Ernest's Orleans Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

We had an amazing night with steaks and pasta shells. One of the best meals we’ve had in a while! Super friendly place. Will be back!!

Boy, I was not sure about this restaurant when my wife and I walked in and sat down. We ordered the 10 oz Ernestos Petite Club. Wow, the steak was perfectly cooked, and it was delicious 😋 . We took home another meal practically. This was the largest 10 oz steak I've ever seen! My only complaint would be turn down the air conditioner it was very 🥶! Made it hard to really sit and enjoy the meal. Otherwise, this off the beaten path is well worth the trip! We will come back next time we're in Shreveport.

My hubby and I came to La for the weekend and decided to dine here. Even after getting a negative review about this restaurant...WE ENJOYED IT. Ambiance and service were wonderful. We will return the next time we ate in La.

We had a very nice dinner with visiting friends from Kansas City. They enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The food was pricey but the portions were large.

My husband and I are not returning to this establishment. I was really disappointed. Not only was the food nasty, our party had to wait about two hours before they seated our party, even though we had a reservation. Our waitress even sucked! Such a bad experience for my sister's birthday. Never again! 🤨 The food was beyond HORRIBLE!!! Quality does NOT meet the price amount at all!

Service was excellent with old school southern charm. The warm garlicky bread was great, even though the cold butter wasn't very spreadable. My husband's Ribeye was nicely cooked and flavorful. The sauce was tasty but everything on the plate was swimming in it. When offered options for a side, he chose asparagus. Unfortunately it was overcooked to mush, AND was $8.99 extra. I ordered fried oysters. The plate looked lovely, but tasted strange. No oyster flavor at all. The spiced peach juice had spread to them and it was not a good combination. Also, as a supposed "fine" dining, overpriced establishment why is the silverware a 5 for $1 dollar store special. Overall I found it an overpriced, overly pretentious restaurant with a dated menu and way too many cans of peaches on hand.

Service was slow, but I think they were unexpectedly busier than normal. Hostess was basically unavailable because she was helping take orders to customers. Wanted 10-15 minutes just to give our name and reservation time, but we're quickly seated then. Food was good - the flaming bowl of gumbo was interesting. Crab claws were good

Have always enjoyed Ernest’s food and atmosphere, so I’ll give it a 5 just for my great experiences before. However, we recently went for Mother’s Day and there were just too many people booked. We waited 30 minutes despite having a reservation. There was a buffet set up in one of the rooms and there was just too much “people traffic” and then the waitstaff were struggling to bus plates from customers making multiple trips to the buffet. They were working hard and the idea was sound, but somehow the execution was chaotic. Also, pretty sure our waiter was inebriated, so we had to rely on a busser that I asked to help us instead of our assigned waiter. Our mothers still enjoyed it and that was the most important thing. The atmosphere is aged, but has a charming old school Godfather feel to it. It’s a timeless Shreveport Landmark. Go check it out, you’ll be glad you did.

The food was delicious, making for a fantastic dining experience. I truly enjoyed every moment spent there. The staff was not only friendly but also attentive, ensuring that all our needs were met throughout our visit.

This used to be my favorite place on the planet to eat. I have recommended it to everyone when they come in town. I ate there last night with the family and wouldn't recommend now to anyone. The atmosphere is dark and quiet which is awesome usually to relax and talk to your group. This is ruined when you have kitchen staff come to the table over and over interrupting your conversations so they can try and high five and talk to your kids while smelling like an old cigarette. People eat at nice restaurants in Shreveport to get a little break from the Ghetto, not have it coming over to thier table every 5 minutes. One steak was ordered medium rare- came rare One steak ordered medium- came well done Both were filet's- not good and not seasoned well. 2 adults and 2 kids with apps and a couple drinks- 400$. Better meal and experience at Jack Binions or Anthony's.

Poor service with subpar food. The money and time spent here were not worth it. My family and I were sat by a door in which one of the waiters went in and out of to smoke a cigarette. I informed the hostess and asked if we could move and then she said no one uses that door. Not a moment sooner, the smoking waiter walks in. Terrible experience.

One of those restaurants that used to be a hit with the locals. Spouse suggested we eat here, said was a nicer restaurant. Made reservations hours later we were there. Building from exterior less than desirable along with location. Again I'm not a local. There are several sections to sit for dinner. Music in bar section seems fairly casual. The other side white table cloths & a tad quiet except for the debutants having their social. When we went there was private party quartered off by a flimsy room divider which eventually fell over. Decided on a 5 course dinner. Started off strong & ended with us regretting going to Ernest's. Drinks, perfected & cold. Bread, fresh & brought in from New Orleans. The crab legs with sauce & actually pops with flavors in your mouth. Fried shrimp was desirable with the light crust. The gumbo absolutely amazing along with the presentation. Gumbo flavored with spices and bites that were not over whelming yet fresh. I'm not a gumbo eater, but I was blown away. Now on to the disappointment. Due to the large party our food was served European style. If you are not familiar that means the dinner dragged on for hours due to the large party. The salad with crab was served on a cold plate yet the lettuce & crab lukewarm, with a bland taste. The main course was filet mignon, fish & sauce mushrooms, single tomato & and twice baked potato. The main course was all over the place, really the foods did not mesh. By now we are tired & lost the reminder of our appetite. Skip this place. Not worth the time or money.

We had an amazing Valentine's Day evening and as always Ernest's had that date night, romantic vibe. Obviously this day is super busy, but we were seated as soon as we arrived for our reservation. We were quickly served water and their amazing bread, which they will continue to refill if requested be careful. Lol We started with the marinated crab claws and the fried shrimp both are fantastic. Then for our entrees the wife and I couldn't decide between the Snapper special, Filet or Veal Marsala. Since we are not dessert people we ordered all three so we could sample them all. This is where we were blown away. They served the dishes family style so we could easily share and the presentation was amazing, but not nearly as incredible as the food itself. The snapper was so flavorful stuffed with crab and shrimp, the filet was cooked perfectly and melts in your mouth and the veal was super tender. A wonderful evening for a special day. Thanks Ernest's for making our night memorable.

Great food we shared a crab sandwich and cold beer, the sandwich had a nice slaw on it for some crunch. Fast service at the bar. Busy place at night.

Last two times I've been here, most recently about ten months ago, the service was poor, wait was terrible, and food mediocre. Was going to give them another shot tonight but left before placing an order. Made reservations for two for 7:00 tonight. Go in at 6:56 and no one is at the hostess stand. Wait about five minutes and a disinterested woman finally appears. We get seated and after a couple of minutes a young man brings bread and says we can't have any water because they don't have any glasses. Okayyyyy... We ask for menus and he brings them. A few minutes later a party of eight comes in and is seated at the table behind us. The hostess comes immediately to their table and takes their drink orders. We're still waiting on water. Wait a few more minutes and the same waiter has a tray of water glasses and walks right past us and gives that table water. At that point, around 7:25, we decide that with all of the great restaurants in Shreveport we'll give one of them our business. Call L'Italiano in Bossier City, maybe five minutes away, and check on availability. Were told we could be sat immediately so we head there. Had a great meal with wonderful service at L'Italiano. Avoid Ernest's if you can. They've been living on their reputation for years.

The food is delicious! They have a way of making ANYTHING taste so different and delicious. If you have a special request the staff will do everything possible to "make it happen ". And the service is unbelievable! If you want a place for a special occasion this is it. The banana foster and seafood gumbo are flaming and wonderful!

This play has the best atmosphere and ambience. We enjoyed an evening with family and friends. The live music was wonderful that evening.

Came in for Valentine's Day date night. Service was amazing. Wait staff was so attentive. Restaurant was low light and beautifully decorated! Food was phenomenal! Best steak in town!

An institution not to be missed. 3 families drove 7 hours just to have dinner here and it was worth it. We previously lived in the area and were introducing the 4 th generation to the unique joys of Ernest. Happily it remains the same. Marinated crab claws proved to be a hit with the youngest of the group. The gumbo was phenomenal and only made better by being served in a flaming bowl. Personally I went for the beautiful butterflied shrimp with a house made remoulade sauce-- and we are still at appetizers!!! Rave reviews for a blacked red snapper with lemon butter sauce and sautéd fresh crab and shrimp. Even if you are full a flaming dessert is required. But-- will it be bananas foster, cherries jubilee , peach Melba or flambed strawberries all prepared table side. Yes, it is throw back dining but fro 7 years old to 70 were all stuffed and very happy. To top it off Tommy was our waiter. He is only working two days a week now but has been with them for 55 years. This is true of most of the staff. It is like family.

Homey place , great live music . Food was fantastic, can be spendy depending on what you order, but doesn't have to break the bank. Service was great. Reminded me of a supper club but more upscale.

A true Shreveport gem! The ambiance was upscale yet inviting. The owner came to our table to greet us. After he left, a 5 course meal followed with the absolute best service! I've never had gumbo flambé and it was amazing. The table side Bananas Foster was to die for. The star of the show was the marinaded crab claws.

I would definitely NOT recommend and will NEVER return. Taylor provided some of the worst service ever! We were seated prob 20 min before he even showed up to greet us. Took another 20 to just get menus and drinks. We were there another hour for food and and another 45 min waiting for birthday cake and the check. It was about 2.5 hours we can't get back. It appeared we were the least priority compared to other tables the gentleman was serving. Tommy didn't even have our table but graciously supported us when our waiter was no where to be found. Bottom line service was terrible, extremely slow, and Taylor left us constantly looking for and waiting for him. It was my mom's birthday and I'd driven from out of town to waste time and money at this unworthy establishment. Not only was the service pitiful, the food was not nearly worth the price tag bestowed upon it. 2 of my family's steaks were medium rare when they were supposed to be Well Done, my children did NOT like the taste of their kids Alfredo, they charged $42 for shrimp that tasted like frozen already-battered store bought shrimp. The birthday lady didn't like some sauce they put on her fish. Hardly any of us had a decent meal. But yet the restaurant didn't bother to fix a thing - even after my brother spoke to a manager. The waiter still got his tip due to our size of 9. (Maybe that's why he didn't care to serve us properly. We certaintly wouldn't trust nor recommend this waste of an establishment for any special occasion again!

After 26 years in Shreveport, my wife and I finally made our way to this long-standing establishment, hoping it might become a new favorite. Unfortunately, the experience left us underwhelmed. The location was less than ideal, with tricky access that made parking and navigating in and out frustrating. From the moment we sat down, service was sluggish. It took 15-20 minutes just to receive menus and place drink orders, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. We started with a fried shrimp appetizer, supposedly "jumbo," but it amounted to only two disappointingly small shrimp--hardly worth the $14 price tag. The appetizer took a baffling 35 minutes to arrive, and somewhere during that wait, we placed our main course orders. Unfortunately, the entrées took another 30 minutes to come out. While the portion sizes were generous and the flavors enjoyable, the drawn-out delays dampened our overall impression. The final interaction sealed our dissatisfaction. When the waitress brought the bill, the appetizer was conspicuously absent, which I interpreted as a conciliatory gesture for the service mishaps. After confirming the check looked fine, I handed over my card, only for her to return 8-10 minutes later with the shrimp added to the total without so much as a mention. In theory, this could have been a charming dining experience, but the disjointed service and disappointing details left us frustrated. We had hoped this would be a new go-to spot, but regrettably, it fell far short of expectations. P.S. Make sure to bring a head lamp, it's quite dark (at least in the bar area).

I attended a dinner for my brother and sister in law on a Saturday night.Our reservations were at 6 and to be fair some people arrived at 6:30. Service started out decent... my bar drink was horrible. very strong cheap vodka taste in my mojito. we ordered espresso martinis and they came with a lemon peel???.... good but not the best. Had to ask for a menu at least 2 times. we were here a total of 3 hours!! or more honestly. Steaks were not cooked right, I ordered the filet medium and it was well done, very fatty. Our friend ordered the ribeye medium well and it was RARE. the waitress was either busy or couldn't keep up with all the tables I'm not sure.. she was a bit forgetful. she told us that all steaks came with baked potatoes and the fixings.. she only brought out sour cream and we had to ask her at least 3 times for cheese and everything else and then she brought out one serving.. not enough for 4 people that had baked potatoes. once again, we were here for over 3 hours and I was just ready to leave. food is not worth the price or the wait time. Not to mention she took our drink order and came back and said "oh yall are over 21 right?" and yes we were well over 21 but kinda negligent on her part. and then she proceeds to come back and was like "oh you're turning 19 right?" and just served us bar drinks?? took another 20 minutes just to get our checks. Checks were wrong. My check by itself was $113- including a drink that wasn't mine but I paid for because I didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for it to be corrected. won't be back!

By far the best food and staff experience I've ever had in any state I've been to. The seafood was wonderful filled up on it and the appetizers didn't get to try any of the dessert but it all looked so amazing. I definitely will be coming back

Wish I would have taken pictures. The service was outstanding- the food was great, especially the gulf oysters. Local beer was cold. The live music was cool. Everything we hoped for.

My cousins planned a birthday party for my uncle (their dad) last month. It was a milestone birthday and we had a private room in the back of the restaurant. I had heard great things about the food here from a friend that lives in the area, so I didn't have any reasons to be on high alert. The party started at 6 pm. I didn't arrive until about 6:30 pm. When I arrived, they were just taking drink orders from everyone. There were about 25 adults and 7 children in our party. After drink orders were taken, the same waiters came back around to get our appetizer orders. Let me pause for a second - there was a set menu that my cousin was presented, that included 4 courses: appetizers, soup (gumbo), a choice of entrée and a choice of dessert. In my opinion, it was way too much food for Summer AND for the amount of people in the dinner party. But, I digress. Again, it was what she was presented with and she not knowing the restaurant, she didn't object to it. So, while we were waiting for the appetizers to be brought out, some of us received our drinks. I NEVER received my water. Water!! Appetizers were brought out and then we were asked about our entrée choices. Still, no water for me. My aunt even asked for lemons...none was brought out. By the time the gumbo was brought out, I was over it! Thw gumbo was not good. The roux was dark and tasted burnt. From the time I arrived to the time the gumbo was given, it had been over 1.5 hours. It was after 8 pm and no one had received an entrée. My mother and I decided to inquire at the front with the hostess. She assured us that our food would come out soon. By the time our entrées came, it was about 9 pm and I still had not received my glass of water. I picked over my food, which was subpar. I ended up eating some of my aunt's mashed potatoes, which she special ordered. Moving on to dessert - hated it! I don't want to speak too much on the quality of the bread pudding because I think many locals love this restaurant. My biggest problem with this establishment was the quality of service and lack of wait staff. There were only 3 waiters to service us. On top of that, another large party was seated close to us and I want to believe some of the waiters servicing us werw assigned to that party as well. There were about 20 people in that dinner party. Oh, and there was a set price for our menu - $40/person. One cousin paid $40 for his 7 year old daughter when some of us were presented with the checks, to pay beforehand. By the end of the night, they charged the rest of us the price of spaghetti and meatballs, which was under $10. They were so unorganized and not well prepared. And the food was not good!! Would I patronize this place while I'm in the area again? Not sure but I will not jump on an opportunity to go there, that's for sure.

We really enjoyed our time tonight at Ernest's! We sat on the bar side of the restaurant and enjoy listening the music. The food and service was terrific and I thought reasonably priced.

Ate here last night with a party of 10. I'm afraid was nothing good about our experience. First, the water they gave us to drink tasted like pond water, so I ordered bottle of water, they only had one bottle of SAN peligrino sparkling water that our entire table was suppose to share. Second, it took 2 1/2 hours to get our food, by the time it came out the fish, baked potatoes and steak were cold. I really expected more for $60 per entree.

OMG! OMG! all I can say is Earnest was the BEST in the town. Everything was extra good I give this restaurant a 10. The crab claws = 10. The Avocado crab salad = 10. The lamb chops were cooked to perfection I am now fat and happy.

We had a really great experience. Our server was Pam and I called her Pamtastic! She was so sweet and accommodating. She really helped us enjoy our birthday celebration. I just have to compliment the high level of service here because it's harder and harder to come by these days. The food was great. The flounder, and the steak. The flambé dessert was such a treat. And the surprise birthday cake was really nice. We created a nice memory here that we won't forget.

one our favorite restaurants in the past. Returned 10/9/2024 but not again. our order of red snapper came out too dry and tough to eat. They returned it to the kitchen and when the new plate came it was worse than the first. My wife had tried a bite off each end of the fillet and it appeared all they did was trim off the ends and cover it with more garnish and bring it back. Sad to see what was one of the best restaurants in Shreveport now serving inferior food.

This was very sad to see such a great place to go bad. 1st. Had reservations, still took 20 minutes to sit. 2nd, the waitress was nice enough but we were tired of being told sorry. 3rd, the food came out cold, wife's was so bad she sent it back and didn't want it back 4th, it took us all of three people an hour and forty five minutes. 5th, they ran out of food, no baked potatoes and the potatoes they gave you sucked. Just a bad dinning experience for 200.00.

I grew up in Shreveport and try to visit Ernest's from time to time when I'm back. This trip I booked a 7:15 reservation...and sat back and watched as they continued to seat regulars and friends before us. For our 7:15 reservation (for 2) we FINALLY got sat at 8:12 and we signed our bill at 9:55. Wtf?!?!?! WHY? Why is that a thing? And the crab claws and bread are still good, but the steak is not the same quality and nothing else we ate was worth noting. Which is sad to spend nearly $250, waste our whole night AND still be hungry. Prob my last time going sadly, just not the vibe anymore.

Ernest Palmisano and his family are gifts to this world. We are lucky they call Shreveport home. If you play your cards right, you can leave a meal understanding why many think this is the best Shreveport has to offer. Snapper Shreve, Filet Mignon, Flaming Gumbo, bananas foster, all very very good. It's very Shreveport. It's a melting pot of all walks of life. But you will leave pleased. If you don't, something is wrong with you.

First time in Shreveport and found this gem! Everything was amazing. Gumbo was out of this world. Cherries jubilee was awesome and we loved our server, Patrick.

In short: fuck this place. Reservation at 7pm. Hostess less than engaging, did not communicate clearly to the crowd of people with reservations waiting. Disagreements and frustrations between staff openly aired on front of customers waiting. After waiting 20 minutes, discovered open seating at bar. Great bar tender. Big guy. However, young bartender with beard completely incapable of finding own ass with both hands. Two drinks later, our table reserved two days prior for 7pm is ready at 8pm. Seated at table waiting for water and bread. Waitress arrives... Waitress is nice...overworked...apologetic...frustrated..."just found out you are my table" and we have to ask for wine menu...later ask for food menus...time marches on. Special bread we didn't order arrives..it's cheesy bread and good. Looking around the restaurant we notice nothing has been updated in years. Tables, chairs, table clothes and napkins are all worn. Water stains on ceiling tiles, paint chipping from friction points on doors and bathroom is worse than your average gas station. We finally have the opportunity to order food. New York strip is huge. Very thick. Not bad. Other food was adequate...nothing to write home about. Bartender comes to confirm we checked out at bar after we'd been at table for over an hour...conflict....seriously guy...we paid 40 bucks for three drinks and now you don't think we paid...provide receipt...given free desert drinks as apology for misunderstanding...check arrives for meal...has extra charges for pasta we did not order...correction requested and more apologies made...cashed out finally...ran for door and tipped the valet just thankful to get the right vehicle back. Fuck this place.

Excellent shrimp and oysters. Service was impeccable. We really felt catered to, loved the waiters with the black tie. Nice class effect.

This place never disappoints. Service is great,food is on point! I can't even say enough good things about this restaurant.

I love senior night (Thursdays). Even with the Senior portion, I still bring food home. This place knows how to cook steak; no steak sauce is needed!

Only put 1 star otherwise I wouldn't have been able to leave this review Service was horrible!!! Left after 30 minutes because we had only received our bread. We had ordered the crab claws and still hadn't received them when we decided to leave. Went there for the strip steak and they were out!!!! How can you be out of strip steak at 6 pm? Had reservations but they seated us in the bar area and this is after having to drive through a muddy parking lot. Went for a birthday dinner but after this, I will NOT return ever again even after going for decades. Also, our waitress was not very friendly and was nowhere to be seen. As a matter of fact, she hadn't even greeted us when another server had to come take our drink order. Very disappointed and will never recommend this place. Plenty of other good places in town for a good steak. Not even worth one star tonight!!!!!

Food was wonderful and the service was great. We had the chicken parmigiana and spaghetti w/meatballs. The bread and butter were tasty. The butter was so rich. I would definitely go back.

After 30 min wait on a reservation we bailed. Explanation was that they took a large party last minute. Insult. Means reservations are meaningless if one can walk in without one and make 30 people wait. Next....

From engagement to birthdays I have had some memorable times at this restaurant. The food is unlike anything you will find around town. The atmosphere is romantic and antique. The service is personal. They don't miss anything. Ernest is a wonderful gentleman himself. Thank you for the meals and the memories.

Found this place via OpenTable and was very impressed! Food was awesome, service had some much needed old school charm... you MUST try the Cafe San Pedro and one of the flaming desserts!

This is my 3rd visit. 10 years ago, 3 years ago, then 7-2-22. I've always ordered the ribeye & claws as an appetizer. This time, the ribeye was different. Not sure if the sauce or marinade was different or what. The spiced peach was new, but tasted fine. It wasn't bad, just different, and not as good. The experience, ambiance, and service were awesome! I do plan on coming back, but hope whatever changed, changes back.

Absolutely amazing! My wife and I went for dinner and were blown away by the experience. The food was perfectly cooked, the service was impeccable, and Mr Ernest was such a hospitable host. He made us feel special. Highly recommend the strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries and you can't leave without trying the after dinner coffee!

Great food, crappy service! Our waiter spent the entire time flirting with a girl sitting at the bar. Had to get up twice to get his attention for more drinks, asked for more bread twice and he never brought it. This is not a cheap place to eat, we spent $150 for two people. I expect better service if I spend that kind of money on a two person meal, or at least check to see if we need another drink. Sadly, we will probably not be back.

We loved this restaurant! Came with a family group of 7 people and everybody loved the food, the ambiance and excellent service. We stayed about 6 hours!

Decided to try again since it was sooo packed for Valentine's Day. We were welcomed immediately as we walked in. Seated immediately. Our waiter, Dan, was spectacular!! He was so personable and just a kind soul. He made the experience so much better. There are two sides to the restaurant, the bar with the live band and a private, quiet side. The vibe was very old school, hole in the wall but fancy. The food was great. The sautéed crab fingers and fried shrimp as an appetizer. The crab fingers were different but in a good way. They were served cold. The complimentary garlic bread was wonderful!! As the main course, the Snapper Shreve was super yummy. I recommend that dish! Great place for date night or out with friends.

One of the best restaurants we had ate at ever! We enjoy trying different place! It's a little pricey! $$$$ But worst it! The service is best I have ever experienced ! We are from Texas and been to alit of places to eat! You won't be disappointed!

Do yourself a favor and go to Ernest's. I was in town for a convention and had an amazing dinner here. The staff could not be friendlier! Our server Brandy and the bartender G were top notch and went out of their way to provide a great experience. Even the bus staff were super nice! The food was delicious too. The owner Ernest greeted us. And when I called the next day after realizing I might have left my credit card there, Ernest himself answered the phone, took down my information and called me back a few minutes later with my card. He offered to deliver it to my hotel and when I told him I had already left town he insisted on overnighting it to me. You just don't get 5 star service like this anymore. I can't say enough good things about Ernest's!

Been going here for years off and on. For whatever reason the food just hasn't been up to par the last couple of times we've been. I hate that because it has always been a favorite place to go for a fancy meal. Appetizers were fine this time, but the steak and fish just weren't that great.

Service was great. The bread and potato were good. The appetizers were horrible because of the sauces, as was the grisly steak which sat in a pool of sugary brown liquid. It was gross and very overpriced. Ambiance was okay but the building is old and needs to be remodeled badly.

Always great food and service. I appreciate the old school vibe and decor of somewhere you'd find in Chicago or New York. Love, love Ernest's!!

We had a delightful time here for our anniversary. You get more for your money here than at comparable places like 2 Johns. They really make an effort between the dark/red Cajun atmosphere and the hearty food and creative presentation. A shout out to the wait staff as well.

We had not been to this restaurant in many years, so we decided to go last week. Terrible food. Boiled shrimp had zero seasoning.... Not even salt! Steak was full of gristle. Fish tasted fishy...couldn't even eat it. Bread was the best part of the night. We won't be going back. Too expensive for bad food. Key lime pie obviously frozen and more like cheesecake.