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    Nola Bar & Kitchen

    4.0 (176 reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Nola Bar & Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    NOLA BAR & KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Nola Bar & Kitchen

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    Garlic Lime Wings and Fried pickles
    M B.

    The staff were super friendly and very attentive however the wings were tasteless and fried too hard and the garlic lime sauce was watery and did not stick to the wings. The gumbo was subpar. I was excited about visiting however the food was very disappointing.

    She loves the fried pickles.
    Cameron C.

    Random drop in. Lite crowd. Good came out quick. Drinks were strong. The picky kid ate the pickles ... salute.

    Girls night
    Jackie R.

    Came here for drinks & karaoke. I wish their kitchen was open later. The Service was great & for a Saturday night it was a small and attractive crowd.

    Nola Gumbo
    Alvin T.

    This place is decked out and is true to its theme. They have banners everywhere to give a sort of Mardi Gras/NOLA feel--truly not a bad place in Wrigley and deviates a lot from what you're used to seeing in the area. We went on a cold Wednesday night though and it was absolutely dead, we were the only customers inside. Perhaps this place is more crowded during weekend nights but the lack of people did make us wonder if this place was worth the hype. Food-wise it's very passable and it'll feel your need for Cajun food. Food: Nola Gumbo: they give you a house made hot sauce to go with the gumbo, the overall dish was nice and hearty but I feel like it could've been a bit more flavorful Alligator Basket: this was the true mvp of the night. It was my first time trying alligator and the way they fry it is so good. I would say it tastes a lot like a super tender steak--highly recommend!

    Honey Garlic and Lime Wings Parmesan and Herbs Fries - pretty good but sauce was very very watery

    Ordered delivery. The wings are good but the sauce is sooooo watery, and they don't even include a free ranch you have to pay for it. Didn't even include ketchup even though I asked for it and it's the least that could be include with a $9 fry. Then the gumbo was the WORST gumbo I've ever had in my life. I'm a southern girl who has had a lot of gumbo, including plenty from NOLA and Louisiana. Like it's disgustingly bad they are selling it and passing it off as gumbo.

    Blake B.

    I love the theme, how can you not have a good time here at this NOLA themed bar? You feel like you've stepped out of Chicago and straight onto Bourbon Street! The hurricanes were delicious and the bartender was attentive and fun! It was such. Fun vibe, although I didn't get to try the food the menu was traditional Cajun offerings including alligator!

    Plain Fries
    Aleah H.

    Quite frankly never would have thought to eat here, but I came with friends and am so glad to know about this spot now! We came for March Madness, and it was super easy to get a table for 4 to watch the games immediately. The place was overall pretty quiet, and the bar tender was helpful and attentive. We started with drinks but eventually got hungry so we tried some food too! I was happy with the beer and cider collection - All of the basics, plus fun options specific to New Orleans. The food variety impressed me too! We loved the parmesan garlic tater tots, and the queso and Cajun chicken po'boy that we tried did the trick. The food wasn't life changing but the menu and atmosphere intrigued me enough to come back and try more in the future!

    Bar
    Ivonne J.

    Pretty good spot. Typical wrigleyville things - parking, longer traffic during games, rowdy crowds on the street, etc. it's spacious and has multiple TVs scattered throughout for the game. I got the hurricane which came with a cute beaded necklace around it. Security guard is present for safety.

    Brian D.

    Absolutely check this place out when in Wrigleyville if you're looking for something unique. Good food and great service! I especially liked the NOLA gumbo and add a little of their house made hot sauce which really brings all the flavors out. Drinks were well made and service prompt. Not a lot of places in the area where you can get a true N'awlins oyster and shrimp Po Boy either! 5 stars, I'll be back.

    Franke H.

    Late post but came here for Mardi Gras they had a live band it was cool I'm only giving it a three stars was that it took 2 hours to get my food then they brought our food twice. The food overall was good.

    Beignets! Hot out of the oil!!
    Craig S.

    Stopped in here before a Cubs game. The place is small and is obviously set up as a bar first, Kitchen 2nd. There is no air-conditioning, which was a major deal on a 93 degree day!! We ordered the alligator bites and the "Gumbolya" (combo of Gumbo and Jambalaya). Both were good, if not exceptional. The Cajun spice seemed to be mostly black pepper which was a disappointment, Portion sizes were good. We came at 4pm before a 7:05 weekday game start, so I can not estimate how busy they would be closer to game time. Overall, worth a trip if you are in the area!!

    Shrimp po boy
    Ben A.

    Came by for dinner after rock climbing during a weekday. I ordered the Fried Shrimp Po' Boy, which was loaded up with fried shrimp. I liked the remoulade sauce and the cut of their fries. The service was super friendly. The food my friends ordered all looked amazing, so I'll definitely be back when I want a taste of cajun country. I've never had fried alligator, but it's on the menu and I'm intrigued.

    Nola's Bar and Kitchen ,
 a Chi-Mardi Gras decor delight

    Arrived on a rainy wet day, early afternoon. noting an array of bar sitters having a midday drink. We grabbed the two seat round table near the exposed brick wall and ordered a personal creole competition crawl , as we continue to seek the best restaurant serving this iconic dish, commonly know as. "Louisiana Creole Style Gumbo,"; Nola's was on the Seeker's List and we are here! We are ordering alligator bites with delicious fries too. A tall modelesque friendly, and attentive waiter almost instantly, served up a piping hot bowl of the homemade gumbo house special. It was full bodied essential spices, and loaded with plenty of vegetables swimming in a Louisiana creole style broth, along with traditional meats and seafood infusing complex flavors. The Gumbo did not disappoint for heartiness and nutrients flavor pounding taste drums. We both loved our first exploration into alligator bites. It has a mild meaty lightness with an interesting contexture, not too unlike the fiber of poultry. Nola's has a celebratory atmosphere, a Mardi Gras ambiance, and a winning bowl of gumbo, good service, while located just around the corner from the ballpark, Nola's is a great iconic place to raise high spirits, as it hits it out of the park for great food and circuses!

    Nola Gumbo

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    1 year ago

    It was a really nice place. I enjoyed the music and drinks. I didn't get to try the food though because it was so crowded

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Went while waiting on a rain delay. We loved the food and the drinks were good. Staff was friendly and helpful.

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    2 years ago

    Went for happy hour and the drinks on special were fantastic! Super friendly bar staff as well. Would recommend!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fun place to drink during our Christmas bar crawl. Ugly sweaters everywhere. We didn't try the food but we will next time.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Nola Bar & Kitchen

    How many locations do you have? Are you related to the Nola in Forest Park?

    We only have one location, which is in Lakeview. We are not affiliated with any other Nola.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Buzzed by Zea

    5.0(19 reviews)
    0.4 miLakeview

    I have been frequenting both the salon and the bar here for quite some time now…read more I have never met a more community-minded business than Buzzed by Zea and it is all on account of Jerry and Lee and their friendly and welcoming staff - all of them willing to go above and beyond to support their friends, neighbors, patrons, and emerging businesses. Truly a wonderful place to get your style on over drinks. After Salon hours this place turns into a cozy little bar with wonderful cocktails and excellent service where you can actually have a conversation with friends. How old fashioned is that!? The venue is also an event space! Our theater company has now done two amazing benefits here and - wow, what an amazing event space this is. Three bar service locations, ample seating space, a cozy atmosphere, welcoming staff, and an upscale, luxurious feel to the whole place. We never get tired of coming here. But all of that together does not measure up to the heart and soul of the space brought to it by Jerry and Lee. Go. You'll fall in love too.

    What a usual experience! I'm standing at the door, trying to determine if I'm even in the right…read moreplace. It seemed as though I were standing in front of a salon. I entered, and an greeted by a salon smell. It was not overpowering and was arguably pleasant, and but I see a bar to the left, so I am in the right place. Fair enough, I have a seat. This isn't them being cute with a theme, there is a bona-fide salon here, though it does not operate as late as the bar and was tucked away behind a curtain. Speaking to a regular, it is possible to have a cocktail while having your hair cut (or maybe waiting at some point in the process?) But I digress. I ordered a Taxi Dancer - an extremely pleasant whiskey-based drink that was spirit forward without being overwhelming (though I drink whiskey neat, so take this with a grain of salt). It had a perfect level of sweetness, and a little spice (not heat). The vibe here is upscale, modern, and bright. The bar staff is friendly and welcoming to newcomers and regulars alike. I also love that their prices seem to be reasonable, all things considered. The aforementioned cocktail is $16, which is fair considering the quality. While on that particular night I only had the one, I will be happily adding Buzzed by Zea to my cocktail bar rotation when I feel like going out for a night on the town.

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    Buzzed by Zea - Martini

    Martini

    Buzzed by Zea
    Buzzed by Zea - So good I had a 2nd.
 Notice the hair-clip holding a decorate silk leaf to the glass.

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    So good I had a 2nd. Notice the hair-clip holding a decorate silk leaf to the glass.

    Elixir - Montage of images from Elixir

    Elixir

    4.1(119 reviews)
    0.3 miLakeview
    $$

    We have been to Elixir a few times and it is always a great choice for unique and delicious…read morecocktails! It is a cozy little bar with dim lighting perfect for a date night drink. The bartenders are always very friendly and check in often which is always appreciated. You're always immediately given little pretzels to snack on which I love as a unique touch. This time we both chose a more standard cocktail, but they also always have very unique and delicious seasonal cocktails which are always amazing! I would definitely recommend Elixir to anyone looking for a spot to grab a quick and delicious cocktail!

    On our first night in Boystown, Jamie W and I were pretty overwhelmed by the crowds at Sidetrack…read moreand Roscoe's, so we ended up coming here to make Jamie's virginal gay bar debut. It was the right move because it had the kind of chill vibe we were seeking after a long flight from SFO. Fortunately there were two seats at the bar with our names on them. Figuratively speaking. They had quite a signature cocktail list on hand, and we felt it was our obligation to try as many as we could. At least that was what we said to ourselves as the evening wore on. Each cocktail was $14. We started with a couple of familiar libations. Jamie ordered the Mint Julep, a delightfully Deep South mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint (photo: https://yelp.to/u-td8LdPLj). I went further south with the Pineapple Margarita which was emboldened by a tropically potent mix of pineapple infused tequila, lime juice, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/V-Sf6Q_2qK). We got a bit bolder with our second round and found mixed results. Jamie had the Not Your Mom's Daiquiri which amped up the margarita by blending pineapple-infused tequila with Bacardi 8-year rum. Along with fresh lime and simple syrup, this one definitely had more of a kick (photo: https://yelp.to/1ZijDf6wMV). However, my order, the Pontiac Pony, was a spicy miss for me. It was a rather oddball mix of apple-cinnamon infused vodka, pear liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer (photo: https://yelp.to/5dQoFdzG98). There was just a harshness that didn't sit well on my tongue. Oh well, the mellow vibe was cool. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...three out of four cocktails were aces, just one clinker AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, fairly quiet for Boystown SERVICE - 4 stars...cool bartenders TOTAL - 4 stars...check it out when you take a break from your Boystown cruising RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

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    Elixir - Bar view

    Bar view

    Elixir - Not Your Mom's Daiquiri

    Not Your Mom's Daiquiri

    Elixir - Behind the bar

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    Behind the bar

    Mordecai - Beautiful oysters. Delicious.

    Mordecai

    4.1(163 reviews)
    0.2 miLakeview
    $$

    Had a lovely dinner here with friends - everything was on point, the beef Wellington was delicious…read more(I enjoyed it more than the one I had at Chicago Cut) and the service was excellent. We were surprised it wasn't business after a cubs game. The space is lovely as well, and not too noisy to hear each other speak.

    My husband and I popped by for some casual drinks on the weekend. They had a bunch of holiday decor…read moreup which was a very nice ambiance and it was nice and warm inside but not too crowded. We didn't have food, only drinks as we came straight from dinner. We asked our server for recommendations that weren't too sweet. I got the gingerbread milk punch and my husband got the their take on an espresso martini with mezcal and Japanese coffee. I got the milk punch cold, and while good I think getting it warm would've brought the spices out more. Definitely wasn't too sweet though and tasted like there was no alcohol in there!! The drink my husband got I LOVED!! Usually I'm not a mezcal espresso martini gal but it was just smoky enough, complex, and delicious. When we go back, I'll be getting that next! Bonus: our server was so nice and helpful!! She gave great recommendations based on what we were asking for and was friendly. Overall we liked Mordecai and will be back when we're feeling a more upscale cocktail bar vibe.

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    Mordecai - Love the ambience

    Love the ambience

    Mordecai - $1 oysters for happy hour

    $1 oysters for happy hour

    Mordecai - Really awesome three finger old fashioned!

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    Really awesome three finger old fashioned!

    Lost Never Found - Meatballs

    Lost Never Found

    3.7(207 reviews)
    0.3 miLakeview
    $$

    This is a bittersweet review as this establishment recently closed. But I still feel the need to…read moregive them their props as I was definitely going to add Lost Never Found (LNF) to my rotation of places to hang out at. I happened to discover LNF during a Yelp Event when LNF turned into Rudolph's Bar, a jolly holly Xmas Extravaganza! I do not believe there was a single spot in the bar that had not been covered in Xmas decorations. It was total sensory overload to the point I did not put up any directions 2025 because I had seen enough at LNF. HAHAHAHAHA! On the strength of the food and drinks that night, I decided to go back once all of the Xmas hoopla was over. Going back in 2026 was a more subdue, but enjoyable time for me. As I mentioned in my 2025 review, even with all the Xmas decoration, the overall vibe was a step up from the typical bars around the Cubs playground. I would have loved a regular girls night out there instead of the last hurrah of me and The Queen. I had mentioned to her about the cocktails and the pizzas I had during the Yelp event and we decided to stop in before heading to the Alamo Drafthouse for a movie. Me and The Queen go the Spicy Sausage pizza and those fries, since I talked about the food to her. Again it was really good, with the crust still being nice and thin. The Queen did not think it was all that spicy, but she eats Hell Ramen Level 4, so I do not look to her for confirmation of hotness when it comes to food. We had cocktails and The Queen (because she was driving) had a Margarita made with a zero proof Tequila. I have to say it was not that bad and I got one and added Prosecco to it...delish. Me and The Queen had a great time chatting, eating and drinking at LNF, but were both sad that we were going to miss out on the opportunity to turn this into one of our rotation hangouts. But I will always be grateful for them introducing me to their Red Bull Winter Spritz. Since that Yelp Event, I have bought three cases of Red Bull Sugar-Free Fuji Apple and Ginger Winter Edition Energy Drink to make the cocktail. Not sure if it is exactly how they did it, but it works for me. So long LNF, it was good knowing you, even if it was for a short time. Deuces!

    My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 63/50 Month tried: November Favorite dish: I would not eat here again Woooof. We had a reservation for 9 am the day of the Michigan/Northwestern game at Wrigley Field. Figured we would have a quick brunch then go enjoy the pre-game atmosphere. Well, when we had been sitting for nearly 30 minutes with no server to be found, we started to get nervous. She finally came over and while she was sweet, really just nothing went right. A food runner brought out a tray that appeared to have all of our orders, but then only served one plate before walking away. It was a solid 10-15 minutes before anyone else's meals were brought out, and even then it was one plate at a time every few minutes, not the rest of the order at once. And everything was cold. Every single item. The chicken and waffles felt like it came out of the fridge it was so cold. And the worst part - we had a member in our party with a severe nut allergy, who told the server 3 times. She noted it, and made sure he would get white toast instead of wheat. When his meal came, there were two huge pieces of wheat toast with visible nuts across his ENTIRE plate. Touching every piece of food. He said again that he was allergic, and they just removed the toast and handed the plate back. It had already touched everything! Since at this point we had to leave soon for the game (and because we now couldn't trust a kitchen that doesn't understand a nut allergy), we just had them remove his order from the check and he didn't get to eat. The server did take 20% off the total bill and gave us a gift card to make up for our terrible experience. Like I said, she was very nice and trying her best. She was just at the mercy of the kitchen being behind and screwing up. But as a Wrigleyville restaurant, you MUST be able to handle lots of customers on a game day. That's like the one thing Wrigley bars need to be good at. This is just not an environment I would choose to be in again, especially for the steep prices. We'll use the gift card for drinks at the bar on a non-game day, and wipe our hands of Lost Never Found.

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    Lost Never Found - Avocado toast

    Avocado toast

    Lost Never Found - 9 TO "7"5, "NEVER" MULE, Poison apple shot

    9 TO "7"5, "NEVER" MULE, Poison apple shot

    Lost Never Found - DISCO DREAM, drink glitters

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    DISCO DREAM, drink glitters

    Nola Bar & Kitchen - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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