Nola

Cajun restaurant · Palo Alto

Nola

Cajun restaurant · Palo Alto

3

535 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Highlights

New Orleans-themed spot with boozy brunch, blues, and Cajun fare  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

535 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 Get directions

nolas.com
@nolapaloalto

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

535 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 Get directions

+1 650 328 2722
nolas.com
@nolapaloalto

$20–30 · Menu

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reservations

Last updated

Aug 19, 2025

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@infatuation

The 21 Best Restaurants In Palo Alto

"As the name suggests, Nola is a New Orleans-themed restaurant and bar and the main reason to come here is for their weekend bottomless brunch. This place manages to look like a southern-style townhouse with an indoor balcony, indoor fountain (that’s not running), and an excessive amount of Mardi Gras beads. Brunch dishes include kind-of-dry buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, fluffy beignets, and a benedict with Tabasco hollandaise. The food is passable, but it's also not the point—you're here to drink mimosas in the most party-like setting Palo Alto has to offer. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/guides/best-restaurants-palo-alto
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@infatuation

Nola - Review - Palo Alto - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"As the name suggests, Nola is a New Orleans-themed restaurant and bar. The main reason to come here is for their weekend bottomless brunch that brings together college students, suburbanites, and tech workers. This place looks like a southern-style townhouse with an indoor balcony, indoor fountain (that’s not running), and an excessive amount of Mardi Gras beads. Brunch dishes include kind-of-dry buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, fluffy beignets, and a benedict with a Tabasco hollandaise. The food is passable, but it's also not the point—you're here primarily to drink mimosas in the most party-like spot Palo Alto has to offer. photo credit: Brit Finnegan photo credit: Brit Finnegan photo credit: Brit Finnegan" - Ricky Rodriguez

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/nola
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@eater

19 Fantastic Places to Eat and Drink in Palo Alto

"With an emphasis on booze, blues, and New Orleans–style bon temps, Nola is a favorite among Stanford students, now with an even larger outdoor setup for lingering brunches. The three-story restaurant meant to resemble a French Quarter building serves Louisiana classics like gumbo and jambalaya, as well as distinctly non-Louisiana dishes like roasted cauliflower tacos and hot chicken sliders. The drinks are the star here, with hurricanes, Sazeracs, mojitos, and palomas all available in pitchers, as well as a menu of mini and zero-proof cocktails." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri, Becky Duffett

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-palo-alto-ca
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Kay Kay

Google
Wow, what a wonderful experience! Came across this place on father's day, looking for a spot to eat. All of the other places required reservations. We got seats right away, food right away, and the service was amazing! The atmosphere in the back felt like we were in New Orleans. Prices were reasonable, and we left feeling great. Will now be our go to spot in Palo Alto

William Stewart

Google
When visiting Palo Alto, Nola is our favorite place to go. The entire menu is fire and the atmosphere is inviting. The crawfish and shrimp gumbo is a must, along with the beet drop salad. And don't forget the mini cocktails to help set the mood. All main dishes are great.

Ivan Zarate

Google
I loved the ambiance at Nola in Palo Alto, especially its charming colonial-style setting. However, the food was a letdown as it arrived cold, giving me the impression that it had been pre-prepared hours in advance. While this allowed for quick service, it affected the quality. The cocktails were delicious, and I highly recommend the Mexican coffee. The QR code ordering and payment system was efficient. Overall, a good experience with some room for improvement.

Max Kay

Google
It's fusion Asian American bar and restaurant with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Full bar with big screens and beautiful decors. Bar and restaurant are kinda independent. Reservation helps but walk in OK. Food is just OK, nothing fancy but atmosphere and drinks are vibrant and exciting. Service was very slow and unresponsive though. Flat entry and outdoor seating make it accessible. Good for couples, small groups, meetup and not for kids.

Robertson Souza

Google
Amazing experience, this place is an real gem. The Chicken Andouille Gumbo, and Crawfish & Andouille Fried Rice is so delicious. Excellent structure and customer service. It worth swinging by here.

Tim Chan

Google
Nice restaurant with some outdoor seating options. It’s located on a small street that is closed off so you’ll need to find public parking. Another restaurant offers free WiFi which is nice. The food is good and the service is excellent. You can order and pay with your phone or with your server.

Allandria Dawson

Google
Expansive menu with flavorful options! I enjoyed a pina colada slushie, cup of gumbo, and a wedge salad with shrimp. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake. It was enough to share between three people. Very cute atmosphere in a walkable area - great for any occasion. Highly recommend.

mars gemini

Google
2025.06.08, Sunday at 11am. There were about 6 parties ahead of me when I arrived at 10:50am. Opens at 11am. The line went back immediately and service was very attentive! The jambalaya, fried rice, oysters, gumbo was all delicious! Avoid the shrimp taco, it tastes like something quickly made from a food truck :( HIGHLY recommend the jambalaya! I got frozen Irish coffee and friend got a passion fruit cocktail. Both were delicious. I would absolutely come back! Outdoor, indoor or bar spaces available! Total $101 without tips.
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Matty E.

Yelp
Loved this vibey New Orleans watering hole. Tons of seating -- including outdoor street, indoor bar, and backyard courtyard -- make this dynamic space really feel like an immersive trip to NOLA. Food was excellent, albeit pricey for the size (is nothing safe from shrinkflation?!). Standouts were the spicy jambalaya skillet and crispy hot chicken sliders. The no-heat-o (a non alcoholic Mojito for us Dry January folks) was also fresh and easy to sip. The service was friendly but a bit green -- quite young, and it sometimes showed (for instance, it took a solid 15 minutes to flag staff to grab the check). Rumor has it that the Pride drag shows here are legendary, so will definitely make it back another time to have a great meal and enjoy some entertainment.
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Grace H.

Yelp
Delicious! I went on a Saturday at 4:30pm for an early dinner and I was super happy with the food. Service was just ok but I didn't mind since we were watching the game. For starters, we got the New Orleans BBQ Prawns and Cajun fries which were both delicious. BBQ prawn came with four huge prawns, which were delicious, but not sure if it's worth the $18. The bread immediately got soggy and was kind of tough to cut through oddly enough. The fries had very light seasoning even though they were Cajun fries but the sauce saved it. Super delicious! The pulled pork BBQ burger was super messy but delicious. The jambalaya was a solid 9.5/10, soooo good! I got the spiciest option and I was thoroughly impressed. Had a lot of pieces of huge prawns and it was a good serving size. Overall, I'd be back if I was in the area! The spot is huge and I love the atmosphere.
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Tiffany R.

Yelp
NOLA's is one of the restaurants I will always go back to. This time I went for dinner, but I usually go for brunch. We were seated upstairs and it was great, the ambiance was amazing and it felt great to be there. My margarita was exactly how I like it as it had the perfect balance. My smash burger was good and the cheesy garlic bread was delicious. I don't recommend getting the crabamole, something was missing not sure what, but I didn't like it. Service here is always great, they have multiple servers that help.
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Joanna L.

Yelp
Came here on Thursday afternoon/night for a group happy hour. They don't seem to take typical reservations, although you can reserve one of the rooms for a larger group event. The restaurant is dimly lit and is packed during happy hour. Between all of us, we ordered ciders, beers, wine, and cocktails. We were served quickly, and the group was pleased with the drinks and happily shared amongst each other. We also ordered the chips and guac, mac n cheese, sliders (burger and hot chicken), jambalaya, gumbo, salad, Cajun spiced fries and beignets. Each dish came out hot and fresh, and they were all very shareable amongst a large group. They were all quite flavorful and satisfactory, making me reminiscent of flavors in New Orleans itself. The top hits of the night were the sliders and beignets, although eating the latter was powdery and messy to eat. We would probably pass on the mac n cheese next time, as some people didn't find the flavor strong enough. Overall, wonderful experience in Downtown Palo Alto at NOLA. I tried to come back a couple of weekends ago on a Friday night, and the restaurant was packed to the brim, with the wait being 2 hours. I would definitely come back earlier during service hours to try the cornbread, tacos, and steak!
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Julie S.

Yelp
I loved the ambiance here with all their Christmas decorations. It's very cute and spacious. We were seated right away on a Saturday and the service was attentive. The jambalaya was my favorite, it had a lot of flavors and meat/veggies. The gumbo was a little salty, but still good. I wouldn't recommend the BLT chicken salad. I feel like the dressing wasn't as good as expected and the fried chicken pieces came out soggy.
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Pallavi P.

Yelp
Went here just after happy hour (until 6pm) had ended on a Wednesday with some friends and enjoyed a great vibe with some good food. They don't accept reservations but have indoor, outdoor and courtyard seating; we were able to get a table right away. We sat in the courtyard area, where the heat lamps keep the place nice and toasty during the cooler months. They have printed menus, but you order through a QR code - we got the jalapeno cornbread, cajun pasta, shrimp po boy, cajun jambalaya, cauliflower taco, salmon taco and mac and cheese and some non-alc beverages. All the food was delicious, while the drinks were okay. However, the QR code ordering is super slow and inconvenient and it was hard to find a server to place our order in person. Also, this made splitting checks difficult, since it goes on the tab of the person who started the ordering process. The drinks also arrived well after our food (we thought they'd forgotten about them), which was weird. The pandemic style ordering with a clunky, slow ordering system is the one thing that would keep me from returning to this place. For the food and vibe, this is an awesome place!
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Jess D.

Yelp
NOLA restaurant really has those New Orleans vibes. It is a huge two story restaurant with an order by phone app. They have a great happy hour menu for both food and drinks. The highlight was the sliders and the shrimp tacos but the Mac and cheese and nachos were also great!! I would definitely come back for happy hour! It's also a cute date spot.
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Peggy A.

Yelp
This place is so fun! I brought my fiancé for a date night because he went to college in New Orleans and he said the vibes were perfect. The restaurant itself looks just like you are in the French Quarter, and the food is delicious as well. We enjoyed the Po boys and their beignets are fantastic. My only issue is that they, like many other restaurants these days, Use a QR code for ordering and this made the timing a little weird. Our food came out before our drinks did. Other than that and it being a little difficult to track down a server everything else was amazing.
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Maryanne W.

Yelp
Been here for company activities or just for drinks, decided to try the brunch this time. On a Saturday it was not as busy as expected and got seated immediately. One thing bugged me was we were lead to a small table in the middle when the next couple was lead to a bigger table for 4 by the window. I don't know the seating arrangement but I just felt shortchanged as there were plenty of better tables. The food tasted okay, service decent. The food didn't arrive at the same time so my husband almost finished his food while I was still waiting for mine. We kept the tab open and added dessert and while waiting for dessert my husband's utensils were quickly taken away while I was still eating which made us felt rushed. The ordering system was less than desirable. Even with their WiFi we had 3 attempts to place initial order and 2 more times for dessert add on. I understand the no touch system has been the thing since the pandemic, but I miss the actual interaction with the servers.
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Daniel L.

Yelp
Went for a work gathering to Nola. We were seated at a upstairs, private dining area. It was great that you can use happy hour here and that you can scan the QR to order and pay separately. Got a bunch of happy hour beers. We all shared pretty much one of every Appetizer and they were all pretty good and delicious. My friend recommended the cheese bread and that was wild as you would not think that it would be so good but it was nice and good and delicious and buttery. Got a couple tacos here which were made but what do you expect for a Cajun restaurant. The service was so quick and efficient. It was fantastic. Would come back and recommend the spot.
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Ricky C.

Yelp
Chicken waffles were amazing & my gf liked the sandwich too. The oyster was fresh. Service was very attentive. We get to sit outside, so it was ok. The inside was nicer, the building is a historical landmark.
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Anna H.

Yelp
I came here for a company-sponsored dinner. Guacamole is standard, whatever sauce they have with the fries is super addicting, sliders are well-balanced but pack a kick, mac and cheese is very saucy (not my favorite but I know some people really like it), beignets are a bit dry, shrimp in the jambalaya is juicy. The shrimp tacos still live rent-free in my mind -- they were an explosion of juices and textures, with a perfect balance between the fried goodness of the shrimp and the light slaw. Service is REALLY slow, though. While I understand we were there to yap while eating, we were literally eating for 3 hours and dishes were coming out every 30 minutes. The interior is super cute and I love the open-air balcony situation.
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Sofia K.

Yelp
A taste of the South right here in the Bay! FOOD: Pleasantly surprised by all dishes ordered! The beignets to me were quite dense, I would've preferred a fluffy and lighter interior. Definitely reccomend the hot chicken sliders. While it's listed as a starter, the plate of 4 could easily be eaten as a regular entree. The mac n cheese was nothing incredibly special. Loved the gumbo and next time I'd like to try the cajun fries! PRICE: Nothing is incredibly overpriced, our total with tip & tax came out to around $115 for 4 people. We went home with a few leftovers too. ‍SERVICE: Everything is ordered through a mobile app, not a huge deal but nothing big to rate for service in that sense. Mostly reliant on your own unless you need to ask for something.
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George C.

Yelp
Nice little Cajun restaurant in downtown Palo Alto. Came by on a weekday for lunch and they had plenty of indoor as well as outdoor seating. They have your classics such as jambalaya, etoufee, a number of smaller plates for sharing and skirt steak, chicken and waffles, and Cajun pasta. They do have an extensive cocktail/booze menu and even have large pitchers that can be shared. Ordering is done through a QR code on the table and the host is friendly. Waiters came by to refill the water a couple times. I had the etoufee which was solid but not sure if it's worth $27. The Dungeness crab garlic bread was a great appetizer for sharing that I would highly recommend. Overall if you're craving some soul food from the south this is a nice little restaurant in Palo Alto.
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Christina G.

Yelp
A solid spot for southern food My friend and I went for brunch on a Saturday at around 1pm and were seated immediately. We ordered the chicken gumbo, southern benedict, french toast, and brunch beignets. Loved the gumbo and thought it tasted really good. Wasn't the hugest fan of the southern benedict because the chicken wasn't that crispy. We ordered it with potato gratin which was pretty cheesy. I liked the French toast. Overall portions were good, location/parking is easy. While I'm not much of an expert on southern food, I enjoyed this place and would come back to try other things.
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Kat Z.

Yelp
Mac and cheese: perfect mixture of cheesey and creamy. My friend had jaw surgery a couple of days ago, and he was able to enjoy it. Gumbo: slightly salty, but it was more than enough for a one person meal. The sausage was maybe also over cooked. Can't complain though -- a ginormous portion for 12 bucks. Fries:super thin, even thinner than McDonald's! Each piece was perfectly crispy and dusted with Cajun powder. Comes with some sauce, although I have no idea what the sauce is. Pitcher of rum cocktail: 6 servings!! Super yummy, you don't taste the alcohol AT ALL and it gets the job done for sure. It tastes perfectly blended with the OJ and pineapple juice. If you're looking for something tasty but gets the job done, you can't miss out on this.
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Lisa S.

Yelp
Love downtown Palo Alto so many great places to eat. Nephew picked this place ( since he's treating), lol. Sat inside, but not far from the open seating area where you can see folks walk by. The weather was nice, although i did not have plans to leave the house. I did enjoy being out. The oysters were great and fresh. The food was just mediocre. The fried chicken was over battered, and the taste of the Thyme or Rosemary took over. So that was a bust. The hot Cajun pasta was just Ok. Could have used more salt. The Jambalaya was really dry and lacked flavor. The cheesy crab bread was awful, but I'm not sure if it was cheese or Mayonnaise it was gross. Didn't taste crab at all. The best thing I had was the watermelon Margarita. That was fire. So will I come back, probably not unless I don't have a choice being with friends. But probably not. Trendy place, college town, the kids seem to like it, but what do they know. Lol. Service was cool, nothing special.
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Cassandra S.

Yelp
Always a great option. We had a private event booked in their private room. We did buffet style. Everything was good. We also go takeout. The cajun shrimp pasta was a bit boring honestly, even though the waitress said it was one of the best options. The sliders (both chicken and beef) were fantastic and abundantly flavorful. The garlic bread is insanely good. The bbq shrimp was ok. The guacamole was fresh, which the crabamole was odd but ok. The churrasco steak tacos and the carnitas tacos were also very good, great combination of ingredients, and very flavorful. The staff is also very attentive and nice. The atmosphere is great as well, especially in the courtyard. Overall, great place for food, though pricey. Fun times and good eats.
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Cindy L.

Yelp
Kumamoto Oyster 4 Baja California, sour mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, tiny size, sweet, fresh CRAWFISH & SHRIMP GUMBO 3 warm stew, tiny unnoticeable crawfish, not enough shrimp, okra, white rice, crispy fried shallots, cilantro, thick sauce made with onions, celery, bell peppers, spicy, flavorful LITTLE CLOVER SLIDERS 4 angus beef sliders, medium rare, juicy, untoasted buns, American cheese, tomato onion bacon jam, slightly sweet, flavorful MAMA'S MAC & CHEESE 4 toasted cornbread crumbs, super cheesy, soft, slightly chewy Virgin Piña Colada 4 creamy, sweet, refreshing, slightly too sour Nola Colada 3 slushie, alchohol too strong
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Mamie D.

Yelp
Had an early dinner with my friend. We had a choice to sit inside or out. We picked inside. The restaurant is a lot bigger than we expected. We went inside and up some stairs. We had the option to order from our phone via QR code or from the waiter. We got two different types of raw oysters. Both were good but I like the smaller ones better. We also got a baked one with cheese. All of it was good. Our main dishes was the salmon and jambalaya. Next time I will try some alcohol.
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Ash R.

Yelp
I got the Cajun Pasta and it was incredible! The flavor was so rich and well cooked, the portions were good. All around the food was amazing. The vibes inside were really good. We came early so it was still filling up but the music, lights, and vibes really took you back to Bourbon street in New Orleans. The service was also really good. The waitress was friendly and helped answer questions about the menu. They were also generally fairly prompt and came in a quick manner. This could've been because we were early though. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for southern comfort food.
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Ryan T.

Yelp
Don't understand the ratings so low on this place. This place has a sports bar with a very NOL-lins feel to it. Go figure. What we did was use this spot as a quick bite and to drink before heading to Shoreline. We got the mac cheese, jambalaya (FIRE), crab bread, sliders. Cocktails are all pretty good - I got the strawberry crush. Absolutely hangover worthy. Idk if it was just the one time I went, but we did the ordering all on the phone and not even kidding - within 5minutes the food came. Granted we ordered like tapas(small plates) so it was probably already prepped. But still. The restrooms are more inward where the restaurant is located and it's an outdoor square villa atmosphere that makes it really dense and filled with energy. I like that - I guess some people who reviewed it with 3 stars don't like that. But that's literally the culture they were going for and you need to understand the intent before rating it low because you don't understand. I digress. Im not saying the food quality is like Michelin but it was good for what it is and the setting. And to offset people others - 5stars. lol. I'd go back for drinks and to eat at the restaurant. It's probably a nice date night too
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Truth A.

Yelp
I loved all we ordered from her so far as well as friendly good service. We will come back often!
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Christina P.

Yelp
Came here during happy hour with some coworkers. We came in a group of 8 and were seated immediately. Ordering was simple using the menu QR codes on the table and payment was easy so we didn't have to worry about splitting checks. Happy hour food specials were great and the food came quick. Would come back!
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Karishma P.

Yelp
Food was so delicious and came out in under 10 mins. They also have a quick service feature by scanning a QR code from your table in ordering through your phone. This made it really easy to order as needed throughout our meal and to get the happy hour as soon as we sat down. Super great environment and very lively. They have TVs to watch diff games which was great for the Olympics.
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Denise L.

Yelp
Came for a work happy hour event, and we had part of the second floor reserved. It did get a bit crowded and incredibly warm, and it's a bit echo-y with all the talking. Since it got crowded, it was a bit hard for the workers to maneuver through the crowds to replenish food and drinks, but they all did a very good job. Had a carnitas taco and it was pretty good, but enjoyed the beef sliders the best. Their guacamole and chips were really good but wished they had at least a large spoon to scoop up the guacamole. Cheesy garlic bread was also really tasty that didn't leave you with really bad garlic breath. I forgot the employee's name but he was really kind to give us some beaded necklaces for the night!
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Rachel K.

Yelp
The most mediocre food I have ever had. I ordered the southern Benedict and the food was lukewarm. The chicken didn't feel fresh and crispy (had almost a stale taste). The grits came out cold and we had to ask to have them reheated. It's self order and pay (has its perks, but it's not an experience I love). The overall ambiance is really pretty and they serve large quantities of not great food.
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Matt W.

Yelp
We had a party of 8 so I was worried they didn't take reservations, especially on a Saturday night at 6pm. I called in the morning and asked what the wait time could be. I was told maybe 20-40 minutes. Not bad. But what I did appreciate was she informed me the whole party did not have to present to be seated. We arrived at 545p to put our name on the list and wait for the 6 others. "Follow me, sir." What?!! We were seated right away! We sat upstairs which it was a little breezy but they had heaters. Dinner was amazing. We started with the chips and guacamole. The chips were a little stale but the guacamole was fresh and flavorful. The party arrived and we ordered 3 orders of baked oysters bubba. They were amazing!! Even if you don't like seafood you'll love these. The flavor was poppin! The chips and ceviche was meh. For dinner I ordered the skirt steak (medium rare) over garlic mash potatoes. It was delicious and cooked perfectly. Wish it had been a little bit bigger but very satisfying flavor wise. My wife ordered the spicy jambalaya which comes in 3 spice levels. She ordered the middle level and it was spicy!! If you want heat but still want to taste the flavors of the meal go with the basic spice level. But still sooo good! For desert we did 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and beignets. The beignets came in a basket of 10 bite sized beignets smothered with powdered sugar and 3 saucers of strawberry, chocolate, and caramel syrup. The beignets were not as fluffy as they should have been. Very dense. And the powder sugar was kind of over the top. Overall it was a great night. The service was amazing, the food was top notch, and the drinks, I almost forgot the drinks!! I was kind of disappointed with the drinks ordered. They were all very watered down and didn't have any flavor that would have me asking for another. Kind of a bummer. But the food was bomb.com!!
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Danielle C.

Yelp
I thought the beignets here were rather tasty. They come very heavily powdered with sugar and you have some dipping sauces on the side. The food we got was less tasty though. I got a breakfast sandwich and it was really heavy to the point where we didn't finish it. And my spouse who normally is all about eating leftovers didn't finish it at home either. I had a side of grits and was a bit disappointed with them. They weren't as creamy as I wanted them to be and they were VERY salty. I love grits and I also didn't finish them at home either.
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Fancypants X.

Yelp
Let the good times roll by saying "no" to NOLA Restaurant. The atmosphere mimics the dark voodoo energy of the French Quarter, but the dishes were more N'awlins adjacent than a good representation of Creole or Cajun cooking. Via QR code, my group ordered a few items to share: -- Mexican street corn off the cob ($9.95, overly acidic), & coconut shrimp taco as well as a steak taco ($6.95 each, didn't try but both are bf approved.) Interesting to see this cuisine on a New Orleans-themed restaurant. -- jalapeño cornbread w/ hot honey ($7): the best item I tried. -- bowl of gumbo ($12): salty, but otherwise fine. -- spicy jambalaya ($24): did not try. -- chicken & waffles ($24): dense, flavorless waffle & chicken was pink on the inside. Server took the charge off our bill. Overall, lukewarm interactions with all staff. The flavors didn't make my taste buds dance like Zydeco was blasting through the speakers. I went to Brenda's in San Francisco a few days later to remedy not having my Creole/Cajun craving satisfied at NOLA in Palo Alto.
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Mary F.

Yelp
NOLA is an awesome place for happy hour, brunch, lunch, or dinner! Everything on the menu is great, and they're owned by the same people as Alpine Inn, Milagros, and TOWN. Everything on the menu is good, especially the chicken sliders, fries, shrimp taco, mac and cheese, and the drinks! The decor is super cute and it's very New Orleans themed. Taking off a star because they have you order on your phone with a QR code now which I really don't like. Other than that, I'm a fan!
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EM H.

Yelp
For a taste of the south and boozey awesome dining experience, laissez les bons temps rouler at NOLA Restaurant & Bar! Located in downtown Palo Alto on Ramona Street, between University and Hamilton Avenues, the two-story New Orleans-themed restaurant, with its open-air courtyard enclosed within balconies of tables, is reminiscent of the French Quarter. The casual dining spot is always poppin' day and night and the lively Southern folk art décor exudes a festive environment and party vibe. This is definitely the place to be on Mardi Gras. NOLA offers delightfully intriguing craft cocktails and a mix of outstanding Creole, Cajun and Latin fare. Below are some menu items that I or my party have ordered: STRAWBERRY CRUSH - This Bulleit Bourbon-based strawberry cocktail is refreshingly yummy with a hint of mint. SPICY WATERMELON MARGARITA - Herradura silver tequila-based drink with a medley of sweet, tart, and spicy tastes. The cubed watermelon topper is a nice touch. CRAWFISH & SHRIMP GUMBO - NOLA's version of this Louisiana stew with good-sized shrimp is hearty and yummy. MR. T'S FAMOUS SKIRT STEAK - A very generous serving, this NOLA CLASSIC is very tasty and filling. MILAGROS GUACAMOLE - Not bad, but not exceptional, but I'm not going to hold this against NOLA because, honestly, only homemade guac impresses me. CEVICHE MOLINA - Good. The white gulf shrimp taste fresh and clean. SOUTHERN BENEDICT with anson mills creamy southern grits - What a winner of a breakfast dish! With so many ingredients that I love (fried chicken, poached egg, cajun hot sauce, creamy grits), every bite is like a flavour explosion in my mouth. The spicy crispy chicken is perfectly balanced with the runny egg yolk and the addition of the grits. NOLA HURRICANE - Sweet rum-based fruity libation with brown sugar and vanilla is like a drinkable party, served in a hurricane glass. Garnished with Mardi Gras beads, this alcoholic beverage is a celebration in itself. NEW ORLEANS BBQ PRAWNS - This is an enjoyable starter of sharable garlic bread toasts with plump shrimp and chunks of tomatoes. Service here is always friendly and attentive. Come get your Fat Tuesday on at NOLA in Palo Alto!
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Heidi C.

Yelp
The food was fire. Great place to hang with a group of friends. I ordered the Fire Cracker Cajun Pasta with chicken. Pasta sauce had the right amount salt and creaminess. Bread was toasted well. I also ordered a drink but don't recall the name. I'll come here again with my friends. They do have indoor/ outdoor seating. They do have happy hour from 3-6pm. I think drinks were $7+ Con: it was a bit difficult to find parking. Street parking. There is a small parking garage around the corner.
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Ninah P.

Yelp
I came with a large group and we sat in the bar area. Ordering was made easy since it was through the phone. You have the option to keep your tab open and pay out when you're ready. This was very convenient since we had about 10 people with us and did not have to worry about how to split the check. Strawberry fields - 9/10 super refreshing drink, strong ginger flavor Little clover sliders - 10/10 very flavorful, perfect for sharing Mac and cheese - 8/10 good flavor but the sauce was on the soupier/more liquid side
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Tanya S.

Yelp
Great food, service & ambiance! We came here for dinner about 6:30p (walk-ins/no reservations) on NYE. It was about 75% full both inside & outside seating. We were seated right away. We ordered off the special NYE menu because it sounded good, but also ordered a few of the hubs other NOLA favorites to take home, which did not disappoint the next morning. Everything was delicious & hit the spot: the crab poppers, NY steak dinner, and pistachio profiteroles - perfect!! Our server informed us that they were having a DJ, champagne, NYE party favors later on in the evening. We're kind of old & tired but will definitely consider NOLA for next NYE for great food & a casual environment.
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Emily O.

Yelp
I keep coming back for a reason, but off the bat I just have to say... the continued use of the pandemic QR code is a bummer and takes away from some of the beauty of going out. I don't love spending half the time searching on my phone for what I'm going to order. That being said, I love Nola, live nearby, and revisit at least once a month. The firecracker Cajun pasta keeps me coming back (I add chicken), and I also order the gumbo to start every time. My bf loves the smash burger. Oysters are amazing and I loooooove all the drinks. Overall such a fun spot. Music is always great. Perfect place to unwind on a Friday night!
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MaryCarol K.

Yelp
YUM! YUM! YUM! If you're in the area you MUST go! The atmosphere is fun, beautiful and feels like summer! Service was amazing too! I can not recommend the firecracker cajun pasta enough!!! I got it without mushrooms! For dessert you can not pass up the Warm Beignets & get extra caramel sauce to go! It is beyond perfect over ice cream!
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Alex Z.

Yelp
I think I may have found my new favorite creole food spot. This place was/is amazing, one of the best and tastiest creole food I have tasted from the jambalaya to the etouffee to even the fried green tomatoes which are my favorite! I don't know if you have ever had something so delicious that you're so full you can't eat anymore, but you still keep eating anyway because it's so good, well this place did it for me. Service is amazing as well, it's very aesthetic totally made you feel like you were in New Orleans. I can't wait to come back again!
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Karin H.

Yelp
The food hasn't been as good as I remember. Greasy and lack of flavor. Presentation is always 10/10, drinks as well. Slow servers.
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Casper L.

Yelp
Nice food, nice drink and pretty chill vibe on the street seat on a Tuesday night. The oysters are really fresh. Not fishy at all. The skirt steak is tender and sweet, good match with mashed potatoes. Love the onion rings as well ( I don't even like onion rings that much) Barely not much services tho since everything is on the website.
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Tony J.

Yelp
Good food and ambiance! We sat outside in a heated booth for dinner, and the four of us shared everything. We ordered the gumbo, baked oysters, fried green tomatoes, corn off the cob, and jambalaya. Everything was well-seasoned, with the right amount of saltiness and a touch of spice. We finished with the beignets, which came in an ample portion for sharing among a medium group.
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Colin R.

Yelp
Nola was a fun experience. They don't take reservations but it's a very large space so we got a big table right away. It's a fun party vibe on the Friday evening we went there. All the food was good and reasonable and drinks were nice. Bread pudding was a nice ending. Service was super nice, friendly and quick. Find the parking lots spread out nearby.
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Jasmine C.

Yelp
We weren't originally planning on here but glad we did! Sat outside snug with fast service and yummy food. Their menu is so big that multiple visit is required. Really enjoyed the gumbo and coconut shrimp tacos! Will have to come back! The inside also has a nice ambiance.
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Jenny T.

Yelp
A friend and I came for lunch here during the day on a Tuesday. It was not too busy when we arrived and were seated outside upon arrival. Food: I ordered the mushroom poboy with a side of fries. The sandwich was a little hard to eat, and I wish it had a little more sauce. The side of fries were good and crispy though. Service: For lunch at least, you order and pay through the QR code on the table. You're asked to pay when you place your order. After we ordered, our food arrived promptly. However, we did see any servers after that. That made it difficult when we needed napkins, utensils or more water. The system in place works well for a quick work lunch, but can be difficult if you need something. TL;DR - not bad food with prompt service for a quick lunch, but may need to flag someone down if you need something
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Jasmine C.

Yelp
This restaurant sure makes you feel like you're in NOLA. My friends and I came for brunch but most of the outdoor seatings were taken but we didn't want to sit at the bar so it was about 30 minute wait. We didn't realize they only had their brunch menu until 2:30pm. We got the skillet jambalaya, fried chicken and waffles, ceviche and shrimp and crawfish jumbo. My favorite dish was the jambalaya. It was spicy and packed with a lot flavor. We also got the nola hurricane. I was scared it would be too strong but it ended up tasting like juice. Very dangerous. And ofc we got beignets for dessert!
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Alayna K.

Yelp
Mac and cheese was good but not anything to rave about. The beignets were also good! However, Fried Chicken sliders were cold and not crispy. The sauce was tangy and didn't fit well with the sliders!
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Kay M.

Yelp
I am so shocked this place isnt 5 stars. It is absolutely delicious. I have been coming here for a couple of years now. I order doordash from it constantly and dine in or get take out on occasion. Today, as pictured, I got my Jambalaya take out. So delicious. It always is. Shrimp is generous and portion is good. It is expensive at $24 but always worth it and never regret it. I always usually also get a bowl of gumbo. The gumbo is perfectly balanced and flavorful. For to go and delivery they package rice and soup separately so you combine it yourself for perfect bowl. Other shoutout goes to their cheesy bread which is unique but definitely an eat right away kind of thing (it can get soggy if sits so don't recommend getting that delivered).
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Ana M.

Yelp
Hands down my favorite place ! The jambalaya and the cheese bread with crab are my two favorite things on the menu ! I could proudly say I haven't had something I don't like. Silvano the sub-chef here is amazing. Simple God sent such a beautiful stunning place as well, make me feel like I have travelled to another place. Will return for sure !
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Cen D.

Yelp
I wasn't able to explore much, seated at the bar, and I knew immediately what to order. I friend their vegan jambalaya, and it never fails to amaze my palate... it's my brunch when I get there had my bottomless mimosa. Every bite of the jambalaya reminds me of a happy and festive celebration New Orleans... the kick of spice burst as I chew more and lingers more after I swallow. It's one of the best jambalaya for me. I should explore more next time and see the unique ambience of the place... people are nice and happy and friendly.