Square Root
1800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA, 70130
Square Root Menu
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Address :
1800 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA, 70130 - Phone (504) 309-7800
- Website https://www.squarerootnola.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Quiet
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Davis J.
Hall & Oats. Liquid nitrogen. Wu-Tang. Immersion thermal circulators. Led Zepplin. Hydrocolloids. Slayer. 20 month cured leg-o-pig Outkast. What the hell am I talking about? Awesome shiz that can be found at Square Root. Downstairs: pre fixe chef's table for 14. $95 for 9 courses during the week and $150 for 14 courses in the weekends. The menu is over the top and constantly evolving. Can't justify it? Then stop reading my review. Upstairs: awesome bar with small plates. Their happy hour(5-7) is just plain wrong...$4 cocktails! You know what that means, d-r-u-n-k. The small plates are delicate and delicious. Order enough and call it dinner. I know we do. Side note: they use liquid nitrogen to chill their glasses for every cocktail. Why you ask? Who cares, it's awesome. The staff is mad cool. They make for good conversation (things discussed: food science, predator movies, weather and which direction to properly wipe your ass). If or when you go, wave to me and my wife. We will likely be getting our gluttony on there.
(5)Tiana H.
My friend and I actually wanted to find a restaurant while we were walking on Magazine street at 4.30pm. We suddenly met this "Square Root" which is actually more like a bar&tasting room.But finally we came in because of the nice receptionist. The location is really good and seating ourside uptairs much be a great choice esp at night. We ordered salmon and a goat cheese as appetizer with white wine and a cocktail. Pretty good service with detailed introduction of manu. Absolutely a nice place for hanging out with friend on Friday nightï¼
(4)Alicia B.
This is long overdue. My meal at Square Root was, truly, the most delicious thing I've eaten in my life and anyone who knows me is probably tired of me referencing it. The fried chicken cotton candy with a fried okra that started the tasting was absolutely outstanding but nothing will ever top the short rib with bone marrow sauce that ended up labeled "Short Rib Heaven" in my tasting notes from the evening. From start to finish, the service was absolutely impeccable. Chef Lopez hand delivering each course and describing them was a lovely touch for the evening and made it that much better. We opted for the nicer of the wine tasting menus to pair and I am quite certain there were wines that I will never have the pleasure of tasting again -- each of them paired perfectly and were so delicious. By the end of the meal, we were full and in awe. And we knew that every meal would never be the same. I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance.
(5)Max F.
Bourbon barrel smoked bacon slices with pickled okra , strawberries, raspberries and cucumber slices. All pickled in house The tube is smoked raspberries mustard Scotch with ice ball A-1 service
(5)jen f.
Review on the upstairs bar: Great ambiance, genuinely nice & knowledgeable (albeit slow) service, delicious food. We had happy hour cocktails- lovely and a few small plates: Deviled eggs- BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Carrot and Squash salad- pretty good, too much sauce. Beef tartare- Very good! But why, oh why... Would you build this gorgeous new space and encourage folks to stay for 15 courses and only BUILD ONE LADIES' RESTROOM? One. One toilet for the whole place. It's a beautiful bathroom, but there's only one. Why?
(4)D L.
Excellent customer service and good food! Sit on the upstairs balcony if the weather is nice.
(5)Carole K.
Went to the upstairs bar and waited at the bar for way too long before being even acknowledged. There were about 5 people behind the bar but they were cold and disinterested. I was joining a large group outside and everyone at my table thought the service was very bad and slow. The server outside was less snooty but we had to ask for drinks, menus, cutlery, him to clear the empties from the table, etc - and half the time we had to ask twice. I had the pecorino cheese platter which was really good but the service was, quite frankly, abysmal.
(1)Mike F.
Pretty different set up than Root. The downstairs is for dinner and the $95 9 course tasting menu. I didn't have the time, but I will make time shortly. So I headed upstairs for the small plates. The upstairs is a nice space. Smallish, but not cramped. We sat at the bar on the 100lb stools and ordered the chef's charcuterie board, the monk fish, and the deviled eggs. The board was excellent. Lardo, prosciutto, and three other very thinly sliced meats. The one covered in pepper was the best. I'm always a fan of pickled anything and the pickled tomatoes and cucumbers were excellent. The pickled peaches were ok. I'll be honest and say that the board didn't match Root's board, but it was still top tier. Now to the service. Our server/bartender who came to us after we sat down almost ruined the evening. She was almost hostile that we were going to make her work. Not what I would expect ever and definitely not something I would expect in a place of this caliber. We were all taken back by her attitude. However, the other two people manning the bar were very apologetic and provided excellent service and knowledge. I'll be back, but if she's there, I'll sit on the opposite side.
(4)Conrad G.
This place is a must-visit if you're in the area. The drinks and food are some of the best I've had in New Orleans. The atmosphere is comfortable, trendy, and upscale. If you're looking to impress a date, this would be the place to make an impression. Thanks for the good times Square Root!
(5)Maria C.
Absolutely love. The patio is cute and quiet. Great location and vibe. Food was u real, can't say enough good things. Mouth orgie
(5)Nikkie N.
1) Fried Chicken Wafer topped with fried pickled okra and mustard seeds. 2) Raw oyster sat on top of seaweed then topped with watermelon mignonette and nitroed buttermilk horseradish 3) Spinach Tarragon Gazpacho, duck egg & fresh shaved black truffles. 4) Foie Gras & Blueberry Balasamic 5) Mushroom Campanelle 6) Palate Cleanser; Blueberry, Fennel, Lemon, & Watermelon 7) Lobster Verde 8) Miso, Hazelnut, Bone Marrow Wagyu Short Rib 9) Almond Nitro Macaron with Caramel Icecream I was surprisingly full to the point where I couldn't finish my palate cleanse & the two savory dishes! That's on an empty stomach filled with the wine tasting & a predinner cocktail. SquareRoot is an unique experience. It's really not just about the food. It's about the social experience as well! Meet the chefs, talk & mingle. Get drunk and meet your seat neighbor as well! It makes the dining experience. The food is so interesting. It's pretty food. I really wish I saw more cooking though. The kitchen is so beautiful & I just saw a lot of plating. I loved the oyster dish for the overall experience. The play on textures & flavors. It was literally a party in my mouth. The palate cleanser was a bit off putting because the texture & temperature was so cold that it would dry my mouth out ! But once it melted some, it was easier to consume. I was very disappointed in the dessert. I felt that it was to bland/plain. The food is good but not great. So yeah, it makes you a bit hesitant to spend that kind of money on what could be. (Maybe, only a few items you may thoroughly enjoy.) But, it's worth it at least once because of the overall experience. Cocktail pairing was terrible & really held up the process. Plates were ready but sitting there for up to 5 minutes because the cocktail wasn't ready. There has to be a better system for getting the cocktails, from upstairs, downstairs faster. Wine pairing was alright too. Mainly whites. Enjoyed it a lot better because of how quickly it hit the table. I was disappointed in the pours though. No offense to them, I am just heavy handed & quite the drinker. What I'm saying is, I wish you was more generous! Tasting & Pairings costed close to 400$ for two diners on a slow night. Was it worth it? Just this once. So, what brings guest back a second time? I haven't figured that out.
(4)Shayne C.
A must for foodies! My second visit was even better than the first, which I didn't think possible. This place rates right up there with Alinea in my book, but is much more intimate. The food is thoughtful, whimsical at times (fried chicken cotton candy) and absolutely fabulous. Rye is a fabulous host.
(5)Jennifer E.
The cliff notes version I'm giving them 5* only because 4.5 isn't allowed. I'd take off .25 for the whack corkage fee and .25 for the discriminative wine glasses. Root² review is here: yelp.com/biz/root²-new-o… We did not choose the wine pairings as they were mostly white wines, so we opted for red by the glass. One thing that I really did not like about Square Root: People that ordered the wine pairing or by the bottle had their wine in beautiful crystal wine glasses. I'm going to guess Zwiesel Tritan but I don't actually know because our red wine was served in a small run of the mill wine glass. When we ordered a second round I asked the Sommelier about the difference in glassware and she said that it was because we didn't order the pairing. Just thought that was really really tacky. Also I'll add that the wine corkage fee is $50 which is truly absurd. Galatoire's is only $25! Here is a link to various restaurants corkage fees around NOLA so you can truly appreciate the absurdity of $50: neworleans.com/restauran… Four of us dined on a Friday night and ended up with 14 courses. Lobster Cracker: Tarragon Caviar with a Lobster bergamot mousse. Very nice way to start off the night. Smoked Nduja Pizzeta: Summer squash preserves with casa ricotta. By far one of the stand out dishes of the night. Nduja is a spreadable spicy pork sausage and this one was done very well. We could have simply eaten a plate of these and been very happy. "Southern Picnic": Fried chicken wafer, pickled country fried okra topped with fermented mustard seeds. A hit all around. 1871 Oyster: Watermelon mignonette with buttermilk horseradish "snow". 1871 oysters are from the coast of VA and while on the small side, give a nice salty brine flavor. "Eggs Sardou": Spinach tarragon gazpacho, warm coriander duck egg yolk with fresh shaved black truffles. Delectable dish with the fresh shaved truffles. Heirloom Tomato Terrarium: Black olive powder, lime coriander yogurt with tomato consomme. This dish was my least favorite. There was one tomato in the dish that I didn't care for. 2/4 people liked it. Foie Gras: Roasted caraway "gravel", with blueberry bourbon balsamic and pickled blueberries. While the dish was delicious and one of my favorites, I wasn't sure if the blueberry or the foie gras was supposed to be the main attraction. I'm a fan of foie gras and my husband isn't and he liked this dish as well. Wild Mushroom Campanelle: Roasted chanterelles and huitlacoche veloute. The chanterelles were absolutely fabulous in this dish. I thought the pasta was taken off a minute too early as it was a little harder than al dente. Blueberry Ice: fennel, lemon balm and Egyptian chamomile watermelon. Interesting dish but mainly just a palate cleanser. Lobster Chilaquiles Verde: Lobster mole, bergamot crema and charred onion. So many good things about this dish. Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican dish made with corn tortillas. In this dish the Chilaquiles was served in the shape of a square the around the dish was a bergamot crema and a mole sauce. A couple of small lobster pieces accompanied. Another dish with an identity crisis. Who is the main character? Is it the Chilaquiles or the lobster or the mole sauce? I don't know the answer but it was all very very tasty. Rabbitchetta: Panisse mousse, blistered tomato conserva and charred eggplant harissa. Not my favorite dish but ¾ other people dining with me loved it. Charred Wagyu Short Rib: Miso, hazelnut pomace and bone marrow soubise. Yet another stand out dish and I think my favorite of the night. The short rib was cooked to perfection and laid on a hazelnut paste. Around the side of the dish is the bone marrow soubise which the bone marrow flavor definitely came through. Delicate colorful flowers were placed on top to make the dish beautiful as well as tasty. Apple Sorrel Sorbet: Tarragon sabayon, puffed grain and frozen horchata. I fully admit that I am not a dessert person but this dish was outstanding. The apple sorbet was equally sweet and tart and combined with the crunch from the quinoa and puffed rice make this another winner. Toasted Almond Nitro Macaron: Egg yolk caramel ice cream with crispy milk. Again I ate the whole dessert as it wasn't overly sugary sweet and at the same time, it was sweet enough for the dessert lovers in my group as well. Other than my issue with the Sommelier and her snotty wine glasses, the service was spot on and very attentive. Water glasses were always topped off without having to be asked. (After a recent trip to Paris where water was virtually impossible to get refilled, this is something I now appreciate at any restaurant.) Overall we had a fabulous time and would recommend Square Root and Root² to anyone looking for a unique chef's tabl
(5)j j.
Absolutely fabulous display kitchen and tasting menu. Chef Lopez is a great person to chat with, and you will have the chance to interact with him as he delivers and explains each and every course of the 15 item tasting menu. Great fun to watch the molecular gastronomy team prepare everything. Some dishes required 3 or 4 team members to work together on a single plate with their tweezers! Delicious and beautiful. Every day they make up a new menu based on what is available, so they don't have a traditional menu to choose from. Just sit back and be amazed. Every thing was delicious to taste and joy to behold. The sommelier, whose name I unfortunately forget, did an incredible job with the reserve wine pairing. Overall an incredible evening. Make a reservation immediately, because once they are discovered, you'll never be able to get in. The bar upstairs is also a hit: craft cocktails, great personalities making them, and fun balcony to watch the tableau of the lower garden district. At the risk of being condescending, this is not a traditional NOLA eatery which brings you a huge steak drowned in sauce. Each course is just a taste or two of something wonderful. I guarantee that 15 tastes of rich food will send you home stuffed, but the guy next t me clearly wasn't familiar with the concept, the cost, or taking the time to enjoy a two hour meal perfectly matched with great wine and thoughtful staff.
(5)Darrell W.
I did the tasting menu downstairs on a full capacity Saturday night. It was an awesome experimental culinary experience. Perfect for my wife's birthday -she loves great food and chic design. The place is beautiful with a dark and sexy feel upstairs and a clean, modern feel downstairs. The highlight was sitting at the kitchen counter while the team of chefs meticulously cleaned, prepared, designed, and presented every plate with amazing precision and creativity. It was just fun. The flavors ranged from OMG-delicious to good. The only critique I have is that tarragon was used on almost every dish, which on such wildly different dishes like oysters, foie gras, and ice cream seemed forced. Be ready to spend lots of time tasting, as it took 3 hours to get through the courses. Also, the bar was overwhelmed so drinks took 20mins to come out. Overall a great experience I'll remember for a long time and I would do it again for a special occasion.
(4)Daniel H.
New eatery in town.. With a bit of molecular gastronomy thrown in to a fantastic selection of pan-palate pleasing items. Great staff too and cool fellow diners. Only a few blocks from my place... Nola is catching up. .none of the touristy 'crawfish'... 'Po boy' typical fare. #nolaproblemsantidote
(5)Brittany S.
Absolutely life changing experience at Square Root tonight. We went there for our anniversary and couldn't have picked a better place. The entire staff was amazing, attentive, engaging and masterful! Chef Lopez creates dishes with passion, putting food stories full of passion on your spoon...Each a delight for the senses! Beautiful to look at, mouth watering and enticing...The sommelier Ms. Dowty brings immense knowledge and perfectly paired portions of wine...Imparting her knowledge by explaining each glass when served. Chef Austin Smith is charismatic and passionate about food...it shows in all that he does. Thanks to everyone that makes Square Root what it is...we are honored to have spent the evening in your restaurant and will never forget our experience there! 5 stars isn't enough...so far beyond expectation!
(5)Katie G.
If you have a food allergy - like my celiac disease - you are probably scared of fixed menus. DON'T BE! Each course in the experience was made to suit me and my gluten free self and gave matched the experience of my buddies. The desserts (yep- TWO that I could eat and it wasn't just sorbet) were show stoppers and left me wanting to shout from the balcony about the awesome service and food! Way to be!!!
(5)David L.
Unfortunately, I cannot afford to eat downstairs. However, if you come during happy hour and head upstairs to the bar, you will not be disappointed. Happy hour cocktails are inexpensive and tasty. The food plates are a really good size - somewhere between tapas and entrees, and 3 were almost enough for dinner for my girlfriend and me. And they were exquisite. The value is fantastic, the food is daring. The steak tartare was good, but the punjabi spiced apple tart was incredible, as was the upside down cornmeal peach cake with espresso ice cream... I'm a big fan of cooking where you can taste all of the individual flavors, rather than have a melding of ingredients (French cooking), and this place delivers all that I could want and more. Some day, I'll be able to afford a seat at the big kids table downstairs. For now, the upstairs will more than suffice.
(5)Debbie R.
Absolutely an amazing and unique place. After speaking with the Chef you know he has earned his stripes, yet he was so humble and friendly. His food speaks for itself. All Night the only words out of my mouth were "amazing" and "phenomenal". We will definitely be back.
(5)Shannon J.
This review is for both dinner downstairs and bar upstairs. BAR: Fabulous place to get a craft cocktail and some house-made charcuterie and cheese. Beautiful wrap-around balcony for those warm Nola nights. Bathrooms are roomy and super cool. Service is attentive and knowledgeable. CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE IS TO DIE FOR. Secret's out, shit is delicious. 5 stars for that alone. DINNER: So let me start out by saying that the tasting menu isn't for everyone. If you are typically the kind of person that needs two super burritos for dinner, etc, you probably will not be into paying $150 for 12 courses of small plates. However, if you're a foodie, foodie curious, or love molecular gastronomy, this place offers you something you can't get anywhere else in New Orleans. This place just proves my theory that Nola is having a food renaissance and really becoming a culinary force to be reckoned with (with food other than red beans/gumbo/fried shit). FYI, there are no tables here. If you dine downstairs, there is only the chef's tasting menu, with bar seating facing the open kitchen. It's fabulous to watch the chefs plate the dishes, tweezing little components, making cotton candy, or playing with the liquid nitrogen. The deal is 12 courses ($150) with an optional wine pairing ($150) or mixed pairing ($100). If you opt out of pairing, they have a wine/cocktail list from which you can order a la carte. 5 stars for service. They are on their game here! You come to be spoiled and you really are. And it's all about the little things: folding the napkins when you get up, wiping every plate down between each course, new silverware for each course, etc. Everyone is knowledgeable, friendly, and detail-oriented. The vibe is still that southern congeniality while maintaining excellent and efficient service. The sommelier was sweet as pie, and seemed to really know her shit. Our server/maître d, Rye, was super nice, funny, and really knowledgeable about every single ingredient (And he has the same birthday as me, which makes him ultra cool). 4 stars for food. All the dishes were incredibly beautiful and the plates were an aesthetic adventure (Sidenote: some of the gorgeous plates are made in Barcelona and SR is the only restaurant in the U.S. to have them. Boom!). The components in each course were numerous, the flavors were complex, and you could really see the technique and creativity that went into each dish. I'm not going to bother going into every single dish of the 12-course menu (plus a 13th course if you count the palate cleanser), because I'm sure they change the menu often, and it's not like you get to pick what you order. There are about 3 appetizer courses, 5 entrée/more savory courses, and 4 dessert courses. Many hit the mark, some missed it. But that is to be expected when you're experimenting with so many ingredients and techniques. Bonus: when I ate a piece of the passion fruit pisco sour frozen in liquid nitrogen, smoke came out of my mouth for like 5 minutes. Rad. All in all, this was a phenomenal and unique experience, best saved for a special occasion when you feel ok about blowing a ton of money. I feel ok about it because it was my birthday and the bf paid. :) New Orleans has been needing a place like Square Root, and it really delivers.
(5)Thomas T.
The food was excellent. The main waiter was very pleasant. The rest of the staff was acceptable. The wine/alcohol pairing was subpar. The price point was high. The menu was very inventive. Flavors were great. It overall was very good. If you do not mind spending $250 per person for great inventive food then worth a try. But you can find excellent in the city for less.
(4)Ivana D.
Wow. From the service, to the atmosphere, to the genius of the presentation and the food this place is a must go for those who appreciate, not only amazing food, but the craft and skill that comes behind what the chef and his team create here. It is a once in a lifetime experience at the very least. If You want some sort of an idea watch a documentary on NOMA, it is a restaurant in Denmark which was just honored as the best restaurant in the world, and ironically it is a molecular gastronomy restaurant such as this one. (We ate downstairs as part of the 15 course tasting menu). Additionally the drink pairings were all beautiful and on point, and I appreciated the chef personally speaking to each party before each course. The whole thing was wonderful and I'm hoping to be back soon, especially because they change their menu WEEKLY- I couldn't believe that after seeing the amount of hard work they put into the current menu. If you're in NOLA you must try square root.
(5)Dale W.
The flavors, textures and variety were simply spectacular. An exceptional venue for a special occasion or date night when you absolutely want the restaurant to provide all topics of conversation :) What would you talk about after having Fried Chicken Cotton Candy?
(5)Nolab B.
I usually never review restaurants because i feel I'm too picky and opinionated. But after eating at Square Root I thought I would jot down my experience. 2 guest, weeknight dinner 9 course tasting menu. The menu is a surprise. I was excited to try this. The Experience: $4oo and some change. A bit boring, and cold (not in a chill way!) The Service Staff: Cold, Not interested, barely smiled. Sommeliers not knowledgeable enough on cocktails and wine list. They are very inattentive. The Kitchen Staff: Way too serious never smile, strange enough they have this amazing kitchen and we only seen them flat grill squash and sear meat. Nothing was cooking, there was no action. Quite boring for such an expensive seat in the kitchen. Food: Interesting, although menu did not flow. Too many differnt types of food that had no bearing on the next. None of our food was hot, all at room temp or cold. Cocktails: very good, although took nearly 15 minutes to get after being told they didnt have what we wanted, to then be told they did. Atmosphere: The idea of an open kitchen concept and a staff that are not very interactive was a bit strange. I felt we were under a lot of pressure to move quickly through the courses by the looks of the face of the chefs. The mysterious appearing and dissaperaing of the server magically trying to wipe drips from my glass and refresh flatware were a bit strange. She wears a white glove and it feels as thought she sneaks in behind you and tries to wipe up with out you seeing her. I almost trapped her hand twice between my torso and arm becuase I did not know she was there. Overall: Food was good, but I would have hoped for more continuity. All the things made with nitrogen seem to fail. No flavor in the almond milk, the berry granita was too cold to eat and burned your tongue when you tried. Of the 9 courses I enjoyed 5, disliked 4. I left hungry. What worked: The foie gras and a dish called "chilaquiles" (minus the lobster) the chef made from his childhood that his grandmothers use to make for him. I would like to see the Chef do more regional tastings from what he grew up on in mexico.
(3)Knox K.
If there were such a thing as a culinary Kama Sutra, then it was written by Square Root's Chef Lopez. The creation and presentation of our many dishes were both astounding and beautiful, with the end results being repeated orgasmic explosion of flavor in our mouths...an oralgasm if you will. On multiple occasions, I was nearly brought to tears by the godly gustatory greatness that was our 17-course meal. If ever I were so fortunate as to be granted three wishes by one of the fabled genies of old, my choice would be devoid of conflict; for easily I would choose dinner at Square Root...3 times.
(5)Lynn W.
Such an unassuming spot. Judging by the entrance area, you would not think the 2nd floor was this cool. The bartenders were a little scatter brained, but I just figured they were all new. I like modern spots where you can eat dinner and have drinks or just socialize. The sofa area is really nice to entertain guests (in your non house) LOL. We ordered a cheese and charterie plate and deviled eggs during Happy Hour. The bartenders mix nice handcrafted drinks. You can tell they are not the average bartenders, just a little nervous to have company! You have to make a reservation to sit on the first level and eat dinner. I don't like that. Wasn't really crowded, so why harp on appointments. I will be back because I really like the location. It's really near the bridge AND it's a great atmosphere.
(4)Aaron S.
This concept is long overdue in New Orleans. I am reviewing both upstairs and downstairs in the review. Upstairs, I have dined here and had cocktails and it is a wonderful experience. I love the use of the "toys" in the kitchen and all of the twists on the food. The duck heart salad was my favorite. Simply wonderful flavors from the duck hearts. The greens come from their project in the ninth ward with habitat for humanity. Really good stuff. The steak tartare was also a wonderful choice. The cocktails are quite good with mixologists that really know their craft. All in all a wonderful place to dine and have a cocktail! Downstairs is truly a foodie delight. Our tasting menu was 16 courses, just enough food to leave happy, but not over full. Their use of molecular gastronomy techniques with every course really make it fun! Truly fit for any foodie! We had the wine pairings and they were very well done. Even the dishware was exotic and made the food look more amazing. I also loved the use of tweezers to add the small micro greens and finish the presentation. It certainly not cheap, but in my opinion well worth the cost! Whether upstairs for a casual meal of small plates and a cocktail, or downstairs for the most amazing tasting menu, you simply can't go wrong with Root Squared! The fabulous contemporary space, coupled with the most innovative cuisine in the city, make this restaurant a must for any foodie!
(5)Keandra R.
Gene is the shit! I'll finish this review later. Southern hospitality at its best and he's from California.
(5)Angela L.
Having just missed the opening of Chef Lopez's fine dining adventure, Square Root, on our last trip to New Orleans, I was thrilled to score reservations on our trip this April. I've long been a fan of Root, Chef's lovely upscale eatery on Julia, so was looking forward to seeing him take it up a notch. I was not disappointed. The crew works in tandem, and the setup is a "Chef's Table" where all the diners can share in the experience of the preparation. Each course is presented like a tiny Cirque ballet, with beautiful dishes arriving in a flurry of fanciful cooking techniques, and packing a punch of unique and rewarding flavors in every bite. I won't belabor the menu, as yours will almost certainly be different, but the experience of eating in his kitchen is bliss. Picking my favorites would be hard, but the chilaquiles, posole with pork belly, and foie gras with blood orange certainly linger in my memory. Lopez' spectacular crew, led by Austin (just look for the John Besh clone) are extremely talented and they run the kitchen like a well-oiled machine. The guys rock that kitchen. I'm back in California now, and counting the days until we can return. Bravo!
(5)Kara G.
Amazing experience! We went on a Saturday night at 6, stopping upstairs first for a drink. Dinner at Chef Lopez's table was truly an experience. He takes time to explain each dish and how he came up with it, and he also made an effort to speak to each couple individually at the end of the meal. The drink pairings were steep, but the people who ordered them seemed to enjoy them (we stuck with our cocktails). Notable dishes: the short rib with hazelnut hummus, a peach and pistachio dessert, curry and forbidden rice, and the muffaletta on a savory macaron. The one downfall was how incredibly rich everything was, but it was my mistake for passing on the first palate cleanser (a nitrogen frozen lychee margarita with plums- if I remember correctly; it was too boozy for my tastes). If you have the opportunity to come here and an adventurous palate, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Walter K.
Can't speak for the downstairs restaurant, but the upstairs bar is a real treat. Fantastic happy hour from 5-7 with $5 drinks. Prices for the regular cocktails and food can get a little pricey, but everything here is crafted with extreme care and creativity. The charcuterie board at $55 is steep, but if you want to get a taste of the menu without breaking the bank, go for the deviled eggs. For $9, you get 6 egg halves with truffled shrimp remoulade topped with caviar. Rich and delicious. This place is certainly worth a few visits and has one of the best happy hours I've seen anywhere.
(5)Brandon B.
We showed up exactly on time "15 minutes early". Were informed that we can join them upstairs for a drink and they'll get us when ready. We go upstairs and grab a drink, and were escorted downstairs 20 minutes later... Good drinks by the way. We are seated in the worst possible viewing space with three empty spots next to us with better views. Our view is attached in images as the obnoxious cotton candy machine which will be used only once. We then sit in bar style uncomfortable chairs for 30 minutes and watch people across from us get plate after plate of food. This food better make up for this tragically expensive meal.... Finally our first dish arrives. Delicious! Dish 2 and 3, we're off to a good start! ..... Then we received plate after plate of things that were flavorful and not bad, but 'interesting'.. Interesting in the fact that my wife and i had to continually excuse ourselves in hopes that we didn't vomit at the table... The food wasn't disgusting, just unsettling... We sat in a bar style seating, eating unsettling food for 4 HOURS!!!! Exhausted from the time and the aching in our stomachs made the best part when it was all finally over... This may be for some people, but we only enjoyed 4 of the 15 dishes (and we like to eat).. We figured the $150 a head was good because it's an 'experience' but all our experience gave us was an urning for cotton candy and indigestion.
(2)Leesa F.
We had dinner here late on a Saturday night and we had a mostly pleasant experience with 2 complaints. Part of the experience is to watch the chefs preparing dinner and watching them work. Where we sat blocked the view with large mixing bowls. The chefs and staff were great and did an amazing job of explaining in detail the dishes presented to us. I asked several questions and without hesitation they answered them. We opted in for the wine and spirits pairing but were very disappointed. The wines were ok but the spirits were not matched well and a few of them undrinkable. With that said though, we will definitely be eating here again but will choose our own wine and spirits as well as request our seats.
(4)Nick M.
The food is very good, but the price to food ratio is out of whack. How is making the same dishes for every customer is worth a super premium? I would call this a one and done for fine dining but the happy hour with $6 wines and classic cocktails on a big magazine street balcony does not suck
(4)Carol E.
Very disappointing. A few good items but not the quality I expected for the price. We had the 6:30 seating and there were 3 of us. We were seated on schedule after arriving early and having a cocktail in the upstairs bar. The food was beautifully designed like works of art. I questioned whether they were more food artist than Chefs. We had about 12 courses in a couple of hours. Staff was friendly and engaging. We chose the reserve wine pairings for $150 per person. We were told we would be tasting some rare and exceptional wines. The wine was mostly white and anything but exceptional. The wine pours were about two sips, an ounce or less. We were graciously offered an additional pour of the wine if we chose, but we were NOT informed that it would be at an additional cost of $10 each. The food was innovative and artsy, but certainly not the excellence you would expect for the price.
(2)Mark H.
Come early and enjoy a drink and small plate before going downstairs to dine. Not a bad spot to go for an after dinner scotch as well. As for the food at Square Root....check the number of five star reviews I give out. It ain't many...and these guys without a doubt deserve one. The works of art that come to your plate are so delicious and exquisite, it almost pains you to eat it....until you do. Four words - Fried Chicken Cotton Candy. Mmmmmmmm. Make certain you pair your courses with the deluxe wine option...there are some glasses that will blow your mind, and I must say, the Sommelier is ridiculously on top of her game. My only advice is to steer clear of the corner seats facing the kitchen....you will have an obscured view with the columns. Other than that, sit back and prepare to be amazed. Needless to say, when we are back in NOLA, we will be back at Square Root.
(5)Jessica G.
Last night my husband and I had dinner here I can't stop thinking about it. He might go back again this week. We did the wine paring with ours (they had two levels and we did the higher level). We've eaten at some amazing places all over the US and even in Paris and this was...different. Amazing and far more than a meal. They say it'll be a dining experience, and they were not kidding. We ended up really enjoying chatting with the other diners we were seated next to who were on the same schedule we were. Sitting at a bar around the kitchen meant it was easier to chat with other diners. And built in entertainment watching the kitchen. The staff was excellent and took great care of us. Our server Rye took the time to explain each course as they were delivered. Not only that but he chatted with us about other parts of the experience, like the music. Sommelier Liz Dowty paired amazing wines with our courses. She was a pleasure to chat with and knew her wines! Last but certainly not least, the food. Everything was well executed and the dishes flowed. The portions were smaller tasting portions as you'd want when 13 courses come your way. At no point, even with the wine, did I feel overfull. The courses were well paced and the full meal was over 3 hrs. I think the savory courses did outshine the desserts. Loved the fried chicken wafer with fried chicken cotton candy. Yes, fried chicken cotton candy. Their take on the Muffuletta was a ton of flavor in a small package. Yum, yum, yum.
(5)Richard L.
I took a friend here this past weekend. I go to tasting menus every chance I get, but, for my friend, it was her first tasting menu. This night there were 12 courses and we chose the drink pairing that was mostly wine. There are several comments on the food already posted. All I will say here is that my friend and I agree with the people who thought the food was excellent. The evening began with the seating and the basic questions about what drinks we wanted and if we had any allergies. The two chefs fixed our food in front of us. Then we got our drink pairing and description (excellent pairings). Next, we got our food followed by a description of the course. Everyone was polite and patient as we asked our questions. This is definitely a meal worthwhile and, hopefully, I will get a chance to return.
(5)Harvey G.
Did the Chef's tasting menu here last night. If like me you get excited about flavors and textures that you never could have imagined yourself you must try Square Root. Beautiful preparations and with the wine pairings I had a couple of hours of constant surprise and amazement that will not be soon forgotten. Also, I don't think I could say enough about how great the chefs and servers are, they really made the experience wonderful. After dinner I got to explore some incredible digestifs upstairs which for me is the perfect way to end such an evening. Thanks Square Root!
(5)Cynthia H.
Jazz fest tourist looking for good cocktails in the Garden District - and Square Root totally delivered! Even though we had dinner in an hour, we could not resist the charcuterie and cheese. MAN OH MAN was that some good salmon! Lovely food presentation, lovely decor, lovely view, lovely service. Can't wait to come back! Keep up the great work, kitchen and staff!
(5)D. H.
An amazing meal complete experience. Cutting edge cuisine is a new thing for NOLA, and it is a welcome addition. I have eaten at molecular gastronomy temples in other cities and countries, and sometimes the food can seem gimmicky or too scientific. Chef Lopez and his team produce absolutely delicious dishes with taste remaining the #1 concern. There is some showmanship, but it takes a backseat. Easily one of the best meals I have ever had in NOLA. Also, I had an eclectic wine/cocktail/beer pairing that is excellent, and the others in our party had amazing wine pairings. I think there will be some people who don't have the patience to give this a chance. But hopefully there will be many more who want to be challenged and think "outside the box". This is not a place for simple comfort food. The only negative that many will have is the prix fixe price, but it is reasonable considering the amount labor put into producing this masterpiece of a meal.
(5)Frederic M.
i am in the restaurant business from miami and decided to embark in a food discovery journey of 4 days in new Orleans for the first time. and really square root was by fare the high light of this four days, i am still thinking about this magical experience, i would flight to new Orleans just to eat there, the chef Philip Lopez telling a story personaly for every course served. every single course was AMAZING everything well balanced every aspect vas explored ( visual, flavor, textures, temperatures ) the wine pairing was precise and perfectly chosen by Elizabeth Dowty the maitre D was humble and very detail oriented and didn't mist a thing it was just flawless a real treat on every level.... Frederic MARTZ
(5)Lily L.
This is very serious food experience, not everything may be to your taste but each plate is undeniably of interest , excellent in conception, execution, presentation and quality. This place is expensive, $95. during the week, double that on the weekend,tip and tax included. 9 plates on the weekdays and 13 on the weekend. Wine parings are in the $95. range per person and cocktails parings are $55 per person. We ordered a bottle of wine ala carte and 2 cocktails plus the tasting menu and the cost on a Tuesday night was $200. per person. Was it worth it? sure...once. While the food is excellent and interesting, the experience is a bit nerdy and ultimately not really fun, Nothing about the decor downstairs makes you dream. Basically the dining room is a large commercial kitchen with some very expensive kitchen equipment surrounded by a wide stainless steel counter. There are no tables ,basically you sit at the counter, diner style, except the food is sophisticated, inspired and of interest. The music is the worst part, mainly because the speakers give you the feeling of listening to a car radio on a drive across Texas badlands. If you are going to play the Beastie Boys and other 80's and 90's favorites you probably need a system that can deliver the high end and some bass. Too many rules. We were informed that you have to arrive 15 minutes before your reservation or they won't seat you. Really? When you give your credit card to hold your reservation you have paid for your meal! No cancellations for any reason. You must make requests for food allergies 72 hours in advance...even though they take reservations on the same day. So beware if you have a serious food allergy. There are only 20 seats. The restaurant was only 1/3 full on Tuesday night. Empty except for us by 9:30. So maybe it is best not to make a reservation just take your chances. The service is fine very low key, pleasant but very serious, there was a thin mist of drear that permeated the experience. Even though you are paying between $200 to $400 per person this experience is not about you, it is all about the food. Which is fine , if you like that sort of thing. . All the rules having a chilling effect on the "fun" factor from the beginning, You feel that many things are not permitted but you are not sure. They do not tell you the menu because they want to surprise you. This makes ordering wine ala carte a bit of a challenge. The first two courses were to be eaten by hand, silverware was not available. Really? You cannot enjoy the camaraderie of going out to dinner with a friends because there are no tables, rather you are lined up at a counter. , If you are a big foodie,you should go. If you are from New Orleans dinner out is usually about food friendship romance and camaraderie, On those nights when you feel celebratory or want to go out in a group of 4 or 6 you will not think of going to Square Root no matter how much you like the food. Going to Square Root is more like going to a Food Laboratory where the experiments are mostly very successful but you have to behave and follow the rules...and the music is weird not in a good way.
(3)Eliza N.
Looking for HORRENDOUS service? COME HERE! Where to begin? Glasses of wine that don't arrive for an hour, plates left on the table after the meal until there were so many we had to request that they be removed, a guest that did not get any silverware until she asked for it, requesting the check and being told it would be right out, the server arrives again with no check and says, "oh I forgot", and probably the ultimate irritant and reason to NEVER return was the unspoken, but plainly visible attitude of, "I really don't want to be helping you" by the wait staff as well as by the bartenders. This is a shame because the food was actually good.
(1)Lindsay A.
There are just some experiences that are truly once in a lifetime. I thought that eating at Square Root was probably a zero in a lifetime chance for me but I happen to have amazing friends that will allow me to experience some of these things occasionally. Words expressed through dinner included: 'Wow.' 'This is incredible.' 'I've never had that taste before.' 'I feel like that has awakened a part of my tongue I didn't know I had!' 'I'm so full!' 'When is the banana course?' This was truly an adventure. We arrived when they asked us to, which was early, so we enjoyed a cocktail upstairs. The Manhattan was wonderful, although it did take quite a while to complete. We made our way downstairs for dinner and were seated along the bar. I was impressed because although you are sat with the rest of the patrons along the bar, the service happens for your group individually. There were never any large group explanations or announcements made to everyone, which kept it a very intimate experience. My group all got the 'mixed' pairing with their meal, which included some wine, some cocktails, and some individual spirits. Your meal begins with finger foods. This was quite deceptive for me because for a minute I thought I might just make it through all the courses. Silly Lindsay, fooled again. By the sixth or seventh course I and another member of our party were begging for mercy and handing off pieces of our meal to our other friends. By the end of the meal we were hoping to be blinded and never see food again. Now, don't get me wrong, everything was AMAZING. The things they are doing with food are beyond your wildest dreams. I mean, fried chicken cotton candy. Seriously. The staff was also beyond anything I had experienced before. Every member of the staff, from the kitchen staff, to the hosts, to the sommelier was courteous, polite, congenial, and made each party feel comfortable and special. If you enjoy food and booze done to incredible new heights and are willing to be open-minded, I highly recommend having this experience at least once. Bonus points for those who can handle all the food and booze, for you are a better person than I.
(5)Jinyoung P.
I love happy hour at Root Squared. Who wants $5 Pimm's Cups? Me! The food is also great. I have tasted the charcuterie/cheese board and the deviled eggs. The meat and cheese on the board were great, but what I love the most about the board is the pickles. They had pickled peaches, Brussels sprouts, and other awesome things I now can't remember because I have the worst memory. The deviled eggs were delicious too, and I want to eat more things from this menu. I don't know if it's still available but when I was there a couple of weeks ago, they had a duck heart frito pie. WHY did I not order it?!
(4)Christy H.
It seems that the LGD end of Magazine has become a hot spot lately for the latest and greatest food adventures in New Orleans. With "adventure" being the key word here, one spot that any foodie simply MUST try is Square Root. The atmosphere of the place, for starters, is fantastic. If the weather is nice, I definitely recommend dining outside on the upstairs balcony. You will have great views of Magazine Street down below as well as the surrounding neighborhood and downtown New Orleans off in the distance. The inside bar is also very cozy and intimate. Now, the food...the menu consists of small plates and also features a large selection of charcuterie and cheeses. The selection is constantly changing, which I'm guessing is why there is no menu posted online. So, what you might find on your visit will be a total surprise. We started with small plates for our entree: coffee-cured salmon with pickled beets for myself; my friend ordered blue crab with grapefruit and avocado cream. The portions are small, yes, but they don't need to be because the flavors are HUGE! The charcuterie and cheeses looked too good to miss out on, so that was our "dessert". We asked the check to pair one meat and one cheese with our wine. What we got was an absolutely gorgeous board of black pudding and blue cheese along with the accoutremonts: pickled veggies, plums and peaches; blueberry preserves; bourbon-poached pears. Everything on that board worked so well together, it was like a symphony of tastes and textures! The most surprising part of dining here was that, for such innovative and intricate cuisine, the prices were not outrageous. Also, though my friend and I were dressed up for a night on the town, many of the other diners were dressed casually. So, the dress code can go either way. All in all, I highly recommend Sqaure Root for a memorable dinning experience.
(5)Istria L.
Id have to say, having dined at Atera, Eleven Madison Park, Alinean and the like, id be surprised if Square Root wont recieve a star anytime soon. Best meal in my life, will come back anytime.
(5)Michael R.
Truly one of the most delightful dining experiences I've ever had in my entire life. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Nancy W.
What an experience! The atmosphere is fantastic. The waitstaff is exceptionally attentive. The alcohol pairing was very unique. Dinner itself was as delicious for the eyes as it was for the stomach. Watching them prepare dishes with unique cooking styles just made the dish taste better. The chef's explanation of each dish was also very interactive. We got to ask questions and understand the thought process behind the dishes. It was very much worth the cost.
(5)Ashley B.
This place is great!!! We went upstairs to the bar and were blown away by the decor and the food was amazing. We almost ate everything on the menu! The portions were very big. My favorite thing we tried was the crab and grapefruit salad and the seafood deviled eggs!! They were both bursting with flavor nothing here is under-seasoned!! Also try the foie terrine it is better than August! Have to say it was the best meal ive had in a while! Cant wait to try the downstairs area! Oh just so you know this place has happy hour 5-7
(5)Patrick L.
I like to think of myself as a fairly adventurous eater, in the sense that I'll eat nearly anything except for foods slathered in mayonnaise. To take that idea further, I'm also a sucker for "interesting" dishes featuring exotic ingredients, layered/nuanced flavors, innovative preparation, artful plating, or any combination thereof. Parade these plates in front of me in the form of a multi-course tasting menu, and that's the formula for a meal I will always remember. There are two seatings per evening, at a bar that offers a full view of the kitchen. A seat at the table doesn't come cheap, at $150 per person, but keep in mind that this is going to be an experience of at least 12 courses. Viewed from that perspective, I'd bet that many have probably spent more, for lesser quality or quantity. Beverage pairing options are available, for an extra charge - many around us opted for the $100 "Sommelier Pairing" option, but we still had to eat and drink our way around Louisiana for a few more days, so we decided to pass, in the interest of saving some money. Here's a brief rundown of some of our more memorable dishes, but keep in mind that these will probably be subject to change: The "magical muffuletta" was a play on the classic New Orleans sandwich, but instead of using something so pedestrian as bread, the "loaves" were little savory meringues. My favorite plate of the evening was likely the "Southern picnic," which was fried chicken cotton candy with mustard seeds and fried okra. The plate itself was striking in presentation, but what made this tops for me was the dense chicken flavor of the cotton candy, which induced a bit of delicious cognitive dissonance. Another awfully cool plate was the "passion fruit pisco," a play on the pisco sour cocktail. I wish all pisco sours tasted like this. This dish was comprised of some cardamom apple, fennel and liquid nitrogen passion fruit with a nicely tart/sweet yuzu meringue on top. The most well-executed dish was the lobster chilaquiles. These came stocked with a nice bit of Mr. Pinchy, green salsa, lobster mole, queso fresco and onion ash. While I love lobster, I'd have to say that the green salsa and mole sauces really made this dish, with complex layers of sweet, spicy and smoky flavors. For dessert, there were a few bites, but the one that most stood out to me was a tarragon cake with satsuma ice cream and fresh satsuma, topped with a milk chocolate honey cremeaux. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet, instead driven by the light herbal flavors of the cake and mild tart satsumas. This is just a sampling of the dishes I liked best....there were quite a few more courses! While they were all excellent, I cannot honestly say that the others were as memorable. Even so, this is still an easy 5 stars. I'd also like to note the pacing of the meal. Some of these multi-course tasting menus can drag out for a long time, while others feel rushed. For me, Square Root hit that sweet spot, allowing more than enough time to fully savor each special course, but without feeling like the night was dragging. Any waits in between courses were spent observing the kitchen staff work, which is fascinating in its own right. No boring meal, this. I'd recommend it to any serious eater.
(5)Christina T.
This review is just for the happy hour At the bar upstairs. That said, much to my surprise, I was very impressed. The male companion and myself went here in search of some place new for happy hour and I will definitely be returning. The drink specials were great, the ambience of the bar is very cool and perfect for a group gathering or a date. While there, we ordered the chicken liver pate and, lawd (!), it was delicious. And only $10! We will definitely be returning, at least for happy hour.
(4)Noah K.
EPIC! EPIC! EPIC! After dining with my wife here on Friday 4/25 I decided it is finally time to write my first review which granted will only amount to saying, "I am so dam impressed with the entire operation at Square Root!" Truly the highlight of our Jazzfest vacation! Even better than seeing Phish perform ; )
(5)Jesse L.
The experience was about missed expectations followed by disappointment. From the beginning the hostess greeting was bland, then we waited 10 minutes at the upstairs bar without being served, then the "greeter" at the counter dining was blasé. It took a long time to get pre dinner drinks and even longer to get a bottle of wine. The first three courses were flat with no real taste. The next three were good. but not great The portions are very small - almost just a bite. We went elsewhere afterwards to get something more to eat as we left hungry. It is expensive but does not deliver. We will not return.
(2)Chad S.
Wife and I tried Square Root out for the first time last night and it easily made our top 5 best dinners of all time. Calling it just a dinner though doesn't do it justice because it's a complete sensory experience. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a very unique decor all centered around a long u shaped seating arrangement facing the kitchen area where the magic happens. We opted for the wine pairing which truly exceeded our expectations, as it complimented each dish perfectly with wines neither my wife nor I have ever tried. The plating used for each tasting also added to the experience (I never thought I would say that) but each course was served in a different and unique plate/bowl that in itself were pieces of art. Chef Lopez personally described each of the 15 culinary delights when served...which was pretty cool coming from the mastermind behind such creations. And getting the opportunity to watch the chef's team prepare each dish in front of us was amazing. Now to the actual food, which by itself I could write a 20 page review on but will hit the high points only. We were worried we might be overly full at the end of the meal, but pleasantly surprised when the amount of food was just right. As each dish came out, it quickly became our new favorite one. The Sablefish, wagyu, potato soup, and pheasant were only a few of our favorites and I cant even attempt to try and explain the intricate way in which they were prepared perfectly. There wasn't one dish of the 15 that we didn't enjoy which is pretty amazing. We would highly recommend Square Root and am so glad to see a place like this open in New Orleans that pushes the creative boundaries of cooking!
(5)