Olde NOLA Cookery Never Gets Old.
As locals, we tend to forget how amazing Creole and Cajun food is. If it’s been a while since you said to yourself, “OMG, I live in one of the best food cities in the world,” you need to head to Olde NOLA Cookery for a refresher course or three (after all, why should tourists have all the fun?). Here in the heart of the French Quarter, you can reintroduce your palate to dishes like Gumbo, Jambalaya, Cajun Etouffee, Red Beans and Rice, and other New Orleans staples made like mama always wished she could!
For cocktails, we had a hard time choosing – the drink menu is not just fun, it’s extensive. We decided to try the New Orleans Cosmopolitan, a sweet pink treat made with Three Olives Orange, Cointreau, Cranberry and Lime juice. We also sampled the Dark & Stormy, even though there was no sign of rain that day. This concoction is made with Lime, Ginger Beer, Don Q Rum with a float of Dark Rum. They were both delicious.
Then, instead of ordering an appetizer, we ordered the Taste of New Orleans which includes Seafood Gumbo, Crawfish Étouffée and Red Beans and Rice with a big hunk of sausage. While many restaurants in New Orleans offer up samplings like this, Olde NOLA Cookery’s portions are extremely generous, not to mention delicious. While filled with a medley of interesting spices, we didn’t find that anything was too spicy – just hearty and delicious. This is Southern comfort food at its best.
For entrees, we ordered the July Special – a lightly Blackened Redfish Filet served over Penne Pasta and topped with BBQ Shrimp. We wanted to die and go to heaven, but we still had time on our parking meter and weren’t about to go anywhere.
We also tried the slow-cooked, "Knife & Fork" BBQ Ribs. They weren’t lying when they said they were fall-off-the-bone good. They tasted like the kind you’d make at home if you had all day to do it and everything turned out exactly as you’d planned. These were served with coleslaw (perfect) and some seriously good French fries. This dish is proof that you don’t have to be a seafood eater to fall in love with Olde NOLA Cookery.
For dessert, the New Orleans Bread Pudding served with their famous Praline and Rum Sauce was calling to us. We, as good New Orleanians, naturally answered. Decadently rich with plump warm raisins bursting with flavor, Olde NOLA Cookery’s version of this New Orleans classic is surrounded by whipped cream to cut the sweetness. While we swore each spoonful would be our last, we just keep going back in. If you’re tempted to say, “we don’t have any room for dessert,” find some!
Old NOLA Cookery is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The place was packed full of happy people when were there so you might want to make a reservation. They’re also on Uber Eats or you can pick up.
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