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 went for dinner with my husband last night & wanted to try this restaurant for the first time. We were pleasantly surprised that there actually was a good number of options for gluten-free food as my husband cannot eat gluten. Overall, they do not have a massive menu selection to choose from, but in this case I think it's quality over quantity (a very good thing) - the items they do have on the menu they can really focus on making sure it comes out with great quality: excellent presentation, flavor, etc. The alcoholic beverages (cocktails) are very pricy but do taste great & aren't watered down. The overall ambiance of the place is cozy & the noise level is acceptable for a bar-restaurant. However, had I known better, I would not sit at the table which is directly under the AC unit again (it drips a lil bit of condensation) - that was the only minor issue I had with the whole experience (& kinda my fault for picking the spot before realizing about the AC dripping). Bistro Nolah - if you guys are reading this, maybe move that particular table a bit further out from the wall so the AC unit cannot drip on the table directly below it. The staff are friendly, welcoming, helpful in answering any questions we had about the food, attentive (checking if everything is to our liking, asking if we need/want anything else, etc. at reasonable intervals), & also bilingual which I appreciated (I do speak/understand a bit of basic French, but English is still my main language). We were provided with 1 bread roll per person with their special chipotle butter (? I think) & I got to enjoy both 😅 (I did feel a bit bad for my husband missing out). For appetizers, my husband got a creamy corn soup & I got the boneless fried chicken. The corn soup was creamy, savory & refreshing (I took a lil taste test) & the chicken was fried to perfection - tender & crispy with a nice sweet & mildly spicy sauce drizzled on it. For the main entrée, we both went for the Beef Short Ribs with mashed sweet potato & vegetables which we both enjoyed. For dessert, my husband got the gluten-free Chocolate Torte, & I went for another round of the boneless fried chicken as strange as that might be (I'm trying to eat less sweets & the chicken was just too good for me to not to get seconds). I wanted to give my compliments/thanks to the chef(s) at the end because I was very impressed with how delicious everything was. We had an enjoyable evening here & would recommend this cozy lil bar-restaurant.
Absolutely blown away by the quality of the food! From the moment we stepped into the venue the service from our waiter was outstanding, explaining the different dishes in great detail. The food is just in a different class by itself. Chef Richard truly makes every item on your plate mouthwatering good, let aside the presentation which is top notch. I can't remember having ever been so flabbergasted by a restaurant as by bistro Nola today. This place deserves a michelin star!
Jun 15, 2024
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I've been hearing nothing but great things about this place for a while & the ratings were quite high, but my level of disappointment, even higher. People claim it's extremely authentic Cajun food, as do the people who work there; nothing could be further from the truth. Service was fine, atmosphere was okay as well, however, the food left much to be desired. We ordered three different appetizers consisting of the fried chicken, the gumbo, & the pork bellies. I can't say that any one of them had any kind of an authentic Cajun flavor, & the chicken wasn't even on par with PFK, which is just basic fast food. It was served with some type of a honey glaze & it wasn't tender, just overcooked & crusty. The pork bellies were nothing to write home about either, not great tasting & the texture left much to be desired. I had high hopes for the gumbo, but it had a strangely familiar flavor, anything but Cajun & anything but good. Finally, we ordered the brisket... & it was a huge disappointment...texture was fine, but that's about it, taste, just not there. The drinks were good, but we didn't go for that. It's not somewhere I would visit again. Too bad, because there are very few Cajun restaurants in this city & I was looking forward to a fantastic meal.
I loved it!!! The server knew the menu pretty well & made some great suggestions. The food was fabulous, well seasoned. The vibe was nice. Definitely, I would want to come back UpDATE>>>>Back for BRUNCH & it's still my fave spot in down!!! The Grits were my highlight so creamy so yummy so PERFECT. My only negative.... it was mad cold in the restaurant...the terasse is not up yet
May 19, 2024
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Great place with amazing food & service. Service is always great, very nice & knowledgeable people who can make arrangements for your food. Food itself is delicious, they always have different specials & the amount you get is definitely enough. Love this place!
Nice little gem in DDO (West Island) serving Louisiana food. It's a New Orleans themed bistro & the food is consistently good. Fixed staples like Butter fried chicken & Shrimp & Grits are executed to perfection. Weekly specials like Oysters or lamb shank let's you try something new. Maybe come here to break a fast because you need do the full meal combo. The beignets (think Tiny Tim Dougnut ... but way better) is a must. Like most Bistro's in Montréal, coffee is solid & a Terrace is available when the weather is warm. Great Bistro if you're in the area
There are no words to describe our experience here tonight. Food was exceptional, service was impeccable, the atmosphere was welcoming!!! Do not hesitate to go & have a wonderful evening!
Whom ever has watched the movie "my cousin Vinny" knows very well it takes long to make good grits, the chef at Bistro Nolah knocked it out of the park!!! It was so yummy & creamy❤️ The staff were welcoming & explained everything on the menu especially how spicy dishes may be & also shared what they preferred on the menu. Can't wait to go back again!!!
Food & service are amazing. You gotta try the blackened catfish, it's spicy but very delicious. We also tried the fried chicken & the shrimp, both were great. The only thing is the place is quite small, so it feels squeezed when dining in. I would go back though.
My family & I attended brunch at Bistro Nolah on Sunday April 14th, 2024 & we were blown away. The food was outstanding, the service was top notch, the restaurant was beautiful & clean. Chef Richard showed us lots of love by visiting the table to ensure that we were happy with our meal. My mom & i had the French toast... the best we ever had. The bourbon sauce smooth, tasty, I can eat it everyday. My brother, daughter & nephew had the "Le Richard "...loved it. I highly recommend everyone to visit Bistro Nola, it is definitely worth it.
