Jacques-Imo's Cafe

05/25/2008 Posted by UclBob

We had a party of 9 people on a Friday evening. Upon arriving at the restaurant and being re-directed to our dining area Jacques was walking among the crowd and cheerfully greeting everyone. We sat at our table, where well received by the waiter. All in our party enjoyed the appetizers we chose. Upon deciding on our main course we relaxed in the atmosphere of the room taking in the many pictures and murals, including the restroom. Each of us seemed to have ordered a different item. Upon finishing our meal none of us had any regrets. The wait staff took good care of us and Jacques walked through the dining area thanking each of us (and those around) for coming in and gave us suggestions for our next visit on what to order based on what we ordered that day. It was a busy night and the crowd outside was anxiuos to get in when we left.

Pros: Good ambience, food

Cons: crowed space

05/06/2008 Posted by pinays

unless you have a group reservation (i think 6 or more) be prepared to wait 2 hours for a table. luckily, we had a reservation, which was booked 30 days in advance to the day of the dinner. the place was packed and colorful and had interesting places where one sat diners (the bed of the truck, the balcony, anywhere they could fit people). where we were seated, we walked through the kitchen -- which i think was good in a way as it allowed transparency in terms of the cleanliness. we started off with jalapeno bread, which was like cornbread with its sweetness and consistency and had a slight hint of jalapeno. for the appetizer, we had crabcakes, which were not greasy and lightly breaded served on a bed of arugula salad. we also had calamari served over a slight tangy sweet sauce. we also had the alligator pie, which did not really strike me as exciting. for our entrees, i had the scallop braised in red wine sauce and pears. the scallops were so nice and tender and tasted a bit sweet due to the pears. the scallops were also pretty big. i did enjoy this dish. my mashed potato side and greens were also very good. i tried the quail, which was juicy and moist and quite flavorful. the service was very friendly and homey. the chef made his rounds later on with his jug of cosmopolitan where he proceeded to go up on tables and take pictures with the patrons. he was definitely a good chef and host. good times. if you have the chance to try this place, you really should make the effort.

05/04/2008 Posted by MusicCityDiner

I've resisted writing a review on Jacques-Imo's figuring the reasonable, thoughtful approach was to give it another shot. . . and another. May 3, 2008 was the third trip, and the second visit to the restaurant during the busy JazzFest period. We'll be succinct: Jacques-Imo's proved average on the best outings and worse this past trip, and it's particularly frustrating to have such a disappointing experience in a city filled with outstanding dining options. The problem is that after the long, long wait the service is disinterested and then another extended wait for food that's not all that impressive. After a two-hour wait, our server met us with a dry, indifferent , unfriendly reaction. . . to people who they had to know had waited a long time to get in. Didn't even offer us drinks, just asked if we were ready to order. This has been our experience numerous times. Which would be alright if the food proved outstanding. It isn't. NOLA is littered with amazing restaurants -- we suggest skipping this one.

Pros: Lively, energetic atmosphere

Cons: Average food, spotty service

04/29/2008 Posted by Coldsteel120

I have been on assignment in New Orleans for the past 6 months and Jaques-Imo's Cafe is the best I have had while assigned here. The outside may scare some off but the food IMO is outstanding. I have not had a bad dinner yet. The atmosphere is pretty chaotic and if you are looking for a quiet dinning experience this is not it. Neither was Brennan's where they were letting in folks with flip flops and shorts the other day. I have yet to leave Jaques-Imo's without taking food home. Anyone that rates the place a 1 star has a grudge against the owner IMO. The locals I work with recommended this place immediately as their favorite place to eat. I concur, and I have been to the French Quarter and have sampled most of the resturaunts and Jaques-Imo's is my favorite so far.

Pros: quality of food, price

Cons: size, parking, bathroom

03/15/2008 Posted by nolanew

This "Cool"place is not worth the trouble. While the appetizers were great (fried green tomatoes and alligator sausage/shrimp cheesecake), the entrees were awful. The blackened redfish came with an over-done rich sauce and the Cowboy Steak the same. The mashed potatoes are good. The worst thing about the meal was the salad dressing, which was like a rasberry vinaigrette from a bottle: so sweet it made me wince! The fried oyster on the salad was great.

Pros: fried oyster, appetizers

Cons: loud, dark, bad entrees

03/10/2008 Posted by BiblioLA

OK, this is my first ever restaurant review, so be patient....I never knew that a meal could bring such bliss until I ate at Jacques! I was in grad school in NOLA for a few years in the mid/late 90's, and even we could afford it! I can only speak for the only meal I ever ordered [over and again]: pork-chop stuffed w/ massive amounts of shrimp and crab and topped w/ Portabello mushrooms; plus some heavenly mashed potatoes (rosemary? garlic? I forget); the best corn macquechoux [sp?] I've ever had the pleasure to ingest... Anybody new come into NOLA? We immediately dragged them to Jacque's; and they *always* loved it, as well. The one time our food was late, Jacques presented us w/free wine. Don't miss this opportunity for a total eyes-rolled-back-in-your-head, toe-curling pleasure! HINT: try to eat "out back" (past the kitchen). For Jacques: Thanks to you and your staff for sticking around; I was afraid you'd be gone after the storm... In deep appreciation, Kristen M. Reed

Pros: Incredible food at sensible costs.

Cons: Lately - the wait to get a table.

02/21/2008 Posted by evajefferies

Myself and 4 of my girlfriends were down in New Orleans last weekend for a 40th birthday party. We went to Jacques Imos the first night and it was hard to beat. I wanted something with a local flair to it with great food and we got exactly that. Bit of a cab ride if you are staying in the French Quarter but worth it (about 15 minutes away). Nice to get away from all the tourist traps. They start you off with cornbread that will almost make you cry it's so good and I don't even like cornbread. All the appitizers are amazing from the fried green tomatos to the fried oysters (and we nearly tried the lot), nothing was short of excellent. I had the mahi mahi for a main and it was some of the best fish I've ever tasted. Go hungry because you'll barely be able to walk out the door. Wine list was good and reasonablely priced. Service was also good and friendly at the table but the girls at check in were a bit on the surley side. Bar is hopping and really fun. I can't say enough about this place. Almost worth a trip back from San Francisco for this dining experience alone.....

Pros: Food, Ambience

Cons: Check in could be friendlier

12/30/2007 Posted by crrlgrrl

I've been to Jacques-Imo's several times, usually with out-of-towners so they can try out the local cuisine. While the wait for a table can be quite lengthy, it is worth it for the food (also, there is bar at which to wait and an extensive selection of drinks from which to choose). The decor is quite casual despite the slightly high prices. Thus far, the servers have all been quite knowledgeable about the food (delish salmon with mushrooms, delicately flavored mahi mahi, start with the alligator pie - a mix between quiche and cheesecake or the rabbit fingers - just like chicken fingers but with a better presentation and sauce) and the service has always been timely. I recommend this restaurant to locals and non-locals alike.

Pros: great food

Cons: a little pricey

10/19/2007 Posted by jdpguy

If any one place in New Orleans can encompass the essence of the "Big Easy," it's Jacques-Imo's Cafe. Nothing high brow there. Everything about the restaurant puts you at ease. You'll enter the pastel colored front to arrive in an ecclectically decorated boisterous bar room filled with colorful art work by local artist Frenchy, among others. The music, if a little loud and not "local" was familiar and enjoyable. The customers seemed to range from conventioneers to college students to locals. I've eaten here pre- and post- Katrina now, and I was surprised to find the wait for my table was much shorter than I expected. I ate in the main dining area, through the kitchen to the rear of the building. The dining room remains materially unchanged from the first time I ate there, before the storm. I found the service to be attentive and thorough, if not exceptional. Our foursome shared a selection of 3 different appetisers. The stuffed shrimp was my favorite, but the fried green tomatoes and alligator sausage cheesecake were equally satisfying. The tastes were not spicey, but flavorful. It was food that prompted audible moans of pleasure not just from our group, but from others seated around us. Another round of drinks from the bar and our entrees had arrived. I had the blackened tuna with champange oyster brie sauce. My mouth started watering as I typed that. It was delicious. The best fish dish I've ever had in New Orleans. I also tried a nibble from the stuffed porkchop, an unfinishable giant of a dish, with a rich mesh of flavors and the fried venison, which was not the gamey tasting stuff I've had at my sportsman friend's parties, but a tender satisfying plate that I intend to order for myself next time I'm there. Compared to the touristy French Quarter options Jacques-Imo's is well worth the trip uptown and a don't miss New Orleans dining treat.

Pros: Food Food Food

Cons: Not a quiet place

10/13/2007 Posted by epiqr_dup

This used to be one of those cool "discoveries" you could take visitors for an uproarious good time. The menu was often innovative, if uneven, and the general atmosphere was good natured and genially chaotic. But today, the chaos has pretty much trumped any remnants of geniality. The mood at Jacques-Imo's has always depended on Jack Leonardi, the dipsomaniacal host. He was that cheerful sot who hovered over the proceedings, making sure every glass stayed full - so even the longest wait flew by quickly. What's changed is that Jack has become a mean drunk: unpredictable, abusive, and unpleasant to be around. A lot of the kitchen and front-of-house team that made the place fun have escaped to better jobs, while the remaining staff look around nervously for Jack. They know that he can show up suddenly and create a scene that ruins a table's evening (and any chance of a decent tip). Wish you could have been there a few years ago, but these days, stay away.