Cafe Pontalba

Reviews

• Tim P.

  star star star star star 11 June 2026

  Perfect atmosphere inside, a perfect location for sitting down to have a meal while people watching...
  I loved having a meal here. The tall doors opened. Jackson Square right outside with street performers and artists, and the sound of that pipe organ on the steamboat on the river... I wished it wasn't so early so that I could enjoy a drink or two at this very old and nice bar there. There were plenty of people sitting at the bar and ordering drinks to go... I took a seat at a table near the open doors to watch a couple artists paint and street performers entertain people.... Coffee, shrimp and grits, and a side of fried eggs.. While I'm not the best biggest fan of grits, I've warmed up to it over the years. This restaurants shrimp dish was a meal.that was memorable. Large shrimp on top of a plate of grits, with a spicy sauce that made the meal better than I could've expected... For bad nice of a place as Cafe Pontalba is inside, and how well the meals are prepared and presented, this is a very casual and laid back restaurant. The staff was pleasant and checked on me often  despite the amount of people inside and I didn't need anything more than a coffee refill.
  A great place to have a seat and some drinks or a meal when the rain suddenly appears, which seems to be at least once daily.

• Kelly S.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 7 June 2026

  My worst food experience in NOLA. Leftover, questionable, dried jambalaya with rice stuck together, and tiny portion sizes, devoid of flavor. I was scandalized -- it was like eating leftover rice that I put in the microwave at home.
  
  Prices are relatively slightly lower than other places. I was suspicious as to why a place located right next to Jackson Square is not full -- because the food is sub par. The drink was also very strong, but in the way that bad cheap alcohol can be super strong, not in a good way.
  
  Service was slow, but the food really stood out negatively in my overall exquisite gastronomical experience in the rich cuisine that I experienced in NOLA. Would definitely not come here again.

• Tara R.

  star star star star star_border 4 June 2026

  Great place to stop by if you're near plaza d armas. We came with a group of 6 and had no trouble finding a place to be seated. All of our drinks were tasty, excluding one. The shrimp new orleans was definitely the winner at the table--silky sauce with lots of flavor. The rest of our food was also great and the Mississippi mud pie for dessert was sexy.
  
  Beware of the spice levels. Although I love spicy, it was very slightly overwhelming enjoying the crab cakes and the greens served as a side.

• Michelle D.

  star star star star_border star_border 31 May 2026

  Cafe Pontalba helped me when I needed a to-go adult beverage and a restroom.
  
  My friends and I had taken a long journey down Bourbon Street to Jackson Square sipping adult beverages along the way. I was in desperate need of a restroom. This was a cute spot right across the street from Jackson Square. All of the doors/windows were open yet it wasn't sweaty hot inside.
  
  I went straight for the restroom then to the bar. I had to wait several minutes as the bartender was not behind the bar. When the bartender arrived I asked her which specialty drinks were the most popular. She pointed me to the Voodoo Juice. This was a blend of several Malibu rums and fruit juice. It was pretty tasty.
  
  The service was average. It seemed like I was bothering her. Yet there was no one else seated at the bar. And it was mid-afternoon so the restaurant was not crowded.

• Joanna C.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 29 May 2026

  Well... I'll say the alligator was good. The food was... well... without sounding rude, it was terrible. The rice was cooked maybe a week or two ago. The red beans and rice spoiled yet it was served on a plate, and the spices used were to mask everything wrong. The waiter was nice but with all the amazing food here in NOLA I think there's others to try first.