Addis Nola — Restaurant in New Orleans

Update: Came back for lunch with friends and everything we ordered was so damn good. We could've ordered from the brunch menu but ordered from the full dinner menu instead. Started with the Kifta app, which was the best Kifta I've ever had. I've had both cooked and raw versions, this was something in between. But the butter/seasoning they use is on another level. She got the mar mitmita shrimp which had a fair amount of shrimp hidden in that small cauldron of veggies, peppers, spices and honey. The heat builds slowly, really nice. We ordered the Siga, which is a temple to all things meat. Last time I got all veggies. Their tibs is a little different from versions I've had before has they use a red wine reduction that you can taste. It adds another layer to the traditionally spiced style Ive had previously. I preferred the lamb over beef, but Ill almost always pick lamb over beef if given a choice. The Ribeye would be that exception. Hands down best steak I've had ever. Don't eat a lot of them, especially ribeyes, but flavor and texture of this was outstanding. Not sure they even asked how we wanted it cooked, she prefers medium well, but came med rare. She ate it anyway. Plus the *steak sauce that came with it somehow made it better. It's a huge platter so we ended up with leftovers of everything except the ribeye. I almost forgot about the drinks, we all got a Right Bayou, which we had to wait a little longer for as they had to make the syrup fresh. Well worth the wait, these are dangerously good. Service was a little better this time, we still found ourselves waiting to pay at the end. But the food was so good I'll gladly put up with it.

Looking for something I can't have as I'm coming back from the airport, I came here on a suggestion from local friends. There's no Ethiopian anywhere near my hometown, so this is a break from the everyday. This is a large restaurant with plenty of large group seating, as Ethiopian is a more communal experience. The inside is well decorated and stands in contrast with some of the area surrounding it. After arriving about an hour before they closed, we were seated immediately and given menus. The service was awkward for lack of a better term. Not sure if the person was just young and/or inexperienced but the service was off. It took almost 15min to get our drinks, which as the bartender wasn't their fault, but they were absent the entirety of that time. We could've used more water or asked questions about the menu. When we got our beverages they took our order, but again didn't check back until our food arrived. We ordered the Sambusa( beef and lentil)veggie combo. The Sambusa is basically a deep fried dumpling, similar to samosas. The food was phenomenal. The veggie platter had an excellent variety of flavors. Maybe it's something 'new' and exciting(not really, I've had Ethiopian before) or I was hungry, but everything was on point. Again the service wasn't exemplary, as they were absent the majority of our meal, except a 20min span when they asked for refills twice. Ended the night having issues getting the bill to pay and leave. I don't want to make it seem like the server was intentionally rude or lazy, I was expecting better given the venue. I'm going to come back, the food was just too damn good, and the interior is very pleasant. Just hoping they work out some of their...

From the moment you step into Addis Nola, you know you’re in for more than just a meal you’re entering an experience. The staff greets you with genuine warmth, as if you’ve been welcomed into a family home. That’s the prologue, the unspoken promise that what’s about to follow is going to be good down-home good. And though I’m not Ethiopian, I felt right at home. We were oriented to the restaurant where to wash our hands and the restaurant and review the menu.

We started with the Hibiscus Pineapple Mocktails non-alcoholic, vibrant, and layered with flavors that kept us guessing. I sipped, paused, then sipped again, trying to pinpoint the delicious tickle on my tongue. My husband joined in, and together we played culinary detectives, but neither of us could place it. Finally, curiosity won and we asked our server, who was exceptional throughout the evening. With his easy Louisiana drawl, he revealed the secret: cinnamon. I was shocked, because cinnamon is not usually a favorite of mine yet here it was, transforming the drink into something utterly refreshing and addictive.

The Addis Salad was simplicity at its best fresh, crisp, and balanced with a light vinaigrette. Then came the Awaze Chicken Wings, seasoned just right, with sauce on the side for my husband. I, on the other hand, went all in. Dip after dip, each bite was a burst of slightly sweet with spice and flavor that demanded another.

The undeniable highlight was the Whole Fried Red Snapper. I’ve never had anything quite like it. The fish was fried to crispy perfection, its skin crackling with every bite while the inside remained tender and flaky. The seasoning mysterious, aromatic, perfectly balanced permeated every layer. And let me not forget the kosher salt fried right into the skin. Crispy. Crunchy. Perfectly salted. If food could make you hum, this was it.

After indulging, we lingered to chat with our server, who shared the story of Addis Nola and its family roots. That impromptu history lesson deepened the experience suddenly the food wasn’t just delicious, it was personal. We even took photos together, and before leaving, my husband purchased an Addis House hat to take a piece of the evening home with us.

Addis Nola isn’t just about Ethiopian cuisine it’s about connection, culture, and comfort. The food was incredible, yes, but what lingered long after was the warmth of the people and the joy of the experience. We left full, smiling, and already planning our return.

Rating: 5/5 – A must-visit for anyone who wants more than a meal,...

We love this restaurant and in a city where it seems like there is never enough time to eat at all the delicious places, we’ve eaten here multiple times. Tonight I booked a reservation for 7 adults and 3 kids.(note: 2 babies and 1 toddler)

We love the quality of the food here, the unique drink options and the ambience.

Everything is always delicious, high quality and the service is usually fantastic. I’m writing this review because we had a negative experience tonight I want to address.

I eat out with my young children frequently. They are not overly loud or obnoxious. They make minimal mess and my husband and I get on the floor after every meal to wipe up the mess they will make — because they are children.

At the end of our meal tonight, we were asked to leave an additional ten dollars on the tip line for a “cleaning fee”

Note: not a fee I was informed upon at the start of the meal for kids, not a button in the computer that charged additional gratuity — an additional Tip.

I asked the server away from the table if this was because we had kids. He said it was because of the mess. I attached a photo of the mess under one of the high chairs. The mess on this table was no more than adults leave and certainly nothing crazy a broom and an average wipe down would have taken care of.

I’m just so disappointed because Addis is my go to when I have out of town guests or need to make a reservation for a large party. I informed the server I had no problem with paying a fee for a big mess if I had been informed before. But I wasn’t and also — I assume this isn’t restaurant policy because I was asked to leave an additional cash tip, not a button from the POS system.

I have an Instagram where I rate how kid friendly restaurants are in New Orleans — I’m not delusional and know my meager amount of followers isn’t going to make a difference, but I’m just so disappointed because Addis already doesn’t have changing tables and a limited amount of high chairs, but to also have this experience tonight was a bummer.

If you don’t want kids in your restaurant institute a policy like N7. Preferably, because I love the food, inform your staff how to make families feel welcome,...