The Little Jewel of New Orleans — Restaurant in Los Angeles

First!, I'm going back because I really want to like this place. My food wasn't horrible but I'd like to offer a suggestion or two because it felt like the cook got a little happy and this might have been a one-off situation. I'll be more than happy to update my review or even write a new one if they take my suggestion.

I ordered the crawfish mac and cheese deluxe. This dish could have been so much better! I'll start by saying that Creole cooking doesn't equal cayenne pepper and hot sauce alone and this one had way too much. What is does mean is seasoning and taste. The taste and seasoning was overwhelmed and overpowered. The temperature of the dish was nice and hot and presented well. First bite the cayenne jumped on me! But, I could tell that it was seasoned well and would taste good. I was profusely sweating as I ate the next few bites. I had to go to the bathroom for extra napkins twice! Throughout my eating I'm getting bites of raw onions. White onions were throughout and it was garnished with purple onions on top. Way too much. So much so that my urine the next day smells of onions! Come on!

Now, the taste was good but that was very diminished by the onions and pepper. There was plenty of crawfish, shrimp and sausage. The sausage wasn't andouille that I'm used to but it didn't say that it was andouille on the description either, just sausage. The noodles were cooked just right and the cheeses were a nice blend. The portion size was great and it came with a piece of cornbread. The cornbread was dense but not dry and had just enough sweetness.

I also ordered the strawberry white chocolate bread pudding and I devoured it! The bread pudding was dense but not dry, had great taste and with the strawberry and white chocolate it was sweet enough without being too sweet. I really enjoyed it! I could have eaten the entire container (they give you plenty!) but I had to pull back so I wouldn't be in a "food coma". I'll be back to sample their other desserts as well. Come on pecan pie!

I'll go back to try their po'boys and other dishes next time. I'm used to going to places on the Gulf Coast that don't count the number of shrimp or oysters and you can barely see the bread. They serve the seafood like

Five Guys serves their fries. Hopefully, I'll be writing a higher rating review and won't be disappointed. Bon temps!

Update: I had the bbq shrimp po'boy today for lunch and I am satisfied. Not very many shrimp and they're small but this is California and not the Gulf Coast. The taste and flavors were all there and the bread was good. Their fries are very filling steak fries and I washed it down with an Abita root beer. Sorry for the long post but thanks for reading it. I'll be back to try more food and give...

We drove an hour to check out this little place cuz I'm from New Orleans. I first went to the grocery side to check on some products that I remember from home. I asked about luzianne or Zatarain's reading for fish or chicken they cook with it but don't sell it. Then I asked about zero bars he told me he had them but then told me they were out. Then zaps potato chips I pulled two and they had expired 4 days earlier they had nothing in the back. So we decided to order. I ordered half a muffaletta and a roast beef po-boy. Knowing that the bread is shipped from New Orleans I expected good things. The roast beef po-boy was wonderful. The bread was crusty on the outside soft on the inside lots of beef and simple dressing I loved it. My husband ordered half a muffaletta and it was just okay. We ordered a piece of pecan pie and it tasted old and stale. The restaurant was clean parking is difficult you have to park on the street. Service was good. They have a very extensive menu. Besides the roast beef poor boy the music was wonderful. Check it out.. if you want to use your credit card you will be charge three and a half percent more.

UPDATE: 4 days later we found ourselves in the area again. We decided to stop by and see if our opinion was still accurate. The zaps had been restocked and we bought a couple bags. no zero bars. This time we ordered roast beef po-boy and a catfish plate. We tried to order red beans and rice as it was the Monday special but at 2 they'd already sold-out. On the roast beef sandwich it came out with no gravy huge disappointment but when we talked to the staff they brought us out of container of gravy. The catfish was delicious French fries were hot and crispy and we had plenty of sauces to decide between. Their hush puppies are exceptionally good. And the service was good. Another one of our problems there was we asked to have the poor boy cut into threes and we were told it was a dollar for the extra slice. I expressed my anger at having to pay a dollar to slice once more with a knife. didn't matter I paid the buck. And then Joy of joys they charged me an extra dollar to toast the bread for the muffaletta. We got the muffaletta to go and when we got home the bread was burned. while the food is good in this establishment their customer service and policies make me crazy I don't know if I'll...

I had heard a lot about this place through social media, and being one that has never tried food from New Orleans, I decided to come by one day with a friend of mine.

Upon my arrival, I witnessed them putting music on and opening the store. It had a very strong mom and pop feel, along with this feeling of joy as you heard the music and watched the people passing by. Little Jewel definitely established its first step with a musical entrance.

The store is two parts, on the left, a small store, and on the right, a selection of drinks and desserts. You order at the register all the way to the left. All the way to your right, are the restrooms.

We were fortunate to meet the owner's daughter along with another woman who served us with great service. They were very friendly and kind to show you how things worked.

My friend and I ordered the following: Drinks: Orange soda, and an Abita Root beer Food: Zapp's chips, half and half extreme poboy, poutine fries, hush puppies, craw mac deluxe, pecan pie, strawberry cake, bread pudding, and a homemade praline with nuts.

Yes, we ate all this. (Well, the last 10 percent was taken home)

All the food, was extremely delicious in its own way, but there are some that definitely had an outstanding "wow" factor.

The first and most recommended, are the hush puppies. The grandeur of this dish, is the sauce they give you, to dip the hush puppies in and eat it. That sauce, wow, just blew my mind away. It is a must when ordering here.

Among the drinks, the Abita's Root Beer definitely had a purer taste than most root beers I've had, and I highly recommend it.

Among the desserts, I loved first and foremost, the banana pudding, and second, the strawberry cake. The pecan is preferred for those who don't have too much of a sweet tooth but still enjoy good desserts.

There is one however, that truly caught my attention.

The bread pudding. This bread pudding has whiskey in it. I believe it is best described as an "acquired taste". It wasn't bad at all, but it definitely has quite the strong whiskey taste. For those who want to try something new, this is the dish for you.

My experience here, was one of the best in my life, and I highly suggest anyone who lives or is visiting LA, to stop by this place.

It is truly, an enriching experience, the experience, of New...