great casual vibe. good music. loved the food - prices and taste. would recommend. 3 day vacation and we came all 3 days

Stopping here just put a bow on a perfect evening. My homegirl and I just finished watching a hilarious comedy show at the howling wolf and at the comedy show, we saw somebody walking with a plate of plain nachos, which looked kind of good, even though they were basic and we were really craving nachos. We got out the comedy show late and came into Ernst Cafe and not only did they have nachos, they had CREOLE nachos. And they were BOMB! They had andouille sausage and this creole cheese sauce with red beans. They were SOOO good. We damn near, licked the entire plate, clean and then needed something else because we were still hungry, so we got the fries with the roast beef on top and those were delicious as well and kind of reminded me of poutine. The environment inside is kind of like a dive bar but they had outdoor seating as well and it just seemed like the kind of place that locals come to hang out. Our server was super sweet too and the environment felt really welcoming. I'll be dreaming about those Creole nachos and I will absolutely be back next time I'm in town read more

Ernst Cafe kept popping up as a top "late night food" spot the week before Fat Tuesday, listed open until 2am. We were staying around the corner for the week, so it was a logical stop and it came recommended. We showed up at 10:45pm and were told the kitchen had just closed. Tried again the next night, same result. Thursday around 5pm they were closed for a private event, which is fair, just not the best luck on our part. Maybe this is just how the neighborhood operates, with bakeries and coffee shops moonlighting as bars, but a safe assumption in most cities is that a place with "Cafe" in the name should either feed you past 10:30 or make it clear when food service ends. As a bar though, it works. Classic New Orleans pub energy inside and they pour a mean Jameson. Just do not come hungry. Jokes aside I'm sure the food is great, I just could not catch it while they were serving. read more

Good portions. Good location They were out of roast beef both days I went there. Oh, well. Next time I'm in town I'll go back read more

Decent spot. Lunch was okay. Everything from the service, to the food, to the ambience was just okay. The gumbo was pretty bland. The red beans were also pretty plain. The boudin balls were mushy and kind of lame. Probably not a great day in the kitchen. Even our server recognized that. My wife's salad was missing tomatoes and other things listed in the menu. We won't return. read more

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Great local comfort food. Our server Bailey was awesome, super friendly! Deviled fried pickles are a must and if you have room get the bread pudding. read more

Such a fun spot! We came here with a group of about 40 while on vacation and had a great time. We sat on the balcony, where we were able to move the TV and space heaters to make it warm and comfortable even on a cold day. The shrimp were pretty good, and the beers were only $1.50. I'd definitely visit again. Service was great. The shrimp were delicious though small. read more

Ernst Cafe - Blackened shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I really liked this place. I was in New Orleans to watch my Niners beat the Saints, and this place was close to my hotel. First, coming from California, I fell in love with the prices of their beers. How? How can they charge $2.50 for a Corona or Modelo? Who cares? Load me up. I stopped by each night I was there. Every bartender was super friendly and attentive. The food was good. I had the red beans n rice, the gumbo, and the jambalaya. If I'm ever back on town, I will definitely stop by. read more

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The food was great and the beer prices are ridiculously cheap! A beer and a shot for less than $7 read more

Ernst Cafe - Catfish po Crispy Gulf Fish Po'boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Friendly bartenders and good food, what more do you want from a neighborhood bar. I went here originally because it was rainy and it was close to my hotel near the convention center. Downstairs was a bit of a cluster so I dined upstairs where you order at the bar and they bring the food to you. The Gumbo was excellent and I'd get it again for sure. Same with the shrimp po boy which was loaded with crispy shrimp and excellent bread. The waffle fries were great too. I went back for a drink on a different night as they had Hoop Tea, which is the best canned hard iced tea if you ask me (and you didn't). Later in the night some dealers from the casino trickled in after their shifts so it seems like a good place that locals love too. If you're thinking about going to Mannings, consider Ernst Cafe right across the street. You'll at least get served. read more

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We attempted to go to Ernst Cafe three times while in NOLA. 2 out of 3 times were successful and the second visit was the most impressive experience, during the day, right at lunch, not too long after they opened on a Friday afternoon. Their door states that they are open until 2 AM, but upon experience, they will close early if business is slow and they stop serving food after midnight, which was a major disappointment on my third visit. On our first visit, we attempted to come around 1 AM on Friday morning and another customer informed us that they were closed. On the third visit, we came a few minutes after midnight, and I was disappointed when I found out that we could only order drinks. Now to talk about my good experience(s). 1) Cheap drinks, especially for the beer lovers. They have a drink menu with a list of spirits that range from $1.50 - $7 and the variety is great. I am not much of a beer drinker, but noticed they carried spiked teas, wine and seltzers for the ladies to give them something to sip on for a low price. These were year round prices. 2) Good cocktails for a fair price. My Tito's Lemon Drop was $10 and tasted GREAT. I ended up ordering two. 3) Good fresh food during lunch. We ordered a large shrimp poboy and split the honey habanero appetizer with fries and jalepeno slaw. The food was so good that we planned on coming back later that night since they stayed open late, BUT they stopped serving food at midnight (I was so disappointed). 4) Happy Hour specials from 4-6 PM, they have 50% off of the well spirits, so some things are $4. Overall, this is a great place to stop in for drinks and food before midnight! I liked the food and service. I would return if in the area. read more

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This was a really enjoyable place to grab dinner. It was recommended by our hotel and it didn't disappoint. The catfish po'boy was incredible! It was hot and juicy. The fries were a great addition. Beer and wine are cheap here as well. read more

No complaints. Awesome service. Brandon was great. He was friendly, prompt, and attentive. Great atmosphere and ambuance. Cafe/bar is spacious and clean. I loved the vibe. Really good prices on their drinks. I would definitely come back here. read more

Ernst Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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One of the older bars in the Fulton Alley. Looks run down if you've never been there but it looks exactly like it should if you wanna be in a New Orleans Bar. Food is average but good. Nothing bad about service but it's a bar... so don't expect white glove service. Will always come back here! Good times! read more

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First off ... Sarah the bartender is a ROCKSTAR. We were in New Orleans for a total of 7 days during Mardi Gra. This place was slammed. They have the BEST prices when it comes to beers The bar / Restaurant is in the Warehouse district . Walking distance to our hotel. We came in multiple times and met some regulars Lisa and Rachel and the bartender Sarah. We felt so welcomed everytime. They had awesome food and the Hurricanes were delicious. THANKS to everyone here. read more

I visited the Ernst Cafe for a hosted reception as part of a conference and it was one of my favorite dining experiences of my trip. We were taken upstairs to the event space, which was open and spacious, with a beautiful wraparound balcony. There was a nice selection of drinks, and some amazing local fare- the roast beef po'boy as my favorite, but we also enjoyed fish and shrimp po'boys, a beautiful veggie platter and selection of sausages (andouille, gator and crawfish,) as well as crawfish cornbread. Everything was amazing and nicely portioned so that we could try a little bit of everything. The dining space downstairs looked fun, and the atmosphere was great all around. Wonderful experience. read more

Ernst Cafe - View from the wraparound balcony - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Came here to watch a football game and have some drinks. It was a Saturday night so they had music over the speakers and we weren't able to hear the game. That's fine as it's not a sports bar. I ordered Fried Pickles, Gumbo and Wings. Fried pickles were ok - I love that they have fried jalapenos mixed in. The gumbo was ok but there were bits of overcooked rice in it so every bite had crunchy rice. I'm not sure if it was just bottom of the pan rice or old rice - not a fan. The wings were pretty good. Service was ok. Overall, ok. read more

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Our group of 11 spent about 6 hours here watching football. We drank the whole time, had appetizers and food and the bill was $300. What a deal!! The guys had more buckets of beer than I can count, we had the upstairs mostly to ourselves and in nice weather I think the patio would be great. If you're looking for a game watch deal, this is your place. read more

Came over with a group of about 13 during a break for a conference and we were concerned initially about being able to get in. There's ample space to accommodate lots of people as there are picnic tables outside and two floors of seating. We sat upstairs and the kids loved being able to go on the balcony and scope out the city. We had to order at the bar, and the bartender was very pleasant and handled all of our orders with ease. Even with our party being large, they were able to get our food out quickly. I got the Southwest egg rolls and they were spicy and fried to perfection. The ranch dressing with them was amazing! I willingly would have purchased a bottle to go. read more

Ernst Cafe - Southwest egg rolls - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This is a super friendly location just off the waterway and by the Aquarium. They brought the food quickly, personably, and with a ton of kindness. The food was tasty, and as we only had apps we were able to sample a variety. Mama Mia Sticks, Debris Fries, and Chicken Wings we enjoyed all of them, and the flavors were outstanding. We were able to sit back and catch our breath from the heat and walking. The place was so well decorated that there was something to be seen everywhere! So much fun in one place!! Good times, good eats, good service!! read more

Young waitress did not check on us our rice was old and hard and she thought it was more comical that our experience was bad and I recommended this place to a friend for the first time. The manager seemed amused also. I used to love Ernts, but after this experience I will not ever return due to one of the worst experiences I've had dining we still tipped generously and slight glacé back at the waitress while she mocked us as if she had gotten the best of us.. I'll eat from Rouses next time read more

Food is great! Portions decent. Location to a bunch of hotels makes the clientele mixed of eaters and people wanting to hang out.

Cool little place Was clean and staff was very friendly. We had a couple Ernst Bowls. Was jambalaya and grilled chicken breast with gumbo on top. Was realllly good A roast beef and shrimp po boy and wings. Delicious. Jambalaya. Verrry good The fish po boy and another roast beef po boy. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we would def go back. read more

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It was good. I thought it was a little expensive. But the old building and bar atmosphere was cool. The bar staff were friendly as were the patrons. I'd try it again, just minus all my damn kids. read more

The vibe is divey in a good way. Upstairs is family friendly with an extensive menu and great beer prices. It's an order at the counter situation and the food came quickly. We were with a pretty big group so we sampled many items and everything was hot, fresh, and tasty. Ernst Cafe was better quality and a much better value than the more touristy places nearby. read more

Ernst Cafe - Upstairs - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Cheap beer and yummy food. One of my favorite places to visit and I ALWAYS ask for Phil, he gives the best service! Much love for the Ernst family for always making it a homey environment :) read more

Had this for lunch after coming here for a late night beer a couple nights in a row. Bella was the most attentive and friendliest server I've had in the city this far! Food was decently priced and portioned. I got the burnt ends & mac n cheese for lunch. Sauce was a little sweeter than I personally like it but it was tasty overall! This is close to the convention center and not too far from the french quarter with great out door seating options. Definitely will visit again and hope to get Bella as a server once more! read more

Ernst Cafe - Love the atmosphere outside! Inside is nice enough but I love a good patio sitch - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

conveniently located near our hotel with a welcoming vibe and open late, ernst cafe was great. the food was on the saltier side but was good overall. read more

Ernst Cafe - Gulf Shrimp Platter, Crispy Gulf Fish Po'boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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If you're looking for a spot off the quarter with a hometown spot feel, this is the place. The staff is friendly and helpful. There are tvs for the games which is a plus! The food is solid and the drinks are yummy ! Everything was reasonably priced and good came out quick! read more

Ernst Cafe - Urban cowboy burger and po boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Services I don't think our server put the order in. 2 other tables were seated after us and they got their food before us. We all got our food at different times. 1 salad and 2 porboys should not take 40 minutes. read more

Stopped by to pick up an order to go. Nice menu and when checking in on Yelp you get a free appetizer. We tried the blue crab cake with waffle fries and jambalaya. The crab was so good with a crispy coating on a soft bun with a scoop of jalapeño coleslaw and some waffle fries. Good food cold beer, the bartender was super friendly and sooo busy. read more

Ernst Cafe - Menu - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Stumbled across Ernst Cafe as we were hungry for a mid afternoon snack and thirsty upon just arriving in town. It was around 3pm on a Monday afternoon. The place wasn't terribly busy by any means so we were kinda surprised with the slow service. We were seated at one of the outside tables to enjoy the mild temperatures that afternoon. The waitress eventually came by and took our drink and food order. We waited and waited for what seemed like probably 20 minutes before our 3 bottles of beer came out to the table. The creole nachos came next and they hit the spot with good flavor. I'd recommend those as a snack. The music over the speakers was not enjoyable. Whoever was working the music was only playing what we described as death metal. Every time a song would come on that we enjoyed it would quickly get skipped and another heavy metal song would come on. Not really what we were looking for as far as that goes but we managed. Our waitress did the bare minimum for her job. She didn't make conversation, just took the order. Didn't wipe down the table from the prior guests. She didn't give us any small plates to share our basket of nachos at the table. No forks or anything to assist with eating. On the positive side, they do have great prices on beer! read more

Ernst Cafe - $1.25 Beer list - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Best place for inexpensive food and drinks! Service and atmosphere were great both times we went. Yes we had such a great time we went back the next day! read more

Food is terrible. Brandon the bartender is an asshole. Pretends to be nice in your face but will say a stupid remark when he walks off. And that's after I tipped him 35%. I do that because I'm a bartender myself so it's karma if I don't tip. Ernst isn't the same anymore. read more

The business responded to my comment about the very jarring tiles. It was beyond me why I couldn't see any conversation about it, so I greatly appreciate the response and acknowledgement. And the Po Boys and service were still great! read more

Ernst Cafe - Pretty jarring tiles by the bar. Time to look into rugs? - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I have nothing but nice things to say about this place. The friendliness of the staff was impeccable. Above and beyond! We went the night of the Philly game on Sunday 9/22. Everywhere was busy. They make you feel special. Best shrimp po boy! Hubs had the burnt ends sandwich. Beers on ice. TV's everywhere. Truly enjoyed our experience. Will be back! read more

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We just wanted a bite to eat and a beer. This place hit the spot. Nice vibes with both indoor and outdoor seating and a balcony upstairs. I had a delicious po' boy with roast beef and fried shrimp. My partner had a bowl of gumbo which was tasty but a very small portion. The beers were cheap and there were lots of choices. Our server warmed up as she got to know us. Great spot for lunch or to watch the game. read more

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Cheapest Beer in Warehouse/Arts District, maybe all of NOLA. 7 Mass Market Beers, including Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, Miller High Life, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Bud all for $1.50 each. Even up to 12 beers TO GO for same price. Excellent Gumbo, Salads with Super Hot delicious Jalapeño Ranch Dressing. Great, friendly bartenders. Bar is small. Wish music was not as load. read more

Ernst Cafe - Grilled Chicken Club Salad with Hot Jalapeño Ranch - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Last 2 years we came I ate here every night and loved it. This year the menu has dropped all the favorite appetizers. Went 2 nights so far and no one was cleaning or waiting on the tables outside. We someone finally acknowledged us the second night we were told we could only order drinks because the kitchen was too backed up. Very disappointed. I hope they get back to the service they provided in the past. read more

The ambiance/environment is nice and the food is really flavorful for a dive bar. I've been here a couple times and never had a bad experience yet. If you're in New Orleans and need a place to snack and decompress from the hot weather, then I would suggest stopping by here. XOXO, Your Fav Foodie read more