Best meal on this visit to New Orleans. Started with the Alligator cheesecake, then crawfish étouffée with a spinach salad. Fantastic service. Really an all around great dining experience. Only disappointed that I can only give them 5 stars. read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Alligator cheesecake. Very unique and delicious appetizer. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Awesome experience. True NOLA eatery. Best BBQ shrimp ever. Very creative. Highly recommend!!!

A friend told me not to miss out on going to this place when I visited NOLA and I'm so glad I listened! I went on a Friday night and it was packed. The wait wasn't too long, maybe about 25 minutes because I wanted a table and not the bar seat. I'm glad I did because the rest of the place was super cool decor and much larger than I expected. The food and service were amazing and very attentive. I wanted to try the gumbo, cheesecake and fried green tomatoes-- all of them 10/10 and would order again. Never would have guessed this place would be so tasty but I was so happy with the food I ordered a cheesecake to go as well. Definitely don't miss out and ride the trolley/street car out to this place, you won't regret it. read more

My wife and I recently visited Jacques-Imo's Café for dinner. Since they do not take reservations, the wait for two people on a Saturday night was about 1.5 hours. We spent that time at a brewery down the street and received a text once our table was ready. The menu is super unique with creative twists on New Orleans cuisine. I ordered the Shrimp & Alligator Sausage Cheesecake and the Stuffed Catfish. The cheesecake was filled with rich, gooey and creamy cheeses, flavorful tender shrimp and meaty spiced alligator sausage. This is a must order appetizer. The catfish was warm and buttery and topped with a creamy crab sauce with flavorful spices. Overall, we had a fantastic dinner. read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Shrimp & Alligator Sausage Cheesecake - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I have eaten at this restaurant several times and I cannot believe that I have never reviewed it! New Orleans has a ton of excellent restaurants, unfortunately a lot of them are touristy in nature and located in high traffic areas. This restaurant is not one of those. Located way away from the bustle of Bourbon Street on the edge of the garden district, it is a true gem. The first thing that strikes you is the funky exterior and people eating in the back of a pick up truck that is painted up like some sort of Mardi Gras artist went wild! The interior features, local artists and a very eclectic mix of what appeared to be Catholic iconography and New Orleans flair. There are several different eating areas, including a bar, an area behind the kitchen, and they have now have the space next-door. The menu is amazing. I didn't take any pictures because honestly, you can see them on the other yelp reviews, but I will share with you that this is a great place to go to try something that you haven't had before. They were eight of us and we had eight different dishes ranging from the traditional or crawdad at toffe to the more interesting rabbit and backstrap. All were fantastic! The drinks flowed and everyone had a great time. I strongly recommend this if you have the time. Take a taxi, use an Uber, you could even take the trolley during daylight hours and check this place out. I would recommend getting a reservation if you know you're going to go as that will guarantee you a spot. It fills up quickly. I make it to New Orleans about every two or three years and I am looking forward to coming back to this restaurant next time I come. read more

After having Jacque-Imo's on my "short list" for over a decade, I finally experienced one of New Orleans' most iconic eateries. It absolutely lived up to the hype! I know that a large party (12 of us, with reservations for 10) isn't easy and usually not my first option for judging a restaurant, but they nailed it from start to finish. The service was outstanding! (I've never been called "baby" so many times). Love the funky, only-in-NOLA vibe. The drinks were spot on. The cornbread appetizer was all I'd hoped for. The brussel sprouts are righteous. Same with their famous shrimp & fried grits appetizer. For my entree, I was torn between the various tempting gulf seafood offerings, but ended up with the potato crusted drum, on the server's recommendation. (Oh, you'll love it Baby"!). It was perfect! Same with the corn maque choux and mashed potatoes on the side. The ladies on either side of me had fried chicken and BBQ shrimp. While, I may not rate either as the absolute best in the city, they're both easily in the top 3, which ain't a bad thing! Not too many tenured local restaurants where the owner makes the rounds to ensure the guests are having a great time, but Jacque did just that. What a cool, fun dude! The complimentary coconut bread pudding and birthday shots were a nice touch, too! Let's suffice it to say that I'm a fan and won't be waiting for another birthday party to make the trek back up Oak Street. read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Storefront - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Amazing, quaint atmosphere full of life everywhere you turn. Food fabulous and servers very informative of specials, menu items. Love this place. read more

Had the red fish, barbecue shrimp and shrimp ettoufe!! All excellent. They also have the best corn bread. Had the alligator cheesecake for appetizer which was also excellent. read more

Great visit to Jacques-Imo's! Our waiter, Michael, was a gem - totally authentic and centered on hospitality! And I have to start with the Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake - a long standing house special - never had anything like it and it was truly special - wow!!! I opted for the Fried Chicken, another house special that was probably the best I've ever had! Jacques-Imo's is a special place and a darn good time! I even opted to buy a Jacques-Imo's poster, that I'll take back home to CA and frame! read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We had reservations but arrived early to have a drink before dinner and were seated immediately. Food was delicious. The salad was a little sad. read more

This place is the real deal. Amazing and fresh food. Drinks are on point. Staff are fun and knowledgeable. My only issue was trying to decide what to order. Absolutely everything was amazing. read more

I had been trying to go to Jacques-Imo's for years on New Orleans trips but the timing never worked out until this trip when I was running out of energy and decided I'd skip out early on French Quarter Fest so I could have dinner. It was a hot day at FQF so I appreciated that the waitstaff kept my ice water replenished. I had heard about Jacques-Imo getting Austin Leslie's fried chicken recipe and had high expectations for it but was disappointed when I got my order. The mix of dark and white meat chicken in a large breast, thigh, and drumstick were bland because all the flavor was in the skin, not getting to the meat. The breast, being the largest piece was quite dry in addition to being rather tasteless while the thigh and drumstick fared better, being more moist but still bland. There were no condiments on the table so there was no way to adjust the flavor profile of the chicken. The two sides, red beans and rice and smothered cabbage, were also lacking: the red beans and rice was 2/3 rice and the cabbage had a jarring sweet flavor profile rather than savory. It was not a meal that would encourage me to return. read more

Honestly worth all the hype. The food is amazing. The prices are fair. The vibe is fun. We got the fried green tomatoes, chicken livers and got complimentary alligator cheesecake. All were incredible. We shared a soft shell crab special for our entree. I'm born and raised in Louisiana, and I've gotten quite sick of creole/cajun/southern food. I rarely find southern food I really enjoy in the GNO area. But Jacque-IMO's is that good good. Seriously. read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Classic. One of my favorite places in uptown. The steak is an excellent value. Service is great, drinks are great. Must try.

Was recommended this place by Airbnb host. Really nice atmosphere server was very friendly. Ordered stuffed shrimp, fried green tomatoes catfish and fried chicken. Everything had great flavor however the fried chicken was over cooked and somewhat dry. The watermelon mojito also watery and did not taste like any alcohol was in it. Overall nice dinner and atmosphere would recommend. read more

We saved the most highly recommended place for last on our trip to NOLA and it did not disappoint and well worth the wait! We waited about half an hour, and we were taken care of from the time we got our table to the time we paid our check. Our water glasses were always filled, and our waitress checked up on us often. We were served complimentary cornbread with parsley garlic butter, and they were really good. To start, we got the Boudin Balls Arancini, and these were my absolute favorite. I loved everything about it. We also shared the Fried Green Tomatoes which was yummy as well, but the boudin balls was the winner between the appetizers. We also got complimentary spinach salads, and I am still thinking about that dressing! Such a simple salad, but so delicious. For our main entrees, my husband got the Ribeye with his sides because coleslaw, and red beans & rice. He loved his steak, he said it was tender and cooked to perfection, and it was better than the other steak we had a couple nights ago. He said his bleu cheese mashed potatoes were good, but he said that he wished they separated it because the grease from the steak consumed the potatoes. I got the Potato Crusted Drum, and for sides I got the red beans and mashed potatoes. I loved everything about the dish!! It was perfectly crispy because of the potato crust and I can still taste the fish very well, I asked for a side of lemon and oh my goodness, I would come back just for the the drum. My sides were okay. My mashed potatoes were a little on the salty side though. We can see why this place is so popular, we loved it and can't wait to come back! read more

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Get into any taxi or Uber ride and ask for a recommendation of places to eat in New Orleans, and Jacques-Imo's will be on every short list, and for good reason. The food here is very good and Cajun-creative, and the restaurant has a cool, fun vibe. Be sure to make a reservation, as this place really gets packed. Getting there: Take the St. Charles streetcar all the way to the end and make the short walk. It's a fun way to do it, and the walk is very doable. Food: I know this sounds weird, because it is, but it works. Starting with the shrimp and alligator cheesecake to share as an appetizer can only be a good thing, and it's fun to tell people you had alligator cheesecake. Just clear your mind of what you know cheesecake to be, and everything will be okay. It's more of a meatloaf-quiche texture with cajun seafood flavors that makes for a savory bite full of flavor and cholesterol. It must have something bad for you in it to taste that good. Soft shell crab: The presentation alone is enough to just have to order this, and that's what I did. Perfectly crispy crab poised for a swordfight drizzled with remoulade and sitting atop fried green tomatoes. I loved this and ate every bite. Crawfish Etouffe: A nice, rich dark brown roux with an abundance of crawfish. Wonderful flavors of the two holy Cajun trinities of peppers and vegetables. We had a party of 10, and everyone loved their food. I will certainly return next time I visit. read more

My friend and I got to try this NOLA classic shortly before corona hit, and we all got sent to our rooms. The ambience alone is worth the visit, and my reason for suggesting it. I love the colorful lighting, the charming murals, the bric-a-brac on the walls... The food itself was good, but I wouldn't say the portions quite warrant the prices. My friend got something called chicken pontalba. Comes with two sides, but they were both rather skimpy. I got the fried green tomatoes, which come with a shrimp remoulade on top. Very tasty--crispy, fresh, with extra plump shrimp. Every meal comes with free cornbread, which might have been my favorite component. Nicely sweet with good crunch around the edges and garlic and herb butter. Overall, I might go back eventually but may never get more than an app. read more

Just not sure where to begin! From the moment I walked in I knew this place was going to hit the spot. Enter off the street into the bar lobby and 1 dining table. I was immediately intrigued with framed prints hung from the ceiling. We were seated right way at this cozy, yet bustling spot. Our waitress, Kasey was phenomenal. She had some great recommendations on everything from wine to apps to entrees! Boudin Balls Arcini - devoured! Alligator cheesecake - Yassss! Pan Fried Drum - CLEANED the plate. Shrimp creole - of course! read more

Wow! Shout out to Jordan our server. Made our experience so much better. Great customer service and the food was all delicious! Blacken fish, red beans and rice, mash potatoes, stuff shrimp, shrimp creole. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Price 10/10 read more

Food was delicious and original. Service was good. Ambiance was eclectic. Loved all the artwork read more

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The food here is always amazing. The service is quick and the atmosphere is fun and loud. I always stop in when I'm in town for their etouffee and the shrimp and alligator cheesecake. read more

Delicious food and great vibes! It was our first time so they gave us a complementary alligator and shrimp cheesecake - it was really good! It is not a dessert haha. The blackened fish and shrimp Étouffée were amazing! Loved the service and overall vibe of the restaurant. A live band came through while we were having our meal. Definitely got the full Nola experience! read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Shrimp Étouffée - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This was by far one of the best places we went to on our NOLA food vacation. Everything was just so flavorful and delicious. I never would have paired sweet cornbread and intense garlic butter but that was my favorite part. Do yourself a solid and get your tush into this restaurant and try everything you can. You will not regret it. read more

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Returned to Jacque Imo's to see if my remembrance of this fantastic restaurant was still amazing! Much to my delight, I found it still superb. We took the recommendation of the waitress: aligator cheesecake, grit cakes, crawfish ettouffe. No room for their bread pudding for dessert but it's amazing! A must go to in New Orleans. . read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Aligator cheesecake - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The service was incredible! The ambiance was fun and extreme New Orleans. The food was some of the best I have ever tasted. When back in the area, this is a must. We had such an incredible time I forgot to take pictures of the food after the appetizer. read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - appetizer - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Hands down one of the best rewstaurants in New Orleans. I absolutely love it here. I have been here probably over a hundred times. I never leave with a bad experience or a sad face.. in fact, I may go there sad and leave happy! This is my go to ... thank you Jacques for being an OG in the kitchen. Especially since we lost KPaul Kitchen in the quarters - home style cooking. read more

Our son and daughter-in-law took us to this restaurant during our visit to New Orleans. Loved it! Great atmosphere, good food and excellent service, especially from our waiter Stephen! Highly recommend visiting this gem of a restaurant on Oak Street! read more

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The food was amazing! Alligator cheesecake is a must try. It sounds weird but it is very similar to quiche. The service was stellar. read more

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I have avoided coming here for a variety of reasons. Yes, it has been on my list, and yes, I enjoyed the episode with Anthony Bourdain ate here before being arrested, but many people have told me it's "overrated" and not worth the cost. Well, finally I had someone who was willing to come with me, and there was no wait on a random Monday night. The menu has a variety of local foods, served with a salad, and a type of garlic bread. The salad is just spinach and dressing that includes sesame seeds. I wasn't a huge fan on such a lackluster salad, but the dressing was good, and it was well balanced with the leaves. The complementary garlic bread tastes like more. There was a steak special for the evening, served on top of a bleu cheese mashed potato and coated in a goat butter sauce, and two sides of your choosing. This is where I am throwing all my stars. The steak was so tender (AND HUGE), that I probably could've cut it with a spoon. It was super flavorful, well marbled, and my goodness the flavors just blended together so perfectly. Our server was on it like a bonnet and everything was so well done that I can't believe people think that Jacques Imos is overplayed. I thought it was great, if a bit pricey, and I would love to come back for a special occasion. read more

Such a great New Orleans standard. When friends come to town, I always suggest J-Imo's. It is funky, fun and not too stuffy or serious. Great location on Oak St., fantastic good with great drinks. Everything tastes like it has been made FOR YOU fresh. Reservations are taken for a larger # group. Space is tight, so keep that in mind. Next to Maple Leaf Bar where you can relax before or after too! read more

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Best place from service to food. Love! Love! Love! Never disappoints. Blackened redfish is the best.

Run don't walk!! The hype is real. This place deserves all of its accolades and then some. The food is phenomenal. I tried the beloved alligator and shrimp cheesecake and it was hands down the best thing I ate in New Orleans (and I ate a lot of delicious food). The cornbread that came as an appetizer was super delicious as well. For my entree I had the grilled grouper in a tomato-y based brother and that was outstanding. The mushrooms on top - nom nom nom. You can get two sides with the entree and I had the fries (similar to shoestring fries - super crispy like chips) and potato salad (there were actual bits of hard-boiled egg in here!). It also came with a spinach salad - also really great. The host, waiter, and server were all outstanding - so hospitable and kind. I love that you walk through the kitchen to get to the restaurant so you can see how it all goes down! And lastly loved the kitchy decor and colorful vibe. An amazing place and thrilled I had the opportunity to try it! read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Grouper - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Jacques -Imo has unfortunately outgrown the cool Oak Street quirky bistro that made it famous. It has become a turn and burn get them in and out food factory. No longer concerned with customer enjoyment but more concerned about how may consumers they can fit into an evening's revenue. The food quality has remained above average but the dining experience has deteriated to the level of a take out venue. Literally.... the waiter while screaming a list of can't do options for our party said that we should eat family style so we can keep the flow moving. No fried chicken because it takes too long, if we don't eat in an hour there will be no birthday cake served and if we do want the fried chicken we can take it home in a to go container. While allowing what seemed like enough time to enjoy a dinner for a large party the attitude was one of extreme demands not appropriate for a group ready to spend thousands of dollars to celebrate an occasion. I am a local and have never in my life been treated with such rudeness in a restaurant. Stay away if you want to enjoy yourself and your company over a nice dinner. Absolutely shocking......... To add insult to injury, I requested to speak with an owner or manager and held this review back in order for some explanation or even an apology to be given but to no avail. They obviously don't care....as long as the tourist keep coming in, forget about the locals that put them on the map. read more

The food and the atmosphere were outstanding! A true gem with exceptional food! I highly recommend this restaurant!

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!. Favorite place in New Orleans. You have to get out of the French quarter area to reach this place . Nice little neighborhood restaurant but the food is to die for. Definitely worth your moneys! Nice dark place to eat with loved ones or a date. Been there twice and will forever continue to go every time I visit " nawlins ". I wouldn't take kids unless your kids love seafood and Cajun/creole flavor. My 7 year old devoured everything lol. read more

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I was not super impressed with this place and was a little surprised at the high reviews. The restaurant is cute, and very "come as you are." Initially, we were unsure if we had to get dressed, dressed. but we were fine with jeans and some Birks. When you walk in you are in the bar area, which has a lot of cool stuff to look at. We waited about 30 minutes for a table for two on a Thursday night. The hostess was efficient, not super friendly. Our waitress was friendly and explained all of the specials and went over the menu. The seating is super squished together. There is not much room to move around or get in and out of your chair, and the bathroom is interesting. Make sure to lock it well cause the lock is a little funny. We ordered their drink on special, which was a fresh watermelon mule. Not it. It had a faint watermelon taste and watered down vodka. It sounded good, and maybe had potential, but it was not executed well. The corn bread muffins that they bring were pretty good, heavy on the butter, but good. We also ordered the Fried Green Tomato, which were the best part of the meal. However, tomatoes are one of my favorite foods, so.... We also ordered the NOLA Style BBQ Shrimp, which are whole shrimps over rice. This was ok. The shrimp were a little rubbery, but overall the flavor was good. We also ordered one of the special, which was a whole soft shells crab with some other stuff- this was decent and a lot food. Overall we left a little disappointed. This place was super hyped up and maybe our expectations were a little too high. read more

We were presented complimentary cornbread which were warm and delicious. I came for fried chicken and wasn't disappointed. I chose dark meat. Good fried chicken is like a good woman, hard to come by. Where I come from I just don't find decent fried chicken. This chicken was right out of the hopper. Thin crispy skin with moist meat topped with the fact that it was HOT. None of this cold reheated stuff. Our server Mike provided a complimentary shrimp and alligator cheesecake. It's not a dessert mind you. She said it was due to a delay in making the chicken. I appreciate the gesture. I went away a happy camper. Definitely has to be some of the best chicken around. Sorry the attached pics were subject to restaurant's green lighting. read more

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Great food and atmosphere! The style and taste of the food was great! The service was attentive!

Jacques-Imo's Cafe is a Cajun / Creole place located in Leonidas area of New Orleans, LA. The owner, Jacques Leonardi, was raised on a farm in upstate New York by a French mother and Italian father, so he was exposed to the use of fresh ingredients at a young age. The food at Jacque-Imo's Cafe was good... but I was so full from eats earlier in the day, that I ate only small portions. There was a group of 5 of us - and we tried a variety of dishes! From what I remember - definitely calamari, fish, and gumbo. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area! ENJOY!! read more

Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana