**3.5 stars**
Imagine how distraught I was when I wanted to try this restaurant out and only found a few reviews from 2013. I must say, I was hesitant without my trustworthy sources but it motivated me to check this place out and report back to my fellow Yelpers!
We arrived as a party of 2 on a Friday night around 7:30 with no reservations. They managed to squeeze us in right away at a table just beyond the entrance. The live music starts at 8:00 p.m. and the place fills up between 7-8 so I would try and arrive by 7 if you have a bigger party than 2 or make reservations. They do online reservations if you give at least 24 hours notice.
We were excited to try the Alligator skewers but they were "sold out". It seems from other reviews, this happens often. Definitely a disappointment and missed opportunity for them to highlight one of their more unique dishes on a busy Friday night. Instead, we opted for the Cajun Calamari and Grilled Vegetable plate. The veggies are not worth mentioning and not worth ordering - you can make this at home on your own! The calamari was delicious and full of Cajun flavoring - worth a try. Lastly, the Cajun Catfish is definitely on the must try list if you visit this New Orleans inspired restaurant. It is as authentic as a dish can get here.
Their selection of scotch was impressive. I was at dinner with a scotch lover and it seemed fitting to sip on a glass (or two) post dinner to enjoy the live music. As a lover of jazz, I really enjoyed the cozy ambience. The space itself is not huge so the music carries nicely across the restaurant. If you are here for a date where you want to get to know eachother, I suggest arriving before the music starts because it gets pretty hard to chat once the band gets going.
I would definitely like to come back to Nawlins to enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the live music. I think next time it will have a solid 4 stars when I rate it only on the drinks and entertainment.