RL’s Off the Square

First visit, the service was outstanding. Gumbo was really good, bronze shrimp was fantastic. Crawfish étouffée was good but could use more crawfish. We will return. Almost forgot pecan pie and cream brulee was good as well.

This place is tops! Delicious Food, Great Cocktails, Amazing Atmosphere! The food is truly delicious (authentic Louisiana) The cocktails can match any bar in the French Quarter, The atmosphere had a New Orleans courtyard feel!
This was our first visit, but this will become a regular place to visit for lunch, dinner or cocktails.

I made choice to come in here based of the food reviews.
The food was amazing!
Cup of gumbo was great, I’d get a bowl next time!
The half rack of ribs presentation… with sides…
Is a lot of food!
The ribs are soo good!
Tender and so much flavor!
This could be a hidden gem!
But it spells repeat business to me!

Excellent choice if you want some good creole cuisine. We love New Orleans and visit often, but this place is a great alternative to a trip there for a night of good food. Prices are a bit steep, but the food is good as well as the service. Overall we have never had a bad experience at this restaurant.

So so so yummy! Crab cake appetizer was perfect! Pastalya was amazing. As well as the turner! Great historic building. I will definitely come back again.

WOW!
Just got in from a delicious meal at RL’s. The food is always stellar, but tonight’s experience was perfect across the board.
The restaurant seems to be staffed with all new employees – minus, of course, the chef. Everyone on the floor seemed smiling and efficient. Our server, Ashley, though, was fantastic. She was so warm and genuine that I felt like she was an old friend who had invited me over for dinner.
And what a dinner! We both had red beans and rice – filled with meat and richness. For entrées we got the swordfish with a shrimp, white wine risotto, and the ribs with veggies and mashed potatoes. Both were excellent, though I think the risotto was the standout.
If it’s your first time there then I emphatically recommend getting the jalapeño grit cakes or the greens for your appetizer. Then for entrees you should try the Turner (in which case I’d do greens for the appetizer) or the jambalaya.
So happy that this restaurant finally has the service that the food deserves!

Absolutely delicious! Prices are very reasonable and the restaurant staff is happy to have you as a customer! Best Cajun/​Creole food I’ve every had outside of New Orleans. There is also an outdoor patio and full liquor bar inside the restaurant. My wife and I enjoyed our dinner and will definitely return soon!

Came here over two years ago… gonna be a brief review– but gosh, judging form the recent reviews, it seems like this place has perhaps fallen on hard times…
The Turner– I honestly forgot what this was…
Crab Cakes– GET THIS.
Fried Green Tomatoes– not bad, not great
Gumbo– tasty, but a bit too salty.

My wife’s food was good. My jambalaya had some spice in it that I couldn’t handle. My gumbo never arrived… Bartender and hostess waited tables with several waitresses in training who did nothing. Service was very poor and extremely slow. It could have been an unrepresentative night, but I’m not going back to find out.

Terrible food. The crab cakes were from a frozen box and the ribs were dry. The slaw was inedible. Just bad all around.

Absolutely one of our favorite restaurants anywhere in the country. We have foodie friends in Atlanta who make special trips just to eat here. The jambalaya is a favorite as well as the very unusual and tasty Turner. We always start with an appetizer of greens which could be a meal in itself. You can’t go wrong with the étouffée either. The little biscuits are delightful and the iced tea is always fresh.
Although we have no longer live in the area the staff still recognizes us and welcomes us back. Just writing this makes me hungry!

After reading other reviews, I’m glad I couldn’t eat here. I tried to eat dinner here after a day of seeing the film locales. Posted on their door were their hours. Seeing that they didn’t open until 5:00pm and it was about 4:15 and I am a senior citizen who was ready to eat then, I went down the street to Amici’s who appreciated my patronage.

Ehh… Nothing to write home about. I definitely don’t give this five stars. The service is not the best but it has been a year sense I’ve dined

I had the Crawfish Étouffée and my wife had the Turner. Both were excellent with great, authentic Cajun/​creole flavor. We will be back many times. Highly recommend.

Having lived in the Covington area for over 20 years, my husband and I have eaten at every restaurant in town more than a few times. We come back time and time again to RL’s Off the Square for ambience and excellent food of which we never tire. We honeymooned in New Orleans, so we «return» here for anniversary dinners; we have hosted friends and family and everyone asks to return for birthdays and any old excuse at all. My favorite dish is the bronzed chicken but I am often tempted away from that by the special seafood dishes featured every day. Service is friendly and discreet. May RL’s Off the Square last forever. And its fabulous slaw. :)

Great food! The crab cakes and grit cakes are awesome. The atmosphere was wonderful. The greens were seasoned to perfection!

Ordered a po boy for lunch. Couldn’t eat the accompanying slaw because it was so terrible. The po boy repeated on me for the rest of the day. At one point, RL’s used to be good, but the last few (too many) years it seems like the food is dated, boring, and there’s no more love. The chef/​owner needs to shut down for a while, go find himself, and come back with a renewed sense of purpose and a new menu. It’s overpriced for what is being prepared and served. Eating there makes me sad. The interior could use an update as well. Too bad. Awesome Historic Floyd Street location!

Rocking, humming, rolling my eyes in the top of my head good. The food was delish from the country biscuits, appetizers– crab cakes, a little more crab a little less stuffing would have been better. The entrees however were on point. Surf/​Turf with bronzed shrimp, No steak sauce and I didn’t need it, vanquished my mixed veggies. Catfish w/​jambalaya, Seafood Bisque, Gumbo, and Crispy Chicken fingers for the youngest. The food was seasoned well popping with that creole flavor. My husband has talked of this place for years, and it was worth the trip. Our server was kind and accomodating. R.L. availed himself for our souvenir family portrait.

In all the years I’ve traveled to the Covington area to visit my husband’s family, we’ve spent almost no time on the cute, historic downtown square. I told Mr. P. this has to change immediately and RL’s is one of the reasons why.
We stopped by for a family dinner on a Tuesday night and it was pretty quiet, even though filming was happening on the Square (an Oprah produced MLK biopic, no less). RL’s has an upscale fleur-​de-​lis and Mardi Gras atmosphere and serves authentic Cajun cuisine. It’s housed, of course, in an older building and the high ceilings and neutral paint colors give it an open, airy feel. The bar area in the front is bright and cheery and would be a fun spot to sit and sip on some cocktails or have a solo dinner.
We tried several of the appetizers and, unfortunately, I’m having a hard time remembering them all. There were crab cakes, shrimp and grit cakes, and greens for sure. The slaw that accompanied the fried cakes was among the best I’ve ever eaten. It was virtually mayo-​free with a light citrus flavor. I also tried the seafood bisque but found it a bit too sweet for my taste.
I chose the shrimp étouffée for my entrée and it was quite tasty with just enough spice and plenty of shrimp. I did have some entrée envy over Mr. P.‘s fish special (swordfish, if I recall correctly). The bite I was given, and the bites I stole, were amazing. If it is on the menu next time I visit, I’m definitely getting it. Portions were large and filling.
Our service was friendly, prompt and attentive. The wine I had was priced fairly and food prices were all around reasonable. Thankfully, it won’t be hard to talk the in-​laws into a trip to the Covington Square for dinner at RL’s next time we come for a visit.

Some of the most authentic, flavorful food I’ve found anywhere. I’m so happy I stopped in for lunch. I can’t wait to come back again! The roux for the red beans and rice is dark and rich, and the gumbo popped with flavor. I honestly didn’t think these even needed Tabasco, but had to add just a *little* out of tradition.
Do yourself a favor and come to this restaurant.