Jamila's Cafe — Restaurant in New Orleans

Rating: ★★★★★

Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of dining at a Tunisian restaurant where the experience was greatly enhanced by the presence of Moncef, a remarkably warm and welcoming staff member.

Right from the start, Moncef greeted us with such genuine warmth that we felt more like honored guests than customers. His enthusiasm for sharing his culture and the restaurant's culinary delights was truly heartwarming.

The Lamb Tajine was the star of our meal. This dish captivated our palates with its tender, succulent lamb, and the expertly blended spices created a flavor that was both exotic and comforting. It was evident that a lot of care and traditional culinary skills went into its preparation.

Another highlight was the Lamb Sausage dish. Perfectly seasoned and cooked, it offered a delightful texture and flavor contrast. The authenticity and quality of the ingredients shone through, reflecting a deep respect for traditional Tunisian cooking.

Moncef's interactions added greatly to our dining experience. He shared fascinating insights about Tunisian culture and cuisine, making our meal not only delicious but also educational and engaging.

In summary, this Tunisian restaurant offers more than just exceptional food; it offers an experience enhanced by genuine hospitality, particularly through Moncef's warm and engaging presence. It's a place where the warmth of the welcome stays with you long after the...

Like I lot of people nowadays, I had been looking over Maple Street in favor of Oak Street, which is more in vogue now. But I have to tell you, some of the best little restaurants are on Maple Street!

Me, my girlfriend and a couple we are friends with went out to Jamila’s Café at 7808 Maple Street.

The space is great. It’s a sparsely lit one story wooden building. The inside is all unpainted wood, and decorated with Tunisian art, mainly copper/bronze art pieces that give the entire place a homey, rustic feel.

The food was amazing; a blend of Tunisian and Creole that just fits perfectly in New Orleans. I had lamb tajine, which was cooked in a clay pot.

The owner brought out a clean empty plate, then brought a plate of rice, followed by the clay pot and proceeded to pour some of each on my place.

My girlfriend ordered a vegetarian pasta. She asked for it with no cream. It looked fantastic. The owner came by and grated some cheese on top.

They also brought a cup of homemade harissa, which is a type of hot sauce/paste. It was perfect on everything.

At the end of the meal, the owner came by with a metal water sprinkler filled with rosewater. It is apparently a Tunisian tradition to sprinkle rose water on your hands after certain...

More like a 3.5, but can't do that here. This was our third visit together to New Orleans, and our third time at Jamila's. It's a great place with a friendly owner and unique, tasty food. When I called in for a table this most recent visit, though, the owner didn't mention that he faced a staffing shortage and severely long waits for food. When we arrived, several tables were occupied by people waiting for food.... and it took a while for us to put our order in. Our drinks came out promptly, and then a while later the appetizer (Brik au Thon), and an hour or so later the Eggplant Salad. It took another while longer (around 9 pm) to get our entrees--Chicken with couscous and Lamb Tagine. All was tasty, but we arrived at 7 pm and left well after 10 pm. Over 3 hours. Most of the other patrons faced similar scenarios, though a couple of others were in and out relatively promptly. Maybe they called ahead? The owner apologized and told us about the staffing issues, and we felt bad about that, but this wasn't the only thing we were hoping to do that night. Still, this is a worthy place when the stars and staff and whatevers...