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Zesty Creole

4.5 (900 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Zesty Creole Photos

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ZESTY CREOLE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Touristy
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Zesty Creole

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Hurricane
Sue D.

It's located right in the tourist trap section but has great reviews. Gumbo was terrific Biscuit was superb Jambalaya was good (not great) Etouffee was weak and flavorless The waitstaff was nice but it's not a place I will repeat.

Dar Z.

Wanted some good Cajun food and this place didn't disappoint at all. I'm not a huge fan of fried green tomatoes but this was outstanding and very memorable. Got the appetizer sampler and the Nola sampler and both were great. There's not one thing I can even gripe about because it was all outstanding and our service was outstanding because the waitress was very kind and on very efficient

Crawfish étouffée with Zesty Combo  which includes Gator bites, boudin balls, fried green tomatoes and crawfish hushpuppies
Kat B.

We were immediately seated at Zesty Creole and our server was amazing. He was so quick to get us drinks. The restaurant was quiet but full of people. I think everyone was too busy eating because it smelled amazing as soon as we walked in. We took a few minutes to decide and he answered all of our questions. My friend got the veggie burger and fries. I decided on the Cup Crawfish Étouffée and the Zesty Combo which includes Gator bites, boudin balls, fried green tomatoes and crawfish hushpuppies. It came with three different sauces. All the items were delicious. I don't even really like fried green tomatoes and I thought they were great. The crawfish étouffée was so flavorful. I couldn't finish any of my food because of the generous portions. I would definitely go back the next time I am in New Orleans.

crab cakes with fried green tomatoes
Alyssa C.

Have you ever gotten a food coma 20 min into your meal?! Yeah, the crab cakes and gumbo (not pictured) had me so stuffed. I was expecting tiny appetizer portions but they were not playing around here. Gumbo: A cup full of gumbo gave me a warm welcome to NoLa. This hearty stew has various protein: chicken, shrimp, and sausage! You can't forget the holy trinity too.. onion, celery, and bell peppers. Each spoonful was a delicious surprise. Crab cakes: These were my absolute FAV. Not greasy or too bread-y. The crab and breading made the perfect pair and the remoulade reminded me of a fancier version of In N Out animal style sauce. Don't get me started on the green tomatoes! Apparently they are more acidic than red tomatoes but I couldn't tell due to the fried breading and rich remoulade.

Ron L.

On a rainy night, not in Georgia, but in New Orleans, Louisiana, I was going to a private party in the French Quarter where I knew that I wouldn't be able to eat much of the wonderful food because I am gluten intolerant. I was hungry and had interacted before I went to New Orleans with a person connected to the Zesty Creole. This restaurant got good reviews, but I was a little skeptical because it was on Canal which generally caterers more to tourists. I sat at the bar and had a wonderful conversation. A gentleman who came in next to me told me he had eaten at this restaurant five consecutive nights. That was rather intense, but we shared a conversation about music and I ordered one of my favorite dishes in New Orleans, which is gluten-free: SHRIMP + GRITS cheese grits topped with grilled shrimp and creole sauce, but without the fresh buttermilk biscuit. I was apprehensive because I've always had the cheesy type grits and these came with the wonderful grilled shrimp resting comfortably atop a pillow of grits rimmed by a zesty marinara sauce. I really don't know how comfortably the shrimp were resting, but I was surprised at each bite by the zesty sauce combined with the grits. This was very tasty as each bite was somehow unexpected. One would think after eating half of this very large bowl that I would get used to this style of prep for the grits but my taste buds were startled at each bite, touched for the very first time by this combination of flavors. Startled or not by this flavor mashup, I enjoyed it and finished my bowl clean even without the buttermilk biscuit that I couldn't eat. My meal was Creole and zesty, so well done Zesty Creole.

Menu
Odilia T.

Diner like atmosphere. A lot of options from breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was in a rush to eat, I was going to get take out but my food came out quickly. I ordered a cup of coffee & eggs sandwich. All very tasty. Excellent customer service!

Biscuit
Zeeshan Q.

Zesty Creole is a nice place to have a quick bite along Canal Street. I ordered the shrimp and grits, which came with a biscuit as well, the biscuit was relatively fresh, and the grits were decent once you mixed in the some of the spicy creole sauce. The shrimp were absolutely delicious and gave them a 5 star in my boat; grilled to perfection with a hint of garlic, I could eat a whole plate of them. Definitely recommend stopping by as they have a very diverse menu.

Coffee
T L.

My expectations were a bit high based off yelp reviews but truthfully it was "just okay". Coffee was watered down (our first cup of the day) and they only had cheesy grits....so you had no other option but to have that if you're in the mood for grits. Place was not busy and seems great for big groups. It's your typical diner ambiance with a bit of a funky smell. If you can get past that, then you'll be fine. I had the breakfast platter (bacon) and my wife had catfish and grits (cheesy grits since that's all they had)

Crab cake eggs Benedict
Valerie L.

This was our first time in NOLA and we were on day one just walking around and we were hungry!!! We couldn't think straight and just walked into zesty! We saw the menu they have posted on the window and were like crab cake eggs Benedict? Bet we're coming in here. I was surprised how fast we go sat down because how busy it was! Our waitress was sweet we didn't talk to her much though she was really busy so we just went with whatever called out to us the most on the menu. The only thing annoying was the people sitting behind us they sat there with finished plates and kept YAPPPPPINGGGGG gahhh it was so annoying. But other than that pretty good.

Gumbo
Gail U.

So much food we had to ask for take out containers. Our server was excellent. She knew we needed lots of water for the creole items we ordered and continuously refilled our cups. Such a popular place glad we got a table right away. There was a nice mural on the left wall and pretty light fixtures on the right side.

Shrimp and grits
Ellen K.

The Highlights Taste of NOLA: If you're indecisive like me or just want the full experience, get this. It's a great sampler of jambalaya, red beans and rice, and gumbo. Shrimp and Grits: Definitely lives up to the hype. Wasn't too greasy or grainy and paired really well with the tomato-like sauce lining the bottom of the plate. Gumbo: It wasn't over-salted like many tourist spots. It was packed with a generous amount of meat and deep, developed flavor. Will definitely be back!

Seafood gumbo
Chloe L.

Everything was so good we might be back tomorrow! Pretty busy for dinner but lots of seating, so we were seated right away. Amazing service and our food came out only a couple minutes after ordering! Would recommend everything we ordered: - Taste of NOLA: great tasting menu of jambalaya, beans, and gumbo. Really liked the fried green tomato and biscuit that came with it! Really filling, big fan. - Shrimp and grits: saw lots of good reviews and for good reason. Not too greasy like other grits I've tried, and really touches your soul. - Gumbo: generous amounts of meats in the gumbo, and isn't too salty like other spots. Enjoyed this a lot. Will definitely be back if I come to New Orleans again!

Shrimp and Grits
Jeremy H.

First, the service was great and the beer nice and cold. I love shrimp and grits but Zesty's dish just didn't wow me. The shrimp had some nice seasoning but the dish overall just didn't have robust flavor. I'd come back to try other dishes but wouldn't order the shrimp and grits again.

Shrimp creole (Gumbo in the back)

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Ask the Community - Zesty Creole

What is the parking situation?

Just the road. Most people walk

Do you need to make a reservation?

No, seating is first come, seat yourself in the bar and dining space.

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Surrey's Café & Juice Bar

Surrey's Café & Juice Bar

4.5
(2.4k reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$

My wife and I had breakfast at Surrey's Cafe & Juice Bar, and it absolutely lived up to the hype…read more We decided to share two dishes: the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Boudin Breakfast Biscuit. Both were outstanding. The Bananas Foster French Toast was rich, indulgent, and packed with flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. The bananas and sauce were the perfect complement to the French toast, making it feel like a New Orleans dessert and breakfast all in one. The Boudin Breakfast Biscuit was equally impressive. The biscuit was fresh and flaky, and the boudin added a delicious Cajun flavor that set it apart from a typical breakfast sausage. Every bite was savory, satisfying, and uniquely Louisiana. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was welcoming, and it's easy to see why Surrey's has such a loyal following. If you're visiting New Orleans and looking for a memorable breakfast, put this place on your list. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in town.

This by far had to be the best breakfast I've had in a long time. Surrey's Café & Juice Bar was…read morewell worth the wait to try. The food was fantastic, and I have to recognize the staff that really looked out for my mom while we waited. The hostess was so kind in allowing my mom to sit inside and have coffee until our table was ready. I didn't mind at all waiting outside because it was such a beautiful day, and it was just great being in New Orleans. I will say the food was astronomically delicious. If I could provide a 10 rating, I definitely would. From the French toast made with the po' boy bread to the shrimp and grits and the crab omelette, my taste buds were so happy. This place is a true gem. I can't wait to come back and try more. Such a great experience.

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Surrey's Café & Juice Bar
Home potatoes and a side of bacon. They give you 4 pieces of bacon, none under cooked. The potatoes are seasoned to perfection!
Home potatoes and a side of bacon. They give you 4 pieces of bacon, none under cooked. The potatoes are seasoned to perfection!
Surrey's Café & Juice Bar

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Molly's Rise and Shine

Molly's Rise and Shine

4.2
(480 reviews)
1.9 mi
•$$

Biscuits and gravy is my go to breakfast and they were great here. The gravy had a tasty flavor…read morethat was very nice, the biscuits were a bit small and the serving size wasn't huge. I added hash browns and bacon. 4 pieces of bacon in a side order and it was nice and crispy. The hash browns were patty similar to the frozen kind you can buy, not sure if they came in a box frozen or not but they were served nice and crispy. The team were all very friendly and service was great. I probably wouldn't go out of my way for a return visit but wouldn't avoid eating here either

On my first full day in New Orleans, I walked from my hotel over to Molly's Rise and Shine after…read moreseeing videos on TikTok of people raving about it. It has retro vibes, and I loved how the outside looked. The inside was just as cute, with 80s toys lining the walls. There was ample seating. The staff was very friendly and helped me pick out what I would like to order. I went with the spicy chicken biscuit and a side of hashbrowns. The hashbrowns were very crispy and seasoned well, so I loved them, as soggy hashbrowns are a major pet peeve of mine. The chicken biscuit was good, but I'm not 100% sure it was to my taste. It was massive and very hard to eat, and there was a lot of fried chicken skin. The mayo on the sandwich was definitely homemade and had a very strong egg flavor, so I would go without that next time. The biscuit was probably the best biscuit I've ever had. As a California girl, I think the flavors might have just been a little too strong for me, but still a great spot to stop by.

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Busy for breakfast, even at 11:45
Busy for breakfast, even at 11:45
Carrots yogurt
Carrots yogurt
Molly's Rise and Shine

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Two Chicks Cafe

Two Chicks Cafe

4.5
(1.3k reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$

Fun place easy walk from the convention center, small menu lets them focus on a few food items…read more Had the New Orleans "Cuban". Not really a Cuban, but it was a really tasty andouille sausage sandwich. On my short list of places to visit next time I'm in NOLA

We took a stroll to find this restaurant after searching for breakfast spots…read more A nice little gem in the area, seems to be a constant flow of people. There was a line when we arrived, but we liked how the host walked the line asking how many people in your party in case they were able to seat people regardless of your position in line. We were seated pretty quickly, our server was great. She came over with a big smile, very mild mannered, but attentive. We ordered our meals, which came out quickly. Omelet for my husband, grits bowl for me. The grits have smoked gouda. The grits bowl is if you have a big appetite because it is big! My husband enjoyed his shrimp and crab Omelet, but he did mention that he couldn't really taste or see much crab, but it was tasty. The grits bowl has a lot of sautéed veggies so if that's not your thing say no veggies or light veggies. I had one of the fresh juices, the Ginger Sun, I believe that's the name. Oh my!!! It was so good and honestly I wasn't feeling my best when I arrived and after drinking the juice my body really started feeling better. I wasn't able to eat all my food, but I can say that juice was the highlight of it for me. The restaurant was clean and I love the long bench with the pillows that line the wall. Also, they have 2 sides, the other side is for to go I believe and its for tacos/quesadillas, etc...

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So busy they seat you outside of the restaurants' boundaries. And people still line up.
So busy they seat you outside of the restaurants' boundaries. And people still line up.
Papa's French Toast
Papa's French Toast
Inside

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Inside
Luzianne Cafe

Luzianne Cafe

4.3
(263 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

Best grits in the entire world! Service with a Luzianne smile. The restaurant is cute and homey…read more Whatever you order get a side if cajun grits!

Luzianne Cafe, which is based on the nostalgic tea brand of all our southern kiddos childhood, sits…read moreabout two blocks off of Poydras at the corner of Constance and Girod, and is a bright, open, well maintained cafe serving up breakfast and lunch classics in addition to a full bar that includes frozen boozy drinks...because New Orleans! We checked into our nearby hotel a bit early in the day and was looking to hit the streets for a spot to get a chill/light breakfast, a coffee and maybe a cocktail. We found all the things at Luzianne Cafe. Whether you belly up to the bar or grab a table, both of which are first come first serve, you start at the counter where you order, pay and grab your table number. It appears that during busy times they allow you to sit first and order from the QR at your table, this is an assumption given the code to order at the table, but the sign at the entry directed folks to the counter to order before sitting. For breakfast, we got the breakfast biscuit which came with eggs, bacon and cheese, and sided it with grits. The breakfast sandwich was solid, eggs were a bit soft and grits were more mealy than we are used to, but I think that may be authenticity of the area more than anything. I opted for the three option omelet with onion, sausage and gouda plus a side of sausage links. The omelet, though odd sounding combination turned out to be solid. Maybe it was my options, but it was decently "one note" in flavor. I tossed a little hot sauce on and that helped. However, while the sausage links were not much to look at, they were tasty, with a nice snap to the casing and meaty inside. To go with our breakfast, I got a cold brew with a splash of almond milk while my partner embraced NOLA and started his day with a bourbon sour. Both of us enjoyed our choices! Service was friendly and helpful at the counter/bar. The food runner was nice and then another member, assuming the Manager, that stopped by to check on us mid meal. She was super friendly and nice. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and drinks at Luzianne. Minor things noted, mainly on the cook of the eggs, but nothing awful. It his the spot and checked the boxes!

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Luzianne Cafe
Luzianne Cafe
Luzianne Cafe

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Willa Jean

Willa Jean

4.3
(2.7k reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

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

Rude service from start to finish. We added ourselves to the waitlist because they had a…read morereservation 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.

Photos
Counter
Counter
Biscuit with jam and butter
Biscuit with jam and butter
The BISCUIT!

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The BISCUIT!

Zesty Creole - cajun - Updated July 2026

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