Gris-Gris — Restaurant in New Orleans

I have only dined here once at time of this writing. A friend was having a birthday dinner for which I was attending.

We were a group of 13, which I understand can be challenging for smaller footprint establishments to accommodate. Gris Gris resolved this difficulty by seating us outside which was lit by flame heaters which added to the ambiance of the table a great deal.

Our reservation was for 8:30 pm, but we were not seated until around 9:00 pm, which is quite understandable given the large party. Again, they did a great job of accommodating the circumstances.

When we were first seated, our server informed us the table at which we were seared normally only accommodates ten people and he kindly moved a four top to provide more table top. He seemed to be working alone which I imagine can be challenging for a large table.

After reviewing the offerings, I ordered the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo and the chicken and dumplings. This was mostly due to the cool evening and thinking these could sit for a little while if the food serving was staggered some.

The gumbo was spot on in terms of flavors and the textures of the chicken, sausage, and rice were great. The chicken was not shredded into reasonably bite sizes however and could have been made more manageable. Despite this, I'd say the gumbo was one of the better ones I have eaten.

Chicken and Dumplings is always a dish that helps me determine whether a kitchen understands flavor composition due to the simplicity of the base ingredients. In this instance, I confidently state that Gris Gris exceeded expectations. The flavor was robust, the chicken was perfectly cooked, and the dumplings retained sufficient substance to be slightly chewable but we're still pillows of carb comfort. The broth of the dish possessed a balanced flavor profile which was delightful on each bite but never became overwhelming to the pallet throughout my meal.

Overall the table ordered nearly each menu item and I could see myself returning to eat the red fish or lamb shank as they looked well prepared and those who ordered them were card carrying members of the clean plate club by the end of the meal.

I cannot comment on dessert as the kitchen closed prior to reaching that course. In fact, I suspect in hindsight our dishes came out slowly as the kitchen was trying to close down before we even ordered our meals. Again, we were seated at 9:00 pm, so I can understand to some extent. However, when the birthday boy...

Located on the corner of Magazine Street in the vibrant Garden District, Gris-Gris offers a fresh, modern take on classic Cajun and Creole cuisine. My party of three visited for an early Saturday dinner, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We opted to sit on the second-floor balcony, which boasts a quintessential New Orleans atmosphere, complete with charming black wrought iron railings and a perfect view of the bustling street below.

The timing of our visit was strategic—Gris-Gris offers an all-week happy hour that runs until 6 p.m., and the happy hour menu is a fantastic way to sample dishes and drinks from their main menu at a more budget-friendly price. We took full advantage of this, ordering the muffuletta bruschetta and Natchitoches meat pies, along with a round of cocktails that included the Satsuma 75, Petit Daiquiri, and a classic Old Fashioned. Each drink was expertly crafted and complemented our appetizers perfectly, so much so that we ended up ordering a second round.

A special mention goes to our waitress, who was not only friendly and attentive but also made sure to let us know when we were nearing the end of happy hour—giving us the opportunity to sneak in one last drink before prices returned to normal. The appetizers were generously portioned, flavorful, and satisfying, making it easy for us to decide to keep it light on the mains. Instead of ordering full entrees, we shared a bowl of the gumbo and the Whole Creole Redfish Bouillon. Both dishes were outstanding, with the gumbo being rich and hearty, and the redfish cooked to perfection—crispy on the outside, tender and flaky inside.

Of course, no meal at Gris-Gris would be complete without indulging in their legendary bread pudding. Served warm and a-la-mode, it’s the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal—rich, comforting, and absolutely delicious.

Gris-Gris strikes a perfect balance between modern and traditional, offering a refined take on New Orleans flavors in a casual, inviting setting. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick happy hour bite or settling in for a full meal, Gris-Gris is a must-visit if you find yourself on Magazine Street, especially before 6 p.m. for the...

There’s just no reason to bother going to this place. The staff was rude, the service was slow, and ultimately, 3 of the 4 of us left (after 2 hours) without eating dinner.

We were going to be a few minutes late for our reservation, so we called and they (somewhat rudely) told us we had 15 minutes and then they would give our table away. That seemed reasonable for a busy restaurant. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), we arrived only 10 minutes late, just to be told that our table wouldn’t be ready for at least another 20 minutes. Seriously? Why give us a hard time if the table wasn’t going to be ready for more than 30 minutes after our reservation time?

We were seated at a lovely table with a nice view outside on their balcony…. for a whole 30-45 seconds. Then we were abruptly told to get up because they had seated us at the wrong table.

Finally, after over 90 minutes, our 4 dinners came out. Unfortunately, 3 of the 4 entrees were ice cold. Rather than simply heat the dinners up, they claimed they had to re-cook the meals from scratch. After waiting another 30 minutes, we decided it was time to leave. Lest you think this was just happening to us, on our way out, a nice couple sitting at the bar said they were waiting over 90 minutes and still hadn’t gotten any food.

Quick food review: My wife had a caesar salad that was so over garlicky that it kept her up that night. I had the Oyster BLT. It was okay, but the oysters were a little soggy and there was no L or T. My entree, the pork chop, was the warm one. It was smothered in some kind of sauce. It was fine, but a little hard to eat while the other three people at the table made death stares at me because they had no food in front of them. Don’t worry, I persevered.

It’s hard to believe that a New Orleans restaurant couldn’t get 4 warm meals to a table in 2 hours. There have to be hundreds of places in New Orleans better than this one. Please go to ALL of them before...