Muriel's Jackson Square — Restaurant in New Orleans

Aug 18, 2019.. Sunday Jazz Brunch This is a high quality restaurant in the heart of Jackson Square. Inside is beautiful, plenty of hostesses, hosts, servers, etc. All are professional and smiling and welcoming. Joe Simons Jazz Trio was in one corner of the main room (they travel to all the rooms) and were great sounding and their volume was low enough to be background. Great atmosphere! I had a mimosa while waiting for my friend. We ordered the seafood gumbo, which was good, not great. My friend ordered off of the Coolinary menu, which had 2 entrees listed, but they were out of one of them, there was no substitute. She had the Pecan Encrusted Baby Drum (Pan sauteed with oven roasted pecans and Louisiana crab meat relish, laced with a lemon butter sauce). It also came with a Bread Pudding dessert. I ordered Shrimp and Grits. The Stone ground grits were creamy and flavorful, and the shrimp were delicious! Perfectly done. Excellent food, service, decor. 12/31/16 On a rainy New Year's Day, we got reservations for 4. I had never been here before, and I was impressed with the decor on first entering. There are a couple of rooms, and a cool bar area, nice entryway with a beautiful tree. The wait staff were dressed in suits....just classy. We started with drinks and service was excellent. My Stoli and tonic with lime was delish. There is a server for drinks, and one for food. Everything looked good on the menu. We all chose items from the Table D'Hote menu. 3 courses with 3 or 4 choices in each course. I got an additional Roasted Beet Salad. THE FOOD: My appetizer was New Orleans Seafood Gumbo. They bring a serving of rice in a bowl, and pour the gumbo on top at tableside so the rice doesn't get soggy. Tasty shrimp, rich seafood flavor...a great starter, and sooooo muy sabor. The girl who would be my girlfriend had Savory Gorgonzola Cheesecake, described as: Gorgonzola prosciutto terrine, McIlhenny farms honeyed pecans, crispy prosciutto and slices of tart green apple. Beautiful on the plate, and I gotta say, after tasting it, beautiful on the palate. Savory is right. The gorgonzola was subtle and tasteful. Loved it. She did too. The Roasted Beet Salad had just a few cuts of roasted beets on Bibb lettuce with shaved sweet onion and goat cheese with horseradish vinaigrette. Fresh ingredients, nice lettuce, too few beets, and I didn't taste the cheese or vinaigrette much. My entree was the Double Cut Pork Chop. Wood grilled and topped with a Louisiana sugar cane apple glaze, served with pecan candied sweet potatoes and southern style greens. The pork chop was a little under done, so I sent it back for a little extra cook. The glaze crisped up nicely and it had a ton of tastiness. The sweet potatoes were superb and sweet with Pecan bits. Loved them and the greens. The girl who would be my girlfriend had the Coq Au Vin, which I tried....and another home run. Tremendous flavor. The dessert entree I ordered the Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. It was very good. Crisp top. But the hit for the desserts was the Flourless Chocolate Cake with creme anglaise & raspberry coulis. Sooo rich, and delicious. I recommend it highly. Overall, all 4 of us had great courses, a great time. The staff is wonderful and attentive. The men's room is clean. The bar area looks nice. Great location. I would have given 4.5 stars except for the underdone chop, and so-so salad. But it's a great place and I will...

This was the absolute BEST meal I had in New Orleans! We made a reservation for the jazz brunch on our last day in the city, and I was not prepared for what a treat this turned out to be.

The atmosphere was alive in this beautiful restaurant that I later learned was restored to reflect the style of a previous owner who is known to actively haunt the property. It was like stepping into the salon of a wealthy aristocrat of the 18th century in the French quarter.

The 3 piece band was wonderful. They would go from table to table and play something special for you after learning a little about you. I like zydeco music, and they knew exactly what to play in an instant. It seemed that each table had a runner and a server, which meant that your drinks never went empty for long, and you always had someone available to help, if needed.

I had the gumbo for an appetizer, which was delicious, but it was the shrimp and grits for my main course that honestly blew me away. It was so good, I almost didn't want to eat it because then it would be gone forever. I thought I had already had my best meal at the Palace Cafe earlier in my trip, but this dish is truly magnificent. The flavors are distinct but not aggressive. The grits were the creamiest I've ever had, and the shrimp were huge. It is absolutely worth the price. It was so good, I don't even remember how much it cost but it was worth more than what I paid.

As if the meal wasn't good enough, the manager Drew stopped by our table and introduced himself. He checked on us periodically and he was the one who told us about the famous stories of the restaurant, it's history and its ghost, Pierre. He brought us some leaflets with a more detailed explanation of the history of the property and its surprising list of owners over the centuries and then told us that upstairs is a beautiful (and huge) balcony we were welcome to sit at as well as a bar and seance room which turned out to be the absolute most beautifully decorated room I have ever had the privilege to be in. The art upstairs was stunning, and every unique detail was clearly crafted to create the complete experience, and boy did it deliver.

To be honest, it was hard to leave Muriel's. The hospitality was everything I had always heard about in the South. Right down to the warm plates.

If you read this Drew, thank you so much for making this so much more than just another meal in a random restaurant. It is one of my most cherished memories from my vacation and I wouldn't have known if you hadn't been so kind to us. And thank you Pierre for having such exquisite taste in your brief but dramatic life.

I will absolutely be back and I've recommended it to anyone...

Muriel's Restaurant: A Taste of New Orleans Excellence

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Muriel's Restaurant in the heart of Jackson Square, New Orleans. My partner and I opted for the tasting menu, eager to sample a variety of the restaurant's offerings.

The house salad with vinaigrette was a solid start, though not particularly memorable. However, the real star of the appetizers was the shrimp crepes. They were an unexpected delight, bursting with flavor and perfectly executed. I'd highly recommend giving these a try - they're a testament to the kitchen's skill and creativity.

For the main course, I savored the shrimp and grits, a classic New Orleans dish that Muriel's executed with finesse. The flavors were rich and satisfying, embodying the essence of Southern comfort food. My partner's double cut pork chop was the highlight of our meal. The meat was cooked to perfection, with a flavorful BBQ sear on the outside while remaining juicy and tender within. While delicious as is, we both agreed that substituting the potatoes with a creamy puree would elevate the dish even further.

The meal concluded on a high note with a creme brûlée dessert, garnished with fresh fruit. It was a classic, well-executed finish to our culinary journey.

One minor drawback was the price point. With a bottle of wine, the bill was a bit higher than anticipated. However, considering the quality of the food and the rich, authentic New Orleans flavors we experienced, it was ultimately worth the investment.

As someone who values innovation and attention to detail in my own work, I appreciate these qualities in other fields. Muriel's demonstrates a commitment to culinary excellence. The restaurant's ability to balance traditional New Orleans cuisine with creative twists.

In conclusion, Muriel's offers a dining experience that captures the essence of New Orleans cuisine. While it may be a splurge, it's an excellent choice for those seeking to immerse themselves in the flavors of the Big Easy. Muriel's delivers a transformative culinary experience that lingers in your memory long after the meal is over.

4.5 out of 5 stars (Google does not allow .5 stars) - A must-visit for food enthusiasts in...