We were starving when we got into town and this place happened to be close so we gave it a try. It was a fantastic choice. The restaurant has a lot of glass and high ceilings. It was very cute and nicely decorated. Our server was on top of it and gave us time to decide on what we wanted without pressuring us even though it was somewhat close to their closing time. The food was delivered quickly and was piping hot. Everything we had was excellent. The shrimp étouffée was tremendous, the flavor was on point neither the rice nor shrimp overcooked. The side salad was a good salad. The chicken sandwich was cooked nicely and seasoned well (not overly seasoned). We finished our lunch with a cookie, slice of cake and a couple lattes which were all wonderful. Definitely recommend. read more

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Rude service from start to finish. We added ourselves to the waitlist because they had a reservation available, yet watched several families get seated ahead of us while we continued waiting. We were a party of 3 adults and 2 children (one being only 2 years old), and because of that they changed our table type from a 4-top to a 5-top and made us wait an additional 30 minutes. Meanwhile, multiple tables became available that easily could have accommodated us, but the hostess was determined to keep telling us we had to wait. To make matters worse, there was open bench seating in the back where customers ordering to-go could sit. I offered to order food to-go so we could at least sit down and get started while waiting, and she told me if I did that they would remove our name from the waitlist because "you have to pick one or the other." No willingness to problem solve whatsoever. She repeatedly said she was "sorry," but her actions showed the opposite. I was simply trying to work together to find some reasonable solution instead of continuing to watch everyone else get seated while our family, including small children, kept waiting. Absolutely horrible customer service experience. read more

Finally! On our last day in NO we tried WJ and wow! This is what we thought breakfast in New Orleans would be! Exceeded our expectations! Great coffee bar! Definitely treat yourself and try WJ. Great service too! read more

Willa Jean - Breakfast - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Off the charts good! Used Yelp to find this place. Came in on a Sunday morning and had no issue with getting a table. Ordered some sort of platter that had scrambled eggs, cheese grits, sausage links, bacon and asked for sausage gravy as well. OMG, this thing was huge! Not a big eater of grits, but these were delicious! But the biscuit is worth bragging about. Never had anything quite so flakey. And the sausage gravy was out of this world. No shortage of sausage in it either. Coffee was also good. Server was fast and friendly. Would not hesitate to return. read more

Willa Jean - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This review is solely for the Southern coconut cake which I got to-go. I noticed that the cake was quite dense and hard because it was refrigerated when I first purchased it, so I waited until it was room temperature. Outstanding coconut flavor with hints of almond? The cake was light and fluffy, toasted coconut added the much needed textural difference + nuttiness, and frosting/custard layers were full of coconut flavor without being too sweet. read more

Willa Jean - Coconut cake - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Cute, trendy place for breakfast/lunch. Portions were generous and the staff were really nice. The house made granola over yogurt was good but they had a heavy hand with the honey on top. I think they should put the honey on the side because it became too sweet to finish. The potatoes that come with the eggs are seasoned, heavily! They were good but too salty to keep eating. The sweet potato waffle was ok. The food was just solid but nothing particular strode out. Maybe we should have tried the biscuits or cornbread.... read more

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Food is always on point . My absolute fave place for brunch in Nola. I always go when I'm around that area.

The food at Willa Jean is to die for! I was already in the area, so I decided to try this place out. The inside looked really nice. Because I was trying to eat healthy at the time, I ordered their Grain Bowl ($16.00) which consists of quinoa, edamame, lima beans, cherry tomato, mushrooms, roasted carrot, roasted poblano, almond, & poached egg. I also got their Chia Pudding ($7.00) which consists of chia seed & orange and coconut puree. Everything was so flavorful and delicious! The grain bowl was seasoned perfectly, and the chia pudding had a nice mix of tartness and creaminess. The only downside was that I felt a little rushed by my server. He was polite but wasn't too outreaching. Also, they do add a 3% admin fee so just be aware of that. Theres only street and garage parking for the restaurant. Aside from that, I'd say Willa Jean was worth the stop food wise! read more

Willa Jean was one of those places that felt special the moment we walked in. The atmosphere is beautiful -- warm, stylish, inviting, and full of charm -- but what really made this place unforgettable for our family was the people. The staff was so kind, genuine, and welcoming, and our experience was made even more special by Michelle. She very quickly felt less like our waitress and more like a sweet new friend. We connected with her on a personal level, and that kind of kindness and authenticity is something you do not forget. She made us feel so comfortable, so cared for, and so at home. It is rare to meet someone who leaves that kind of impression, and we truly cannot wait to come back and see her again. Rocky, the manager, was also wonderful and helped make the whole experience feel extra thoughtful and welcoming. And of course, the food was absolutely outstanding. The fried chicken is, without question, one of the best we have ever had. And the homemade biscuits with hot honey sauce? Completely next level. Our family loved that combination so much, we came back for it twice during our trip -- and honestly, we would have happily gone back a third time. Willa Jean gave us more than just a great meal. It gave us one of our favorite memories from New Orleans. We left feeling full, happy, and genuinely grateful. The next time we are in NOLA, there is no question -- we will be back, and one of the things we are looking forward to most is seeing Michelle again. read more

Willa Jean - Fried Chicken Salad. Famous Biscuits, fried chicken and hot honey sauce. - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We had an enjoyable breakfast here. Hits: -The pineapple mimosa was well balanced and refreshing. -The egg, bacon, and pimento cheese biscuit was awesome. It was of a size where we ate it with a knife and fork - there was no way to take a bite of something that big. We asked for a soft scramble and it was perfectly executed and the crispiness of the bacon was beautiful. Misses: -The deviled egg Cobb salad was an interesting mix of artisanal baby kale and the brown end of an old head of romaine. The ham was delicious, and the pickled onions were great, but it was way overdressed for my taste, and overall just a miss. read more

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Love this cute coffee shop and restaurant! Stopped by for coffee and a pastry, and were so pleased we came back for lunch. read more

Willa Jean - Front counter - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Omg is this place delicious! It's off the beaten path of NO touring but so worth the short walk. We started with the milk money latte - I got hot, she got iced. Both were perfection. For breakfast I ordered the WJ Breakfast: two eggs over easy and it came with cheesy grits (divine ), a heavenly flaky biscuit + sausage and bacon. Loved it all. She had the chicken and waffles. She said it was the perfect balance of salty, savory and sweet. In her one word: scrumptious. Service was friendly and our food came out very fast. Highly, highly recommend! read more

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Ermegerd! I read a review that said they had the best southern biscuit. I will they have the best biscuit I've ever had in my life. The chicken of course was great too, but the biscuit was unbelievable. Like I would get on an airplane for a 2 1/2 hour flight just to have breakfast here and then fly right back home. Our server was amazing. Nicely decorated Restaurant. We were there on a Wednesday midweek in mid May. We receded immediately. Great food great staff great location. The potatoes were really good too. My wife had them when I stole one of them. They par bake them, smash them, season them, and then flash Frye them. Everything is made in house. Unbelievable. So good. I'm telling everyone. read more

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Super clean and modern brunch spot in downtown. Great for a hearty brunch. I would recommend coming for their Golden Hour from 7am-9am for some good deals on drinks/shareable bites. We ordered: - Cornbread: extremely moist. Very different from other cornbread I've had. So good we ordered it twice. This is half off during Golden Hour! - Granola bowl: surprisingly very filling. Very refreshing bite from all the food we've been having in Nola. Only $5 during Golden Hour! - Fried chicken biscuit: not your traditional biscuit but definitely a huge serving. Fried chicken was done nicely but the biscuit was a bit hard for our liking. read more

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This breakfast has to be top 10 of all time for me! The chicken and waffle situation had my mind blown. The bourbon syrup and the toasted marshmallow fluff with the sweet potato waffle was a flavor bomb that I couldn't stop eating until I was stuffed. This is definitely where I'm coming for breakfast next time I'm in town! The London fog was incredible as well as the cheesy grits. 10/10 read more

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Great service and food! However, the waffle was overwhelming and wish I got it plain then added what I wanted. Sent it back and they were very understanding. Definite brunch vibes. read more

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Had a breakfast here and let's start out that the pastries That were very nice. We had eggs at our table of all kinds. Abby our server made some suggestions for us and I went with the Crawfish Omelet that she suggested but subbed the potatos out for thier biscuit... I tasted the potatoes they were also delicious but the biscuit was the best I had all week in New Orleans! The Crawfish Omelet was filled with Crawfish Mozzarella and spices. It was a nice omelet smaller in size than the others I had this week but good. My friend had the veggie omelet but be sure to like Mushrooms as it is filled with mushrooms. Loud and large space Abby was great and kept us feed well. read more

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A total disappointment. The food or the place might be okay, but the service from the hostess at the door is unacceptable. She was rude, unfriendly, and made our morning super heavy. Definitely won't be coming back just because of the treatment we received. read more

Willie Jean was delicious a mixture of coffeehouse vibes with really good food. Service from John was attentive. The food was absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend the biscuit and hangover bowl. read more

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I finally got the chance to try this restaurant for breakfast. I have heard so many good things about it and was excited. I was greeted and on my way to my table I was able to check out the place. It's was a sunny day so it was a bright and clean looking aesthetic inside. They have a lot of good things on the menu but when I saw that Crab Omelette with Crispy Potatoes I had to have it. It was delicious and stuffed with crab, the potatoes were crispy on the outside and steaming hot on the inside. Very good. I also got a cookie and a pastry to go. read more

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Willa Jean is a modern, yet quaint brunch restaurant that is seemingly always busy. The delightful aroma of pastries fills the air upon entrance. I highly suggest putting yourself on the waitlist before heading over. Upon arrival, we were greeted pleasantly and seated almost immediately. The service was outstanding, as our cheerful server was sweet and informative, as she shared menu suggestions. I had the crawfish omlette and appreciated that the egg was fluffy, cooked perfectly, and full of flavor. We also had the hot honey chicken which was seasoned quite well and with one of the fluffiest biscuits ever experienced. While we didn't have the milk and cookies on this visit, you should consider leaving room for it as well. read more

Willa Jean - Crawfish Omlette, Crispy Potatoes, Fried Chicken & Tabasco Honey Biscuit - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This place as amazing! It had a modern decor with furniture and silverware that seemed worn out. The food was out of this world! Very tasty and flavorful. The staff seemed very inclusive and happy. It was away from the Bourbon street but it's totally worth the walk. The fried chicken was too much food :) but the sweet, spicy and fried hit a good spot with the biscuit being quite yummy. The shrimp and grits were very tasty. If you are in New Orleans, you must stop by at this place - we enjoyed our brunch! read more

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Willa Jean (611 O'Keefe) has a very sleek, modern interior with breezy, cool beach-inspired décor and colors--I loved the vibe right away. There's a flat roll-in glass door that opens to a wide, roomy ramp 100% accessible done right, just inside the entrance, leading into a large, spacious, yet inviting dining room. The service was warm and genuinely welcoming. My server, Raneesha, was exceptional--engaging, pleasant, and made the experience even better. The menu feels progressive, with a great mix of traditional dishes and classic favorites. I ordered the crab omelet with cheesy grits, and wow--OMG. The omelet was silky, flavorful, and tasted incredibly fresh. And the grits? Absolute perfection. Just the right amount of cheese. I love a good cheesy grit, and these definitely delivered. read more

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This was a favorite among everyone in my group while visiting New Orleans. I feel like it's a must to go to. I would most highly recommend the fried chicken on a biscuit with tobasco honey. It was so uniquely good and was the perfect plate to get in my southern food itch. Crab omelette was also amazing so super good and such quality crab!!! I also really appreciated the waffle and chicken which had some really unique flavors going on and was soooo well prepared. Sweet potato isn't super strong too so even someone in my group who doesn't like sweet potatoes enjoyed it. Ambiance was stellar it was so fun being on the corner with big windows and the design was super aesthetic inside and even had some fun whisk lights. Everyone there was so inviting and welcoming, everyone in my group loved the all around experience. Do yourself a favor and go. Tip: surprisingly open in the earlier hours of the day but went around lunchtime and was way busier. read more

Willa Jean - Fried chicken and biscuit with Tabasco honey - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I love going to Willa Jean when I'm NOLA. It's a killer breakfast. I got the crawfish omelette and it was delicious. And the potatoes - oh yeah! My friend got the biscuit and gravy and it also crushed. The server /bartender took good care of us while doing a million other things. Then the chocolate chip cookie that I picked up for later hit the spot. read more

Willa Jean - Biscuit and gravy - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I love coming to Willa Jean! This was my first time having a salad and it was really really good. I was a little disappointed the protein wasn't hot and my egg wasn't cooked as I asked but the salad was still delicious. THE FEMALE BARTENDER WITH THE LOCS IS ELITE AND HER DRINKS ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST!! I treated my little brother and friend to milk and cookies and I'm sad to see the giant batter mixer and circle plates go but the cookies are still an 11/10! Love the little jar to take along your cookie dough. Definitely a cute addition and my little brother loves the opportunity to grab that lol read more

Willa Jean - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Listen, I want you to excuse the bite of the omelette. However, here is a little story. So , I had a traumatic experience with omelettes when I was about ten and haven't eaten one in 20- something years. However, the server persisted and insisted that I try it since I enjoyed crabs. He said if I didn't like it I could order something else. One bite -- one bite -- had me almost run out the restaurant. That one bite resurrected my faith in omelettes, and I will most definitely get this with each trip to NOLA. Oh by the way, the pork sausages were made by the gods! The flavor!! read more

Willa Jean - Excuse the bite of the omelette, but this is a crab omelette and fried potatoes. - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Very busy lunch restaurant . I had the crawfish omelette and it has a little spice that hit the spot. The home fries are very seasoned. It was a bit too much for me but still delicious. My espresso martini was delicious. Nothing fancy as a decor goes, but definitely worth a visit. read more

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Everything is amazing! The decor is beautiful, the service is fabulous, and the food is beyond compare! My friend and I got on the waitlist before we started walking over and only had to wait for a minute or two to get seated. We got brown sugar oat milk lattes, which were fantastic. We then split an order of biscuits and sausage gravy and the fried chicken biscuit with hot honey. We each got two eggs for some additional protein. The food was simply fantastic, from the fluffy biscuits to the meaty, rich gravy, to the crunchy fried chicken smothered in honey. I wish my slack was bigger so I could have eaten more! Yum!! Definitely go get breakfast here when you are in NOLA. read more

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The chicken biscuit with hot honey Tabasco was to die forrrrr. The service at the bar was kinda spotty, someone came and sat next to me and wasn't acknowledged for a while before they got water/menus and my water went un-refilled for a while but I didn't care I was in honey biscuit heaven. My iced latte came out ridiculously white/pale and the barista agreed and remade it for me which was the perfect thing to go with the chicken. Would 100% come back next time I'm in NOLA read more

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When we first arrived at Willa Jean, we weren't greeted or served right away, which set the tone for a slightly off start. Once seated, I ordered the strawberry lemonade, which was refreshing, while my husband had coffee, and our friends also ordered coffee. For food, I tried the biscuit with fried chicken, honey, and Tabasco, along with a side of fresh fruit and crispy potatoes. My husband had the grits and eggs, and our friends shared the WJ Breakfast. The dishes were flavorful and hearty--definitely a highlight of the visit. The ambience is cute and stylish, with that modern Southern charm Willa Jean is known for. However, the service felt a little strange and not particularly friendly, which kept the experience from being as warm as we expected. Overall, the food is good and worth trying, but don't go in expecting the friendliest or most attentive service. read more

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A cute brunch spot, hopped in late on a Thursday morning and the place was packed ! I ordered the vegatable omelette with a side of bacon, both were delicious. As were the potatoes, loved the Cajun seasoning. Promptly seated and served , would come back for brunch!! read more

Willa Jean - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We LOVED Willa Jean so much that we went back again after trying it for the first time a couple of weeks later. It's got a contemporary rustic vibe. The food was great and it was overall very reasonably priced especially for its downtown location. The absolute best item was their chicken and waffles ($16) - It's usually not my go-to dish at other places because a lot of places go too far with the maple syrup. Not here though! At Willa Jean, their chicken and waffles leans much more heavily on the savory side rather than the sweet. It was lightly sweet, but for those who want a more "maple-y" punch, it comes with plenty of syrup on the side. This dish was phenomenal!! The fried chicken was perfectly breaded and fried. The waffle was soft and delicious. The sauce was savory and flavorful. I ordered just this item the second time we visited. Their biscuit with jam ($6) was also good! The homemade fresh biscuit is what they're known for, and it tracks. Soft and moist, light and flaky without losing that moisture. Amazing. It comes with biscuit, jam, and a whipped butter. We tried their crab omelet ($21), it was fine, but I prefer more seasoning. Neither the crab pieces nor the omelet seemed to have any flavor, unfortunately. However, the potatoes were perfectly seasoned and super crispy! Overall, this dish was not as exciting as I would have thought since it was made with crab. Quality was high though. We've also tried the shrimp creole ($21). This was okay too. The dish was made well, but it didn't blow me away. I really recommend getting their chicken and waffles above all else. It was mind-blowing how awesomely this local favorite dish could be prepared!! read more

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Be sure to go during their golden hour (7-9am) for 50% cornbread, granola bowl, muffins, and others. Cornbread was a tad cakey and paired really well with their butter. Granola bowl was nothing too special but very solid, and I liked that the yogurt here had a touch of a cheesy, ricotta-y feel. read more

Willa Jean - Granola Bowl - Bakeries Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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So good we came back twice. The ambiance is cute food has a great cause and the pastries are simply amazing. There is a waitlist which I recommend getting on. We came in on a Saturday which took a little longer so we actually went somewhere else but still got pastries and coffee and it was worth it. The cinnamon roll is so good soft and not overly sweet just in a glaze and if you are a chocolate lover, the chocolate croissant was good and buttery. The hangover bowl was a perfect combination, which had the braised short rib and grits and potatoes, and you can choose your eggs to your liking. The Tabasco and honey chicken sandwich was just simply delicious. It is a chicken thigh that has been perfectly crusted and glazed with honey and Tabasco and the biscuit was buttery and flaky. The cornbread has a slightly sweet and salty content, which is great definitely a place worth checking out. read more

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Warmly greeted by the hostess and quickly seated despite it being busy on a Saturday afternoon. I had read the reviews beforehand and already had a few dishes in mind to try. The waitress was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient in answering all of my questions. I started with the cornbread and side salad, followed by the infamous chicken biscuit. The cornbread was absolute perfection--slightly sweet, moist, and topped with a beautiful whipped butter. It paired perfectly with the side salad dressed in a light citrus vinaigrette. Honestly, if I'd known how generous the cornbread portion would be, that and the salad alone would have made the perfect lunch. Then came the chicken biscuit with Tabasco honey--a stunning presentation. The chicken was crispy and cooked to perfection, and the Tabasco honey added just the right balance of heat and sweetness. My only critique was the biscuit itself--it wasn't my favorite. Not bad, just different. Growing up in the South, I'm used to biscuits with a distinct texture--perhaps a bit more buttery and flaky, like the ones my grandmother made. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The large windows and natural light create such a welcoming atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed weekend lunch. I completely understand why this place stays busy--it's well worth the visit. read more

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Michele was the best. She was so sweet and took great care of us. Let me just say the biscuit is soooo good!y favorite breakfast in New Orleans easy. The bacon I wanted more crispy and the price was a little steep but I'm happy. I got another coffee to go. I wanted to go back today! Will definitely return my next trip! read more

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Could not say enough good things about Willa Jean's. If I could eat there every morning I would. Even weeks after visiting I still think about it and it's amazing food. We order a hefty selection- tea lattes galore, biscuit with jam, corn bread, shrimp and grits, omelette, chicken and waffles, and the hangover bowl. Everything was simply perfect. Those grits were heavenly, corn bread excellent balance of sweet and salty, chicken and waffles with perfect hint of spice. Don't forget to order some biscuits too!! Willa Jean is the perfect brunch spot with great service, excellent food, ample seating, and you'll leave feeling full and happy! read more

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Might be the best chicken and waffles I've ever had! The food was so rich and flavorful! It wasn't too sweet and the taste was so unique. Friendly service, clean and open and bright spot! I highly recommend and would come back! read more

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I had breakfast here and it was pretty good. I'd eat here again if I was close, but wouldn't go out of my way to find it. Fruit Bowl - This was about 6 bucks and was nicely presented with fresh fruit. Yum! Bacon - This bacon had a "farmy" taste to it. You could taste the atmosphere in which the animals lived. I've tasted that in some wines before, but never in bacon. Croissant - This was huge and flakey and the first bite was amazing. However, the inside was kind of TOO buttery and it was spongey. It was a bit much and left my stomach a bit upset. Service wasn't the best as water refills would have been nice and the friendliness factor could have been better too. That's the main reason for 3 stars instead of 4. read more

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