NOLA Oyster Bar

Loved the menu, a little pricey, eh service. My suggestion if I may is that when you reopen you should change the layout. The space isn’t utilized properly. Felt like they couldn’t decide if it was a bar or a restaurant but didn’t really work as both. Such potential!

Just called to try to make a reservation and their voicemail said they are CLOSED and will reopen in April with a new concept. Bummer!

The lobster waffle was great. just a small serving size.

If reviews were strictly based on the food, I’d give NOLA a 3.5 — 4-​star, unfortunately service is a factor … so a 2-​star it receives.
I ordered several different oysters, they were exactly what I wanted. Perfectly chucked, meaty and fresh. Yum. The burger was cooked to my taste /​request and flavorful.
All in all the food was good.
But will I return? Nope. The waitress and bartender took not one, not two, not three, but FOUR shots behind the bar… all while my beer lay empty on the table. I’m not speculating here, I watched them pour themselves shot after shot. Sure, it was a Friday night, but c’mon. Four shots while I have an empty beer? They were losing money not only by their party behind the bar, but also by pissing me off so badly that I refused to add to my bill and left thirsty.
Maybe I’ll give it another shot when it’s not a bunch of novices charging me top dollar for well service. Or maybe next time they’ll include the thirsty patrons in their free round of shots.

Bumping this to five stars after another amazing experience last night. I initially stopped in for cocktails with my sister and boyfriend and ended up ordering some light bites to soak up the booze. From a dozen huge, meaty Copp Island oysters (yay Norwalk pride) to simple waffle fries and a positively decadent artichoke-​crab fondue, the three of us left full and satisfied. As always, service was great and cocktails were nice — Nick’s simple French Quarter (rye whiskey, cardamaro, bitters) was definitely a highlight.
Can’t say enough good things — this is a gorgeous, inviting spot and I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect than drinks in front of the bar’s fireplace!

Chef Dan Kardos is clearly in charge of the kitchen and his culinary talent is evident as he creates some of the most delicious cuisine in Fairfield County.
The Seafood Tower, a dedication to cold shellfish (plus tuna), was the first course served to our table. The generous portions included Cherrystone clams, snow crab legs, Copps Island oysters, shrimp, and charred Hamachi crudo. A house made mignonette sauce accompanied the oysters. All of the items on the Tower were delightful. The crudo was marinated in white and dark balsamic vinegar plus a combination of lime and tangerine juices; it was tantalizing. The crab legs and shrimp were sweet with just a touch of seasoning to emphasize the natural flavors. The Copps Island oysters were a little bitter with very little salinity, but the addition of the mignonette sauce drastically changed the flavor profile from bitter to delicious.
It is rare that I rave about a vegetable dish, but the Brussels sprouts at Nola were outstanding. Fried and then topped with a sweet maple glaze, it was almost impossible to stop eating them. Chef Kardos then added more crunch with a smattering of chopped pistachios and bacon. The Brussels sprouts should be a communal order to share and enjoy with everyone at the table.
The «Chopped Salad» included corn, peas, beets, wax beans, Brussels sprouts and topped with grated Queso Fresco cheese. This was no ordinary green salad; it offered several vegetables from Urban Oaks with differing textures and just a touch of spiciness. It was a delicious salad.
The «Cornmeal Fried Oysters» were served with collard greens, Jalapeño mayonnaise, Tasso ham and topped with a spicy corn relish. The oysters were crunchy on the exterior with a good sized belly that released the delicious liquor when bitten. The Tasso offered a smooth complement and sweet corn, pickle and red pepper relish was a perfect addition. The Jalapeño mayonnaise added just the correct level of spiciness.
The «Poached Lobster & Cornbread Waffle» is one of my favorite combinations in the area. It included butter-​poached lobster, griddled scallions, Queso Fresco cheese topped with a brown sauce. The waffles were sweet, crispy on the exterior and moist and soft on the interior. The lobster was full of sweet buttery flavor, the scallions brought a little bitterness and the melted cheese created smoothness to the dish. The dish was finished with one of the best brown sauces north of the French Quarter.
My adventure through NOLA’S seafood continued with two other outstanding dishes. The «Shrimp & Grits» started with paprika dusted shrimp that were perfectly sautéed and paired with sliced Jalapeños to deliver a good kick. To mellow the flavors the dish contained slices of Tasso ham and all of these ingredients sat atop creamy grits. The «Griddled Scallops» were served atop a smooth and delicious celery root purée, and Chef Kardos changed the direction of a traditional scallop dish with the addition of several uncommon ingredients, strawberries and melon. The dish was further enhanced by a touch of honey, almonds, and finished with slices of speck. This was a great combination of flavors and textures. The honeydew brightened the dish and the honey brought sweetness, but I was not as excited about the strawberries.
To finish the meal, I sampled the «Chocolate & Peanut Butter Pot De Crème» that was topped with whipped cream and roasted peanuts, which was much too sweet for my palate. I was less enthusiastic about this dessert.
After several months, NOLA Oyster Bar has taken its position as one of the go-​to restaurants in Fairfield County.

Lobster with corn meal waffles, oyster po’boy sliders, buttered cheese grits, and oysters are must-​haves… Delicious! Lobster waffles are genius – corn meal waffle is the perfect complement to the lobster, giving it nice texture and a sweet afternote. Lobster is perfectly cooked – so flavorful and tender, not overdone like other places. Similar to other reviewers, grits are the best I’ve ever had. Portions are appetizer-​sized, so you can try multiple menu items. Per other reviews, pass on the steak/​rib-​eye – with so many interesting things on the menu (and the place being called Nola OYSTER bar), a sensible foodie would not order steak here anyway.

What an extremely pleasant addition and surprise to the SoNo area — especially on the Washington Street strip.
I’ve visited NOLA both for Brunch (Mother’s Day none the less) and a weekday evening dinner and both times I was impressed with the food and service I received from the staff. The menu features various fun bits from the New Orleans area with a few creative spins on some already familiar dishes (lobster cornbread waffle anyone?) that are all delicious.
I like that they have a small plate/​sharing menu because the number of beers they have available really does turn this place into a great after work or early weekend afternoon beer with friends kinda place. Everyone wants to snack and have yummy beer — right? The great is also excellent because they didn’t fill the front room with tables and chairs as previous restaurants had done. The back space is pretty large so I imagine having a party or event there would be no problem. The front doesn’t get too loud.
Super fresh oysters. Delicious fried chicken. Delicious lobster & waffle dish. Give NOLA a try and hope they stay around for a long, long time.
Date night? Yes. Night out with friends? Yes.

Catfish jambalaya was tasty n spicy but ribeye dish not so good. Was hoping to see more variety in the menu

Our first visit (right when they opened) was quite good.
Unfortunately our last visit wasn’t quite the same.
After having raved about the burger, my sig other was quite excited to order it again. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to the standard it had set initially. Perhaps it was the generous helping of bacon paired with the salted beef, but it was incredibly salty.
I had a salmon burger which was good. A bit too much mayo for my liking, but that’s personal preference.
Their menu is small and rather limited if you’re cost conscious.
Unfortunately I am not sure that we will return.

Pulled pork sliders are a must try on this menu. So full of flavor and delectably moist.
The butter poached lobster and cornbread waffle was delicately balanced in flavors. The lobster was juicy, the waffle added a gentle crunch and texture. The sauce on the top was mysteriously sweet. Executive chef Daniel Kardos told me that it comes from reducing this sherry based sauce. I really appreciated the beautiful balance of savory and sweet on this plate and I felt it complemented the lobster in a really fun and unique way.
The spicy seafood gumbo is an absolute MUST TRY on this menu. It tastes like the soup had been simmering for days. With a phenomenal depth of flavor its was the show stopper at our table.
The cornmeal fried catfish and seafood jambalaya was another really flavorful dish. Seafood was delicate and moist. The rice had just the right amount of broth in it. The catfish was so crunchy on the outside and really delicate inside. Although I felt the catfish lacked a bit of seasoning — in comparison to the beautiful flavors of the jambalaya.
To our surprise, we saw blackened shrimp and pork fried rice on the menu. It almost seemed like it did not belong on this menu. Curiosity made us order this dish. And we loved it. It was a perfect execution of an asian staple. The pork and blackened shrimp added such depth of flavor to the rice. Chef Kardos told me that this dish is on the menu simply because its his favorite thing to make at home for family meals. Love that he was bold enough to add it to the menu for everyone to enjoy.

I realllllllly liked NOLA! I was expecting to, since I’ve been to the head chef’s past restaurants and never had a bad meal.
The restaurant itself is quite large, with the bar upfront and (most of) the restaurant towards the back. Dim lighting… definitely a good spot for a date or to meet up for a glass of wine.
We were seated in the back, at a table against the window and greeted by both the FOH manager and our server. Both were knowledgeable about everything on the menu, as well as extremely friendly. Being both red wine drinkers, we went with a bottle of Cotes Du Rhone (one of my three red wine choices, as of late.)
We went with a few different dishes:
Fresh Oysters: we tried a few different types… I really wish I could remember which ones we tried! I tend to lean towards saltier oysters over sweet… and these definitely satisfied my palate. We also had some raw clams and shrimp – delish and definitely fresh.
Clam Poutine: I LOVE poutine. This is obviously not traditional poutine. I was expecting the clams to actually be pieces… it was more of a clam sauce. Still tasty, but very heavy.
Lobster and Cornbread Waffles: This was by far my fave dish (outside of the oysters =-)). It’s just as good as everyone has said: flavorful, moist, perfectly cooked lobster. I would go back just for this
Shrimp and Grits: I love me some grits. And these were done right. The shrimp was well cooked.
We actually ended up at the bar after dinner and another bottle (or was it 2?) of wine… I definitely want to go back. Thinking of this now… I may have to head down this weekend.

For an «Oyster Bar», the selection of oysters was slim and all east coast.
For New Orlean’s style food, the selection was slim and not spicy enough (ie: all east coast).
Service was good, the waitress knew the menu and attempted to accomodate. It was just a disappointing menu.
Bring on the fried chicken, shrimp and grits, gumbo, jambalaya and oysters from all over.
If you had an oyster platter with a variety of regions paired with good sparkling wine, preferably not just a french option or prosecco, I’d love to come back.
Location is perfect and the pricing seemed fine.

Still delicious! Stopped in for a cocktail and dinner on a rainy night and ordered crayfish sandwich and lobster cornbread waffle. Excellent presentation and delicious food. Waitstaff is very helpful and friendly and they remember you. Manager came out and made rounds which is great and gives opportunity to ask questions or share your experience. Great place for group happy hour plenty of room and delicious small plates.

It looks like I will be the first drinks-​only review. Which might say something about how I spend my after work time.
But. I really did like Nola for a bar. It was very urban with some eclectic décor. Big banquet tables in the bar which worked well for our group. Nice wine list. But more importantly some very unique beers on tap (Green Flash!).
Next time, I’ll have some food to go with the drinks.

What a disappointment! I feel that this place has a lot of potential but still needs to work out a ton of kinks.
First off, they are apparently short staffed and are pulling servers from their sister restaurants (SBC). On a Saturday night, for a party of 20, split into two groups, our server, though very pleasant, was on her first night there and knew NOTHING about the food. Also, there were food runners that didn’t know their table numbers — completely UNACCEPTABLE for a Saturday night. One of the food runners was cocky and spoke back to my party and said «Oh no, I’m right.» If you don’t know how to speak to customers, don’t work in the food or retail industry. Just don’t.
Now from terrible service, we move on to the food. We’ll start with the bread — it could’ve broken a tooth. And was served by itself — no butter, no oil, nothing.
Then they list the appetizers on the menu as «not so small plates». Don’t kid yourself — they’re appetizer portions. They’re small and WAY too overpriced. Don’t you think you can cut down your prices if you reexamined your food cost? WHY do you have both Tasso and Speck on the menu? Who are you trying to impress? I think it’s foolish and would be more impressed with better prices.
For appetizers, I ordered the Roasted Oysters — the flavor was there but those breadcrumbs were horrible. They were so large and hard that I wasn’t sure if I was chewing breadcrumbs or actual shell. It ruined the sweet smooth oysters. Others in my party enjoyed the lobster waffle, however, it was a small plate and some ordered it just for dinner and were disappointed at the portion size. And finally dinner. I ordered the chicken. I substituted the fried brussel sprouts for the potatoes but wanted to keep the cheddar broccoli. Well they screwed that up and forgot the cheddar broccoli — however, they did me a favor, because once they bought it out to me on the side, it was a sloppy, ugly mess of overcooked broccoli in a white runny, not even cheesy, sauce. Gross. The chicken was cooked correctly and the brussel sprouts were crisp. However, my food was SO salty it was nearly inedible. Upon asking the other people in my party, their food was over salted as well. Are you finishing your sauces with salted butter? Or are you just over salting? There is NO excuse for this. I’d rather have an under seasoned meal and add my own — you can’t take away the salt. Terrible.
Needless to say, until they can control their staff and their seasoning, I will NOT be back.

I’m going to echo the previous reviewer and say that I was shocked by how good the food was here.
Clam poutine: Really good fries with clam-​infused melted cheese. These were ridiculous, definitely must get.
Fried brussel sprouts: These were a recent addition to the menu, and they were also amazingly good. Essentially fried brussel sprouts with maple syrup and bacon. Definitely as good as any brussel sprouts I’ve ever had.
Mussels: Also extremely good, and I tend to be very picky about mussels. The mussels themselves were fresh and tasty, and the sauce was great also.
Lobster waffles: Lobster as good as Abbott’s, and paired perfectly with the cornbread waffle. It comes drenched in a ridiculous amount of heavy sauce and it was a bit more expensive than the other small plates, but definitely worth trying once.
Kale salad: Very good. This was basically a kale salad with kale, pear, pumpkin, and some sort of seeds. I enjoyed it a lot, though I might try a different salad next time if only for the sake of variety.
Roasted oysters: This is the one dish I wouldn’t get again. The oysters themselves just tasted off for some reason.

I was completely blown away by the food here. Can’t speak to the cocktails (though they looked delicious) but here’s the food rundown:
Lobster and Waffles-​MUST get. I can say with certainty that it is one of the best lobster dishes I have ever had. Waffle was perfectly sweet, Lobster was incredibly fresh (no freezer or fishy taste) and whatever butter sauce was on top was literally crack.
Brussel sprouts-​sweet, candied deliciousness. Truly outstanding
Cheese Grits-​UNREAL. Creamy, cheesy, buttery, perfectly done
Black Kale Salad-​well done! dressing complimented the salad perfectly. I think I might want to see a small sprinkle of pecorino or something, but overall, well done.
Burger-​outstanding. I only had one bite but the meat was cooked to order and the brioche was delicious.
Hope this place takes off in Sono! not to be missed!

Food rivaled the whelk, service rivaled the DMV.

My husband and I had 6pm reservations. When we arrived to the restaurant, the host took us to the back room. When I asked him if we could sit in the front he told me that it will be filling up quickly (?) and there will be no room (but at the moment there was plenty of room). The back room had only few diners but we were seated right next to the other couple (I hate when they do that!). Well, at least the other couple and us had a good laugh about it. Just to point it out, after dinner when we were leaving the restaurant I noticed plenty of open table in front…
The waitress was OK, but could use some manners. My husband ordered tuna crudo and head –on shrimp & grits. I ordered cheeseburger. Food took a while to arrive and when it did it was COLD! I ordered my cheeseburger medium rare but it was cooked well done. The food it self was good, even cold. But service it self sucked! The over all dining experience was disappointing.