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.
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!
Mar 3, 2026
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One of my absolute top spots on the island. From the warm, impeccable service (special shoutout to Chris), to the well?stocked bar & spot?on cocktails, to-most importantly-the magic coming out of Chef Richard's kitchen, everything is a 10/10. Portions are generous, every dish hits exactly how you want it to, & I genuinely dream about the shrimp & grits. No notes.
'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 !!
I had the jerk shrimp with grits, I thought it wouldn't be filling but turned out to be a good portion. The mac n cheese lacked seasoning it was not what I expected but tasted like homemade.
Dec 20, 2025
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Went for a dinner on a Sunday night. Making the reservation was easy & service was great. I have dined here before & the food is consistently delicious. We ordered the bao buns, mac & cheese, & shrimp & grits.
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.
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.
Had dinner last night November 19th
Me & my friend . Wished I'd remembered the servers name cause he was amazing 😀
The service was spectacular!!!!Food was above my expectations & I've been to New Orleans ♥?
We had cat fish tacos, shrimp & grits & octopus with black rice. I don't even like rice, but I ate every bite. We finished with my guilty pleasure bread pudding. To DIE FOR.
Check it out!!!! You won't be disappointed
Nov 20, 2025
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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 $65 tasters menus on Sundays. Laissez les bon temps roullez!
I'm at a loss for words, but if a six-star rating were possible, I would eagerly bestow it upon this restaurant. As a diner known for being exceedingly finicky, I'm thrilled to report that I couldn't detect a single misstep. To genuinely appreciate this establishment, one must have a taste for Cajun cuisine. The atmosphere is remarkable, the service is top-notch, & our waiter, Chris, provided exemplary service with a lively atmosphere. During our visit, we had the hush puppies, house bread, smoked brisket, & shrimp gumbo
We will be returning for our anniversary in Novembe
Oct 24, 2025
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One of the best restaurants my husband & I have ever been to. The food blows my mind with the rich flavours & amazing ingredients. I am blown away every time I come here.
The staff goes above & beyond & the owner is charming & welcoming.
Top meals: octopus with black rice, lobster mango avocado salad, brisket, shrimp in creole sauce. I've never had grits but it's now my favorite thing to eat.The beignets are mouth watering & a must order!
Please take this review with a grain of salt - or cayenne pepper.
Went there on a Friday night with a reservation. The greeting was warm & friendly & the music was upbeat but subtle. Our waiter came promptly & took the time to answer questions about the menu then took our order.
My wife eas very specific about the spice levels & took the information from the waiter into consideration in making her selection.
The apetizers came within 15 minutes & the crab cake was outstanding. The gumbo on the other hand was 80% rice & beyond spicy. There were 3 small pieces of sausage.
The main dishes took an hour to arrive. The fish which was supposed to be mild was spicy. The shrimp was great but ultra spicy.
Because of the delay no time for dessert.
The drink we ordered was great.
Nearly 200$ with tax & tip for 2 appetizer 2 mains & 1 drink.
Disappointed.
5/5 would visit again. I wasn't impressed with the crab cake appetizer. I enjoyed the shrimp & grits. The food surpassed the service. The waitress did not check in often so that meant getting our bill took a long time.
Absolutely spectacular! From the service to the food. Only two really minor things. The ambience was nice though to cancel out a bit of the ambient noise the might turn their great soundtrack up. Also my friend was lacking water though with only two on staff, it was a Wednesday after all, kindof understandable. But the food!! OMG THE FOOD!!! Five very satisfied customers. Duck confit, Mac & cheese, Jambalaya balls, mussels, short ribs, brisket & creole shrimp!! All to die for! Doggie bags please! & it will not go to the dog!!
Just went a second time. One again blown away. Sitting outside on a warm summer night is a bonus! Again, excellent food, sooo tasty, ambiance is better outside where it's not too noisy. Service was wonderful left us alone when we didn't raise our heads & came promptly when signalled. Bravo!!
We visited Bistro Nolah, a refined restaurant inspired by the rich & soulful cuisine of New Orleans, Louisiana. The name'Nolah' is a nod to NOLA (New Orleans, LA), & it's a fitting tribute-the flavors truly capture the spirit of the region.
The space is small & cozy, with a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. The lively background noise adds to the charm, creating a warm & animated dining experience without feeling overwhelming.
The menu is compact, but each dish is thoughtfully crafted. We began with the jambalaya arancini, served with a deliciously spicy sauce that lingered pleasantly on the palate.
For our main courses, we had the smoked brisket-exceptionally tender & beautifully seasoned-& the shrimp & grits. The shrimp had a bold, spicy profile, perfectly balanced by the smooth, comforting grit. Each bite was both satisfying & refined.
To finish, we shared the banana cheesecake flambéed with Jack Daniel's-rich, indulgent, & the perfect finale.
Bistro Nolah offers a more upscale dining experience, & while it comes at a higher cost, the quality, attention to detail, & overall atmosphere make it well worth it. I would gladly recommend it for a special occasion or a memorable evening out.
