Last night we went out for a long-awaited date night. NOLA on 2nd has been open for quite a while in our Historic Downtown. We checked for reservations for 6:30ish, but as expected, none were available. We waited too late! However, the helpful person on the phone encouraged us to dine early (they open at 5 p.m.), and we should be able to get a table easily.
We arrived a little after 5, and as we had been told, we were promptly seated. Megan, our server, never missed a step all evening. She was knowledgeable about the menu and gave excellent recommendations.
We started with a top-shelf Long Island Ice Tea for Sweet Harold and one of the night's drink specials, a Southern Peach Mimosa. Both were delicious!
There are so many intriguing selections on the appetizer menu! We debated but chose the Crab and Gator cheesecake topped with creole cream. This is an impressively sized serving. We brought half of it home to enjoy. Filled with bits of alligator and crab, it's delicately seasoned, and the creole cream is addictive! I highly recommend this amazing savory cheesecake.
After Megan shared the evening's specials, there was no discussion! I will never turn down scallops. When they are seared in duck fat, yes, please! If you're unfamiliar with u10, that means there are less than 10 scallops to a pound, and they are 1 1/2 - 2 inches in diameter. The scallops were perfectly seared with a golden crust on the exterior and a tender interior. If this wasn't enough, the scallops topped an incredibly seasoned linguini with blistered cherry tomatoes, dill, capers in a lemon cream sauce. This dish ranks in my lifetime top 10 meals. That's saying a great deal: amazing flavor and a beautiful presentation to boot.
The fish of the day was blackened drum. NOLA on Second utilized the fish for a "Fish and Grits" menu offering. The generous portion of drum was blackened and topped a large bowl of cheese grits with andouille, shrimp, the trinity, and shaved parmesan. The Creole cream sauce tied it all together.
Needless to say, we weren't able to sample the desserts on the menu this visit.
The atmosphere is cozy with just the right amount of NOLA vibe. Live music was provided, and everyone in the restaurant appeared to be enjoying a wonderful experience.
We are looking forward to returning and sampling more menu items!
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