Mike’s On The Avenue

I surprised my husband with a birthday dinner at mikes last month. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was a success from providing us with VIP setting to the service provided by our waiter. The food was excellent and worth every penny.

Yum, yum! I attended a luncheon at Mike’s on the Avenue and the service and food was excellent. The gumbo broth was thin, yet hearty with generous amounts of crawfish and sausage. The hangar steak was marinated and topped with oyster sauce and sesame seeds. Not a disappointment at all. The white chocolate bread pudding was just right. I will definitely return for another lunch or dinner.

When you first enter, there is no hostess area so I wasn’t sure if I should just seat myself. Then I caught the eye of someone behind the bar and she seated us.
Our server was very pleasant. Drinks took a long time for both rounds and he apologized. My well brand drink cost me $ 10 when I’m used to paying $ 6 or $ 7 in nice restaurant so that was a bummer. I wonder how much top shelf would have cost?
The real bummer of the night and the deal breaker was the menu. I consider myself a foodie and I had a hard time finding a dish that I was excited about. the BBQ oysters were the size of my pinky yet we are in Louisiana and the peak of the season. The bouillabaisse had no flavor/​very bland. By this time we had spent $ 100 and was still hungry. We paid the bill and left hungry.
Mike is an artist and it really shows in the beautiful plating of the food and elegant décor, its the food that needs a face lift and unfortunately its the reason for the poor review.

We had a great meal here with friends during our recent visit. I had an amberjack special that was just dynamite, and their sushi was really good, even if the rolls were a bit small. The cajun roll was really memorable and unlike anything I’ve had before. It had that cajun spice to it that was just right to add zing without overpowering the fish.
Our server was friendly and attentive to our large group. The atmosphere is casual/​trendy, but with a relaxed feel (I guess that’s just New Orleans style!).

Best fish tacos

This classy, little glassed-​in gem smack dab right next to Lafayette Square is vastly under-​utilized. Mike’s has a top-​notch offerings are made with the freshest ingredients and way reasonable prices, especially considering its high-​falutin’ neighbor (the snobbish Herbsaint, who I find can’t touch Mike’s in terms of the overall experience). The service is impeccable, the atmosphere is relaxed and beautiful, with views of the avenue and park from all tables, and the menu is a skillful balance of old New Orleans favorites and modern fusion creativity.
Try the shrimp and spinach dumplings and the gumbo. The salads are good, but the entrees, such as the BBQ shrimp and grits, are better. I understand that the fish of the day is usually phenomenal, and the fish tacos are always a favorite.
Mike’s has a good wine list and offers craft cocktails to please every palate.
I have never been for dinner, but I am sure that the experience is just as good, if not better, than lunch.
Forget Herbsaint and try Mike’s. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Bouillabaisse was out of control! We had to wait 30 minutes for our reserved seats but I had changed our reservation once that night and it was White Linen night so it was a bit crazy. We were not in a rush… it’s NOLA, right? Worth the wait and I loved the fact the owners kids were busing the tables… so adorable and they were lovely polite young men. The noise level was high but I loved the décor and vibe of the place. Would go back when in town again. A local woman who works at the Ogden Museum had reccommended Mikes to us and clearly she loves food because Mike’s was just one of 8 she gave us. Thanks for the reccommendation!

I was a bit skeptical about trying Mike’s on the Avenue because of the lukewarm reviews, but couldn’t skip out on the chance to dine here when my boyfriend’s family invited me. And the verdict? I’m happy to say that it was a very pleasant experience, except for a slight mishap.
First off, I love the ambiance. It’s contemporary, clean, and quaint with touches of artistry (as you’ll see in their tableware). We were seated promptly upon arrival and greeted. For apps, we ordered the Blackened Tuna Napoleon and the Andouille and Brie Crispy Naan Flatbread. Both were delicious, but the vinaigrette used in the tuna dish was a bit too salty for my taste. The flatbread was a definite hit with the table. For my entrée, I ordered the Crispy Duck. The wait for our entrees was close to excruciating as I was starving, and they were taking abnormally long to get the food out considering we were the only table dining in the restaurant. My dish came out last, and I was disappointed upon my first bite; it was overcooked and so chewy. Every time someone looked over at me, I was chewing on a piece of my duck. The sad part is that I’m not even exaggerating. It was pretty comical. But I will give them points, because the flavoring of the duck was pretty good. I also had a small bite of everyone else’s dish, which were all good. Just my luck right? My boyfriend ordered the Filet Mignon, which was cooked to perfection. His sister ordered the Glazed Salmon, which also was delicious. If I would have based my review on my entrée alone, Mike’s would have definitely received lower ratings, but considering I enjoyed everything else BUT my entrée, it wouldn’t be fair.
I fully intend to dine here again. Maybe I’ll get lucky next time? The best aspect of this restaurant is that it incorporates Asian flavors so well into their dishes to complement everything. I’m itching to try Barbecue oysters and Crawfish Spring Rolls the next time I decide to come back.

I love going places I’ve never been. I am also on a quest to find the perfect fish taco.
My boss and I took the new girl here for her first day lunch. The atmosphere was bright and airy, the dining room freezing.
We order our drinks, two teas – boss was fine with water. Waiter only brings one tea. I remind him nicely that I also had a tea. New girl gives me hers, which was very nice. Not for her, though.
Her tea arrives. As we all sit talking, she apologizes and starts pulling little PIECES OF GLASS out of her mouth. We call waiter over and tell him that there is glass in her tea. He picks up the glass, quietly says «Oh, goooooosh,» and goes to get her another tea. No apology, nothing. I understand it’s not his fault, but unless a manager comes out, Waiter is the representative for the restaurant. The reaction was underwhelming. I mean, GLASS. Not a just little black speck in the ice. GLASS. Multiple pieces.
Being a first day lunch for someone makes it hard to be fussy, things were awkward enough. So we continue with lunch.
I loved the house salad. I was scared of the beets at first, but the tomato dressing was sublime and was even better with the little pieces of beet.
I ordered the fish/​oyster taco combo. They looked yummy, but were loaded with so much sauce I almost couldn’t tell which was the fish and which was the oyster. I had to eat them with a fork. The oyster taco was fine – I like fried oysters in moderation, and these were breaded well and had a nice texture. The sauces were good, but I couldn’t give you an idea of the distinctions between them because there were all thrown on there together. Orange, white, and guac is about the best I can say.
Once I sunk into the fish taco, I realized that the tacos may be drowning in sauce to cover up the fact that the fish was burnt. Not blackened burnt in a good way that would be complimented by any sauce, but burnt as in big black marks that affected the flavor to the point that I had an after taste of burnt throughout the rest of the meal and for a good portion of the afternoon. Again, complaining seemed futile given the understated reaction to the glass, not to mention that the speed of service was average to slow, so it may have taken awhile to get another order.
Salad dressing isn’t enough to bring me back.

Terrible service. Very average food. Not good value for money.
SKIP.

Had an eccellent dining experience with a five course meal as part of a discount voucher. Had a very interesting complimentery pre-​appetizer with light fluffy and crisp pastries with a set of dips and toppings. All of the food was tasty and nicely presented. I would not hesitate to return even at full price.

Still open, despite being shown as closed. Had a dinner for 4 on Saturday night and was extremely surprised there was no one there but us and two other parties.
Great location on Lafayette Square, huge windows overlooking the park & St. Charles. Our dinners were marvelous, starters included shrimp dumplings and gumbo. Dinners were the filet mignon, pork chop, boulliabase (know that is spelled wrong) and the tuna … All were exceptionally marvelous. Also some wonderfully prepared cocktails.
Would definitely return here!

I’m so glad I found this place! The food is delectable and I love that the majority of options are healthy (unlike lots of other places in Nola). The interior is striking, with a view of Lafayette Square park, and the outside tables are the ideal spot to watch the world go by. This would be the perfect spot for business lunch, birthday dinner, appetizers with the girls, etc. I can’t wait to go back and try more food!

We have been coming to JazzFest for over a decade, and last year we read that Mike’s was reopening in its original spot on St. Charles. They hadn’t decided whether to stay open on Sunday evening after JF when we called. Long story short — they opened and we had a wonderful post JF meal there — but the word hadn’t spread and the place was pretty empty. So, I’m letting the cat out of the bag and am letting everyone know that Mike’s will be open again this year on Sundays during JazzFest. I’m only telling you because we already have our reservations! I can’t recommend the place enough. Great food and ambience, and we were made to feel welcomed.
See you there! Let them know you saw the Jazzman’s review on Unilocal

I had the Ginger & Citrus martinis. Though the ginger martini was FABULOUS & flavorful! However, the citrus martini was just ok. It was definitely fresh squeezed OJ but that seemed all there was (no booze). :-(

Waiter was not helpful on the meal or wine selection
Food not good and overpriced.

Mike’s on the Avenue. Atmosphere was very nice. Mike obviously uses it as a springboard for his art… but maybe he should bring in someone a little more accomplished. When I’m paying that much for a meal, I would prefer to see art that is a little more refined than the brightly painted paper mache fish. But I don’t want to dwell on the art, there’s food here.
We started our meal already having drinks with us (more on that later), but when we did need more (and we always need more drinks), the waiter was less than helpful. It went something like this:
«I don’t know any of these wines»
«What do you like?»
«Pinot.»
“This one is good.”
«Can you describe it?»
«Um, it’s a nice Pinot.»
«Ok thanks, I guess I’ll just have the house red.»
House red is $ 6 as opposed to the next wine by the glass which was $ 11. I’m not usually worried about price when the server can make me feel better about my decision, but this time I had to play it safe.
Crab Cakes, Sake-​Soy Seared Tuna, Thai Chicken Pasta. I only had the crab cakes and didn’t get to taste the others. Let me preface by saying that I’ve had a serious crab cake jones for a while now and I figured that I couldn’t go wrong at a fine establishment like this. The menu describes it with Creole Smoked Sausage and White Wine Cream, but neglected to mention that it is a pasta dish with the crab cake as a garnish. While the flavors of the dish overall were rich, there was not nearly enough crab. I have since checked the online menu and it does mention the pasta but the menu in house did not.
I was very excited about coming to Mike’s because the location is beautiful and overall reviews have been good. We were able to sit at a window table (because we were the only table there at 7 pm Thursday) and the view of St. Charles Ave and the park were great, but the food really let me down. For the price, I expected a lot more knowledgeable service.
One high point was that when we arrived we were called into the venue next door, «Twist». A very friendly bartender informed us that drinks in there were 2 for 1 and both are Mike’s places so it would be ok to delay our table sitting. We moved into a comfy sofa by the window and Brett served us some delicious drinks that were made with skill and panache.
I can see myself visiting Twist again, but Mike’s probably won’t see my business anymore. There are too many other places to try in NOLA before coming back here.

First of all, I must thank Cheryl and Vicky for putting up with me and my obnoxious friends! We went into Mike’s the day before New Year’s Eve and immediately headed to the bar and ordered a specialty concoction we’d brainstormed called «The Pinched Nipple.» With Cheryl’s help, the drink was realized! And because we loved it so much, we called it «Cheryl’s Nipple» from that point on. Yes, I did say we were obnoxious! But if anyone wants to order it… here goes: Citroen vodka, chambord, passion fruit juice, sprite and lemon! Voila!
We loved Cheryl and her nipples so much, we decided to return to Mike’s for our New Year’s Eve dinner! And Vicky was such a champ for helping us get a table! Love them! Anyway, my friend and I shared the seafood appetizer platter. Not sure what it was called, but it had oysters, shrimp and redfish ceviche. The oysters were delish, the shrimp sweet, and the redfish ceviche was to die for! Seriously, I just want to order a whole bowl of it!!! For my entrée, I had the duck. It was good and the maple glaze sauce was an interesting addition. The rice was very good as well. But I have to admit, I had redfish ceviche on my mind the whole time! A must order if you love ceviche. Heck, it’s a must order if you’re just a mediocre ceviche fan and this will turn you into a believer! Nipples and ceviche — a surefire way to begin or end your night! :)

Mike’s on the Avenue was our choice for lunch today. We had a party of four and arrived around 1.
The restaurant wasn’t crowded and we were seated immediately. We started with an order of salmon spring rolls and handmade shrimp dumplings. The spring rolls were good, but the dumplings were lick the plate good.
For entrees we ordered the cuban sandwich, grilled fish Tacos, thai shrimp pasta and crab cake. Everyone enjoyed their meal, but fish tacos stood out. They were described to me as incredible. I had the thai shrimp pasta. It was good, but not phenomenal.
Service was great and the view of St. Charles and Lafayette Square can’t be beat. Enjoying a good meal while watching the streetcar pass by is definitely a great experience.
One thing that was a bit confusing were three items located behind the bar. There was a microwave, toaster oven and a crock pot. I couldn’t imagine any of these items being used to prepare any of our food since all were made with fresh, high quality ingredients. It is just odd that a nice restaurant would have these items prominently displayed behind the bar.
There are several sandwiches that are priced around $ 10 so you can eat here without breaking the bank.
I enjoyed Mike’s and recommend you give it a try.

My wife and I have been here twice now, and we are counting the days until our next visit.
The fish couldn’t be more fresh. The service couldn’t be more impeccable. The atmosphere couldn’t be cleaner.
Our first visit we decided to sit at the bar for a quick bite to eat. The bartender was welcoming and helpful. He explained to us how and where they get their fish. We ordered a little bit of sushi, sat back with some sake, and watched the animé on the TVs above.
Our second visit was most recently. We decided to sit outside since the night was gorgeous. We ordered some «crunchy» appetizer which was a-​mazing, followed by a few rolls for dinner. The presentation was on point, and I even got a little toy dragon on one of them.
This place has much more than just sushi, but my wife and I can’t seem to venture away just yet. Their fish is delish.