Atchafalaya is NOLA at its best: Restaurant Review
With King Cake waffles and breakfast risotto, Atchafalaya offers an elegant yet cozy dining experience for anyone with taste buds.
Establishing a standout restaurant in the nation’s food capital is next to impossible, but Atchafalaya is beating the odds.
Tucked between classic New Orleans double shot gun houses, Atchafalaya stands out with its log cabin-esque stained wood exterior and 10-foot-tall skillet pan sculpture welded into the side. The building, remodeled in 2005 using reclaimed materials left behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, reflects the rich history of New Orleans.
On a Saturday morning, expect to wait for a table long past your reservation time, as guests listen to a live band while sipping on punchy strawberry mimosas and cucumber gin cocktails that ensure your readiness for all the Big Easy has to offer.
Walking into Atchafalaya is like coming home. Stepping into the warm atmosphere you’re greeted immediately by the bodybuilding bartender, Tom, who smiles underneath the glitter covering his cheeks. He flutters elegantly around a gorgeous wooden bar, adorned with hundreds of glittering liquor bottles, concocting the day’s specialty drinks. Next to Tom, the floor is covered in cozy yet romantic tables beneath vibrant local artwork that offers the signature New Orleans atmosphere of fun, festivities, and food.
The owners, Tony and Rachael Jaffe Tocco, met in the Big Easy after Tony moved to attend Tulane University and Rachael came back home to New Orleans. He bought Café Atchafalaya in 2008, after owning several other restaurants and bars, to impress his then girlfriend, Rachael. The restaurant that stands now, is a product of their commitment to one another and the Crescent City. The menu they created with Executive Chef Christopher Lynch reflects the beauty of traditional Louisiana dining with a fresh culinary perspective.
To start, the King Cake Waffle, a Mardi Gras specialty, is a celebration on a plate. The cakey cinnamon waffle acts as a perfectly balanced base with diced stewed mango sprinkled on top, adding a tart burst of vibrancy to the familiar flavors of Carnival. Bright purple ube cream cheese is piped in dollops on each piece, with a single golden King Cake baby nestled in the cream. After a few days of binge drinking and fried southern cuisine, their kale and goat cheese salad is a welcome contrast. The kale is dressed in a peppery jelly vinaigrette with slivers of Louisiana’s best Ponchatoula strawberries, topped with a crispy panko crusted goat cheese that falls apart over the greens, adding a fatty richness to the light dish.
Atchafalaya doesn’t just stop there with cuisine creativity. Their breakfast risotto is a unique morning meal that is rich and decadent with multiple textures, flavors, and “slap-ya-mama” goodness. Slow cooked tomato-based risotto is cooked down with the creole trinity – celery, onions, and bell pepper – topped with a perfectly poached egg that when sliced into, allows a runny yoke to soak into the decadent arborio base below. Topped with ground pork, hollandaise, bacon-cracklin’ gremolata and shaved parmesan, this risotto is unlike anything you’ve had before.
Their low-country shrimp and grits are some of the best Louisiana has to offer, which is a tough feat. Smoked tomatoes and Creole-spiced shrimp broth pool around their fluffy grits, while jumbo shrimp dip their tails in the spices below. Slivers of andouille sausage add a fatty contrast to the dish, giving it that signature New Orleans flair.
In the culinary capital, a good meal is not too hard to come by. You can pretty much close your eyes and point to a restaurant that will knock your socks off. But Atchafalaya is doing more than just providing decent food: they’re creating an experience. From the live bands that play roaring jazz for customers to the wait staff and chef’s attention to detail, this restaurant is sure to be a classic for locals and visitors alike.
Atchafalaya
901 Louisiana Ave New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: (504) 891-9626
Cost: Starters - $12-$20; Entrée - $28-$59
Reservations: Necessary
Noise Level: Very loud; live bands on the weekend
