Buffa's Bar & Restaurant

Restaurant · Marigny

Buffa's Bar & Restaurant

Restaurant · Marigny

5

1001 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

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Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null
Buffa's Bar & Restaurant by null

Highlights

Classic American & Cajun eats, cocktails, and live music venue  

Featured in Eater
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1001 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Get directions

buffasbar.com

$10–20 · Menu

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1001 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Get directions

+1 504 949 0038
buffasbar.com
buffas
𝕏
@Buffasbar

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 16, 2025

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@eater

New Orleans’s Best Late Night Restaurants and Food | Eater New Orleans

"This much-loved local bar is a dive with a capital D, complete with a rib-sticking menu, live music in the back bar every night of the week, and a dog-friendly scene out front. Fried green beans, red beans and rice, burgers, deli sandwiches, are all just fine, although getting fancy with Alfredo might be overreaching. Once 24/7, the kitchen is now open until 2 a.m. every night." - Beth D’Addono

https://nola.eater.com/maps/new-orleans-best-late-night-food-new-orleans-nola
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@eater

18 Restaurants Serving the Best Red Beans and Rice in New Orleans | Eater New Orleans

"Nothing fancy about this joint on the corner of Burgundy and Esplanade on the edge of the Marigny. That doesn’t stop regulars from piling into the back room for live music most nights of the week. And yes, Buffa’s red beans are good here, yes indeed — and free with the cover for live music on Mondays." - Eater Staff

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-red-beans-new-orleans
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@eater

What’s Going On With Buffa’s Bar in New Orleans? - Eater New Orleans

"After a wave of concern that the late-night haven was set to close, the bar’s future is less than clear. Buffa’s, an 80+-year-old dive bar, live music venue, and late-night haven responded to a Facebook follower’s question about closing. The post prompted a slew of reactions mourning the ongoing loss of the city’s late-night culture. Despite the rumors, Buffa’s remains open, presumably due to increased sales and other measures of support from its customer base. The bar’s lineup of local musicians had volunteered to play for free, and a GoFundMe was set up to support the bar. Buffa’s has new summer hours and continues to offer live shows, events, beer tastings, and its menu including a late-night burger and homemade cheesecake." - Clair Lorell

https://nola.eater.com/2023/7/6/23782212/whats-happening-buffas-bar-restaurant-closure-new-orleans
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@eater

Marigny Restaurants Currently Open for Takeout and Delivery | Eater New Orleans

"Buffa’s, the normally 24/7 dive bar on the edge of the Marigny that serves rib-sticking dishes like red beans and rice, burgers, wings, and sandwiches, is open for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (504) 949-0038 or place an order online with Waitr." - Clair Lorell

https://nola.eater.com/maps/marigny-restaurants-open-takeout-delivery-nola-new-orleans-coronavirus
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@eater

The Best Halloween and Day of the Dead Celebrations in New Orleans - Eater New Orleans

"Or get out of the Frenchmen madness and grab a burger at Esplanade Avenue dive Buffa's, open all night long." - Clair Lorell

https://nola.eater.com/2019/10/29/20937037/best-halloween-events-day-of-the-dead-new-orleans
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H Mooney

Google
Went middle of the afternoon based off Google Maps recommendation. Should have walked 20 more mins to Bourbon St. More bar food than creole/cajun options on the menu. Ordered the grilled shrimp po boy. Ate dry because the mayo was on the table with other condiments(not knowing how long it had been there). It was quiet I guess due to the time of the day. There was also a stray cat roaming around.

Jim Faulk

Google
The Buffa Burger was amazing, the service could not have been better, and the hot sauces were a great compliment to the burger! If you haven't been there, go! If you've already been there, go back!

Ms.Z

Google
Love this place it is open 24 hours and you can get hot delicious 🤤 food! Also have bands! The crawfish cream sauce on the balls are dynamite! Back home and I am still craving these!

Will Glass

Google
Straight up rude. Used to be great. Music on at the bar while music is playing in back. Asked if the surly man at the bar could turn it down so we could hear just one music and he said “you have to bay for back there” pointing to where the music was coming from. I said, “I’m here”. He begrudgingly turned it down.

Veronica Mg

Google
When coming to New Orleans it’s actually a little more difficult than one might think to find good food. I was so happy when our friends took us here. They had a simple menu but you knew everything was going to be delicious. We tried the etouffee and the Rueben. A secret to eating in New Orleans is to go out of your comfort zone because that’s where the really good food is. The crawfish alligator and other seafood can seem intimidating but that’s what’s good!!

Heather Peterson

Google
This was just what we were looking for. Great food, fun conversation, and not quite so loud. Live band in the back but a quieter bar also near the street. James was a great bartender! Update: We bought the hot sauces. Hands down, it is now our favorite hot sauce! Everyone who tries it agrees.

Emily Margaret Stoehr

Google
The place may be a little tight, but it’s big on everything else. The owner is wonderful and creates such a nice atmosphere. Their food is completely underrated, and we love going out to hear the music, especially when The Pfister Sisters sing!!

Mark Martin

Google
I haven't eaten at Buffa's in about 3 years, and have had good food in the past. Ordered the reuben, which is priced at $20, the most I think I've ever paid for a reuben. It does come with fries. While the sandwich was well grilled, and the flavor was good, the pastrami was crap. I literally had one bite where I didn't have to spit out bristle or straight fat. Probably 1/4 to 1/3 of the meat ended up in napkins or on my plate. For $20, or any price really if an establishment takes pride in their food, that is totally unacceptable. Picture attached to show what I mean. There are pieces of meat left on the plate, plus pieces in both the napkins above the plate. C'mon Buffa's, you've got to do better. $10 cover for the last band set (about 45 minutes of music), $5 for a PBR, $20 for the sandwich, another $6 for tip. So $41 all in for a common beer, sandwich and fries. And again, about 45 mins of music. Maybe that's why on a Saturday night there are only 2 customers other than myself. As touristy as Frenchman is, it's actually a better deal than this "locals" place.

Raven N.

Yelp
Arla the bartender is the best! Thanks from Raven ! I'm bringing my dogs to meet you next time. Great service! Great food
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Hannah A.

Yelp
I don't normally like divey places, but I read on a Reddit thread that Buffa's had great food. Also, they have live music, and since we were in town to get the New Orleans experience we had to check it out. We signed up to attend the 6 pm show which was Adam Roger's playing rag time piano music. He started right at 6 pm, and we enjoyed listening as we ate our food. This was our first meal in NOLA, and it was incredible. We got the boudin balls with crawfish sauce and they were incredible - piping hot and super savory. We also ordered the red beans and rice with sausage, and it was delicious. The bartender poured us nice, stiff drinks, which we learned over the weekend is just how it's done in New Orleans. Love that. I found the service at Buffas to be quite good - attentive but not overbearing. The food was amazing, and the music was great. The ambience is not amazing - it's a bit run down and dirty. Normally that bothers me, but everything else more than made up for that and I will absolutely return the next time I visit NOLA.
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Pat B.

Yelp
We stopped in the afternoon for a drink and to learn about the entertainment they offer. The bartender and customers were very friendly telling us about the upcoming performers. While we didn't eat anything the man beside me got a burger and it looked great!They recommended you buy tickets online for the night you want to see the show or you might not get in. They have about 12 tables in a back room for the concerts. We definitely plan to return.

Matthew W.

Yelp
The staff were lovely, pretty attentive. Gave us good guidance on their THC drink menu. Very apologetic when brought us chicken wings that were raw in the middle :( They brought us out a replacement and said there had been 25 orders and apologized for the oversight. Ordered the Sith burger and honestly was very good, but it took almost 30 minutes to come out. Initial orders came out with fries completely unseasoned/unsalted. There WERE cockroaches, BUT I think they came in from outside. Overall, I didn't mind the experience (service was good, got free food), but the food was undercooked (9pm on a Thursday, for context) and there were visible cockroaches on the wall. Friends thought it was a disaster, but again, the burger was good
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Shira L.

Yelp
The staff is consistently rude. And really smells terrible in there. Used to go there often when the food was better too and locals were welcome. The staff, drinks and food are NOT worth the visit. Many better places close by.
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Nate J.

Yelp
We decided to try this place out since it was basically next door to our hotel and we wanted some drinks! We walked in and sat at the bar and the bar was cool looked like a dive bar. The bartender greeted us right away, we ordered our drinks and boy were they strong! We then had a few questions about the menu and they were answered right away. I ordered the Redfish del Buffa and my wife the BLT. 10 or so minutes and our food arrived, my wife's BLT had a good amount of bacon and fresh veggies, but the bread was over toasted and cut her mouth a little bit. My Redfish del Buffa was amazing! the fish perfectly cooked and the crawfish sauce was creamy and delicious a definite winner! Service was great, food was yummy, and the dive bar was cool. Only bad part was there was a tiny roach on the bar which we killed so that was kind of gross.
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Renee N.

Yelp
Our Airbnb was a few blocks from this little neighborhood dive bar. James was awesome and took great care of us. We visited this place a couple of times on our way back to the Airbnb after exploring all day. Drinks were good and the food was decent. I didn't get a chance to try the homemade cheesecake made by one of the owners. I heard it was all the rage.

Heidi L.

Yelp
Love this spot! Good food and the back room has great music. Here the week after jazz fest and still rockin.
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Bryan S.

Yelp
Buffa's is a welcoming dive bar on Esplanade with a back room for live music. There was a small $10 cover for the back room and all this goes directly to the performers which I found reasonable. Each time we visited we arrived 10 minutes early and easily found tables, but. I recommend reserving a table if you are going to the Jazz Brunch as this may get booked up fast. On the times we visited we found the brunch menu simple and unpretentious. We enjoyed the Buffas Eggs Benedict's with spinach and eggs Sunny side up with potatoes and I loved how I had easy access to a coffee station at the bar.
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Victoria H.

Yelp
An absolute gem! I'll never wait in line at Port of Call again. Pack your patience, your tastebuds and your tip money. This little neighborhood spot down from POC on Esplanade is wonderful. The day we visited, it was a one man show, cooking, serving and bartending to a packed Friday lunch crowd. I was blown away by how delicious my burger was. And in true NOLA fashion, the drinks packed a punch. I loved it. Can't wait for my next visit. This will definitely be on my must visit list from now on.
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Amy G.

Yelp
So depending on the day and time, and time of the year, your menu of options at Buffas will be different. And I could spend 10 sentences talking about their ham! However, the burger at buffa's is a staple. A great burger at a good price. Also, the beat sausage sandwich is pretty solid! One of the added benefits of grabbing a bite at Buffa's barroom - usually you are going to catch some fantastic music! I would highly recommend you try it out!
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Sydney D.

Yelp
This is a NOLA staple and beloved in the community. The bartenders, everyone is so friendly. Neighborhood bar in the back of the quarter since 1939! Also, the BLT is AMAZING. They actually COOK the bacon lol love Buffa's!
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Huma K.

Yelp
Great food, good drinks- all fairly reasonable. The service is attentive, if a bit cagey, scattered, and cold. Nonetheless, it is a locals joint and well worth a visit- especially if attempting to avoid the saccharine tropes of Nola tourism. Get the Reuben.
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J S.

Yelp
Buffas Buffa's Bar & Restaurant is serving food and drinks until 2am or later. Well Hell 12am-2am, $3 well drinks and $2 domestic beer. Stop by for a drink and one our Famous Buffa Burgers. Happy Decadence! -- at Buffa's Bar & Restaurant. Why y'all broke all the time You give the place away

Graysen H.

Yelp
Was a little surprised by all the great reviews. Our bartender was quite cold. The menu was very limited and the kitchen wasn't doing modifications, so that limited a picky eater even more. Our cheese curds were 90% breading and the food was pretty expensive. There was a weird smelling candle. Burger was good and portions were big but that's about it.
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El Gato H.

Yelp
This review is a couple of months overdue.. I was invited to BUFFA's by a good friend that owed me a Favor, and a little bit of $$$... So I showed up looking for a Nice Lunch, and a little Geedus... I ended up having an Angel Hair with Crawfish Cream Sauce. It might have been a special, or just a dish on the Menu in late May/early June of this yea Let's not quibble here, the Crawfish Cream Sauce was Tremendous!! I couldn't finish the Dish... but with 3 Miller Lites in my Belly during lunch..., that kind of makes sense. The Angel Hair w CC Sauce was tremendous as a midnight Snack some hours later. BUFFA's was within walking distance of my 1st Place in New Orleans, so I brought a Take Away home with me... Now the amazing Crawfish Cream Sauce was in my Frig. I ended up making a shrimp omelet in the AM, and poured the remaining Crawfish Cream Sauce right on top of that omelet like an Old Pro... Took a picture, and then gobbled it down. Somehow I was able to get at least 2 meals out of Lunch at BUFFA's, and still have enough CC sauce to put on my omelet the next day. Service was great, and the food was very good, and most importantly the Beers were nice and Cold. My friend ended up having the BUFFA's burger, and said it was Spot On. The bartender/waitress (she did it all) was welcoming, and thoughtful when it came to recommendations, and accommodations. Food came out fast, and I never lacked for a cold brewski in front of me. I will revisit BUFFA's again soon, in an effort to support them, and keep them around as long as possible!! You should too!! If nothing else to enjoy that Crawfish Cream Sauce while BUFFA's is still around!! In my world.. I have a FOUR MEOWS system... I give BUFFA's 3 MEOWS, but give that Crawfish CREAM SAUCE FOUR MEOWS, and a GRRRRRRRR!!! CIAO FOR NOW. Chris Cat

S.Kevin S.

Yelp
Great local spot just outside of French quarter. most tourists know of port a call. Buddha's is less expensive and better quality. highly recommend
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Gregg D.

Yelp
Wow...Red beans and rice with sausage!!!! Tremendous, amazing, wonderful!! So ya...it was a winner !
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Shannon T.

Yelp
Super fun local bar with great food and even better music. Reservations really are required for the Sunday brunch
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Jerry S.

Yelp
Well let's just say we were met with the rudest bartender and the hostess when we arrived. I can't describe how horrible this experience was. The hostess was very rude to someone in our party which made all of us ready to leave. We wanted to come, listen to music, have some food and enjoy ourselves. Instead the hostess insulted one of us. If I could rate them a zero stars I would but I needed to at least give a one star. I won't be back to deal with people with these attitudes toward customers.
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Lauren V.

Yelp
We did Sunday Jazz Brunch and had a BLAST! Amazing food, super nice waitstaff, reasonable prices and a killer jazz band! Everything our table had, omlettes, Eggs Benedict, Po Boys, breakfast sandwiches, all of it - just delicious!! This place will be a regular stop during future visits!!

Baleigh T.

Yelp
Such a great mom and pop; it's a nice little place off the beaten path of bourbon and other touristy places. The patty melt was absolutely wonderful. I would also recommend the long drink (a grapefruit and gin seltzer).
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William B.

Yelp
Love this place! Great music and food! We have the fondest memories of our visits here!

Eric S.

Yelp
Fabulous! Food is really quite good. Love the blue cheese coleslaw, red beans and rice and redfish. We love the back room for music. A real New Orleans institution.

Karen V.

Yelp
We both ordered red beans and rice and fried green beans. The food was delicious, if a little slow. The waitress/bartender was alone on the floor, so she did a great job, considering . food prices were reasonable, and the cover charge for the band was explained to us before we ordered. 10 dollars each for our party of two. I usually don't pay a cover if I am eating a meal, but I guess that's common in Nola. What I did not expect was a second 10 dollar cover to be able to stay when the first band finished and a second band came one. We had eaten and ordered a second round of drinks, so I think that was an unfair money grab. There was a sign that the cover went directly to the band, but there was a lot of tip begging from the band as well! Had we stayed for the second band, the two of us would have spent 40 dollars on covers, plus our meals and drinks and tips for the band and the server. Although the place had a fun atmosphere, it was definitely not an upscale restaurant, more of a neighborhood bar with food. It was not worth the price.

Jarrad G.

Yelp
This place was the worst! Ordered a burger at 11:30 and by 1:25, l had to cancel my order because I had a plane to catch. I was nice about it, they were busy, no big deal, but then the cook came out to chastise us for canceling our order. We sat there for 2 hours and then got blamed for not getting any food. Screw you guys.
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Joan S.

Yelp
Buffa's does not belong in a city that's known for "letting the good times roll!" The staff is uptight and rude; the food is not great. Went with friends to eat and listen to music. The bartender, whose name we were told was Boon, was irritable and incredibly unpleasant to us. It seemed like he didn't want to be there. The hostess was rude and insulting to one of our party. The food was overcooked and luke warm. Maybe the staff was having a bad day, but there are so many other "friendly" neighborhood bars, great restaurants, and really good music venues in NOLA to choose from, that my recommendation would be to pass on this one.

Betsy B.

Yelp
Kind bartender, delicious Bloody Mary, and Sunday brunch. This place has been around since the 30s and has a great atmosphere. Love these folks!
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Rowan P.

Yelp
I finally managed to visit Buffa's after living here for years. I have been craving patty melts lately and Buffa's is one of the only places in New Orleans that has one on the menu. I went on a Saturday night with 2 friends and the bar was pretty busy. The backroom was all sold out for a concert, so we sat at the bar. It took awhile to be served, but they seemed very busy so it was fine. We started off with some high life's and then ordered the patty melt. It was a bit expensive for a patty melt ($15), but it came with fries. The patty melt was good and had good onions, but I would have liked it to be a bit thinner and more pressed together. I did not realize that Buffa's had their own hot sauces and I enjoyed trying them all. The hot sauces are also for sale if you want to take them home. Buffa's is a classic small dive bar on the edge of the Quarter, so parking is limited.
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Greg M.

Yelp
Ok Buffa's, you redeemed yourself and earned an extra star with a solid Sunday Jazz Brunch experience. The atmosphere was nothing special, but the music, food, service, drinks and value were all superb! Our party of six arrived a few minutes before the 11am show. Got seated immediately and had drinks in front of us a few minutes later. The menu is pretty basic, but plenty on it to satisfy our group. I had a ham, Swiss & veggie omelette with crispy hash browns and an awesome homemade biscuit with a small side of sausage gravy. My wife and a couple others had the eggs Benedict. One of the guys had jambalaya. Without exception, we all raved about our food, and while the drinks weren't noteworthy, they were plenty strong enough and cheap, which helped make the entire meal a hell of a deal. I can't remember ever getting out of a jazz brunch for under $60/couple (drinks and tip included)... and it was the only meal we needed all day. It's not a bougie jazz brunch like you'll get at HOB, Broussard's or the Country Club, but it's the best value in town... and it's fun! Check it out some Sunday when you're in the mood for awesome food & music without breaking the bank. You won't regret it!
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Sarah B.

Yelp
Buffa's is a neighborhood gem! If you're a tourist looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the quarter but still want an authentic NOLA experience, Buffa's is the place. This is not a dive bar at all, but rather a casual, friendly joint where you can kick back, enjoy delicious food, throw back a few drinks, and chat with the friendly locals. There's both a bar area and a restaurant/lounge area, where they often host live music (and sometimes serve as a movie set!) If you live in the neighborhood, you're blessed to have such a cozy spot like this nearby. Also, DO NOT SLEEP ON BUFFA'S HOT SAUCE! My personal favorite is the garlic habanero, and my boyfriend is so obsessed that we ordered a case online. SO GOOD.

Jean A.

Yelp
I used to love this place. It was always a great option for solid food, live music, and the dive bar experience. I would recommend it often. I even recommended it to a stranger at an airport once coming in town for one night needing a chill place to catch some music and good food where locals hang. Today though, I had an unfortunate experience I need to share because our city is known for friendly service, and I got the opposite there today. I was doing a home tour in the area and had a bathroom stop need emergency. The home base for the tour was too far away, so I had to find somewhere quick. I stopped in admittedly in a rush and should have asked the bartender if I could use the bathroom and reassure them I planned on making a purchase before going to the bathroom but couldn't hold it. I got stopped by the bartender and was asked rudely if she could help me. I said I was hoping to use the bathroom and was going to buy a drink. I think I said water, so maybe she assumed I meant a free water, but I definitely was going to but something. She said sure and obviously rolled her eyes at me. I figured I'd explain myself after the bathroom when I bought my drink. When I came back, my mom had followed me in, and the bartender told her (about me), "Can you believe some people walking into bars like they know the place going straight to the bathroom?" in a very derogatory tone and that we should leave since she was so nasty about me. I waited a minute at the bar anyway to try and get a drink. The bartender ignored me. My mom also shared that after she complained to her about me, she did not offer her a drink either and started doing stuff at the bar instead. I left a dollar tip and left disappointed that I was treated so poorly at a place I used to love. Unfortunately, there are too many good places with friendly bartenders in New Orleans to condone this service, so I won't be back. Good luck, Buffa's. Hopefully, she was just having a bad day and is not this rude to everyone.
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Sara T.

Yelp
Jazz brunch much!?!?!??! there is regular seating and then a back space with a band to check out. incredible band. This place takes reservations and has a great robust menu. they have all the classics. I was with a group of 9 people and we all tried different things and shared. generous portions and kind staff. the band really blew us away and it was a really memorable experience. also, this is on a really beautiful street, with hanging branches and stunning old homes. check it out anyway!
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Sandi W.

Yelp
My husband and I decided to give Buffa's music room a try. The atmosphere is like sitting in a brightly lit diner - not at all conducive to a dinner show. They charge $10 per person which they call a ticket, but a ticket to what? The piano player, Pete, is a capable traditional NOLA jazz musician, but after each number, he stood up and the band had a long conversation about what they were going to play next and what key and who would take what solo. This was not a show, this was an excruciating REHEARSAL. The audience was seldom acknowledged, so we were stuck listening to the band banter about a song they might or might not know. And the dinner...well I had a huge but extremely greasy $14 burger which was messy and impossible to eat because it squeezed out of the bun. To recap: The food was not good. The beer selection was marginal. The "ticket" was a high price to pay to watch fairly good musicians (the trumpet player showed up late) have a long public rehearsal. AND, the entire thing was broadcast on Facebook live (so we paid, but others saw it for free). We left before the end of the first. New Orleans has better clubs that serve better food with a tighter "show" (like they might try having a playlist...and please, rehearse on your own time). Not a good representation of New Orleans entertainment or cuisine. There are reports Buffa's might close. Without a shift, it might be a blessing.
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Judy C.

Yelp
It is my personal opinion. This is one of the best neighborhood joints around! All around food, beverages, camaraderie, live music. You can't beat it. It is very casual, but I've also shown up in Mardi Gras royalty finery. What I like about it is they take what comes. I don't think he would be disappointed.
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Antonella B.

Yelp
This place was a big disappointment! I went to Buffa's with some friends to have dinner and listen to music, we purchased the tickets in advanced to see Papa Mali, we were looking forward to spend the evening together, having some good food and listening to some great music! Unfortunately, the staff at this establishment, except for Justin, ruined the whole evening. I have never been treated in such a rude way. Upon arrival we went to the bar area, which was filthy, the bartender was extremely rude he seemed really bothered by our presence. His answers to any of our questions were completely disrespectful. Finally, they allowed us to sit in the main dining room, Justin, our waiter, was nice and polite, but then we encountered Leslie, the hostess. For just a moment we were quietly talking among ourselves and one of my friends laughed, Leslie reprimanded us in a manner that was rude, insolent and disrespectful. She was nasty to us, for absolutely no reason! To top it all the food is less than mediocre! My recommendation: stay away from this place! It is a shame to have such a negative experience in our wonderful and welcoming New Orleans!
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Ron L.

Yelp
Left JazzFest last night and after binging on GF fried food at Casamento's, I took a late stroll through the French Quarter after taking the Canal Street trolley from Uptown. I peeked my head into another early 1900's bar, Cosimo's, when a Chihuahua ran past me right into the bar and looked up as if to survey the scene and decide what drink he wanted. I continued into the Marigny and off Frenchman Street I heard some jazz from the street and went in and took in some fine jazz from a Quartet at Buffa's, which used to be open 24 hours and now is open until 1:00am. Buffa's has a fairly extensive menu and full kitchen. That is the beauty of this City, although I don't know how anyone works since between the food, drinks and the late night places, there is no room for sleep. Buffa's is not really a dive bar but seems to me to be a neighborhood bar. People were friendly, music was good and the drinks were well poured.
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Deirdre H.

Yelp
This is NOT what we expect in New Orleans, the fabulous, welcoming city where we live!! Buffa's is a little neighborhood bar. Never have I ever been treated so rudely Purchased tickets online for Papa Mali. Arrived early to get something to eat. The bartender (Boon) , who was filthy, was totally unpleasant and rude. The place was empty. We were told that we had to wait an hour to sit and eat. We waited patiently, as we were looking forward to the show. At one point, we were talking amongst ourselves quietly. I laughed, and the hostess (Leslie) came over and reprimanded us for talking like we were kindergarteners!! She was extremely insulting! We stayed, because we had already ordered food. The burgers were overcooked and the fries were cold. My recommendation is...stay as far away from this place as possible!!! The staff (aside from one person, Justin) was rude and horrible. The food was mediocre at best.
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Jeff N.

Yelp
I was in town for my cousin's bat mitzvah, having just completed a major project for work when I decided to see what was around to grab a beer and some grub from my B&B. Fortunately, we were right around the corner from Esplanade Avenue and discover Buffa's Bar & Restaurant -- a cool, little local joint that offers cold beer, strong drinks, and good grub. Looking a little divey but with a lot of charm, Buffa's is a great little spot to enjoy a lunch-time or mid-afternoon drink, hang with friends into the night-time hours. After knocking back a couple of beers by local brewers Urban South and Abita, I enjoyed this sandwich that consisted of deep-fried ham, turkey, shrimp on French Bread. Very magical. I wish we had more time to hang out at this joint, but we had to get ready for the evening festivities. This is a spot worth to return. The feel of a local hangout that has a very laissez-faire and chill attitude to it is prevalent. Whether you're stopping to have a shot of whiskey, grab a beer with a friend, or nosh on a sandwich.
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Don T.

Yelp
We have been here a few times and the burgers here are as good as their competition across the street. They are open 24 hours and the service was so fast and friendly. We will definitely go back when we are in the French Quarter.

Dan C.

Yelp
Solid neighborhood bar. Great, mindful staff. Tasty food--especially if you add the onion rings. The back room music is cozy and a great showcase for local talent.
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Jessica F.

Yelp
Buffa's is three blocks from my house. We're in all the time. (In fact, the boyfriend is picking up red beans for me right now.) I never think to review the classic neighborhood spots that I frequent, but I keep seeing people complaining about paying cover for live music. And it's ridiculous. Paying for live music at the door and in cash is standard everywhere in New Orleans. That money goes to the band. You pay it, even if they're on break and even if you really just want food. People come to New Orleans for the culture. Our culture comes from our artists. We support them here. Period. I also work in the travel industry. Every big destination in the Gulf South is dealing with serious staffing shortages right now. That's even more pronounced during peak times. If you can't have a little grace, I'm not sure this is the right city for you. Buffa's food is great. The atmosphere is 100 percent authentic, neighborhood New Orleans. And they're doing a service to you AND the city by continuing to hire and promote local music.

Jessica B.

Yelp
So we came here for bingo and bought our tickets online. There's several things that went wrong but the start was that I walk in tell them our name for the reservation and she laughed and said we didn't have one. We clearly showed her our tickets and gave us someone else's table. Then we were confused on where to order as we had been sitting there for 17 minutes with no service which was okay we figured ordering at the bar would be better. Then the lady was extremely rude to us and told us she'd come around. Then we waited, they forgot one of our food items and just treated us very rudely. And we all work at a bar. So we are very understanding but the bartender and the manager were so hateful this was probably the worst experience I've ever had anywhere. I will say the only positive was the food. It was pretty tasty and the band was great. But I will never recommend this place to anyone with how rude they are.
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Shawn C.

Yelp
Best omelette I've had in a long time. Relaxed dive bar. Worth the visit. Drinks are cheap too.
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Rebecca F.

Yelp
I've lived in New Orleans my whole life and have never been to Buffa's. After Krewe du Vieux, I suggested it because we knew they had a large back room and we had a pretty large group (8-9) The restaurant was aggravated that we had so many people and made a big deal about us requesting to put two empty tables together. They insisted that we pay a cover of $7 per person for "live music" even though there was no live music and the band members were on break the entire 45 minutes we were there. They kept trying to collect it cash and we asked if we could put it on our food tab as we were all ordering dinner. Took 15 minutes to get 2 menus (for 7 people). At 35 min no one had taken our drink orders. Finally the waiter came over and asked how we were paying the $49 cover. We reiterated that it should go on our tab. He asked if we were going to pay one check and we asked if it was possible to split the checks. He goes okay but I'm going to wait on other tables first you guys are going to have to keep waiting I won't make other people wait on you We were so frustrated at the terrible treatment that we left. Never once did a band play a song. We also saw a cockroach crawling on the floor as we left Avoid at all costs!
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Peter L.

Yelp
Unexpectedly incredible food. Authentic, well-priced and with true service that can't be beat. I will definitely be back.
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Shannon S.

Yelp
Years ago, I would have rated Buffa's 4 or maybe 5. Their food was delicious and affordable. Over the past 5 years or so (even before pandemic) the menu has been significantly shortened, and the process skyrocketed. It's offensive they are charging $16-$20 for a bar hamburger or sandwich. Y'all, the minimum wage in this community is $2.13/$7.25. Their house made sauces for sale are good, although $5 a bottle is too much. Hopefully, the cockroach problem has been resolved because the last time I felt rich and thought I should give them another try, the poker machines were crawling with them.
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Anthony W.

Yelp
Great food and service deff will be back in time I would recommend this place to anyone
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Katy A.

Yelp
The redfish po boy is a must. Easy energy and friendly staff. My favorite local bar to get lunch or late night eats when in the neighborhood. Low key vibes only

Sue D.

Yelp
Great burgers, good music. Low key, nothing fancy but just perfect. Eat in the lounge/restaurant which is the side door!