The Italian Barrel

Moving to a new city is never easy, especially when you don’t know anyone and aren’t sure if you’ll find the food that truly speaks to you. That was our worry when craving authentic Italian cuisine in New Orleans. We nearly overlooked The Italian Barrel, but their menu caught our eye while browsing local spots online—and we’re so glad it did. We booked a reservation for 7 PM, but ended up arriving around 5:45, hoping they'd seat us early. Not only did they accommodate us, they welcomed us with open arms. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. The service? Impeccable. The food? Absolutely unforgettable. The veal meatball melted in our mouths, and the white truffle burrata with marinated tomatoes had us savoring every bite. The standout? A tender veal chop topped with prosciutto and served alongside souffléd potatoes... pure perfection that will keep us coming back. And don’t even think about skipping dessert. The espresso crème brûlée strikes a beautiful balance between sweet and savory, and the peanut butter bonbon somehow finds room in your stomach even when you swear you’re full. Not pictured is the dirty martini with their house stuffed bleu cheese olives - perfect complement to the dinner! But beyond the food, what truly sets this place apart is the sense of belonging. Even as newcomers, we were treated like family. Huge thanks to Dave, Sierra, and the entire team for giving us such a warm, memorable welcome to Italian hospitality in NOLA.

He had a lovely experience. The waiter was friendly and attentive a pleasure to be served by. We ordered a burrata salad and clams to start then I ordered the veal porcini unfortunately the flavour wasn't good when the manager came and checked he confirmed it wasn't right, apologised and got me a fresh dish of my choosing. They couldn't have been more helpful. My new dish, the pene allá vodka was simply stunning and full of creamy flavours. I highly recommend, and 100% would come back.

I've lost track how many times I've dined at this restaurant over the last few years. Not once have I ever been disappointed. My favorite is the lasagna, my girlfriend loves the spaghetti, olive oil and garlic. Authentic, simple, beautiful Italian food with great service. My go-to for Italian in New Orleans

We tried the bruschetta, penne pasta, and ravioli all were absolutely delicious. They even customized the pasta sauce to our preference, which was a thoughtful touch. The ambience was amazing, and I really loved the overall vibe and dining experience. Highly recommend!

WOW!!!! Tremendous down to the last bite & sip Situated in the heart of the French Quarter, The Italian Barrel is renowned for it’s authentic italian cuisine, & definitely not one to miss. Loved by locals & tourists & all in between! Ali was taking care of us this afternoon, & helped guide us to the right decision for our appetizers, entrees, desserts & mocktails through her expertise & thoughtfulness! Started the lunch with a Burned & Bitten Mocktail, which contained hints of ginger & tonic; perfectly refreshing for a hot New Orleans afternoon. For our starter, I got the seasonal beet & goat cheese salad - phenomenal. For entrees, my partner got the lasagna. It’s their most popular dish for a reason! Absolutely delicious. I got the 6oz Filet & it was also terrific! The best part was honestly dessert. This has to be the best tiramisu in the city!! It’s to die for! Especially alongside their cappuccino. My partner got the Pistachio gelato dish & it was beyond words Also! Check out their happy hour TLDR; go enjoy an afternoon at Italian Barrel :)

Every year, we come to NOLA for Mardi Gras and this is our special place. We love it. Beautiful decor, cozy atmosphere and candlelight make it special. The food is just fabulous. They make wonderful cocktails and pamper you throughout the meal. We just love it.

We are here on our last day in NOLA and it was just a random choice. I’m so glad we did as we are Italian lovers and it was so delicious. The staff were very nice and helpful and on top of things. The food was HOT and delicious. Presentation in the place and with everything was great. Not too extreme with pricing. We can’t wait to visit again on our next trip to NOLA. We got the Lasagna and the penne alla vodka

We got the margarita pizza and the Italian wedding soup. Both were so delicious, the pizza was loaded with cheese and after adding a little Parmesan my soup was near perfection. Carrie was so good to us and made the experience even greater!

We came for a special birthday celebration for my friend during our epic Halloween vacation and we were not disappointed. Our meals were absolutely fantastic and the service was impeccable. The decor was simple, tasteful and elegant. I cannot wait to return!

Recommended by two foodies in Wisconsin, I dined here on a recent visit. I made reservations several days in advance, but apparently you need to do it MUCH further in advance for the weekend. Our reservation was at 8:30pm - not too bad. Not realizing where this restaurant was located and what events were happening around it, I reserved outdoor seating. While expecting NOLA to be festive, it was pretty loud. Luckily, the band across the street did not play the entire time we were there. The inside of the restaurant had a much different vibe which I will reserve next time! lol The food was OUTSTANDING. The bruschetta was the best I have ever had. The bread appeared to be toasted with a panini press - nice touch! We absolutely inhaled the prosciutto with cantaloupe. My entree - pesto e scampi - linguine with pesto sauce topped with a generous amount of shrimp - was divine. The shrimp were perfectly cooked. I can't remember what everyone else ordered, but I know they loved it. When the food arrived, everyone was silent! For dessert, we had the chocolate profiteroles. At first we said "no dessert." Then our server, genius that she is, suggested this heavenly treat. I cannot say that we savored every bite. We ate it way too fast! Our server was excellent. I cannot remember her name for the life of me, but she was AMAZING, funny, friendly, super down to earth. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and will be back for more!

To be honest, I always assumed this was a tourist trap, but it was the only place open late the other day (and actually, they stayed open late for us). The servers were so nice, and the food was amazing.

While in NOLA recently for a conference, I was in the mood for something other than creole so after a quick search on Yelp I came across this little gem and boy was I happy I opted to give it a shot. The food was excellent, service was speedy and super attentive and overall it was a fantastic experience. The penne allá vodka with crab was delicious and the clams were so good, we ate two bowls. Highly recommend checking this spot out when craving some high quality Italian food.

Always a great meal with excellent service. One of our go to special occasion restaurants.

Very good service, atmosphere and food. The staff was attentive and ready to greet us.

I'm from NY and when I found this place years ago I was shocked at how good it was. Of course coming back to New Orleans after 10 years I knew we'd have to come back here. Seeing this place on the tv show Jersey shore, how they loved this place just as much and came twice just confirmed they were still good :P So yeah our first dinner out while on vacation and meeting up with family we had to come here. My hubs had never been here so I was happy I got to finally drag him here. Seriously one of the best alla vodka dishes ever and I've had best in the country. This place will always have my heart. Next time we're in New Orleans we'll be back for sure :P service was great and the place is cute. I'd highly recommend if in the area and you want some delicious Italian food! Being able to basically come here for our 10 year anniversary was what helped us decide on New Orleans as our vacation :P

Best food experience during our week in New Orleans by far! Cuisine was authentic, deliciously fresh, well prepared and a feast for the eyes!

Happened upon The Italian Barrel about a week and a half ago. Turned out to be probably the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. There were 5 of us and we all had something different. Each of us loved our meals. The food was amazing and the service was just as amazing. The ambiance was elegant and relaxed--perfect for a special occasion, a date night, or just a good meal out. I would happily return to try more items on their menu.

The steaks and seafood were well-prepared and tasty. The service was attentive. This was one of rare times I left a nice restaurant feeling that even though it wasn't cheap, it was worth the cost.

Honestly the food was mediocre at best. Service was okay but rather rushed. There wasn't much decorum to the service, could've been a Denny's server. Fine dining requires more attention that we did not receive. We tipped appropriately but will not return. If you want average Italian food, here's your spot!

The Italian Barrel was such a charming and nice experience in New Orleans. While most people probably don't come to the city for Italian food, veg options are fewer and farther between there, so this was a great option for us. From arrival to departure, the experience was top notch. We were seated outside, and it was a great spot for people watching. The service was excellent, and we were well-attended. The server was friendly, professional, and he kept a watchful eye to make sure no one passing by harassed customers. The food was exceptional. We started with a mushroom-polenta dish that was bursting with a truffle flavor and very savory. We both then had ravioli, mine with fire-roasted tomato sauce and my friend's with sage-pumpkin sauce. It was a great meal that we will both remember. They also had a great wine list with a variety of options available both by the glass and bottle. I would surely return when in New Orleans.

Highly recommend, especially if you are looking for a real restaurant in the French Quarter without a reservation. I've been once as a group of two and once as a group of 10 (we called about 30 minutes ahead and they were able to accommodate us). The pasta selection is immense and the portions are nicely sized. They have a lot of outdoor seating too if you want to people watch in the quarter.

We were in New Orleans for my besties birthday and remembered this restaurant from the only other time I've ever been to NO. This restaurant is in the French Quarter and I would recommend taking an Uber and leave the driving to someone familiar with the Quarter. Make reservations as this has a small dining area. Our waitress recommended this Italian Mascato (see pic) and it was delicious! I even ordered bottles as Christmas gifts when I got home. I ordered the bruschetta and the veal porcini. The bruschetta was not as great as I remembered it but still good, however the veal dish was oily with an unpleasant after taste. I almost wonder if the chef accidentally put too much truffle oil. The tender veal could not save it. My friend thought the sauce on her chicken Parmesan was bland with too much coating. However the birthday girl loved her lasagna and the focaccia. I would still recommend this place based on the great food we had the first time I went.

My wife and I had an early reservation celebrating our 21 year anniversary and though we were the only ones in the restaurant, we were treated like royalty. The ambiance of the restaurant felt like we were in Italy itself and was great to hear that the chef was an Italian chef, making the food and aura more authentic. The staff were incredible and the food was amazing! The best shrimp and pesto pasta I ever had and my wife noted she had the best lasagna ever. And to top off the dinner, the most incredible tiramisu we ever had! We will definitely come back the next time we are in NOLA. Thank you to all of them for making our anniversary special

This is my boyfriends favorite Italian spot in New Orleans! It's a cute little restaurant perfect for a date night. The Chicken Parm was probably one of the best I've ever had! Our waitress was so helpful and kind as well during our dinner. Will definitely be visiting again!

On a business trip to New Orleans and was recommended here. We tried it for lunch and loved it, the food was amazing and the staff were friendly and helpful. Definitely coming back again for some of the best Italian I've had in a long time. Rhonda was our server and I wanted to give a special mention and thanks for making a perfect experience.

Amazing food! Make your reservation and you will be not disappointed. The inside is small, so if you don't like being too close to your neighbor you might have to seat outside. They always do something special for Mother's Day btw

The food was amazing and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable about the food. A very warm and inviting atmosphere. Highly recommend The Italian Barrel. Ask for JT to be your waiter, he's excellent!

Was visiting New Orleans and had my birthday lunch here. It was amazing! Great food and service. There was no rush during lunch time.

About a month ago, I was in New Orleans with a friend to catch a cruise and we wanted to grab a nicer diner on a Saturday night in the city so we chose this place because it had a fairly good rating on social media, we were able to make a reservation there via Open Table (though for the bar which did seem strange at the time), and it was within a mile of the hotel we were staying in. Upon arrival we were greeted immediately by a server who I told we had booked bar seats through Open Table and she did look a little confused by that but said that regardless of availability at the bar (the bar was full when we came in) that she would make sure we were accommodated. In the interim while waiting for the situation to sort itself out, the bartender came over within a few minutes and took a drink order from us and also mentioned that he would make sure we were taken care of (drinks arrived shortly after for us to sip on while we waited). Luckily 2 people were finishing up at the bar so my friend and I were able to get two seats there. As an FYI, this is a bit of a smaller-sized restaurant with a ~5 seat bar so I would definitely recommend making reservations in advance (unlike what my friend and I did). When dining there we saw a mix of families/friends as well as couples apparently out for date night or on a date. The two bartenders (Dan and a bartender trainee named Conner) provided excellent service to my friend and I throughout our meal. They were friendly and very attentive. The food times and spacing were also great; the apps came out quickly, the salads came shortly after our apps were done, and then mains came shortly after our salads were don. Both my friend and I ordered the clams as an app and there were delicious in a white wine/butter/garlic sauce. My friend and I then had the special salad of the night (mixed greens, strawberries, walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette) which was also very fresh and tasty. I had the penne arrabbiata with veal meatballs and it was other-worldly. The pasta was perfectly al-dente, the sauce had a perfect amount of heat, and the meatballs were light and packed a ton of flavor. I am very snobbish about pasta dishes and this one met every one of my expectations. My friend had the lasagna and also cleaned his plate and noted how good he thought it was. We were both so stuffed we had no room for dessert but from what I saw coming out at other tables they did look tasty! Overall I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good Italian meal though I would be cautious about booking bar seating through Open Table here as it seems that may be some kind of an unintended technical glitch (bar seating is typically first come first serve at all other places I have been to).

We loved this restaurant in New Orleans from the moment we walked in the front door. It is like stepping in to what I imagine is an authentic restaurant in Italy! There are not too many tables so you should definitely RSVP. Our waiter was very kind and helped us choose the right wine we would like. We split an Italian salad that has fresh mozzarella & ripe baby tomatoes that went well with the mix of leafy greens & their homemade Italian dressing! I was sold on their special: Sea bass dinner; that was cooked & seasoned perfectly; every bite was silky smooth! My husband ordered the Penne Alla Vodka that had big tender chunks of crab meat. He said it was the best he's ever had. I have a feeling every dish served here is well worth coming back for again & again!! Props to the chef & waitstaff for making our dining experience one we won't forget!!!

This restaurant is located 5-7 mins walk from jackson square came under the recommendation of good italian restaurant near me which no doubt its great but food could be little better. Food & beverage- could have been better options for vegetarian in the appetizer section like eggplant or ricotta cheese balls with marinara as i didn't like the appetizer at all which was made of grits or probably i made a wrong selection. Maincourse was good but my gf pasta came out room temperature only the shrimp was hot. Do not expect a pizza just because its an italian restaurant as i did not see it on the menu. Limited options on the cocktails but very great selection of italian wine and after dinner drinks. Service- excellent service not interactive but server kept an eye on my table always comes and pour bottle water and wine. He did came and suggested some specials which is always a nice touch but when i asked him about vegetarian option he couldn't describe what it is otherwise i would have never order what i ordered. He did came and asked me if anything wrong with the food and i was honest that i did not like it as i just took a bite and sent my 1st course back. I also ordered two main course for myself truffle ravioli and gnocchi but he forgot to ring it in as i did not see it in my check either. Dessert was amazing wine selected by waiter was great. Decor- nice, small, cozy romantic spot... also have a option to seat at the bar or outside with a white table cloth type restaurant. I saw my water glass had a many spots which says it was not wiped properly, someone always lighting the candle when the sun sets. Manager comes and always asks if everything taste good and wants some coffee with dessert which was also a nice touch. Overall great experience for me as one time spot ! :)

This is such a great little gem I walked up on. I wish I had taken a pic of the steak after I sliced into it....total perfection. I have forgotten my servers names but I think it was TJ and David. Everything was absolutely delish and that Old Fashioned was one of the best I've had in a while....perfect mixture of smokey smoothness. Don't let the empty dining room scare you away. It was a random Sunday right as they opened. The place was filling up as I left. Give it a try!

Cannot rave enough about the food here. We had a group of 7 and each had a different item from the menu. EVERY ITEM WAS SO GOOD!!! My personal favorites were the chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and penne alla vodka (with the crabmeat YUM). Our waitress was also so nice and patient with our group. This was our first night in town, so everyone was very lively. The restaurant is intimate without feeling like it's a date spot. Would 100% come here again when in NOLA. 10/10!!!

How this place gets so many 5 star reviews is beyond me. The meal was fair at best, a few steps above OG. You know what they say... location, location. Definitely gets a crowd at dinner time, and they seem accommodate as many as possible, so it's a little noisy. The service was decent, but I got couple wine recommendations that were just mid. Sort of left me wondering if there are many Italian restaurants in NOLA.

Ehhhhhh. I am from New York, so I know good Italian food when I see it. It really wasn't good. We were early for our reservation and was told we might have to wait a little bit. The hostess had to "text our waitress to see where she is". Confused, but we were seated with another waitress who was very nice. I ordered coca-cola but the ice cubes in the drink were horrible. It totally tasted like straight up tap water and I was not a fan of the taste at all. The bread with olive oil and balsamic was absolutely delicious. We usually do not see balsamic mixed in with the olive oil so this is something we definitely need to try at home. I had spaghetti with marinara and my husband ordered the gnocchi (which is something we rarely see offered near us). Mine was nothing special. I wasn't a fan of the sauce. My husband said his meal was pretty good. All-in-all, it was not the traditional New York Italian restaurants I'm used to, but I'm glad I tried it out.

Best prosciutto I've had in my life. It was fluffy! So soft. I'm asking if I can order just the prosciutto on its own to go. The cocktail was amazing also!! Buono noce was my favorite, it was coconut rum with egg white cream on top. Soooo delicious!! Maybe my favorite cocktail ever. I ordered the sea bass special which was wrapped in parchment paper. This didn't wow me but it was a good slice of fish that was very light. I got the truffle mushroom tortellini and this dish was awesome. Sometimes tortilini pasta is super dense and thick pasta but this one was so light and thin. It was delicious!! I also got to try my friend's gnocchi and that was amazing! So light and fluffy. Really great place, staff is nice and super cute inside.

Small with outdoor seating on sidewalk on edge of the quarter. Had a pleasant evening to sit outside with attentive service & good food.

Loved this place for dinner! Make sure to make a reservation just in case. Also, grab a signature cocktail! They are delicious! Grabbed a bottle of wine to go with dinner and enjoyed the evening along with the entire atmosphere!

Lovely place, it is a bit of a wait for the food but when it comes out it is worth it. They start you with some bread and a dip which I love. Then you can order some wine. I had the pasta but it was a bit dry but it was lovely, cooked to perfection. We sat outside so I can't say much about the inside but when I went inside it looked authentic. All in all I would recommend

Although the food is ok, the service is probably the worst in the quarter..Snobby and not worth the price. An Italian sub at subway beats this place

Although this place was pricey, the food was really great and the service was also awesome. Definitely recommend for a more upscale dining.

Omg... I stumbled across this amazing restaurant in NOLA. I wanted something delicious with a good ambiance and excellent service and this is precisely what I received. The salad was exquisite and the pasta dish was excellent. Perfectly cooked and the sauce was well balanced! The staff was on point and provided excellent service. I highly recommend this little corner spot.

Absolutely amazing meal. Between our table of five we had appetizers, the chicken parm, lasagna, spaghetti aglio olio pepperonchini, each entree was outstanding and exactly what we hoped for. For dessert we had tiramisu which was an authentic flavourful dessert. The limoncello tartuffo was so light and airy and I could have had ten of them to finish my meal. Over all a wonderful place I'm so happy we stumbled upon. Would 100% go back and recommend. Also the price per person with alcoholic drinks, apps and dessert was very reasonable.

Excellent. We love it here. Visited twice in the last week. Server both times was Donald. Professional. Wine knowledge. Great to talk to. He made our delicious meal even more memorable. Run by a Verona-trained chef, the Italian Barrel is one of the best restaurants on the Quarter. Indoor & outdoor seating. Nice wine selection. Impressive pasta dishes. Fresh fish flown in regularly. One of the best charcuterie boards in town. Near Esplanade.

We didn't come to New Orleans to eat Italian food, but this place was so good we came back for a second dinner. On our first trip, we started with house bread and salads like the rookies we were. I ordered the porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli based on its photo online -- huge pasta floating in a sea of the most luscious cream sauce. When our food arrived, I felt like I had been catfished. My plate didn't have the fínese of the one I'd seen online, and not nearly as much cream sauce. BUT it ended up being the perfect amount of sauce over the most delicious raviolis I've ever had. Because of our rookie starters, I had room for dessert and finished the evening with a sweet and smooth lemoncello. The second visit, we started with the imported cheese platter -- GET IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. -- and huge goblets of Mediterranean gin and tonics with basil, orange, lemon muddled together. That night I was able to finish most of Chef Samantha's fusilli pasta, which had more luscious cream sauce with peas and prosciutto. Jaime, our waitress both nights, was fabulous -- great recommendations and fast, friendly, and funny service. The first night she was training someone new and seemed to be running all her own food. The second night was a little less busy, but our girl still had the same hustle and smile. She's a boss. We sat outside both nights -- the inside looks nice, but nothing beats the people watching on this busy corner. People fighting in French (?) over parking spots, women in platform shoes so high they might be stilts selling hats out of a grocery cart, and a man walking his baby goat. The tables are spacious and the entertainment is endless. If you're near New Orleans and are still reading this instead of heading to the Italian Barrel, I'm disappointed in you.

We were told that this place had the worst service and hostess. We went to see it for ourselves, walked in place, only had three tables with people, and the rest was empty. The hostess Tanya had the worst manners that I've ever seen. I do not understand why people like her work in the service industry. Extremely unpleasant unpolite, and I will really was taken back on her rudeness. Definitely would not recommend and now I see why so many bad reviews.don't bother. We had already heard on the bad service, and absolutely no customer service, but to receive a response from the business that we were intoxicated, Truly laughable, and speaks volumes of how they handle business.

My husband stumbled on this place looking for some Italian food while in New Orleans. It had indoor and outdoor seating options. We started with the bruschetta and it was delicious. It had an abundance cherry tomatoes along with fresh cheese and basil. I had a garden salad and it was fresh and delicious- they served fresh tasty warm bread with our meal. I had the veal meatballs with delicious San Marzano sauce. There were many other pasta choices and entree choices. My husband had a pesto shrimp dish that was seasoned to perfection - I took a bite. The staff was welcoming and friendly. Service was great and I don't mind a wait if the food is fresh and made to order which this obviously was. Great selection and variety of prices on their wine list and there were full bar options. If you are looking for a classic Italian option this is your

Authentic and delicious northern Italian food on the edge of the French Quarter just steps away from the French Market! My cousin and I stopped in for a late lunch on a rainy Monday afternoon. The wine menu is very respectable and although it was very tempting, on this occasion we opted for sodas instead. We were served yummy warm, toasted bread with olive oil and balsamic for dipping. We started with the Bruschetta and it fantastic! It was full of flavor with generous amounts of fresh basil, garlic, QUALITY aged Parmesano Reggiano, and fresh, sweet tomatoes. We both chose the Penne Alla Vodka which contained a modest amount of high-quality lump crab meat. The sauce was very creamy and flavorful. The serving was generous and we both took home enough leftovers for dinner. For desert we both went with the Espresso Creme Brulee and it was decadent and delicious! I've never had Italian food in NOLA because I typically seek out the creole cuisine for which it's famous, but I will definitely return to The Italian Barrel to see what other deliciousness I can find there!

Excellent place. Nice atmosphere and attentive service. We enjoyed our mussels and the focaccia was delicious. The house salad and dressing were outstanding as well. Was a nice break from southern food.

Food was amazing. Great atmosphere. Good service Loved the bruschetta and the crème puff dessert.

Lovey experience. Easy walk, and close to all the sights of New Orleans. The wait was about 30 mins which is typical of a busy night in NOLA. The internal design is cute and classy with attention to detail. Our server was kind and very understanding. Food breakdown: The gnocchi was rich in flavors and made well. The lasagna was a pick because they were missing the ravioli. And honestly, it was a great call. It's hard to make lasagna interesting, and impressive, but the Italian barrel did just that. The pasta in the last image with the peas was light and well done, but would not order again. Overall, a well done meal and would come back.

Poor service and mediocre food sums it all up here. Sat down and did not see a waiter for 20 minutes at least. Red sauce was bland and the recommended osso bucco was bland.

Went here on a Saturday afternoon and had the best Italian! We got to dinner early, around 5pm, so it was not busy at all. Our waiter was very nice and funny and made great recommendations. We shared the bruschetta, sooooo good! Ive had bruschetta at a few places and none compare to Italian barrels! They bread, all the cheese, tomato's, just delicious. I had the porcini and truffle ravioli. Oh my gosh. I was in love with every bite. I would order that again and again. The other dish was lobster ravioli and I didn't even get to taste it because it was eaten so fast. I was told the lobster ravioli was amazing- hint why it was gone so fast. I'd definitely recommend this Italian place to anyone craving some realllllly good pasta! You won't be disappointed!

Excellent, service food and drinks were all on point. Couldn't ask for better. Rhonda was an excellent server.

We were a large party Friday evening at 7:00 seating. Our linen topped table was ready for us upon arrival. Cade was just the right amount of engagement and direction in our menu choices for our special anniversary gathering. We were not rushed, all commenting we enjoyed a truly relaxing environment, delightful knowledgable server and the pastas were delectable and light. The seafood choices also did not disappoint. We enjoyed a wonderful evening all around. highly recommend, noise level is low, intimate small location, quaint

All I can say is that I went there late and ordered two Black Russians. Tasty drinks with an Italian version of Kalua in the mix. Jeez....$22.00 a drink. Sorry I'm in the Big Easy as a local. Really? My wife grew up on Esplanade and is 100 % Italian. Regrettably we can not recommend.

Made reservations for Christmas Eve, as they had an open menu (not a reveillon) and came with a recommendation of someone who lives near by. We got there about ten minutes early and were told that due to staffing shortages that we'd have to wait until our time. So we did. And then kept waiting. And then someone else came in with a later reservation and asked to be seated right away. At this point I spoke up again, it was 20 minutes past reservation time by then, and the host was like, oh yeah we can seat you right away. Frustrating, but okay, I get it. It looked like things would get rolling right away, but other than being seated right then, everything was still a slow roll. Ordered the bruschetta. Got our complimentary bread at the table, and eventually the bruschetta came out. The complimentary bread "was the best part of the meal," according to my father, but my mom and I would both contend it was the bruschetta. We eventually received our main courses. They were good, although nothing spectacular or amazing about them. Standard lasagna and other Italian restaurant status quo. Our server was friendly whenever she was around, but it wasn't enough after so much wait. We didn't even want to have dessert at that point; might as well just get on to our festivities because this wasn't adding anything to the fun. Overall? It was good. I had hoped for better, especially due to the prices and the wait, but it was just good. Maybe when it's not half empty due to staffing shortages, or when I'm more excited about a holiday meal and being let down at the lackluster result.