A great place which definitely meets the definition of hole-in-the-wall. Brandon T. and I met for lunch. He lives in Kenner and I live Uptown so this place was good since it's kind of midway. When we entered we were greeted with a friendly "sit wherever." They don't give you free chips and salsa but if you want them it's something like $2. We opted for chips, salsa, and guacamole for $6 and the portions of guac and salsa were very generous, but they could have given more chips. The guac and salsa was very tasty and the chips were definitely better than the "free" chips other Mexican places give. I ordered the Tuna Taco which was $12 and some change. It was a tortilla with several pieces of tuna sitting atop a bed of cabbage and pico de gallo, topped with some kind of delicious sauce. They cooked the tuna exactly as I requested, as close to alive as possible since that is the best way to eat tuna. The pico had a great flavor and the sauce brought it all together. The tortilla did nothing to enhance the dish, and wrapping everything up would have been messy and probably would have detracted from the awesomeness the tuna brought to the table. It was really more of a tuna tostada, but was still delicious. I also ordered a strawberry margarita, which at $8 was a tad overpriced, but my god, that drink was...strong. Not much can be said for the surrounding area, but this is a good hole-in-the-wall. read more

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Not my favorite place. My husband ordered a meatball poboy and he liked it a lot. I ordered enchiladas and they came with flavorless rice and beans. I felt like I was eating microwaved instant rice and canned beans. The chicken in the enchiladas was cut in chunks instead of shredded, so it was not was I was expecting. The chips and salsa ok. The employees are SUUUUPER NICE and very attentive, but definitely not going back. read more

Good food and great staff. Homemade margaritas with no mixers or machines. It's a small restaurant but has a big menu of casual food. Can't go wrong with anything you order. read more

Two stars for taste. Three stars for quantity. That's it. If Mexican styled food could get any more "American" then Blue Tomato takes the award....(can you read the sarcasm?) Guacamole cost extra and is missing some flavors. The garbage can nachos was fully loaded but with bland ingredients. Beans and "seasoned ground beef" lacked flavor. Queso cheese lacked "cheese flavor". More like warm creamy "something". Chips and salsa are $2 and not included. Food did arrive quickly for lunch hour and I'm satisfied but my taste buds are fussing at me for not eating my original lunch prepped from home. I'll know better next time. read more

Tried this place a few weeks ago, loved it, and had to go back. First time here I got the cheeseburger..... DELICIOUS! Second time here I got the Pulled Pork Chimichanga.... DELICIOUS. My daughter had the BBQ ribs and my son and husband both ordered the Lasagna.... DELICIOUS! Can not wait to go back and explore the menu a little more, I know we won't be disappointed. read more

You Won't Leave Blue @ The Blue Tomato This place has been in the neighborhood for a good many years, serving surprisingly delicious food. The menu boasts meals of both Mexican and Italian. I haven't been here in a few years ago but on this visit I ordered the Big Fat Burrito stuffed with ground beef, topped with cheese and salsa. The flavor was perfectly balanced and seasoned; the meat was tender with good consistency. Past experiences at other like places with this type beef burrito is usually over salted and mushy, but here you get to taste the ground beef unhampered by too much seasoning. This item is served with refried beans and rice both of which were exceptionally good. To top off the visit, are the smiling waitresses that kind of double team your table, checking periodically on any of your needs. The two that waited on me, Sherri and Jamie, were attentive with great personalities that you can open a conversation with. I'll be back to check out some of the other items perhaps on the Italian side. read more

Blue Tomato - salsa and chips - Mexican Near Me - Jefferson, Louisiana

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I have been looking for some good ribs in this town and ALWAYS come up short until today! I'm a Mississippi country girl that loves sweet bbq smoked messy ribs and FINALLY someone got it right! Food was fresh and HOT and well worth the price! read more

Blue Tomato - Mexican Near Me - Jefferson, Louisiana

We were visiting the area for a Wedding, we love to eat at local places. We pick this place because of the reviews. While it is not much to look at never judge a book by the cover. The food was good, with interesting choices. The staff was over the top friendly. We had a really great time, we highly recommend this to anyone. read more

Blue Tomato is an average Mexican restaurant on Jefferson Highway. I went with a group of coworkers during lunch and we all enjoyed our meals. They have a variety of items on the menu (both Mexican and Italian food) and the prices are very affordable. We started with some chips and salsa (unfortunately you have to pay for them) and then we each got a main dish. The salsa was bland and not spicy at all and the chips were average. I had the 2 shrimp tacos plate, which comes with rice and beans. The tacos were pretty good, however the tortillas fell apart very easily so they were difficult to eat. The rice and beans were yummy and I was happy that they came with my meal. One coworker got the taco salad and said that while the salad itself was standard, the pork was very flavorful! My coworkers enjoyed their quesadillas (but they looked like pretty standard quesadillas) and the burritos were so big my coworker was able to bring half home. The service was friendly but extremely slow. There was only one woman helping us and she only brought out one water or meal at a time so there was a lot of waiting. Overall it was a good experience. While I would return, I won't be rushing back anytime soon. Food -- 3 stars Price -- 4 stars Service -- 3.5 stars Atmosphere -- 3 stars read more

Blue Tomato - Shrimp tacos with a side of rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Jefferson, Louisiana

This was an impromptu early dinner. We walked in the restaurant and were asked to seat ourselves anywhere that we liked. The restaurant felt very comfortable. If you sit at a table by the bar, there is a tv. The waitress greeted our table immediately and got our drink order. We ordered the garbage can nachos. I have to say that these were some of the best nachos that I have ever had. The nachos were loaded with cheese, refried beans, tomatoes and peppers to name a few ingredients! The cheese was perfectly melted on each tortilla chip. The tortilla chips were fresh and crispy. I had a cheese burger as my entree. Cheese is $1.00 extra, which was no problem. The burger was huge and delicious. Very tasty. I boxed up the other half of my burger because the nachos were very filling. I also had a side of crispy and well seasoned French fries. I was so full, I don't even know if they had dessert! The service was very good. The servers were all very attentive. My drink was refilled right away. read more

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This my go to local joint in the Old Jefferson area. Located at the corner of Central Ave and Jefferson Hwy. across from Walgreens. There is very little parking and it can be precarious entering and exiting, so you sometimes have to borrow a parking spot at the adjacent Jefferson Feed or across the street at Walgreens. It is a small intimate setting with regular customers but the staff welcomes all as family. Now hear this!!!!...the burger is huge and the best in NOLA for the price. It is a 12 oz burger made from fresh ground sirloin, yes I typed FRESH not frozen, for 5.95 on a bun or 6.95 on Leidenheimer type bread!! It is well seasoned and delicious. Add .75 cents to dress it. What a bargain! The lasagna is also fantastic, but beware they only make a few pans each day and when it's gone it's gone. read more

When I first walked into Blue Tomato, my first thought was "Great, a dive." It was kind of warm, small and the place was hazy from food being cooked. My friend and I sat down and looked over the menu. I decided on the pork burrito which came topped with cheese and sauce and came with a side of beans and rice. My expectations weren't high AT ALL, but I was blown away. The burrito may have been one of the best I have ever had. I am not exaggerating! It was amazing and tasted like it was home cooked. I also had a margarita which was also really good. If you aren't in the mood for Mexican, don't worry. Blue Tomato has all kinds of menu items from hamburgers to pasta! I think that their specialty is Mexican food, but there is pretty much something here for everyone. I will absolutely be going back and I can't wait to try some other items on the menu. Just a note: when I left the place I did smell a lot like food because the dining room and the kitchen are right next to each other and the kitchen is "open" style, so the smell goes everywhere. read more

The Blue Tomato is one of my favorite go to places. Be it Mexican, Italian or a big 'ole burger, this place can make it all wonderfully delicious! The waitresses provide personality and quick service...very friendly. Portions here are more than adequate...you will not leave hungry and will likely need to unbottom your bottom before getting up from the table. Some of my recommendations include: the grilled tuna; burgers; enchiladas; fish tacos and carnitas are my usual rotation. It's sooooo good, you'll be planning the order for your next visit before you finish your meal. read more

Not great, not terrible. Prices are pretty cheap. Staff were really nice and fast. However, food (enchiladas, rice, beans) was good, not great. Got my order wrong even though they were the ones who offered to modify it to something more complex, but they wrote it on the bill right, this was the kitchen's fault. Floors kinda dirty, makes me worry about the kitchen. Margarita was pretty much just juice with a small splash of tequila. Don't read the chalkboard - asked about something on the board and waitress said that they haven't had that option the whole 7 months she has worked there. If I were in a rush for takeout and specifically wanted Mexican, I would consider getting something to carry out, but otherwise don't anticipate going back. read more

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Best hole in the wall restaurant in Jefferson... the Blue Tomato serves everything from steak to enchiladas to burgers. Its definitely a trans-genre menu and everything seems to be pretty tasty. The service is unusual in that all the servers tend to help each other out and serve each other's tables... unorthodox, but surprisingly efficient. Our drinks are never empty and there is always someone around to assist you if you need something. BOTTOM LINE: A great dive restaurant. read more

I tried to change the category of this from Mexican and at least add Italian and American. I do not think of this place as Mexican since I rarely eat the Mexican stuff except for the fish tacos. Yelp would not allow the change... or I could not figure it out. This is really a five star place if you take the place within the context of what it is supposed to be. Everything is good. Do not get me wrong...this is not a place to eat the very best of anything. And it is not a place for the food snob or the refined palate. This is food for the masses, but is as good as it gets in this department. This place is about big with a small price. And it does this extremely well. I will split a burger with my kid and I am still stuffed. You have a bunch of kids and do not want to go to a fast food place and do not want to spend much money? This is the place for you. The waitresses love kids and are awesome with them. There is not other place in town where kids are appreciated as much. My kid loves coming here. He feels loved too. Heck, I feel loved. As busy as they are things can be crazy here. You might have to be a little patient sometimes. But you will not be able to say they did not try their best or showed any indifference towards you. If you want quiet and mind being close to other people and having others rub shoulders with you... this is not your place. Most people here are from the area and they are for the most part a pretty friendly bunch. Middle class all the way. Not too many Mercedes in the parking lot, but not too much riff-raff either. Do you have that craving for a good burger or a good burrito or good nachos or a fish taco with a beer instead of a coke and just plain much better food? This is the place for you. Do you have a refined palate but like to mix with the neighborhood and keep it simple one day? This is the place for you. I have been there many a times when I wanted my burger or my tuna sandwich with a glass of wine... and guess what? The owner will open a bottle to help me out. And he will oblige with a pretty decent bottle at that. Usually I will end up buying the bottle so he won't lose out and if I do not finish it I will take it home. And guess what? No 500% percent mark-up here. And these personal touches are routine. They wil go out of their way to set you up with this salsa or that extra touch to make you happy. Just show some interest in the food. There is one thing I miss like the dickens and that is their pizza. Since Katrina they have not made it and I have not been going here as much as I used to. It was probably the best pizza in the city. OMG. Since I could not find another pizza like that I decided to make my own and have gotten pretty good at it. But it is a lot of work. Please Blue Tomato. Bring back your pizza! They are fairly busy without pizza so I guess it is too much work for them as well. Gee... I just re-read my review. I think I need to go back here more often even if they do not bring back my pizza. I sound like I work for them, no? Trust me..you will not be disappointed. read more

Recently I started working out in the Harahan area for the first time in almost 15 years and find myself rediscovering the great places I used to dine. It had been a good decade since I'd been to Blue Tomato so during my lunch I decided to see how it stacked up to what I remembered. The place itself hasn't changed at all. Parking is still tight but you Jefferson Feed next door doesn't mind if you use the lot. I ordered the torta de carnitas, which is there version of a torta sandwich. I'm a big fan of tortas so this sandwich had a lot to live up to. The buns were toasted but couldn't stand up to the giant pile of delicious but juicy carnitas. There was a TON of pork on this sandwich, which is a good thing, but the bun was a bit soggy. The torta more than made up for this in amazing flavors. I haven't tried the rest of the menu but I plan on more trips. read more

Blue Tomato describes itself as an Italian, Mexican, burger joint. Which makes their menu variety extensive. It is located in an old gas station. Therefore, the space and parking are very limited. However, it is completely worth it. I've tried several menu items, and have never had anything below excellent. I will say that the Mexican items tend to be my favorite. The tamale platter is incredible. Large portion, served with rice and beans for $11. You cannot go wrong here. I like the pork the best. The chimichanga plate is awesome too. Great flavor, leaving you very full. Another favorite dish is the blackened fish sandwich. Very filling, very tasty. The slaw on it is awesome. I've had their margaritas on the rocks. Not the best I've had in the city, but still pretty good. Last, but not least, the service. It's a "mom & pop", so it's always the same faces. And they are very welcoming and helpful, even during busy lunch hours. read more

Food was pretty good. I ordered the chimichanga and the texture was nice and crisp. Not the best Mexican food, but definitely not bad at all. The salsa was pretty horrible. Tasted more like marinara sauce to me. The service was okay, although some of the workers seemed clumsy. They should look into upgrading their air conditioner because it was hot as balls in there. Overall, it was surprisingly good and I want to go back there soon to try some other items. read more

I am a hard customer to please, I'm picky and on top of that I like to get what I ordered and be tasty too. I love the Blue Tomato, I think it is one of the best kept secrets in our area. I finally managed to convince my kiddo to go and it's now one of our favorite places to go. This is quite a distance for us to come as we live in Algiers and it's all the way in Jefferson, but it's worth every minute of the anticipation and traffic. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Garbage Can Nachos, they are absolutely amazing. They have everything in them, seasoned ground beef, beans, some sort of enchilada/chili sauce, lettuce, cheese, black olives, jalapenos and pico de gallo. I sub the pico for regular tomatoes because I HATE onions. They are served on a pizza pan and piled high and after indulging in the nachos, I cannot manage to eat anything else after, soooooo I am happy with just having nachos for dinner. I have had their cheeseburger po-boy, wow that was awesome and I tried the alfredo as well and I was expecting the noodles to be overcooked and soggy but I was delightfully surprised that they were not. My daughter will only order the Teriyaki Salmon they have she just raves and raves about it. I'll take her word, I abhor seafood. I have only one item there that I will not eat and that is the coleslaw and that is only a personal issue I think, it's not as sweet as I would like it to be. My only squawk is they close at 10:00 p.m. so I can't enjoy them for a late night dinner, which is what I normally end up with since I work such long hours :(. Parking can be difficult if they are busy since they only have a place for 5 or 6 cars in front of the restaurant, but I would hardly consider that a deterrent in my book. read more

God, I love the Blue Tomato. Its cheap, its tasty, its kind of nutty... Its like going home. I loooove their salsa. Its not for everyone, I get it, but I crave the stuff, especially with their warm, seasoned chips. Whenever people ask me what type of food they have, I always sort of shrug. Its Italian, Mexican, American, with some other stuff? But its fast, its good, and the portions are huge. I usually get their tacos or their chimichanga, but I also love their grilled Mahi, their quesadillas, their burgers, their chicken sandwiches... So long as I can have it with the salsa, I'm set! Decor is... fun? Its a little dark and a little cramped, but for a casual date night for 2 all you need is a corner table. The boyfriend and I go here once a paycheck (so 2x/month? Oh yeah!) and the waitresses know us/have our drinks and chips/salsa ready before we're fully settled at the table. Its friendly service; the waitresses don't hover but they all work together so don't be afraid to ask for a refill if someone's walking by. read more

Spinach, artichoke, and chicken quesadilla. Get it. Swap shrimp if you prefer; I was usually trying to shave two bucks off the bill and the chicken was still good. One friend always preferred the big burger (saying that the only better one he'd had was grilled by my dad, but the Blue Tomato would suffice when dad was unavailable). I have never tried the Italian selections but have forced myself to order Mexican options other than the quesadilla for the sake of variety and was still quite happy. But something about the artichoke keeps drawing me back. What happened to the burlap hanging in the windows? Anyhow, still funky in an entirely non-contrived way. There is a new semi-official New Orleans funkiness that some places have, with pictures on the wall that you're going to find at other places, too, as if they got them from a supplier. The Blue Tomato is not that. This is the real deal. Also one of the very first places to reopen after Katrina, which is something in itself. Don't be confused by blue door/pink door. Sometimes simplicity is baffling. read more

Sooooo delicious! I have dragged many out of town friends here when visiting, for both the cheap and excellent food prices, and the generously poured margaritas. Very hole-in-the-wall type place that was a great find. I always order my favorite staple, the chimichangas, I highly recommend them! The nachos are a bit addicting, and I usually suck down a couple of baskets of these every visit. The service was stellar as well, and it was a very friendly atmosphere. read more

Me and my wife come here at least 2 times a month the food is awesome the staff is great Dawn and them do a great job. I never had a bad meal everything on the menu is great. I even celebrated my 35th anniv. there. I recommend this place to everybody! read more

One of my favorite places in this area! It's close to Ochsner Medical Clinic, so every time we have to make a trip there, we make a trip to the Blue Tomato. It's a small place with limited parking but the food is worth it. I've only ever been during the day and it's a little dark inside but nothing uncomfortable. We always start with chips, salsa and guacamole AND Margaritas, of course. (Which are phenomenal!! So fresh.) The salsa is definitely not spicy. But still delicious. The guac is grrrrrreat. As for entrees, my favorite would have to be the shrimp tacos. Coming in a close second are steak quesadillas. My sister got the carnitas last time and let me tell you, the pork was cooked perfectly. The also offer a small bit of Italian food but I have yet to try it. read more

Blue Tomato - Fresh Margarita! - Mexican Near Me - Jefferson, Louisiana

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This place is so fun. Very non-pretentious and genuine. I think the salsa has tequila in it, fun surprise. Wait staff fun and sweet. Go here for really good Mexican dishes, also The nachos are awesome l read more

Blue Tomato - Mexican Near Me - Jefferson, Louisiana

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Best Burger in town! Waitstaff is awesome!! Friendly and courteous. Everything on the menu is delicious and cooked to order fresh!!

Okay this place is very good. That being said I must say the things they do worst are the Mexican dishes. They have a huge selection of very eclectic foods. The best dish on the menu is the seared tuna. I know people who eat it every time they visit New Oleans. The staff are very friendly and eager to please (they don't serve coffee but our waitress went next door to buy my grandmother a cup). And the atmosphere is hole in the wallish, which is how many goood places in New Orleas are. It would probably rank in my top 10 dishes in the city. read more

One of the best places to get margaritas and what makes it even better is that you can get them by the pitcher! This place is laid back and loud so don't expect to have a romantic conversation, but this place is great for a small gathering with friends. They serve everything from burgers to Mexican to Italian so there is something for everyone on the menu. We started with the salsa, queso and guacamole trio and I got the chicken soft tacos. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal and everyone needed a to go box because the portion sizes were huge! I will for sure be returning to get my margarita fix! TGIF. read more

We ordered chips & salsa to start. The chips were crispy and hot, but the salsa was horrible. We honestly thought that Blue Tomato accidentally gave us marinara. We were going to mention it to the waitress and send it back, but looking around... Everyone's salsa looked like ours: chunky tomato dip; the salsa lacked salt, lime juice, cilantro, and onion. It was really just tomatoes. Not good. I had the tacos - one fish, one shrimp. The fish taco was ok. The shrimp taco was not good - shrimps weren't fresh; pretty sure the restaurant used frozen shrimps - they were gummy. There was "pico de gallo" on one of the tacos, but the onions had no taste or flavor at all. Leaves me to believe that the onions weren't fresh either. Onions were so old that I didn't even leave with onion breath. My friend had the enchiladas - one cheese and one pork. Both were completely covered with cheddar cheese. The enchiladas were 95% cheese and little to no enchilada sauce. Made it hard to eat because you couldn't taste anything but cheese. What made it worse, when the cheese got cold... It hardened. Totally inedible. Only redeeming food - the beans and rice that accompanied our meals. Tasted normal. All in all, we spent a little over $35 for bland, tasteless food that did not appear to be cooked from fresh. Not worth it, especially given the other options for Mexican food in NOLA. Went here based on other people's yelp reviews but was deeply disappointed. read more

Surprisingly good hole in the wall in Metairie. You might not even notice it if you drive too fast. They have one of the best Taco Salads in the city, and their queso and salsa are excellent too! If you are in the mood for Mexican and want something different, I'd definitely swing by. read more

Always friendly staff and great food. Great local place!! You leave feeling like family. Thanks Dawn, Kelly and Jamie ya'll are awesome!

Live right next to this place. I love it. The selection of different kinds of food is awesome. I had one bad meal from there, but that was my fault. I was ignorant when I ordered. The atmosphere here is great. Service is great. The wait staff actually care and give great recommendations. I can't even do a funny review on this place because I find it pretty professional and clean. read more

Many friends have recommended the Blue Tomato to me but I never got around to going. Finally made the trip and wow was it worth it! Went for lunch on a Saturday so the place wasn't busy. There menu is a mix of Italian, Mexican and American fare. I had their bbq baby back ribs and the wife had a pork quesadilla. The ribs were tender and had a good level of smoke without overwhelming the meat. The sauce was tangy with a bit of spice. The offer a Thai style bbq sauce but I stuck with the more traditional. The wife's quesadilla was generously packed with cheese and shredded pork. It was cooked perfectly to a crisp and, no surprise, was fantastic. My wife was very pleased. The next day I went back with some coworkers for lunch and I ordered the cheeseburger. The burger was humongous almost taking all the space in the basket they brought it out in. The beef was moist and very flavorful. All my coworkers were just as happy with their choices as well! We all agreed to add the Blue Tomato into our lunch rotation and if you haven't gone MAKE THR TRIP! read more

Far better than expected. Service was spot on, and the fish taco's were fresh and perfectly accompanied with the Mexican cole slaw and dill sauce suggested by staff. Prices were reasonable, and serving sizes were huge. All in all, an place worth trying if you are in the area. read more

Food is okay. Staff is meh...parking is horrible. I've gone twice but probably wouldn't go back.

I'd classify this as average Mexican food. The chips were good, though the queso was a bit on the bland side. The chimichanga was sadly not crispy. I got the pork, and it was almost too porky in taste. It kind of lacked some good Mexican flavors. My fiancé liked her enchiladas, namely the beef, though she felt the same way about her pork one. They have everything from Italian and burgers and teriyaki glazed salmon, though maybe less is more in this case. read more

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The grilled fish poboy is amazing: mahi-mahi with delicious homemade cole slaw on crispy bread. DO IT! Also, I don't know why everyone is referring to this place having "dive decor." The outside is cute and cheerfully painted. The inside is clean. The service is good, but I do feel like they look at me sideways if I don't order enough food for a 200 pound man. I promise y'all I will be full after eating an appetizer and a delicious poboy! read more

I was really looking forward to lunch here because I've heard such good things, but I was pretty disappointed. Unfortunately, the food is less exceptional and more what you would expect from looking at the restaurant from the outside--blah homestyle cooking. We ordered chips and salsa and it was a decently flavorful red chunky dip. Things were looking good. When we ordered entrees, I asked for a quesadilla with sauteed vegetables and chicken. Unbeknownst to me, sauteed veggies at Blue Tomato is essentially a scoop of cafeteria style mixed vegetables. Basically, my delicious quesadilla had a whole bunch of green beans in it when I was expecting peppers and onions. It didn't taste especially bad, but really who wants a cheese, chicken and green bean quesadilla?! Overall, the food was alright, but really not anything special and certainly not anything I couldn't make at home (although I wouldn't make a green bean quesadilla even if I could). The service left something to be desired--our waitress essentially totally forgot about us and we had to go find her so we could get back in time for the end of our 1 hour lunch break. Then once we told her we were really needed our check because we were going to be late, she was filling drinks for other servers and expediting food instead of getting our check ready. I will probably come back if I'm in the area for lunch just to give it another try, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. Also, this is a small place so get there early or late for lunch or you might not get a table. read more

A little dive bar off of Jefferson Highway. Service and food are ok but not great. Parking can be a little tough - the lot is SMALL. read more