Bistro Nolah
RestaurantTop Pick
Bistro Nolah
Opens Today at 5 pm
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5 pm - 10 pm |
| Thursday | 5 pm - 10 pm |
| Friday | 5 pm - 10 pm |
| Saturday | 5 pm - 10 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am - 2 pm, 5 pm - 9:30 pm |
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Info & Location
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.
Amenities, services & more
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Reviews often mention
Display Allshrimp(55) bistro(41) fried(39) chicken(33) recommend(30) grit(29) fried chicken(28) sauce(27) dessert(22)Page 1 of 2 - 32 Reviews
Peter
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!!View more
Eric
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.View more
Lawrence
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'!View more
Kerrie
Group dinner for 14 people, very accommodating from the time of reserving all the way through. Food was amazing (special note to the Shrimp & Grits & the bread pudding with bourbon sauce!!!). Will go back, excellent experience!View more
Omar
First time dining here & the experience was excellent. The food was very good & yummy. Highly recommend the shrimp & grits as well as the jambalaya special. Also the service by our host, Mathew was top notch & made the experience that much more enjoyable. Will definitely come back again. Highly recommend!View more
Patrick
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.View more
Shannon
Went last week with a group. Service was above & beyond. Started with spicy margaritas, & wanted to continue. Food to die for. Will absolutely be back. The shrimp & grits are the best I've ever had. Oysters were large & juicy. & fish cakes were great off the chalkboard menu. Can't wait to get back for brunch.View more
John
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.View more
Andrew
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 :)View more
Andrew
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.View more
Rebecca
First time here & not the last! The food was perfect. We had the fried chicken as an appetizer & enjoyed shrimps & grits as a main. The service was also impeccable. A bit on the slower side, but they seemed short staffed that day.View more
Albert
Wow, everything was perfect! The shrimp & grits were incredible. The death by gumbo was amazing. All the appetizers were also incredible, drinks were perfect. The service was second to none. I highly recommend this restaurant, it's really hard to beat.View more
Gisele
Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Montreal. The boulettes jambalaya with jalapeno sauce as appetizer, shrimp & grits as a main, & *divine* bread pudding dessert are a must. The banana cheesecake dessert is a must try when they have it on the menu. Cocktails are perfection & the staff is lovely... can't recommend more!View more
Ben
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 areaView more
Duta
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.View more
Matthew
The food here is amazing. Even the grits were delicious & I'm not usually a fan . Everything is a must try especially the shrimp creole. Be sure to try the chef features as they are always incredible.View more
Paul
Great food, service & ambiance. Some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. Shrimp Creole had moderate spice & was packed with flavour. The brisket was delicious, very nice sized portion. The service was great. Our waiter went through the menu with us since it was our first time. Good music, I recognized a lot of NOLA favourites like Dr John & Trombone Shorty.View more
Ray
We had shrimp etouffee & tuna steak, ordered the hush puppies, mac&cheese & fried chicken for the kids. Everything was great & flavourful, will definitely come again.View more
Catalin
Best grits ever. Attentive staff. Terrific shrimp & lobster. Tasty bread pudding with a delectable bourbon sauce.View more
Carin
My husband & I were lucky to have reservations at Bistro Nolah on Valentines Day. Considering its strip mall location, tue restaurant is warm & inviting, with great music & casual, romantic ambiance. The service, from both our hostess, Cassidy, & our server were outstanding throughout. The three course menu had various options. Each course was absolutely delicious, & beautiful to look at. Our mains, the braised short rib with polenta & the Cajun shrimp were particularly outstanding. The rest of the food was equally impressive. If you are looking for a great restaurant, with terrific food & service that is not a hassle to.park at- I strongly recommend this fine establishment. Oh, & if you've never had Mississippi mud pie, order it. You won't regret it.View more
Christina
I LOVE this restaurant. The food is incredible. I ordered the Creole shrimp & the mac&cheese. Everything is soo flavorful. The Creole shrimp has the right amount of spicy & it pairs soo well with the jambalaya rice. Overall I highly recommend it!View more
Eileen
Last night was my first dining experience at this exceptional gem of a restaurant. The octopus appetizer was phenomenal. I was advised by many people to order the shrimp & grits & could not believe a dish could be so heavenly delicious. I was too full to order the bread pudding which I was planning to, so I shared the Mississippi mud pie which is a chocolate lover's delight. This was one of THE most delicious meals that I have ever eaten & cannot wait to return.View more
Fotini
They won my heart with that fresh bread & chipotle, honey whipped butter. Everything was lovely & our server Jennifer was wonderful. The hush puppies were delicious & the Lobster Mac & Cheese was super decadent. I can't wait to go back for shrimp & grits.View more
Lauren
Our dining experience in Montreal has been somewhat disappointing recently, with restaurants charging very high prices for sub-par quality. I'm absolutely happy to pay for good quality food, & I understand the difficulties restaurants are facing post-pandemic. That being said, we went to Bistro Nolah tonight & were blown away by how wonderful everything was. Ambiance was lovely, really loved how cozy the restaurant is, the jazz music & the decor. Tables are spaced well enough apart & music is a good volume so that you don't have to yell over any noise. My partner & I definitely plan to come back for another date night. The service was great. I almost wished they came less frequently to our table, but we arrived at 5 pm when it was initially less busy. Still, it was not overbearing by any means. We were given plenty of time to relax after getting our check without us needing to search for our waiter to pay. & our waiter clearly knew the menu really well - we really appreciated his input when we were choosing our meals. Finally, the food & drinks were fantastic. I had a Dark & Stormy which was double the size of a cocktail I'd get in the city. Great value, well made. Nothing special on the cocktail menu front, but still very much enjoyed my drink. Started out with some nice warm bread rolls with some very addictive smoky/sweet butter. We shared the sausage gumbo appetizer. Really tasty & notably the texture of the rice in the gumbo was perfect, but can't speak to how it compares to gumbo from Louisiana. Not particularly spicy, as someone who eats a lot of spicy food, contrary to what some reviewers have said, but flavorful. I would recommend trying it, but will skip it next time & try out the fried chicken or mac & cheese, as a matter of personal preference. We shared the brisket & creole shrimp mains. Brisket was phenomenal, especially the barbecue sauce. Love oyster mushrooms, but could take or leave the ones on top of the brisket. Felt like they could use a better sautée & that they didn't mesh that well with the dish. Mashed potatoes were also delicious. That said, it was my favorite dish we ate, as well as my partner's, but was very closely followed by the creole shrimp. If you don't like heat of any kind, the creole shrimp might not be for you. We love spicy. The shrimp was cooked perfectly & the flavor was fantastic. The tomato sauce was also incredible & had the perfect amount of heat. The side of jambalaya & veggies were good too, but not the star of the show. To be fair, I was incredibly full & saved them for last - a testament to the nice portion size for what we paid & my mistake of eating a pain au chocolat an hour & a half before dinner. For me, what makes a restaurant stand out is attention to detail, & Bistro Nolah does not disappoint in that regard. I can't wait to come back & try some dessert next time! If you're like us & live nowhere near the West Island, I hope this convinces you to make the trip. My only regret is not coming here sooner.View more
Neil
Been meaning to go for a few months/since opening. No reservation, still was able to sit at the bar. Service was very good, great attention from our waiter(maybe owner/manager) & the bar staff. We ordered Mac & cheese & Jambalaya balls (special menu) & they were amazing, took shrimp creole & braised ribs for mains, both great dishes, shrimp creole was perfectly spiced, I am always worried when ordering shrimp but in a creole restaurant it's a must & was not disappointed. Braised ribs was tender & delicious. Drinks were made with fresh citrus juices & very tasty. Unfortunately no room for dessert. Atmosphere was welcoming nice music & good vibe. Would go back & would recommend. Did not take picture too existed to eat.View more
John
A wonderful, original restaurant for when you want something different then the normal, Italian, Greek or American style food that is predominant in the West Island. My party enjoyed every part of their meals from appetizers (Hush Puppies, Fried Chicken, Jumbalaya, Sausage Gumbo) to dessert (Mud Pie, Chocolate Torte, Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce). Four out of five of us choose the Blackened Creole Shrimp (a special) as the main meal. It was very tasty.View more
Wayne
Dining at Bistro Nolah is an experience not to be missed if you appreciate superb & unique cuisine, excellent service, fair prices, & a friendly, but classy bistro setting. I have dined at Nolah on several occasions, & each time it just gets better! Their menu includes New Orleans-style dishes like beignets, hush puppies, jambalaya, gumbo, & so much more, with specials that change nightly. Last night my wife & I enjoyed a leisurely, romantic evening at the bistro; we had the best fried chicken either of us had ever tasted, as well as incredible hush puppies & a melt-in-your-mouth pork belly appetizer. We savoured every bite of our generous entrees of delicious shrimp & grits & blackened catfish. The Cajun flavours were complex & exciting, but not overpowering. Chef Richard has been tweaking his culinary skills & his knowledge of this style of cooking for over 30 years, & believe me, he has it down! A gem of a place to visit on the West Island!View more
Gia
There are good restaurants, very good restaurants, exceptional restaurants & then there is Bistro Nolah! Wow, this place just gets better & better.
I’ve been many times, & it has been consistent, but tonight, I see that they have perfected what I thought they already mastered! The fried chicken was melt-in-your-mouth perfection! My husband had the pork belly appetizer, & it did not disappoint.
The curry mussels were unbelievable, a sauce you will be thinking about for quite some time. I had the shrimp & grits as a main & my husband had the catfish. We both kept shaking our heads in disbelief as to how perfectly & carefully all the flavours came together flawlessly.
We have had many wonderful meals, this one will remain high on our list of the most unforgettable ones.
Excellent service from Cathy.
We will be back soon!View more
kristinaz
1 Review
Bistro Nolah is, & will continue to be, a hidden gem in the West Island of Montreal.
Before I finally indulged myself & experienced its offerings, almost everyone I know was raving about it. "The best elevated cajun food in the city" they were saying....& to that statement: I wholeheartedly agree.
From the subtle ambience, to the genuine manners of the staff, this establishment has come to be one of my absolute favourites in "the West".
I ate there with my mom, who is mutually an eloquent woman with a refined taste. Not afraid to speak her mind, she is always honest about her outlook on a restaurant. To be clear, she also very much enjoyed the tastings & libations of Nolah.
Upon ordering our meal, we were graciously offered a New Orleans delicacy known as "a hushpuppy". A hushpuppy is a bite sized, savoury ball, made with a cornmeal-based batter; that is deep fried. Sometimes being overly dense & over-fried, they can be too chewy. To my surprise, these hushpuppies were absolutely crisp on the outside & had a perfectly tender interior.
For our appetizers, we ordered the Louisiana crab cakes & shrimp tacos. The shrimp tacos, although as delicious as anticipated, did not go beyond anything ordinary. The crab cakes however, were absolutely scrumptious. The fried cakes bursted with crab flavour, rightfully highlighting it as the hero ingredient of the dish. Served with a mildly spicy aioli & some corn niblets, every layered flavour & texture accentuated the flavour profile of the crab.
As for the entrées, we ordered the jambalaya & blackened catfish to share. Both dishes sang a sweet, melodic Louisiana song. They were truly delectable. The deconstruction of the jambalaya was innovative in presentation & made for a combination of different bites. This dish included all the familiar flavours of a jambalaya & enhanced every single one. It included jumbo shrimps, a tomato-based, dark roux, sauce with rice that was packed with creole herbs & spices. The added vegetables & micro-greens were unnecessary but provided the "fine dining" touch.
The blackened catfish simultaneously tickled our tastebuds & unquestionably transported us to the docks of New Orleans. A perfect blend of spices, alongside fresh sautéed vegetables & raw shaved radish, the balance within each & every ingredient was a perfect equilibrium. A truly authentic & grasping touch, on the fish, was the orange "Pontchartrain" sauce. I have never seen this sauce served with fish anywhere in Montreal. The name of the sauce derives from Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana & like the lake, the thick, buttery sauce, was teeming with fish.
To end such as stunning meal was an even more stunning dessert. The bread pudding, being a humbling & when done correctly: crowd pleasing dish, was luscious & delightful. Topped with fresh fruit & a Jack Daniels syrup, it was frankly hard not to finish. Simple, not simplistic, this is a staple in southern cuisine & was executed with such finesse & ease (as it should be).
Bistro Nolah is a distinct establishment & in all honesty, an exquisite restaurant that is recommended to anyone who loves cajun cuisine &/or looking to expand their culinary horizons.
MatMan
2 Reviews
After hearing some 20 something people discuss how great Nolah’s food was, I decided that I should check it out. Looking at the web site…. New Orleans food seemed an odd choice for Montreal , but the Chef's were highlighted by name. Having the Chefs names featured, is unusual in West Island restaurants. It’s usually higher end restaurants downtown that feature their ‘ Chefs’ name, as a draw. Sometimes it’s just image & sometimes it’s because the featured Chef is special. Featuring the Chef usually indicates that the profile of the restuaurant is higher end & priced accordingly. So far OK . The West island does not have any really good Chef driven restaurants in my opinion, & it would be nice to have some.
So enough for the preamble……….. After visiting Bistro Nolah for Dinner this week I am still waiting for a good Chef driven restaurant in the West island. As a background, I have been to a few very good restaurants in New Orleans during a business trip around 10 years ago.
I started with a Gumbo with Choritzo. A bowl of dark brown sauce surrounded a mound of rice. Bits of tomato, ocra, & Choritzo sausage could be found under the dark mix. Quite spicy , the thick mixture was heavily spiced . The taste was unrefined & uninteresting. It didn’t taste fresh & probably wasn’t. The spice was the dominate taste except for the bits of choritzo which registered a hotter taste. To be honest, I’ve had soups that I enjoyed more ,come out of a can.
The main was a decent sized piece of Alaskan Cod on a bed of wild rice. The Cod was dry & overcooked. The taste was so so. Maybe it could have been fresher. The wild rice was plain & uninspiring. The surrounding vegetable were mostly roots, carrot, beet, & did not compliment the fish or wild rice at all. Flavors were boring & I ate it for sustenance rather than enjoyment. I didn’t finish either the appetizer or the main.
My partner had a Shrimp main. The shrimps were a bit too spicy & masked the shrimp flavor. They were cooked OK, not overdone. I usually don’t order shrimps in Montreal restaurants due to the poor quality of farmed shrimp imported from Asia. I love eating shrimp in Florida & I make sure they are wild & fresh caught domestic shrimp. Not frozen & farmed. So I guess I am prejudiced against shrimp served in Montreal restaurants since they invariably use defrosted & farmed shrimp. The shrimp were OK , for what they were. Again the side flavors on the plate were uninteresting.
So I am still looking for a good Chef driven West island restaurant.
Would I want to have a recipe for how they prepared any dishes I ate………… No!
Prices were certainly not modest . Service was OK. For the price they charge, tablecloths would be nice, even if it’s a bistro. It’s a bit noisy & they played the music a bit too loud for my preference. I guess trying to appeal to a trendier crowd.
Would I go back to Nolah.....I don’t think so. Maybe I could give it a second chance, but it didn’t give me any pleasure to eat there so why bother. I might have given it a 2.5 star if I could. I would have rated it a 3 star if it was a diner instead of a restaurant with airs.