Evviva

Evviva is a great new restaurant in the Marigny. Each course was prepared to perfection. The snapper was melting in my mouth. The chocolate mousse was decadent and left you wanting more. The staff were so friendly and you could tell they were proud to serve the food there. The intriguing and eclectic art on the walls kept us entertained. Will definitely be back here!

At Evviva, nothing is ordinary, except the guarantee you’ll come back! In a world of tradition and age-old expectations, Evviva dares to deliver the deliciously unexpected. Tonight wasn’t my first visit to this fairly new and unassuming Bywater eatery, but you can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be my last (perhaps not even this month). My two visits to Evviva have been exquisite expeditions into extraordinary flavor, fresh and relevant ingredients, and unparalleled service. If you’re just here for a general recommendation, feel free to stop reading and book that reservation. I promise, it’s worth it. For those who crave more detail, allow me to explain. When you walk into this street-corner restaurant, you’re greeted by at least one warm and welcoming staff member, and a modern, elevated-casual interior that strikes the perfect balance between inviting and sophisticated. You might even encounter a fellow diner eagerly trying to convince you how incredible the food is. In my experience, it’s satisfying to smile and reply, “Oh, I’m aware.” From the very start, the service stands out. Our main server was attentive and perfectly timed, always present without ever hovering. Other team members floated in with drinks, food, or warm conversation. Even the owner checked in with genuine care. The staff works with such cohesion that it feels less like dining out and more like being hosted by people who love what they do. Once seated, you’ll receive a menu that feels almost precious because it won’t be around long. Evviva does not believe in stasis. Like us, the menu evolves, challenges, and invites you to experience something new every time. You might start with the Juliet and Romeo cocktail, and yes, Juliet gets top billing, as she should. It’s gently sweet, tangy, and strong. If that’s not your style, you’ll be just as happy with a brilliantly made martini, gin or vodka, dirty of course. Every appetizer sounds tempting, but a few may stand out. Perhaps something like the Pickled Gulf Fish Crostini and Velma Gene’s Anchovy Bread. After all, fish and bread make a perfect theme for the table’s first course. The crostini delivers creamy, tangy richness on a buttery crunch. The anchovy focaccia sings with salty, acidic depth. Both leave you wanting more, wishing you could spend the night cycling through cocktails and starters alone. But then your eyes and your stomach wander to the entrées. Perhaps you choose the Grilled Wagyu Bavette Steak and the Grilled Mississippi Rabbit. The steak arrives atop fresh tomato slices and is crowned with crumbled blue cheese. The acidity of the tomato cuts beautifully through the meat’s richness, while the cheese adds unexpected depth. Each bite is a study in simple complexity. You’ll use half the provided bread loaf to savor every remaining drop. And then, the rabbit. This dish is nothing short of a revelation. The meat is succulent, crisp on the outside, and perfectly tender within. It is easily the most memorable dish you’ve had in over a decade of dining in New Orleans. Thanks to the gracious staff (and the owner herself), you enjoy it paired with not one but two thoughtful wines. Your partner favors the Lamoresca Frappato Nerocapitano, which brings out the dish’s earthy richness. You prefer the chilled red by the glass, an unfiltered Vino Rosso from Angelo Negro, imported from Italy which coaxes out the sweet, sultry notes of the meat. This is a dish you’ll remember for years. Dessert? Always a difficult choice. The Chocolate Budino does indeed stand out, however. What arrives is silk in chocolate form, topped with whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts. You’ll reluctantly leave Evviva feeling indulged and gratified. You may long for those duck wings you had on your first visit (truly, the best gosh dang thing you’ve ever tasted) or wish you had seen your favorite dish on the somewhat limited menu. But you will return, without a doubt, and knowing each visit promises something vibrant, thoughtful, and worth remembering.

If you're thinking about going, JUST GO. Very well and affordably priced menu of approachable and extremely delicious yet interesting choices. The chefs here know how to create a menu that keeps guests engaged with every bite and ordering more. Marcus Jacobs from Marjie's is in the kitchen and you can experience the same sort of playfulness and experimentation in the dishes at Evviva. My friend and I were big fans of Marjie's, and since it closed, we've been trying to chase that high unsuccessfully. That changed on Friday night when we ordered pretty much every small plate available. Everything was great, but if I had to choose favorites, I'd say the pork jowls, oyster mushrooms, and the olives and orange peels. The menu has changes daily as the chefs lean in to seasonality and personal interest. Trust the waitstaff and bartenders here to make recommendations as they get to sample the goods before guests do. 😀 Speaking of the bartenders, we sat at the bar on a Friday night and had amazing service the perfect amount of friendly, professional, and engaging. My friend enjoyed a very delightful Slovenian wine and I had a shiner bock, so no cocktails for us. The drink menu expertly compliments then food menu as it continues in the vein of focused variety of options without being disjunct or overwhelming. Since Friday I've told pretty much anyone I've seen about Evviva which was awkward to do at hardware store. I have plans to go back soon. Thank you all for the excellent service and phenomenal food.

A friend recommended this place and we were not disappointed. Evvia's atmosphere was so lovely, though loud because it was so popular, esp on a Friday night ofc! We had the roasted turnips which were so flavorful and tender, the roasted endive which went well oh so well with the blue cheese topping and the barrata was coated in a very tasty olive oil. I'm not even the biggest fan of barrata! As a main, I had the lamb lasagnetta which was crispy and rich and flavorful. The chocolate hazelnut dessert was the stuff of dreams and I might swing by just for that and some decaf again sometime soon. Our wait staff was friendly, attentive despite the busyness and very cute!

I went there with some friends for one of our good friends birthday. It was my first time going and I must say.....EVERYTHING about this restaurant was AMAZING! I don't know what took me so long to find out about this place. The ambiance was everything. The staff was so nice and very friendly. Everything we ordered was exquisite 👌🏽 shot out to Chef Lilly. Everything she cooked that night was top tier!!! 🤤

Excellent, excellent food. We had eaten at Herbsaint two days before, and not a single dish could match the food here. I loved the steak tartar and the anchovy toast.

We went on Saturday with a few friends. Our original reservation was for 4, but last minute, 3 more friends decided to join. We kindly asked if it was possible to modify the reservation at the restaurant, fully understanding that last-minute changes aren’t always feasible. To our surprise, the owner was incredibly kind and did everything possible to accommodate us with a table for 7. Our server, Kelly, was absolutely wonderful and provided 10/10 hospitality. The food was amazing, and the drinks were super delicious. All in all, this neighborhood spot is a hidden gem—highly recommended. We’ll definitely be coming back whenever we get the chance!

I had the steak, and although it was tasty, it was served with tomatoes and blue cheese. That's it. No potatoes, no fries, no kind of side that would feel satisfying. I didn't even get bread. For almost $40, you'd think they could spring for a complete meal. Honestly, I question the mindset of a chef who would put this on a menu. I was really unsatisfied with my meal and definitely won't be back.

Alrighty. As wonderfully embarrassing as this is, this is a review for the second night in a row we ate here. It was our last night in our weeklong trip to NOLA, and we'd had an amazing dinner the night before at Evviva. We had reservations for this night at another restaurant - we like to try new things, and visit old favorites. But everyone around the table agreed anything else would be a letdown. So we canceled our other reservations. Came back. Had many of the same things. And we're incredibly happy to have done so. This is not our normal m.o.: this place is special. We had small plates. Split them for the table. We're all pescatarian. We're all cocktail hounds (we didn't split those). Our two favorite cocktails: Juliet and Romeo. Bright, well balanced, refreshing, but with some punch. Steel Pulse - boozy, but with some depth and nuance (They've also got a nice dry Lambrusco) Small plates: what can I say? Just eat them. I hate anchovies. They had an anchovy toast I led the charge to order the second night. The shrimp is cooked so that it's smoky, spicy, and falling apart in your mouth in a good way. The eggplant is to die for (get the bread in the brown paper bag. You don't want to leave any). There are more things. I'd say more, but I need to get back to it. Not to pay these folks off: it's incredibly reasonably priced for the quality of the food and the service. Very lovely folks. Nice space. Get over there. (and thank you Evviva for a lovely two evenings.)

Tl;dr version: great food, large portions, friendly service, attentive to dietary restrictions. Our party of three went to Evviva for a friend catch up. It was our first time, and we will definitely be back. We ordered a bunch of smaller plates and also the steak. The steak was perfectly cooked, and the ample portion was well worth the price. The small plates were all excellent, especially the anchovy toast. A member of our group had some dietary restrictions: dairy and gluten. It was nearly a non issue. The server knew immediately which menu items were unsuitable (there weren't many) or would need substitution. Evviva is knowledgeable and welcoming to those with allergies or restrictions.

Excellent and creative menu. We loved the anchovy toast especially. Great service. Wonderful atmosphere

One of the best meals we had on our visit. Friendly service and an absolutely beautiful space.

Guys I don't even know what to say... genuinely perfect from the second you walk in. The ambiance is chic asf and the service was so friendly. Ordered one of the best margaritas of my life and then enjoyed such yummy and unique food. Please don't miss the yellowtail and the oyster mushrooms..... So happy with my experience I hope to come back one million times before I die.

A beautiful and elegant space, and warm service. It seems the menu changes often. Portion sizes were overall fair, but like everything these days, it's expensive. The chocolate budino was the best thing we ate.

Great food Constant changing menu reflects best available ingredients Wonderful staff

We have been there 8 times. For those who knows, they are my new Marisa. We have been waiting years to have again a restaurant like that in the Marigny. Everything is great there, make sure you get the anchovy bread to start

This is my favorite new restaurant by far. The food is so innovative and the staff is amazing. Love this place!

The milk braised pork will change your life. Everything was delicious, though. Go now before getting a reservation is tough!

Genuinely one of the best meals I've had in NOLA in a long time! Everything was so fresh and flavorful, not to mention lovely presentation and outstanding service. We are so excited to have this fabulous spot in our neighborhood and will be back often!

Good food. Good service! We didn't have a reservation, so they sat us outside, which was fine with us. Really tasty redfish.

Went for dinner with some friends and the staff was so friendly and wonderful. We ordered multiple entrees and appetizers: grilled gulf shrimp, grilled fish, linguine, and a crab dip to share with a couple of perfectly dressed side salads. We hadn't seen each other in a couple years and our conversation kept getting interrupted because we had to tell each other how delicious the food was. The happy hour specials are a steal. Simple and delicious. Also love a martini on the happy hour menu. A drink I really want to drink! Great option for a large group or a cozy date.

Excellent food and cocktails. Very friendly staff. The crab and peach salad is great! I will be back!

We love Evviva! We were huge fans of the two chefs here before they opened Evviva together, and it does not disappoint. Every single thing we have tried has been delicious and the service is always fantastic. One of the unique things about Evviva is that their menu changes daily with what's in season and available locally. They are serving the same produce that we see at our weekly farmers market while keeping prices very reasonable. Only a handful of restaurants in New Orleans are doing that, and all of them are in our top 5. We will be back monthly!

Always delicious and great chef driven rotating menu. Always recommend it to visiting friends