We named our restaurant Bistro Nolah, an acronym for New Orleans, out of a love for the style of comfort food they serve down south. This style of food will be the inspiration behind some of the dishes we will be serving at Nolah.
Bistro Nolah is described as a warm, intimate spot with a small but lively dining room and a vibe that nods to New Orleans. The food receives high praise across the board, with standout dishes including gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, brisket, catfish, hush puppies, bread pudding, and beignets, noted for rich flavors, generous portions, and thoughtful presentation. Brunch is a major draw, offering inventive southern favorites and a few guests calling it among the best, though the restaurant can be busy and reservations are often advised due to limited space. The service is repeatedly described as attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, contributing to an overall welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel like a special occasion without being overly formal. Several reviews mention a charming interior and, in good weather, a terrace experience that enhances the mood. Occasional notes of spice balance and timing show that the kitchen can be very busy on weekends, with a few patrons noting long waits or specific dishes that could have more heat or variety. Overall, Bistro Nolah is seen as a top choice for southern comfort cuisine in Montreal, delivering consistent quality, strong hospitality, and a dining experience that fans are eager to repeat.
Went to Bistro Nola for Breakfast on Sunday. I didnt have reservations. I sat at the bar. The food was very very good. I was surprised they didnt have fresh squeezed orange juice, & charged $7 for Tropicana OJ, but everything else was stellar. I had the Le Richard. 2 pieces of Fried chicken on French toast...a poached egg on a corn bread muffin, & some ham underneath the muffin, with home fries. Very good. Cooked perfectly.
They have a very well stocked bar too, good scotches & rums. I'm surprised Kalhua for their coffee liqueur, vs Barista from Montreal, very coffee forward coffee liqueur, vs Kalhua. But just offering suggestions.
The brunch was absolutely delicious, n flavourful even my kids loved the pancakes n fried chicken. A sweet charm of a place. Only small issue was that because the place is small i felt a bit rushed towards the end for other reservations. I will definately be going back for dinner & brunches.
Mar 21, 2026
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I absolutely enjoyed every single meal at Bistro Nolah! First of all, I had no reservations & was assuming I could just show up & be seated as it might not be too busy on a Sunday night but to my surprise it was full! Regardless & irrespective of the fact that I was not expecting them to accommodate us, they were able to make it work! The service was great & the food was even better. Everything was so hot & fresh when it came out. We started with the Mac & cheese, fried chicken, jambalaya & gumbo. Everything was delicious, I found the gumbo a little strong on flavour for my preference but the fried chicken was decadent. Perfect amount of chicken to batter ratio, very fresh & delicious honey glaze to top it off. For mains, we went with the jerk shrimp grits & braised short ribs. Both were delicious! Lastly, for dessert we enjoyed the bread pudding which was also delicious! Overall I would go back over & over just for the amazing food & service. It was beautiful to experience a little bit of NOLA here in Montreal!
'Nolah is a total showstopper! The interior is absolutely beautiful-elegant enough for a special occasion but with a warmth that makes you feel right at home.
We started with the Sausage Gumbo, & the rich, dark roux was perfectly authentic. If you're a fan of Shrimp & Grits, their Charleston-style version is a must-try; the mascarpone-infused grits are incredibly creamy. Masha loved her ribs, & my Buttermilk Fried Chicken had the perfect balance of tenderness & a heavy-duty crunch.
We finished with the Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce (an absolute essential) & some airy, powdered sugar-dusted Beignets. It was easily one of the best Creole meals we've had. Highly recommended!'
1st time experience with my girlfriend & her husband. Was recommended by a co-worker & drove from the east end to try this spot.
WOW!!! EVERYTHING was on point! The blackened catfish, the fried chicken & the Creole shrimp plates were extraordinary. The grits are so good, creamy & rich with a mascarpone cheese.
I'm a critique when it comes to taste & quality. All 3 of us were in AWE. Aw wonderful experience for the taste buds.
We shared the bread pudding with the bourbon sauce. OMG
We will definitely be back for the terrasse in the summer 😊
No photos for food. We simply enjoyed the culinary experience !!
Simply delicious! From the entrées, to the mains, & finishing with the desserts you simply can't go wrong.
If I were to criticize anything it would be their chocolate torte (-0.5 star), not very chocolatey (sadly a complete letdown) when compared to the Mississippi mud cake which was devine!
Chris, our waiter was excellent!
I wanted to go back & called to make a reservation & was informed that they only do reservations online & it requires a credit card to do so. (-0.5 star)
2025-05-02
Went back & had another good meal. Chris was again our waiter & was great! Even my children enjoyed the food! The staff are friendly.
The only complaint with our meal would have been the fried chicken. It was super juicy, but not crispy at all.
Update
Went for another meal & it sadly did not live up to previous visits. Not sure we'll be going back.
The food here is always incredible. So much flavor & really good quality. The restaurant is small & I think this adds to its charm as a must eat place in the West Island & perhaps the whole city! We had the shrimp Creole & the shrimp with grits & they were both deliciously seasoned & beautifully plated. We had the fried chicken as a starter & it was juicy, tender & just the right amount of sweet & spicy.
Dec 13, 2025
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X-cellent. Period. Lobster, shrimp'salad' ain't a salad, eats like one of best tartares around. Superb gumbo, crab cakes, oysters, bread, fried chicken, jambalaya, desserts etc etc...Plenty of parking, great staff, brunch equally good....one of best in west, enjoy. We do.
Definitely a place to try in the West Island! Very unique Southern style meals & appetizers to choose from. I would recommend the fried chicken appetizer it was delicious! For the main courses, we got the jerk shrimp & grits & the braised ribs. Everything was delicious & not overly spicy. Great service from Chris & very nice atmosphere in the whole restaurant!! Reservations are definitely needed as the restaurant is small inside. Would recommend this place to anyone !
We went on Saturday & ordered the hush puppies, shrimp creole, fried chicken, & Mississippi mud pie for dessert. I had the Hurricaine cocktail. Everything was delicious!! The staff is really friendly & attentive. Great place to eat!
I've spent a fair amount of time living in New Orleans & was trained to be a half decent Creole cook for large groups. Needless to say, these experiences made me very good at recognizing what is quality Creole & Cajun cuisine (& yes, there is a difference between the two). I would say that this was probably one of the closest that I've had comparing to what I've I've enjoyed in New Orleans & definitely a noteworthy meal in itself on its own merits, especially when comparing this place to 20 years of seeking & hunting down Cajun & Creole restaurants across Canada. The gumbo is more Creole than Cajun & I don't mind that a bit, as it with some really nice Smokey undertones. The fried Chicken was spot on & the spicy Creole shrimp was an absolutely. The jambalaya was decent & I really enjoyed the Hush puppies. The duck confit was absolutely perfect. It was very well seasoned, incredibly tender, & fabulously tasty notes throughout. My creole shrimp was nicely spicy & tender & paired nicely with the jambalaya, though there could have been a little bit more kick to the jambalaya. My father's smoked brisket was also nicely tender & topped with an assortment of mushrooms & such which gave it a nice variation on textures. The brisket was of course cooked perfectly. & of course, while it might have been more customary to have the bread pudding, it had been years since I had professionally made beignets & this was one opportunity I wasn't going to miss under any circumstances. Very nicely done. My standard of comparison is with Café Du Monde which is A very high standard to match as I would spend literally every morning in New Orleans enjoying my early breakfast of their their coffee with a plate of beignets before work. I didn't even blink at the bill & neither did my parents who are normally quite economy minded, which means that they thoroughly enjoyed the meal so much so much that they thought it was an absolute steal. Considering that my mom is a foodie who had her first experience with Cajun by having a full formal dinner at the commander's Palace in Nola, his restaurant had a lot to live up to to match her standards & they exceeded it easily. I visit Montreal about twice a year & this will very likely be one of my regular stops in my trips especially as I have to try their $65 tasters menus on Sundays. Laissez les bon temps roullez!
Oct 27, 2025
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Our brunch at Bistro Nolah was an absolute delight, enjoyed on their charming outdoor terrace. The dishes were nothing short of extraordinary-we indulged in the exquisite surf & turf Benedict & the perfectly crisp fried chicken Benedict, complemented by a half plate of ham egg Benedict & a decadent side of praline bacon. Each bite showcased high-quality ingredients & impeccable presentation, making for an unforgettable experience.
It is an unforgettable & amazing experience from appetizer to dessert. We had Jambalaya & Southern fried chicken as appetizers. We had southern style beef short rib & Duck Conflict in dirty rice as main. We had Banana Pecan Cheesecake & Bread Pudding in Bourbon sauce as dessert. We emptied everything & we will definitely visit again.
Six (6) of us had wonderful & very tasty'New Orleans-Style Cuisine' dishes at Bistro Nolah. We were immediately seated for our 20h30 reservation; the earliest we could get for our larger group. Our server greeted us & brought menu's, the wine list, filled our water glasses & spent a few minutes explaining some of the entrees & then brought us hot buns with a slightly spiced spread all within minutes of us being seated & allowing us a few minutes to review the menus & the chalk board. Those of us who ordered salads found them ample & plenty for two to share. Dishes ordered ranged from mussels, lamb shank, creole shrimp, fried chicken & the braised short ribs. Everyone said their meals were delish. Most definitely a return visit is on our'Menu'!
Apr 27, 2025
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Second time going, this time for brunch. It was a nice brunch, but menu not available online to know what you're getting. Menu also does not include lighter options that are on the healthier side, ex no omelettes or lighter fare. Fried chicken, fish tacos, briskette (which was a little too spicy for breakfast & the menu didn't indicate a spice level). More of a lunch than a brunch. The fried chicken was outstanding however & so was the French toast. Also very filling, unlike their dinner menu which serves up smaller portions.
Laid-back atmosphere, great food, & great service. Jambalaya balls & sausage gumbo are an appetiser must. Lots of great main dishes like shrimps & grits, blackened catfish, fried chicken chorizo, & brisket mac & cheese. For dessert, try the beignets & the key-lime pie.
Didn't have any reservations on a weekend & was quickly accommodated. Service was very good & the atmosphere was lively. The food was a let down. The jambalaya rice balls were missing a punch & pretty dry. The hush puppies were bland, the sauce that it came with made up for it. The crabe cake was meaty but it had a very strong smell to it. The fried chicken was ok but not crispy. It's sad that they use already peeled shrimps for the shrimp & grits. In any case I'd come back for the service we received in hopes of having a better experience food wise.
I can't recommend this place enough. It has been my wife's & my favorite date night spot since we found it many years ago. The food & service are always exceptional. Tonight my wife had the blackened shrimp, fried chicken(main dish) & Mississippi mud pie & I had the friend chicken(appetizer), brisket mac & cheese & key lime pie(best I have ever had). All our food was delicious & I can't wait for the next time we are able to go :)
Absolutely delicious food. Attended with a party of 6. The service was very attentive. Everyone enjoyed their meal but the standout items were the fried chicken & bourbon shrimp. Will have to come back & try their brunch.
