The purple fluorescent sign reading "Nola" reflects off the cobblestones of Head House Square, in contrast to the old-school wooden signs of nearby pubs and tavern style restaurants.
If this isn't enough to draw your attention to Cafe Nola, Philadelphia's foremost provider of "the cuisine of New Orleans," the large front window festooned with strands of lights and stuffed full of a bizarre collection of -- for lack of a better word -- stuff, will certainly grab your attention.
Cafe Nola was quite empty for 8 p.m. on a Thursday evening. However, we were informed that the restaurant was popular with the thirties and forties crowd on Friday and Saturday nights, and as an after-work spot during the week.
The low lit restaurant resembles a sultry N'awlin's bar, with dark wood paneling and small beaded lamps on each table. Everything feels close and intimate, an atmosphere which is accentuated by the blues music playing in the background.
The menu is extensive without being overwhelming, with a good sized selection of salads and appetizers. The selection of entrees is varied -- but don't plan on eating light at Nola.
The voodoo shrimp appetizer ($9.95) is said to be a favorite, called so for its mix of garlic and spice. I can attest to the accuracy of the description -- along with most dishes at Nola, the shrimp is burning with trademark Cajun spices. Also popular are the fried oysters ($9.95), which top the Cajun Caesar salad ($14.95) as well. This was a bit greasy for my taste, and very large for a starting salad.
Nola, we were told, is known for its amazing cream sauces. To test this theory, I tried the lobster ravioli ($18.95), served with a blush cream sauce and of course, Creole spices. The dish was heavy, but delicious.
In addition to a variety of pasta dishes, many of which include shrimp or shellfish of some form, the menu provides a wide array of chicken, steaks, and other seafood dishes. My guest thoroughly enjoyed the Creole chicken, which was served with red beans and rice.
On the special Mardi Gras menu, the Louis Armstrong trilogy ($26.65) sounded particularly intriguing (and included both chicken and shrimp), but seemed too hefty a dish to order on top of appetizers.
The food, while rich, is well prepared. The portions are large but not excessive, and a doggie bag is never a bad thing. The dessert selection was limited, with the only choices being banana foster and key lime pie. Full as we were of cream sauces and Creole spices, we opted for the bill and digested to the sweet sounds of B.B. King.
All in all, Nola is worth a visit for the unique cuisine. The atmosphere is relaxing and the food satisfying. However, it is relatively pricey, though the portion size somewhat justifies the cost.
