A little chaotic that night, but our server Jacob and the kitchen still made it an excellent experience, even under intense pressure. Thanks guys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauren Carroll
Food was really mediocre for the price. Nice to see this cuisine represented in Cinci but the flavors weren't all there. Tried the beef po'boy, crawfish pasta, maque choux, and fried green tomatoes. Food was acceptable, not great, but the cocktails were horrendously bad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Jamie Frank
As a New Orleans native, I was intrigued to check out Laveau in Cincinnati, which bills itself as an upscale, New Orleans-inspired dining experience. The restaurant’s homage to Marie Laveau, complete with gorgeous decor that captures the mysterious and vibrant essence of the Crescent City, is impressive. The vibe is undeniably cool, and the ambiance does a fantastic job at setting the tone for a memorable night out.
Starting with drinks, my wife and I don’t drink alcohol, so we opted for mocktails. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite up to par – we had to send them back multiple times, and the final versions still didn’t quite hit the mark. This was a bit disappointing, especially considering the high expectations for such an elevated cocktail bar attached to a distillery.
Now onto the food: we tried to judge it fairly, as New Orleans cuisine holds a special place in my heart. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. While they were out of the asparagus, the dish still delivered on flavor, and the remoulade was spot-on and gave me a taste of home. It was probably the most authentic-tasting part of the meal, which I appreciated.
For mains, I went with the Tour of New Orleans, a sampler featuring étouffée (which I ordered with crawfish), chicken and sausage gumbo, and jambalaya. Although the food was definitely tasty and beautifully plated, it missed the mark on authenticity. The jambalaya was close, but the gumbo and étouffée didn’t quite have that true NOLA flavor.
My wife ordered the Pasta Laveau, which she enjoyed. The pasta had a delicious, spicy cream sauce that held its own, but I felt the portion of noodles could have been a bit bigger, especially given the price. The proteins were well-cooked, but I’d prefer whole shrimp rather than small pieces, and the sausage (cut into half moons), which claimed to be andouille, didn’t quite have the distinctive andouille taste I expected.
One delightful surprise was the inclusion of both Tabasco and Crystal hot sauces – a small touch that added a slice of authenticity to the meal. It’s rare to find Crystal in restaurants outside of Louisiana, so that was a nice nod to the roots they’re honoring.
Service was excellent; our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and helped make the experience enjoyable. While prices are on the higher side, that’s expected for an upscale-casual spot with an ambiance like this. Overall, Laveau is a great place to enjoy delicious, well-presented food and a beautiful New Orleans-inspired atmosphere – just keep in mind that the food may not fully match the authentic flavors a New Orleanian would expect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer
Brent Piphus
Simply Delicious. Overall just a Classy place. Top Notch. The Manager Scott was inviting and all our bartenders were superb. The Catfish was served hot, fresh, and seasoned crisped to perfection. The Gumbo and Jumbalaya brought back memories of my Mothers down South cooking. The cocktails were special flavorful treats, uniquely paired with the right liquors from many of Cincinnatis regional finest distilleries with their select juices & bitters. Lastly, I haven't enjoyed beignets that delicious since my last visit to New Orleans. Note* The fresh berry sauce is Phenomenal. We'll return soon to make it down the rest of the menu.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish, Side of Jambalaya, Side of Gumbo, Beignets
Buck Rumely
Great time at Laveau. Food was spot on- New Orleans feel without the flight. Drinks were amazing and service was attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kylie
I probably won't be back. We had reservations on a Saturday night. It started slow — we were not acknowledged for five minutes after arriving with no host in sight. The host, coming in from outside the restaurant, a bit frantic, was able to get us to our seats fairly quickly after that. But we soon became aware that the restaurant was grossly understaffed for a Saturday night. The host took our drink order: two signature cocktails, a Hurricane O'Brien and a Ruby Slipper. The problem was that our drinks didn't arrive until after we finished our dinner— over an hour later. The drinks were fine, but not to the level I'd expect for a cocktail bar. There was no excuse for the delay beyond staffing—the drinks were premixed (I asked whether I could swap liquor and was told that I could not because they were premixed). The host thankfully took them off our bill. The staffing situation could be forgiven if the food was good. It was not. We ordered fried green tomatoes, debris poutine, and braised shortrib. Everything was salty, and we spent the entire meal trying to find the culprit. For the tomatoes, it was the remoulade. For the poutine and the short rib, it was the gravy. We had to dig under the gravy to escape the overwhelming salty flavor. We didn't complain about the food, but probably should have brought it to their attention. But to be perfectly honest, I was so annoyed by the end of dinner that it didn't seem worth it. The host tried to make things right by comping the drinks and the fried green tomatoes, which was appreciated. But the overall experience left a bad taste in my mouth and there are too many good restaurants in Cincinnati to gamble again.
Rob
First, I love that they have their own unique bourbons. I tried the Rye and it was excellent. We had a few apps, a wedge salad and shared the Laveau pasta. It was all delicious and great flavor. The service was also spot on. Laveau will definitely be added to our date night rotation.
Jim
Drinks, Food, Service and Ambiance were all Excellent. Our party of four enjoyed every item we ordered from our cocktails, crab cake appetizer, catfish jambalaya, blackened shrimp and beignets for dessert. We'll definitely be back.
Butch
Great vibes, drinks, service and food! The atmosphere was warm and enviting. Antoine was fabulous in assisting with drink and food choices and was very attentive! We decided to forego wine for the evening by sampling their in house distilled spirits and loved them! We enjoyed the crab cakes, green goddess salad , gumbo and short ribs. They brought back great Cajun memories from the past. The beignets lacked what New Orleans is known for, but were still acceptable. We will go again because there were many choices to still explore!
Anne
Things started out well from 5:30-6:00 after which our waiter rarely stopped by us. It took over an hour to get our food which we couldn't finish due to a show at the Aronoff, which our waiter knew we were going to.
My wife and I brought our kids here after watching the Bluey show at the Aronoff. We've been trying to find a solid Creole restaurant that scratched that itch of the food we've had in New Orleans. Hands down, they knocked it out of the park!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer, Side of Gumbo
Sheilah Rauh
Worst cheesecake I’ve ever had! Presentation was off as well. The ambience and the atmosphere inside are very New Orleans-ish and appealing! Entrées were “OK“ too salty! Hard pass on returning here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
tyann amos
The food is good !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trisha Winland
I actually went to Laveau twice last week. My husband and I dropped by Wednesday for just a drink because we wanted to try their Sazerac but had already eaten dinner. The drinks were great, the bartender and managers were so nice, and the food looked so good that we went back Friday for dinner. We both had the Tour of New Orleans so we could try the gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee. I liked all of them, but I liked the gumbo the most. The leftovers of the other two were even more delicious the next day. The Sazerac and Ruby Slipper were both well crafted cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Side of Jambalaya, Side of Gumbo
Lindsey Hladky
Been wanting to try this place for awhile and I was not disappointed!! Food was amazing. The waiter was amazing. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Highly recommend!
A little chaotic that night, but our server Jacob and the kitchen still made it an excellent experience, even under intense pressure. Thanks guys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was really mediocre for the price. Nice to see this cuisine represented in Cinci but the flavors weren't all there. Tried the beef po'boy, crawfish pasta, maque choux, and fried green tomatoes. Food was acceptable, not great, but the cocktails were horrendously bad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
As a New Orleans native, I was intrigued to check out Laveau in Cincinnati, which bills itself as an upscale, New Orleans-inspired dining experience. The restaurant’s homage to Marie Laveau, complete with gorgeous decor that captures the mysterious and vibrant essence of the Crescent City, is impressive. The vibe is undeniably cool, and the ambiance does a fantastic job at setting the tone for a memorable night out.
Starting with drinks, my wife and I don’t drink alcohol, so we opted for mocktails. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite up to par – we had to send them back multiple times, and the final versions still didn’t quite hit the mark. This was a bit disappointing, especially considering the high expectations for such an elevated cocktail bar attached to a distillery.
Now onto the food: we tried to judge it fairly, as New Orleans cuisine holds a special place in my heart. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. While they were out of the asparagus, the dish still delivered on flavor, and the remoulade was spot-on and gave me a taste of home. It was probably the most authentic-tasting part of the meal, which I appreciated.
For mains, I went with the Tour of New Orleans, a sampler featuring étouffée (which I ordered with crawfish), chicken and sausage gumbo, and jambalaya. Although the food was definitely tasty and beautifully plated, it missed the mark on authenticity. The jambalaya was close, but the gumbo and étouffée didn’t quite have that true NOLA flavor.
My wife ordered the Pasta Laveau, which she enjoyed. The pasta had a delicious, spicy cream sauce that held its own, but I felt the portion of noodles could have been a bit bigger, especially given the price. The proteins were well-cooked, but I’d prefer whole shrimp rather than small pieces, and the sausage (cut into half moons), which claimed to be andouille, didn’t quite have the distinctive andouille taste I expected.
One delightful surprise was the inclusion of both Tabasco and Crystal hot sauces – a small touch that added a slice of authenticity to the meal. It’s rare to find Crystal in restaurants outside of Louisiana, so that was a nice nod to the roots they’re honoring.
Service was excellent; our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and helped make the experience enjoyable. While prices are on the higher side, that’s expected for an upscale-casual spot with an ambiance like this. Overall, Laveau is a great place to enjoy delicious, well-presented food and a beautiful New Orleans-inspired atmosphere – just keep in mind that the food may not fully match the authentic flavors a New Orleanian would expect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer
Simply Delicious. Overall just a Classy place. Top Notch. The Manager Scott was inviting and all our bartenders were superb. The Catfish was served hot, fresh, and seasoned crisped to perfection. The Gumbo and Jumbalaya brought back memories of my Mothers down South cooking. The cocktails were special flavorful treats, uniquely paired with the right liquors from many of Cincinnatis regional finest distilleries with their select juices & bitters. Lastly, I haven't enjoyed beignets that delicious since my last visit to New Orleans. Note* The fresh berry sauce is Phenomenal. We'll return soon to make it down the rest of the menu.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish, Side of Jambalaya, Side of Gumbo, Beignets
Great time at Laveau. Food was spot on- New Orleans feel without the flight. Drinks were amazing and service was attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I probably won't be back. We had reservations on a Saturday night. It started slow — we were not acknowledged for five minutes after arriving with no host in sight. The host, coming in from outside the restaurant, a bit frantic, was able to get us to our seats fairly quickly after that. But we soon became aware that the restaurant was grossly understaffed for a Saturday night. The host took our drink order: two signature cocktails, a Hurricane O'Brien and a Ruby Slipper. The problem was that our drinks didn't arrive until after we finished our dinner— over an hour later. The drinks were fine, but not to the level I'd expect for a cocktail bar. There was no excuse for the delay beyond staffing—the drinks were premixed (I asked whether I could swap liquor and was told that I could not because they were premixed). The host thankfully took them off our bill. The staffing situation could be forgiven if the food was good. It was not. We ordered fried green tomatoes, debris poutine, and braised shortrib. Everything was salty, and we spent the entire meal trying to find the culprit. For the tomatoes, it was the remoulade. For the poutine and the short rib, it was the gravy. We had to dig under the gravy to escape the overwhelming salty flavor. We didn't complain about the food, but probably should have brought it to their attention. But to be perfectly honest, I was so annoyed by the end of dinner that it didn't seem worth it. The host tried to make things right by comping the drinks and the fried green tomatoes, which was appreciated. But the overall experience left a bad taste in my mouth and there are too many good restaurants in Cincinnati to gamble again.
First, I love that they have their own unique bourbons. I tried the Rye and it was excellent. We had a few apps, a wedge salad and shared the Laveau pasta. It was all delicious and great flavor. The service was also spot on. Laveau will definitely be added to our date night rotation.
Drinks, Food, Service and Ambiance were all Excellent. Our party of four enjoyed every item we ordered from our cocktails, crab cake appetizer, catfish jambalaya, blackened shrimp and beignets for dessert. We'll definitely be back.
Great vibes, drinks, service and food! The atmosphere was warm and enviting. Antoine was fabulous in assisting with drink and food choices and was very attentive! We decided to forego wine for the evening by sampling their in house distilled spirits and loved them! We enjoyed the crab cakes, green goddess salad , gumbo and short ribs. They brought back great Cajun memories from the past. The beignets lacked what New Orleans is known for, but were still acceptable. We will go again because there were many choices to still explore!
Things started out well from 5:30-6:00 after which our waiter rarely stopped by us. It took over an hour to get our food which we couldn't finish due to a show at the Aronoff, which our waiter knew we were going to.
Restaurantji Recommends
My wife and I brought our kids here after watching the Bluey show at the Aronoff. We've been trying to find a solid Creole restaurant that scratched that itch of the food we've had in New Orleans. Hands down, they knocked it out of the park!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer, Side of Gumbo
Worst cheesecake I’ve ever had! Presentation was off as well. The ambience and the atmosphere inside are very New Orleans-ish and appealing! Entrées were “OK“ too salty!
Hard pass on returning here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
The food is good !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I actually went to Laveau twice last week. My husband and I dropped by Wednesday for just a drink because we wanted to try their Sazerac but had already eaten dinner. The drinks were great, the bartender and managers were so nice, and the food looked so good that we went back Friday for dinner. We both had the Tour of New Orleans so we could try the gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee. I liked all of them, but I liked the gumbo the most. The leftovers of the other two were even more delicious the next day. The Sazerac and Ruby Slipper were both well crafted cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Side of Jambalaya, Side of Gumbo
Been wanting to try this place for awhile and I was not disappointed!! Food was amazing. The waiter was amazing. Everything tasted
fresh and flavorful. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beignets
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