We tried Aguasanta's 3-course Restaurant Week menu and had some hits and misses. On the bright side, the ambiance was laid back and casual, we walked right in with no wait for prime dinner time, and the amazing staff made us feel incredibly well taken care of throughout our meal. The Hits: The Salmon Tartare appetizer was light, fresh, and came with a delicious sweet sauce. If you go for entrees, skip the octopus and get the Birria-Style Lamb instead-my wife ordered it and it was incredible, perfectly savory and falling off the bone. The Misses: The Charred Octopus missed the mark on texture, though the accompanying roasted veggies, potato, and chorizo were seasoned well. Dessert was listed as a Basque Cheesecake, but it was actually a regular cheesecake with a mole drizzle. It was served warm and wasn't sweet at all, which was unexpected. Worth a visit for the lamb and the appetizers, but some elements fell a bit short. read more

We went on a Friday evening, it was very spacious and had a cute deep blue interior. The server was very kind and gave us some suggestions for the menu. We went with a group of four and wanted to try a bunch of different dishes on the menu. We tried the bao, the oysters, the Arancini, the dumplings, the salmon tartare, and the Cantonese fried rice. The oysters were good, but the sauce was quite flavorful and we couldn't really taste the oyster. The salmon tartare was amazing, and arancini was great. The Cantonese fried rice was a bit overwhelming as well with a lot of sauce. Overall, the vibes were wonderful and would be cute for a date night or friends get together. read more

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With a friend visiting from out of town, we decided to try Aguasanta for dinner last night. I made a reservation but we were the only table occupied on a very slow night on Oak St. The servers were both friendly and attentive. The space is beautiful. We had a sampling of the food, 2 items from the cold bar and 2 from the small plates, plus dessert. The aguachile was the standout. The shrimp were delicious and the sauce was amazing. My friend had the pork dumplings which she said were delicious and I snitched a bit of the mole which was also amazing. The caprese bruschetta was also very good and a slightly different version than the usual. The only dish that was just OK was the red ceviche; and it was tasty, but just more vegetables than fish. We also had the tres leches for dessert and it was really good. We both had a cocktail. I had a mojito and my friend had the aguasanta. The bartender made sure she knew that the base alcohol was moonshine. Both drinks were very good too. Parking is on the street. read more

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Can't wait to try the new small plates menu. Fabulously inventive ! Coming from Los Angeles, the home of a huge variety of Mexican food from savory taco trucks to Michelin rated restaurants I can tell you that the tapas menu is world class. read more

Aguasanta - Can't wait to try the new small plates menu. Looks fabulously inventive ! - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Amazing food! Ordered two small plates. Crab arancini and brisket bao. Both delicious! Drinks were fabulous too. Great service. We will be back. read more

I've been looking forward to my first visit to Aguasanta after reading an article about the owner. We had a reservation but didn't need it. For a Saturday evening it wasn't overly crowded so we could've easily walked in and been seated quickly. The space is well lit with modern and interesting decor. Our server was very attentive and on top of things. We ordered cocktails to start and it took me a while to make up my mind but I settled on the mojito which was tasty and refreshing. My friends had specialty cocktails like the herbal elixir and the sacred Oaxaca. They enjoyed their drinks as well. Now for the foods! We wanted to try all the apps but we settled on the La Tia Dumplings, the brisket bao and crab arincini. Everything was great but the brisket bao was on the dry side and could've used a more sauce to add flavor. The crab arincini was sooo delicious. The dumplings were crunchy on the outside and tasty on the inside. Sooo good! My friend ordered the redfish as her entree. I didn't try it but she wasn't a fan of the pistachio sauce. read more

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Decided to stop here on my way to dinner for happy hour. Love the ambiance and feeling inside. I sat at the bar and ordered an espresso martini which was delicious! The bartender was very nice and welcoming and very attentive to our drink needs. Didn't order any food, but the prices look on the higher side but I'll def return and try them again. read more

Aguasanta - Menu - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I'm late writing my review on this new gem. I was so excited to try Aguasanta and it did not disappoint. To start, I had the Herbal Elixir - empress gin, peach jam, lemon, & herb infusion. It was very tasty and quite pretty. For food, we started with the pineapple aguachile & the la tia dumplings. The aguachile was superb. I could've ended my meal there & would've been as happy as a clam. I really enjoyed the dumplings too. I don't like everybody's mole but this one was delicious - super flavorful & rich. For my entree, I got the suckling terrine and, wow, what a pretty plate of food! The pork was moist and well seasoned. The veggies were perfectly cooked, not all mushy. The pineapple chutney might've been my favorite part. It was yummy. All of that was swimming in a tasty al pastor adobo. The service was swift and friendly. It's a beautiful space. I hope they stick around for a while. read more

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It has been a year since I came back to New Orleans and there are a bunch of new restaurants in the area. There must have been a lot of new construction while I was gone. I was walking down Oak Street and was surprised by all the fancy new eateries. One of them that caught my eye was Aguasanta. After looking over the menu I decided to go in. There were not many people there for a Saturday evening. I ordered the Cantonese Fried Rice which came with grilled chicken in smoky chili adobo, served on Cantonese-style egg fried rice, drizzled with chipotle aioli. I loved the design of the meal with the bright colors. I was pleasantly surprised at the taste. I never had wood fired grilled chicken with fried rice before. It provided a strong smoky texture to the meal. The portion was very generous. I was able to take some home with me as well. The staff was very helpful with putting everything together and assisting me. This was a great place to enjoy a nice but pricey meal. read more

Aguasanta - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Disappointed...we arrived to an EMPTY restaurant and was told that they were booked!!! A waitress let us in...the lamb shank was the only thing on the plate..no starch...no vegetable..no bread!!!! The pork was dry...the waiter removed the oyster appetizers before we were finished!!!! Over Priced and poor service!!!!! read more

This was our third time to eat here and each time the food has hit the mark. Tonight we decided to make it a small plate dinner rather than order separate entrees. We ordered each of the five small plates. It's a shame you have to rank each dish. They were all good. The brisket bao was my favorite. All the tastes came together perfectly. The roasted oysters and the bruschetta disappeared quickly. The crab arancini and the pork dumpling pulled up the rear. Not that they were bad, just the first dishes spiraled to us more. Like I said, it's a shame you have to rank them. Service was excellent. A great place to eat. read more

I've been to Aguasanta twice in one week. It's a cute spot with some eclectic wall art and chill vibes, and low lighting. There was live music the second time I went, so that was a pleasant surprise. I tried three different cocktails. All of them were stellar, but the Red Agatha was my favorite Amazing bar! I preferred the drinks over the food, but the food was good too. I loved their ceviche and the chicken that came with the Cantonese fried rice was well seasoned and smoky. My friend really liked the grilled octopus, I was happy to try something new. I wasn't a fan of the oysters or the dumplings, but the presentation was nice. The portion sizes were also good for the price points. The service was great. The bartender was doing double duty with drinks and bringing food, and everything came out in a timely manner. The chef also came out to say hello. Really nice people. I plan to go again to try the birria lamb. read more

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Really good food and Margaritas. And great freshly made tortillas. Service was excellent, too. read more

Aguasanta - Braised Lamb Shank with Black Bean Sauce - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

https://blainerestaurantreport.wordpress.com/2025/01/11/aguasanta-new-orleans-la-report-796/ read more

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If there's one new restaurant in New Orleans you should visit it's Aguasanta on Oak Street. The food is not only delicious but it's beautiful. The birria-style lamb shank is the best thing I've eaten in the last few months--tender, juicy, flavors off the charts. The only thing I could have asked for was some warm tortillas to go alongside this heavenly plate. The brisket bao buns and crab arancini (not pictured) were also fantastic. I love what they're doing here and can't wait to return. read more

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Had the distinct pleasure of dining here tonight with my New Orleans women and wine group. It was spectacular! We started off with the shrimp aquachile! And I have to say, it's probably the best thing I've eaten! Our next course was a el pastor dumpling which was good but probably my least favorite of the night. That was followed by a crab arancini with a poblano sauce which was very good. Our main course was a cojita crusted red fish over mashed potatoes. The red fish was DELISH! And last was a beignet with ice cream for dessert. By then I'd had enough and only ate the ice cream!! It was accompanied by an amaretto from Old Alker Distillery which is right next door! That was so very good! read more

We loved this place so much. We were looking to hit a late dinner and they were so accommodating and nice. The food here is amazing. So much attention to detail was paid to the flavors which are rich and unique. The drinks are phenomenal. Our waiter was also so sweet! 10/10 read more

Aguasanta - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great service. Amazing food. Generous portions. Fun time had by all! Terrific ambiance.

Went to aguasanta last night. The drinks were good. The octopus? Not so much. I'm easy to please. By far the worst octopus I've ever had. I just can't understand anyone eating that, and saying "nailed it!" Nope. No sir. Nada. Cute place, great drinks. read more

Husband and I had a wonderful dinner at this cool vibe,artsy place . This restaurant has unique and delicious food. Every single dish we ordered was outstanding ... the octopus carpaccio, brisket bao, Grilled oysters with chorizo, Birria lamb shank , peppercorn stake . Just succulent! The service was great too, friendly and prompt . Oh ! And the drinks were phenomenal! The mixologist knows his alchemy. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

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The four of us were in New Orleans to go to the French Quarter Festival over a long weekend. We had several great meals and Aguasanta was an awesome choice for our last night. We went there because it was next to the Maple Leaf where we planned to go after dinner to listen to a band. Two of us started with the Sacred Oaxaca drink, which was so good we both ordered another round. I ordered the burger and, considering the offerings on the menu, I was worried about making a mistake but I really wanted a burger after all the other interesting things I had already eaten during the weekend. It was a great burger! The shrimp on top were an extra treat and the french fires the best. My friends had eaten a late lunch so they ordered small plates: Octopus Carpaccio, Caprese Bruschetta and Salmon Tartare, which they loved. We finished up with Tres Leches cake and Cheesecake with Mole sauce, just perfect. Next time we will skip lunch and eat more! Highly recommend Aguasanta! read more

We stopped in for a drink and an appetizer while we were on a waitlist for a nearby restaurant. But what a lovely surprise. The drink I ordered was one of the best drinks I have EVER had. The Red Agatha. We ordered salmon tartar and the bruschetta. Both were beautifully plated and tasted delicious. The service was on point. The ambiance was modern and clean. A little cold but that was the vibe. read more

Aguasanta - Salmon tartar. Gorgeous - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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So delicious , fresh small plates ! My husband and I shared the pineapple aguachile, dumplings, brisket bao, and the crab arancini. We would recommend them all! read more

Aguasanta - Diners Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I love this place, everything was well presented and tasty. I had the arancinis, dumplings and the oaxaca cocktail. I will be back :) read more

We ordered a few different appetizers and two entrees to split, including the house salad and the soup (a pepper poblano). The soup was one of my favorites and had just the right amount of heat. All of the various sauces were delicious! 10s across the board. The redfish was light, the octopus was cooked well (not overcooked like so many places) and the arancini were so savory and snackable with pops of crab. The adobo flavor on the octopus was a highlight for me alongside the mashed potatoes. The Aguachile was tasty, and my only complaint from the night is I wish the shrimp in this plate had been cut into half down the middle. They were still very large pieces to eat with the knives we had. read more

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Everything about this place was excellent!! I highly recommend the pineapple aguachile and the brisket bao....drool...major drool. Lol. Our service was excellent and the ambience was perfect!! Rarely do we find such high level flavor profiles that have us talking about the meal long after our visit. We cannot wait to go back!!Tony was the best and service was on point! read more

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Very weird vibe, this place dosent feel real but not in a good way. I got the "red Agatha" drink and it was awful. It tasted like cough syrup. The food was beyond mid. I got 2 small plates and one drink and my bill was $50. I feel like I got robbed but unfortunately paid. It was also completely empty and unsettling. The waitress was nice at least. read more

If I could give 10 stars, I would. All 5 of ate and drank our fill (and then some) for under $400. I'm talking drinks, multiple appetizers, and entrees. We actually ordered a second round of the crab balls and baked oysters, and then were too full to finish our entrees. It's odd to say this about a menu so diverse and eclectic, but my personal favorite was the chicken fried rice. Service was flawless. Ambiance was great. A little fancy/sleek for Oak street, but don't let that stop you. Enjoy!!! read more

The food was so unique and full of flavor. The service was stellar with a friendly atmosphere. The place is very nicely decorated. read more

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Absolutely amazing food and service. Every dish that came out had us just wowing with every bite. The food was also beautiful. Will definitely be back. read more

Everything was delicious but the depth of flavor on the salmon tartare and crab arranchini were incredible!! Great service, delicious cocktails- we enjoyed the sacred Oaxaca read more

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Great spot on Oak Street. Hip, elegant atmosphere, unique drinks, great bar area and dining room. Not your everyday menu, including small plates, along with appetizers, salads and mains, I love that versatility and opportunity to share plates. You can tell a really good restaurant by it's sauces and these were great, while enhancing not overwhelming the food. I'll be back read more

I had given my friend a list of 5 restaurants I'd like to go to for my birthday and she selected Aguasanta from the list--I'm happy she did! Suffice to say, it was a GREAT meal! We started with cocktails. She had a martini which she enjoyed. I opted for a Grasshopper which I had heard of but had never actually had before. I like minty things and it was SOOOOO good. I could've downed it and had about 5 more but resisted. Guided by our friendly server, we began with the Octopus Carpaccio (sliced octopus served with arugula, nori chimichurri, chipotle aioli, and crispy capers) that was delicate and delicious with chimichurri/aioli adding a unique and pleasing flavoring to it. And we were both blown away by the capers--who knew fried capers could be so yummy! We also ordered the Salmon Tartare (Cured salmon mixed with red onion, cucumber, avocado, served over a hazelnut-jalapeno coulis, salsa macha oil, crispy pork cracklings, micro greens and pickled radish) that outdid the carpaccio which is saying A LOT! Big chunks of salmon mixed with a variety of tastes and textures which worked fabulously together. We then moved on to the small plates and selected the La Tia Dumplings (Wonton filled with confit pork, rested on a bed of rich mole topped with pickled onions, microgreens and a drizzled of olive oil) and Crab Arancini (Crispy risotto balls with crab, cheese, and red pepper, on poblano sauce with Mexican Esquites, chipotle aioli and microgreens) both very, very good. Of the 4 dishes so that we had so far, if my favorite was the Salmon Tartare, as I have a sweet tooth, my friend's was the Dumplings thanks to its mole sauce. That said, there was nary a microgreen left over on any of these plates! We finished with the Birria-Style Lamb (Lamb shank in a birria spiced broth, complemented by a black bean purée. Topped with pickled onions, fresh cilantro and pickled radish) and Cantonese Fried Rice (Wood-fired grilled chicken in smoky chili adobo, served on Cantonese-style egg fried rice, drizzled with chipotle aioli). The rice was out of this world--possibly the best fried rice I've ever had as it was moist (unlike fried rice that is sometimes dried out) without being at all soggy in any way. The lamb was excellent but I'm not big on black beans so the puree was not my thing. My friend happily took what was left over of the lamb home (and she 's not usually a doggy bag type! Service was topnotch and Chef/owner Luis came out and chatted with us a couple of times. Alas, we were the only ones in the restaurant the entire time we were there so GO--they deserve to be packed all the time!! read more

Aguasanta was great! The atmosphere was nice and the service was exceptional. All of the food was excellent and tasty. We had Red Agatha and Herbal Elixir to drink. We ate the Salmon Tartare, Brisket Bao, and Crab Arancini to start. Followed it up with the Cantonese Fried Rice for entree. all of the above were well seasoned, beautifully plated and tasted amazing! read more

Wow - such yummy food. We tried the steak frites and lamb shank birria and oysters and octopus and everything was amazing. Unique flavors in the meat / consomé broth that pair well to linger. Also - unique amazing cocktails. My favorite was probably the agua santa - which looks just like water - but is like a moonshine thing - really unique and yummy. They even had some rare reserva de la familia tequilas not on the menu , when we went - we saw them on the bat and asked - I think ours was reposado. Tough to find - really yummy. Great upscale vibe. Friendly people. Unique place - we had a great experience. read more

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Amazing drinks and an intuitive bartender who crafts perfect cocktails with top-tier service. Highly recommend!

Food, service, & Ambiance checked all of my green boxes. The poblano cream sauce was exquisite!! The lamb shank was so flavorful and tender read more

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Super delicious, my first time visiting Aguasanta and I can't wait to return. Super recommended, you won't regret it.

Excellent happy hour from 4-6. Very tasty apps and great cocktails. We will for sure be back.

Service and attentiveness was amazing. We ate almost all the raw bar and small plates and not a single one disappointed. These guys are not getting the press and praise they deserve. Great tastes and sizes of plates. Very cool casual artsy vibe. Everyone should be making plans to eat here. read more