NOLA Southern Grill — Restaurant in Slidell

So, rolling through Cajun country I had to make a pitstop. Luckily for me, my picker was spot on. Don't know why it doesn't work on NFL Sunday, But on this Sunday I came across the NOLA Southern Grill. This place delivered 100 percent. The atmosphere was upbeat and casual. I was greeted as soon as I walked in, which was very welcoming, and Immediately, I saw what I was needing.. the BAR. I asked to be seated next to the tap. It was a long drive from Texas and being hot outside, I was thirsty and wanted a cold craft beer, so I asked for something local..lol. and right away was seated and introduced to the bartender, the waitress said that's "Handsome" What? She repeated HANDSOME ! so, of course, I said thank you! No, no no.. that's his name.. the bartender!! OHH Okay well, that's fine by me and We both laughed, So Handsome quickly served a tall local draft and a menu. Next up Oysters!! A dozen with parmesan cheese oven roasted with garlic and butter sauce..fresh homemade bread, was over-the-top delicious. Not far from where I was seated, I was watching the Chef sending out these amazing Sunday brunch plates, and I had to have one. I asked for SHRIMP AND GRITS and almost immediately, the Chef turned and grinned with a huge smile and I swear we made a connection, we both gave the thumbs-up, at the same time, and right then I knew I was in for something great. GET READY TO EAT is all I heard.. my plate in front of me I stared down at this masterpiece, Next thing I know I was seated next to Jesus and my plate was clean " Oh my lord " was the only thing I could muster to say. I was about to slip off into a food coma expecting to wake up in Heaven. It was Close, it was Chef Alfred coming over to check on me, knowing his down-home cooking knocked me out for the count. I swear if I lived in Louisiana l would have to roll myself out and At 5ft nothing I'd probably turn into a big ol' boudin ball. NOLA SOUTHERN GRILL is 100 baby. Thank you, Chef Alfred and Handsome.. 👌 thank you for the love 🍻 and the hospitality and the...

I normally visit Slidell several times a year, and I always eat at Copeland’s, but this past Friday, I decided to check out NOLA Southern Grill, in keeping with one of my resolutions in wanting to try new places and things. I thought with “NOLA” and “Grill” in the name that it surely would be good.

When I was seated, I told my server, who was very nice, that it was my first time here, and I that I was in the mood for a burger.

I ordered the one with the bacon and pulled pork. It sounded incredible! I also ordered a small margarita.

It seemed as if people had been waiting a while, but I was okay with that, as my server did check on me a couple of times.

When the burger arrived, it looked delicious! There were plenty of fries, and they have a delicious Cajun ranch, which I used as a dip for my fries.

After several bites, I noticed that my burger wasn’t hot, now it wasn’t cold either, just kind of warm. I took off the bacon and pulled pork, and when I looked at the burger, it was rare to even raw in the middle.

Being in the hospitality industry myself, I was a little surprised at what followed. Now I had only had three bites, more than half the burger was still there, but I was only offered a dessert, not a remake, not a portion of my meal being comped, nothing to fix the burger situation itself, just a dessert!

I was almost sick at my stomach thinking I had consumed meat that wasn’t fully cooked, so I declined the dessert.

And then... my margarita came! After I was basically through with my meal. I thought she’d forgotten about it, and I wasn’t even going to mention it...

The fries and ranch were good, but this was a terrible situation with this burger. I wasn’t mad, I just expected a better, more just outcome, or at least an offer to remake it or bring me something comparable, but to merely be offered a dessert was almost insulting, as I had been looking forward to...

My first time eating here, the waitress sat us, but due to another customer making us feel uncomfortable, I asked could we be moved. Once we moved it seems that's where the waitress had a little attitude, I don't believe she was that friendly from the beginning, but she definitely wasn't after. The food took a fairly long time to get to us, but that wasn't the issue. The waitress had never come back to check on us, to see if we needed anything during our long wait. I kept trying to get her attention for a refill and she never looked our way, mind you by the time we had gotten our food, the restaurant was pretty much empty; this was like 2 in the afternoon. While sitting I did notice the guys don't wear hair nets in the kitchen, but that wasn't my biggest issue. I ate here Friday and on Sunday, going into Monday; I got really sick. I will not blame this establishment for my being sick, only because it was Mardi Gras weekend and this was not the only place I ate that weekend. However, this was the only place new I tried. So, if you're reading this, use your best judgement. I did ask for a second bowl of gumbo and the waitress said, when she finally came back, that they were waiting on something with the seafood, maybe to defrost or something like that. The seafood in the second bowl of gumbo did look a little suspect but again I can't say if that is what made me sick but again this is the only new place I tried. I tried to look for the server's name but misplaced my receipt, but when I find it, I will revisit this review, because I've never had a waitress who never comes to check on her table and seem so uninterested in waiting us. Overall, I just wanted to leave an honest review, and I will never visit this...