Nola

Nola

Located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, Nola is a cozy Cajun-style restaurant with a thoughtfully curated menu of interesting food, drink, and dessert options that appeal to a wide variety of people. Sit inside the brick-lined dining room or outside on the sunny patio, and choose from New Orleans specialties like Cajun pasta, Southern comfort food like fried chicken and waffles, or common dishes like tacos, salads, and burgers.

The food comes out looking beautiful. Each dish is masterfully crafted to embody sophistication, style, and taste. The result is a meal that is not only satisfying but also memorable.

The dining area is dimly lit, giving off den-like vibes. The outdoor seating feels like downtown Palo Alto, California, in all its glory; it’s sunny and pleasant, surrounded by Californian businesses with Californian customers.

But stepping inside, you find yourself feeling as though you’ve travelled far, far away. It’s a dim and cozy place with brick trimming and a fireplace, accented with stylized art. In the background, the speakers play music at a moderate volume, and several televisions play sporting events. The tables are close together, and the chairs are comfortable. At the back end of the room, there’s a bar.

It took us a while to study the menu. The menu had some signature items but also quite a few sandwiches, tacos, and salads that intrigued me. The entire back of the large menu was devoted to alcoholic beverages. As interesting as the Cajun items looked, we chose familiar favorites because the way they were described on the menu sounded pretty much irresistible.

My friend, who was eating with me, ordered the beet salad and some salmon tacos. Her food came out looking colorful and appetizing. She savored every bite, chewing slowly and carefully, and then decided she was still hungry and ordered another side salad, which she reported was appealingly tangy, and another fish taco.

The burger I ordered was very solid. It featured a soft bun with a salty patty, veggies, and a nice, tangy, mustardy sauce. It was simple but elegant, definitely something I would gladly order again. It came with Cajun-seasoned fries that were some of the crunchiest, most savory, and satisfying fries I’ve ever enjoyed. The burger and fries combination left me everything but unimpressed.

I enjoyed the meal, and I did not expect that the best of show would be the dessert. The beignets were served in a generously sized portion that filled a large basket, and each beignet was large and dusted with powdered sugar. They came warm with a crispy exterior, surrounded by a soft, airy, and pillowy interior. I dipped them in the three sauces provided: a deep chocolate mocha sauce, a tart raspberry jelly, and a decadent caramel drizzle. They all appealed to me, but my favorite was the caramel drizzle.

I found that the servers there know the menu and behave very professionally. They answer your questions and keep an eye on you. The kitchen doesn’t take too long to process orders, so the food comes out relatively quickly. But there’s no rush to eat fast or turn over tables. Instead, it’s an ideal spot for a leisurely meal with friends and family, perfect for deep conversations and a relaxing time.

It’s what I’d consider a moderately priced restaurant—some of the menu items cost as much as thirty-something dollars, but there are also some more budget-friendly items. Even with higher prices, I consider the food I got to be worth the time and money I spent on it. After all, it wasn’t just an average meal; it was a gourmet indulgence that I would like to enjoy again.