Very delicious i recommend the catfish. It was fresh and served at a moderate time. I came with a party of 7. Everyone enjoyed their meals! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Smothered catfish with crawfish étouffée(on the side) - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The service is top tier. I love the ambiance of the new place. Food is always amazing. read more

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So this is a staple restaurant in NOLA and as many times as I have visited I have never been there but this time I did. If you're looking for soul food, this place came highly recommended. They apparently were voted the best fried chicken in the country, so my family wanted to test it out. First, reservations are strongly recommended especially for large parties. This place was booming and bustling for about 30-45 minutes before we got seated without a reservation but we opted for bar seating as well. We sat and I always scoped out the menu so I knew I wanted the smothered catfish etouffe and somebody was going to try the chicken. Food came fairly quickly and we all liked our meals but they are spicy. If spice if your thing, you would love it here. The chicken was great, sides were great, catfish was great and overall we rated the food an 8.5/10. I enjoyed it but don't have to go back. I'm just used to some of the other places and their offerings but this is a simple straight forward menu and I enjoyed the meal. read more

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We stopped in on an early Saturday afternoon, after a sweltering morning spent wandering the botanical garden (beautiful!!! You should go!) followed by a mosey around the Modern Art museum to cool off. The waiting list when we arrived was a predicted 30-45 minutes, but we perched on the edge of a comfy couch near the entrance and waited. The bar here is top notch, shiny, and loaded with every little spirit your liver could ever fear. Good champagne list too, and we heard several corks pop during our visit! Thanks to the impatient folks who got their names on the list before us who weren't patient enough to stick around until their names were called, we got sat in about only 10 minutes. Hooray!!! We arrived during brunch hour, but that didn't detract from the food, the selection, or the level of service at all. Everyone on staff was incredibly kind, even though they were slammed. Our food arrived fairly quick, Fried Chicken (dark) with fried okra and a corn muffin for the wifey, and Fried Catfish on a bed of grits with crawfish butter and a buttermilk biscuit for me. Hot DAMN y'all. Hands down the absolute BEST fried catfish and chicken the wife and I have ever had. Period. The grits were perfect. Pillowy, buttery clouds of perfectly salted goodness, topped with that crawfish butter that just made the whole plate sing. (And loads of little crawfish tails to boot!) The okra was fresh, bright green and obviously not frozen, with just the right amount of salt, and not dripping grease at all. And the corn muffin and the biscuit were lovely. You best bet we went back to our hotel afterwards, and took an hour and a half long nap, because we sure did!!! Go hit up this lovely little gem. Do it. DO IT NOW!!! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fried Catfish on grits with Crawfish Butter (sorry! I didn't think to snap this pic until I'd had a few bites!!!) - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We were in New Orleans the past few days made a reservation here for my wife's birthday. Got there they did not have our reservation at the right time and they tried to get us to break up our party of 10 into several tables which that is not how we made our reservation. They didn't really look to solve the problem at all so we had to wait an extra 40 minutes to be seated, which I feel like is unacceptable. We went out of our way to make our reservation. The food was OK. The service and our server was good. She did all she could to handle a table of our size but we did have to send a couple of things back. As well as we ordered a bottle of champagne and we're given wine glasses to drink it in, which if I order a bottle of champagne. I would like champagne glasses to go with it. They told us they do not have champagne glasses, so my question is why do you sell champagne by the bottle or at all. The experience is definitely not something I would revisit if I'm in New Orleans. It's too many great food options with great service to have to deal with these type of things on top of that we weren't offered dessert. They didn't even offer my wife a dessert for her birthday so just a little things and go a long way with customers they do not prioritize. But they did make sure they included that gratuity of 130+ dollars on top of our $800 bill which I did argue with because it wasn't about the money. The server did do her best so it wasn't her fault, but for that type of bill I expect, a certain type of service, which is just basic if nothing else. Food 3/5 Service 4/5 Location 5/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Return Factor 0/5 read more

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I'm not a huge fried chicken fan, I only eat it when my husband craves it But this is suppose to be THE spot for it in NOLA. So we had to try. Reservations were fully booked, but I'm so glad when we walked in, they were able to squeeze us in shortly. We had a party of 8 so we had two tables side by side which was totally fine. WHOOHOO Very swanky old school but clean and new vibes. There was a DJ playing music, and some folks were even dancing. Very fun. Chicken - it was very juicy but the skin wasn't that crispy. Solid but its fine, nothing special to me. seafood gumbo - now this was pretty tasty. lots of seafood and hearty. The sides were fine. Overall a nice visit, and glad we didn't have to wait long! I'll be on the look out for more fried chicken when the hubs comes along. read more

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Willie Mae's NOLA Restaurant is a must visit. Although we didn't see anything about it on the website, the restaurant appears to be reservation-only, even for bar seating. We walked in without a reservation and were initially told they were only seating guests with reservations. I asked if there were any openings, explaining that we were not aware, we were visiting from out of town, and heading to the airport later that day. Since there were only two of us, the host kindly said he would try to squeeze us in. For that, I am thankful. We ended up with seats at the bar, which was perfectly fine with us. The restaurant features high ceilings, modern, natural, earthy décor, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. There was also a DJ playing, adding to the lively, upbeat vibe without overwhelming the space. I ordered the gumbo and fried okra. The gumbo was loaded with sausage, shrimp, and crab, making it hearty and flavorful. The fried okra was crispy on the outside without being dried out inside. My daughter ordered the fried chicken with yams and macaroni and cheese. She didn't have much to say about the sides, but she thoroughly enjoyed the fried chicken. I tried some myself and thought it was excellent. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere was fun and energetic. The only downside was the restrooms. There were two gender-neutral, single-stall bathrooms, which were convenient, but they could have been a tad bit cleaner. Overall, the quality of the food, the decor, and vibe made this a great way to end our trip! read more

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Sometimes you just need a good Southern comfort meal, and this definitely delivered. The gumbo was our appetizer and it was very good. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and easily the star of the plate. I wish I could've tried yams but they were out for the day. The potato wedges were perfectly seasoned, the mac & cheese was creamy, and the cabbage added a nice balance which was so flavorful. The cornbread was warm, buttery, and the perfect finishing touch. Portions are generous, so come hungry. I'd absolutely order this again the next time I'm craving comfort food. The restaurant itself was very nice and Our waitress was friendly and my only complaint would be having to wait an extra 15-20 minutes even after our reservation time. read more

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I really liked this place. It had charm, it had posh & how they somehow mixed the southern style with posh and created Willie Mae's! It was clean & decorated nicely with crisp edges everywhere i looked. I can't explain it but there's something about how southern food is plated that either or makes it or breaks it for me & i love that they know what they were doing. I sat at the bar because no reservation. I had the fried shrimp, yams, mac and cheese & green beans. My only complaint is the yams texture. (It was kinda like baby food, I like mine still a little whole and not so purreed but flavor was on point- didnt hold it against them.) It was nicely presented and the server took excellent care of me. I was too stuffed to order anything else. read more

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This was our first stop after checking in at our hotel. We were so excited to have an early dinner here on Monday evening. We did make a reservation the same day just to be sure we'd get in. The restaurant is beautiful with what looks to be the original tile floor and mid century modern dining tables, chairs and design elements. Our waitress Lynn was great! She welcomed us in and just like that we felt right at home. I ordered the fried chicken (four pieces) with mac and cheese and it comes with corn bread. My fiancé ordered the fried cat fish with red beans and rice. We started with a cup of gumbo to get a taste for it since we were so excited to be in New Orleans! The gumbo, catfish and cornbread were my favorites! We were so happy we made this on first stop on our vacation! read more

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Ok some people might disagree but despite enjoying my visit to Willie Mae's, I thought it was good, but not as great as I was hoping. My preference is not for the sweeter side of the culinary arts so that may be what factored in here. The chicken sandwich I had was good but I didn't like sauce it came with as it was on the sweeter side. The chicken flavor was slow to come to the surface but once it did, it was good. BUT I was hoping that flavor would come through with that first bite like I've had with other fried chicken. Mac and cheese was solid for me and my husband enjoyed his potato salad as well. Lemonade was also on the sweeter side but still good. I'd say what bumped the stars were the staff working that day. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and helped us pick out our options to try which is always nice when people take their time to add to your experience. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Food: 9/10 - Fried catfish with crawfish ettoutffee and a side of butter beans Service: 10/10 - Our server was GREAT! Honest about her recommendations, favorites, and what's sold out on the menu Ambiance: 10/10 - The restaurant is a vibe! Nice seating, full bar with bar top for dinning This is a popular place and the wait for a table can be long. Parking is very limited so taking a Lyft/Uber is recommended. We went on a weekday around 7pm and waited an hour for a party of 9. Bring your patience and an appetite! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Catfish with crawfish etouffee (on the side) and a side of butter beans Other items in picture- red beans & rice, catfish nuggets - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Ask a local. This was recommended to us by our chatty UBER driver, Joseph. Willie Mae's NOLA is known for their fried chicken. Willie Mae's Scotch House was established in the Treme District in 1957 and has been serving some of America's best fried chicken since then. Ms. Willie Mae Seaton has even been awarded a prestigious James Beard award for her Southern cooking. Delicious home cooking. Walked from our hotel in the warehouse district. Ordered 1/4 white meat fried chicken and a fried chicken sandwich. Both with a side of the most delicious vegetarian red beans and rice and a cornbread muffin. Today, Willie Mae's great granddaughter runs Willie Mae's. Still served up with a generous helping of love. We ordered ours on the InKind app to go during a busy graduation weekend. Delicious! Hopefully next time we can dine in. The restaurant is so charming. read more

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Classic southern fried chicken. Chicken was perfectly fried, but the sides were alright. Ordered: - 1/4 Fried Chicken: It says you can choose between dark and white meat. The waiter said we didn't have a choice that day, but we ended up getting the dark meat which I prefer. - Filet of Catfish: this one was also good but I personally preferred fried chicken over fried catfish. - Sides: Mac and Cheese, Creole Potato Salad, Potato Wedges, Sweet Potato Fries, Fried Okra, Candied Yams read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fried Chicken - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Every single bite of food at Willie Mae's was delicious. The fried chicken was literally the best I've ever had, and I have had a lot of fried chicken. Everything we ordered was full of flavor, and the drinks were great too. Our waitress was amazing. One of our appetizers did not come out with the rest of the food, and she went above and beyond by bringing us an extra little gumbo, which was such a kind gesture and really appreciated. The restaurant itself is busy and semi-loud, but in a casual, fun way. It has a big bar, good energy, and a laid-back New Orleans feel. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because we made a reservation for 7 people and still waited over an hour. Since we had a larger party, that was the reason we made the reservation in the first place. During our wait, several smaller tables were seated and turned over with little to no wait. When we were finally seated, we were placed at an awkward long rectangle table with a large pole basically cutting our party in half, and other guests were also seated at the same table. I asked if we could move to another table that had just opened up, and although the host seemed annoyed by the request, he did accommodate us. After that, everything went perfectly. The food and service were absolutely worth it, and I would definitely go back. read more

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We wanted to like this place. It has good history, but sadly, on our visit, it didn't deliver. The food was mediocre, and the service was worse, with a very disinterested server that barely visited the table, and when he did, barely said a word nor did anything proactively. My red beans and rice wasn't bad, but suffered the same malady as everything we tried: the main seasoning seemed to be salt, and lots of it. Texturewise, it was fine, but not remarkable. My main, seafood platter, did feature some plump and well cooked shrimp, and the catfish filets were probably the best part of the meal, but again, too much salt and not enough of, well, anything else. The side of butterbeans and rice also had some promise, but the beans were a little overcooked. Bottom line, this meal and overall experience was a disappointment. We'll try someplace else on our next visit to NOLA. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Seafood platter - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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It's been a number of years since I've been to Willie Mae's and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much it has changed. The restaurant is beautiful and modern. Menu is expanded. Service was really good. Staff were very friendly. The drinks were yummy. The fried chicken is just as good as I remember. read more

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Willie Mae's does amazing fried chicken. I had their chicken & the egg (deviled eggs with fried chicken and pepper jelly on top) and the 1/4 fried chicken with candied yams. Both were soo yummy. All the flavors fit together really well on the deviled eggs. The fried chicken was super tender and juicy with a crispy skin. Tasted even better with the hot sauce. My only gripe was that the candied yams were a bit too sweet for my taste. I'm normally more of a savory gal, so I def should have gone with the mac and cheese or rice and beans. And totally should have done the 1/2 instead of the 1/4 chicken. Def need to go back to NOLA for all this yummy food. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - The chicken and the egg - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Dined in on July 4th. Wait time was about 2 hours when we first arrived but we were able to get day about 30 mins sooner. Quite a few items were 86'd already including shrimp & cauliflower. I had the gumbo which seemed a little watery, the fried chicken with red beans and rice and potato salad. My friends had fish nuggets with Mac and the white beans as well as a Caesar salad. The peach cobbler and cornbread were probably our favorites. Chicken was fries to perfection as the other reviews say. Crispy on the outside and still juicy inside. Service was a little choppy but overall all a good experience. read more

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I was so excited to come here and enjoy New Orleans. The food here was average, at best. The service was awful. I would not go back. I ordered a drink and he brought me two of the same. The chicken, which is supposed to be their claim to fame was chewy and had some flavor but not much. read more

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Overall, the food was good and I'd go back.The catfish etoufee is delicious but the mac n cheese wasn't that great. My husband didn't like the candied yams but I did lol. He said the chicken was good as were the red beans and rice. I REALLY enjoyed the buffalo cauliflower wings but feel they should give you way more for the price. Staff were nice and we had a cool waiter. Idk about parking since we did a ride share. Ultimately, I'd go back for the catfish etoufee even though it's a bit overpriced. read more

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When I learned that the old Willie Mae's Scotch House location had had a fire I was so sad to think such an institution was gone. I was thrilled when I heard there was a new location. The new location is much larger and doesn't have the same feel but I'm glad the legend will live on. One thing about this location is you should make a reservation. I walked in not realizing this and had to wait. Luckily I came just before the switch over and win was able to get a walk in seat at the bar. The staff are very nice and accommodating. I had the two piece dark with Mac and cheese and my mom had hers with sweet potato fries. The chicken wasn't as good as I remember it years ago but the sweet tea was delicious. read more

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Walked in a bit early to my reservation and got seated immediately since I was fine with being at the bar. Nicole the bartender and the host were chill. What I got: 1/4 fried chicken (4/5) -- good heat, great crunch, extremely succulent thigh but a tad dried out drumstick. overall a little too salty..cornbread was also kinda dry but tasted good side of crawfish etouffee (5/5) -- good viscosity and very flavorful, generous on the crawfish, had no heat Big portions at reasonable prices and friendly service. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

It seriously pains me to rate this place a 2/5. The first time I had Willie Mae's was at the Scotch House location and ever since then I haven't stopped hyping up Willie Mae's and was devastated when the OG location had to shut down due to a fire. When I found out they opened this new location I was back to hyping you guys up to everyone in Florida that had mentioned going to NOLA. What changed? Willie Mae's is making an attempt to be something they're not; an upscale chicken place. Why try to ruin what you were? The first time I got out at the previous location I knew they had good food... sometimes you know. When you go in you felt like family, that's gone. When we entered the new location the host was friendly and chatted with us while they cleaned our table. It looked pretty busy and we had a reservation so we were sat on time. It was HOT inside, but I did like the aesthetic... but it wasn't authentic Willie Mae's. After being seated our waiter came over, gave us some water and got our order. We were out of water soon after he left and it took asking 3x for refills to get them, and they use very tiny metal cups. We waited for our food for a while, what's ironic is we waited for our drinks (a Pepsi and 1 bar drink) even longer than it took the food (and a basic refill on water). Once the food arrived and we started digging in, we had a cold side of wedges, a cold side of mac, and green beans that still had parts of the stem on that my 17 month about choked on. The chicken is the only reason I'm giving this place a 2 instead of 1 because it still ranks as my #2 spot in the nation (I eat a lot of chicken). When it was time to pay, the waiter, who was so unenthusiastic and honestly the worst service we got during our week in NOLA, moseyed on over he did bother to ask how anything was, ask if we needed a box, just handed the payment system over to get the card tapped. He was truthfully AWFUL. We had planned on coming back until the horrid service, slow drinks, and cold sides, but couldn't bring ourselves to do so. Willie Mae's will always have a spot in my stomach for their top tier chicken, but I know good and well Willie Mae Seaton is rolling in her grave at what her once amazing restaurant has become. The homey-ness is gone, and the quality in everything but the chicken has fallen to the darkness on the other side. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Beautiful establishment, great service, and wonderful food. Probably some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The flavor of that batter along with the flakiness is what separates itself from your average fried chicken. It's a recipe that clearly gets people coming through those doors. It's a spot I'll definitely recommend to others. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I am still thinking about that fried chicken and gumbo weeks later! Reservations are recommended and I highly suggest you make one because the place was packed, but they flipped tables quickly and had everything under control from what I could see. I ordered the "Taste of New Orleans ". This gives you an opportunity to try 3 sides vs 1. They are NOT small teaspoon portion of sides! I chose fried chicken, red beans and rice, candied yams, and fried okra. I also ordered a cup of gumbo and bread pudding for dessert. This was one of the best meals I've eaten in New Orleans and I must say they got it right. Everything was great and not a single item needed to be doctored when it arrived to the table. It is a bit dark in the place, that's my only "complaint". As for parking you will need to find parking on the street, the valet that you see is not for the restaurant, it is for the hotel next door. My friend argued with me about the valet being for the restaurant so I asked the host in Willie Mae's to confirm the parking situation. read more

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Our Lyft driver highly recommended we come here. There were a lot of people waiting so that had to be good. James Beard, yes! The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The place is a bit small but the vibe was good. Nice bar area with seating. We had the fried chicken, cajun potato salad, butter beans and rice and green beans. The chicken was delicious with an undertone of some spice. It was just a tad oily for me, but that didn't stop me from eating it. All the sides were delicious. They have other chicken prep options as well. Their bar had a ton of selection if you want alcohol. I didn't rate a 5 only because I was expected a bit more based on the reviews. I have had fried chicken that was better in GA, but I understand as the flavor was there. Enjoy! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

When going to Willie Mae's make an appointment because if not you will be waiting. We found this out upon arrival. They take care of all appointments first and then if someone misses their time slot that's when you get seated. We waiting between :45 mins to an hour to be seated and boy was it worth it. We visited on a Saturday around 12 noon. The establishment is not that big on the inside so seating is limited. I ordered the fish, crawfish, cheese grits meal and it was amazingly delicious!! (sorry started eating before taking my photo) I definitely hands down without a doubt recommend Willie Mae's. I can't wait to return!! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fish and crawfish cheese grits - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Celebrated my birthday at Willie Mae's and what a vibe! This was my first time at this location, and I knew I was in for a treat the moment I walked in and heard the DJ spinning R&B, on a Sunday brunch, no less. Even though it was packed, the service was still amazing. Our server was attentive, friendly, and gave us some great menu suggestions that did not disappoint. I ordered the catfish and grits and O-M-Friggin-G... it was incredible! The catfish was soft, flaky, and perfectly seasoned, while the grits were smooth, creamy, and full of flavor. I moaned with every bite . Do yourself a favor and make a reservation (highly recommended) and go have yourself a delicious time. You'll be glad you did! read more

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One of the best things about NOLA- actually maybe the best thing- is the food! Willie Mae's was definitely on my list since it relocated but it was not the same. Service was slow and uninviting! My drink was made wrong, but it was corrected. The fried chicken was crispy and moist, and a little spicy?, but I was disappointed with the sides. Mac And cheese and yams were overcooked, green beans were drenched in pepper. People were getting turned away without reservations even though there were plenty of open tables. Luckily there was plenty of open bar seating so I could give you this review!! read more

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Packed for a reason, Willie Mae's did not disappoint. Just make sure you don't have anything productive to do afterwards because the itis and NOLA heat combo is lethal The fried chicken plate and my sides were yummy, delicious lemonade to wash it all down. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - There's always room at the bar for one! No wait! - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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LOVE! This was our first dinner in NOLA and it set the bar wayyy high for the rest of our 4 day trip. First of all, service was fantastic. I want to give a shout out to the young man with the drippy CEO chain for his amazing attitude and service. Food was also amazing! I could taste the freshness. The food didn't feel greasy, and yet it was still full of flavor. I find that can be a hard thing to balance sometimes. At Willie Mae's it was done right. The standout favorite was the smothered catfish etouffee--smothered in sauce and the lemon juice was what made it so fantastic! I don't get a lot of fried food because it can be greasy and heavy, but the lemon-wow. This dish was somehow creamy AND light/clean/refreshing! What a great combo. Also loved the potato salad it came with. I will now be searching for this sort of dish back in my hometown. Already sad because...again, the bar has been set so high! Also loved the gumbo--sometimes gumbo can feel overwhelming for me, but this was great. Again, it somehow felt clean and light despite it being very flavorful (as opposed to oily and thick in texture like I've experienced at other places before). So cozy and perfect especially for winter. It's like a hug in a bowl. The fried chicken was great--perfectly crisp! We chose the butter beans and rice for our side, and that was the only thing I didn't like. It tasted bitter so we asked if that was supposed to be the case. Our server said no and swapped it out super fast for us! Had to get the weird sounding drink on the cocktail menu...Chicken and watermelon tini...the menu said it tastes like chicken. Happy to report that it doesn't! I did taste the watermelon. Not as refreshing as my friend's French 75, but I did like it better and I'd get it again. My friend tasted my drink and ordered herself one too! All of the handcrafted cocktails looked great. We were so full by the end and took leftovers home. Having tasted the quality of the food, I have major fomo for the rest of the menu items, especially the dessert. This is a great place to come with a larger group of friends and just sample everything. Regardless, I'm so grateful for the experience! The atmosphere, service, and food were great. What a winning combo--they got it all here at Willie Mae's. At the end of our trip we had some great food but Willie Mae easily remained as my favorite food spot. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who goes to NOLA and if I ever get a chance to return I know this is gonna be on my must visit list! Reservations are the way to go as this place is really popular. We also forgot to use our coupon for $30 of $100+ --you can find it on their website! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Smothered catfish and fried chicken, gumbo in the back - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Made a reservation for Willie Mae's for our girls trip to NOLA, always up to try a Michelin star restaurant. We were seated promptly. Our waitress was often MIA. There were three of us. We ordered the gumbo. Some beers and we were going to share the 1/2 chicken plate with some extra sides. We were told that there was a $5 sharing fee!!! WTH?!?! I can see if we were just ordering one plate but we were order a lot of food and beer. The chicken was ok. Nothing to write home about. The gumbo was good but it needed cornbread with it. The cornbread was good. It was a bit sweet and I like it sweet. The red beans and rice were delicious. The macaroni was ok. And the fried okra was fried okra. I'm not sure what all the hype is about.... read more

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Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in NOLA so far! We had to book a reservation a couple of days in advance, but it was absolutely worth it. The inside of the restaurant feels pretty modern. There's plenty of wood seating and a bar area. After getting seated, our server was super friendly and helpful with giving us dish recommendations. Thanks to her, we tried the gumbo, fried chicken, mac n cheese, and peach cobbler. Honestly, everything we ate there was really delicious, and I can't complain about any of it. All the food was 10/10. All I can say is I already wanna go back for seconds read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fried chicken - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I've been to the previous location for Willie Mae's several times and loved my experiences. Even waiting in line for an hour wasn't a hassle but rather a pleasure to meet people from all over the world as they waited to have the "best fried chicken in America". My experience at the new location was frustrating and sad. Willie Mae's used to have an energy and a vibe that came from hard working staff, a busy dining room, and the joyful Ms. Willie Mae. The new location is slow, has a bland feel, and a manager who never seems to smile and makes you feel like it's our privilege to be here rather than her's to have you in this restaurant. Yes, we didn't make a reservation at 3:30 on a Wednesday but we waited two hours for a table. No host came over to apologize or offer for use to grab a drink at the bar. The frowning manager walked around pushing in chairs at the bar rather than interacting with waiting guests. One person in our party became frustrated that she took an Uber back to our hotel. Now for the food. The chicken is as great as it ever was. Moist, incredible breading, and flavor down to the bone. The Mac and cheese should be on the cover of a soul food cookbook and our other sides were equally delicious. The food was amazing!!!! So, come to Willie Mae's Nola for the best fried chicken you may ever have. My rating would have been a five star if I was just rating the food but the rest of our experience left a lot to be desired. How a restaurant makes you feel is just as important as how good the food is. I hope Ms. Seaton's granddaughter can make changes to improve this new location. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Fried chicken - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Absolutely delicious! The food was amazing, the customer service with the waiter was phenomenal! The hostess staff was off a bit. They were holding tables. Nice environment and delicious food! Everyone was so happy with the delicious food. read more

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Stopped in during Mardi Gras weekend with reservations. We had a ball!! The deviled eggs and the fried chicken were the stars. Not to mention the service! Our waiter was cool af! read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Menu - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The fried chicken from Willie Mae's is INCREDIBLE. The juiciest chicken with the crispiest exterior. Perfectly seasoned. The party wings were also phenomenal. I'm not a ranch fan but the chimichurri ranch had me licking my fingers. Mac and cheese was alright, I'll try a different side next time. Finally, the gumbo. What a disappointment. The saltiest and most watery "gumbo" I have ever had. We couldn't finish it. Despite the sad gumbo, we thoroughly enjoyed everything else. Come to Willie Mae's for the chicken, it'll be worth it! read more

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TLDR: Solid food options that really capture the history of the dishes in New Orleans. The fried chicken was crunchy and juicy. The taste of New Orleans also slapped. My wife and I came to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and wanted to eat our way through the city. Many people recommended Willie Mae's. We hopped on the trolley and made our way there. We had to wait about 15 mins for a table. The restaurant isn't huge so be aware that you may have to wait. The waitress was kind and helpful in answering questions about the menu. My wife ordered the Taste of New Orleans while I ordered the fried chicken. We also started with a cup of gumbo. The gumbo was said to be very traditional and I believe it. My wife is west African and it tasted like their pepper soup which is likely what gumbo was based on. The taste of New Orleans had other New Orleans classics like the red beans & rice, etouffe and I believe jambalaya. They were pretty good. Definitely tasted like more traditional versions of the dishes. The fried chicken was very crispy and hand battered for sure. It was also very juicy and tender at the same time so no worries about dry chicken here! I would say that the breading maybe could have had some more oomph to the seasoning but overall was delicious. read more

Willie Mae’s NOLA - Gumbo - Soul Food Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This place lives up to the hype! We came in for lunch and it was quite busy, so we were glad to have made a reservation in advance. There was a small hiccup because the hostess couldn't find our reservation, so we had to wait for a bit. However, once we got seated, it was smooth sailing. Service was friendly and prompt. The fried chicken was delicious--very flavorful and crispy. I also liked the cheesy grits. The space is lively, great for groups or even if you come by yourself, you could comfortably seat at the bar. read more