Baru Bistro & Tapas

Nice restaurant on Magazine St. A little pricey for the amount of food you get. Mais Arepas near St. Charles will give you a much bigger portion for the price or less. Our dessert and coffee took forever to get to us, over 20 minutes after our order was taken. Wasn't the servers fault, blame is fully on the kitchen. Food was good but nothing outstanding. The drinks were very good. I was hoping for a better experience, it was adequate.

Stumbled upon this place during happy hour. We got one of each of the HH apps and enjoyed them with a delicious glass of Vinho Verde. Sat outside. Had excellent, friendly service and absolutely loved each dish. Especially enjoyed the yucca croquette with ropa vieja. Would order it all again!

I went with my family to celebrate a birthday. The food was very good. We sat outside, nice weather, good service. We had the guacabello, mazorca, patatas bravas*, carimanolas*, jerk chicken, mango & avocado salad, churrasco*, pescado frito, and yuca fries. *my favorites

The wine pairings were nice. The mussel apetizer was salty. The swordfish entree was so fishy it was hard to eat. We dined on July 17, 2025 during an extended restaurant week. Desert was very good.

Don’t leave this small corner restaurant off your list. The authentic food is amazing, and you will not taste the same food twice. Drinks are great and presentation is on point. Staff take care of you as if you were in their home.

The mazorca (elote) is out of this world. Empanadas were also delicious. Stopped by for happy hour / tapas but definitely need to come back for a full meal! Would be a cute spot for date night.

Amazing food and service. We came in with a group of 7 for happy hour! They had small plate items and drinks for $8 each. As a vegetarian, I had several options to choose from. I really enjoyed the empanada

Ceviche Classico - 5/5, great flavor and tostada chips, highly recommend you try this Lamb Sliders - 5/5, great taste, only 2, just filling enough Ropa Vieja - 4/5, large portions Churrasco - 5/5, great portion size and side steak glaze Guacabello - 11/10, must try if you love mushrooms and avocado. Drinks: Tropical Sprits - 5/5, Great bitter sweet/tangy flavor Guarapo - 4/5, incredibly sweet pineapple flavor We sat outside, bit of a smell on the north side of the building, had to move away from the breeze of sewage. Inside is just a bit too cramped.

Went here tonight (Friday night) on a date night because i had been dying to go after seeing multiple times. I'm a lover for Latin food. The food was AMAZING. Probably one of the BEST civiches I've had in New Orleans! Definitely top 3. The whole snapper was so flavorful and fried to perfection. Me and my husband both had caipirinha's and wow! I say if you're looking for some great latin/Caribbean food and or drinks, this is the place! On a different note, i will say the service was DISAPPOINTING AND TERRIBLE. our server took 20 minutes to come to the table to even greet us or take a drink order. When she did, we felt very rushed. Like she had something better to do, or somewhere else to be.. LUCKILY they have Sofia. Sofia is a hostess and she should be a server. From the moment we sat she was very helpful. Smiling the ENTIRE TIME. She realized we had not even been given waters and stopped her job to make sure we at least had that. even came back to check and offered to take a order for drinks for us. Finally the server came and rushed us to order. Sofia continuously checked on us. As well as other tables around us. I am in the service industry, so I'm well aware that the hostesses do not get paid to do the duties Sofia did for us and guest around us tonight. She did it because she wanted to keep everyone happy and give everyone the best experience possible. i wish she was our server. I took it upon myself to tip Sofia willingly because she deserved the tip, not the server we were sat with. Still tipped the server 20% but it wasn't deserved. I hope this place knows what they have by having Sofia. I would come back JUST for her! Otherwise everything was great. Just very poor service from our appointed server. no care in the world.

Every year I try to participate in New Orleans Restaurant Week. It is always fun to look at the list of participating restaurants and the menu offerings and pick either an old favorite or a new place to go. This time I decided to go to Baru which I had been to for lunch shortly after it opened many years ago but had not been since. I used to live in old Metairie near Zocalo and Brasa and was aware of the following those restaurants have as well as the positive press regarding all of these sister restaurants. The menu looked promising, so I made a reservation for Friday evening. The physical restaurant is about what I remembered. There is a little more outdoor seating which looks comfortable . The indoor seating is a little cramped and the place is frankly a little warm (in the middle of summer.) We received it upstairs and the table was comfortable enough although the wall mounted AC unit was clearly overwhelmed. We ordered from the Restaurant Week menu which had a lot on it I was interested in. We both got what is essentially shrimp remoulade for an appetizer. The remoulade was made a lot as my mother made it . It is a mayonnaise and ketchup based sauce (or so it appeared to me) with other goodies that made it absolutely delicious. The shrimp were served on a romaine heart. The appetizer was absolutely delicious. For an entree I ordered the hanger steak which was served on top of sauteed mushrooms and with a chimichurri atop the steak. Alongside were yucca fries. The dish was delicious all around. The steak was cooked medium rare and was tender and flavorful, the sauteed mushrooms were plentiful and delicious, the chimichurri extremely flavorful, and the yucca fries fantastic. Hopefully, this entree remains on the menu for those that might go after Restaurant Week. My wife ordered the tuna a la plancha which was served with an avocado based sauce. It was fabulous as well. For dessert I ordered the plantain foster and my wife ordered the tres leches. Both again fabulous but the tres leches was a much better choice given the season. The cake was extremely light, flavorful, fruity, and perfect for summer. Absolutely delicious. The plantain foster was a little heavier but still extremely tasty. The service at Baru is extremely friendly and very competent. It's a very young staff, but they all know what they are doing. I will be back soon and highly recommend Baru. PS I went to post and saw that I reviewed my prior visit. Twelve years ago and I gave the same number of stars. That's consistency!

The food, the drinks, and the service at Baru are excellent. I enjoyed EVERYTHING I ate and the margaritas are delicious! Some of my favorites included the mazorca, patatas bravas, and the churrasco. I will definitely be back to explore Baru's food and cocktail menu!

This used to be my favorite place to eat churisco skirt steak ... coconut rice ... and flan. Well, times have changed since the last I visited in 2015. Came on a Monday evening, and there were three on the dining staff; they all made drinks & served the diners. It was about 6:45p. It took a minute to get our menus & water. We initially ordered the Lamb Sliders & Meduros. We literally had to look for our server & she had to check on our appetizers bc she may have forgotten. The wait for the appetizers were about 20-25min. As soon as that order came, we immediately ordered our entrees so that it would not take another 1Hr to get our food. The churisco & the jerk chicken was ok. It was btr before as I rmbr it. The coconut rice was not as texturized, too much water/coconut milk; on the soggy side. I was excited to order my dessert- flan. When I got it, I took two bites; my 1st was to get a taste of the creme, eggs, & crispiness of the sugar on top.... I experienced none of that. I took my second bite & i was no longer confused. The flan tasted stale, maybe it was not made fresh &/or store bought. The consistency of the flan's creaminess was absent & more spongy than anything. The bathrm. I thought it would be fitting to the type of venue it is, but, it's small & the hand soap & towels are not placed strategically for guests to labouring to find it. I give this visit a TWO. I was literally embarrassed bc I talked it up so much and to bring the dinner party for a disappointment, did not make me feel good. Not sure if there will be a next time. Thnx for the experience, anyway=*}

This South American/Caribbean culinary gallery always slams it out of the park with their amazing cuisine. The steak skewers are a must and are cooked perfectly with a side of possibly the best chimichuri in the city. The lamb sliders are crisped on the edges and melt in your mouth with the perfect combination of flavors and fats. The arepas are very recommended for those who love braised and tender pork. The posta cartegenera is so tender and a great grade and cut of wagyu. It was so tender I had trouble even carrying it into my mouth without breaking apart. The patacones are some of the best I've ever had and are great tapas style sides to share around the table. The service is always accommodating, kind, and treats everyone with respect and equality. On top of all that, the ambiance is the perfect balance of typical New Orleans architecture and Caribbean culture.

14 years later and I finally get to eat here again. Totally forgot about this place until I was scrolling on yelp and it popped up. Service was great and the food was freaking amazing!!!!!! It reminded me of why I loved this place. Cant wait to come back here.

Such an amazing experience. The food was amazing. Me and my friend ordered about 5 things and all of them were 10/10 or at lowest 9/10. Service was phenomenal. Only thing is the dining area is pretty tight but overall I'd definitely go back!!

Came for dinner and it was okay. For apps we tried the tostadas with avocado and mushrooms as well as the papas bravas - both delicious. For the entree I ordered the yellowfin tuna in some kind of smoky adobo sauce. It was alright. The puffed rice or whatever on top added nothing to the dish. The non alcoholic passion fruit drink ($8) was awful. Full of pulp and way too sweet. Don't order it. Overall there are way better places to eat in the city and I wouldn't return. For tapas, head to Costera.

I love love love Baru! They never disappoint, I usually get the whole snapper but they sold out by the time I got there, which explains a lot! However, I opted for the steak instead and it was just as delicious. Jerk chicken? Amazing!! My steak came with fries but I love all things coconut, so the coconut rice is always gonna be added as a side. It's so good. I sat outside for the first time and it was nice, but I think the inside is of course a better and more intimate vibe. The place in general is always a vibe, will 100% be back.

Everything was incredible! Yukka fritters (Carimanolas) are to die for! The perfect amount of spicy too. I'm a HUGE fan of Brasa in Old Metairie so the moment I found out Baru had the same owners and cooking style I made reservations right away. I even messaged their instagram requesting a balcony table and they made sure I did! Very happy about that. The balcony lights were such a nice touch. Highly recommend going right before sunset. My group loved the old fashioned. They kept raving about the quality and taste. Skirt steak was cooked perfectly. Can't wait to go back

Loved the food and service. Cute place. I will go back next time I am in NOLA. Everything was good plus was there to take advantage of happy hour specials so even a better deal. I highly recommend

This place has been on my list since I moved to Nola. Finally tried it out last night and did not disappoint. I started off with a pisco sour cocktail, it was delicious and reminded me of my time in Peru. For the main dish, I ordered the jerk chicken and side of sweet plantains. The jerk chicken and rice was an experience with every bite, absolutely tasting. Service was incredible. I do wish was a little warmer in the restaurant but not a deal breaker. Will definitely return.

We just came for drinks but he Ana making small plate! We will be back for the amazing drinks and food. Try the Guacabello Tapa and the pepino picoso during. Out of this world!

I went to Baru recently. The food was pretty good but the drinks were just simple syrup on ice. They should test the alcohol content in their bar because someone might be stealing liquor and diluting the bottles to replace the volume. The reason I'm writing a review is because I feel like I was robbed and not just of alcohol. They just bring bottled water without asking if you want bottled water then charge $10 for 2. So $13 with tax and tip for water I didn't want or order. It's a dirty trick and they should be ashamed. I can afford it, but I didn't want it and it makes me angry to get robbed of any amount.

I tried this place with a friend that loves it, and I was not disappointed! Everything tasted fresh and decadent, and my personal favorite was the churasco beef skewers. It was quite pricey, but I guess that's luxury dining for you! The service was wonderful, and I would definitely go again!

My friend and I walked in for dinner to try the magazines street restaurant week menu. No reservation, but we were able to be seated upstairs right away (on the earlier side, 5:45 ish). We ordered drinks, and the mojito was fantastic!! From the special restaurant week menu, I had the tuna tostada, mahi mahi, and maduras foster. The tuna tostada was fantastic!! Wish I had taken a picture. It took a little while for the first course to come out, but after that the food came out promptly. As the night got busier, it was still only two servers upstairs so it took a while to get the check. Overall, great food and drinks, but seems like they could use a little more help on the service end. Also, if it wasn't a million degrees outside, the upstairs balcony looks like it would be a great place to enjoy drinks or a meal. Maybe we'll come back to try sitting outside in the fall.

This place is a lot bigger than I thought it'd be; we came here for a friend's birthday and they seated us upstairs. They have a balcony that you can walk out on and take pictures, it's a cozy place. The service was very nice and accommodating for our loud bunch. I had the old man and the sea cocktail and it was really refreshing and light, I would definitely get that again if I came back. I also ordered the chuzos and the guacabello small plate items. The chuzos were good but the guacabello was so delicious! I considered ordering a second plate of that, honestly. It was a little pricey but I wouldn't mind coming back again.

Flavor journey! Small dining room and staff on their phones instead of serving customers but nonetheless... food presentation was thoughtful and original. Lots of flavor and original flavor combinations. Shrimp appetizer was under seasoned, barely any pepper flavor but well cooked. Will return.

My husband and I stopped in today 4.13.24 for lunch and left disappointed. For drinks, we had one Maracuya and one blueberry mojito both drinks were good. For food, I ordered the Jerk Chicken Burrito and he ordered the Fish Tacos. The jerk chicken burrito had maybe 4 or 5 small pieces of chicken in it, which is not sufficient considering the size of the burrito. The burrito was overpowered by the black bean/cheese mash that was inside of it. It was not a well balanced burrito. Most disappointing of all, both our dishes were barely warm. They were closer to being cold than they were warm and for a $77 lunch, I expected more from Baru.

We loved the variety of tapas and specialty drinks and my gluten free vegetarian wife can choose options...we will return...BTW the staff are super attentive!

Ok this place is awesome! My husband and I came here for a date night two nights ago and had a fantastic evening. We were able to sit on the upstairs balcony which was so nice, breezy, and fairly quiet. Our service with Quentin was perfectly efficient, and he gave great menu tips. To drink, we got the Paloma (nice and fresh, loved the mezcal in place of tequila and the fresh basil), pepino pisco (fresh, light cucumber flavor, only a hint of spice and not too sweet-ask for a chili salt rim!!), pisco sour (nice take on a classic), and Jamaican mule (yummy and classic but with rum!). To eat, we got the ceviche (super fresh and flavorful, served with a little basket of chips), Gambia's al ajillo(4 gigantic delicious juicy shrimp with two pieces of buttered toast-so yum!), guacabello (3 thick tortilla chip/crackers loaded with tasty creamy avocado and mushrooms), langostinos (3 loaded lettuce wraps with creamy shrimp remoulade and crispy rice noodles, came with a flavorful dipping sauce), chumps de carne (perfectly moist beef skewers topped with a fresh chimichurri), mazorca (super flavorful grilled corn mixed with a creamy sauce abs topped with crunchy potato strings-so good!), and a side of Brussel sprouts (nice and crispy, standard). Overall we loveddd this place and will most definitely be back. (Side note-the portions are somewhat small because it's a tapas bar-we love that! But if you like big servings, either be prepared to order a bunch, or have a little snack before)

Baru Bistro and Tapas is a Latin Caribbean restaurant located on Magazine Street. Recently went here to celebrate Galantine's Day with my Yelp BFF. Nice ambiance, very small so I recommend calling to make a reservation. They also have outdoor seating complete with outdoor heaters for when it's cold. We started out with drinks, I got 'the old man and the sea' which is a gin based cocktail. My friend got the Margarita, we were both impressed with our drinks. We ordered fries, fish tacos and the Lechon Cubano (pulled pork, rice, black beans and maduros) for the table. All of the food was good, no complaints at all. Glad we decided to try this restaurant. Great location but be prepared to pay for parking or park on an off street.

One of the best overall food experiences I have had ever - delicious food - from the corn fried oysters to the skirt steak skewers to the Brussels sprouts and the lamb sliders - wow! For desert, rum soaked plantains with vanilla ice cream. Just fantastic! You owe it to yourself to give this spot a try on Magazine St. - it does not disappoint!!!

When we are in NOLA, we always make time for Barú Bistro and Tapas. Barú never disappoints. Tonight was Tapas Night. Guacabello, Arepas, Cordero Sliders, Carimanolas, Chuzos ... and for desert, Tres Leche cake and Chocolate Tort. A veritable feast! Service was excellent (Thank You, Brandon G!). The restaurant is warm and comfortable, with lots of happy chatter from the surrounding tables. There is a full bar (good margaritas and mojitos). Next time, we'll ask to sit on the balcony (which, I understand, is only open on the weekends. TIP: Make sure you make a reservation, if you want to dine inside. Five Stars.

Great food and drink spot in the Garden District. Side street parking was decent. If you're on a budget, check the menu beforehand. Pricier tapas, but some of the best we've had.

Amazing! This place is always good , the drinks, the food and service! If someone ask me where to have a cute dinner Baru is in my top 3 list!

I was seated quickly and ordered a drink. 20 minutes later, still no drink or even water. I took my menus back inside and let the hostess know I was leaving. They did not seem to care at all.

Baru is a quaint corner restaurant that has great tapas. The last time I went I chose tapas over a traditional entree. Out of the 5 of 6 tapas I had I'll say the fried oysters were my absolute favorite that sauce on top was top tier. The roasted shrimp had deep complex flavors, pairing it with the grilled bread is a no brainer. The skirt steak had great flavors of the grill charred to perfection. The chimichurri on top was herbaceous and vibrant. Would recommend. 10/10

It's been too long since we've eaten here. The food is so good, consistently delicious. My GF kept saying "they've got somebody's momma in the kitchen." That's high praise from a New Orleans native. We come for the fried oysters, sharing an order is not possible because they're too good for sharing. Perfectly battered, wonderfully crisp, with a magic sauce on top. I got the churassco (steak frites) for the first time, how many times can I say perfect in one review? The maduros, the elote, the cocktails...I would go on, but I'm slipping into a food coma. And the service was perfect too.

I've dined here a few times and would normally recommend, but after my last visit in July 2023 I sadly can not recommend. Our food took over an hour to get to our table and was not very warm and up to the standards we normally got at Baru. Our drinks were all made incorrectly and the wait staff avoided our table and was seemingly annoyed when we asked for water to be refilled and to order more drinks. I noticed 3-4 tables around us also having issues with timing, lack of response, and incorrect plates being delivered. I hope this was just an issue of being short staffed during a busy summer night, but I am hesitant to dine here again and spend that much money for a subpar meal.

Heard about this spot from a friend & am so glad we ate here. We did make reservations & although it was not busy when we arrived, it filled pretty quickly. Service is good here & I was impressed with how quickly our food came out. They have tapas here, which all sounded good but we only ordered entrees--just can't eat everything in New Orleans! I went with the duck served over dirty rice & shaved Brussels sprouts--wow! I rarely find duck at most places we eat at, so was thrilled to see it here. They know what they're doing; it was cooked perfectly & absolutely delicious. Husband had Ropa Vieja & said it was excellent. Definitely recommend this restaurant!

I I had the absolute worst experience at Baru Bistro and Tapas. From the moment I walked in, I was met with rude and dismissive staff who seemed completely disinterested in providing any level of customer service. The hostess was short and unwelcoming, and when I politely requested to be seated upstairs, she responded with blatant attitude. Throughout the meal, it was painfully clear that the staff had limited English proficiency, making communication nearly impossible. We were outrageously overcharged for subpar drinks (more than priced on the menu), and when we finally received our meals, they were a fraction of the portion size compared to other diners. When we voiced our disappointment to the waiter, she shrugged it off and offered no resolution until we asked for the manager. Despite assurances that the manager would assist us, we were left waiting for an excruciating 25 minutes with no help in sight. In the end, we decided to leave, only to be stopped on our way out with the excuse that our food was finally ready. We arrived on time for our reservation, but left feeling utterly disrespected and unsatisfied. Baru Bistro and Tapas? Never again. Save yourself the headache and dine elsewhere

I always pass the spot on magazine. Tonight decided to finally give them a try. I mainly went for happy hour.... Come to find out there was no happy hour. According to their website there was a happy hour menu. However, the food was really good, drinks could've been a little bit more stronger. For dessert I had to Tres leches which was good, top with blueberries. However the dessert was entirely too expensive for the amount I received. I feel the portions of the dress licious could've been larger, or the price should have been less. Service was wasn't so bad..... they could've checked on me a little more. Overall experience was good. #thankfulThusday

Run! This place is amazing. I ordered the blackberry mojito and the Maracayu for drinks -- both delicious. We ordered the carimanoles (twice!!), the gambas al ajillo, and the arepas con lechon. We'll be back. And plan to tell everyone we know to come eat here.

Just moved into town and decided to take a walk down the famous Magazine St. Saw this place and couldn't help but notice the type of cuisine on the menu. Requested a table for two and was asked if I had a reservation. I said no but wouldn't mind waiting for a table, the hostess was kind and said "give me ten minutes" she sat us down around 6 minutes after and apologized as they typically are booked with reservations on Saturday mornings. I felt lucky in a sense but also thought to myself, there are tons of other restaurants here that I can walk to. The waiter who's name I believe is Brandon, walked right up with a smile and an uplifting personality. He greeted us and asked if we had been to BARU before. He then said we were so lucky to walk up without a reservation and get seated so fast. I thought "okay what's the big deal, there are tons of places to eat around here" well let me tell you, as we waited to our food to arrive. I saw about 5 parties either asked to wait or come back another day with reservations as they were booked for the day. Once the food arrived I dug in and the fish was so tasty along with the Tostones! I was a happy camper. The food was good and the service was great! The waiter gave us some tips as new residence to the area and remained to keep his uplifting personality throughout our time at BARU.

This place was delicious. I would've gone back had we had the chance and the time. We were all able to get what we wanted and try everyone else's. The simplicity and flavor of the tapas was impeccable. I don't think any of us complained. Food and drinks were delicious. We may have been a little loud for the space. Space is quaint and has a more relaxed vibe. Arepas were delicious. I love all the flavors offered in Nola.

I came to this restaurant during Coolinary month and it was incredible. I had been wanting to go for some time and it did not disappoint. From the appetizers to the main course it was perfect! Their Sangria was also delicious!

Baru Bistro is the place to go if you are craving authentic Latin/Caribbean cuisine. The tapas are generously portioned and they are all delicious. We had the black bean empanadas and ceviche and we got almost full from that. For my entree I ordered the fish tacos, which were ok, but not great. My boyfriend really enjoyed his pork and beans. I actually and go Baru another time before for my birthday and that was a great experience! We got several tapas and I shared the skirt steak with my cousin, and it was served with a side of manchego fries and asparagus. It was perfect for us to share. The servers are nice, but the service was a little slow. However, it's a great place to go with a group of friends!

I really enjoyed Baru, I've been wanting to check this place for a while. Perfect for Tapas for two. We enjoyed carminolas, chuzos de carne, ostras fritas, and maduros con crema. I always enjoy skirt steak with chimichurri and this one was great. However, my favorite item was the fried oyster dish -- flavoral and paired with a great sauce. I enjoyed the fries. The carminolas were good but I would've been satisfied with a few bites of this. The drinks were fine, I had the pepino and old man.

DRINK REVIEW: I'm in love with the cocktails here. Palomas are my favorite cocktail, but there aren't many places that offer them on their menu. (Usually, the ones that do offer them don't make them right.) I tried the paloma here, and it is one of the best palomas that I've ever had. They also make their palomas with mezcal--tequila's crazy older sister. I can't wait to go back and try the tapas.

We tried this restaurant because we wanted Spanish food. The food was okay albeit some items were cold. The server was so anxious for us to order and get things moving that she came to our table 4 times or so within minutes of us being seated to ask if we were ready to order. This made us feel rushed and hurried to eat and get out. The sangria was tasty.

Ok ok I'm a local and when I desire to go out I'll spend the extra money here to enjoy a damn good meal. They are a bit more on the pricey side, but the food is authentic, flavorful, and soooooo satisfying! I haven't been able to go in a while due to the Covid mandate BS however, it will not stop me from going once Cantrell decides to be a civil human and life her mandate. I am not sure if all the food items I get here but let's talk Yuka fritters! Mmmm like a potato but not but tastes like it yummm with an amaaaaazing smoked pulled pork wedged in the center of them with this amazing I don't know what the sauce is but ooooft! It like making my mouth water as I type this message. I went when the chef had a special and it was lamb sliders with manchago cheese and these was char grilled which obviously adds more flavors but ooooh man the juiciness in these sliders and oooh the flavor was like a symphony in my mouth of flavors! Hands down 5 stars here if I could give more than 5, I totally would! Noooom!

Great food! Friendly and helpful staff. Went there for Coolinary menu: Tuna Tostada, Lomo Saltado and Maduras Foster. Went above and beyond after we were seated 35 minutes later than our reserved time and made sure we are taken care off

Omggg Baru Bistro & Tapas is AMAZING!! We stopped in New Orleans for a few nights and grabbed dinner at this really cool spot!! We are stuffed but their food and service were outstanding!!! We enjoyed the empanadas and the shrimp lettuce wraps as the tapas plates.They were very filling and you can tell the ingredients were made fresh like do they have a hidden garden WoW!! Our entrees were the chicken leg and kale risotto... I don't know if I have ever loved kale so much in my life. The chicken was tender and paired perfectly with the risotto. The fish tacos with rice and beans were no ordinary order ...they were fried crisp but not greasy and lightly breaded these were the best fish tacos I've ever had and the rice and beans were perfectly seasoned to taste!

Have not eaten there in ages- have long felt that it was fairly overpriced for the portion size. But we ended up there tonight & my resolve not to return was strengthened by what happened. Tried to call in advance for a reservation but no one picked up- so we arrived. There were at least 2 tables empty & we saw 3 waitstaff. It's a pretty small space so it looked staffed up. But we waited 15 minutes while 2 separate staff checked to see if there was a table for us. Someone called on the phone while we were waiting & another staff person booked them a table but when the guy we'd spoken with came back- they turned us away. Disorganized, not customer friendly & generally really uncool. The below picture reflects my current feelings towards Baru.

Went there on a triple date last night! The cocktails were delicious, and the tapas plates were so tasty. There's a great variety of food and drinks, so there's something for everyone. We also love the cost atmosphere. Plus, our server Bobby was super sweet. Will definitely be back.

Updated Review: So after an additional couple of visits to Baru I MUST update my review. I have been more than impressed with the food and service I've received and think I'm a customer for life. Last night I had a rare date night, just me and my sweet husband. We Ubered so we could enjoy their tasty cocktails without having to edit ourselves due to the drive. It was a good move because I can't resist their red sangria, and my husband found a Cab that he thinks will be a new favorite - kindly suggested by our fantastic waiter. We had a reservation which was a good move, as they got a little busy last night. We decided we would go with all small plates and it was a smart move. To start we went with the oysters and Tiradito of yellow fin tuna. They were both exceptional. The oysters were perfectly fried - PERFECTLY. The Tiradito of yellow fin was light and so full of flavor! Don't skip this dish if you are a tuna fan. Next we ordered the shrimp and skirt steak skewers. The shrimp are done BBQ style and are served with small slices of bread slathered in a garlic spread that are great for dipping in the sauce. The shrimp were cooked just the way we love them in NOLA. They were juicy, plump, and easy to peel. My husband offered to peel mine - because that's just who he is - but I got in there and realized it was so worth getting my hands dirty. Ok, the skirt steak skewers - holy smoke - they were over the top, crazy good. The steak alone had a tangy, rich flavor, and the chimichurri added a brightness that was much appreciated by us. Our last dish was the lamb sliders. I've had them every time I've visited Baru, and they're my favorite menu item so far. They're small but hearty and they're served on little, sweet buns. They feel like real comfort food. I can't neglect to tell you that the service was excellent. The entire staff was on point. Our waiter was professional, efficient, and best of all, so personable. I think last night we needed just what Baru gave us - a laid back, delicious, relaxing dinner.

Baru is becoming my go-to place. It is not near my home but I'm hoping that they continue to be successful in this challenging environment. I love their tapas. Their choice of red wine was excellent. Pleasant servers.

I never post on here, but this place blew my mind. The tapas were the best in the world. Must have the Carimanolas! The Caracas Old Fashioned will be the best you've ever had.

Okay..... so, we came to New Orleans JUST FOR FOOD for my husbands 40th birthday-and this place takes the cake!!!!!!!!!! Seriously the best food out of two trips to New Orleans in 6 years. A bartender in the French quarter made us take a trolly and walk 7 blocks. We were worried it wasn't going to be worth a strangers recommendation and it WAS WORTH THAT TRIP X100!