Creole Comfort: Nola

Recently opened beside Pauls’ Steak & Eggs is Nola, a New Orleans cajun restaurant with a menu full of gumbo, jambalaya, grits, beignets and po’boys. After reading Erica Chen’s (CW) raving review of the their fresh baked cookies kicking Betty Crocker‘s ass, I made sure to mark Nola as my next spot to review.

I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a cozy restaurant full of tables with big groups of people dining with bottles of wine and enjoying plenty of good Southern food. I went up to check out the seats on the second floor, but as it was completely empty, I grabbed the last remaining table for two on the first floor.  The atmosphere on the first floor was warm and wonderful with a nice bar behind us and a welcoming energy all around. Nola’s menu is one of those that sounds so good you want to order and sample everything, it was impossible to decide what to order.  As my friend Cody and I were trying to figure out what to share, our eyes widened (and there may have possibly been drool) when we saw our neighboring table’s orders of Parmesan fries (RMB 23), Cornbread muffins (RMB 15), Mushroom and White Bean Salad (RMB 27), 225 g. Australian Strip-loin steak (RMB 130) and Pork tenderloin bordered with layers of bacon (RMB 115). 

We ended up ordering the Salad with a bacon and poached egg (RMB 35) and Seafood -Shrimp, Seabass and sausage Jambalaya (RMB 95), topped off with their batch of fresh baked cookies (RMB 20) and thick, rich apple cider (RMB 30). For all the orders of food we saw come out of the kitchen, everything looked mouth-watering and massive, which is why we didn’t want to over-order. But the one main entree we did order, the seafood jambalaya was pretty skimpy with two small shrimps, two small pieces of sea bass and a side of jambalaya rice.  I hate it when you are drooling over everyone else’s dishes and see that the one you chose to order was a bad decision. Don’t get me wrong, the dish was alright, but it pales in comparison to the other entrees I saw come out of the kitchen.

With a continuously updated seasonal menus, I will definitely be returning to try new creations, if not just for their cornbread muffins and ooey-gooey cookies.

Review of Nola: A-11 Xiushui Street South, Ritan 建国门外秀水南街11号  Tel: 8563-6215

Best Part:

• Serving hearty, satisfying New Orleans-style cuisine – lots of bacon, gumbo, jambalaya, grits, beignets and po’boys
• Complimentary hot, freshly baked bread is always a nice bonus
• A cup of steaming Apple Cider is perfect to wash away your winter blues
• Seasonally updated menu
• Nola’s chef: Brandon Trowbridge is a Louisiana native and former chef of Hilton Beijing
• Over 1/2 the menu has bacon, which is an ingredient I swear makes everything yummier
• Balanced range of wines, beer and cocktails on their drink list
• Atmosphere suitable for a cozy evening with friends and wine

Comments:

• Word is to avoid their po’boy sandwiches and burgers, but they excel in their appetizers, entrees and desserts.
• Creole Comfort food is satisfying, hearty but a bit heavy
• Good thing they had one table left on the first floor b/c the second floor was completely empty and that would have been awkward.