New Restaurant - Cafe Nola in Ponchatoula

Went out to eat a week ago to a new place in town, Cafe Nola.  It is on Highway 51 in a new shopping center (I believe called South Oaks).  I had heard a few good things about it and wanted to try it out.  The place is beautiful with lots of earth tone colors and eye-popping art.  I think I noticed a few Michalopoulos (http://www.michalopoulos.com/) prints near the entrance.   The menu is typical for a south Louisiana nice casual restaurant (fried and broiled seafood, steaks, salads, pasta, etc.).  I tried the Delacroix Stack (pictured).  It was fried eggplant that was stacked with fried oysters and covered with a crabmeat and butter sauce.  It was very good.  The ingredients were fresh and off high quality.  My brother had the spaghetti and meatballs and seemed to enjoy them.  The portion was so large he had to bring more than half home.  My day had a seafood and pasta dish that he said was very good. 

We saw some mutual friends there (the Butlers) who told us they had been several times and enjoy the food very much.  They told us that the chef/owner had serveral restaurants in the surrounding area.  You could tell that this restaurant benefited from the successful experience of the previous restaurants.  All in all it was a great night out.  It was also nice to support a new local business.  We knew most of the staff - many of them from our church.