant—small, cozy, and full of that charming, historic energy. The ambience was honestly one of the best parts: it feels like you’re eating inside a piece of the city, not some big modern restaurant. If you’re walking around the French Quarter and want that “real NOLA” atmosphere, this place delivers. Food-wise, we went in wanting to try the famous local staples, but some of it just wasn’t a match for our taste buds. We ordered raw oysters served on a cold plate, and we gave it an honest shot—but personally I didn’t enjoy it, and most of my group felt the same. We’re simply not used to eating raw seafood/meat, so it was more of a “try it because you’re in New Orleans” experience than something we’d reorder. The crab cakes were better—definitely good quality and not bad at all—but still a bit different from what we typically eat, so it didn’t completely win us over. The bigger wins were the fried items and comfort plates. The fried shrimp with red beans and rice was solid, and the rice/beans combo was flavorful and satisfying. The chicken strips with the same red beans and rice were my favorite—tender, simple, and honestly the most “safe but still delicious” choice on the table. For dessert, we had the banana pudding cake (or similar dessert in that style), and that was a highlight—sweet, tasty, and a great way to end the meal."

"Olde Nola Cookery delivered a memorable New Orleans dining experience with several standout moments, a few minor drawbacks, and some thoughtful touches that we had not seen elsewhere during our visit. One thing that immediately stood out was the menu clarity. Vegetarian and gluten-free options were clearly marked, and each dish included a solid breakdown of ingredients. That level of transparency made it easy to understand what was in each item and helped with informed ordering, which is something I truly appreciated. We ordered the blackened fish platter, which was served with garlic mashed potatoes and mustard greens. The fish was absolutely outstanding. Easily one of the best fish dishes I have had in a very long time. It was bold, deeply seasoned, and quite spicy, which I personally loved. That level of heat may not be for everyone, but for spice lovers, it is exceptional. The garlic mashed potatoes tasted like a blend of regular potatoes and sweet potatoes, which worked surprisingly well with the dish. The mustard greens were also well prepared. We also ordered the Louisiana crab meat cakes. These are typically served with a crawfish mushroom sauce, but we opted to have them plain. The crab cakes themselves were very good and flavorful on their own. For dessert, we ordered the pecan pie warmed up with ice cream, which was a great way to finish the meal. Two small but very thoughtful details really stood out. We were given a moist towel to clean our hands, which was something we had not experienced at many other restaurants in New Orleans and was genuinely appreciated. We were also given a customer survey card to fill out and drop into a comment box, which shows that they actively care about guest feedback. One thing we noticed, not just here but at a few places in the city, is that dishes with gravy or sauces (like Gumbo or Étouffée) can run on the salty side. It is something to keep in mind when ordering items that are sauce heavy. We were seated on the second floor outdoor balcony. The balcony itself is old and may feel a bit intimidating at first, but overall the experience was still enjoyable. Both the first and second floor indoor dining areas were also nice and carried a classic New Orleans atmosphere. One downside were the restrooms, which did not appear to have an exhaust fan. Overall, Olde Nola Cookery offers excellent food, especially the blackened fish, along with clear menu labeling, unique service touches, and a strong local feel. With a bit more attention to details like ventilation and salt balance in sauces, this place would be nearly perfect."

"Gur was our server and was hands down awesome. He greeted us within a minute or so of us sitting down, got us a water along our drink order. He recommended the crab cakes topped with crawfish tails. That could have been my meal by itself. I highly recommend it. We shared the soup platter and loved everyone of them. The red beans and rice were the best I’ve ever had. We were both full but couldn’t resist ordering the bread pudding. The music was even good. We will definitely be back every time we visit NOLA."