Nola’s Main St Cafe — Restaurant in Florence

My wife and I happened to stumble across a local, family-owned NOLA-style restaurant in Florence for a late lunch. The ambiance instantly transported us to Louisiana with its LA-inspired decor, but at the same time, you feel at home as you hear the soft worship music setting the atmosphere and comfortable seats that further entice you to stay awhile.

We were immediately welcomed by the staff, who greeted us with a sample of their chicken and sausage gumbo. My wife, who was born in LA, can confirm this was authentic gumbo cooked to perfection, as was all the food in this family establishment. The chef was born in New Orleans and carries every bit of that with her.

My wife and I both ordered the fish platter that blew both of us away. Louisiana flavor was in and throughout the fish and crispy breading. She also had a bowl of the chicken and seafood gumbo that was perfect. I also had the red beans and rice, which was authentically smooth, bold, flavorful, and creamy.

We both finished our meal with an order of the bourbon-infused peach cobbler egg rolls: the best dessert egg rolls I ever tried. Amazing filling that does not fall apart when you bite into it.

Most importantly, the owners' kindness, hospitality, and overall love for people could be seen in every dish, which is a rare compliment for most restaurants. We left with our stomachs full and our hearts happy. And so did their entire lunch crowd. Please treat yourself and try...

I accidentally "found" this place while working in the area, and it was like discovering a pearl in an oyster! It's in a renovated house, with all the southern charm you'd expect in Mississippi. The wood floors creaked and the waiting area was in an actual hallway, and I am here for it! It's obviously family run, with young ladies waiting tables, sweet women coming from the kitchen to check on the meals, and adorable little Corbin, maybe 3 or 4 years old, periodically checking out the chairs in the corners. I understand they recently located from a different location, so I can't speak on any prior expectation, but my food, and the first impression they made on me, was fantastic!

I wasn't planning on having a perfectly seasoned grilled porkchop for lunch, yet here we are. It was amazing! I kept staring at my fork after every bite. It was THAT good. I overheard another customer ask for a sample of jambalaya, so acting like a local, I asked for one too 😊and WOW! It was amazing! I hope I'm in town long enough to come back and get a...

We went here on a Saturday night. There were only a few other tables there, but it took a full hour for our food to come out after ordering. The red beans and rice were ok and two meals were about $50. They put our food in Styrofoam containers which was odd, to me, for a sit down restaurant. There was no salt and pepper on the table. The canned cokes were flat because they were expired. It felt like to-go food for a sit down price.

Also, the owner's kid was wandering around to the tables. That's cute and I thought it was sweet that it was a family restaurant where they bring their kids. But the kid was standing at my table holding one of their shoes while I was trying to eat, and it wasn't really what I wanted to be happening...