Salu

This place has an amazing vibe, from when I walked in even though my party was placed next to the kitchen it didn't feel that way. Our server was super friendly and very knowledgable about the menu which is hard to find a lot of places. While the drinks were average, the food was great. The seafood paella was phenomenal and could feed 2-4 easily. The small plates were not only larger than expected but also extremely flavorful and savory. Everything was well worth the price and experience. I will definitely be back without a doubt.

I absolutely hate going uptown for anything. However, I'll be damned if this place wasn't one of the best brunches I've had in New Orleans. A bit of a wait, but that's to be expected with endless $15 mimosas(that they will sub plain champagne for), Bloody Mary's, and Pimm's Cups. Service was great, the pork belly flat bread was to die for, and the breakfast items were perfect. I can't wait to go back. Long wait and all!

Why the harsh ratings for Salu? This cozy restaurant is perfect for those special occasions. My family and I went out to celebrate my sister's graduation and acceptance to medical school. Salu does offer a happy hour (c'mon, it's New Orleans we are talking about). My recommendation is to try their seasonal margaritas. Ordering by the pitcher is a better deal, especially if you are eating with a group of 3-4 people. Since we visited in May, the seasonal flavor included mango. I wouldn't have guessed it if the server didn't tell us (artificial flavoring, perhaps?). Nonetheless, it was still good. Ordering their "sharing plates" is the way to go for this restaurant although I'm sure that their entrees are just as good. Sharing is caring, right? You can't go wrong with their margherita flatbread (aka pizza). I actually preferred that over the steak and cheese pizza. Ordering the seafood paella is also a wise choice for a group. Trust me, two people can't finish this colossal dish. Our family of four still had about a fourth of it left over; it's that massive. If you do order the paella, my advice is to request that the server tell the chef to take it down a notch on the amount of pepper they use for this dish. The interior is bright with the windows on one side and large mirrors that are on an adjacent wall making this place cheerful. Salu isn't particularly big (probably seating 75-100 people max) so it is always best to reserve a table.

As we explored Magazine Street in the Uptown area, we ran across this restaurant that we had heard about and decided to give it a shot. We had a party of five which allowed us to sample a lot of their small plates. We had the mussels of the day which were in a garlic sauce served with linguine and frites. They were awesome and Katie, our waitress, provided us with baskets of extra bread to soak up the extra sauce. We also shared the cheese and charcuterie plate which consisted of local cheeses and meats of the day and that was also awesome. Other standouts were the grilled brie and the crispy pork belly. Our vegetarian in the group loved the olive tapenade. Unfortunately, that day they were out of the ceviche de Salú, wild mushroom empanadas, and the lamb lollipops, but that is ok because it gives us something to look forward to next time. The food was extremely flavorful but not to be out shined by the service. If possible, request Katie as your server -- she made us feel like VIPs and was nice enough to take the time to provide us with a number of recommendations during our visit to NOLA.

Awesome atmosphere for couples and groups alike. You are allowed to take bottle(s) of wine. Do call ahead to make reservations. Tapas menu with great variety for everyone's eating needs.