Love how the restaurant looks and that it wasn't too crowded for a Thursday night. The food was great and we loved the pork arepas. read more

Bésame - Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Had a blast, yet again! Food was amazing!!! The service was on point and the ambiance is definitely on of the best. read more

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I stopped in right before seeing Wicked at the Saenger theater. I had to get the theme drink for the show, The Witch's Eye. The drinks were really good. The paella, though tasty, was lacking in flavor. I had paella in Puerto Rico earlier this fall and I think I may be spoiled to that flavor. I plan to come back here for the churrasco and mofongo. read more

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The food was so good! The arepas were . I would absolutely come back and recommend to everyone

The most amazing food and great service. We shared a few apps and a pizza and it was delicious! 10/10 wines as well. The vibe was chill.

What a fantastic place! A friend suggested this place for brunch, and of course I looked them up on Yelp. They had an impressive 5 star rating which really piqued my interest. It's tucked away near canal st. It's small but very colorful and charming. I can honestly say that everything I ate was delicious! The drinks were a bit slow coming out but the taste made up for that. Food service was pretty prompt. The salmon ceviche was soooo tasty and the crawdish queso was creamy and yummy. The Sopas are a must as well. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

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Such a cute Latin inspired location. The food was delicious and beautifully plated and my server was an absolute delight! Definitely going back! read more

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Came in. Everyone was very friendly. Restaurant was clean and popping with people so it must be good!! Unfortunately very limited options if you are gluten free and vegan. The brussel.sprout salad or some kind of cauliflower thing did not sound good to me. So we opted to leave. If you.are gluten free and vegan you might look around at other places but if you are not check it out! Like I said they were very busy so make a reservation and come check it out. read more

What a wonderful addition to the area! True ceviches- and amazing plates to share: Cauliflower dish and arepas were our absolute favorites. Cocktails also very good The man behind this magic worked with Aaron Sanchez when he opened his place and IMO, this food surpasses that place. Happy Hour available weekdays also read more

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I was blown away with the food and service here. I saw all the high reviews and tried it with my partner and we were both impressed. I had the fish and grits and he had the lamb lollipops.. the flavors pack a punch, amazing! Definitely worth going. read more

Bésame - Fish and grits, lamb lollipop, chips and guac, red wine - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Everything we tried was delicious -- cauliflower, tacos, ceviche, sour, Paloma... presentation was beautiful and flavor had depth. The space itself is festive and mature. Happy hour starts at noon on weekdays so it was a tasty and affordable lunch stop. 2 = $65 with 2 drinks Emily was a great server, offering suggestions and checking in often enough to be helpful but not hovering. Enthusiastically recommend!! read more

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We went to Besame for dinner before a show at the Saenger (which is just across the street). We really enjoyed our meal. This was mostly a "small plates" kind of place. So be prepared to order a lot of small plates and share them with the people you go with. Our Favorite Items were the Crawfish Queso and the Guacamole. Crawfish Queso - this was really good. Not too heavy on the crawfish, but a good balance with the Queso. Perfect for sharing. Guacamole - honestly some of the best guacamole I've ever had. Smooth texture. Strong lime taste. Perfect for sharing. Pork Arepas - this came with 2 of them. It was kind of a sandwich where the bread was a bit crunchier. This was good. Paella - this was kind of a Spanish jambalaya. It had chicken, sausage, shrimp, muscles, along with the rice / seasonings. Service was quick and responsive, but they're mostly going to let you make your own decisions (rather than making recommendations or explaining the menu, etc). Parking - since it's off canal you really are going to have to pay for parking. I'd prioritize coming here when you already were coming for a show at the Saenger or the Joy theater (or on of the other places near by). Vibes - very trendy restaurant. Perfect for a trendy date night or to start a night out with friends. read more

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Very nice for lunch and conveniently located just a short walk from our hotel. Everything on their menu sounds good. So glad we checked it out, it was a pleasant find. read more

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We found this quite by accident. Time to kill pre Future islands at the Joy Theatre - 5 minute walk. We saw a neon light and headed over. It's nestled in a hotel but feels quite separate. We had a quick snack of crawfish queso ($12) and a couple of Bolivian Sours ($14) and that set us up nicely. It was busy but not noisy and the staff were very nice. We watched the chefs from the bar. The menu here is one we would happily return to and try everything on it. read more

The food was fantastic. I had the salmon ceviche as an appetizer, which came with house made tortilla chips. The salmon was perfect, texture, balance of spice and acid, presentation. The churrasco main course was also fantastic. The pesto on top was house made and exquisite. The patatas were a nice addition. Service was solid, no real complaints, nothing out of the ordinary. Ambiance is very modern restaurant style. Completely open floor, great artwork and stylized but simple tables. There is a specific style they adhered to with all furniture and art, yet the focus is definitely the food and for good reason! read more

Bésame - Churrasco - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Just came in for a snack and a drink. The pork arepas were good and drink was solid. Regret not trying more read more

Bésame - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Great service and drinks but the food lacked flavor. The pickled veggies seem to lack Vinegar and the "hot sauce" was far from it. Great atmosphere though. Really cute for date nights. read more

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what did Beyonce say in Heated? TEN TEN TENS!!! Across the board!! My friend and I stopped in to this place on a Monday after we couldn't get into another local restaurant. (you know, one of those popular grasswall, instagram hyped places) Can I say I am so glad we didn't in because I would have never stumbled across this amazing restaurant! If you don't pay attention you could drive past it. It's located around the corner from the Hi New Orleans Hostel. Now that the location is set let me get into why I want more of besame...MUCHO!! We were immediately greeted by smiling faces and walked over to a hightop table. The ambience is beautiful and inviting, from the mural to the light fixture made from horns. You can tell they put thought into the design. I love how much of a cozy vibe it had to it. I ordered the Queen Bee and my friend had the Spicy Pineapple Margarita. Both drinks were top notch. I loved how they served the QB in a pineapple glass and the garnish made it seem like the leaves on a pineapple. Again, love the thoughtfulness. My friend enjoyed his spicy marg. We started with the guac and added pork chicharron on top. OMG!!! I live in Texas and i have never had guacamole as fresh as this was. I told the owner if I wasn't in public, I would have licked the bowl clean. The chips and chicharron were freshly made. It's something about fresh tortilla dipping chips that warm my heart. 10/10 My friend ordered the churrasco and I was going to order the paella mixta but asked our server her recommendation and she recommended the steak. I switched my order and by heavens I am so glad I did!! Thank you to her for that honest rec. Can we stand and give applause for the steak. It was cooked perfectly to order and what really blew me away was they CUT THE STEAK FOR ME!! Okay okay! It may not seem like a big deal but it is. For a chef and staff to take the time to cut the steak shows again, they pay attention to detail. The chimichurri was fresh as well. Again, I was in public so I couldn't lick my plate. My friend enjoyed his steak as well. Left no crumbs! 10/10 We took our servers recommendation again and each ordered a glass of the sangria! HELLOOO FRESH!! 10/10 Everything about besamé IS defintely a chef's kiss. When I return to New Orleans, this is one of my stops. I am so glad my plans didn't work out because I wouldn't have stumbled upon this hidden gem!! My friend has also added it to his list of places to take dates. Thank you to everyone at besamé because from the moment we walked in it was 10/10!! read more

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Tapas were very flavorful with a creative blend of flavors using fresh ingredients. The steak was underwhelming and a bit dry. Very interesting venue with thought provoking art. Very loud and very busy. read more

Perfect location for a meal before or after a show at the Saenger Theatre. These people at Bésame knows how to make some tapas, everything was so flavorful, well seasoned with spices & acids. We shared the Crawfish Queso, Cauliflower, & 2 ceviches: Peruvian & Salmon. Nothing stood a chance and we cleaned plates. I will say that price or portions could be improved. We were still a bit hungry after this (4 of us)... that could mean we have big tummies or sizing was off. @phidingthefam read more

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Came here for HH during a trip to NOLA and it was delightful! Just when I thought I couldn't eat any more food, this place provided - and I couldn't say no! We got some cocktails that did not disappoint and sipped on those while munching on some homemade chips and guacamole. For the next round I got the brussel sprouts, which did not disappoint! The vibe here was great too! It's attached to this beautiful little hostel (which I never thought I would use those words to describe a hostel ). read more

Bésame - Guacamole - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This restaurant is off the beaten path a little bit for the main area of French quarter. It was a great way to split up the endless New Orleans cuisine with tapas, with a Louisiana twist. The service was great! read more

Bésame - Cocktail/Drink Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Food, service, cocktails, and vibe were all top notch. We enjoyed the decor as well. You can tell the owner cares and they know what they're doing. read more

This place is precious, always hopping, and serves the most amazing dishes from various places of the world. The menu is a little intimidating but once you see your plate you are familiar with the dish (steak and potatoes), and it will be the most amazing bite of steak and potatoes you've ever had!!!! read more

Brunch prior to our show at the Saenger Theatre was a great choice. Brunch menu was diverse and food was delicious. (Had ceviche & sopas, but was in too much of a hurry to take photos). Service was quick and we in/out in plenty of time to go thru Saenger Theatre's security. read more

My friend and I had a reservation for 11am on Saturday and were seated promptly, but it didn't seem like we needed a res as it wasn't as packed as I expected for weekend brunch time. We ordered the Oaxacan Ceviche, crawfish queso, and the chilaquiles. She also ordered a Paloma while I opted for the Passionate Llama. All of the food was really good honestly, with my order of preference being ceviche - chilaquiles - crawfish queso, but maybe it's just cause the queso came out last so I was already getting full by that time. Both drinks were great as well; the Paloma was more on the sweeter side, while I felt that the Passionate Llama had a smokiness to it that I enjoyed. Our server was also very attentive which helped us make a reservation we had at 12:30. While we had originally wanted to try their mimosa flight that we had seen online which was no longer available, we weren't disappointed by the food or drinks that we got instead. read more

Amazing! Loved the food, service and ambience! Would totally recommend to anyone visiting the area.

Outstanding light seafood bistro. Menu features ceviches and grilled fishes of Central America. Complete wine selection suitable for pairing with light seafood. Engaged and informed staff helps navigate the menu and explain the preparations. Has a casual atmosphere, mostly younger, trendy locals and tourists. Across the block from The Orpheum, a large, art deco auditorium hosting traveling Broadway shows and large musical productions. A few blocks from The Saenger, home venue for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Dinner was prepared superbly and promptly, enabling us to get a drink before attending a show. Adjacent to a Hotel Hostel, within walking distance to a few large medical institutions. Convenient distance to the French Quarter. Nearby parking garages available and walking distance to theater. Charles streetcar line. Excellent value also. I had shrimp prepared just right, my wife had grilled fish. A few fish tapas choices, all looking delicious and well presented. A GoTo downtown choice! read more

Excellent food, terrific authentic service. Easy walk in, with little dog too! This was more like an nyc restaurant. Professionals service unique food. Arepas a 10 Churrasco a 9, side of potatoes above the scale. read more

Went before seeing a musical and had a great time. All of the food and drinks were delicious. Would absolutely go again before my next putting at the Saenger read more

Absolutely fantastic! We sat at the bar and ordered drinks and three small plates. Everything was amazing. The ceviche was magic! We finished with a special tres leches cake. In addition to the great food, we enjoyed watching the bartenders serving up all the drinks. Bethany took very good care of us! read more

Bésame - Ceviche, cauliflower, and crawfish queso! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Last day in NOLA, wanted to try this place with all the great reviews. Great ambiance, service and food! Had the crawfish queso which was very tasty, pork arepa was really good with a lot of pork in it and seafood paella took 20 minutes but was worth it! It looks small, but pretty filling. The paella was really delicious. The finale which my hubby wanted to come here for was the tres leches. It did not disappoint at all! It was very tasty and one of the best we've had. I love the strawberries and the mint paired well with it. Great restaurant to end our New Orleans trip! read more

Bésame - Crawfish queso - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I started my meal off with the crawfish queso, which was so rich and creamy with a perfect blend of flavor. Then I had the Peruvian ceviche, which had such a diverse flavor pallet that was so fresh, sweet, with the perfect amount of acidity. Then I had the tempura cauliflower bites with a chimichurri of peppers and chick peas; which had a great texture and richness to them. I then ended the meal with some pork arepas, which were fantastic. The meal was incredible and I'd definitely eat there again if I'm back in New Orleans. I ordered some of their tres leches cake to go, which was incredible as well. This was definitely some of the best food I had during my visit to New Orleans! Service was excellent, as was the ambiance. Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

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Great drink menu. Delicious food and friendly service. Laid back, quiet atmosphere. A nice change from the noise and bustle of the French Quarter. read more

This place is stunning. I was floored by how delicious everything was. I highly recommend this place - it was the best food I had In New Orleans. I ordered the seafood escabeche, the seafood paella, and flan. I highly recommend all three they were beautifully made and so fresh. The flan was the best dessert ever and my only regret was not ordering two. read more

Bésame - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Excellent food and service No reservation. Fit us in. Small. About 18 tables. Will be back.

This was a great tapas restaurant. They had beautifully crafted drinks that was so flavorful. My fiancé got the chicken empanadas and I got the cauliflower. We also shared one of the ceviches. We were definitely full after these dishes. The ambience was definitely fun and our server was very helpful. read more

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Went for lunch on the day we got to the city. Friendly service. Though it was pretty much only us in the restaurant at 12:45. We placed our drink orders which only took a few minutes to prepare. When we ordered our meals, we were asked if we were sharing and we said yes, so she basically brought it out to us in the best order to make that possible so we didn't have all of the food in the table at the same time. My wife enjoyed her cocktail which was the red Acapulco. It was gin based and smooth. Slightly botanical and not sweet. I had a draft beer which was good as well. The food was very tasty and a good presentation. Get some of their habanero sauce. It added just enough spice. read more

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We were bar hopping, and we intended to drop in for a quick drink. We ended up savoring a few of their appetizers while visiting with the owner. What a warm and welcoming space! It was also a nice respite from the cold. While we did not order the drinks, I can highly recommend the crawfish queso and Peruvian ceviche. The crawfish queso was flavorful and creamy. We could actually see and taste pieces of crawfish. The entire dish was utterly irresistible! The Peruvian ceviche: Gulf fish, aji Amarillo, leche de Tigre, sweet potato, crispy corn. Given I have low tolerance for spicy hot, I suspect the aji Amarillo was omitted for my benefit. This was a lovely medley of colors, very refreshing and delicious. Felt it could be a little more tangy but that's a personal preference. These offerings are a welcome change to the heavy breaded, full cream and butter laden dishes typical of NOLA. What a lovely stop and I'm glad other Yelpers brought us to this establishment. I hope others will drop in because this is such a gem. Support small businesses! read more

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This was a last minute reservation in NOLA for our "last supper". Wow! What a surprise to have such delicious food and cocktails! This is what we ordered Guacamole-on point! Arepas-magical Crispy Cauliflower-garbanzo bean hash was spectacular Churrasco-cooked to perfection Tres Leches-best I've ever had and made with a twist Mango Chile Sorbet-perfect amount of spice and sweet Cocktails were great and service was decently paced if you're not in a rush. Ambiance is warm and inviting. The bathrooms are clean and the wallpaper is worth a trip into the loo read more

Bésame - Spicy Margarita!!! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana