Adolfo’s
611 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA, 70116
Adolfo’s Menu
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Address :
611 Frenchmen St
New Orleans, LA, 70116 - Phone (504) 948-3800
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:30 pm - 10:00pm
- Mon : 5:30 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey, Casual, Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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K P.
What a bargain for such high quality eating! A dozen or so tables greet you at the top of the wooden staircase above the Apple Barrel. The not-so-fancy dining room is a pretty typical find throughout New Orleans. In fact Adolfo's entire space looks to be just one room...including the kitchen! We started with crab and corn canillone that could be the highlight of the session...slightly spicy...and at $8? Wow. Next came a couple green salads, fairly standard but dotted with a house-made ranchlike dressing that you won't find outside. My honey's shrimp and crawfish pasta arrived with the perfect amount of marinara sauce on board the perfectly prepared vermicelli ($14). The sweet shrimp and crawfish were so scrumptious I barely noticed the arrival of my massive ribeye steak ($19) smothered in the chef's peppercorn sauce. I was dreaming about a steak for a couple weeks, and was delighted to live the dream here at Adolfo's. We washed down this unbelievable satisfying meal with some cabernet and chianti ($5 ea). The cheque arrived and I added it up three times because I was certain the waiter left something out by mistake. All this for $62? What a bargain. We left four Andy Jacksons (Adolfo is cash only) and by the time we hit the end of Frenchman Street we were still talking about what we'd order next time. Next time, turned out to be the next day. Somebody stop me! The menu is packed with so many excellent choices (rack of lamb, pastas, fresh fish). Yes, we climbed those those stairs again the following night and ordered up fresh drum with Adolpho's famous Ocean Sauce, a decadent crab-crawfish-shrimp trifecta concoction. Megmeister joined us tonight and had the steak with mushrooms and my honey order eggplant parmeson. Excellent. Adolfo's is now on our must-do list for every New Orleans visit. Our waiter said he's the chef on Sundays. "I take over this place," he claims. Hmmm. Next time might be sooner than we expected.
(4)Michael S.
I can't imagine people had a good experience here...I must have been on the worst night in their history. We tried it because we saw good reviews on urbanspoon. We walked in before they opened and were asked to come back in 15 mins. We told them we were going to a show and asked if we could get in and out in an hour...no problem. Back in 15 mins and the waiter says, "I understand you are in a hurry"...oddly enough, he never remembered that again the rest of the night. Food was not that good. Drinks went unfilled. Waiter was NEVER around. Took over an hour and a half after he acknowledged that he knew we were in a hurry. People came and went while we still sat there. We'll never go back. There are too many restaurants in this town to have a bad experience and go back again.
(1)Angelina R.
First time in NOLA, awesome food and atmosphere.. ordered the pork chop special, whoa was I surprised when they brough out that piece of meat!! It was tender and covered in an amazing sauce topped with mushrooms... amazing! Oh and not to mention the cool bar down stairs.
(4)Amy S.
Two words.... ocean sauce! You can put it on anything but I recommend the grouper, delicious! We dined around 7 pm on a Tuesday and JUST missed the wait. The place is small so get there early. Waitress was extremely friendly and attentive, even though they were short staffed that evening. Started with the mussels with white wine and garlic sauce.... very tasty and extremely large portion. My boyfriend ordered the rack of lamb, which was also very flavorful and delicious. A little pricey but definitely worth the money!
(5)Glenn F.
This place is absolutely delicious. As a native of New Orleans, I feel like I have been to my fair share of restaurants. We got some sort of oyster appetizer with spinach that was the best oysters I have had in my life. party in your mouth. Get there early because it gets crowded. We arrived around 6 and were in and out within an hour. The prices are very reasonable and the service was good but it seems like the servers are on duty for waiting tables, bussing, and playing hostess all at once so don't get upset if they forget to re-fill your water. They're doing their best. I'm usually not a fan of Italian but this was pretty fantastic so i will definitely be back!! Also, Frenchman street is really fun so if you need to kill sometime while waiting for a table, you're in good company! (I did not write this, my girlfriend did... although I agree with everything she said.)
(5)Sarah P.
Wandered in here on a recommendation by our hotel bartender. We came late - we arrived a little after nine and the restaurant closes at 10:30. They were happy to seat us though. Resonably priced wine and entrees, cute atmosphere, and great waiter. If the double cut porkchop is the special...GET IT. It was amazing - cooked perfectly with a port reduction and mushrooms. Also, it's huge. Easily would feed 2 people. Nice, local spot away from touristy Bourbon Street.
(5)Janet H.
First off, the ambience is not what you are looking for here. But if you are interested in an amazing blend of creole style with traditional italian fare, this is the place for you. We made a reservation - and our table was not ready when we got there. It gave us an opportunity to check out the Apple Barrell bar downstairs which I would not suggest to anyone. Fortunately we did not have to wait too long. This place obviously makes all their own sauces - including salad dressing. I had one of the fish choices of the day, Grouper, with something they call Ocean Sauce. It was a slightly spicy cream sauce with good sized shrimp and crawdads over the blackened fish. It was absolutely amazing. We had the escargot and the italian sausage/spinach manicotti appetizers and you just had to sop up all the wonderful sauces with the bottomless garlic bread. The bread was that perfect combination of soft on the inside with crisp crusts, perfectly seasoned. Service was excellent and unobtrusive, with an extensive knowledge of the menu. One major drawback is that they only accept cash. There is a cash machine in the restaurant, but I find having to pay a fee to withdraw cash for my dinner to be a royal pain and quite annoying.
(3)Emma B.
This place is awesome. Nemo was excellent. My eggplant parm was one of the best I've had.
(5)Evan G.
Completely amazing. A total find. This was the first place I dined in New Orleans and it set the standard for others - only one other came close. Mussels in white sauce were great. Mussels in marinara were awesome (the marinara has some KICK!) Everyone loved their fish dishes, but the pork chop - oh LORD the pork chop was pretty friggin amazing. The names of the preparations for meat and pasta dishes are fun, but it's not a subtle topping you'll get - it's a HEAP. Service was just fine - to the point, direct, informative, helpful, and well-timed. Who cares that the ceiling is partially made of particle board and painted blood red? And who cares that you could stash a body in the sink in the bathroom? Oh - CASH ONLY.
(5)Chuck H.
Well my dear friend an English teacher helped me write a review with a great assortment of complimentary adjectives but I lost the draft. Suffice it to say, Adolofo's earned them all. We had mussels, eggplant Parmesan, fish with ocean sauce and great service. They accommodated our children with simple pasta dishes. Wines were solid and fairly priced. We will be back! They took a reservation from us but only if we would eat at 630. Not a problem for us.
(5)Andrew H.
Would love to review the food, since several locals said how awesome it is. But, after waiting in the dumpy bar downstairs for well over an hour, we went to see how long it might be and were tersely told they were closing (this was at 10). I don't care how good the food is, this city is full of places with awesome food, there's no need to have to kill time in a trashy place waiting for a dinner that's never going to be served. Lesson learned: don't go to Frenchman St hungry.
(1)Laura S.
On my last evening in New Orleans, the concierge at the Sheraton said this is where she would go, so away we went. Upon opening the door, we were skeptical, having been greeted by a dark, well-worn stair case. Once inside, the simplicity of the place was graced by an aroma that drew us in. I had flounder, topped with the Ocean Sauce--the best flounder I've ever had: soft and beautifully cooked. The others in the group had salmon with Ocean Sauce and rack of lamb. Every entree was cooked beautifully. Adolfo's would have gotten five stars had the frog legs been braised to a tender goodness, but alas, they were chewy. Still, a wonderful place that well shows the respect due to God's bounty.
(4)Amy T.
Great food, good price, interesting New Orleans hole-in-the-wall venue on Frenchman street.
(4)Mike T.
If you guys get a chance this is a famous local spot tucked away in the neighborhood and its amazing. We were recommended to this place by several locals and a few friends that frequent NOLA. Get the veal ocean and an order of clams! Great service and great food!
(5)Liz T.
I forgot about how great Adolfo's really is! I recommend bringing a bottle of wine, or two.... and the canneloni. The mussels are awesome too. I enjoy the grouper with a caper topping or any of the veal dishes. Not overly priced and worth the wait. Small intimate setting perfect for a date.
(5)Hayley M.
I had a great experience at this place. You gotta appreciate a tiny Italian joint tucked away on the second floor that remains PACKED. First of all, they were wonderful to make a reservation with. We arrived in the city a little delayed and called at 8:15 to reschedule our 8:30 reservation. My friend spoke to the owner (she thinks) who was so nice and said to just come in whenever we could. We walked in at 9:30 on a Friday night and even though the place was crowded, they sat us right away. Our shaggy-haired waiter was very sweet but he did break the news to us that the restaurant is cash only. That's where the loss of a star factored in. Anyway, Shaggy was great, allowed my friend to make a substitution, and helped another make a decision when she was wavering between two dishes. I had the soft shell crab, which was a daily special. It had garlic sauce, crawfish, and shrimp on it and it was so good that given the opportunity, I would take a picture of it, send it to friends as a postcard and write "wish you were here" on the back. Two friends ordered the Chicken Tyler, which I tried and was great. Another friend had the Shrimp and Crawfish tails over pasta with a white alfredo sauce. All of the dishes came with pasta they served as a first course (except for the alfredo, which had a salad first). We were all starving, two of us flew in earlier that evening. Adolfo's really stays strong to its French Quarter roots. Great meal, great location for going out after too!
(4)Brian F.
amazing little joint as others have said, get the OCEAN SAUCE!!! Tiny dining room, but the bar downstairs is a great dive to spend an hour in if you gotta wait for a table
(5)Zinta S.
Always amazing. Nemo is our favorite server - fun, friendly, and efficient. And of course the food is consistently to die for. You can't go wrong!
(5)Austin W.
great spot I had rack of lamb, it was perfectly cooked and tasted great. however is was served with too much oil/drippings. The lamb was practically floating in it on the plate. The seafood selections looked great. I would definitely go back to try them.
(4)Rachel W.
This was by far the very best meal I had in New Orleans. My dear friend lives a few blocks from Adolfo's and we wouldn't have found it without a local's insight. It's tiny, they don't take reservations and it's cash only. You won't care once you eat. Had the veal+ocean sauce and it was divine and better than a much much pricier restaurant we visited the night before. Thank you for an excellent meal, lovely service, and plenty of local color!
(5)Joanna K.
One of the best meals of my life!!! If you plan on visiting Adolfo's, try to make a reservation as it is very small and there are less than 10 tables. Don't expect great service or anything fancy. It's small, it's quaint and it's damn good food! One you get there and check out the menu, just skip over all of the pasta dishes. We ordered the rack of lamb and the mahi mahi "ocean style" and you should too. I didn't even know that I liked lamb until I ate here. I had it a few times and it never really did anything for me. The rosemary infused meaty goodness at Adolfo's was unlike anything I have ever tasted! It was charred and tender in all the right places. It was better than any piece of beef that I have had in my 30 years of existence. The "ocean" style fish is such where they serve a filet covered in a cream sauce that contains shrimp, crawfish & crab. The sauce was very light, yet very flavorful, and it just happened to taste great with the lamb. The prices there were great too! I think our meal cost $109 and we had mussels, seafood cannelloni, rack of lamb, mahi mahi ocean style and a bottle of Chianti. You couldn't get that kind of deal with all of that fresh seafood in Chicago. I left Adolfo's entirely mystified and satiated. My friend and I decided that had that been our last meal, we would have been entirely okay with that. I would drive back to New Orleans from Chicago just to have that meal again. Sigh.
(5)Nick G.
NO Credit Cards accepted!!! Excellent food. We had their Ocean (choice of sauce/flavor) Red Fish (choice of fish), and the Garlic and Mushroom Steak. I ordered the steak, and when they brought it out, I swear, everyone in the restaurant was staring at the plate wishing they were me, and I was pretty happy myself. It was a huge, delicious hunk of meat, covered in big slices of mushrooms, then covered again in diced garlic goodness! OMG I will never have to worry about being bitten by a vampire, for the rest of my life I am officially safe. There was such an overwhelming taste of garlic in every bite, and it was perfect! So so so soooooooooooooo gooooooooooood! Luckily I had the good sense to try the other plate before getting into my steak, knowing the intense glacier of the garlic and steak would ruin my mouth for quite some time. And I have to say, in a much softer and gentler way, the ocean plate was very good too. I took a couple bites of the fish, covered in a creamy sauce with both crawfish and crab accompanying it, and u really enjoyed it. However, for me, my dish was the winner, and after a few bites I proceeded to devour the entire thing in that one sitting (no small task). Oh, and we also ordered their stuffed pasta appetizer, which was totally overstuffed with some seafood blend, and topped with a cream sauce. It came accompanied with a butter drenched bread, and they both rocked my socks off. I loved it. This place was awesome, the food was excellent and I loved everything I was served, however they had a few things they could work on. Did I mention they don't take credit cards? I mean really, they need to get with the times. Very inconvenient, however, for only a $3 charge you can use the ATM located right inside... And last but not least, I really recommend they install a new faucet in their kitchen, and stop using the bathroom sink to fill their one pitcher of water they use to serve customers their water. Very low class and gross. Where I was sitting I had a good view of the bathroom, and personally saw the (person I'm pretty sure was also the owner) fill the pitcher with bathroom tap water, and then go and refill customers drinks, without so much as putting in any ice... Since i brought it up, it was a very hot night and ice would have been nice.
(4)Meagan M.
Ok Bobby B.....I'm not from New York, I'm actually from Louisiana so I know there isn't much good in the way of good Italian food down here, but when 270 people give an average rating of 4 stars I thought I'd give it a shot, boy was I wrong. LESSON LEARNED.
(1)N L.
Italian New Orleans style...Just sat down but so far the smell of garlic is seeping through the walls. OK the waitress although very nice, had the sniffles and was walking around serving people with a tissue that she used to blow her nose with. I ordered NOTHING and watched my friend eat becuase this was such a turn off to me.
(1)Patrick O.
My group waited patiently after being told an hour wait...for two hours. We then were told abruptly that the chef couldn't handle anyone else that night. What?? What an amateur...poor management and a chump chef. Save your money and go to somewhere that is worth it. If they can't manage their guest list, I can only imagine how bad that food is - unbelievable.
(1)Darryl C.
This place is awesome! You must have the mussels. Very well done and fresh. And two words...OCEAN SAUCE!!! I put that s#!+ on everything! Forget Bourbon Street and go to this place!
(5)Eryn H.
I thought this place was pretty overrated. I just wasn't blown away like most of the reviewers were. I don't actually eat meat (or seafood) but I thought my boyfriend would really into, he loves old school joints and seafood so I thought this would make great reward for all the fancy, small plate dinners I made him sit through. The dinner was ok. I got the only vegetarian options, which was cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. My boyfriend ordered fish and he wasn't blown away. Honestly, my favorite part of the meal was the salad dressing. I was also into the old school vibe and our waitress was great and really funny.
(2)Jocelyn R.
My mom and i visited new orleans for a week and this was, by far, the worst restaurant we went to. My mom and I went on a Thursday night so we had no problem getting in right away. The waitress seemed nice enough and recommended some options including the ocean sauce, which both of us declined (first mistake? Maybe it was just ordering waters...) I got fish Nick's with grouper which consisted of a good sized portion of fish with lemon butter and capers on it and all around it. There was probably a quarter cup of butter surrounding the grouper on the plate. It tasted like butter, but was nothing i couldn't have prepared at home. Similarly, my garden salad looked like a bagged salad with some mustard vinaigrette on top (i forgot to order my dressing on the side); however, the bagged salad was wilted and even slimy in places, like that bag was left in the fridge for too long. Once again, i felt i could have done better. I left my plate on the unoccupied side of the table to be picked up by the waitress for about 5 minutes. She came over, i explained that it seemed wilted to me, she said "oh that's weird it's a fresh salad" then walked away leaving the salad on the table for another 5-10 minutes. My mom had the special, veal chop, which was boiled to an inch of its life and was covered in a boring cream and mushroom sauce. She added salt. The pasta she got to start was similarly something we could have made from ingredients at the corner gas station: boring tomato sauce and poorly drained linguini. Also with added salt. This experience cost 50 dollars for lack lustre service and food we could have made in landlocked prairies for half the price. There are far better restaurants in the city but if you do have to go here i guess you should get the ocean sauce.
(1)Melissa M.
Too bad it couldn't be a sub-zero rating. This review is from 2010, I went here with a pretty drunk crowd, I wasn't one of them. A few of our party was sober enough to catch the mistake to our bill. They gave us a bill that was over double what we actually ordered. When we brought it to their attention they said oh sorry, the light is pretty dim where we added it up. riiiiiight. they thought we were just a bunch of drunk tourists that they could take advantage of. problem is, they got caught. I won't be back, EVER!!. Total tourist trap if I ever saw one.
(1)Jennifer P.
It was tough getting in but so worth it! My boyfriend and I went here last year on our trip to Nola and it was unforgettable. We got the steak with ocean sauce and I believe the salmon. Everything was great. We had Zoey seat and serve us and she was awesome. Get there early or be prepared to wait. Definitely coming back next time!
(5)Stephy S.
AMAZING! Long long wait (and on a random Monday night too), but go to the apple bar next door for a drink. Ocean sauce is clutch, ESP on grouper. But the hands down best was the "fish tony": spinach lemon verde sauce. I made it w grouper. Everyone at the table ordered something different, but mine by far was the best. THE BEST. Important fact to note if you havent gotten the gist yet: Best fish dish I have EVER had. Grouper Tony. Seriously. Get it. Btw, everyone will reek of garlic, but who cares? bc you'll be so happy you won't even notice!
(5)Rachael A.
Adolfo's is truly a one of a kind dining experience. I lived in New Orleans for five years and every time my parents came to visit this was the one place they wouldn't leave without visiting. The service is always a little iffy, your waiter may have had a few glasses of wine, the wait can sometimes be really long. I promise you this overall experience will forgive these little downsides! The restaurant itself is adorable. Very small and dimly lit which gives it a really romantic energy. It almost feels like dining in decked out treehouse. If you're able to get a window seat you'll have a great view of the local art vendors and street performers on Frenchman street. If there happens to be a wait, grab a seat at the bar downstairs. There's usually a live musician or two- it's totally worth the wait.
(5)Niki M.
Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Adolfo in the Marigny. I had been before, but I'd never written a review...so here goes. Adolfo's is a quaint little Italian restaurant in the Marigny that is above the Apple Barrel bar. On most nights you'll have a good wait (45 minutes +), so it's nice to have a drink or two downstairs and listen to the live music. Because it was a school (work) night, and the fact that Adolfo can have quite the wait later in the night, we decided to go at 6:30. I'm glad we did because even at 6:30, we secured the last table for two. We shared an appetizer of crab and corn canneloni. It was sooo good and was a great portion size for sharing. For our sides, I had pasta with red sauce and he had the side salad. My pasta was just o.k. Nothing to rave about. For our entrees we both got the grouper with ocean sauce. The fish was ever so slightly overcooked, but it was still delicious! The ocean sauce is a cream sauce loaded with seafood. It's fantastic and I'd highly recommend it. You can get it on top pretty much everything there! Our server Glynda took great care of us. She was on top of water refills, wine orders and kept us laughing with cute stories about her son, etc. I love when I get a great server that has fun with me and basically jives with the table. My ratings would be as follows... Atmosphere: A I love how quaint it is. I also love that it's on the second floor and you can look out the window onto Frenchmen Street. Service: A+ Food: A- Value: B NOTE: Adolfo's is cash only, but they do have an ATM.
(4)Brandy D.
We waited 2 hours to eat here! Food is soooo worth the wait. Especially if it is your first time! It was recommended by my brother in law whom had been before. I reccomend trying anything they have on special for the night. My fiance got the most amazing pork chop I have ever tried! Seriously it was so delicious, all of us were eating off his plate. I had the traditinal eggplant parmagiana which was yummy too. Our sausage appetizer was delicious, I would get it again! Service was good, probably better if we gave our waiter a chance. We were so hungry (we got seated at 10:15 pm) we barely let him speak, we just wanted to order food and eat.
(4)Robert H.
The lamb at Adolfo's is superb. Unmatched anywhere. The atmosphere is not so hot, but that did not bother me. It is small; more like what we might expect from a neighborhood restaurant and that is OK with me. The salad was mediocre, but the lamb made up for it. Waters were helpful and attentive. Cash only, but an ATM is onsite. It is located upstairs so be watchful.
(5)Darren M.
This is off of Frenchman's street which is off the beaten path and upstairs of the bar Apple Bottom where they had live music which was perfect waiting for a table. We didn't know what to expect from Frenchman's as we have never visited NOLA before. We waited for about 30 minutes, downstairs, drinking, listening to live music before we were seated. I ordered the Lamb special, my wife ordered Veal with Ocean sauce and her cousin ordered Veal with a different type of sauce along with a bottle of wine. My wife said that she very much enjoyed the Veal with Ocean sauce as the sauce was fantastic which made the veal amazing. * A side note, my wife does not like the smell, taste nor look of lamb * Now for the lamb. I grew up on lamb. My grandma used to roast lamb when we were little, I have had lamb pops with green jelly many many times. I am what you call a " meatatarian ". That being said, this was by far, the best lamb I have had in my life. Even better than my Grandma's. Sorry Grandma. My wife wanted a bite of it and loved every bite of it. She may not ever eat lamb again in her life but if we, I mean, when we go there again, she will. Californian's visiting in October 2013.
(5)Paul D.
Upstairs from Apple Barrel, and one of my favorite places in New Orleans for some Italian/Cajun food. Like the downstairs bar, this is a tiny place with a handful of wood tables scattered. In fact, I am not sure if I have experienced a more cozy and interment place. The vibe can not be beat. Anyway, on to the important stuff. The service is phenomenal. Incredibly courteous and knowledgeable. The waitress informed me of all the specials, along with wine recommendations. I had mussels, antipasti, spaghetti, and a rack of lamb. The mussels were to die for, and everyone in the place ordered some. Which says a ton. The pasta was really good (red meat sauce was awesome), a bit watery though still very enjoyable. The rack of lamb was out of this world good. This is a meal I will remember for a long time. Ohm, ya, this place is great. Not much more to say, just get your ass here and enjoy.
(5)Ji C.
Adolfo's is simply great. From the atmosphere to the service to the food. It's consistently great food, all the time.
(5)Cindi B.
Well, at this current moment I have had several beverages while waiting to be seated upstairs at Adolfo's. We were served slices of garlic bread that was infused with buttery garlic that knocked my socks off. I have yet to taste the escargot and my choice of steak with Ocean sauce. More to follow.
(5)Takeshi V.
If the place was not a dingy dive (with cinder block walls & plywood shelving) and a clean & normal environment, no one would take it seriously. The vibe, staff & even patrons are friendly but the food ...DISGUSTING! Their signature "ocean" sauce is some kind of roux-thickened cream / crab concoction - the most uncomfortable comfort food I've ever had and a taste I still can't shake days later. But the HYGIENE - or lack of it, is the real story. A wiry, vagrant-looking dude with tattooed-hands and a brown soiled rag was pulling mesculin from a bag into salad bowls right in the dining room and the waiters are bussing clusters of plastic cups from the top where people's mouths go and then garnish every dish they deliver with pinches of grated cheese. Then came the bill! RIDICULOUS TOURIST TRAP!
(1)Tammy H.
Drove from Ohio to Hammond,LA and then into NOLA last night on July 4th. My brother, Shaggy The Crawfish King, suggested eating at Adolfo's. We had a wonderful waitress, Linda, and delicious food! We had the oyster app, stuffed trout, grouper with the ocean sauce, and pasta with shrimp and oysters. We loved everything including the sides that came with our meals:salad, pasta with marinara, and the garlic bread. The ocean sauce is excellent, but did overpower my fish. I would have enjoyed a bowl of it on its own!! Quaint little place with The Apple Barrel music drifting upstairs. We had an extremely enjoyable dinner experience!
(5)Paige G.
The mussels appetizer special was absolutely amazing! This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in NOLA. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jill M.
Excellent fresh flounder with ocean sauce, eggplant appetizer and salad. The cream sauce had a kick to it, and I like it that way. There was an over abundance of cream based sauce smothering the fish. Not a huge problem, I just scraped some of it off the fish. One of my companions would have preferred her flounder to be less spicy. From what I observed while watching the two chefs work their magic, the sauce is made up ahead of time, so I am doubtful that adjustments to spice levels can be made. Amazing what they can turn out from the tiny kitchen space. Cash only, and they have an atm right there.
(4)Gasper S.
Every restaurant has a bad night; therefore, I am attributing my experience to that. Admittedly, I should have tried the fish, or least one of the specials of the night, but with the long wait, the noise in the restaurant, and the heat, we just couldn't understand the waiter. We had mussels with marinara sauce and eggplant parmigiana, both were inedible. Half of the mussel shells were cracked (did they drop them on the floor?), the pasta was dry, the marinara sauce tasted like it came out of a jar. The eggplant had a bland cheese that was completely tasteless, and it had thin spaghetti in it! Why? There was no Parmigiano Reggiano in the dish. The food may be good on other nights, but because of the long waits, the fire hazard of the building, the small crowded upstairs dining room, and the fact they didn't take credit cards, I don't think we will be returning to this restaurant on our next visit to New Orleans.
(1)Matthew C.
They gave everyone at my table a dirty glass. We heard our waiter say "i need a glass. I don't care if it's dirty." I saw a gentleman making salads with out wearing gloves! The waiter was rude and didn't care. the food was bland and the wait was 2 hours. Terrible.
(1)Tanya S.
Crab Manicotti, for the win!
(5)bridget l.
Have you ever seen that show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate"- This place is literally slap your friend in the face amazing. I am NOT a big fish lover in the first place but I like crab and lobster etc and I was in NOLA so how could I resist such a highly suggested gem? I got the grouper here with the "ocean" topping which is a blend of crab and scallops and a cream sauce. I literally want to cry at the thought of how far away this dish is from Chicago. Real. Tears.
(5)Alice Z.
Super romantic Italian-Cajun place hidden upstairs of the Apple Barrel - come here for great food and a great atmosphere. FOOD: Be warned: everything here is super rich and super filling. - Crab and corn cannelloni ($8.50) - Listed as an appetizer, but this could have almost been an entree in and of itself. Covered in a rich creamy tomato sauce, thin pasta layers covered a rich crab filling that was cheese like in consistency. Didn't taste much corn. I scarfed this down since I was starving but wish I has saved space for my entree. - Grouper with ocean sauce ($24) - GET A DISH WITH OCEAN SAUCE on it! This is really Adolfo's specialty and they smother everything with it. The waiter recommended this fish and I'm so glad he did. Grouper was tender and perfectly cooked w a crispy covering. The ocean sauce actually had whole chunks of crawfish and big shrimps in it so it was less of a sauce and more of a topping. Soooo good, but again, sooo rich. SERVICE - WARNING: Be prepared to spend most of your time WAITING at Adolfo's. On a Sunday night, we waited over an hour for seats. Once we got there, we waited forever for each dish to come out, especially the entrees. So either get drunk beforehand or bring someone you can bear for 2 hours, because you will spend at least that amount of time between waiting and eating. Waiting for seats was not so bad fortunately because we were able to plant down at the apple barrel downstairs and down a few drinks. Real cool bar, I highly recommend you check it out. BOTTOM-LINE: Great place to bring a date for delicious (albeit rich) food and a superb atmosphere, BUT be ready to spend lots of time waiting.
(4)Deeps K.
In a town that is uniformly hospitable our experience at Adolfo's was anything but. They do not take reservations. We arrived and were told that there would be a 30 min wait. No big deal, we can wait at the bar down stairs..... well the wait turned out to be more like two hours. When we were finally seated, the food wasn't bad but it wasn't exceptional either. Totally not worth the wait when there are so many great dining opportunities right down the same street. The wait staff might have been overworked but they came across as condescending and arrogant. Overall a very poorly run place. Spend your time and money elsewhere.
(2)Clare G.
Terrible service!!!!! First, the server up selled a steak special that sounded good.. I was very excited about it because of the way he explained it. He asked a temperature, and he confirmed medium rare. When it came, it was well done. Fine, disappointing, because it was way over cooked, but the server never came around once asking how our meals were. My friends were all finished with their meals and finally the server came to check on us. I told him I was sorry, I don't complain ever, but because he sold me on this special, I expected it to be better. He did not seem to believe me that it was well done even though I cut into multiple sides of the steak. By the way, I had one bite of the steak and could not eat it because it was so overlooked. He apologized, but did not offer to take it off the bill. Eventually he said he could bring us another one but he said it would take a while. When the bill came, he still charged me for the steAk even though I didn't eat it. I decided I would just take another one home. Then, that night, the food made me sick. Go there if you want terrible service and food that is just okay. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)Shannon P.
Umpteenth trip to NOLA, we decided to ask for local recommended restaurants for dinner. Boy oh boy, were we delighted. Not only were the dishes wonderful but I have to share our experience. We were one of the last groups in the restaurant when, after our meal was almost done, the owner's wife came to see how we were doing and how we enjoyed the meal. The conversation turned, wine was brought out and so did the chef, and we had the most SPECTAULAR evenings sharing stories of their past and present lives here in NOLA. Not only was the food stellar but the entire staff (who eventually joined in our little party) were unparalleled. I recommend highly even if it is small, the heart of Adolfo's is huge.
(5)Brad S.
Food was good. Creative and unique. No AC can be rough. The amount of garlic used in the food is enough to keep all the vampires out of the entire city. The prices were a bit steep compared to everything else on Frenchman. I would most likely return to try more of the menu, and from what I could see, try the specials.
(3)Beverly A.
Ahhh Adolfo's! I love you just as much as I first did when I went here! I again during Jazz Fest and luckily there wasn't much of a wait. They don't take reservations so get in as soon as you can! Their OCEAN SAUCE is just as delicious as I remember, and their escargot is still my favorite! This is the best American/Italian cuisine you'll find in NOLA!
(5)Ryan W.
Love this place! Atmosphere and location is fantastic. The food....where do I begin?? The food is absolutely amazing! The mussels, the pasta, escargot.....I love everything!!!
(5)Brian C.
Adolfo's is a hidden nook of awesome above the Apple Barrel bar. This place is very small (read 'cozy') and the staff are very friendly. Not too pricey either. Especially considering the size of the portions. It is cash only though, so be prepared in that department. Now for the food. FREAKING AMAZING!!! For an appetizer we split the Crawfish Cannelloni. Absolutely delicious. Rich, creamy, and the perfect amount of spice to compliment the crawfish. Then we split a rack of lamb. Fall-off-the-bone tender. Juicy. Flavorful. Painfully good. For real. We washed all this down with a bottle of their house red that they have on the table there ready for you when you sit down. ;-) So for one of my top 5 meals. Appetizer, Entree w/sides, and a bottle of wine I spent ~$65. I have zero complaints. Will definitely return here next time I am in N.O.
(5)Allison W.
Chicken Vincent is amazing!! They only take cash so make sure you take some! Alfredo is lacking but the place is amazing other than that!
(5)Heather N.
Walk through the door into Adolfo's and time stops. Katrina didn't touch it. Welcome to another dimension of quiet calm, strange art, fantastic food and old school service. You can barely hear or feel the crusty bustle of Frenchman St. below. I always get the freshest fish they have that day with Ocean Sauce (shrimp and crawfish on one side, crab on the other, can't go wrong). Love the salad dressing, and they have a decent Pinot Grigio by the glass for six bucks. This is the spot my where my father took me and husband-to-be for our first get-to-know-you dinner. This is where we went to remember him last week. For a minute, I stay there frozen in time and forget that someone isn't sitting there with us. I rarely visit New Orleans without a having meal @ Adolfo's. It's comforting that the city changes, but somehow in this vortex, one thing stays the same, consistent, and that comfort feels really good right about now. Cheers~
(5)Berl C.
Off the beaten path but worth the walk. We were turned on to this place by some locals. Get there early but if you don't they are conveniently located above the Apple Barrel bar. Great change of pace from the more traditional New Orleans cuisine.
(5)Nicole E.
I am hesitant to write this review as I love Adolfo's but hate waiting for hours to eat, however, after reading some of the not-so-hot reviews, I decided I needed to post this: If you expect to be seated in a reasonable time: Don't eat here. If you expect things to be organized and clean and orderly: Don't eat here. If you are the type of person who sends back food: Seriously, Don't eat here. Adolfo does not care if you have a food allergy, he does not care if you don't like him, he does not care if you waited too long and think it's gross they don't wear gloves. News flash people, if you go out to eat, chances are, you have eaten food touched by human hands.. shocking, I know.. Here's my advice: Get over yourselves, Enjoy the music and drinks at the bar in the Red Apple while you're waiting. Order something with Ocean Sauce. And if you don't like something, suck it up, because Adolfo does not care. His food is just that good. Seriously.
(5)B E.
Had to wait downstairs in the Apple Barrel saloon nearly 2 hours before we got a seat. But the food was incredible. Started off with the Mussels Marinara, which were great. I had the rainbow trout with pesto sauce, stuffed to the (removed) gills with shrimp, mussels, and crawfish. Wife had a steak topped with their signature ocean sauce; can't remember what's in that sauce, but if you're there, order it and never look back. Service was great, space itself was a little cramped, but we never felt claustrophobic, and food was memorable enough that I would drive 9 hours out of my way for another bite. Other reviews have mentioned this, but thought I would too: cash only. And there is a bit of a wait, although not as long as you would expect; most parties end up drifting down Frenchmen Street while they wait and never find their way back.
(5)Valery C.
A friend got a recommendation to this place from a local, so we headed to laid-back, non-touristy Frenchmen Street to find it. Located above the divey, lively Apple Barrel Bar, Adolfo's is casual and low-key, tablecloths topped with red and white checkered tablecloths, dark and worn, unpretentious little place that looks just like a neighborhood hangout not interested in impressing anyone. And as we were to discover as the night went on, that's exactly the ambience and type of service you're going to get. The sign outside lists the cuisine as Creole/Italian. Short menu, mostly looking like Italian if you had to pick a cuisine. Most of the entree side is split into choosing the primary item (e.g. fish, veal, chicken) and a sauce. Our restaurant recommendation included a food recommendation, and that was the fish of the day with the ocean sauce. Our waitress mentioned it as their most popular sauce when giving us a rundown of the menu and specials, and their rack of lamb is apparently their signature item. That night, there were six varieties of fish available to choose from. We started with the mussels with garlic and white wine sauce, a special, arriving sans sauce/broth on a big plate piled high. Tender, fresh, and well-seasoned. Then we shared two entrees, drum and escolar fish, both topped with the ocean sauce, which is actually two sauces, one on each side. One is shrimp and crawfish, the other a creamy white sauce made with crab. To our delight, these were incredibly delicious, richly flavored, a great way to showcase the fresh seafood. Our entrees came with a choice of spaghetti or salad; we got both and both utterly unmemorable. Up to this point, it was the best meal of our NOLA trip, and by the end of it, it was still up there as one of the most interesting overall experiences, and one of the best from a culinary standpoint. The style may be Italian, but the seafood emphasis adds a local twist, and the cooking is very solid. On my next trip to NOLA, this is a definite return to. I had no issue with the service but it deserves a mention. Their staff has character, which is about the best way I can put it. If you like polite service with lots of smiles and attention, you won't find it here. But its very genuine, gets the job done, and not too serious. Coming relatively early, even on a weekend night, the place was fairly empty. But it seems more likely to pack crowds later in the evenings most of the time, and being small, there is likely to be a wait. Cash only.
(4)K G.
Adolfo's is above the Apple bar; the dining room is small and dark, and right next to the kitchen-very cozy. The wait staff was very friendly. We got the scallops/shrimp appetizer. It was definitely not worth the price- and the scallops were overcooked (it was about as pricey as my entree). Everything else was good. The grouper with ocean sauce was amazing!! I loved my cannelloni- one with crabmeat/corn and the other with sausage/spinach- the sauce on this was also very good! The bread that they serve is very garlicky. The house wines are good and a generous pour. The floor did shake a bit every time the servers walked past us. Overall, a great place with a local vibe, and some fabulous food. I will definitely return the next time I'm in NOLA.
(4)Kent L.
I ate here twice in a week. I had dinner with two NOLA-area friends on a Thursday night; they had never heard of Adolfo's and were excited to try the food. If we hadn't known to look for the Apple Barrel Bar downstairs from the restaurant, we would have easily walked right past this place as it's a small dining area that holds at most maybe 30-40 people with an eclectic mix of art on the walls, a warped floor, and a tiny kitchen. Since I wanted to treat my friends to dinner, I made sure to have cash because Adolfo's doesn't take plastic. Being a weeknight, the wait was short and we were ready to order: Phil had veal, I had tilapia, and Leanna the cannelloni combination with crabmeat & corn as one and spinach & cheese as the other. Both Phil and I opted for ocean sauce, which gave us two sauces you could have singly - a crab & capers and shrimp & crawfish. We were having a lively conversation, catching up with our lives but when the food arrived the table got really quiet as we tucked into our meals. Leanna's two cannellonis looked like twin burritos and she really enjoyed most of it and while she didn't finish all of it, Phil happily helped clean her plate. He had already done his magic act waving his knife and fork over his veal to make them disappear completely and I did the same with the tilapia. This is food that takes time to prepare because there's only one chef in a tiny kitchen but it was worth the wait. By the time our food arrived, the half-full room had filled quickly with a wait going down the stairs. We all really enjoy our meals to the point where there was only trace evidence that food was ever on on plates and it was a great dining choice before we walked across the street to listen to Jon Cleary at dba. I returned Saturday to meet 6 friends for dinner here before checking out Mardi Gras parades so I got in line early to get us a table. Parking was problematic for my friends and the neighborhood was even more crowded than the usual weekend because of the parades so it's a good thing I got in line early. Most of my friends ordered dishes with ocean sauce or cannelloni while I got the eggplant parmigiana. It was another winner. This restaurant will definitely be on my NOLA rotation from now on but I'm not sure I want many more diners to know about it.
(4)Emily H.
I hate to write a positive review of this place because it's the most romantic and wonderful restaurant I've ever been to...and I wouldn't want the positive press to create a negative subsequent experience. We had a great time, partly because the gently lit tiny dining room filled with small wooden tables encourages intimate conversations. It was so intimate, in fact, that we started up a conversation with two men from Atlanta that were sitting next to us and they shared a piece of their lamb shank with us! How's that for New Orleans. True foodie stranger love! The staff is caring, if a bit distracted (I think he had to confirm my drink order, maybe even twice), but the end result is a long, leisurely meal. It's cash only, just like most places in the Big Easy, and it's best to go before 6:00 if you don't want a wait...which wouldn't be a big deal because there's a really cute bar downstairs to wet your whistle in. The best part was that Adolfo himself hangs out on the front stoop for his smoke breaks and he's really sweet. I'm uploading a picture I took of him right now.
(5)Sydney T.
We have visited NOLA for the past four years, but had never tried Adolfo's before last night. We have been missing out! There were four of us, but it seems like the perfect date place: upstairs from the Apple Bottom bar and the atmosphere is cozy and familiar. The wood floor gives slightly under your feet; the red and white checkered tablecloths of the tables just a few feet apart and the direct view into the busy kitchen make you feel like this could be your aunt's house (if your aunt ran a five-star restaurant). We waited about 30 minutes for a table, and once we were seated the service was great. I chose the pasta as my precurser and red snapper with ocean sauce (crab meat, capers, crawfish and shrimp in a butter concoction) as my main dish. The food was wonderful! I have never had better fish. The pasta was more like traditional Italian pasta with just a little bit of red sauce and more olive oil and garlic for flavor. We were too full for dessert (next time) but I did have coffee after dinner, and it was also excellent. Adolfo's became a staple of our NOLA visit. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Pat C.
Your first time here, GET THE OCEAN SAUCE ON WHATEVER FISH YOU WANT. It is RIDICULOUSLY delicious. We were just visiting and came here on a recommendation. I am definitely going to recommend this place to friends and possibly visit again in the future once I've tried everything noteworthy in NOLA!
(5)Dorothy M.
Beware the giant pork chop! We loved our Adolfo's experience! We wanted to eat early since we had missed lunch, so we headed over and were in line to get in before it opened. (5:30?) We got right in and grabbed a table in the cozy upstairs room, admired the art on the walls, and felt like we were in a 1950s Italian restaurant minus the Chianti bottle with the candle stuck in it. It felt like we were in on some huge secret. Our waiter was fine. Not awesome, but totally pleasant. He brought drinks, told us the specials and took our order. After a while, I smelled garlic bread toasting (in the tiny toaster grill behind the bar!). Sure enough, there were baskets of bread shortly thereafter. Buttery and garlicky! Yum. We had the crab and corn cannelloni to start. Yummy spicy cream sauce. The mussels looked good too. All our food was delicious, though it was pretty heavy (like so much food in New Orleans). I don't usually have a shrimp cream sauce with artichokes on my veal, but there it was. And it was delicious! The juice fast can begin when I get home... Just beware of the pork chop special. It is described as a "double cut smoked pork chop" with a mushroom wine sauce. Sounds good, yes? And it is! Absolutely, without a doubt one of the most delicious things ever! Smoking the pork before grilling it is a genius move that I wish I could replicate at home. So tender and juicy, the knife cut right through the top chop and right into the bottom one. Huh? The bottom chop? Yup. It isn't really a "double cut" chop, but TWO two inch pork chops stacked on top of each other. What? Two TWO INCH pork chops stacked on top of each other. We could have easily all been full with one portion. The "gutter punks" on Frenchman St. ate well off our leftovers that night. Go. Go early. Go on an empty stomach. And then go next door to the Spotted Cat for some rad jazz (or stay at the Apple Barrel - they were just between sets when we left)!
(5)Keith F.
Snuck in here on a busy night. You have to be on the list . We werent NAHahAAAA RRRRrrrrrrramon was our waiter. he brought out some really good bread and pasta to start. the pasta had a nice bite to it. then we had grouper with ocean sauce. crawfish were super fresh and tender. rrrrrrrrramon brought us more bread he wasnt happy about it!! so we ordered another bottle of wine. I love this place
(5)L W.
I really don't want to write a review because I don't want word getting out about this place because I want to make sure I get a table when I go back!! Not sure why this restaurant only has four stars because in my opinion it should have 6! This is my favorite restaurant that I have ever been to in my life, for real, hands down! We went early, about 5:15pm and snagged the last table out of only about 13 tables in the whole place. Its tiny! It is so romantic tho, and my husband and I are real foodies so we liked being able to see Adolfo himself cooking in the micro-tee-tiny kitchen. We also giggled at each other when customers came up the stairs and put their name on this list and asked how long the wait was and our waiter told them, "I don't know however long it takes these people to eat their food and enjoy their time" I ordered the crab and corn cannelloni and my husband ordered the rack of lamb. Best food we have ever put in our mouths! The salads are also very good along with the fresh baked bread
(5)Shannon S.
Always some good food and the service can be good if you know how to work with people. The staff (especially one older gentleman) comes off as a bit gruff mainly because so many people ask so many stupid questions (especially the date I had that night... she says "what's good" and he says "everything" and she says "but really what's good" and he says "everything" and he is right but she just gets mad like most silly people). So just don't be silly and everything will be great except on the nights that he really is grumpy! This place is hidden away over the Apple Barrel in a small space and there is usually a wait to get up there. They also don't have a lot of patience hunting people down so if you don't pay attention when they call your name you will probably lose your place so PAY ATTENTION. They have some really great food and once you get used to the sometimes gruff attitude of some of the servers (to usually silly people) then you can have a fantastic time! I've still got many things to sample here but everything I've had so far has been outstanding. It is cramped and you will probably have to wait awhile before eating and parking in the area is always a challenge but still very worth the effort!
(4)Jason B.
AMAZING! The food was delicious! My wife and I shared a spinach and mozzarella cannelloni as an appetizer, and it was delicious. The pasta was very tender and the sauce was out of this world. It was a light red sauce not too strong, almost sweet with a hint of cinnamon or clove in it. I ordered the veal ocean, a veal fillet with a sauce of shrimp and crawfish on one half and crab and capers on the other half. An amazing taste. My wife had the veal Francisco with shrimp and artichoke sauce. Well worth the wait, since there is only 8-10 tables, but 3+ waiters, the turnover is pretty fast. Wait downstairs at the Apple Barrel bar for same well priced drinks.
(5)Raquel J.
Perfecto! What more can I say about this place. I traveled to NOLA last November and thanks to a friend decided to try Frenchman Street for the great music as well as restaurants visited by locals. I am so glad I walked into this place. It's small, eclectic, a bit bohemian like most things NOLA and the food and service were SPECTACULAR! Our server was delightful, with a jovial and upbeat personality and Italian accent to boot, very authentic:-) We sat next to the kitchen (most tables are near the kitchen, the place is the size of a shoe box) and it felt more like we were dinning in the home of an Italian family as opposed to a restaurant. The atmosphere was both romantic and homey. Little white lights adorn the walls with local art and candle lit tables. The food....OH MY GOD, THE FOOD....It was outstanding!! There were mussles in some sauce for appetizer and a fish with something they called ocean sauce I believe. I don't remember every detail but I know I thought I'd died and gone to shell fish heaven! My friend and I shared a bottle of red wine that was nice, nothing amazing but complemented our meal well and finsihed with a Cannoli that was to die for. While NOLA overall didn't thrill me, if ever I'm in the New Orleans area again I will not miss another opportunity to dine at this adorable and delicious little Italian gem in the middle of cajun country.
(5)David M.
Amazing food in a quaint dining room. Well worth the hour plus wait. Great double cut smoked pork chops in a port wine sauce with mushrooms. Oysters pernot and escargot apps are to die for. The waitress Nicole was helpful and very cute. A must go if your on Frenchman street.
(5)Gabi H.
My husband and I ate here the last time we came to NOLA. That evening and throughout the next day we were sicker than we have ever been before. I write very few reviews but I do believe that our meal here gave us food poisoning and wanted to offer a beware.
(1)Brian O.
outstanding out of the way but convenient 2nd floor hideaway. had the shrimp pasta with garlic and oil sauce - and the mussels appetizer was excellent. you gotta give this Italian place a try.
(4)Karen C.
If you want Italian food at its best, this is totally worth the wait on a crowded night. Don't forget it's cash only.
(5)Gina Q.
This Creole Italian restaurant is upstairs from the Apple Barrel. It's a cash only place, but they do have an ATM with only a $2.50 fee (which is better than some others in the city). This is a tiny but mighty restaurant. Really yummy, creamy sauces for the meat and seafood. Fresh garlic on the garlic/butter bread, tangy honey mustard dressing for the salad, spicy sauce on the pasta, and plenty of delish on everything else. Look forward to eating here on another trip to NOLA.
(4)Sabrina D.
This place is absolutely awesome! I took a trip over a year ago to NOLA and this place still sticks out in my memory it was that great! The restaurant itself is super tiny...shoe box tiny...the kitchen must be the about the size of a kitchen you would find in a studio apartment but none the less the food and ambience were great. The restaurant really lent itself to the New Orleans vibe: romantic , old, corky and away from the tourist trap restaurants like Huck Finn's. There will probably be a wait outside but the food is worth it. Me and my find I think had to wait close to a hour but once you are inside you know why. Now for the food! I ordered cannelloni which was good, nothing to rave about really but the coup d 'etat was the humongous pork chop my friend order. As a person who works in the meat industry I was even highly impressed. It must have been 2 inches thick of taste bud bliss. The pork chop was slow roasted and cooked to utter perfection! The spices used were a mixture of sweet and creole resulting in a dinning awaking. I must warn those of you though that are hearty eaters the pork chop comes with nothing but itself. However, a pieces of meat this thick can stand alone in all of its simplicity. A year later me and my friend still look about of this dining experience with great fondness! Go if you have the chance!
(5)Eli M.
The mussels in white wine and garlic sauce are so good you will drink the sauce. We both had fish dishes and they were pretty spot on yummy.
(5)Matt M.
I came because of the Yelp and was not disappointed. The little place was very packed - with French tourists - at 8:00 on a Wednesday night. I did think about the structural stability. Anyway, with no reservation, I waited in the divey Apple Barrel bar downstairs and had a drink. 15 minutes later, they called me up, and I had the grouper with their special ocean sauce, which was amazing, and had a surprising little bit of spiciness in it. The salad was basic lettuce with excellent mustard dressing. Good garlic bread and wine - $32 with tax.
(5)Blaine S.
A bit disappointing after the rave recommendation. Food was good but not amazing. Portions were small and rather pricey for what you get. The meat dishes are served with nothing else; the rack of lamb, the fish, came with no vegetable, no potato or rice, no bread, just the meat. Ok. Would give it another try but won't recommend for the above reasons.
(3)Lauren A.
Waited for 2 hours for a table, the bar downstairs is crowded and loud, and the service is a bit disorganized trying to keep track of the wait list (no reservations here, and they're cash only!) However, totally worth it!!! Had the cannelloni and mussels as an appetizer, both fabulous. Veal with ocean sauce - possibly best meal I've ever had. The veal was by far the best I've ever had in my life; no knife needed. Chocolate mouse cake is also a must.
(5)Curtis C.
Old school classy little joint. The downstairs is deceiving, so be brave and keep going. Chicken Picatta rocked my world, the best I've ever had. I don't even know how my friends' dishes were because I was too focused on enjoying my own.
(5)Dan S.
After being recommended by a local gentleman we had high expectations. Unfortunately can't really comment on the food, we left immediately after being seated due to overwhelming smell of urine in the entire restaurant. Not sure if it was actually urine or perhaps one of the few unsavoury patrons, but we didn't stay to find out.
(1)O S.
First time I went there and had the chicken parm, it was awesome. The garlic bread was so flavorful and awesome, I could kill all the sparkling "vampires" (because vampires don't sparkle, fairies do) in twlight by breathing on them. The pasta melted in my mouth, I didn't have to chew. Place was amazing, was kind of disappointed about their desserts though, as they're not made there but ordered from some place, in california. Either way food was still good.
(4)Jeff T.
Tilapia, ocean sauce, perfection. Worth the wait, especially if you're waiting in the bar downstairs. My meal was better than anything else I have had before or since. Period.
(5)Lara L.
So so soooooooo gooood! Service is slow, there is only ten tables but its ok. I will always come back
(5)Tony S.
OMG! Awesome food & service in cozy (and slightly crooked) 2nd floor space. It's our local friend's favorite place and for good reason. Everything was excellent. As others have said, I worry about sharing this place with the world. But as we can't eat there regularly, happy to support them via Yelp. The Cannelloni with crabmeat & corn were "To-Die For"! They were delicate pillows of the most amazing flavors. Getting hungry again just by thinking about them! The Cannelloni filled will spinach & sausage were very good too, but not as amazing. They were out of Drum Fish that night, so we opted for the Tilapia with rich Ocean Sauce which was very tasty. Everything else coming out of the kitchen also looked great. Wished we lived closer! PS - Be prepared to get on the wait list after 7pm.
(5)Ardalan M.
Somehow I feel like I was having a bad day when I ate here, because of all of the rave reviews that I seem to contradict! The waitstaff, first of all, was excellent. She was so attentive and made sure that my glass was never empty, which I really appreciate. The "special oyster sauce" was not something I wanted to put on everything, and the food did not taste particularly fresh. I had the crabmeat-stuffed pasta entree, which did not seem to be particularly fresh. The advantage to this place is that it is a quaint location and perfect for a date, which gives it 3 stars for me. Otherwise, the food leaves more to be desired.
(3)Lee D.
Great romantic spot with excellent fish and seafood dishes. This is a wonderful, cozy little place that has a lot of history and charm. The changing fish options are a nice touch to go with a myriad of preparation styles. Very romantic, but hard to get a table sometimes. Go early to make sure you don't have to wait forever.
(4)Chris O.
I travel a fair amount for work and I make it a rule to never go the same place 2 nights in a row... I made an exception for this place. I went the first night and the wait was way to long and I was starving so I ran down to Coop's place. Very different food, I understand but I was hungry. When I walked into Adolfo's I was overwhelmed by the smell of the amazing food. I talked to the host who said while it is over an hour wait... it will be worth it. I said I would come back tomorrow earlier and he said "don't just say that... you better do it or you will be sorry you missed this place" it wasn't like a cocky thing but an honest endorsement from an employee who couldn't get enough so I imagine he just started working there. Anyway... I broke another of my rules and order the same thing 2 nights in a row as well. I had this Chicken Vincent which blew my mind. It had tasso so another plus. I love smoked pig products. Anyway... I could go on and on but another thing that struck me was the bread which came out with a nicely dressed salad. This looked like your run of the mill white flour italian bread but I swear it was infused with garlic somehow... or they just rubbed raw garlic on it for a long time. Just awesome... I went back the next night and did it all over... then saw John Boutte at DBA so a great night!
(5)Melanie D.
Described as Italian/Creole food, this place serves up pure deliciousness. Adolfo's is a hidden, quirky, little gem that is found above the Apple Barrel Bar. The seating is extremely limited and there isn't a time that they aren't busy, so expect a little bit of a wait. But the wait is well worth it! I've had the escargot, cannelloni with crabmeat and corn, scallops, and also the fish of the day served with ocean sauce....which is heavenly. There are several different types of fish you can choose from, but the ocean sauce is a medley of crab, shrimp, crawfish, and capers swimming in a rich, garlicky sauce. A must-try dish!! Please note - this place is CASH ONLY!!!!
(4)Molly B.
Charming TINY place on Frenchman. The wait is long, it's loud, and super crowded inside but the food was great. I loved my eggplant parm and would have finished it and licked my plate if I wasn't in public. Dipping the bread in the saucy appetizers is a must. I think I just popped a button off my pants just thinking about this place.
(3)Jannie T.
A must-stop if you're in NOLA! I've eaten here twice, both times on separate trips, and it is still by far the best meals I've had in the city. It makes my mouth water just thinking about all the savory dishes. Get the mussels in the white wine sauce for an appetizer, then order fish and have them put their signature "ocean sauce" on it (half shrimp and crawfish, and half crab meat). I've had their rack of lamb before, and it's still to this day probably the best lamb I've ever had... and I don't even like lamb. Don't expect great service, esp since you're not paying for the service you're paying for the food. But tip: get their early since this place only has 10-11 tables and fills up quickly. Also bring cash since this place only takes cash.
(4)John M.
Adolfo's is cramped, dark, and loud, three things I look for in a rustic Italian eatery. It's above Apple Barrel, which is a really laid back place with cheap drinks and good music so your inevitable wait is actually pretty enjoyable. You're seated elbow to elbow but the restaurant turns strangers into friends so it's no issue in my book. The menu is sparse but what's there is simply the best Italian American cuisine I've ever tasted. Anything with ocean sauce is a memorable experience, and the spinach cannelloni starter was delicious as well. Our bill with tip was under $100 for two with a reasonable bottle of wine. Go, put your name on the list, have a few warm up drinks downstairs and get ready for a fantastic meal. If I lived in the Crescent City I'd be there twice a week.
(5)Jen Y.
This was our best food find in New Orleans. They have amazingly fresh fishes, a delectable home sauce called Ocean Sauce, and waiters who actually know their different types of fish. Steamed mussels in garlic was absolutely, finger-linking delicious and their service was great. Upon request, our waitress even took the time to give us a list of other local great eats.
(5)A Q.
adolfo's is ADORABLE despite salon-style amateur new orleans-themed paintings purchased from street vendors in jackson square. i had lamb chops, a $28 special (i wasn't paying :D). they were good, if fatty for lamb chops. they came with no sides, and desperately needed them. c'mon, man! i ended up taking most of them home to re-cook the next day with potatoes and greens. the service was mediocre; they were understaffed. the poor servers were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. finally, and most memorably, they make their gratis garlic bread by putting uncooked garlic with butter on their toast, then sending it through the toaster. this results in undercooked garlic. i adore garlic in and to excess, but when uncooked, it instantly ruins whatever it's flavoring. i usually try not to fill up on bread, but it looked so tasty and appropriate for sopping up lambchop juice that i had the waitress put it back through the toaster. it only burnt the toast and left the awful uncooked garlic taste intact and lingering in my mouth for the remainder of the night :(.
(2)Amber A.
Came here with some local friends who've wanted to try it, but hadn't yet. So I guess you could say were all virgins. Food was excellent! My boyfriend & I shared the chicken parmesan and the steak with mushrooms and butter. Both were quite good, though the chicken parm was surprisingly outstanding. My bf even liked it much better than the steak (and he's a steak-and-potatoes guy, so that's saying a LOT). We also got the rack of lamb as an appetizer. It was good, but didn't live up to the hype we'd been given about it. I also samples a few of my friends' fish entrees, which were impressive. Wine was solid, but not up to the calibre of the food, IMO. Though the pinot noir complemented the salad that came with the meal quite impressively.
(4)Jared S.
Highlights: 1. The food (starting bread, Chicken Vincent, snails, Ocean Sauce) 2. The vibe, it feels like a dive bar, but it has a certain class to it. 3. The bar downstairs allows you to grab a drink while you wait. Lowlights: 1. They don't take reservations. 2. The place is very small, so getting in can be tough on any given day. Need to put your name in early. 3. Everyone that works there seems frazzled.
(4)Lauren S.
Love this place. It's cash only and the ATM has a hefty fee. Small place so the wait can be long sometimes, and the Apple Barrel downstairs where you wait for your name to be yelled from the stairs is also cramped, but the one man live music was good. Our server Zoey was beautiful and professional. I ordered the grouper with ocean sauce, which was out of this world delicious. Go for the pasta side instead of the salad, which is completely unimpressive. Bf got the shrimp and marinara. The shrimp and pasta were cooked perfectly, but the sauce was different - a little watery and spicy, still good flavor but would not likely order it again. This place is definitely worth trying while you're on Frenchmen. Parking is scarce so walk if you can. RW & LS
(4)Jennifer B.
I'd like to give this more stars but we walked in at 915p (they close at 1030) to the following exchange: Hostess: Are you checking on a name? Me: no. We want to add our names to the list. Her: NOPE! NOPE! We're done. You just need to leave.
(1)Carla W.
I feel like I'm reading about a place in bizarro land, in the other world. The Adolfo's I went to, that I was recommended to go to by another local of awesome food (Killer Po'Boys) was delicious. We arrived early since we were told they only have a few tables. We had amazingly fast and friendly service. We were told that they only accepted cash and we were ready to be carted out of there by the time we finished eating. Yes, it was dark, but I know where my mouth is. The pasta with Marina and the pasta with Alfredo sauce could've been better, but with a dash of salt on my Alfredo, it was to me. The entrees are so large, I could still be eating it and that was almost a week ago! I had the special, which was rainbow trout stuffed with crawfish, lump crab, CLEANED shrimp and something else that I can't remember now. The sauce was delicious and I enjoyed every bite I could get into my mouth. We were warned that the waiters might be greasy and the service might be sketchy, but we must've went on a great night because we did not find that to be the case at all. I would definitely go back, around the same time and pray that they were serving the same special. I feel sorry that people had such a bad experience in one of the greatest restaurants that I've eaten at in a long time.
(4)Theodore B.
If you are looking for a spacious, upscale atmosphere, a patient waitstaff and low wait times, then maybe this place isn't for you. However, if you want some hella good, unpretentious, authentic New Orleans food, then this is your place. If you'd enjoy drinking in a hole-in-the-wall place like the Apple Barrel while cultivating a healthy appetite, then all the better. By far, the fish of the day with the ocean sauce was the best thing I've ever tasted. I don't think I actually ordered the fish. I think I got the rack of lamb and my wife got the fish, but I couldn't tell you how good the lamb was, the fish/ocean sauce dominated the experience that much. I will get that dish every single time I go to this place.
(5)George L.
Everyone recommends the grouper with "ocean sauce" which is shrimp and king crab in a white sauce. The food was good and the seafood fairly fresh. There were 2 waiters working the room. Look out for the younger one. He asked if I wanted change, either thinking he deserved a large tip or because his math skills were as poor as his service. Then he attempted to charge us double the price posted on the menu. I doubt he is stupid, he likely is running a con game.
(2)Terri V.
Adolfo's upstairs dining room is a jam packed, dimly lit, run down joint, their tables donning red and white checked oil clothes, but the kicker is this, the food is delectable! They don't take reservations for less than a party of 6, so when we arrived we had a one hour wait, which we spent drinking beverages from the smoke filled bar below, The Apple Barrel, walking outside on Frenchmen Street listening to the battle of the bands featuring bluegrass music vs the jazz band in the bar and the dixieland jazz on the opposite corner down the street. I even bought a piece of "street" art from one of the friendly street vendors. What fun! The fresh grouper with a sumptuous spice kicked "ocean sauce" was to die for!!!! The rack of lamb special was deelish as well. A choice of ordering with salad or pasta...we had both which was a perfect complement to our entree. I could have made an entree out of the side of spaghetti marinara with that creole kick and been perfectly happy. Red House wines were fine. Oh and CASH ONLY...but they have a cash machine conveniently located right there in the restaurant.
(4)Rebecca P.
Great area of New Orleans and cute little venue with music and a bar downstairs and the restaurant upstairs. My first impression, however, came from the odor of the restaurant. It stunk of rotting parmesan when we walked in, although my comrades did not seem to notice. It made me feel like, if I ate, I might be nauseous. But, I gave it a few minutes as we sat at our table to settle in, and soon, I didn't notice the smell any more. The waitress finally came over, seemingly stressed despite it being a slow Sunday evening on a drizzly night. I momentarily felt like I was in someone's home on the day they decided to first cook Thanksgiving dinner for an extended crowd. We ordered the frogs legs, the escargot and the cannelloni with crab meat. The frogs legs were loved by their orderer, and I tried them to give my fair review: they were drenched in a flavorful sauce and had a somewhat slimy and hard chicken feel, which he said was normal. 3-star. They both said the escargot were just okay, failing to finish that plate; I was not Fear-Factor enough to venture into that dish. My cannelloni with crabmeat was fantastic, however, starting at a 4.5 and slowing with tongue boredom to a 3.5. It had great flavor including a wonderful spicy kick. And although its generous size made me happy at first (as it nearly filled me up for a few hours), I think that also worked to its demise to a 3.5. Either way, it's worth a try, particularly if you love crab meat and sharing with a crowd. Ambiance, odor and hasty hospitality aside, I'd give this place a 4-star for its food potential.
(3)Bronwyn J.
Best lamb and pork chop I have ever had! Definitely a gem of a restaurant! Lovely service and very reasonably priced
(5)Bobby M.
This place is absolutely delicious! The prices are very reasonable for what you are getting and I like the idea of picking which sauce I want on top of my entree. Everything we had was cooked wonderfully. Be warned that some of their sauces are very rich, including their infamous Ocean sauce. And don't bother eating the bland pasta or salad that they will serve you before your entree; neither are worth your stomach space. Save your appetite for your main course (the reason you come here)!!!!!!!! We also loved the garlic bread. Yum yum yum. Can't wait to go back! Just remember that they only take CASH.
(5)R K.
WOW! This tiny place was recommended to us by a local street artist on Jackson Square. What a fantastic find. They open at 6:00pm and you MUST arrive at least 30 minutes early and wait in line on the street. If you aren't in the first seating (there are only 11 tables), then you will wait a couple hours for an open table. We were lucky and got the last table. it was a 4-top, so we invited the couple from Seattle in line behind us to join us for dinner so they wouldn't have to wait. Great food and new friends ... it doesn't get much better. There is no way to go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything was wonderfully prepared, tasted soooooo good, and the waiter suggested the perfect wine (difficult for a table that had tastes from sweeter white, to dry reds). Be careful .. .they only accept cash, although they conveniently have an ATM next to the bar :-)
(5)Nathaniel S.
Came here for the first time for a friend's birthday party. Adolfo's completely blew every single person at the table away. It is hard to describe just how delicious and wonderful our entire experience was. One Star - Great location above Frenchmen Street. Two Star - Adolfo's can be described as cozy. There are only about 10 tables inside, which gives it an alluring and dark atmosphere. Three Stars - The wine selection was good and we were recommended a great chianti to go with our dinner. Four Stars - The food was fantastic. Starting with our mussels and concluding with everyone's main course there absolutely nothing negative to be said about the food. You could see the amount of butter that went into each dish, but we each devoured our meals. Five Stars - The veal. Get the veal. PS - CASH ONLY! PPS - Get the veal.
(5)Alexander B.
One of the best restaurants for seafood Period. Ocean sauce, with just about anything, and the atmosphere is classic, nothing like it. If you are looking for a great local surprise, this is the place to go.
(5)Wylie G.
Great Tiny eatery above the bar. Awesome atmosphere and great food. Tiny place so be prepared to wait..
(5)tina c.
This place is def a whole in the whole but don't let the looks fool you! My friends husband raved about this place- i was a little nervous (and slightly prepared) after reading the reviews on yelp. We were a party of six which was great for sampling purposes:) We started with mussels in white-YUM,salad-the dressing was delish,garlic bread-i want some NOW and i had the steak w/ mushrooms in a garlic sauce....YUMO. Then i was able to taste the Lamb-which was so good,Grouper w/ "ocean sauce"-the reviews were right YOU MUST TRY and the pasta(side dish) was really really good. Honestly everything was super delish and inexpensive. I would def want to go back if we are ever in Nola again:)
(5)Meg G.
Very good food and service. AC doesn't work so well, so summertime is hot but just read this review and dress appropriately. Get any fish and add the Ocean Sauce... YUM! Lamb special is awesome as is the Escargot... Fun to eat then go out on Frenchmen for some music!
(4)P B.
Excellent local recommendation. The crab and corn cannelloni is excellent and everything everyone says about the ocean sauce is true. Very reasonable and great service. May have a wait but worth it.
(4)Laura C.
This is my favorite restaurant in the city. One of my profs and his partner told me about it and I keep going back. It's not northern italian like many people have come to expect italian to be. It's like the sicilian food my grandmother always made. (It was the restaurant that changed my grandmother's mind about nola. She loved the mussels.) The ocean sauce is KILLER. And the rack of lamb is amazing. The canneloni is flavorful and the texture wonderful. I have never been disapointed and every one I have ever taken there has always gone back, with or without me. They finally have a wine list and have always allowed us to bring up drinks from the apple barrel. It usually is a wait, but ti's worth it. It is in no way accessible, but it is new orleans and the tiny dining room up those steep floors is totally worth it. The art changes slowly and I adore the vintage sewing mahine tables, wooden chairs, and looooooowwww lighting. It has ATMOSPHERE and is always somehow conducive to conversation. I believe it's still cash only, so be prepared. It's decently priced so you won't leave with sticker shock. And you can always hear a band before or after on frenchman. Plus.... it's directly across from elecgtric lady land and if I can't be in the chair in the window if I'm lucky and get the right table I can watch someone else get ink.
(5)Laur A.
I liked the food. However, the canelloni with crab filling had lots of suprise hard bits of shell, which was a turn off. Someone in the kitchen, which is open and viewable, hacked up something, which was another turn off. Take that outside! Otherwise, not my favorite meal in NOLA, but not the worst either.
(3)Robert G.
I was looking for a restaurant that wasn't just tourist hype with mediocre to good at best creole / Cajun influenced food. This place far exceeded all my expectations and goes down as THE best place to eat in french quarter. Small, on the romantic side, good service and the food was AMAZING. Cannelloni- AMAZING. The Grouper or Talapia - AMAZING. Always order the food with the house special "Ocean sauce." I promise the grub will be "slap yo mama" good....
(5)Kier R.
Torn between giving this a rave review or saying nothing in hopes that it doesn't become so popular that I won't be able to get in the next time I am in New Orleans. Shop clerk at Margaritaville(big eyeroll) recommended Adolfo's as a cool little spot to chill and have some good eats. He was so right. My pasta was amazing and perfectly cooked. The place is cozy, yes small. Thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was frantic but nice and attentive. We arrrived right when they opened for the evening and after us was a steady stream of peeps. Check it out. Or not.
(5)Katy T.
Phenomenal. The level of quality against which I judge all other restaurants. Nothing could be improved.
(5)Jeanette C.
I was disappointed in my experience at Adolfo's. The waiter was snotty and when I asked if I could substitute the olive oil white wine sauce (which was available on another pasta dish) on the clam pasta he told me it all depended on Adolfo's mood, then told me I shouldn't order pasta anyway- I should order fish. Now why do restaurants have things on the menu you shouldn't order? So I took his "recommendation" and ordered fish which was good but both entrees were ridiculously hot - serious steam and we had to wait a while to eat them. To cap it off, while I was in the bathroom he cleared the table including my 2/3 full drink without even asking my husband if I was finished. I'm not inclined to go back here next time I'm in NOLA.
(2)Ryan N.
Loved the Drum fish Nick style. Got lucky and walked in and got the last table on a Monday night. They could do with an upgrade to the AC!
(4)Daniel M.
Had my first Adolfo's experience recently. Loved it. YUMMY. Worth every calorie. I'm holding out on five stars til I get my second dose. $100, including 20% tip, for app, salad, two entrees, bottle of wine, bread. Great value was a bonus.
(4)Troy K.
This is where the Locals eat out!! The reek of garlic is intoxicating the moment you enter the door in this local hole-in-the-wall joint! The shrimp scampi over a rare steak was over the top!! Can't remember a better flavor combination. Garlic Rules!!!
(5)Christin P.
Tried Adolfo's off of the recommendation of a woman that I bought a necklace from in a boutique and I was pretty disappointed!!!! When we went in, there was no wait and we were seated immediately. Browsed over the menu and inquired about the specials. There appeared to be only 2 servers working for a significantly large dining room. The server suggested the lamb and a few other specials that weren't striking to me. We ordered a water, a glass of Pinot Noir that was forgotten about 5 times, Mussels Pernod, chicken parm and Ocean Veal. Each meal came with a choice of pasta or salad. First came the mussels pernod, which was probably the best part of the meal, and was served with spinach. The mussels were fresh and tender and the sauce they were served in was quite tasty. I chose the salad for my meal, and my boyfriend chose the pasta. It was served with garlic bread that was delicious and we asked for a refill of that we never received. My boyfriend ordered the pasta with his chicken parm and was not informed that the actual meal comes with a side of pasta as well. One would think that the server would comment on this and recommend the salad instead, because really who can eat 2 sides of pasta? The sauce was flavorful and a bit spicy, however undercooked. His side of pasta as well as his entire chicken parm dish was filled with WATER due to how undercooked it was. My veal ocean was TOUGH and overfried and the seafood on top of it was overly fishy tasting. I had about 5 bites of it. Let me tell you that I am not someone who is overly fussy, but this was all around just gross. We should have ordered the lamb, someone else had it served in the interim and it looked pretty delicious. Total was $70, Adolfo's takes cash only. Was a lowlight of our dining experience in NOLA during the week we were there, would not recommend. Only good things were the bread and the cost of the wine and the appetizer. Service was pretty much the most atrocious thing I've ever experienced.
(2)Ivan B.
The food and the decor were great and very reasonable for a place in the quarter. Looks like a hole in the wall place and that no great or healthy food could come from it but this place is far from what it appears. The only reason for 4 stars and not 5 is due to the wait. They have no real system for seating you once this small place becomes packed to the max(which doesn't take long because there's like 8 tables) they have this book of paper in which your party's name gets up on. Then You wait any time from 1-2 hours on a busy night. And you have to keep checking in or they will skip you. But all in all we lived it and will be there again
(4)Nichole E.
WOW. Got this recommendation from a local bartender & I'm so glad he told us about it. This meal is up there with my all time fav meals. Had the eggplant with crab for appetizer and Fish Michelle..grouper with shrimp & crab and this amazing stuff called Ocean Sauce! Seriously good and worth the wait.
(5)Mary B.
YES. Do yourself a favor and come to New Orleans to eat here before you die. Two words: Oysters Pernod. I don't even love oysters but I wanted to have this dish's baby. Fish in five different kinds of sauces, all amazing. Creole food at its best!!! Here's the deal: it's cash only, there are no reservations, and it's a hole in the wall above a blues bar called The Apple Barrel on Frenchman Street in the Marigny. I don't even remember if there is a sign outside the door. So make sure you have patience to wait/get drunk downstairs. This isn't America, it's New Orleans. Eating is an art and it may take three hours.
(5)Jackson K.
Fantastic!!! Went here with a group of friends and everyone raved! I will be taking my parents here when they visit. I had the veal, there were others who had a few of their seafood dishes, we had a pasta dish, and all loved each meal. Go here!
(5)Kendra B.
I have always heard good things about this place, so on date night I finally gave it a try. We were not impressed. The place does smell of garlic which I love to eat and cook with. The food was not at all special. The atmosphere was nice enough, but I probably wont go back.
(3)Mitch W.
Sweet zombie moses...that's the first thought that crossed my mind as I took a bite of the warm garlic bread that was brought to our table shortly after ordering. Yes...that was just after the first bite of the bread. Adolfo's is one of those places in the world that I like to think of as extraordinary. Not because of what they have, but because of what they don't have. You might pass by this place at first, thinking the food can't be good. It's in a tiny, run down building off Frenchmen, with a typical NO bar downstairs. You follow the creaking steps to the top, and turn right to enter the, what's the word here, quaint (?) dining room. It's like an upstairs loft, with barely enough room for maybe 10 tables. Somehow they squeeze a kitchen in an are that is probably more suited as a walk-in closet. The food is AMAZING though. I had the grouper with the ocean sauce (GET THE OCEAN SAUCE!), and we had a seafood cannelloni for a starter. Both items were flavorful, very rich, and exquisite to the taste-buds. You will be hard pressed to find better food anywhere.
(5)Nicole S.
This was the best kept secret for us locals for years but the secret's been out now! This by far is my favorite Italian restaurant in my town! Adolfo is there cooking! The best crabmeat cannelloni, best veal panne, best ocean sauce! Love!!! I've been coming here at least 25 years, when it was called Alberto's. Same DELISH items but even better! Highly recommended!
(5)Nicky Y.
food was good and the wait was not too long- 20 minutes. Rack of lamb was delicious as was the italian sausage cannelloni and eggplant parm. So why only three stars? Waiter was indifferent, even on the surly side and he provided mediocre service, forgetting our garlic bread and walking away for long periods of time. Hard to figure how he could disappear for so long given how small the place is. And the cigarette smoke from the bar downstairs really stank up the restaurant.
(3)Lauren K.
Amazing food. Old time italian feel with a Creole twist. Adolfo's is perched directly above a music lounge on the incredible Frenchman street. I had the veal with ocean sauce which was absolutely delicious. The sauce itself can be put on almost anything (someone else had grouper with ocean sauce and that was also great). Before I go on, let me explain that ocean sauce is made of shrimp crab and and crawfish meat. It is creamy and thick and I could bathe in it for hours. Very close to the other fun bars on Frenchman like rbar and maison. Worth a visit and very non-touristy!
(5)Karen C.
I would bathe myself in the mushroom and butter sauce that covered my steak just to be close to it again. It was so super yummy-tastic. I want it NOW, but alas, I am hours and hours away. Sigh. The restaurant itself is up a flight of stairs, is super tiny, and has red and white checkered table covers (I found it cute). Surprisingly, the noise level wasn't so bad considering how close we were to the tables around us. Our waitress was quite nice and was around just enough where we didn't really need anything, but not so much she was annoying. Spot on service. I will make a point to return for steak whenever I make it back to New Orleans.
(4)Marian M.
Great food, great bar, great bartender - worst waiter EVER!!!! We waited 30+ minutes after being seated for him to even acknowledge us! After that he served others who arrived after us before he served us and their food was the same, so no prep time difference. Just AWFUL and rude. First time ever that we have not left even 0.01 tip! What an ass he was
(3)Elsa M.
Adolfo's is the mullet of restaurants. If mullets are the biz in the front and a party in the back, then Adolfo'' is dive-y on the bottom and high class on top. Don't get me wrong: I love the atmosphere downstairs too - live band, cramped quarters, and drinks galore. But upstairs - man! The food! The restaurant portion is quaint and cute, so you know you are in for something good when you get there. Ordered the fish with the Ocean Sauce per my waiter's suggestion and it changed my life. Seriously: IT. CHANGED. MY. LIFE. One bite and I knew that when I died one day, I would indeed die having lived a fulfilled, un-wasted life. The fish was perfectly done and a bit light and Ocean Sauce on top of it completely set it off - a mix of crawfish, shrimp, and other seafood. FANTABULOUS! As for service, our waiter was very attentive and nice to look at - nice little bonus there. Adolfo's is a MUST! You will wait (we waited about 1.5 hours for a table and there are no reservations) and there are no credit cards accepted, so make sure you bring cash, but it is TOTALLY worth it!
(5)Jazmin M.
This place was awesome. The ambiance was great and the waitstaff was very attentive and full of personality. I got the grouper with the ocean sauce and I loved it. All it needed was a little hot sauce but that's just the Louisiana girl in me it was very good without it. The salad left a lot to be desired, it was pretty much some iceberg with some kind of flavorless dressing on it. The pasta was pretty good. I'll definitely be back to try to crab and corn cannelloni.
(4)Daniel S.
I have heard so many wonderful things about this restaurant. I drove across town to find out there is a 2hr wait. I agreed to wait the 2hrs for a table. Unfortunately, I had to leave due to the strong smell of urine coming from the bar downstairs. I will attempt to visit again on a slower night for both the restaurant & the bar. Hopefully I will be able to get a table and the smell of urine won't be present.
(1)Wade M.
VERY GOOD SERVICE - BLAND FOOD - EXPENSIVE. The place is small, so prepare to wait. The waitress was very attentive without being overbearing. Unfortunately the cannelloni and fish with ocean sauce were pretty bland, and the double pork chop, while juicy, tasted like a block of bacon. There are better places.
(2)Douglas W.
Great place to go before the clubs on Frenchmen. We had a dozen people traveling from NY together in NOLA for a week. We actually went there twice on the trip, which has never happened before. It's a hole in the wall that just has great food and great service (thanks Zoe). Appetizers Cannelloni stuffed with crabmeat and corn, scallops, mussels. Rack of lamb great.
(5)Jen R.
I loved this experience but not everyone in my party loved EVERYTHING about this experience. I put our name in and was told "We'll call your name", not "It will be nearly two hours before we call your name". Of course we had to wait because we showed up at 7 and the place had already filled up and then some. Someone insinuated it would be quite awhile, so I expected it. Once we got a table, our server was very genial but not very prompt. I have a lot of compassion for this crazy field of work, so I just flowed with it. The dancing to jazz and couple of drinks I had before helped. The food. OMG! The aromatherapy of garlic that hits you once you enter the space is only the first sensual orgasm you have. You MUST like garlic. We started with the escargot and then had the fish (grouper) with ocean sauce, the rack of lamb and the sirloin and all of them were out of this world and worth the wait. Even my impatient fellow diners thought so. Be prepared to wait. Be there for the food. Enjoy the people you're with and delight in every bite. AND THANK THE CHEF ON YOUR WAY OUT...he's the reason you're there.
(5)Joseph A.
If your looking for good food, a great environment, and...good food, look no further! This place blew my mind! I got the steak and my wife got fish. The key to both of these meals lies in the ocean sauce! Crab meat on on top of half of it, shrimp and crawfish on the other. Then some heavenly sauce is poured over the top! I usually don't like anything on my steak but I would take this 8 days a week!
(5)Sharein E.
The chicken Brenda is to die for!!! You will never want to eat anything else. Of course the homemade pasta is so yummy too. Cajun italian food...so yummy, and just downstairs you have access to live music in the apple bars. You can fill your stomach at this delish restaurants before you dance the night away on Frenchman street. MUST EAT HERE.
(5)Jon B.
I selfishly want to tell you to never go to Adolfo's cause it's getting too damn popular... My wife and I have been going here every week for over 10 years and the food has always been perfect! My wife has gotten Grouper Picatta every week for about ten years until she switched to the rack of lamb (must be mid-rare). If you like fish ask for that (It's not on the menu but they'll know what that means). The rack of lamb is also amazing though. I have been rotating over the years from Veal Ocean, Veal Marinera, Stuffed Chicken (not on the menu but Adolfo might make it if they are slow) and now I'm stuck on Chicken Vincent (Tasso cream sauce). The appetizers that we usually get are white wine mussels, spinach and italian sausage cannelloni. The corn and crab cannelloni is also amazing. So please, when you go, get upset by the 2 hour wait and leave so my wife and I can get a freaking table! If you do wait, order said list above and you'll be gladly waiting every week on frenchmen street with the rest of us adolfo's food junkies... -Jon B.
(5)Brett R.
This was the best meal I had while in New Orleans . Started with the crab and corn cannelloni, very good! I had the grouper with the ocean sauce, my buddy had the steak with the ocean sauce. We both couldn't get enough of the ocean sauce. plus the fish and steak were so good. The bread is unbelievable as well and soaks up the sauce so well. Yes it's a bit of a walk but very well worth it! Cash only so be prepared...they do have an atm.
(5)Zain M.
Really cool atmosphere. The dive below, Apple Barrel is great too. Not sold on the pasta but everything else was great. Rack of lamb was amazing. Great inexpensive dinner spot.
(4)Grace S.
I heard a lot of hype about Adolfo's but unfortunately it didn't live up to it. I personally love garlic, but the garlic on the garlic bread was even too much for me. We got the veal and it is was a little gristly and the presentation wasn't the prettiest. It's above a bar, so you can hear what's going on down below. There's only 1 super tiny bathroom so you might have to wait. I would give it a second try if I had the opportunity, maybe I would change my mind.
(3)Lola L.
On my second day in NOLA, I had a big time craving for some pasta. So I did a search and found Adolfo's. I was lucky that the restaurant was empty and I didn't have to wait. I ordered the combo of cannelloni with crabmeat and corn and the italian sausage with the pink sauce... Ohhhhhhhhh! This food took me straight to my happy place and around the block! The service was great but then again, there was only me and a couple on their first date canoodling in the corner. I've tried to get back in to eat a couple of times since I've been here but no luck. As someone who is a huge fan of hole in the wall restaurants with chaotic decor, this has just gone to number one. Nice one guys.. don't go changing...
(5)Helen D.
At the recommendation of a local, I ventured to the East side of the French Quarter, up the stairs above a bar to this cozy, bustling, inviting dining room where I was greeted by a very articulate, warm server, Nicki, who generously described the luscious appetizer and entree specials in mouthwatering detail. The whole fish with secret seafood sauce had been highly recommended by a friend but the stuffed trout with pesto sauce special that evening was too much of a temptation to resist. With Nicki's blessing, I enjoyed this amazingly delicate, melt-in-your-mouth sensation that I would order again and again. The pesto sauce was generous and subtle. The trout was stuffed with shrimp, crawfish and crab with what tasted like cornbread. I finished the entire portion. As a single diner traveling alone, I appreciated the time Nicki took to engage in conversation - not too much, not too little, just right. I'll bring conferees back with me this week!! Wonderful!!
(4)Susan F.
We got a rec to Go here from a local. Omg! Delish! We had the eggplant appetizer-so cheesy and good. We both had the shrimp/crawfish Alfredo. I am not a big Alfredo person-I try to avoid it because of calories, and I think it can be heavy. Their's was the most delicious, light Alfredo I have ever tasted. We were in taste bud heaven. I even loved the garlic bread. The second basket was a little too done, but the first-perfection. Loved it!!!
(5)Laura R.
We ate here last week, while spending a few days in new orleans. We lucked out on the wait time, it was only about 20 minutes or so. You have to go upstairs to get to this restaurant. It is small and cozy, 11 tables. Cash only. We asked other diners their recommendations, everyone raved about everything. We ended up ordering the rack of lamb, which was so good we had to tell Adolpho how much we loved it. Honestly, the best we have ever eaten. It melts in your mouth. They put in in a rosemary sauce. Wow is all I can say. Also got the cannelloni, which was excellent too. It is worth the wait. You will be so happy you did!
(5)Alexis B.
D'lish OCEAN SAUCE Oh My Goodness WOW! Another awesome local "hole in the wall" New Orleans restaurant. We were in town for Thanksgiving last week and hanging out at Apple Barrel one night. We were starving and noticed the stairs to the side of the bar. My husand had heard of Adolpho's once, but we didn't know much about it. The locals then filled our heads with visions of fish topped with "ocean sauce," rack of lamb, & veal. We were sold. Walked upstairs gave our name and were seated (table for 2) in about 5-10 min. max. The space is small and has a very local feel to it. We both ordered fish (one grouper & one flounder) with Ocean Sauce. It was just what we were looking for. Fresh gulf fish with a fantastic crab meat, shrimp, & crawfish(?) sauce. SO AWESOME!!!! We will go back. I can't wait. Definitely a top choice of the city. Price: not bad at all
(5)Cameron N.
Excellent food, great service. Rack of lamb and fish with shrimp and crawfish. Helpful recs.
(5)William S.
Way over rated. Cash only, bathroom that should be shut down by the Board of Health and if you need to wait it has to be in a crummy bar beneath the restaurant that should also be shut down by the Board of Health. You have to wait there in order to be called up to the restaurant, they will not take a cell number to call you. We ordered sword fish but have no idea of what fish the actually served us. There are much better options in NOLA avoidb this one.
(1)Howard H.
Beautifully cozy and perched above Frenchmen Street this place is indeed a gem. We got there late and waited over an hour for a table but the crowd outside Apple Barrel helped us pass the time. Part of the joy was getting a table by an open window on a cool night so we could enjoy the street sounds. The menu is as small as their kitchen but they do some very nice variations on their meat choices. The entree choices are basically pasta, a variety of fish, veal or chicken with a variety of sauces. The ocean sauce on grouper was delicious and laced with fresh shrimp and crab. I had to keep asking for bread to sop up the goodness. The single dining room has 10 or so tables and the atmosphere is noisy but not distracting. Prices are quite reasonable and the server was friendly.
(5)Jan N.
One word: delicious Came here on a local friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint! We started with the corn and crab cannellonli. The sauce was spicy and savory. The main course for me was veal with capers. SO AMAZING! It's a bit of a hole in the wall because the space is intimate but that just adds to its charm. I will definitely come back next time I'm in town. Plus there's a bar right downstairs with great music!
(4)Dan R.
Adolfo's has a delightfully casual/divey ambiance mixed with high quality food and a very friendly waiter. We started off with glasses of wine for the startlingly low price of $5.50 per drink of good quality house chianti. For the appetizer we split an order of the eggplant parmigiana. The tomato sauce packed just the right amount of acid and spice, very well done overall. On to the main course, I opted for the grouper with ocean sauce (spicy cream sauce with crab meat, shrimp, crawfish tails, and capers) while my sister got the same thing, except with drum instead. As you will be able to tell from many other reviews on Adolfo's, the ocean sauce cannot be beat! For desert we had the tiramisu which again, was another great dish. Overall this was a great dining experience and I will be back! Pro Tip: Bring cash with you (they do not take credit/debit), or if you are in a pinch for time they have a generic ATM onsite that charges a small fee.
(5)Tim C.
Great restaurant. A hidden gem of a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. The restaurant itself is upstairs above the Apple Bar. There aren't many table so I'd suggest getting here early. We dined here on a Monday night and were surprise that it was so busy. Luckily, we arrived pretty early about 6:30pm so we didn't have to wait to be seated, but right after we sat down, people kept showing up and were put on the waiting list. The food was fantastic and the prices are very reasonable. We ordered the Veal with Ocean Sauce, Rack of Lamb, and the Salmon Special. Everything was wonderful. We didn't get the mussels, but I saw it come out of the kitchen and it looked and smelled amazing. I can understand some of the complaints about service and atmosphere, but really what else can you expect from small little gems like this. The waitstaff was 2 people with only 1 or 2 people in the kitchen. It can be crowded and somewhat loud if the dining area is full. I think if you go here know that, there's really not much to complain about as the food is pretty great. The prices are very reasonable (nearly all entrees under $20) given the high quality of the food. This place would definitely be in my list of Top 10 Places to eat in New Orleans. One thing I haven't seen mentioned in other reviews is that they are "CASH ONLY"
(5)Natalie V.
Always a long wait but totally worth it. Great food and reasonable priced. Get anything with the ocean sauce, it delicious!
(5)Greg H.
This restaurant was so profoundly delicious that it has made it difficult for my girlfriend and I to enjoy dining out anywhere else, ever since. They raised the bar that much. We are from Cincinnati, but would consider making the 12-hour drive to New Orleans simply to dine here again (and, well, enjoy Frenchmen Street, a far less touristy & sleazy entertainment district alternative to the French Quarter). I have gone through life thinking I didn't enjoy seafood, but the shrimp, fish and mussels I sampled were incredibly fresh and delicious--with none of the "fishy" aftertaste I've come to associate with seafood. The shrimp in particular was thick and meaty. The lamb chops practically melted in my mouth they were so tender. For an outsider, this place is easy too miss. It's above a dive-like (but endearing bar) in a nondescript building. I learned of Adolfo's via Yelp. There's also a communal, laid back atmosphere. Their portions are huge, and because we were staying in a hotel, we knew we couldn't save our leftovers. A couple at the table next to us gladly accepted our leftovers. I've dined at more expensive restaurants with far less satisfaction. We'll be back .... but not soon enough.
(5)Lindsay H.
I highly recommend catching some music on Frenchmen and downstairs at Apple Barrel before finding your way to the dining room of Adolfo's. I'd even recommend this place to visitors despite the fact that it's not Cajun or Creole. It's an Italian restaurant, but you can get veal topped with crawfish and shrimp. We had at least 6 people in our party, and everyone loved it. It's small and somewhat hidden, but a great find.
(5)Gabe W.
Adolfo, I Heart Your Food!!! There's a bit of a back story to this place concerning my family. My sister came here several years ago with my mother, they had a fabulous meal. Mid-meal my sister feels something move THROUGH her and instantly turns white. Upon completion of our meal, we hear a story of a Ghost that lives in this building, and the appearances from time to time. F'n COOL!!!!!! My sister won't eat here anymore, but admits that it is some great cookin! So, on to my experience... I just love the overall feeling I have inside this place, the staff treat you like they know you, or have known you for a long time, really friendly. Adolfo over on the side cooking up his great meals, pretending to act like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, but really just a gritty dude. The layout of the meal was great, first you get a salad, then some pasta, then just meat. That's about as perfect as it should be, great combos. Finally someone in this world knows how to present food the way it should be eaten, in the order it should be eaten and doesn't let YOU get away with snobbery. Thanks Adolfo, you have a special place in my stomach every time I come to NOLA, it's called First Dinner!
(5)Heather G.
I'm a fan. A local fan. Been trying to keep the place a secret for years. But as a bartender in the French Quarter, you come across some tourist that are just too cool and you want them to thoroughly enjoy our city. Most of the time these people come back and see me every day for the rest of their vacation, and tell me how much they loved this place and thank me. The only complaint I've ever gotten was that the service sucks. That man thats been there forever isn't exactly rude..he's just NEVER nice. No matter how big of a tip you leave he will never remember you, and will always be, well, not friendly. Now I just warn the people and they, like I've learned to do, laugh it off. Go there to EAT, not to bother the waiter.
(4)Helena W.
Went there for my birthday dinner and it was perfect. Very romantic and dark with plenty of character to discuss while waiting for our food. Apps: We ordered the spicy soft shell crab. Imagine a deep fried soft shell crab swimming in Pete's Hot-wing sauce; that's what this dish reminded us of. It was tasty(as anything deep fried would be) but the flavor of the crab was non-existent. (Boooooo!) The garlic bread was complimentary and we would have preferred more bread for the sauce rather then the crab itself. Salad: The greens seemed a bit sad and abused. The honey mustard dressing was not so yummy in my tummy. I love my salads but I failed to finish this one. Entrees: I ordered the rack of lamb. I was surprised that they gave you the whole rack(8 pieces) but I guess a rack is a rack. *For some reason I thought a rack was four pieces.* It was swimming in what seemed like olive oil and rosemary. I thought this meal was going to combine my two favorite ingredients, lamb and rosemary. Somehow it went terribly wrong. The lamb was fattier then I expected and considering how much "sauce" there was I was disappointed in how flavorless the dish turned out. My other and I grill lamb about once a week so perhaps my taste buds are a little spoiled but we had a hard time finishing the dish because they were so bland. My other ordered the Grouper with(of course) the ocean sauce. My comment when I tasted his dish? "Holy ish, that's delicious." I envied his dish and those around me who ordered the same when I looked down at my plentiful helping of oily lamb. =( All in all, a great night. If I were to base my review on the grouper alone I would give Adolfo's five stars. However, the miss with both the app and my dish warranted my rating of three. And after reading previous reviews regarding tap water and seeing the industrial sink in the bathroom I stuck with soda. The next time we are in NOLA I will be ordering the grouper with ocean sauce!!
(3)Nina S.
Just OK, wouldn't go out of my way as we did to go there. Mussels were off, waitress (Zoe) was sweet but really rushed. Spinach and Ocean sauce fish of the day (grouper) were really good, salad was a joke, tough ends of iceberg with 2 shavings of red cabbage, dressing OK. Be prepared to sweat, cuz it was really hot.
(3)Ben F.
The food is amazing. Really great dining experience. I'm amazed at what can come out of such a small kitchen.
(5)Amber F.
FANTASTIC vegetarian cannelloni! We got there at 6pm and got seated right away but within an hour, there was a 2hr wait time. It gets busy pretty early, so go early if you want to eat when you arrive. Also, the garlic bread was heavenly. Seriously, my mouth is watering as I'm writing this.
(5)Anjan C.
Simply fantastic! If you are in a rush and want impeccable service and can't bear to pay with cash, this is not the place for you. If you can hang easy, and love the taste of food, especially melt in your mouth fresh fish- search no more. You give your name at the restaurant- which has a dozen or so tables. Then wait to be called. The bar below, The Apple Barrel, is full of charm if you like divey places with live eclectic music. Have a few drinks and enjoy being in the bar there as the first stage of your dinner night out. For the meal, we had an oyster pernod appetizer- just heavenly. I suggest not bother with a pasta entre- get a fish entre. You do get a pasta side with the fish- the pasta is fine, nothing special. The fish we had- salmon and drum fish, were the freshest I have tasted. The sauces were subtle and layered in their tastes, with clearly defined early, middle, and late flavors filling your mouth. The creole part of the Italian/Creole comes in at the end as a warmth kicks in. The service was fine, friendly without being obsequious. Enjoy!
(5)Thomas C.
Yeah, I'm not too sure about this place, sorry. I misread one of the reviews below and I thought it said "a little restaurant *ucked away" instead of "tucked away;" reason why I bring this up, I consider the former description apropos. In their defense, maybe we caught them on a bad night. We were waiting for about two and a half hours for a table, and we did not have reservations. Every time we ascended the narrow, rickety stairs to Adolpho's from Apple Barrel to ask about our place in line, the manager seemed like he was about to pop a blood vessel. He actually took out a handkerchief at one point and said, "Please, please, please guys. Yes? Please?" and daubed the sweat off his forehead. Meanwhile, we're staring at three empty tables that stayed empty for about a half hour. Finally, we were seated in a back area that seemed as tight and claustrophobic as an alcove (though the restaurant *itself* almost seems as small as an alcove). I was seated two feet away from a pink-painted cinderblock wall with zero decorative flourishes. I felt like I was in some kind of prison in a John Waters film. However, the table did have a checkered oilcloth. I will give Adolpho this much. How about the food? Two of my friends *loved* their oysters. Swore by them. Said they'd definitely come back, and they were among the best they've ever tasted. Unfortunately, I had the pasta. I should have known when the waiter said, "I wouldn't order the pasta." I thought he was being ironic. He wasn't. It was terrible. The noodles were weird and watery and soggy. The sauce was just plain weird, almost like plain tomato paste. Maybe the sauce guy was on strike. I don't know, but an Italian restaurant? Come on guys. One last thing, and I hate to point this out, but I must. As I was eating, a tiny roach climbed on top of the table. I rationalized this, thinking, "Well, it's New Orleans, it's getting warmer out, and it *is* a restaurant." One roach? No problem. Then, I swear, just as I thought this, *another* came scurrying out and got on top of the first. Just for a second, but it happened. Adolpho's. Yeah.
(2)Ed S.
OK food, but nothing to write home about. Too many great options nearby to bother with Adolfo's.
(2)Lara R.
Fantastic Italian - add the Ocean Sauce for local flavor. Accommodated our party of eight without problem or fuss. We had an 1.5 hour wait, ended up being just under that but believe me, we were glad we waited. Began with an order of mussels and one of the cannelloni appetizers (delish!) as well as plenty of fresh garlic bread to go 'round. Everyone at the table opted for their entre with the Ocean Sauce -- most agreed grouper was the best choice for fish and my brother Loved the veal. I will be back next time I visit New Orleans! Tips: - Cash only, but there is an ATM on site - Make sure to check out the music in one of the venues surrounding the restaurant - Don't be scared away by the wait!
(5)Bryan S.
I very rarely go out for Italian. My girlfriend frog-marched me here after her (very picky) brother had eaten here and raved about it. I am glad she did. We started with cannelloni and eggplant marina, both of which were prepared perfectly. After, I had the rack of lamb and she had a steak with a garlic butter sauce. I just returned from almost two months in North Africa, and I had not had lamb as good as this - it was tender, moist, and delicious. All the food is very garlic intensive - so if you don't like garlic, this may not be the place for you. Go early. The restaurant is small, there are not that many tables, and having only two wait staff creates a bit of a hectic environment. Just put your name in and have a drink at a nearby bar, of which you will not lack for choices on Frenchman Street. Also, the restaurant is cash only but there is an ATM inside.
(4)Mikel P.
Amazing food & had fantastic service. Definitely a repeat.
(5)Rah B.
I have to warn you. The things this food does to your palate might inspire you to do things. And those things might provoke odd looks from strangers. In the midst of eating my veal (i know. i'm a bad person) with "ocean sauce," a wave of euphoria hit and I suddenly had the urge to sing. My baby got sauce Your baby ain't sweet like mine She got sauce Your baby ain't sweet like mine She got sauce .... And let me tell you, if G Love ever ate at Adolfo's he'd kick his baby to the curb and spend the rest of his years making sweet sweet love to the food at Adolfo's. Seriously, these people are the masters of SAUCE. If Adolfo's had a fine dining vibe, the menu would certainly be pricier. Thankfully, the place is unassuming and the focus is food, so you don't pay a premium to sit in some trendy establishment and have a server up your butt all the time. The prices are *very* reasonable for the quality and quantity of food served here. But there's a caveat to the saucealiciousness. Every entree comes with a choice of salad or pasta and you shouldn't waste stomach space on either. Adolfo's is doing itself no favors by offering these sides. They are both mediocre and undermine rest of the food. This is not a restaurant to go to if you are pressed for time and looking for snappy service. Eat at Adolfo's when you want to savor your dining experience, socialize with your companions, and let your taste buds bask in AWESOMESAUCE.
(4)Jill W.
This place reminds me of Vincent's, but small and on the second floor. I love little cozy Italian places. Their escargots were one of the best I've ever had. I haven't tried the ocean sauce, yet, so I can't testify. The manager was taking care of us. Yes, he seemed rushed, but people, he's the manager. Actually he was very helpful with our orders. For example, I asked him what the soup of the day was, and he straight up told me it didn't come out as good. We got here right when the place opened, so we didn't have to wait. For those that need to wait in line, you need a lot of patience. This place is good, but small, so you may be hanging out on the stairs for a while.
(4)D C.
Not sure why this place is listed under seafood currently, because it's an Italian restaurant. This place is very snug, with a bar and small performance area downstairs, and tables for dining upstairs. There is a ton of art on the walls, candles on each table, and a small bar upstairs. We got here early enough and luckily didn't have to wait. I had the eggplant parmigiana, and my friend had spaghetti with marinara. I loved the dressing on the side salads, kind of a spicy mustard concoction. We both loved our food, and the tasty garlic bread that they serve each table. My dish was cheesy, spicy, and plentiful. The food really hit the spot, and is a welcome change from the ever-present Creole cuisine of the area. They are cash only though, just FYI.
(4)Sam H.
Excellent food and not bad prices.
(4)Patrick F.
If you walk too fast, you'll miss it - it's that tucked away. Walk up the stairs and it'll look like you're popping into an apartment that someone haphazardly built a bar in and filled with tables for good measure. You'll have reservations about eating there, but it's full of people and they can't all be wrong, right? Right. They're there for a reason. Sit down. Have a glass of wine or what-have-you. Order food. Eat and enjoy. You will not be sorry.
(5)Rachel A.
two words come to mind... garlic and charming. If you are with a big group or in a hurry this is not your stop. This place is tiny; kind of makes you feel like you know something others don't. It takes a while to get in but it is well worth the wait. The food was excellent and the prices reasonable. The wait staff was accommodating but not overbearing. Great place for a date. .
(4)Sarah H.
My friend told me about this place. It was amazing! My boyfriend and I got the Redfish Ocean and Veal Ocean. We also started out with the Crab and Corn Cannolini. I would recommend getting the salad instead of the pasta with the entree because we were so full we practically had to roll out of there straight to the couch :) It was worth it...
(5)C D.
I loved this place! Someone at our hotel recommended Adolfo's and he couldn't have been more spot-on. There are something like 10-12 tables in this little out-of-the way restaurant over a bar. We got a lovely little table by an open window looking down on Frenchmen St. We both got the grouper with Ocean Sauce, and honestly, I could eat that dish every day for a week! Our waiter was helpful, charming in a crusty way, and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner - the best meal I had in New Orleans, and the best meal in several weeks. I wish I had been able to go back and try the Rack of Lamb - or have that scrumptuous Ocean Sauce over about any fresh fish again. If I'm ever back in New Orleans, I'll be back at Adolfo's.
(5)Mary M.
Okay. I don't toss 5 stars around lightly, but last night I had one of the best meals I've ever had in my life at this place! The escargot was so good I wanted to get two orders and have them dump it over a bowl of pasta. Then my main course came. Veal Scotty. Every bite was perfect. The artichoke hearts were very tender and the veal was melt in your mouth perfection. The food is so good that it is worth running the cigarette smoke from the Apple Barrel gauntlet to get up the stairs and inside the door. It's like jogging through purgatory to get to heaven.
(5)Nick P.
Had this place recommended to me by three separate locals, so I decided I really should give it a try before I left New Orleans. It completely lived up to the talk. Tucked away on Frenchmen, its an incredibly warm, charming environment. But that's not the selling point. The salmon, covered in oysters with a sherry sauce still has my mouth watering as I write this. And the escargot was fantastic. Plus, everything is really reasonably priced. All this made up for the fact that its cash-only, I waited 10 minutes for the staff to even acknowledge I'd walked through the door, and the table had some old spaghetti strands on it. To have all that, and still get 5 stars, you can assume the salmon is pretty good.
(5)Megan K.
Soooo not usually a huge fan of pasta places because I find that I like my food to have a bit more personality than what your typical bowl of spaghetti may posses. And white bread with garlic can be yummy, but talk about kind of boring. Anyway. I don't love typical Americanized Italian food but really enjoyed the food here. A crab-stuffed cannelloni to start and the 'Veal Ocean' that had a crawfish-based sauce over veal. This was definitely the best thing my face had seen all week. Loved the atmosphere, very casual, very busy (you put your name in upstairs and can go downstairs to the Apple Barrel bar and listen to music and grab a drink while waiting), and the creole-type Italian food was what I think pushed it from boring typical Italian to something worth labeling your leftovers in the fridge so your roommate doesn't eat it-type food. The waiter was very nice but the service was a bit slow (it was busy, but still....) and we had to ask for a soda three times but never ended up getting it. I love this area of the city and the food and restaurant was great- I subtracted a few stars for the service, though. But still- if you have a free night definitely check it out. Makes for a fun evening!
(3)Ed W.
I'm a little torn on this rating. Adolfo's has a nice atmosphere, casual setting, and very friendly service - it seemed like our kind of place... but then the pasta came, and wow was it bad. Both pasta dishes consisted of overcooked spaghetti in flavorless sauces. Fortunately the meal was redeemed somewhat by a decent seafood entree special - it was essentially fish swimming in an extremely rich cream sauce. Tasty enough, but nothing great and our overall impression was one of mediocrity.
(2)Cathie P.
Let me say, I've been here before and loved it. This is where we came on our second date. Well, it was our anniversary last night, so we thought it would be nice to go back. Wrong. Our waiter Jeremy was the problem. I have garlic and onion intolerances, which I stated at the beginning and politely asked for suggestions. He said, in a snotty tone, "This is a Creole restaurant so everything has garlic." I replied, "So you're telling me there's nothing I can eat here?" Blank stare from Jeremy. Comes back to the table informing me I can have fish with butter lemon and capers. Great, right? Told him that's how they made it last time, and that would be wonderful.Food arrives with scallions and garlic in the butter sauce. When he came around to ask if everything was cooked right, I sat silent, because I didn't want to cause a scene. I didn't want to send it back, for fear of retribution. Not that I think most servers would do something to your food, he just had such a crappy attitude from the get go. Didn't see a manager. Just another female server, and Adolfo in the kitchen. I didn't want to disrupt service, so I wasn't going to demand to speak with Adolfo. I have worked in the restaurant business for almost 30 years. Never would I treat a guest with attitude, nor would I let my employees. This is a tiny place. I guess their thinking is have it our way, or leave. There is ALWAYS a solution for guests with food issues. Had to switch entrees with my boyfriend cause oddly enough, his was scallion free and I didn't detect much garlic, if any. Still left this jerk 20%,but wrote a note on the back of the check telling how I felt. If you have food issues DO NOT go here. If you don't, it's great food.
(2)JR F.
We were lucky enough to make it in for the last seating on the first Sunday of Jazzfest, so we could hardly hold it against them that they'd run out of bread. We certainly didn't expect that to compensate the waitress brought out free salads and pasta for the table. And how glad was I for that pasta to soak up the sauces that our appetizers were swimming in. Escargot in garlicky butter and oysters cooked with butter spinach and pernod. These unappetizing looking creatures have never seen better expression. We even got a couple mollusk haters to suck some of them down. And they were all the happier for it. HAving just had pasta with our apps, everyone stayed away from the traditional italian dishes on the menu and opted for the fresh fish. We were given the choice of redfish, grouper, salmon, and tilapia. The fish was served with a choice of five different creole influenced, seafood heavy (think oysters, crab, cream) sauces. Everyone at the table tried a different fish with a different sauce and we all traded tastes and each was as good as the next. All this and cocktais for about $25 a head. Be prepared to wait (no reservations accepted for paries fewer than five), but there is a charming divey bar downstairs called the Apple Barrel where you can wait for your table. Best meal I had in New Orleans and yes I ate at Jaque-Imos too.
(5)Charles K.
10 tables, 2 chefs, 1 waitress, and the owner waiting tables! Can be a long wait but everybody wants to go to heaven right. The food is just that Heavenly! Bring tour patience, your cash and Your appetite. That are keeping the space small buy I assure they have control over every piece of food that is served. Not like other great restaurants that have expanded or moved and lost what was great about the original! The steaks, veal, fish and pastas will send your taste buds into a place where you feel like you are at the Chef's house and he is cooking just for you! A true pearl in my city which is my oyster! Enjoy your first trip here and ask the owner to recommend the dish for you. Hope this is helpful.Locals are bad about not reviewing Adolfos for fear of the tourist finding it.
(5)Student A.
Our food was wonderful. I haven't had such a delicious meal in a long time. The reason the restaurant only gets three stars is that last night, our waiter presented us with a $217 bill, which was about 90 bucks off. Our bill was $130. I don't know if he thought we were wasted, but I cannot see how in the world he could mistake our bill for almost double what it actually was. After we looked over the bill and asked him to check again, he did, but offered no explanation nor an apology. I wonder if this happens regularly. Has anyone else had this experience? It makes me wary because it is a cash only establishment, and the tickets are handwritten. Ours was a gobbled mess by the end of it, so it was really difficult to read.
(3)Michael R.
amazing!
(5)Kyle U.
Delicious, rich, creamy, garlicy awesome food. Ask what fish is good at the moment, and get it with the ocean sauce (garlic cream based seafood white sauce), if you like that type of stuff. Laid back atmosphere with thoughtful and conscientious service. We dined later and among other caring shit on the way out the waiter got up from eating his dinner and held the door open for us and gave us a sincere "thank you." Definitely coming back.
(4)Matt E.
On my first trip to New Orleans, my friend and i started prowling down Frenchman street, and for dinner he said we must go to Adolfo's - one of his favorite restaurants. We went in, put our name on the list (wasn't crowded at the time but we wanted to hit a bar or 2 first), and went out for a bit. When we came back we were seated promptly by the window. It was excellent - I could heard the blues and jazz all around. Loved it. I had the Ribeye steak - it had a creole mustard sauce with peppercorns on it. It was probably the best ribeye i have ever had. Great little restaurant.
(4)Kyle H.
Fantastic cannelloni (crab & corn), with the best spicy 'pink' sauce I have ever had!! Loved it! But, be warned, it is the most RUSTIC dining experience I have ever had. Perhaps, that is part of the 'bayou charm'?? The building is a millimeter above a total dump. And, the service was 'rustic' too. Expect nothing but great food.
(5)Stephanie G.
Amazing! All I can say is the food was ridiculously good! I had the muscles w/ the white wine sauce! SOOO GOOD! I also had a pasta dish with oysters & shrimp. I thought the oysters were a little soft, but I just picked them out. I totally have to give them 5 stars!
(5)Edward G.
Adolfo's is right n Frenchman Street, amongst the bars and music clubs. But that's just the beginning of its appeal. It's a small restaurant on the second floor (the first floor is a bar). It's described as a place for locals. The food is delicious and the portions are huge. We ordered 1 appetizer and two main courses for 2 people and we were stuffed. They had a great eggplant and sausage appetizer. The main courses were both traditional and creole-ish. Their chicken vincent, with Louisiana ham, was great and had a bit of spice to it. I highly recommend Adolfo's for a reasonably priced, delicious meal.
(4)Troy S.
Small place that is tucked away above one of the smallest bars I have ever seen. Adolfo's came recommended to me by a friend who used to spend a fair amount of time in New Orleans. If I hadn't got this recommendation I really don't think I would have heard this place, let alone stumbled upon it. I really liked the vibe of this place and the service was good. The food was the star of this place. I had the rack of lamb and my girlfriend had softshell crab which was the special that day. Both dishes were very good. As other reviewers have mentioned the wine selection isn't great, but what they have is drinkable. Overall it was a very nice place to have dinner and was a nice break from the overly touristy restaurants we had eaten at up to that point.
(4)William R.
Excellent experience!! Escargots, snapper (ocean) great food and awesome atmosphere....bring a lady here to impress here.
(5)Marc J.
Went two nights in a row. Great fish with Ocean Sauce first night. Second night I had the rack of Lamb....it was perfect. Met the cook/owner, a local that has a fine touch. The food is very good and the location on Frenchmen where most of the Jazz is played is perfect. Always busy but I never waited.
(4)Jon'i B.
When i lived in the quarter this is where i ate often and brought many out of town friends. its kinda hidden from most people who are unaware. it has good days and bad days. sometimes the wait is crazy. othertimes, you just stroll in. not a great place for wine selection. i normally just get a glass of chianti there. i always go for the fish. (the small plate of pasta they give you, isnt anything to write home about). The wait staff has always been kind to me. i am a true blue fan of Adolfos!! by the way it has a Spanish slant not German...Adolpho came from Spain...in a most intresting way rumor has it.. Go early-ish to be seated promptly.
(4)Alex H.
We did not make it past the service to try the food so this review is purely based on their wait staff. The place is located on the second floor above a bar. The restaurant is on the small side. We walked in as a group of 7 and there were two tables open that could be pushed together to accomodate our group. We offered to do the leg work but the waitress and even kitchen staff began to scowl at us!!!! They yelled at us to move out the way and the waitress rudely said leave a number and we will call you if we have a space. No, sorry it will be a few minutes before a table becomes available, can you wait downstairs at the bar? After that rude remark we looked at each other and without a word knew that was not the place we wanted to dine at.
(1)Valerie M.
Do not eat here. The wait was long due to the extremely small room. The decor was dark and cluttered. The food itself would be reason enough not to return, but it got worse. A roach landed next to my plate. When the waiter saw my reaction he came and killed it, but I was unable to continue my meal, which I still paid for. He apologized and brought me iced tea. I would NEVER recommend this place
(1)C B.
Seriously, unbelievably good. Veal covered with shrimp, crawfish, and crab.
(5)C. N.
I had only one night in NO and decided to go here going solely on good reviews on yelp. let me say how happy I was to have randomly chosen this place. it's the type of place that if you blink you will miss it. however the food is unblinkably good! I had the fish verde with tilapia. it was probably the freshest fish i've ever had in my life and came out so hot I couldn't eat it right away. it came with a side pasta or salad- I had the pasta which I wish would have come out with the fish itself cus the fish was just two filets and sauce- nothing else. I also had a glass of Pinot noir and a slice of cheesecake. oh my god... the cheesecake. you just have to have it urself. all the great food and wonderful service for about $27. I will definitely go back to NO just for adolfos!!!
(5)Kate K.
Adolfo's is a great neighborhood place located above the Apple Barrel Bar on Frenchman Street. This is my favorite restaurant in all of New Orleans - having lived in NOLA for several years, I made it a habit to go there once a month or more for the duration of my time in the Big Easy. The dining atmosphere is intimate and cozy - charming soft light, wood tables and you can hear the soft noise of the jazz and blues clubs up the street floating in through the window. Note: there is very, very limited table space and they DO NOT take reservations, so if you want to eat there you'd better get there early to put your name on the list. As Adolfo's is very popular with those NOLA people in the know... there is always a list. Zachary A. reviewed this as being food with a German slant - which is actually somewhat incorrect. Adolfo (the chef and owner) is Brazilian - he mixes French and traditional Southern American cooking with South American concepts to create unique plates of some of the yummiest foodstuffs you could hope to have. If you've ever wondered how plantains and pork chops work together - Adolfo is the man to ask. It has been a while since I've been there - so I'm sure that the menu has changed (as it does seasonally)... but, I was particularly fond of the brandied pork chops and the rich and hearty linguine with escargot, garlic and shallots (that's a breath-stinker-upper, not a good choice for dates!) Reasonably priced, you'll more than likely escape for under $150 for a couple, including wine service.
(5)Jillian D.
A great recommendation! Totally worth the walk if you are on the other side of the Quarter. This restaurant is not for the Garlic Averse, the place reeks of garlic and so did my clothes the next day, but hell in a city that still let's people smoke in the bars let's face it there are worse things you will go home smelling like (cigarettes, bourbon street, etc....). The server was pleasant and attentive. This was Italian fare with a bit of New Orleans flare, I was happy because I was really growing tired of gumbo, red beans and rice, or fried seafood as my meal options. I had an entree and chose the pasta starter, delish! The red sauce had a bit of a kick just the way I like it. I took the waiters recommendation of the Veal Oceana and the hubby had the Rack of Lamb both exploded with flavor. My only food criticism was the bread, they doused it with so much butter and garlic that it was overwhelming. I like garlic, especially since I have been fighting a cold, but this was totally over the top. The restaurant is very small so count on a wait and settle in downstairs at the Apple Barrel for a few drinks, the music was great and the locals friendly.
(4)Jean B.
So I read all the reviews and had to make it a point to eat here. Welllllll, okay, the food was okay. But let's be honest, the place is dirty. But that's pretty much New Orleans and I guess it adds to the "charm". The crowded bar downstairs where you wait to be called to your table upstairs is crowded and dirty. All the drinks are served in disposable plastic cups, and there's really not much choice in wine or liquor. The middle aged lady bar tender was rude and rough and I suppose that is another aspect of the "charm". So if you're reading this looking for a place for good food, Adolfo's will fit the bill. Just know that there's more to having a good meal than simply the taste of the food. The waiters in the restaurant were very busy and I felt as if we were bothering them with a mere request for a refill on the water. There's not much of a presentation to the food, but again, it's pretty good tasting. Probably will not go back as there are so many other places that need to be discovered. BTW, did I mention that the whole restaurant/building/street is dirty?!?
(3)Amy O.
Went here based on the recommendation of a local. At first look, it seemed like kind of a hole in the wall but it smelled delicious so we put our name on the list and waited downstairs at the Apple Barrel for our table (they told us about 30 minutes but we only waited about 15). This was one of the best meals we had in NOLA...don't let the laid back decor fool you...this is a fabulous restaurant and the owner is the chef so do yourself a favor and eat here! The night we were here they were a little understaffed but our server was great and he was running around to meet everyone's requests and made some great suggestions. He also told us to go across the street to d.b.a. where we had some great beer and saw a great band (Glen Andrews)!
(4)Eric P.
Went to Adolfo's while looking for a place to eat near DBA and Spotted Cat. There didn't seem to be too many other options in the area and we were getting pretty hungry (read: didn't take time to look around a whole lot) Dining area was quaint and comfortable. Servers were professional and efficient. Food: we had the fish with ocean sauce (clams, shrimp, crabmeat sauce) and fish with lemon-spinach/crab sauce. The ocean sauce, which was recommended by the server was a little too much a jumble of different flavors. They didn't blend into a dish by themselves. The lemon-spinach sauce however was much better and complemented the grouper we got very well. We had the pasta sides which was nothing to write home about. They had an Ok selection of wines by the glass. Overall, an OK dining experience. Not unhappy eating there in that neighborhood because we didn't see too much else. I woudn't go out of my way to come here though.
(3)Jenny S.
We visited Adolfos 4-15-11 upon many recommendations. We were told that they took reservations, but were told that was not the case when we tried to reserve a table for 4. We arrived and waited an hour to be seated. We got an order of garlic bread that had enough sliced garlic on it to light my mouth on fire with one bite. I tasted that bite until the next morning. Our dinners came out at different times over the next hour. To top it off, a 2 inch cockroach fell from the ceiling onto the table next to us as we were leaving. Not impressed.
(2)Leilani R.
If you like dining with cockroaches and weird waiters that steal your water midway through dinner then this is the place for you. Eating at Adolfo's was an unpleasant experience. It was so bad that it's actually comical now that I look back on it.
(1)Dayle O.
the food is awesome with a capital "A" but the two hour wait is ridiculously long. if i were to ever go there again and the wait was anywhere close to two hours, id go somewhere else.
(3)Katie Q.
I had 2 friends visiting me in Baton Rouge from NYC- so naturally we headed to NO for some good times and great food. My one visiting friend Jessica suggested we go to Adolfo's as she had it on good word that it was pretty kickass. I was able to reserve a table for 4 and we cruised right in so we didn't suffer their legendary wait. Things got off to a great start when we saw how cheap the entrees were. My friend Annie ordered the crab and corn canaloni that was SUPERB and def. big enough to be an entree (it was listed as an appetizer). My dish was good (I was boring and got chicken parmasean) and my husband's was actually pretty yucky but it was his fish choice that I didn't care for...the sauce was good (it was schoonerjack fish if I recall correctly...a very heavy, oily, fish that was just too...well, fishy for my taste). Jessica who referred us to Adolfo's in the first place was routinely forgotten about or ignored by our server...who was bafflingly attentive to the rest of us. Jessica is very pretty so we're thinking maybe she made him nervous? All I know is we had a FULL conversation with our entrees in front of us before Jessica's arrived (after reminding our server) and it went on and on like this. Our round of drinks would arrive without Jessica's drink...or it would be the wrong drink when it came. Her request for water was completely ignored no less than 4 times and then when she finally got everything she realized that she did not have a fork or knife...and that was another wait. The poor thing was looking forward to this meal so much and she was soooo snubbed! Now I've worked in restaurants for years, I have total waiter empathy and understand these things happen so I can forgive all of that- but then a cockroach ran right across our table. I have to say at that point no matter how yummy my food was (and it was) that I was kind of over Adolfo's for the night. Would all of this stop me from going back...actually no. It was good food for a good price and I defy you to find a restaurant that does not have a roach lurking under their roof somewhere...but I WILL be mindful to get a different server...or at least go with less attractive dinner companions and then I'll review again!
(3)Michelle D.
i had almost forgotten about this place - it's been so long since i'd eaten there and it's easy to miss. went with a group of 8 last night and now, i can't wait to go back on a date night. the place reminds me of the italian restaurant scene in lady and the tramp. it's not fancy, but so romantic! the food is fantastic. narcissist made me order the fish michelle, but i'm glad i took his advice. we were a rowdy bunch - ordered 6 bottles of wine - and our waitress indulged every whim. i've read the reviews and i'm sure every word is gospel; it's not a place for everyone. thank god.
(5)Molly M.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon Adolfo's last winter (December 2010) while we were visiting. We were staying on Frenchman street so we wandered in after hearing a few recommendations. At first we were off-put by the two hour wait but decided to stay on account of the cold and the great vibes in the downstairs (tiny yet awesome!) bar. Once we had dinner, not only were we beyond impressed with the cuisine but the atmosphere was perfect in the cozy, unstuffy dining area. There has not been a restaurant before or since whose menu has better mussels. We call Adolfo's "our place" now and plan on making it an annual (if not more often) ritual to return.
(5)Linda B.
My first inclination when writing this review was to leave awful comments so as to deter future customers, so that we would have this little gem to ourselves. But, I would be remiss if I gave this restaurant anything less than its just acclaim. First off, this place is well off the beaten path, but a good walk's away from the French Quarter. Away from the loud music and cheap daiquiries of Boubon Street, where the locals hang out, and more and more tourists who are in the know have found Adolfo's. Up a steep set of stairs, in a rickety old building above the Apple Barrel Bar, it's a tiny restaurant, not much bigger than most people's living rooms. The owner, Adolfo, is behind the tiny counter, cooking all of the dishes made to order (the night we were there, he was training another chef). There are two waiters, keeping the place hopping. At first glance, this appears to be your run of the mill tiny eatery. The food, however, tells another story, putting Adolfo's in a league of its own. We had the crabmeat cannoloni with corn and onions to start with; I had a delicious salad with their own dressing on it and the shrimp and crawfish combo pasta (in a beautifully spicy cream sauce over pasta); my husband had the Veal Ocean (veal topped with half crawfish and crabmeat and half shrimp). The food was phenomenally decadent. The prices were decent. Come early, as the kitchen closes at 10:30, and we saw plenty of people coming in around 10pm looking for a table. If you come on a Friday or Saturday, BE PREPARED to wait!! Your patience will be justly rewarded.
(5)Lynn S.
Great food!!! We had the grouper with ocean sauce.....one of the best ever! We also ordered the mussels with garlic white wine sause for an appetizer...awesome! They kept the bread coming and the service was great. There are only 11 tables, but if there is a wait, then you can hang out downstairs....the Frenchman location is nice...great music venues are close by for after dinner!
(5)Jan G.
We had just finished some great drinks and appetizers at The Grand Isle and were trying to rush to make it before this place closed....they seemed to be in a hurry to leave on this particular night as I called to make sure we could get seated and they said as long as you make it in the next 5 minutes, but we made it by the hair on the waitresses' chinny chin chin....Our waitress was an absolutel "hoot" which is just part of the charm of this tucked away little gem. There isnt much to the actual physical plant here, but the cramped charm of it all, I loved and so did my guest. We decided on the mussels for an appetizer and they were as good as you can get. The special was a grouper with the famous "ocean sauce" that includes "a stick of butter" and anything other than a fish that swims. Outstandingly rich and creamy but didnt take away from the perfect cooking of the grouper....Cannot wait to get back to this funky little place.
(4)Jeremy S.
Do not believe anything bad you hear. If you are looking for a large, quiet, expensive white table cloth place, then maybe this isn't for you. If you are looking for a cozy little neighborhood joint with great food at reasonable prices, you can't beat Adolpho's. We can't wait to get back.
(5)margaret H.
Had a 45 minute wait, but it was actually kinda nice cause you can wait in the bar downstairs and they'll come down and find you. Atmosphere is simple, lively and had a lot of warmth, felt like a hidden away neighborhood place you had to be in the know to find. Thought we might have problems with the menu since we don't eat seafood and italian-cajun seemed to be their thing, but we had a steak and eggplant parmigiano, both of which came out piping hot and were good choices. Also really liked the spumoni.
(4)Zachary A.
Adolfo's Apple Barrel is a quaint little joint hidden behind some trees half a block from Cafe Brasil. Adolfo himself cooks the food, which is tasty homestyle fare with a mild German slant, but feet firmly panted in New Orleans. Good place for drinks with intimate friends.
(4)rahmin s.
Delicious combo of creole and Italian. The dishes are on the heavy/cream side, so don't be afraid to ask the waiter for the lightest thing on the menu -- it will still be decadent. Be prepared for up to an hour wait on peak nights, but the surrounding neighborhood has plenty of distractions. Pro Tip: a $20 bill, smoothly placed in the hands of the person running the list, will get you seated promptly
(4)Toni R.
The cannelloni was very very good, the sauce was wonderful. But it's enough to share. A lot of people were getting the claims, I'm just not a claim person. The salad was good too. We both had the flounder and it melted in your mouth. The bar downstairs didn't have an air conditioner, June in New Orleans... U need air. Can u imagine July and August?? The restaurant was just barely cooler than the bar. There is only 10 or 11 tables so get there early or be prepared to wait about an hour. If you are downstairs in the bar and the band is playing and u don't hear your name, oh well they will call the next person!
(3)Jill A.
Bring your own wine and settle in for a comfortable meal in a small dining room above Apple Barrel Bar. For a place that is so tucked away, they certainly did have a wait- and on a Monday night, too! Our party of four waited for about an hour and a half to 2 hours, but it was most definitely worth it. Plus, there is always the option of having a drink or two downstairs beforehand, or just realxing on the sidewalk and talking. The Crab and Corn Canneloni appetizer we started with was absolute perfection, covered in a delicious sauce that we eagerly finsihed off with our bread that was promptly brought to our table. Everyone ordered something different at our table, but three of us stuck with the fish and sauce combo. Mine was the Grouper with the Renee sauce, and it was dynamite! So flavorful, and I have never been the biggest fan of fish in my life, so this is saying something when I say Adolfo's converted me. Apparently I have just never had GOOD fish. My fiancee had the rack of lamb, and said it was the best he had ever tasted. He finished it off, and it was a pretty generous serving, as they all were. Waitstaff was unpretentious and laidback, but busy, so make sure you're not on a schedule, but just out to enjoy a good meal with good company. The only downside was that one of our party didn't drink, and once we had opened our wine and had our meal, we didn't see our waiter again to ask for water. But i will not give them less than 5 stars based on the food alone. Go and seek this little jewel out, and enjoy! *Adolfo's does NOT accept Credit Cards, but also has an atm on the premises.
(5)Chris J.
Hmm... kind of split on this one. Loved the atmosphere (Frenchmen St. is where it's *at* for fun NOLA nightlife), the decor, atmosphere, etc. Our waiter, Ramon, was kind and helpful--but a bit absent-minded and spacey. Our sodas were flat, and some of the dishes were unremarkable. But a few were fantastic--especially the corn and crab cannelloni. (The sauce blew my mind.) Fantastic toasted garlic bread, very good veal chop, and so-so shrimp pasta. So-so veal and pretty solid grouper. So, mixed bag. I'd go back, but I'd go somewhere else nearby first, prob--just too many options to limit yourself.
(4)Cailey A.
Got this recommendation from a local and I am thankful I went! I'll be honest it did not start out or end well. We caught a bit of attitude from the wait staff about their bring your own wine policy, but fortunately did not get stuck with the unpleasant one as our server. You are able to bring your own wine for a 8 dollar uncorking fee, a definite plus, but the wine by the glass is reasonably priced if you're going as a couple and only want a glass each. Our server also seemed to be rushing us out a bit, giving us the bill before we had even finished our plates and without asking if we wanted dessert (which I did!). For these to things Adolfo's did not get 5 stars, but now that the negative is out of the way here is the positive: The food was fantastic. I had the red fish (Drum) with ocean sauce. yummmm. This sauce isn't actually on the menu, but the server offered it to us with title of "what we're most popular for." It was delicious. So creamy and savory, with each bit of buttery fish I could accompany with it a prawn or shrimp and the most yummy sauce. so so good. My boyfriend got the rack of lamb and that too was incredible. It was slightly overcooked at the edges but the middle was so tender and juicy. Beautiful and delicious piece of meat. The meal was the most expensive of the trip but worth every penny! I loooved the food. I would definitely go back here the next time I'm in NOLA, I'm craving the taste of that ocean sauce as I write! Great place, definitely make a trip!
(4)Tim C.
Sunday night mid may...we walked in no line...but tables full. So we put our names in, had drinks downstairs in the small bar with live music. The Apple Barrel bar downstairs is a separate business, but they work nicely together. Wife had an awesome entree...fresh Kishore with an awesome, just right lemon spinach sauce. My mussels marinara we good but not over the top good. Could have had more sauc end garlic bread. Still, this place on a Sunday is awesome, practically no wait for excellent, not over priced food. Our entrees were 14 for me and 18 for my wife. Also, to note.....cash only!
(4)Britt K.
Overall, the food was mediocre at best and the service was horrible . Many of the dishes had a spicy creamy sauce that lacked much taste. To top it off, a flying cockroach landed in my friend's pasta. The waitress laughed and when attempting to grab the cockroach out of the food, flung it at me! When she gave us the bill she had still charged us for the meal. It was shocking that the server were so apathetic. I requested that she talk to the owner, who was cooking in the kitchen and he finally compensated us for "one" meal. The meal that I had complained about, but still charged us for the cockroach meal. In addition, there were little flies everywhere and the bathroom was extremely dirty. I do not recommend this place! There are so many wonderful restaurants in New Orleans...avoid this place!!
(1)Denise P.
Lovely little mom'n pop restaurant on the top floor of the (insert name of the music club here, which name I forgot), on Frenchman Street. The night my husband and I went, there was an insane waiting list, with an equally loud/insane band playing down below. So loud, we did not hear the host call our name... We almost missed the serving cut off time... Thanks, band. Once we sat down, our waitress apologized for running out of bread, the veal and the lamb, so she was kind enough to go over the menu combinations, and made some excellent suggestions... My husband got the (MANLY) steak, and I got the tazo cream chicken... OMG! And all was good in the land, the angels sang and we rejoyced... Actually we forgot they didn't have any more bread for us, we even overlooked the fact that my husband and I can make a better pasta sauce than they can (hence, the four stars). Yet, it was still THAT good. I highly recommend this place.
(4)TBone S.
Loved this place! The food was great. The server was a little snotty but not enough to taint my experience. I had the fish (a fish I'm not familiar with) in ocean sauce and my partner had the rack of lamb. Both were excellent. Even the bowls of pasta were great--just the right amount of spicy marinara covering the top. Loved the atmosphere and the view from our table by the window. Our house wine was nice, although a little warm. Overall one of the best meals in NOLA.
(4)Jenae C.
This place is New Orleans best kept secret! Packed with locals and other restaurant owners, clearly the food at this establishment is fantastic, consistent and overall made with love by Adolfo himself who is in the kitchen cooking every night. Small and quaint, cash only. Grab a drink at the Apple Barrel below while you wait to be seated. You won't be disappointed with the quality of the food.
(5)Jeff B.
I love the mussels here. My favorite Italian place in the city for many reasons. It's not heavy so you can actually enjoy a delicious Italian dinner and not want to pass out for 10 hours immedeately after. The service is top notch and their recommendations are always spot-on. I'm a big fan of the location and the layout of the restaurant. Grab some dinner here and catch a show at Snug Harbor, it makes for a great night in the marigny.
(4)Jim V.
Adolfo's was one of two amazing dinners I had during JazzFest (the other was Louisiana Bistro). While the dinner at the Bistro was only a slightly better overall experience, the entree here was the best food I ate all week. I ordered the Veal Ocean (veal with seafood, you say? Yes!). Two sauteed veal steaks side by side, one topped with shrimp, the other with crab and crawfish. But the kicker was the Ocean sauce on top of the entire thing. Wow. It's a party in your mouth. The veal came with a basic salad with house dressing which was good. I also recommend the mussels in white wine sauce appetizer. A generous portion of perfectly cooked, fresh and tender mussels in a killer broth. Make sure you have an ample bread supply as you will want to sop up each drop of the delectable broth. My friend had the rack of lamb and was very pleased with not only the taste but with the large serving size (8 chops!). Expect to wait a while as there are only about 10 tables but it's festive around Frenchmen St. and the time will pass by quickly. Staff was efficient and friendly, a little too busy to be anything more than that. I'll be coming back on my next visit to NOLA.
(5)Stacy W.
Chicken breast filled with ricotta & spinach, sauteed, topped with mozzarella and drenched in a spicy tomato cream sauce. This is Adolfo's Stuffed Chicken. If you see it on their "special board" at the entrance, please ask for it. They won't make it if it's busy, but it doesn't hurt to ask! You will not be disappointed. If the Stuffed Chicken is not available you can be assured that anything you order from this tiny kitchen will meet your approval. My seafood eating friends rave about their signature "Ocean Sauce" and seeing it makes me wish I liked seafood. The space is small, crowded, & loud; the staff may seem surly at times; and you are guaranteed a considerable wait on the weekends. But do it. The food is that good. And you can't beat the prices with a stick. So, go upstairs and put your name in, then go downstairs, grab a drink, take in some music, and observe the general tom foolery that goes on in the Apple Barrel. The beginnings of what promises to be a memorable night.
(5)Bert H.
I give it five stars because its so different compared to the other restaurants in New Orleans. This seems to be where the local hipsters go. You won't find any tourists here. The food really is good. Unique Italian that has a different flavor. It's well worth it.
(5)Michael L.
We ate here on a friends recommendation. It was during Jazz Fest and of course they don't take reservations during Jazz Fest. Luckily we got there early and didn't have to wait long. The waiting came once we sat down. Our server was an older gentleman who seemed quite overwhelmed, even though he only had three table to wait on. It took a long time for drinks and when he was ready to finally take our order he didn't even mention the specials. We ended up with garlic bread saturated in butter, escargot which was OK not the best, and fish smothered in cream sauce. Pretty disappointing. The cannelloni for dessert was the best part. Overall, probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Letta M.
When we arrived in New Orleans, we met our house host and went through our loose itinerary with her. After she gave us recommendations on a true NOLA experience, the first restaurant on her list was Adolfo. And thank goodness it was. She warned us that the space opens at 5pm and that we should get there relatively early because it's a small dining room and it fills up quickly. When we arrived at 530p, it was just about packed and we were able to snag a table. Once seated, we ordered our meals. I ordered the grouper with a cream sauce topped with Crab meat and capers. The first bite to the last was amazing! I don't think I have ever had anything close to comparison. If you do not go anywhere else in NOLA for a good meal, do yourself a huge favor and try Adolfo. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Benjamin Z.
This place would be 5 stars if the service was better. Waitress was absolutely terrible. She came over to the table a couple times during dinner. Each visit was about 20 seconds. I saw other tables with different servers actually getting good service. Maybe it was her first night? The food was good. Pasta that comes as a side wasn't drained properly... Swimming in water and very little marinara sauce. Veal scaloppini was on point and delicious. The eggplant parm was thick cut and perfect. This place is cash only. Seems like a tax evasion scheme.
(3)Rachel F.
Went here for dinner while in New Orleans and it was one of the best meals I've had in years! Started with the oysters pernot for an appetizer. Moved on to linguine noodles with marinara sauce (other choice was a side salad) and even though it had very little sauce (I usually like to drown my noodles, it was the best pasta I have ever had. It was obvious they make the pasta themselves and when it's that fresh all you need is a little bit of sauce and quality parmesan. My husband's not a big pasta guy and he couldn't stop raving about how good it was. For dinner we both ordered the stuffed flounder special and it was the best stuffed fish I've ever had. It was stuffed with shrimp, crawfish, and crab and they didn't skimp on any of them. The sauce was a creamy butter basil pesto that was the perfect compliment to the dish. No room for dessert, but I would have loved to try it based on the rest of the meal. As other reviewers have mentioned, it's a small place. They open at 5:30 p.m. and we got there at 6 p.m. and were seated immediately. 30 minutes later there was already an hour wait for dinner so plan accordingly. There is no bar upstairs, but you can wait downstairs at Apple Bar. I can not recommend this place enough! Please do yourself a favor and eat here if you're in the area.
(5)Maria F.
We waited for two hours. Had a BLAST at the bar downstairs listening to live music and visiting with fellow tourist. The meal was delicious! I wish I could remember the name of the plates we ordered, they were wonderful! I had a steak, my husband had fish.
(5)Larry V.
The best food we've had in NOLA! We had mussels and cannelloni as appetizers followed by the NY strip topped with ocean sauce.., mmm mmm good! Nicki was our server and she was extraordinary!!
(5)Stacy S.
So good! In love with the crab and corn cannelloni. Huge portions and friendly staff. Cash only and when you first walk in it smells, but well with it.
(4)Jesse P.
Crapy service. Allow you to put your name on the list. Have you wait an hour just to say they are done and not seating anyone. Could have said they are full when they take your name.
(1)Jeff S.
Food is great but you need to get past the foul smells coming up the stairs to the second floor. If you have any of the fish dishes, ask for them "ocean style".
(4)Marielle S.
A friend of mine asked me if I had ever been to Adolfo's, and since I had never even heard of it, he insisted we check the place out. Well, when we got there, at 8:30, they weren't seating anymore. That was a major bummer, especially because the place smelled SO good. Take two: we stopped in after Krewe du Vieux, of all nights. Suggestion: if you want to try a restaurant on Frenchmen, do so during a major parade. There was no wait. This cute little restaurant is pretty small and located right above the Apple Barrel bar. My friend had been raving about the place, so I was eager to try it. Looking over the menu, everything sounded amazing, but I was in the mood for fish. I decided to get the Fish Renee, which is fish topped with oysters, spinach and sherry. It also had an amazing "ocean" sauce, which sounds a little "iffy", but was actually amazing. The fish (I think it was grouper) had A LOT of flavor and the sauce was delicious. I love oysters, but I found them a little weird with the fish. I think it was a texture thing and was more of a "me" issue than an issue with the dish itself. One complaint: I think the only bathroom is downstairs in the bar area (if there is one upstairs, please correct me). I went downstairs to the bathroom, and in that little bit of time, they locked the door going back upstairs and since I had left my phone on the table, I had to really finagle my way back up there. i mean, I had to really convince these people that I was indeed dining upstairs and not just trying to sneak into the dining room. Always an adventure. This cozy little place is perfect for a date and what I would call "essential" New Orleans. I will definitely be back.
(4)Sabrina H.
Went here for a girl's night, and it was a fantastic choice! Ocean sauce is definitely the way to go. Tonight one of the fish choices was grouper, which my friend and I got. We both agreed that this was one of the best meals we've ever had: the flavor of the fish in the sauce is to die for; add crawfish, shrimp and crabmeat, you just don't want the meal to end! Our other friends got the chicken Tyler and the veal ocean and absolutely loved them. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer, which was okay. The main courses though are what you want to come here for. Try this place out!
(5)Amy H.
Despite 2 separate recommendations to eat here, this place just didn't perform. When asking about the menu our server told us that "despite being an Italian restaurant, they really didn't do their pastas that well". ... Really? Seems like something you should've working on fixing don't you think? I settled on a NY strip with a peppercorn and rum sauce. Despite being smothered in sauce, the steak had little flavor. Our salads came out 15 minutes after our entrees and no one came by to ask how our meals were. The server did however come back immediately after giving us the check to see if we were ready to pay and give up the table. We opted to take a few more minutes to finish our bottle of wine. For the price, service and food needs to be a lot better.
(2)Liv O.
FYI: CASH ONLY and open for dinner only. Their veal special with ocean sauce was a good sized portion, and the ocean sauce delicious. My friends got the flounder and pesto cream sauce and the grouper, and they raved about them. The service was fine and the atmosphere pretty classic. Overall, pretty good and filled us up long enough to enjoy the Jazz places nearby late into the evening.
(3)Anne O.
Got there at opening so we were seated right away, waiter came fast, but the food took *forever*. I'm guessing it's bc they had to deal with a full restaurant right at opening. Everything was delicious. Best chicken parmigiana ever. Cannelloni was divine. Veal Scotty (picatta style w artichoke hearts) was amazing. Another one worth the wait!
(5)Charlie H.
Heartbreaking, after being my go to place every year will NEVER return. Absolutely dismissed. Nothing else to say.
(1)Teresa C.
I came here based upon the suggestion of others on yelp. The food was just OK. The garlic bread is underwhelming and my Coke was extremely flat. The service wasn't particularly great. My waitress was kind of rude. I believe it was because I was one person compared to the larger parties. And it's kind of divey. If you like rustic, dark, classic bar restaurants this is for you. No wait time because I got there 10 minutes after they opened. I wish my waitress would have taken some more time to explain the menu. I would've gotten fish instead of the veal with ocean sauce.
(2)Mike C.
Sat at bar was ignored for 20 minutes, the bar girl sucks. Rude, talked way too much and did not pay attention yo the order of the bar. During my turn , i asked for a particular type of rum, she said I was next, then waited on 10 more customers. I gave up and went upstairs to the restaursnt. I hope the food is good.
(1)Ryan G.
Wow. Just wow. Absolutely the best of New Orleans. First time I went: 7 years ago. Last time I went: last night. Like a fine wine, it's only gotten better with age. The food is worth the minor wait. With only 12 tables, you should get there no later than 9pm. If they have it, get the rack of lamb special - hand down the BEST lamb I have ever had. And I get lamb every place I go that happens to have it. Bar none, the best. Unreal. James was a great server, and the consummate professional. His recommendations were spot on. The Veal Chop with Ocean Sauce was out of control good, as well. Great prices for the quality. It's no wonder it's one of New Orleans top rated restaurants. I'm almost hesitant to bring awareness to this hidden gem on the best street in NOLA, but I support them so much I couldn't not share the wealth. Enjoy.
(5)marlene d.
Food was good. Take cash. Noisy from the bar downstairs but fun if you don't want to talk.
(4)Mary R.
Everything on the menu is organized around sauces which I love. You pick a protein and then you order some random persons name which represents one of their amazing conglomerations of seasonings and savory flavor enhancers. Since all solid food is just a vehicle for toppings, this appeals to me at the basest level. However Without preamble,, we'll have to put tables together for you because you're a big party (of 5), you cannot order an app for dinner, you cannot order an entree to share, we don't put things in the side, you can't taste something to see if you like it, you can't have more than one sauce, we only take cash, we don't split checks, and you're in the way, please go downstairs to wait for us to put a table together. If you come prepared to prostrate yourself and take what they give you, it'll be amazing.
(4)Kathleen H.
The only reason this won't get 5 star's is that cc ' s are not accepted, cash only, and the bathroom is pretty much unacceptable! I would not have even mentioned it, because NOLA bathrooms are scary in general, but no paper towels AND the bathroom itself yikes!
(4)Ashleigh L.
I cannot speak highly enough about Adolfo's. It's a small place, only a dozen or so tables, and very casual ambiance. But what they lack in space and decor, they definitely make up for in fresh seafood. Choose any of the fresh fish of the day and top it with the Ocean sauce - you won't regret it!! Don't forget: there are no reservations, cash only, and they stop taking names at a certain point in the evening so get there early and have a drink downstairs.
(5)Sam W.
Disappointed by this place. After waiting 3 hours for a table, we expected stellar food. Instead we got spoiled shrimp in our ocean sauce that made two people sick and they forgot to make one of our meals. When we told the waitress that the shrimp was bad, there was no apology and no discount.
(1)Bradley A.
Appetizer: Spinach cannelloni was super tasty. Entrees: There are multiple ways to mix and match 4-5 fish selections with different sauces. We had Grouper with ocean sauce and Sea Bass Missy, and both were excellent. The steak (NY Strip) was ordered medium rare plus but came out medium plus and was good, but not great. I would not get it again especially since the fish entrees were so yummy. Very reasonable prices. Worth the 30 minute wait. Service was timely and the atmosphere fun in this second floor restaurant along Frenchmen Street.
(5)Ronnie E.
one of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans. Lamb Chops, cannelloni, ravioli, and anything with Ocean sauce on top are my favorites.
(5)Rachel M.
Wonderful Italian food with soul... 3 of the girls in my party said best pork chops they've ever had! Great music downstairs while your waiting on a table!
(5)Lorraine O.
Yelp brought me here with their reviews. Even though the reviews weren't many compared to famous restaurant in French quarter but I don't have to wait to be seated. Small area but everything seemed decent. Please increase their review! I had a lamb with pasta and my bf had a Alfredo shrimp pasta. Server was friendly enough to recommend their menus.
(4)T O.
I had the cannelloni stuffed with crab for an appetizer. I'm sure the cannelloni shell was made right when I ordered it. It was a fresh tasty appetizer. My main course was the fish Sean with Sea bass. The atmosphere was nice. This would be a great date place. Seemed more like a locals place more then a tourist restaurant. GREAT FOOD. Good service.
(5)Ally C.
Best kept secret in New Orleans. No matter the wait put your name on the list, go downstairs to the Red Apple grab a drink and listen to some awesome live music. You'll get so wrapped up in the music the wait won't seem that long. For appetizers if they have the mussels, get those. They are the biggest mussels I've ever had and seen in my life. Also any of the stuffed cannolis you can't go wrong! Both great for sharing. Drum Fish smothered in their Ocean Sauce. Oh my god. I don't even like fish, won't eat it, won't try it and I had to get this dish. There were so many people around with it on their table I knew I couldn't go wrong! And I am so happy I got it. The fish melts in your mouth and you could drink the sauce that's on the plate it's so good. The Chicken Parmesan is to die for. The chicken comes out piping hot and takes up the entire plate. The sauce is a sweet tomato sauce that reminds me of sauces I've had in Italy. It's a tiny cozy place that the locals hide away from the tourists. So get off the beaten path and check this place out you will not be disappointed! Also post dinner head next door Thursday - Sunday to the art market. Tons of local artists showcasing their work from jewelry, art, clothes, etc.
(5)Matthew M.
True New Orleans! The downstairs is a tiny bar with live music that just sucks you in while though wait for a table. Cash only at the bar. The food was amazing. My fish was cooked to perfection with an excellent sauce. The restraunt was homey with 10 or so tables. You will drink and be merry in this dimly lit classic.
(5)Lior B.
Its not bad, but kind of overrated by the other reviews here...long waiting.cash only. Also kind of pricy
(3)Erin Y.
My friends and I came here for a girls night after numerous people had recommended it to me. The atmosphere was enjoyable, almost feeling as if you were in a movie in a old but festive (read Christmas lights on the walls) hole in the wall. I'm not usually a go-to fish person, but figured I would give it a shot, since that was a popular item in previous yelp reviews. I ordered the Grouper with Ocean sauce, which was amazing. The fish was light, with a light cream sauce on top with crabmeat, crawfish, and shrimp as well. It was to die for. We also got the spinach and ricotta cannelloni and the oysters pernot as appetizers. They were both good, but the cannelloni was better! My entree also came with a side of linguine with a house made red sauce that was divine, unlike anything I've ever had before. We all agreed that this was an excellent choice, as everything was amazing. After all, every plate was wiped clean. 5 stars!!
(5)Jolena S.
Get there at 5:30 when they open. Cash only. Now that I got that out of the way. Such good food! We started with the mussels in white wine & garlic sauce. Oh my nom! Tasty! He went with the grouper in ocean sauce because he's thinking about it since our first visit two years ago. I took the advice of a friend and had the cannelloni with crab and corn. It was tasty but had pepper in it so my sweetie kindly traded with me half way through. To cool my tongue we got ice cream in amaretto sauce for dessert. Adolfo's is becoming a must visit when we are in NOLA.
(5)Sharine d.
Food is wonderful!! BUT, the wait for a table is unreal! 2 hour...then add the wait for the food. ...now at 3hrs. Now that you are TIRED..the food....amazing. steak and fish...the best I've ever had....leg of lamb wonderful! Good is great...When you have lots of time this is the place to go.
(5)Olivier B.
One word: Fabulous. What a great place! We came the first night at 9:30pm, there were no more tables left and you have to put your name on the list from 5:30pm to eat there. The next day we arrived at 5:40 to eat and it was full by 6pm. The mussels as an appetizer were great and the fish with the ocean sauce was really good (we had the red drum which was good) Good service, authentic little restaurant, really a good spot on Frenchman street!
(5)Mandy E.
Our group of 10 agrees: In our 6-day trip to New Orleans - Adolfo's had the BEST food of the dozens of restaurants we dined. We tried it all - veal oceana, chicken parm, shrimp alfredo, mussels, rack of lamb, steak. All amazing and cooked to perfection. The place is very small, and unfortunately they could not seat all 10 of us at the same table, but we sat at adjacent tables which wasn't too bad. Honestly, I'd sit at a table alone if that's what it took to eat here! Adolfo's will be at the top of my list the next time we come back to New Orleans!
(5)Wendy H.
Dinner was wonderful we had the Grouper and trout both was very filling and delicious. With very generous portions.
(4)Michael G.
After spending some time in New Orleans, enjoying unique and creative food at highly recommended restaurants like GW Fins, Cochon, Kingfish, etc... it was completely dissapointing to spend our last dinner at this dump and then feeling sick. If you know anything about how good Italian food OR Italian influenced food should taste STAY AWAY. The oyster appetizer was completely tasteless, we're even suspicious that it made us nauseous. The salad was frozen probably dumped out of those pre-packaged grocery combos. The "pasta" I'm pretty sure in Italy you would be shot for serving it this overcooked, sauce was tasteless watery cream. The "pan-seared" fish was soaked in another tasteless watery-cream sauce, serving all these dishes with shrimp/crawfish doesn't make this food a worthwhile Creole experience. Go somewhere else. Service was pretty snobby for a place that clearly needs to go back to basic cooking school. Waitresses sprinkle cheese with their hands after picking up dishes, handeling money and not stopping to wash their hands. Bottom line: DISGUSTING, DON'T GO HERE! Capisce?!
(1)martin T.
Overrated, overpriced, kinda yuck. Waited forever, pasta was overcooked and mushy, mussels were good. Salad was wilted, out of a bag mix, decent dressing. Wouldn't go back, wouldn't recommend.
(2)Mo M.
You will love this upstairs neighborhood joint if you like overcooked fish served with huge quantities of overspiced and heavy cream sauce, salad made up iceberg lettuce, and sweet cheap wine. What a waste of calories! Giant portions here if you're looking to stuff yourself, and a million sauces to choose from. The staff is very friendly, although slow and forgetful at times. Red checked tablecloths, cute room - it could have been so nice! Instead, we left feeling slightly ill...
(1)Kristy R.
The best restaurant in New Orleans. Okay, so I had only been in NOLA for a week but damn this place was good. We had originally planned on going somewhere else but wound up here thanks to the handy Yelp app and the fact it was 9PM and we were starving. It's upstairs from the Apple Barrel Bar, so put your name on the list and hang out at the bar till they come and get you. The restaurant is tiny. Only a small amount of tables, an itty bitty bar, and a kitchen that looks like it's straight out of the 40s. Our waitress was super nice and gave suggestions as well as the specials for the evening. We were surrounded by locals who all stated this is the best restaurant in New Orleans. We had a few good laughs with them, one took a selfie with us, and the company was just fabulous. For our starter, we had the mussels in white wine and garlic sauce. SO GOOD. My friend and I polished these off in 2 minutes. For my entree, I had the pasta with shrimp and oysters. They had some nice, fat oysters in here. The shrimp was fresh, as was the pasta. The cream sauce they used was mind-blowing and had a cajun kick to it. My friend had the Italian sausage which contained the same kick as was tasty! Our other friend had the mahi mahi in ocean sauce. I do not know what their ocean sauce consists of and I do not care because it was one of the best sauces I have ever tasted. Btw all items can be paired all ways. Want ocean sauce on your pasta? They'll do that for ya. The bill was cheap for the amount of food we got. It was great to kick back and relax with the locals while enjoying a delicious meal. Our waitress also stated she loves New Yorkers because we are always so polite and tip well. I need to go back here next time I visit New Orleans.
(5)Bobby B.
Meagan M from New York is pretty much right. Adolfo's isn't very good Italian food. New Orleans doesn't really have much in the way of good Italian food. The night we tried to eat there, the entire top floor area (It's above a bar) smelled like spoiled garbage so made for an appetizer and dash situation. But usually, tourists from places that are known for Italian food and rudeness aren't stupid enough to come to New Orleans and eat Italian Food. Usually they are smart enough to stick to what we're known for. And most don't try to tell us what we know or do not know. because that would just be obnoxious, wouldn't it? Lesson learned?
(2)Stacy H.
The ALL of the appetizers are just amazing... and ocean sauce... to die for.. I love this place. the first floor has great music and vibe~~ make sure to stop by n grab a drink. Adolfo brings out the magic in his dish =) just try!!
(5)Hannah L.
This is my new cravings spot. I went last night and had an appetizer of mussels. First time I had tried them and they had the garlic and wine sauce. While eating them I said something I have never said before, "I like these more than boiled crabs." That was until my girlfriend got her plate. She had ordered the fish covered half with their "missy" sauce and half with lump crabmeat. This crabmeat was THE. BEST. CRABMEAT. I had ever put in my mouth. I mean, I savored the flavor as long as I could. The "missy" side was equally as delicious. My girlfriend quotes, "this side is heaven... AND this side is heaven!" Then I got my crabmeat and corn cannelloni which was stuffed with a different crabmeat but still so good. All in all this is now one of my favorite spots and I will be returning... A lot. Thanks guys.
(5)Mcloven Y.
Very small hole in the wall restaurant to eat fantastic food. Not a wide variety of food but the small selection is great. Service was the best while our 4 day stay in NOLA! Because its so small there is a long wait. But the wait is worth the taste and it is filling food. More on the Italian side of food but hints of culture.
(5)Jen O.
The grouper with crab meat, shrimp, crawfish and capers in ocean sauce was probably the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. I have never had food melt in my mouth like this before. Absolute perfection. (Very) garlic bread is served on the table and we also had the crab and corn canollini and a side of linguini in red sauce. Everything was absolute perfection. I never would have expected it from such a random restaurant. Definitely worth the trip!!!!
(5)Michael J.
This place was a dive and the steak was awesome! Worth the wait. Staff was really friendly.
(4)John H.
Excellent old restaurant and bar, serving Cajun-Italian cuisine. Excellent seafood dishes, as well as traditional Italian selections. CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM downstairs.
(5)Yi H.
More of 4.5 stars than 4! It's a lovely little and down to earth restaurant, very cosy and they serve excellent food! I have read many good reviews and was recommended by the bus tour guide to come here. As the restaurant is pretty small, we put our name down and waited at the bar downstair while listening to some live music. The waiting didn't take long. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, it's pretty small and very busy. Like: friendly services, cozy ambiance, excellent food, waitress is very knowledgeable about the dishes and gave good recommendation. Seafood is absolutely fresh and delicious. Dislike: cash only (but there is ATM machine in the restaurant), no side dishes (it's not a big deal though). We had escargot, grouper with ocean source (EXCELLENT), trumpetfish in mariana source, each entree comes with either pasta or salad. Group with Ocean Source is highly recommended!!!! Would certainly come back again! Highly recommended!
(4)Katie G.
Came strongly recommended by Gil, the proprietor of the beautiful classic B&B we stayed at. I think J loved this place more than me. I'm not a big fan of pastas with a kick (creole-style), but it was still very tasty. J loved his grouper with ocean sauce. The mussels were good, but I hate to say it--I've had better. The server recommended a very nice white wine, which we thoroughly enjoyed with our meal. So what I didn't love was the wait. It's a very popular and somewhat famous staple in the french quarter. The wait is long. We were told 1 hour, but were fortunately seated within 40mins because we bypassed 3 larger parties ahead of us. It is a small restaurant located upstairs. Good thing is you can wait for a table at the loud bar downstairs. When visiting New Orleans, highly recommend an early dinner here (wait is much less). For me, I'll explore other options or stuff my face at EAT again. Remember this place is CASH ONLY, so make sure you bring more than $100.
(4)Jay S.
Get here early, this is a very tiny restaurant, or be prepared to wait. There is a small dive bar below the restaurant that usually has live music. Also, it's cash only, there is an ATM inside. Enough with the boring details... this restaurant is great. Our waitress was friendly and had some great recommendations. We ordered the grouper with "ocean sauce" - a creamy sauce with tons of different shellfish - the ocean sauce was recommended by our waitress and it was excellent. We also ordered two cannelloni's - one with Italian sausage and spinach, another one with crab meat and corn. Would definitely order the crab meat cannelloni again - it was great and had a tasty sauce on top.
(5)Julia G.
A few friends took me to this place for my birthday, we waiting 2.5 hours for our table. Once seated the waitress was very nice and quick to bring us our order. My friends order was made wrong but was forced by the owner to take it anyway. It's a shame that a good restaurant have such bad customer service especially coming from the owner.
(2)Dustin M.
While looking for a place to hang out on our last day in town, a local told us to try Frenchman Street. The cab driver recommended Adolfo's. "Better than Emeril's!", he said. It's located above a little bar that had a guy randomly playing guitar on the floor. This is not unusual for the neighborhood. For those with complaints about the wait, we didn't experience that. They said 10 minutes, and it was minutes. Had no qualms with the service either. Our server was very friendly and well versed with the menu. My shrimp and crawfish pasta was solid, but not spectacular. I'd gotten used to big flavors in New Orleans. This was far more understated. The prices were reasonable, given that we are talking about seafood. I would probably give it 3.5 if that were an option
(3)Lauren Z.
I am so utterly disgusted and disappointed. This place was recommended to me and I have no idea how it could be recommended by anyone. First of all, we walked in and the place smelled like a sewer. But since my friend, who lives in New Orleans, had recommended it to me, I decided to attribute the smell to our proximity to the water and the age of the building. Unfortunately, it actually smelled bad because the seafood we were served was rotten, as was the sauce. We got the famous ocean sauce, and it was disgusting. Really. Rotten seafood, and the sauce smelled like rotten cheese, and the veal chop below it was mushy and lukewarm, as was half the sauce. Prior to that, for the appetizer, we split a cannelloni, which was not a cannelloni in the first place, and then it was served with lukewarm spinach that clearly came directly out of a store bought freezer package and had not even made it to hot yet, nevermind being seasoned at all. The sausage in the 'cannelloni' was good, and the sauce was okay. The house wine is terrible, and the pasta is what you buy at the store for 99 cents. I'd be perfectly willing to go to a restaurant that uses frozen spinach, pre-packaged salad, and cheap pasta, if they were charging me $8 for a family sized portion and calling themselves a 'family restaurant'. However, the fact that I had to pay $25 for a rotten entree instead, with all the above cheap, rotten, and lukewarm ingredients, is unforgivable and just plain offensive. We sent our veal with ocean sauce back and that was comp'ed, yet nothing else was offered, even though when the chefs themselves got it back and tried it they said, "Oh, that really is terrible." Our waitress reported that back to us. But we still had to pay for the other lukewarm dishes and our warm, cheap wine, and we had to pay for the experience of being in a nasty smelly place, which, I agree with you, should have turned us away from the very beginning, if only I hadn't thought I should trust my recommender. This is a place that only survives because it is located in a position where there are enough tourists who don't know or care what they're eating and who will go there because it is in a convenient location. Even had the sauce not been rotten that night, the rest of the ingredients and attention to food quality would have been the same. Ruined the start of our night. We went and did shots afterwards to put something antiseptic in our stomachs to make sure that the two pieces of crawfish and shrimp and the tiny teaspoonfuls of rotten sauce that we had tried would not poison us. Oh, and to restart our night and enjoy the great music on Frenchmen St.
(1)Christopher W.
I guess I forgot to update my review from the last time I was here. I came here a while back with a lady friend of mine and the meal was amazing. We started out with the mussels and they were so fresh and garlicy and because the owner was a little enamored with my friend we received a huge portion. Then came the pasta and bread which were both excellent and to top it all off was my usual grouper topped with ocean sauce the largest portion size I have ever seen from them. The only knock I have on this place is the cash only but other than that this is the go to place for an italian inspired seafood meal. I guess for my last review it was just a bad night but I still highly recommend Adolfo's. PS always take the seat by the window if you can just in case you have to jump out. The place is a little tight.
(4)Byron M.
It was incredible. Exactly the local spot I wanted to find. Great super fun band downstairs while u wait. We got the grouper with ocean sauce. Incredible. My wife got the rib eye with ocean sauce. Just wish I could have kept on eating. A must visit
(5)Leah I.
Loved it! I was recommended to eat here by lifetime New Orleans residents and they weren't wrong. Besides the unique location - located on Frenchmen St. away from the middle of the French Quarter - the food quality and service were amazing!! Even though the restaurant is real small and they don't take reservations, they were able to accommodate for a group of 9 of us on a Tuesday night. We waited an hour for the table, which didn't bother us as we had a drink downstairs and listened to their live entertainment in the meantime. My friend and I split everything. We started with lemon butter white wine mussels, which was the special of the night (about 25 mussels for about $16), then based on our server's recommendation we split the crab and corn cannelloni and then the grouper ocean style. All was delicious! If I had a moderate appetite that night, I would have had just the mussels and the cannelloni. All the pasta is made in house, which is awesome and the cannelloni had a spicy kinda creamy sauce over it and was stuffed with crab. The grouper was melt in your mouth and very good as well. Oh and try the house chianti - inexpensive (about $5/glass) and super tasty.
(5)Bill G.
InOnly one word....Fabulous. You will be VERY happy you waited in line to eat here....Recommend the Pork Chops
(5)Jennifer K.
Adolfo's is an A-OK restaurant to enjoy some Italian and Creole cuisine in the French Quarter, but feel it is a little over rated. Luckily, our group of 5 got here early as planned and got seated right away with no wait. The menu is really simple in a sense that you pick a protein and there is a list of sauce to go with... most of them is quite similar "creamy" based sauce which is hard to tell what I was eating in this dark and dim lighting. We ended up sharing: Mussel Marinara ($12.95) Grouper with Ocean Sauce ($24) Tilapia with Rene Sauce ($17) Rack of Lamb ($24) Washing those down with a glass or 2 of House Wine ($5.50) and Peroni ($4). Rich and Creamy with interesting flavours. The fish was cooked just right. The lamb was tender. I don't know why Adolfo's bothers with the side salad: those are worse than what Olive Garden serves. We had no issue with the service. At this price point and environment, I don't really expect much service. We got our drinks and food served in a timely manner. The food here is decent but definitely not worth a long wait and I doubt I would be coming back next time when I am in town. Cash Only!
(3)Eduardo S.
The best muscles I've ever had. The grouper in ocean sauce was amazing. It came w/ a side of pasta w/ marinara that was good and the house salad w/ a mustard vinaigrette was subtle and tasty. Carmen was a great server!
(5)Annie B.
We got here about 9:15 pm midweek. I was with people who had been here before and raved about it. It was mediocre. I had the steak with ocean sauce! A special sauce they make that is very good. The steak was a cheap rib eye cut with lots of grizzle. I don't normally complain about fat and grizzle but this was not a good cut and for $36 I expected better. The waitress was preoccupied, and the service slow. Our waitress talked to us more like a carnival worker than a waitress. I've learned that salad is not something to order here in Louisiana so stick with the pasta instead. Warm, limp lettuce leaves with warm drizzled dressing and nothing else, is not a salad.
(3)Dirk S.
What a pleasant surprise. Tip from people we met on the road. The place looks very basic. Don't expect the best service, but just go for the food. We had the rack of lamb and the stuffed trout. Both were really good and would therefore definitely go again. A hidden gem on Frenchmen street.
(4)Sam H.
The flounder with ocean sauce is so good. The salad was so good, and the crab cannelloni absolutely blew me away. I can't say how much I want to come back as soon as I can. But beware, It is cash only and you will probably have to wait. The ocean sauce is not on the menu, but it is real. The sausage pasta that my friend had also looked heart and was apparently just right.
(4)Hannah G.
Oh Adolfo's. How I love thee. This is one of those places where you have to be in the know to know about it. Located on the fabulous street of Frenchman, there lies a hidden gem...a cozy, quaint, Creole-Italian restaurant. Adolfo's resides in an unassuming two story house and has an unassuming restaurant sign outside. If you didn't know it was there, you would probably breeze on by it. It's small, and there is often a wait, but that's not a problem because you can wait it out downstairs at the Apple Bar, a live music venue. Before you know it, they'll come hollering for you, indicating it's eatin' time. No handheld buzzers here. Once inside, enjoy the art adorned on the wall, soak in the charm and start with the spinach cannelloni's. You won't be disappointed! And if it couldn't get it better, it does! They allow you to bring your own alochol even though they serve alcohol. Bless their yummy heart.
(5)Cynthia O.
This place needs a new manager and chef. The food they served was equal to a dog's breakfast. Slop on a plate. Also, the manager was very rude. They have no concept of presentation or good service. Waiting forever and they only take cash. Wonder why they don't want any record of their income?
(1)Barbie S.
Just know there WILL be a wait. With that being said, just when we started complaining to each other how long we were waiting. . . they seat us! Then just when we starting to complain to the each other about "how this better be good". . . the BEST food in the world arrived. OMG this was good!!! PROS: Street Fair next door to visit while waiting Live music at the Apple Bar downstairs while waiting Chicken piccata with artichoke hearts, capers & creamy buttery lemon sauce. Eggplant parmesan Oysters Pernot - Cream sauce, spinach, bacon & butter over oysters. Mussels with garlic and wine sauce CONS: Waiting 1 hour 49 minutes for a table
(5)Taylor V.
Easily the best food I have had in a long time! The food is extremely fresh and well worth the wait- and there will be a wait. This restaurant lives up to the hype 100%. If their food wasn't so darn good I would have given this a low score because of the heat in the restaurant (VERY hot in the spring and summers because it is in the attic of a bar) and how little space there is. Tip: Get there right at 5:30, try to sit under the fan in the back corner (that table has the most privacy, as everyone is squashed together in one room), and get cash beforehand (ATM is often not working).
(4)Kimberly M.
Stumbled onto this little Italian spot while perusing Frenchmen street, and we got lucky. It's a hole in the wall upstairs from bother little bar. It seems very mom and pop and they are cash only. The service is great and very friendly and our waitress, Glenda I think, had a ton of recommendations for us. The Cannolini (however you spell it) was delish and my husband had the fish with ocean sauce and it was amazing. You should check it out!
(4)Jennelle C.
Found this gem by chance so happy we did. Husband and I were looking for another restaurant but line was too long. Quick search lead us here. It looks like a little hole in the wall but had some of the best food we had during our stay. Our server James was amazing. Tip - our server suggested the steak with the Oceana sauce. Simply amazing. Tip 2 - if they have the stuffed trout special definitely order as well.
(5)Geri W.
I wish I could eat here more often, but my bank account wouldn't be happy. My party of 3 got there right before the doors opened at 5 pm since we heard the wait can get pretty long if you don't get there early. The Ocean Sauce lived up to the hype and their service was excellent (although while we were waiting to go in some staff seemed a bit flustered and short with us when we tried to get in a little before opening).
(5)Rohan D.
I don't know what else to say about this place but praise. We arrived at a reasonable dinner time, got a seat immediately, we ordered the fish with the ocean sauce and the entire meal was quickly sent out. I was kinda impressed by how fast everything was, the service was superb and the food was even more delicious. A friend recommended the ocean sauce and that was probably the best recommendation I can give. The entire thing was succulent though I would say the shrimp felt over cooked or over boiled. But the sauce is what matters!
(5)Bullibrat P.
My husband and I strolled down to Frenchman street for the evening hoping to have dinner at Three Muses, but they were closed for renovations so we kept walking and came across this place. The menu board out front was enticing and despite the mixed reviews on here we thought we'd give it a try. The gentleman at the entrance warned us it would be about an hour's wait, so we went on in to put our name in with the hostess. She was rather short with us when we did, but we figured she was just busy and brushed it off. She did tell us it would be closer to an hour and a half so we told her we'd be in the bar downstairs. We got a couple of drinks and proceeded to have a thoroughly entertaining hour wait despite the horrid musical act they had in the bar. Way too loud. However, the bartender was engaging and friendly and we had a great time laughing with other patrons waiting for their tables. At the one hour mark, the waiter, noticing we had been there longer than anyone else at that point, went to check on our table himself and said we were about 20 minutes away at that point. 20 minutes later, the waitress came down and called two large groups (both of whom appeared to have given up and left). We tried to ask how many were still ahead of us and she left up the stairs without answering. The bartender apologized and offered us some ice water as we said we wanted to hold off on more drinks until we had eaten. 20 minutes after that, the guy from the door came down and called another couple up. We asked him where we were on the list and he said, "I have a table for Kathy ahead of you and then you are up". The lady came down and called Kathy a few minutes later. Then she called two other tables for people who came in after us. My husband tried to ask her a question about why we weren't next and she ignored us to head back up the stairs. The bartender got her attention and she said she "had no idea where we were on the list". When we tried to tell her we'd been assured we were next she snapped that "lots of people were waiting". When I replied that we'd been waiting over 2 hours, she yelled (not even exaggerating) "Everyone has been waiting two hours!". That was the point at which we tipped the bartender and left. It was our anniversary trip to New Orleans and we were treated like garbage at this restaurant. I don't care how good the food might have been. You don't treat potential customers like inconvenient trash. Not only would I never go there again, I'm not sure I want to go back to Frenchman street again. Horrible experience. One star is given only because the yelp system requires something to be entered.
(1)HJ B.
Best dinner during recent Jazz Fest stay. Don't be put off by the plain, obscure exterior. The fresh Grouper with Ocean sauce was just mouth-watering...sooo good! The steamed mussels were absolutely the best we've ever had, bar none. My husband had a shrimp pasta dish, which was also tasty -- but any fresh fish with the Ocean sauce is the real winner here. Food photos can't do the food justice. We were served as soon as we were seated and found all the wait staff to be friendly, fast, responsive, and efficient. Very small, quirky, fun place, with no reservations. Cash only, ATM on-site. Get there about 5pm (think they open at 5:30pm) & wait downstairs until the door opens upstairs and they are ready to take names for seating. First-come, first-served. Friendly folks & good conversation while you wait. Don't miss it if you're in New Orleans.
(5)Helen H.
Based on the other reviews, I was worried that my friends and I had to wait for a long time. However we made an appointment for 7 and only waited 15 minutes to be seated---and we don't mind it because we were able to enjoy the apple barrel bar downstairs and the jazzy band that was playing their hearts out. But definitely try to make a reservation and be prepare to wait when you get there. I really love the romantic and intimate feel to the place! The waiter and staff were very friendly and informative. I kept reading about this seafood sauce and just had to try it. NOLA is known for seafood and I thought I was sick of fish but dear Lord, the tilapia with ocean sauce was just phenomenal. I was busting out of my dress but I couldn't stop. The sauce is filled with crawfish, shrimp and I think another seafood...oyster? It's very rich so don't eat with your eyes because you may just pop. For dessert we had cannoli and tiramisu, it was good but the food was the memorable part!
(5)Nina S.
Yes, the food was AMAZING. We had the cannelloni with crabmeat and corn for appetizer, and then crawfish stuffed rainbow trout with ocean sauce. The fish was fresh and the sauces were brilliant... However, the best part of our dinner was our server Isabel. Helpful, prompt, and genuine, she really made us feel at home. Goes to show that even with the amazing seafood and music, what you end up remembering most in New Orleans is the beautiful people.
(5)Robert K.
It was the night after the "Storm of the Century" January 2014 in New Orleans where the city was shut down for the better part of two days. Furthermore it was a night that was exactly between the big NADA Convention and Mardi Gras so the city was quiet as if it was finally getting some rest between the two big events. I was stuck in town because my flight was cancelled and my return flight home was delayed a day. My colleagues had planned to catch some local Jazz on our extra evening as we did not have anytime during the convention so we headed towards Frenchman street. The night was cold, and damp, but that seemed to be the trend in New Orleans at the time. We walked from downtown and maybe saw 5 people the majority of the 25 minute walk. This included the tour guide doing the vampire tour, and the 3 people that were walking along with him. The other was a side street performer that was jamming out all by himself. It was peaceful, yet a bit creepy walking down countless alleyways without another human in sight. Stores closed, and only dim lights were found inside. Eventually we arrived in Marigny, and were greeted by a 10 piece jazz band, in full winter attire, playing a full set to a crowd of no one. If this was the beginning of a horror film, I wouldn't feel out of place. We stayed to watch the band for a bit, out of respect and headed towards our destination. Unfortunately, our destination was closed. The first place we saw with lights on, was Adolfo's. The main floor had a bar inside with a bartender, a man slumped over the bar and a woman walking about with a drink in hand. It was about 9pm. We asked if there was anywhere nearby that served food. We weren't aware we were in a restaurant. The bartender pointed us upstairs where we were greeted to a full room of people sitting at small tables and Glenda. Glenda, who was filled with much more energy than ourselves was very happy to seat us at a table at the end of the room. It was cold, cold enough to require we keep on our coats and hats. You can't blame Adolfo's, they certainly don't need heat more than a few days in a century. The room was dark, very dark, as if the power was out. Other than the candles on our table (we asked for extra because of the cold) and the light in the chef's quarters there wasn't a single other light available. The ceiling was visably made out of sheets of plywood. The paint on the walls had crackled, and had begun to peel off in a wonderful pattern you would pay dearly to purchase new. I ordered a coffee, mostly to warm up which was promptly brought by Glenda. She also brought over a tray of toasted garlic bread. The smell, may have been the reason there is no more vampires in New Orleans as the tour suggested. Which is a good thing, I love the oversaturation of garlic on bread. Glenda read us the specials which included a Trout that was stuffed with shrimp, scallops, and escargot. I called it the seafood "Terducken". Glenda thought that name was fabulous. We began the evening with a few orders of French Onion Soup ($6) and Cannelloni filled with Spinach and Ricotta Mozzarella ($8.50). Both, fantastic. I was so eager that I successfully burnt the inside of my mouth. Just enough to worry about dealing with it the next day. We couldn't decide on meals, so our plan was to order four entrees and split everything family dinner style. We went with the Seafood Terducken, Eggplant Parmigiana ($14.50) the pork chop special with sautéed mushrooms, and Steak Madrina served scampi style with shrimp ($25.50). When the food arrived our jaws hit the table. First of all, the chef decided one pork chop wasn't enough so he doubled it up. The two stacked on top of each other resembled the mass of a human head. The Steak was easily 32-36 ounces, the fish the size of an iPad and the Eggplant Parmigiana had enough cheese to choke a horse. Visibly, it was so wonderful looking that we started salivating into our laps. Now, I may sound a little over the top, but remember we are in a dark, cold, room that looks like it has survived more than a few hurricanes and the food that is delivered is worthy of a 5 Star restaurant in Las Vegas. Not to mention Glenda, who was a ray of sunshine inside the dark cave. I was impressed that she could handle all the plates in two trips. We dug in immediately, and all collectively let out a groan muffled by the food intake. I wanted to see how high I could stretch the cheese on the Parmigiana, and my colleague has a picture that can prove it was at least 3 feet off the plate without breaking the strain. Everything was family style, in taste, composition, and raw feeling. It felt like we were in Glenda's house during a power outage, and she had taken us in out of the cold and fed us a hot meal to build our strength for the long journey ahead. Somehow, and I still can't figure how, we finished everything.
(5)Tracy F.
I highly recommend this place the only reviews are because of the no credit cards and a long wait if you do not come at 5:30. So don't worry we'll worth it all
(5)Sarah D.
Got the grouper with oysters and it was some of the best fish I've ever had. Even the salad was delicious! Good service, too. Would definitely recommend it.
(5)Raven Z.
Full 5stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sooooooooooooo delicious !!!!!!!!!!!everything is good!so good!!can't believe !!!!!!!it is one of the best restaurant in my life......can't forget tonight....everything is perfect !!
(5)Tiffani P.
OMG! I had the steak Madrina which comes topped with shrimp scampi and it is to die for!!! The steak is perfectly cooked and seasoned and the shrimp is so succulent. This place is definitely everything it's cracked up to be!
(5)Peter H.
This place had 4 stars when I decided to go there. I am a big fan of the apple barrel downstairs. I went upstairs to put my name in, and the first employee I talked too admitted she was too drunk to take my reservation. Luckily another employee came over and took my name down and told me 20 minutes to wait. I went downstairs and waited for 40, as their closing time crept nearer and nearer. No one ever came to call me to a table. I can't help but think this restaurant is not managed properly. After waiting until they closed I went across the street to cafe negril to eat.
(1)Matt R.
Perfect little italian restaurant nestled in a small neighborhood outside the French quarter. Place only has 10 tables, but a great little bar downstairs while you wait. Prices were extremely reasonable considering the quality of the food! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Don W.
Ate here last night on our second night in the city . Amazingly , there was absolutely no wait and they had rack of lamb ! Fantastic as always as were the escargot . Finished up next door at the Spotted Cat for a perfect ending to a fun day.
(5)Brittany H.
What an awesome experience. Found this hidden gem only because we were in the area and I decided to check Yelp. Amazing service and selection of FRESH seafood and pasta. We had the rainbow trout stuffed with shrimp and crawfish, which was the standout dish for us. It normally comes with pesto, but my husband had a special moisture sauce instead - marinara and alfredo - and it was amazing. I had the grouper with this spot's famous ocean sauce...a creamy combination of crab meat, shrimp and crawfish. Also had the French onion soup, house salad, and linguine with marinara. Again, everything was so fresh! I think the $$ may be low. Our entrees were about $30 each. But what an experience! Highly recommend and we would go back.
(5)Carrie B.
The crab-stuffed cannelloni is truly the kind of dish that dreams are made of. This is about the cutest little hole-in-the-wall place tucked in between the craziness that is Bourbon St in NOLA. We didn't have a chance in hell of getting a seat, but there was a woman in front of us we had made friends with who was a party of 1 and she let us tag along with her...man, I love the South! She was as fascinating as the place and we all had amazing food and decent wine to wash it down with. Definitely add this to your agenda when popping around the Big Easy!
(5)Claude R.
Ok, being from San Francisco I thing folks in New Orleans have never had good italian food. The food is all italian, no creole which is what we wanted. The garlic bread is just a baguette with garlic powers on it. Nothing to write home about. Service was good. Same taste as Olive Garden which I can't stand. Good italian food at home in San Francisco.
(1)Kristina T.
Amazing amazing amazing!!! This place is fantastic! Pork chops, steak with ocean sauce, and drum with ocean sauce was outstanding. This place is a must go. There are no reservations so get there early and put your name in. Definitely worth it.
(5)April A.
It was just awesome food!! We were told a long wait but it ended up being relatively short. The stairs smelled bad, the bathroom was scary, it was a tight fit and the waiter had very short patience....but the food was so damn good that all that doesn't matter! It was a great friends date night, cozy and a dive...and we will be back! I had the veal chop with ocean sauce and it was wonderful. My husband had the grouper with ocean sauce and it was to die for...the food is just wonderful!!! Cash only, no seperate checks, get in and get out!!
(5)Valerie H.
Mussels, lamb chops, pasta, chicken dish, I mean EVERYTHING. Couldn't even take the time to instagram my plate. Cash only place.
(5)Teresa C.
My husband and I are picky picky picky.....and we loved the food at ADOLFO's.....I'm absolutely shocked to read anything negative about the food!! I mean sure anyone can have a bad night I guess but this was our 2nd time in NOLA in 5 years and both times we made time for Adolfo's. Okay, so I can see how member of the wait-staff might have an affect on your evening if they are having a bad night....(ours was a wonderful server btw) OR that the place is rather small but tell me what does that have to do with the meal or your experience? all you need is one chair and elbow room and as long as YOU have a seat why do you care how small it is and why complain about it? The wine list is not extensive (my husband thought it was horrible he wishes he could bring his own) so just know, don't go there for the wine or the fine table settings or looking for some fancy high end experience........go there because you love awesome food!!! And as for the portions being stingy.....I could never ever finish what I was given so I'm not sure how that can even be an issue!! It's even better than I remembered and I want to go back again tonight!!! p.s. there was not one piece of iceberg lettuce in my salad and I chose not to eat my salad so I could save all of my room for my cannelloni which I could barely eat half!!! Eggplant Parm = Excellent spinach & chesse Cannelloni = Excellent Crabmeat Cannelloni = Excellent My husband who is a wine and food snob says "bring your own wine but the Grouper in Lemon Sauce with Capers was superb!" Now that's saying something!!! BRING CASH they do not take credit cards but hey, they do have an ATM in the restaurant!!! BUT NONE OF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HOW AWESOME THIS FOOD IS!!!!
(5)Scott B.
Allright. I don't get the hype.Our party of 3 was seated without any wait Friday at 6:30pm. Pretty small dining area. The egglant parmesian app was ok, not great. My house salad was ok too, but not great. Actually, everything there was just ok but not great, including my entree, the Drum with ocean sauce. I sampled my friends Veal and it was tender, but lacked flavor. My side of pasta and the marinara sauce tasted store bought and plain. I'd pass on this place and try Cochon instead. It's annoying that they only take cash, and do NOT accept reservations. Just a solid "Meh" for this place. Prices weren't unreasonable ($20-35 pp).
(3)Charles H.
Great little place! Live Music down stairs, Italian food NOLA style is awesome! Different than anything you've had before, and perfect atmosphere. Cash only and don't be in a hurry.
(5)B S.
Best three courses of cream I've ever eaten. Had the eggplant and crab, it was a little spicy and covered in cream sauce. Had the mussels in wine, they were buttery and everyone single one was perfect, some of the best mussels I've had. Had the Mahi-Mahi with ocean sauce. Turns out "ocean sauce" is exactly the same sauce used for the eggplant appetizer, so I basically just ate the same thing twice... except the second time, it came with shrimp and craw fish too. The waiter should have just told me it was a redundant order. Or maybe they should just change their appetizer to not be THE SAME as their signature dish. But I mean... it was still fucking delicious. TIP: get cash somewhere else, because the ATM here has a $4.00 fee.
(4)Diane S.
This place is fabulous! We were only in town for 4 nights and ended up eating there twice! Rack of lamb special is a must if it is being served. Stuffed Trout was amazing. Mussels appetizer special was superb. Waitress was friendly and attentive. There can be a bit of a wait so get there early, but there is a great bar downstairs to wait in and listen to live music. I believe both are cash only, so come prepared. Great atmosphere & great food! Definitely check it out!
(5)Jonathan S.
Fantastic. The true example of "hole in the wall." The food is absolutely delicious, incredible location and it is a great date spot. Great spot.
(4)Christopher W.
the mussels were amazing...and i am not a mussel fan.... pasta was simple yet tasty pork chop special was good.... not blown away....but i enjoyed the meal....
(4)Mas T.
It's always amazing.
(5)Lisa B.
I had the rack of lamb special, and it was fantastic! Not fancy, but very good. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table for six. Gave us a chance to look around the area.
(4)Alex L.
The lovely man running the bed and breakfast we stayed at in the Marigny suggested we try Adolfo's. He suggested arriving early, so we did, at around six. The interior was nostalgic and beautiful. The mussels were one of the best pieces of food I've tasted. I didn't even think I liked mussels (turns out my other experience with them had just been a bad one. To be fair, I was in Arizona). The sauce saturating the shells was so intoxicating I had to restrain myself from pouring it directly into my mouth. We also ordered red fish and it was just comically delicious. Service was perfect. I even noticed a server smoothly making a nervous customer comfortable when she splayed her drink across the floor. As a former beer-slinger, I really appreciate such gestures.
(5)Paul S.
Went for the first time and the food was very good, very authentic. Had the rack of lamb and likely the best I will ever have. Ocean sauce is a must as the reviewers note. I only give this place 3 stars due to the fact that it is cash only and the bar had trouble breaking my $20 bill, twice... The place is small, loud and a bit on the dirty side, but it was expected so it did not take away from the meal.
(3)Dan C.
Only reason to ding this place is for the cash only policy, but that is such a minor thing. Right above the apple barrel on frenchman street this is a great little place that seems to have passionate people making awesome food. Got the mussel appetizer which was good (one guest of mine said it could use more salt, but I thought it was fine) and the broth was perfect. Loved it with the bread. I asked the server to pick my fish and sauce and she chose the Ocean Sauce and it was amazing. Go and have fun! Best food I had in NOLA.
(5)Todd W.
The most amazing restaurant in New Orleans , try the ocean sauce on any fish they offer you will love it , get there early before 630 if not the wait is very long but definitely worth the wait
(5)Jen W.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would not hesitate to do so. Three of us arrived at about 7:30 pm on Thursday evening. We were told the wait would be 45-60 minutes. We were more than willing to wait that long. After nearly 120 minutes, we finally went upstairs and were told we were next. While waiting, we saw the bartender prepare salads without gloves, and a waiter demand that the bartender get drinks for a table using dirty glasses. The host then skipped over us, for some reason. After talking with him, he assured us we were next. Finally, a table. The same waiter who served beverages in dirty glasses was assigned to our table. He took forever to come over, and eventually served us three waters in dirty glasses. Surprise, surprise. When he came back to take our orders, we were ready to rock. Chicken parm and shrimp Alfredo to share. He said OK. Soon thereafter, we were served average chicken parm, and what amounted to butter noodles with flavorless shrimp. After confronting the waiter, he blamed us for choosing the two weakest items on the menu. Upon talking with the chef, he said he doesn't make an Alfredo sauce, and that we should have known this. Um, HOW?! If it's on the menu as Alfredo, you need to be prepared to make Alfredo sauce! It's as simple as that! The waiter was, quite simply, the rudest server I have ever encountered in my life. The chef was beyond awful as well. I would rather starve than be subjected to this place once again.
(1)Andy W.
This place was great! A fantastic spot to take a date. That rhymed didn't it... We showed up here around 7pm on a Friday and there were already 8 tables on the list in front of us! Taking the advice of some other yelpers we snagged a drink downstairs at apple barrel and listened to some music while waiting. I dont think we waited more than 45min and we were seated. **Make sure you are downstairs while waiting! They dont give more than 2 yells from the stairs before seating the next party. Once seated the waiter was very attentive and he did a great job explaining all the different specials not on the menu. He also volunteered information about how each sauce was made when we showed interest in a particular dish. We ordered the escargots and some wine and both came out very promptly. The escargots were cooked well, and bread was served with them to help soak up all the delicious garlic/butter sauce they were cooked in. I had the stuffed rainbow trout and it was incredible! The fish was perfectly cooked and overflowing with crawfish, shrimp and crab meat. The whole thing was covered in a creamy and slightly peppery sauce. I only made it through 1/2 the dish before I was stuffed. We ate the leftovers of my girlfriends steak for breakfast the next day with eggs and that also gets two thumbs up from me! I bet it was phenomenal the night before as well ;) Now to go back and try this ocean sauce everyone is raving about! **CASH ONLY so be prepared
(4)Bethany L.
Worst restaurant in ever been too. Two hour wait. Served drinks out of dirty glasses. Food prep man (who is out in the open) did not use gloves and obviously had a cold. Server was incredibly rude and condescending to me. We ordered Alfredo and got a butter sauce. Then the waiter told us they don't make Alfredo anymore, but refused to get us something else. My girlfriend was crying before we left. Not worth it at all!!
(1)Peter K.
Omg ! I am a restaurant owner and I have got to tell you the food here is so good ! This place is a diamond in the ruff . We were in New Orleans for two nights and ate here both nights ! Top shelf. Great service , atmosphere, and phenomenal food. Hands down best restaurant I've been to in a long time . Keep up the good work.
(5)Elina K.
What?! Food like this exists on Earth?! The food is insane! I had grouper with oysters and spinach - a-mazing!!! Go!
(5)Kayla L.
Love love LOVE ADOLFO'S!!!! The best food i ate while i was in NOLA a couple times in a row...I love the grouper with OCEAN (to die for) cannot wait till i can go back to this place again. TEARS*
(5)Cristen F.
This is a hidden gem in the Marigny. No matter what I've ever ordered, it is always good. However, be prepared for a wait on any evening and do not go there during the summer time as they do not have A/C.
(4)Tiffiny F.
Tiny little joint upstairs from a bar. CASH ONLY! Fabulous food, great service, cozy environment. It is a true locals little secret. I would go again and again. Beware: Everything they serve is a touch spicy.
(5)Robyn L.
Adolfo's is a unique place. It's right on Frenchman makes it busy and noisy at night. When we walked in we were very lucky to get a table right away. Our server was very sweet, and we asked her what were must haves on the menu. We started with the special mussels (white wine, butter). Only criticism was I wanted more broth! Give me bread and mussel broth and I'm happy. Mussels were tender and delicious. You could taste the freshness. For dinner, we got the snapper with ocean sauce (so fresh, worth every bite) and I got the veal piccata. Veal was classic pounded thin veal. Overall great experience, just don't fool yourself into thinking "white tablecloth italian". It's New Orleans people, go with the flow.
(5)Dana S.
Fantastic meal on Frenchmen. Teeny tiny place upstairs with bout 10 tables. Server was great and recommended all of the best entrees. I ordered the chicken picatta and was very pleased. Loved the artichokes it came with. the vermicelli with marinara was delicious and very different...cayenne pepper in the sauce gives it that creole italian kick. two members of my prty got the ribeye with ocean sauce...unreal. rack of lamb is ENORMOUS! Mussels appetizer was so good and super garlicky. great experience all around.
(4)Dennis K.
So good. Such a comfortable location. and Ocean sauce, oh yeah. Pasta, amazing. We were a party of 3 with a 7 year old and felt welcome and comfortable. So glad we went early and brought cash.
(5)Effie B.
We went here based upon recommendation from the door man at DBA after seeing my friend, the fabulous Linnzi Zaorski perform there. It was about 10 pm on a Wednesday and we were seated right away. Our waiter was obviously a real foodie and his recommendations were spot-on. (He also cooks there a few nights a week, so we knew he knew what was best!) I got the grouper with ocean sauce- tender, plentiful, and very fresh. My boyfriend got a butterflied pork chop 5 inches thick and 10 inches round. He said it was cooked to perfection. He is a "good eater" but couldn't finish the whole thing on-site. Took the rest home to the B&B and he enjoyed it again microwaved at 3 am. Excellent window seat view over Frenchman street. Very romantic, exquisite meal. Perfect service. Cash only, but they have an ATM with a $4 fee. I wish I could go back tonight.
(5)Chad W.
What a great experience, had the grouper with ocean sauce, strip steak with ocean sauce and veal with ocean sauce. AMAZING We will definetly come back and highly recommend. Worth any wait.
(5)Sara U.
Pains me to write this but I have to drop it down a star. I had the pork chop special which had a ghastly presentation. It was a massive pile of pork chops drowned in a scary black sauce. It was such a manly plate of food I felt unladylike eating it! That is saying something because I'm already unladylike! Seriously, it was a black hole of pork! I felt I might be sucked into some sort of gravy matrix. The chops tasted allright, not great but food is a multi-sensory experience. Visually this was disturbing. My boyfriend got the meal I had last time - grouper with ocean sauce. It was once again great but I had me walking away wondering if Adolfo is a one hit wonder. I'll keep them at 4 stars and give them one more chance...
(4)Jeff G.
Unbelievable!!! The douches that gave this place a one star deserved the experience they got. This was my first time here, girlfriend suggested we go here. It was off season so the wait was not long, at all. In fact we didn't even finish our beer downstairs at the Apple Bottom Bar. Our server was great. She was knowledgeable and went over everything since it was my first time. We had scallops and shrimp for an app and finished it off with veal with OCEAN SAUCE!! I swear, if this stuff was bottled - I would put it on my Cheerios and in my coffee. It is AMAZING!! Looking forward to going back one day.
(5)Victoria S.
I'm a jersey Italian girl and I'm telling you the hassle to get into this place is totally worth it!!! Its not your typical Italian food. It's Italian with the creole twist....duh you're in New Orleans! It's small and no frills but food was awesome. Like the other reviews said get the ocean sauce! I would recommend getting there early as they don't take reservations....if not put your name down and go grab a drink across the street. Totally worth the wait and the calories!
(4)Scott S.
This is one of those places I almost don't feel like sharing. It's that fricking good. Why am I writing this? I could be their only customer, and they would know me by name and cheer my arrival every time I walked in. Every night would be an event. There would be dancing breadsticks. Balloons would drop from the ceiling during these celebrations of my every visit. They would be like grand balls... Let's call them "Scott's Great Big Eating Here Celebrations". But alas, I'm not that selfish, and it would never be economically feasible anyway. Sigh... so here's my review I guess. Actually, don't even read any further. Just go there, and roll around in the Ocean Sauce like those crocodiles under the rope bridge in Temple of Doom. Still reading? Okay then. No other Italian restaurant in New Orleans has impressed me so far, except for this one. Maybe it's because it's something different, with its hybrid Cajun flare, or maybe it's because what they do, they plain just do right. Whatever the reason, this place left my stomach very VERY happy, and is the only Italian place here that I must return to, and the sooner the better. We ordered two dishes, each with two items, and split them down the middle so that we could each enjoy some of everything we ordered. Our choices were the veal in ocean sauce, with one topped with shrimp and crawfish and the other topped with crab, and the cannelloni combo plate with the crab and corn one and the spinach and cheese one. The veal topped with shrimp, crawfish, and "Ocean Sauce" (not to be confused with "Sperm Whale Load"), was by far my absolute favorite. I would order the hell out of this again. Second best for me, was the crab and corn cannelloni, which although not my favorite, was also completely awesome. The rest was still great, just not quite as great. Great? Great great great... great. The word "great" looks weird now. Like some kind of fake meat that's green and sounds like "greet". Who would eat that? Soylent would not abide. Only The Dude abides. And if Soylent Great was covered in ocean sauce, we would eat it before bowling. That's all I can tell you so far, other than that besides tasting awesome, it's even quite affordable, albeit cash only. Why are you even still reading this? Just go there and write your name on the waiting list. You can thank me later. QUICK TIP: qkme.me/3rvmsj
(5)Lehebron F.
This place became the highlight of our trip and truely signifies whats special about New Orleans. The food was better than great and the service was slightly better than exceptional. The establishment is rundown coverted house but thats part of the charm. I had Veal Oceana with ocean sauce, and I have to say the only bad part about the meal was getting to the end of it. What no more? I will definitely drive 6 hours to eat here again. #best meal ever.
(5)Adam S.
Waited in line for two hours, was told it would be an hour, and continually told we'd be seated. Turns out the chef didn't feel like cooking anymore when we were the last party in the list. Unprofessional and completely unacceptable. Would never recommend this place to anyone. There are better places in NOLA
(1)CM O.
Great food and reasonably priced. The ocean sauce is fabulous. Loved this place. Get there early. They don't take reservations and the place is small. But the atmosphere is perfect. It's intimate and unpretentious -- doesn't feel touristy.
(5)Dame F.
Hot Damn, That's hot, I think. This place is unique and a must if you are in New Orleans. The place is upstairs from the Apple barrel. As soon as we walked in, we were seated and the waiter came by and took our drink order. I have to give it up for this waiter, my girlfriend lets say is "picky" and asks a lot of questions regarding the menu. Me on the order hand, I say "just take the moo out of the steak and bring it out!!!" The place is Italian food with a Cajun Twist. I decided so I got the regular spaghetti with meat sauce. I tend to love spicy food and given that it was Italian, I was not expecting it to be spicy. As I was eating my meal, I noticed my nose was dripping and realize "this is spicy." The spicyness crept up on me half way through the meal. The rest of the folks i was with noticed it was spicy right away, but they can't hang with me!! Overall it was a pleasant experience and the food was great. On a side note, the waiter was hitting on someone at our table, but he was not creepy or anything, but rather classy and respectful. Remember CASH ONLY!!!
(5)Carolyn T.
The cannelloni appetizer has a very spicy sauce. We ordered based on reviews and enjoyed it, but you have to like "spicy" sauces. I do, but one person in our party didn't. Just so you will know. Ocean sauce isn't spicy or hot...it's perfect.
(5)Sarah K.
My friend and I were visiting New Orleans for a long weekend and looked forward to dinner and then music at d.b.a. Adolfo's was such a strange experience because it was a mix of bad and good. Our server (I believe it was the owner) was very friendly and described the menu in helpful detail. I narrowed my entree choice down to two and I asked for his advice on which of two dishes he would choose if it were up to him and he said not to choose the pasta primavera because it was made with frozen vegetables. Eeks. We went ahead with our order and while waiting we received a bowl of delicious garlic bread. We ordered a Pinot Noir and that came as well as the salads. We noticed the salads had way too much dressing, which was odd. Our entrees were mediocre, but we asked for more bread and our server kind of fought us on it. He never did bring it to our table and then we watched the table next to us get three bowls of the bread just while we were there (it was also a table of two and they arrived after us, so I'm not sure if they received even more once we left). They never said a peep about dessert and instead just dropped the check at the table. Normally I don't check the bill too thoroughly, but I was a bit more careful because I didn't know if there was a charge for the bread and wanted to make sure we weren't charged for a second bowl of bread we never received. It was then that I noticed he overcharged us for the wine by four bucks. It's only four bucks, but the whole experience was so odd I wanted to bring it up. I would not recommend this restaurant. Too bad, because it seems so promising at first.
(2)CD R.
Worst dining experience EVER! It took 10 minutes for a server to acknowledge us and take our order. The two appetizers we ordered were delivered about 20 minutes later. The mussels were wonderful and the frog legs forgetful. After waiting another hour for our entrees, we let the server know that we needed to leave and would like the bill. The bill came with the entrees we did not receive! They had the best warm bread ever but man...they didn't even ask if we water, another cocktail. I have heard similar stories about the horrid service. BEWARE! Side note, what they did give us was outstanding...but still mad.
(2)Joel S.
Hands down one of the best intimate dining places in new Orleans. The entrees take a while because it's such a small place, but the food is fantastic and the atmosphere and location is perfect. We had lamb chops and redfish Renee entrees- both perfection. The white wine and garlic mussel appetizer was also fantastic. We'll be back for sure!
(5)Donna Y.
Don't be misled by the negative reviews! I really, really wanted to try this place because of the glowing descriptions of the food, but was almost scared off by the "rickety stairs, surly waitstaff" reports. Both servers in the restaurant tonight were excellent, prompt, and courteous. There was no wait (a Tuesday night at opening bell) and the stairs are steep, but quite solid. The atmosphere is charming, with local art on the walls and candle lanterns. And the food.... Hubby ordered an appetizer of mussels in white wine and garlic sauce and I ordered the spinach, ricotta, and mozzarella cannelloni. HUGE portions and oh so good. Salads were fresh and came with the house specialty Creole mustard dressing. Clams in white sauce over pasta were delightful and my rack of lamb was a real treat. A DEFINITE FIND!!!
(5)A L.
We ate here again on 8/28/11... Food was great as usual. I dropped one star because the service is terrible if you get the older guy as a waiter, He's usually drinking and doesn't pay too much attention but is sweet; however the food is that good that we put up with terrible service.... The garlic bread was not as great this time as it was last time. The servers usually make the bread so I'm guessing that since the server was a bit absent minded that her forgot he was making our bread and left in the oven too long... We had the spinach and cheese Cananolli for an appetizer, again. I had the chicken parm again. Both were flawless again. My Fiancé had the Ocean veal and said it was phenomenal. I dropped the other star because a major downfall to me is that it is CASH ONLY... boo. I don't think I noticed this last time because I actually had cash on me. So we hit the ATM and accepted the ATM charge but it was still worth it because the food is so good!
(4)