The Verdict Lounge & Restaurant

The Verdict has been on my list ever since I saw them featured on Kitchen Nightmares, so I came in with high expectations. Overall, I would give it a solid 8 out of 10. More importantly, it is a whole vibe. From the moment you walk in, you feel true Southern hospitality. The music is vibrant and gets you moving, but it is still appropriate and not so loud that it interrupts conversation. The atmosphere alone makes the experience enjoyable. The lamb chops were delicious, cooked with the right amount of char and finished with a subtle sweetness that lingered. As a signature item, I do think the restaurant could work on finding a better balance between portion size and price point, but the flavor itself did not disappoint. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, with the right texture and a complementary flavor that paired well with the lamb. The mashed potatoes had a great balance of butter, garlic, and seasoning. The fish platter is easily two meals in one. The fish was seasoned well and fried properly, making it a strong value option. Our waitress was sweet and engaging. She held great conversation and handled herself well, especially considering she has only been at the location for two months. Now for opportunities for growth. On steak night, it is important that the kitchen has a firm understanding of carryover cooking. Even after a steak is removed from the open flame, it continues to cook, which affects the final temperature and level of doneness the customer receives. That said, in this economy, a steak and potato for 20 dollars is hard to beat. I also ordered a Corona, and the temperature suggested it may have just been placed in the refrigerator before being served. A properly chilled beer would have elevated the experience. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed my time at The Verdict. Between the atmosphere, the staff, and the food, I can comfortably recommend this spot and would definitely consider going back. While Gordon Ramsay might raise his eyebrows at a couple of details, I believe he would ultimately be proud of the progress and the experience they are creating.

The staff was very welcoming! I placed a reservation because I had a party of 8. I loved the atmosphere and the music. I had the ribeye, mashed potatoes and spinach. Everything was amazing but that SPINACH omg, it was DELICIOUS. 🩷 I had a birthday drink as well and it was great. The waitresses were lovely too.

I’ll write my review based on the three options given, food service atmosphere. The food was fiya and they give you so much. I ate at the place, ate some more when I got home, and finished the rest for breakfast. N it was priced well especially considering how much you got. I went there for breakfast/brunch. The service was excellent. Waitress Angel or Angie was not only attentive but friendly and recommended certain dishes. She also was our photographer lol. The atmosphere was really chill laid back vibe where the music was loud enough to enough but low enough so we could still converse. The decor was beautiful and is going to do really well for photos anytime you’re there. The place also has a full bar so I plan on going visit the lounge one evening when I’m home. I love New Orleans but I especially love when I find such a hidden gem where the people don’t just make you fell welcome but make you feel special and loved! The owner was onsite and talked to everyone dining to make sure their experience was one of a kind. I’m definitely going back and recommend this spot to anyone that’s in the New Orleans east area.

Tonight, I had the opportunity to experience this phenomenal restaurant with my cousins! We truly enjoyed ourselves. The food was amazing. The drinks were tasty. The hookahs were perfect. Oh and did I mention the owner was there working with her staff ensuring stupendous service. Our waitress provided stupendous service by going above and beyond ensuring that we had everything we needed. The chef ensured we had everything we needed and stopped at our table to ensure we were okay!The D.J. played a combination of music for everyone to enjoy! Superior service…don’t be afraid to stop in New Orleans East to enjoy the experience! I am DEFINITELY returning!!! I

If you're looking for a lounge that's going to entertain and leave your taste buds utterly & completely satisfied. Look no further! Last night was my first visit to Verdict. Let me tell you, my verdict is in, I'll be back every time I visit New Orleans! Our host/server, Angelica aka Jelly, was very knowledgeable about the menu, accommodating without being overbearing. The bartendress, Malou, made the BEST Lemon Drop Martini. I would normally have one drink if they are good I'll have two. Shamelessly I had three! The chef, Jihhad, had me eating like a savage getting very speck of meat off my lamb chop bone! Do yourself a favor and order the lamb chop plate! The mashed potatoes were buttery perfection and asparagus was tender not over cooked. We were even blessed to meet the owner, Malika. She is as beautiful as she is ambitious!

Exceptional service and Vibe! Food was out of this world, you would think it’s illegal 😂 I told the server that I wanted to kiss the Cook! The owner and cook came out, it was a woman 😩😂 She still gave us hugs and kisses, told us a little about her story and how The Verdict came out. Definitely an amazing place to be and a foodie’s paradise! 🤤❤️❤️ Will definitely come back!

The food is sooo good!! We went around eight and the food was definitely cooked to serve! The fish, shrimp hush puppies and fries top tier! The seasoning was on point!! The drink the Queen Pen I was drunk on the first sip 🤣🤣 It was so good! And my server was so sweet and very helpful! And she was honest. My only complaint and this is small, the music was too loud for the amount of people that were in the lounge. It was only a few tables that had people there and you couldn’t even hear yourself talk or when talking to the servers. I will definitely come back for sure!

Edit 2/27/25: IF YOU GO GET THE BREAD PUDDING EGG ROLLS. I got them to go tonight and and oh myyyyyyyyy. The deviled eggs and shrimp was delicious too! Came in after a long day. Daytona took care of me and was super excellent. Both drinks she recommended were delicious. The wings were wonderful and the fries with the house made ranch were amazing. The camera didn’t get to eat first! The owner, Melika, came to check on me and was super amazing herself. Both her and Daytona told me about the specials they have during the week (umm, 7$ lamb chops and lemon drops anyone?????). I also saw their brunch menu and am excited to try that out. As a metry resident, worth the trek to the East! Great time and looking forward to coming again soon!

Amazing time , bartender and owner both amazing. Def a vibe to check if you wanna relax and chill. No drama. Just chill vibes

A bunch of my girls met up here for happy hour one Friday and we had a nice time. The owner was very pleasant she greeted just about everyone in the place. The ambiance was real cute and the music just made you want to cut up, i had the fish bites and fries. It was cute and tasty. I didn't take any food pictures but everything was displayed really cute. Now the drinks on the other hand. Needed work. You can tell both bartender wasn't experienced. We sent back several drinks but she was really nice about it and just remade them. At one point we just started ordered shots the mix drinks just wasn't right. I gave it a 4 because i will return again. Especially if you have a group of friends

Food- My chicken was crunchy-cleaned-and really really good . I had the Buffalo wings and it was delicious. Service-The owner Is HONEST and welcoming. She was ALL about making my time dining here a FUN one. Even though she was short staffed, she really kept me informed on things that was happening with my order. Ambiance-I gave this spot 2-Stars on decor ALONE!! VERY BEAUTIFULLY decorated. They're open at the following hours listed below: Wed &Thurs 5 to 12 pm Friday/Saturday /Sunday 5pm to 2am 7 to 10

I've been here several times & it's always a vibe. The food is so good!! The crawfish bisque egg rolls are my favorite! The chicken wings are like home fried so delicious! The white chocolate bread pudding egg rolls are always a MUST. The Queen Pin drink is my go-to! Friday's they have live music & Wednesdays are karaoke! They have hookah also. Stop by & check them out!

Went here for a birthday celebration. It was R&B night. This was during their grand opening weekend. It was such a vibe. Great music with great drinks! I can't wait to return to try out more of the menu and maybe even get a hookah.

I took my wife here for our anniversary and didn't quite know what to expect from the appearance of the building. However, once we stepped inside, we could see the attention to detail in the decor and ambiance. The food was fantastic and the drinks were spot on. The service was excellent. We had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.

The eggrolls and fish bites where very good seasoned perfectly they come hot definitely worth the price!

The food was tasty. I do feel that the portion size could be better. In New Orleans, we like to eat and feel like we are getting enough for our money. I had the seafood platter and requested to substitute the oysters for shrimp and ended up with just six shrimp on the plate with two pieces of fish and fries...not much of a platter. My daughter had the pasta, which she was able to finish in one sitting, no leftovers. Atmosphere was great, people were nice and polite. I will go back, just to support.