Sweet Nola’s

I stopped in for lunch one day wanting something different. Not feeling like the usual cheap burgers, or cheaper hot dogs I thought I would give them a chance… I am «very» choosy as to where I spend my money. I usually pack my lunch for work to save money, but these days I look for an opportunity to say to my wife, «guess I’ll just have to buy lunch today», just to eat at Nola’s. I have had «Satchmo ’ red beans an rice» three days straight and I want some tomorrow as well.
A coworker of mine said that their «Po Boys» are huge. I cannot comment on anything else they serve, but if the rest of the food is as good as the red beans an rice, I’m going to go broke.
The staff is truly friendly, like they enjoy what they do. If you can read a situation then you can see they are happy people, not «acting» happy.
I give restaurants three chances. They could have an off night or whatever, but if the third meal is not good, I will never go back. Nola’s has been delicious and incredibly friendly «every» time. I am not a food critic, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but give this wonderful little gem a chance.

Good food, good atmosphere all for good price. A slice of NOLA in the Shenandoah Valley. We’ll be back.

AMAZING.
I don’t even like heavy, creole food and I still love this place!
Atmosphere– Fun, wonky, Mardi Gras decoration. Jazz music in the background. Lovely waitresses
Food– I got to try the gumbo, red bean and rice, buttered white beans, a po boy, and the banana foster pudding. All of it was delicious with generous portions.
They have all sorts of events including bands from New Orleans and dinner mystery parties!
The owner is still waiting on their liquor license and they haven’t quite figured out their exact hours. Just make sure to call before hand.
I really hope the location doesn’t send this place under

Surprisingly good New Orleans restaurant on Route 11 in Winchester, VA.
We enjoy trying new restaurants, especially those which are independently owned. This one was a pleasant surprise.
From the festive New Orleans music playing outside, to the decorations and table settings, the owner did a great job of setting the mood. The menu is simple but descriptive, with reasonable prices. The addition of live music was nice, but seemed strangely out of place with songs by artists like James Taylor and The Grateful Dead the night we stopped in.
The iced tea was very fresh, a sign that the kitchen staff cares about the little things like tossing old tea and not brewing coffee and tea in the same containers.
We started with the Milneburg Joy platter, with sweet potato fries, fresh fried okra, and new potato baby cakes. The trio of sauces were perfect for dipping. We especially liked the sweet maple aioli.
For the main course we ordered Po’ Boy sandwich platters: the Street Car Named Desire (shrimp with house made Gypsy sauce) served with a bag of potato chips, and the Smoky Mary (beef BBQ), served with amazing jalapeño coleslaw and baked beans. Both sandwiches were ordered «fully dressed,» which includes lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The plentiful shrimp were cooked properly, making this a simple, very tasty, sandwich. The Gypsy sauce drizzled on the shrimp is very mild, practically lost in the sandwich when you bite. Overall we gave this Po’ Boy high marks. The BBQ, however, resembled beef jerky. Being unfamiliar with New Orleans cooking, I don’t know if this is normal or just dried out and overlooked. In addition, the smoke flavor of the BBQ, as well as the included baked beans side dish, was overwhelming for our taste. However, the jalapeño coleslaw was probably the best slaw we have ever tried.
For desert we sampled the Krispy Kreme Donut Bread Pudding, which is as delicious as it sounds. Save room for desert at Sweet Nola’s!
They are now open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, and for dinner Thursday thru Saturday. (Check the web site, or call for the latest updates.). Why not give them a try? Maybe we’ll see you on our next visit.

Despite the hours of availability it is fantastic food that I highly recommend. The Po’ Boys are phenomenal and the sweet potato fries are the first I’ve ever enjoyed (most others didn’t taste right.) if you can make it when they are open be sure to try it.

1 star off because the hours made it difficult for me to visit. I live nearby and only made it on my 6^th attempt. Definitely call ahead to check.
Food was pretty darn good! I ordered the Streetcar po’boy and some fried okra. Also, we split the alligator sausage. I can’t say I have had it before so I don’t have any comparison to how alligator sausage should taste, but it was seasoned well. Alligator I typically like.
Atmosphere is definitely great, jazz music fills the room. Dark but covered in fleur de lis, mirrors, mardi gras beads and southern oddities.
Went with some coworkers. I tasted the gumbo-​laya my coworker had, and the spices were fantastic. Definitely a good place for a quick bite.
Portion size is great. Sides aren’t needed. The chef comes out to check on you and you do feel like it’s your kind of restaurant. Give it a try!

Coolest place in Winchester. Food is awesome. Had po’ boy and white beans and took some delicious gumbo home. Everything was excellent. Doesn’t have beer, but maybe BYO? Not sure.

Excellent. Went for the first time and can’t wait to go back. Loved the food, the service and the atmosphere!

Upon a friend’s recommendation, the hubby and I tried this gem for lunch. Oh my! This was an unexpected delight! Having been fortunate to know and love authentic Cajun food, we were excited to find that this is the real deal. The hubster ordered the Royal Street, a po boy filled with tender, flavorful roast beef and accompanied by these delightfully crispy potato medallions, shredded lettuce, and a Cajun sauce that will have your lips smacking. The fabulous hostess, Ashley, highly recommended the special, Shrimp and Grits. This little gal knows what she is talking about. Heaven help us, it is beyond delicious! The shrimp was cooked perfectly and along with spicy Andouille sausage laid in a bed of creamy Grits. The kicker is the flavor-​filled bacon gravy. Yep, you read right. The dish is complimented by a soft roll and an amazing greens and thinly sliced apple salad with the yummiest dressing. Who knew that bread and butter pickle juice could be the vehicle for a sweet, tangy dressing that so perfectly complimented the bold spiciness of the shrimp dish? Now, we were beyond full but how do you not try something so tempting as Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding??? Mercy me, it is everything and more than your wicked little imagination can conjure. Don’t even expect me to try to put it in words. Let’s just say all ten pounds gained were worth it. Had the privilege of meeting the owner/​chef before we left and she was great too! Neat atmosphere, live music, cozy atmosphere – this is Winchester’s best. Run, don’t walk – you’ll be glad you exercised later.

I loved everything about Sweet Nola’s. I split the halpeño cole slaw, fried okra (possibly the best I’ve had), and alligator sausage with my friend, then had jambalaya with crawfish sauce for my main course. With each course and appetizer they brought out different homemade sauces. Tastes were subtle and exquisite — flavorful to the Nth degree, with just enough heat to make it interesting but not overpowering. The staff was helpful, knowledgeable, and accommodating, and the food arrived quickly and at the perfect temperature. Portions were adequate and I felt completely fulfilled by the end of the meal. Can’t wait to go back and try other things from their menu. In addition to items with meat, they have many items that are vegetarian, some vegan, and some gluten-​free. I note below that Sweet Nola’s is not good for brunch, but only because they open at 12Noon.

Everything we had here (tomato bisque, gumbo, fried okra, po boys) was delicious! 10/​10, A++ would eat again.

A very interesting place with good Creole food in the commercial and warehouse district. It does have its own parking. Service was causal and very friendly, the atmosphere appropriate to the New Orleans food, and most customers seemed to be locals. Which might explain why the prices were so reasonable. Excellent gumbo, with a tasty dark sauce. I was excited about trying the Krispy Kreme bread pudding. It was good but not great, with very little Krispy Kreme flavor or texture. But if you need dessert here, you might have cheated yourself on the other courses.

My husband and I discovered Sweet Nola’s thanks to reviews on another travel/​food website as it did not come up on an initial Unilocal search for restaurants on my cell phone. SO grateful we kept searching and landed at Sweet Nola’s 10 mins before they were closing on one of their 1^st Wed night openings. This restaurant is NOT to be missed and worth the drive from DC! The staff & chef owner could not be kinder and more accommodating. The décor is charming — with great New Orleans recorded music (we were also told that they often have live music) — and the food is off-​the-​charts, out-​of-​this-​world DELICIOUS. In addition to classic New Orleans dishes w/​seafood and meat, they have lots of vegetarian options as well. The fried okra and sweet potato fries were AMAZING! We will go out of our way to come back to Sweet Nola’s and thanks again for feeding us despite our late arrival!

This review is long overdue! We originally discovered Sweet Nola’s on
. Having sworn off chain restaurants years ago, this seemed like our type of restaurant. We were drawn in almost instantly by the eclectic décor and friendliness of the staff. A multitude of visits later — now we feel like family when we walk in. Cheryl never fails to greet us and come out and talk to us — and I can’t even begin to say enough about the food. We’ve tried just about everything on the menu — and haven’t found anything we don’t rave about. We especially love coming just to try the special dishes she puts on the menu each week. Just to mention a few favorites — the Gumbo is a flavor-​filled bowl brimming with chicken and andouille as well as Cheryl’s kick ass seasoning blend. This is worth the trip in itself! The sweet potato fries with the maple aioli dipping sauce could almost double as a desert. Cheryl Ash is walking just the right balance between respecting timeless dishes like Gumbo, Po Boys and Red Beans and Rice that regulars crave and bringing new inspired creations to the table. Just look on the Facebook Page to see some of these creations. Be sure to check out the Krispy Kreme bread pudding when it comes time to choose dessert. We were even given a sample on our first visit. Sign up for the mailing list while you are there to keep informed of special music and food events (2 of which we have attended!).
So…in conclusion, if you’re also tired of the chain restaurant scene… give Sweet Nola’s a try. I can promise you won’t be disappointed.
Leslie and Chris

We found this place on a rainy, humid, dreadful Tuesday and it brightened up our entire afternoon. We arrived at 2:30, not knowing that they closed at 3pm, and not wanting to be «those people», we ordered quickly. Fortunately, we had looked up their menu online beforehand and knew what we wanted. But even if we hadn’t, I don’t think that it would have even occurred to the folks working there to hurry is along. They were kind, funny and in no way rushed us out of the place, even though we didn’t leave until almost 3:30. When we return (and we will), we will get there earlier, if only to take in all of the wonderful knick knacks and gorgeous thrift store finds. The food was out of this world, making it a solid establishment. I ordered the Royal Street po’boy and the Dude ordered the Street Car Named Desire with fried shrimp. Portions were huge, the food was fresh and everything was delicious. Even their iced tea was spot-​on; nice and strong, without being bitter, the way it should be. As the finale, we ordered the Krispy Kreme bread pudding for dessert and it was just as heavenly as it sounds. The final bill was around $ 45, but we had leftovers for dinner, so while it won’t be our daily habit, it is a place we will frequent at least monthly. Prices are fair, the food is great, the staff is friendly and the atmosphere is stylishly colorful. AND they have events with live music (jazz and blues). They sell tickets ahead of time and we’re told they sell out quickly, so be sure to nab you a spot sooner rather than later.
**Please note that at the time this was written, they were still sort of in their «soft open», per the owner, so they will hopefully be extending their hours shortly. For now, they’re still getting settled. I’m hopeful that they will be around for a good long while.

We had the street car (shrimp) and the royal street (roast beef/​potato cake) po’ boys. They were both delicious! The service was great as well. I’m excited to have a good cajun place nearby and will be back again to try out the whole menu. My only regret is how much weight I’m gonna gain coming here all the time.

In complete disclosure I have known Cheryl the owner of Sweet Nola’s since we were kids. While this may come across to some as a immediate bias toward a positive review, I wouldn’t write the review if it weren’t true. I have known Cheryl as a caring, fun, hard working gal since the day I met her. All of these qualities make their way to the table at Sweet Nola’s. Give it a try I don’t think you will be disappointed!
Sweet Nola’s is awesome! Good food, fun décor, good company. I had an oyster Po Boy on my first visit and it was great, the chicken & sausage gumbo first rate, then I tried the «Royal Street» Po Boy — Roast beef bits and potato cakes on a bun Soooooo good! I don’t think I will ever stray from the Royal Street.

What more could you ask for? Fantastic food, amazing décor and live piano music with lunch! Don’t miss the special «low country boil» events… The place was packed and the band was incredible!

Just had lunch, the food is off the hook! Gumbo was fantastic and the banana pudding was a religious experience. Check it out

This place was so good we decided go back for lunch this week. The bad news, they still had a limited menu instead of the full one. The good news is they were doing a buffet so we were able to try several things. I will say it again, the food here is incredible. And I mean all of it (or at least everything we tried). Everyone in my party got the buffet. One of the items was a lima bean mash with tomato sauce. Doesn’t sound too good, especially if you don’t like lima beans as several in our party didn’t. But every single one of us loved it. White beans and coconut rice were another favorite that you don’t normally see on a lot of Cajun menus. They also had a kid’s menu that looked relatively healthy and different than the usual chicken nuggets, burgers and fries.
The only thing I would recommend which I think would help them out is they only have Stewarts bottled sodas. Nothing wrong with having them as extras but I think most people are used to free refills with soda on tap. They did have iced tea with refills.