Nola
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New Orleans-themed spot offering Creole fare in a 3-floor space reminiscent of the French Quarter.
attractions: Stanford Shopping Center, Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel, Apple Palo Alto, Watercourse Way Bath House Spa, Bloomingdale's, The Westin Palo Alto, Stanford Theatre, Anthropologie, Patagonia, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, restaurants: Palo Alto Creamery, Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine, Evvia Estiatorio, Ramen Nagi, Reposado, The Patio @ Rudy's, Oren's Hummus, Local Union 271, Coupa Cafe - Ramona, Cafe Venetia
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Description
New Orleans-themed spot offering Creole fare in a 3-floor space reminiscent of the French Quarter.
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MUST TRY RESTAURANT IN PALO ALTO! 🦀🦐🤤 @nolapaloalto serves up some DELICIOUS food! so glad i finally made the drive out to try them out because seriously everything i tired i was a fan! I gotta say though, the cheesy crab garlic bread & the mac and cheese were show stoppers! i love me some carbs and crab so you already know im all over that. 😋 Such a fun spot to hang with friends, eat good, and grab some draaank 🍹. Soo worth checking out! Let me know if y’all have tried and what you think 😍 ••• #foodie #nola #neworleans #neworleansfood #paloalto #paloaltoeats #paloaltofood #sffoodie #sanfrancisco #bayareafoodie #bayarearestaurants #bayareafood #bayareaeats #eatwithsie #foodstagram #seafood #southbayfood #eastbayfood #gumbo #jambalaya
eatwithsieeatwithsie
13.1K275
NOLA is a charismatic and lively restaurant in downtown Palo Alto. The interior decor was busy with some interesting artwork and various other knick knacks occupying most of the space on the walls. The restaurant seemed fairly popular with most tables occupied, but we didn't have any issues getting a reservation on short notice for a Friday night. For our meals, we decided to start with 3 of their small plates. We tried the "Crispy Hot Chicken Sliders", "Mama's Mac and Cheese" and "The Devil's Eggs". Our favorite of the 3 were the "Crispy Hot Chicken Sliders", which were not too hot as their name suggests. They were however very tasty with the chicken having a nice crispy coating and a sweet and slightly hot sauce. We also really enjoyed the "Mama's Mac and Cheese" which had a creamy and tasty cheese sauce though we also didn't detect much heat from the cayenne in this dish. "The Devil's Eggs" were the one starter dish that did have a detectable heat to them, but still not too spicy. They were otherwise pretty standard deviled eggs, though we enjoyed them. We moved on to main courses for which I ordered the "Spicy Jumbalaya" and chose the "spicy" level of heat when asked. My fiancee ordered the "Churrasca Steak Tacos" and "NOLA Frites". The "Spicy Jumbalaya" had some fairly tasty prawns included, but was otherwise fairly lackluster and once again the level of heat was pretty disappointing, as it was virtually non-existent. In retrospect, I certainly would have went with the "smokin' hot" level of heat, since "spicy" was seriously underwhelming. My fiancee really enjoyed the "NOLA Frites" and was pleasantly surprised with the tasty variety included. The tacos, she rated as mediocre. Admittedly, she was a bit full by this time and only ate 1 out of 2 of the tacos, but she didn't think there was anything particularly noteworthy about them. Overall, the meal was mostly tasty and satisfying. The level of heat in much of the dishes was a bit disappointing to me personally. If you're a fan of spicy dishes, I would definitely recommend selecting the highest level of heat on the dishes where they offer the choice. We will likely return to try some additional dishes and maybe dessert which we passed on during our first visit.
Ryan WagnerRyan Wagner
00
A Lively Spot in Palo Alto – Nola Delivers on Flavor and Fun Nola in Palo Alto offers a delightful taste of New Orleans, with a vibrant atmosphere, great food, and delicious cocktails. While it may not be a must-visit spot, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area and craving some bold flavors in a lively setting. The ambiance at Nola is one of its biggest draws. The colorful decor and artwork create an energetic vibe that’s perfect for a night out with friends or a casual dinner. Each dining area has its own unique character, from the art-filled interiors to the cozy rooftop space, making the environment fun and engaging. The menu offers a solid range of Creole and Cajun-inspired dishes. The steak was a highlight—cooked just right, tender, and full of flavor. It’s a satisfying choice for meat lovers. The jambalaya skillet is another dish that stood out, with its rich, smoky flavors and a nice blend of chicken, sausage, and shrimp. It’s hearty and comforting, exactly what you’d expect from a good jambalaya. The New Orleans BBQ prawns were delicious, with a sauce that had just the right amount of tang and spice. They were cooked perfectly, retaining their natural sweetness. The crispy chicken sliders were a hit too, offering a nice contrast of textures and a tangy sauce that added a pleasant kick. The Firecracker Cajun pasta brought a good level of heat without being overwhelming, and the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente. It’s a dish that satisfies, especially if you enjoy a bit of spice in your meal. As for the cocktails, they were well-crafted and complemented the food nicely. Whether you’re into classic drinks or something a bit more adventurous, the bar at Nola has you covered. Overall, Nola is a solid choice for a casual meal with friends or family. While it might not be a must-visit, the combination of flavorful food, a lively atmosphere, and tasty cocktails makes it a fun option in Palo Alto. It’s an enjoyable experience that earns a respectable four stars.
Rajesh RamchandaniRajesh Ramchandani
00
I visited NOLA restaurant for the first time since the pandemic struck and I was extremely impressed. Nola has a large and well-spaced parklet directly in front of it’s doors. There are a variety of seating options on the parlet and each most are covered with an umbrella, which makes the outdoor seating extremely comfortable. There is no parking on the street that Nola is located on because it’s been shut down to allow for parlets and outdoor eating. Overall, the quality of food and experience was a positive. I ordered the following: “crabamole, cornbread, Cajun spiced fries, and two tacos (steak and carnitas). The best dishes were the Cajun spiced fries with came with chipotle aoli and the steak taco. When I consider what left MUCH TO BE DESIRED, it would have to be the cornbread. The cornbread is listed under “shareable” menu items, and the portion isn’t bad. The recipe is strange because it’s not highlighted on the menu. When you take a bite into the cornbread, you immediately notice the small pieces of actual corn (like corn on the cob) baked into the cornbread. This is not normal and it doesn’t taste good. Strangely enough; when I asked my server, “why is there corn in the cornbread, she said, because it’s cornbread.” Again, this isn’t normal and it isn’t good. Next, the crabomole, which is exactly like it sounds. It comes with house chips, and this item is pretty good. I wish the crab meat was hotter and mixed into the guacamole. Instead the crab meat, just set on top of the guacamole. Overall, it’s pretty good. Now the steak taco is amazing!!! It comes on two small soft shell tortillas and it’s extremely flavorful. My only issue with this is that it’s $5 bucks for one small taco. Lastly, the Cajun spiced fries are AWESOME and definitely worth that try!! If you’re ever in Palo Alto, and you’re hungry, give Nola a try!!!
RBRB
10
I’ve been dying to try Nola for a long time, and I have to say that my biggest regret is not going sooner! As someone who spent time living in the South, and who has a deep love of New Orleans, I had certain expectations when I came to Nola for the first time. What I did not expect was the ambiance and the setting to really reflect the crescent city in such an authentic way. Sure, there’s a little kitsch, but in some ways that’s what makes it feel real. Sitting in the courtyard was almost a direct parallel to a restaurant I had eaten at a few years ago in the French Quarter. Beyond the setting, I settled in for some basics: gumbo and po boys. The crawfish gumbo really hit, and it satisfied the southern comfort food craving. My husband and I got the blackened salmon and the Bang Bang Shrimp po boys -and both were out of this world. They seem simple, but it’s the nuanced flavors that make them feel authentic. It was like being back on Bourbon St, for real! The cocktails too were excellent! The hurricane had this really beautiful maple-y undertone that I really loved, and the violet hour cocktail was dangerously delicious. Highly recommend both! My only note is that, like with many businesses, Covid has disjointed the ‘southern charm’ from the service a little bit. It’s a shame because there were so many delicious sounding options on the menu, we could have used a guide to weigh in on favorite dishes, and make recommendations, things like that. This is not really a criticism (5 stars either way!) so much as a note to help other guests set their expectations surrounding service as the business adapts and protects employees from Covid.
Justin LiebertJustin Liebert
10
Really terrible and overpriced food. The only part that was okay was my drink, the Nola hurricane. Maybe that's their strategy - hope you drink enough that their overpriced and less-than-mediocre food feels acceptable. I had the New Orleans BBQ prawns - you get 4 normal sized shrimp and 4 pieces of stale tasteless bread with some okay sauce for $18, which is so so outrageous. It is so little food. My boyfriend had the chicken and waffles - the food arrived lukewarm, and it's sad that they call what they served fried chicken. It is breaded at best, and honestly tastes like they microwaved it (and not even for long enough). The waffles are worse than toaster waffles, and the "maple syrup" they served it with was like water. Annnnnd that was $24. Just honestly so so unacceptable, don't come here unless it's for just the drinks - and only the alcoholic ones, my bf's Crescent City Cooler just tasted like sour old lemonade. Also since they use a QR order and pay system (which I usually love), there was really no one who cared about how our food was. Honestly so so disappointed - don't come here, there's lots of other great options in the Palo Alto area.
Cheyenne SelbyCheyenne Selby
10
Nearby Attractions Of Nola
Stanford Shopping Center
Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel
Apple Palo Alto
Watercourse Way Bath House Spa
Bloomingdale's
The Westin Palo Alto
Stanford Theatre
Anthropologie
Patagonia
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto
Stanford Shopping Center
4.5
(4.6K)Click for details
Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel
4.1
(949)Click for details
Apple Palo Alto
4.1
(765)Click for details
Watercourse Way Bath House Spa
4.7
(625)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Nola
Palo Alto Creamery
Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine
Evvia Estiatorio
Ramen Nagi
Reposado
The Patio @ Rudy's
Oren's Hummus
Local Union 271
Coupa Cafe - Ramona
Cafe Venetia
Palo Alto Creamery
4.4
(1.1K)Click for details
Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine
4.1
(1.2K)Click for details
Evvia Estiatorio
4.6
(1K)Click for details
Ramen Nagi
4.6
(1.4K)Click for details
Reviews
Overview
4.4
(1.6K reviews)
Phone
(650) 328-2722
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Website
nolas.com
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