One of the best Italian meals we've had anywhere! Our server was attentive, friendly, and made some great recommendations throughout the night. The sommelier also made an excellent wine pairing recommendation, and the craft cocktails were really good as well. We started with the bruschetta, which was delicious and easily big enough to share with several people. For entrées, our table had the lump crab penne alla vodka, porcini and ricotta ravioli, with lump crab and cream sauce, and the filet with lump crab and charred spinach. Everything was seasoned perfectly, cooked just right, and full of flavor. There honestly wasn't a bad dish . We tried the profiteroles and panna cotta, and both were fantastic. If you're in the French Quarter, definitely put this place on your list. Great food, great drinks, and excellent service. Easily one of the best Italian meals we've had! read more

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Ambience was great. Salad was amazing. Main dish (crab ala vodka) was underwhelming. Lastly the waiter and service overall was slow and lacking. Access to the location is prime and easily walkable from CBD/FQ. While it was nice wouldn't likely come back for other elegant options in area. read more

A gf highly recommended this restaurant. We had the bruschetta and lasagna. I forgot to take a picture of the main dish which was delicious. The service was terrific. We took a pedi-cab to get there. There is construction in the area as of June 2026. read more

The Italian Barrel - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We spent the day at the French Quarter Festival and when we got hunger pains, we began walking around looking for a restaurant. So happy we found this Italian restaurant. They were packed inside, so we were seated outside. Tables on the sidewalk, so people are walking past you. Food was amazing!! We started off with an appetizer of PEI mussels. they also brought bread out for us to start and both were delicious. I ordered the Chicken Parm and we shared a side of spinach. Absolutely amazing! The side of pasta was not too large and wasn't too filling. I would have tried dessert, but it was a bit chilly outside so we decided to get dessert elsewhere. I definitely recommend eating here while in the FQ. read more

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We walked in around 9:15 PM in the last table they see is at 9:30 PM. They sat us right away and we ordered our food. Our waiter was super fast and very friendly. I ordered chicken parmigiana and my husband ordered the lasagna. Both were phenomenal. I love the fresh basil with my meal. And I also like that the pasta served with my chicken Parmesan is actually just a wine and light olive oil, oil and parmigiano reggiano cheese. Then we ended with espresso and tiramisu. Perfect meal to end the day. read more

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Good food. I had the lasagna, wife the truffle ravioli. Ginger beer was good, but a bit strong. Water down with soda water. Wife and I enjoyed semi fancy atmosphere or ambiance. Service was great read more

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We stopped by on a relatively quiet Friday evening and asked to get reservations for later that night. Found our way back after a fun stroll and were seated outdoors. Our server Connor was super attentive, and incredibly patient as we made up our minds about the menu, and took a zillion photographs. (Connor if you're reading this, my friend has a huge crush on you!). We thought the tiramisu was the highlight of our meal. Followed closely by the house salad and the exceptional dressing. Everything was delicious and we hope to be back. read more

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The Italian Barrel is resolute in not only providing you with effortlessly scrumptious Creole fare NOLA is known for, but OH MY GOD the lengths they go to to replicate the quality of product from Italy is insane. The tomatoes in the bruschetta, for example, taste as if they were genetically engineered by Willy Wonka. Everything on their menu is next level. read more

My wife & I were in New Orleans celebrating my 50th birthday and wanted to find a nice let, more upscale place for dinner. We chose wisely because this was one of the best meals we had the 5 days we were in town. The restaurant is beautiful, but busy, so we were seated outside on the patio. I'm glad we were, because it was a beautiful night and the sounds of the city set the mood perfectly. Service was top notch. We started with the Bruschetta, my wife had the Oumkin Ravioli, & I had the Chillian Sea Bass Cartoccio. Everything was perfect! We will definitely be back another time! read more

The Italian Barrel - Chilean Sea Bass Cartoccio - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I would caution solo diners before dining here. After reviewing reservations on OpenTable, I called to confirm that outdoor seating for dinner was the only option. The host was firm, sharing "we are fully booked this evening, only {heated} outdoor seating is available" I decided I'd walk by the restaurant just to see if a bar seat was made available and the server shared "Awww I'm so sorry, the last two bar seats were just taken", after a few taps on the iPad screen. I asked if I could be sat outside & he said "yes". I kindly advised him I'd like to book my reservation on OpenTable so I could get my Opentable points. I stepped outside added a credit card to the reservation and miraculously bar seating was available. I waited 15 minutes, went back inside and acted brand new. And guess what ..... I was sat at the bar. The host kinda smirked and said "oh yes". As if he perhaps had remembered a previous dialogue. I watched every other guest be treated differently. When seating guests, the host gladly removed the reserved sign, asked what type water they would prefer & offered exemplary service, even stepping behind the bar to assist those newly sat guests. I on the other hand sat with my menu the entire meal, the brass reserved sign was never removed and I truly felt forgotten. Sitting with empty bread basket, finished & empty {lasagna} plate. The meal was delicious & the bartender needed extra hands. The experience didn't feel very welcoming. The owner of the restaurant jumped behind the bar to assist with washing glassware. At the very end of my meal as I was waiting for my check to be closed out, he asked if I was finished with the menu. I jokingly said "many moons ago". Something just felt very off - and the only conclusion was: I was dining alone. I quietly departed. read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Just went here for another meal and oh my God it was incredible! Got their house salad with the house of vinaigrette and oh my God that dressing just blew me away! I had their bruschetta which was delicious but a little different from traditional bruschetta. So tasty and so hearty! For my entrée, I got the pumpkin ravioli! I got something different last time I was here and I honestly wasn't a huge fan of it, I was thinking of getting the pumpkin ravioli, but was scared because I had never had a pumpkin and pasta, but I'm so glad that I got it this time! The pumpkin tasted so good and there were such a sweet balance of flavors, sweet, savory buttery, Etc. The dream, Bomba dessert was incredible! The peanut butter gelato really hit the spot. I just wish it had something cake to soak up some of that cold ice cream, but that's what I used my friends. Chocolate proliferates for! So tasty. read more

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Mixed reviews on this restaurant. The Bruschetta was just okay. Loved the cheese but it was soggy and kind of bland. My husband really disliked the spaghetti and meatball. The sauce was very thin, watery and bland. And the meatball could have been more seasoned. My friend thought the scampi linguini just average and bland. The gnocchi was excellent. I ordered it with shrimp and they put them on the side and they became cold quickly. And charged an extra $20 for them. The Coppa Pistacchio dessert was very good. Service was very good. read more

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I'd been wanting to try this place for a long time, so when my bestie from out of town came, we took the opportunity to treat ourselves. We sat outside on the picturesque street and ordered the appetizer platter which was substantial. The traditional Italian dishes exceeded my expectations and we were really impressed with the wine. It's pricey, but it's worth the price. read more

Visited this restaurant one afternoon and decided to sit outside as it was a nice day and the location was great. We ordered the Bruschetta, Jumbo Lump Crab Martini, House Salad, Gnocchi Di Patate, and Lasagna to eat. For drinks we got the Hugo Spritz and Dan's Espresso Martini. The Bruschetta was absolutely delicious! I loved the fresh, ripe tomatoes and the large but soft pieces of bread they were on along with the cheese; and the House Salad was also a win. The Jumbo Lump Crab Martini was just ok, and I actually found the vinaigrette on the crab to be a bit off-putting. Both the Gnocchi Di Patate and Lasagna entreés were extremely disappointing. I will say the pasta was cooked well in terms of the texture but that's where the good ended. Both dishes were very bland and the Lasagna had so little meat in it I had to double check the menu to make sure meat was listed as an ingredient. I was honestly surprised at how flavorless the Lasagna was and I felt the sauce was too creamy and tasted nothing like tomato. I really loved the Hugo Spritz cocktail as it was light and refreshing for the warm weather. In our opinions, there was nothing remarkable about the Dan's Espresso Martini and it wasn't worth the $20 price tag. The service was decent. It took a while for them to come around and the server would forget things, but they were nice and I could tell they seemed a bit understaffed that day. Overall, it was just ok. However, I will remember the Bruschetta for a while to come. read more

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Fantastic find in the French Quarter! I will dream about the divine gnocchi and bread for a long time. The service was top notch and our waitress was helpful with choosing the right amount for our table of 6. if you are in New Orleans, run to make a reservation now! read more

EXCELLENT FOOD, SERVICE, ATMOSPHERE !!!!! At last a restaurant where you can carry on a conversation with you dinner partner. Discovered by just walking by....A MUST for lunch or dinner read more

I went here on a Tuesday evening at about 6pm, and my family was the first to be seated of the night. The location was gorgeous, and the tables were beyond well set. When our server greeted us, he was always kind and willing to share a good story. My family ordered the small charcuterie board and it was spectacular! Lots of variety with some amazing cheese options, primarily goat cheeses. For the main course, I enjoyed the Lasagna and was honestly a hair disappointed. Although the dish was delicious, it felt very one-note and lacked the traditional cheesiness I would've expected from Lasagna. Despite this, upon tasting other dishes on the table, I noticed it just seemed to be the Lasagna, and the other dishes were beyond impressive. For dessert I enjoyed my favorite part of the evening, the Mango Sorbet. It was just the right amount of everything! I will of course, highlight that this experience will not be a cheap one, but if you have the opportunity, I wouldn't miss it! read more

I usually don't eat Italian food out because I am Italian and I am usually disappointed. However, I recently ate at The Italian Barrel and it was excellent! The lasagna was as close to what I ate in Rome as I have ever tasted. The profiteroles were delicious - I had not had any in ages and they did not disappoint. The service was outstanding. I didn't want to go to the Quarter, but we easily parked across from the restaurant. I would highly recommend it! read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We had a phenomenal dinner at The Italian Barrel, just after its reopening following a two-month remodel. The space feels intimate and fresh, with warm indoor lighting and outdoor street corner seating did not appear overly bustling. It's a small space so you likely need a reservation. We began with the classic mussels. The broth was flavorful without being overly thick, letting the mussels shine. Then came the pumpkin ravioli. It leaned a little sweet, but in the best way -- delicate, not heavy. One of the best ravioli dishes I've had. We also shared a large pork & veal meatball side that melted in your mouth. My wife and I both enjoyed cocktails: mine was the "8mo old fashioned" (barrel-aged spice flavor gave it a distinctive edge). Their house-baked, locally sourced table bread was also a highlight, simple but really good. Our waiter, Connor, was very attentive and made the evening flow. The clientele seemed to include a strong local following, which always feels like a good sign. In short: highly recommend. If you're looking for genuine Italian fare in the French Quarter, with that cozy, updated ambiance and attentive service -- this is a great choice. read more

This place was recommended to us by locals. Upon walking in we were greeted & sat quickly. Our waiter Conner was very personable & knowledgeable giving us recommendations. We will be returning next time we visit. read more

It was so good we went TWICE in a few days!!!! OK let's start with the service, was 10/10!!!! EVERYONE was so kind and helpful. The food is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!! I'M back home and wishing we had Thw Italian Barrel here. I definitely recommend the big meatball. The meatball is so good with a two different kinds of meat and the sauce, CHEFS KISS!!!! I had the penny all of vodka with a crab meat. Amazing. Also the chicken parm was very thin the breading not too heavy SOO good. Planning our next time now so I can go get my grub on!!!! read more

The Italian Barrel - Chicken parm and the shrimp. - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Excellent ambiance. Excellent service. Truly professional waiter, staff and management. IMHO food was tasty but honestly overpriced. Will return if only for the lovely experience. read more

Kendal was fantastic! Service was on point and drinks were delicious. Meatball and salad was fantastic! Although when we got to the entree portion, chicken parmigiana was a little dry, lasagna was also a little thin and dry. You can definitely tell it's changed ownership. Still not a bad meal but no longer our local favorite. I hope it gets back to where it was! read more

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We placed a to go order so I cannot speak to the actual Ambiance of the restaurant other than to say it was quite busy and looked like a very popular place. The staff I did interact with were polite and friendly over the phone. I found the food to be eh at best for what the prices were. Huge portions. The meatball was cooked good but definitely lacking in a seasoning. The sauce on the spaghetti was thin and kind of watery. My husband said the chicken parm was good but not great. Would definitely like to eat inside one night to give this place a chance to be a 4-5 star recommend. read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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While in NOLA recently for a conference, I was in the mood for something other than creole so after a quick search on Yelp I came across this little gem and boy was I happy I opted to give it a shot. The food was excellent, service was speedy and super attentive and overall it was a fantastic experience. The penne allá vodka with crab was delicious and the clams were so good, we ate two bowls. Highly recommend checking this spot out when craving some high quality Italian food. read more

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Great food, great service! Only thing is as soon as we left I got a raging stomach ache. This was back in 2019 December that I went. Got pasta and the tiramisu which was decadent and rich! read more

Recommended by two foodies in Wisconsin, I dined here on a recent visit. I made reservations several days in advance, but apparently you need to do it MUCH further in advance for the weekend. Our reservation was at 8:30pm - not too bad. Not realizing where this restaurant was located and what events were happening around it, I reserved outdoor seating. While expecting NOLA to be festive, it was pretty loud. Luckily, the band across the street did not play the entire time we were there. The inside of the restaurant had a much different vibe which I will reserve next time! lol The food was OUTSTANDING. The bruschetta was the best I have ever had. The bread appeared to be toasted with a panini press - nice touch! We absolutely inhaled the prosciutto with cantaloupe. My entree - pesto e scampi - linguine with pesto sauce topped with a generous amount of shrimp - was divine. The shrimp were perfectly cooked. I can't remember what everyone else ordered, but I know they loved it. When the food arrived, everyone was silent! For dessert, we had the chocolate profiteroles. At first we said "no dessert." Then our server, genius that she is, suggested this heavenly treat. I cannot say that we savored every bite. We ate it way too fast! Our server was excellent. I cannot remember her name for the life of me, but she was AMAZING, funny, friendly, super down to earth. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and will be back for more! read more

We came for a special birthday celebration for my friend during our epic Halloween vacation and we were not disappointed. Our meals were absolutely fantastic and the service was impeccable. The decor was simple, tasteful and elegant. I cannot wait to return! read more

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Great ambiance! Great service! The food is to die for! I got the lobster ravioli and it was A1!!! My wife enjoy the scampi linguine and so did I! lol the shrimp were MASSIVE! Also the bruschetta was amazing! If you want Italian in NOLA GO HERE! read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The Italian Barel is one of the most romantic and awesome Italian restaurants in New Orleans. Awesome hospitality. Today was third time I visited Italian Barel. Nothing changed. Even get better. New owner, new team bring fresh energy, really heartfelt hospitality, and deep food and vine lovers. Wonderful place, wonderful people, awesome service. Thank you !!! read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Stopped in for lunch and I am so glad I did. I had the Bruchetta which was amazing, very delicious. The serving size was decent. I had TJ for my server, very nice and friendly. The restaurant is very nice with a sorda fancy atmosphere. If I had more time I would have went back for more. Definitely a good place for a nice meal. I hope you stop in and try for yourself. Enjoy! read more

Christmas Eve dinner. Sat outside, our food, filet and veal meatball spaghetti were delicious. The service, owners attention and ambiance, top notch. Such a special evening, will be back. read more

The Italian Barrel was such a charming and nice experience in New Orleans. While most people probably don't come to the city for Italian food, veg options are fewer and farther between there, so this was a great option for us. From arrival to departure, the experience was top notch. We were seated outside, and it was a great spot for people watching. The service was excellent, and we were well-attended. The server was friendly, professional, and he kept a watchful eye to make sure no one passing by harassed customers. The food was exceptional. We started with a mushroom-polenta dish that was bursting with a truffle flavor and very savory. We both then had ravioli, mine with fire-roasted tomato sauce and my friend's with sage-pumpkin sauce. It was a great meal that we will both remember. They also had a great wine list with a variety of options available both by the glass and bottle. I would surely return when in New Orleans. read more

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This restaurant is located 5-7 mins walk from jackson square came under the recommendation of good italian restaurant near me which no doubt its great but food could be little better. Food & beverage- could have been better options for vegetarian in the appetizer section like eggplant or ricotta cheese balls with marinara as i didn't like the appetizer at all which was made of grits or probably i made a wrong selection. Maincourse was good but my gf pasta came out room temperature only the shrimp was hot. Do not expect a pizza just because its an italian restaurant as i did not see it on the menu. Limited options on the cocktails but very great selection of italian wine and after dinner drinks. Service- excellent service not interactive but server kept an eye on my table always comes and pour bottle water and wine. He did came and suggested some specials which is always a nice touch but when i asked him about vegetarian option he couldn't describe what it is otherwise i would have never order what i ordered. He did came and asked me if anything wrong with the food and i was honest that i did not like it as i just took a bite and sent my 1st course back. I also ordered two main course for myself truffle ravioli and gnocchi but he forgot to ring it in as i did not see it in my check either. Dessert was amazing wine selected by waiter was great. Decor- nice, small, cozy romantic spot... also have a option to seat at the bar or outside with a white table cloth type restaurant. I saw my water glass had a many spots which says it was not wiped properly, someone always lighting the candle when the sun sets. Manager comes and always asks if everything taste good and wants some coffee with dessert which was also a nice touch. Overall great experience for me as one time spot ! :) read more

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I can't say enough good things about this gem! The service outstanding, the food AHHHHMAZING! Th cocktails were delicious (I only wish the lemon drop was bigger ). Quaint setting. Definitely will be visiting again before the week's up! read more

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I would not recommend this restaurant at all. The service was terrible--our waitress spilled olive oil all over three of us, and we were all in suits. The manager didn't even offer to comp the meal or apologize. On top of that, the food was super mediocre. Completely unacceptable experience from start to finish Response to her message: !!!!! Sarah H the manager of this restaurant claims to have made things right. However no solution was proposed at all. They never offered us a comp meal, not even to pay for a dry cleaning additionally, that the manager gave us a fake number of the owner to contact and an employee at the restaurant confirmed that fake number was given I do not recommend eating here by any means!!!!! read more

The Italian Barrel - Italian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I'm from NY and when I found this place years ago I was shocked at how good it was. Of course coming back to New Orleans after 10 years I knew we'd have to come back here. Seeing this place on the tv show Jersey shore, how they loved this place just as much and came twice just confirmed they were still good :P So yeah our first dinner out while on vacation and meeting up with family we had to come here. My hubs had never been here so I was happy I got to finally drag him here. Seriously one of the best alla vodka dishes ever and I've had best in the country. This place will always have my heart. Next time we're in New Orleans we'll be back for sure :P service was great and the place is cute. I'd highly recommend if in the area and you want some delicious Italian food! Being able to basically come here for our 10 year anniversary was what helped us decide on New Orleans as our vacation :P read more

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This place was wonderful! The staff were nice, the lighting is great, and everything tasted amazing. I really appreciated how they split our dinner and presented it still beautifully. Would recommend! read more

The Italian Barrel is definitely a not-so hidden gem. Food was excellent, emphasis on the meatballs, Gnocchi Panna, Chef Samantha's Fusilli Pasta and of course desserts. Our server, Blake was very on point with checking-in with the table and always making sure we had what we needed. Props to the manager on duty Utsav for being flexible with changing the reservation's time very last minute and ensuring we had a great experience with dinner. Will definitely revisit when in New Orleans again. read more

Called for reservation and was told only outside seating available. We decided to go anyway. we were seated on street corner, no other outside tables were occupied. Atmosphere was terrible. lots of street traffic, people shouting, swearing. As I said no other restaurant customers around us. When I go out for dinner and spend ~$30 for pasta I expect much better service. when I spoke to the hostess her response was "it's the New Orleans experience". Do Not Recommend! They need to reevaluate their outdoor dining seating! If full then just say no availability. Very disappointing experience! read more