With the recent closure of coffee/wine/sweets shop La Casa Dolce, I feared my choices for a quality café near CL’s headquarters would be relegated to the Starbucks on South Howard, with its overpriced java and thoroughly antiseptic environs.
But after last night’s visit to NOLA Café & News Stand, I’ve found a most worthy replacement.
I met my friend Emily at the quaint eatery, located in a tiny annex behind the Walgreens on the corner of Platt Street and Plant Avenue, around 7:30 p.m. To my mild surprise, we were the only customers, which struck me as strange because NOLA is so warm and inviting inside, evocative of the Crescent City's laid-back charms.
We started off with café au laits and an order of beignets, neither of which I’ve had since a visit to Café Du Monde in the French Quarter about nine years ago. The three square French doughnuts came to us hot, generously coated with confectioner’s sugar, and tasted as good as they looked, each bite through the deep-fried dough revealing a delicious, puffy interior. They were perfectly complemented by our chicory coffees, which were smooth and flavorful, a welcome change of pace from the standard cup o’ joe.
Our appetites suitably whetted, I ordered a bowl of their rich, buttery jambalaya, and Emily enjoyed an equally tasty Chicken & Andouille Gumbo fortified with a well-seasoned roux.
When I asked our young server about the dearth of customers, he cited the location as a problem, while noting that business picks up considerably whenever the local news media outlets run stories on NOLA. On its website, nolacafe.com, you’ll find links to a Fox 13 profile from February, as well as a March 21 story in the St. Pete Times.
Though it might not always have the business it deserves because of its off-the-beaten-path location, I think NOLA’s in a perfect spot, far enough away from the hustle and bustle to serve as a welcome, relaxing oasis of New Orleans flavor and ambience. I’ll definitely be back.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2008.