Willa Jean

Great cocktails, good atmosphere, and amazing food. I had the Frosé, pork sandwich, and OMG THE COOKIES AND MILK served with raw cookie dough.

This is a great place for a weekend brunch. The atmosphere is great, bright, and make me feel relaxing.
The service is awesome. They even separate our order into two without mentioning, which I feel they were very thoughtful.
Food there makes me feel healthy but tasty at the same time. You can taste the freshness of the food. My favorite is the salmon sandwich.
If you plan on going during weekday lunch time or weekend brunch time, keep in mind that you might wait for a while because it’s usually full.
Also, Their breads are delicious as well.

So far, this is my favorite coffee and breakfast place in the CBD.
Since moving to New Orleans, I have been trying all of the coffee places near by work in the CBD. So far, this is my favorite.
I came in on a Monday morning and ordered an Iced Latte (w/​Whole Milk). While waiting for my latte, I checked out the pastry case and decided I’d get a Bacon & Caramelized Onion Quiche, too. Everything was delicious.
The latte was strong but not too bitter, so I didn’t have to cut it with sugar or extra milk — as I have had to do at other coffee shops. The espresso had a good flavor, too — nutty, subtly sweet, and delicious. I don’t think every latte is worth $ 5, but I’ll happily pay $ 5 for this one. It’s great.
The quiche was really good too. A great quick breakfast. And I love how they put it in a box instead of just tossing it in a white paper bag. It’s the little things…
I just grabbed my order to-​go, but I noticed they have a large, nice seating area. They’ve also got a hot breakfast me, which I might try next time.
⁵⁄₅. A $ 5 latte you won’t regret.

Apparently I have a penchant for pickled peaches and pork (and alliteration).
Stopped in on a rainy Monday before the lunch rush. Was hoping to catch the breakfast menu, but I just missed it. No worries, lunch is spectacular too! Roasted pork sandwich with pickled peaches and shredded kale and yummy aioli on griddled focaccia… a revelation. The chips were meh, so don’t fill upon them. Stick to the sammy and coffees.

It’s a nice morning/​brunch style spot. A lot of bread though but, they are a bakery also.

You know those days when it’s just too humid out and you’re sweating out all the alcohol from the night before and need the hair of the dog? Willa Jean has the cure for you, and it’s their frozen honeysuckle lemonade.
Don’t get me wrong, their Bloody Mary is also excellent (I wish all of my drinks could have pickled okra in them). But the honeysuckle lemonade is the perfect summer drink.
We also couldn’t leave without trying some food. We weren’t that hungry, so between the three of us, we did the blue crab biscuit and the fried chicken biscuit. The blue crab biscuit was covered in Hollandaise and a poached egg. Also tons of flaky pieces of crab. Very good and very rich. The fried chicken biscuit was actually lighter, a thin piece of crispy fried chicken. The Tabasco honey on the side was also excellent.
We saw a lot of foot traffic for the breakfast and brunch crowd. They are also a bakery, and their baked goods looked delicious, but we didn’t have any. The place is huge, with lots of natural light. Tons of tables, good for larger groups. We sat at the bar though, because that’s where the booze is.
Our bartender also overheard that it was my birthday, so he surprised me with a frozen lemonade in a to-​go cup when we got up to leave. What a guy!

For our last meal in New Orleans, we went to Willa Jean, after seeing them on Food Network some time back. Loved everything about it — the décor, the friendly and attentive service and the food. I had smoked salmon, which they serve on an everything croissant with a spread of cream cheese combined with capers and some chopped onion, and a few slices of cucumber and heirloom tomato. The plate was garnished with a lovely, simple arugula salad and came with a serving of their delicious (housemade ?) chips. The portion was generous — they definitely didn’t skimp on the smoked salmon. I also enjoyed the cold brew coffee, and my bf enjoyed the signature biscuit .
This place is definitely a keeper. It’s now on our list of places to come back to.

Really good food and cute ambiance. I’ve been there for breakfast and dinner and we really liked the food. The avocado toast and crawfish toast were amazing. Meatloaf is delicious! You can’t come here and not get the cookies and milk. The milk is infused with some delicious flavor and the cookies melt in your mouth. Both times though our service wasn’t that great. We would ask for things and it never came, like hot sauce or a Bloody Mary. The food makes up for it though.

Hands down this is a super cool space with a great atmosphere: bright, with sleek modern furnishings and a laidback feel. The coffee was excellent, and the griddled banana bread was delicious, a meal in and of itself. The brunch plates, however, were disappointing — heavy and not very inventive (and in my humble opinion way overpriced). I had the poached eggs & blue crab on a cheddar biscuit with whipped hollandaise; hubz had the braised beef hash. Both dishes, though tasty, we’re quite heavy and not balanced, each was missing a little brightness & acidity to offset the fatty components. Some of the tartines & salads looked like they had that balance, so maybe I would stick with those if you’re looking for something lighter.

Cool hipster brunch place in a cool hipster neighborhood. Well dunno if the warehouse district is a holster neighborhood yet but it will get there with all the cool lofts. Communal table in middle was fine since no one sitting next to us. I had the avocado quinoa bowl which was light and dressed well. The hub got the brisket hash which was amaze balls. Potatoes so crisp. Brisket so tender. Friends got cheesy grits very yummy, cornbread also yummy and avocado toast. I seriously don’t know what’s so special about avocado on toast but I’m sure it’s good. Friends said the dirty water cocktail was nice — it sure was a pretty color. Like the bright interior and the light fixtures that look like whisks.

Oooo doggie the food here is good!!! I dined here for breakfast in April and had the quinoa with a biscuit. Damn Gina this was good, and fresh, and somewhat healthy!
We were waited on by a girl who may or may not have been the original Daisy Duke. Regardless, she was very sweet and the service was quick.
You can come in and buy fresh bread to take home or stay and have a great meal. I’d definitely return during my next trip to New Orleans.

Everything about this place is the epitome of a great brunch place. The atmosphere is fantastic — it’s open, light, modern and hipster all at the same time. We sat at the bar and had great service and didn’t have to wait to be seated (on Mother’s day). the menu has lots of great toast, biscuit sandwich, and dessert options. We got the banana bread with apple butter to start with… melt in your mouth good, the smoked salmon tartine which was delicious and the biscuit with sausage and egg… also really good. The coffee/​iced coffee is REALLY strong to the point that my straight black coffee drinking hubby needed cream.
We also got a cinnamon roll to go that we ate later in the day and as expected it was great.

During my last visit to the Big Easy, my lady and I stopped by for brunch and we’re glad we did!
Right away I liked the décor and interior appearance of this place. The old brick walls combined with modern paint and woodwork makes it look hip and modern yet vintage. The feel of the place is kind of half bar, half bakery. It was pretty packed so we sat at the bar.
The bartenders seemed to be more on the relaxed, laid-​back, quiet side, but they were all friendly and nice and were eager to give recommendations and answer questions. Our bartender was a distinguished gentleman with a beard and glasses. I didn’t catch his name but he was cool, and encouraged our menu selections. I started with a Bloody Mary and my lady had a Frose. Both were great!
The food was amazing, we ordered a few things including shrimp & grits, poached eggs, and biscuits. Halfway into the meal I had an bottle of stout and it was also delicious.
The only thing I noticed that I wasn’t a fan of was the area behind the bar was kind of messy and unorganized, with glasses and dishes kind of everywhere. Granted, it’s a bakery-​bar and they were coming off of a rush, but that’s me being a perfectionist.
The staff was busy and everyone was moving and everyone seemed friendly and nice. We will definitely return and I can’t wait to try more cocktails and biscuits!

Dear John,
You got your finger in another pie. Been hearing a lot about you and Willa Jean, so I decided to come and see what all the fuss is about. Love the look here… clean and kind of rustic at the same time. And relieved to see the bar. It’s always good to know where the bar is just in case I need it in a hurry.
Bob had eggs and bacon, I had Chicken Biscuits and Cheese Grits. Those grits so creamy and good. Chicken Biscuits had maple syrup on them and were oh so good as well. I cleaned my plate without being told.
Actually expected to see more baked goods for sale, but what there was looked good. Did I mention this place is part coffee shop, part bakery, a restaurant and a bar. Something for everyone. Just like you. Not cheap. but you don’t have to sell the farm to eat here either.
As always after seeing you I’m satisfied for awhile. But honestly, I wouldn’t wander out of the way to meet you here again. Especially since you weren’t really there. Only in my dreams. Bob sighed in relief, and we were off the the Roosevelt for a little more adventure.
Your #1 fan — Miss Libby

The restaurant is gorgeous and very rustic chic.
I’m not sure why I ordered the crab benedict. It was recommended by the server, yes, but I don’t particularly like hollandaise sauce or runny eggs. The biscuit and sauce were delicious, and I tossed the eggs to the side. The egg whites were oddly gelatinous. Is that how it’s supposed to be? I wondered if it was safe, then I remembered Rocky did it, lol. The crab tasted a little ‘fishy’. That was kind of off-​putting. I naturally became a little nauseated due to the crab aroma and runny eggs, so I grabbed a fried chicken biscuit to go… in case it was all in vain.
The fried chicken biscuit was the real MVP. The chicken was fresh outta the fryer and had a hint of honey glaze. The biscuit was fluffy and a carb lover’s dream. It was a good meal for a starving traveler fresh off the plane.
–xo

My sister planned a breakfast here while we were in town. Since it’s a Besh restaurant we made sure to make reservations since we had a large group with children.
Located in the up and coming South Market District, it’s quite a draw for those looking for a great meal in a beautiful setting. The restaurant is gorgeous and your eyes are drawn to the bakery and pastry case as you walk in. Even the flooring, wall and ceiling fixtures have you «oohing» and «ahhingg»…
The breakfast/​brunch menu has a mix of «snacks» aka Appetizers which are meant to be shared, Biscuits prepared a multitude of ways, Sandwiches & Salad, and Brunch Hot Plates. If you would like any pastries from the case, I highly recommend walking over to see what is available and then letting your server know. They can also offer to heat up if needed.
I ordered the Avocado Toast which came with 2 poached eggs dressed with a bed of arugula and some radishes on a thick cut of bread. I also ordered a cinnamon roll which was MASSIVE and definitely shared among us all so we could each get a taste. Their coffee/​tea focused cocktails were quite interesting and I loved the creativity. There are also some beer, wine and «bubbles» options if those strike your fancy. My husband had the peanut butter hot chocolate which came with marshmallows. Think liquid dessert in a cup!
Our service was a little spotty. Not sure if she was flustered or new but we would have to keep hunting her down for basic things like refills. And she never brought us one of the pastries we ordered. Which I guess is fine since we were full from what we did order anyways. I think the most frustrating thing was the long wait for the check. But hopefully that was just an off day as I can’t imagine a popular place like this (with a big name behind it) having these kinds of issues on a daily basis.
Anyways, if you’re not up for the full dining experience, at least stop in for some pastries and coffee to go!

Willa Jean has been popping up on the top of my Unilocal home page under the guise of «have you tried this place in New Orleans» and with Unilocal friends writing mainly rave reviews, so I knew that since I had some extra time in the area where they are located, I should try it. I got lucky, walking in without a reservation, and a ton of people seemed to file in after me. The place was only about half filled and I chose a seat at the bar, despite my dislike for tall chairs, to not take a table for those behind me.
I was promptly greeted and my beverage order was taken. The frozen Irish coffee was wonderful and kicked me into a wakeful state. I was torn between the crab benedict and the beef hash and the waiter, in a dead pan face, stated «Well, do you feel like walking on the land or swimming in the sea» after saying that he liked both. I chose to swim in the sea, and I enjoyed every bite.
I decided to get a biscuit with house made jam and butter and a fried chicken biscuit to take home for later, and those were the correct decisions as well. The chicken had a wonderful flavor and I was not disappointed.
The restaurant was neat, clean and well organized. I am glad that I stopped in, and look forward to coming in the future. Though since this is in the Warehouse area, and parking must be paid for, this is going to be a rare occasion visit for myself, and more of one that I point visitors from out of town to, as it is near many things that tourists would love to do.

Great place for an early breakfast! We came on a Saturday morning at 7:30 (with reservations, which were definitely unnecessary that early!) and got a nice sunny spot by the windows. First impression: loved the lamps and décor!
I had the avocado toast, which was great (nicely poached eggs, avocado mashed a bit into the bread so it didn’t fall off, and just the right amount of olive oil and salt) and a side of cheesy grits (also good; I’m just a sucker for cheesy grits).
We got two chocolate chip cookies to go, and I can’t wait to chomp down on mine. Wanted to try everything in their mouthwatering bakery display, but decided maybe it would be best if I can still fit in my pants tomorrow.

Came here for breakfast Saturday and Sunday as we were in the CBD both mornings. Beautifuls pace– open and airy. Lots of attention to detail.
Food was very good. First day ordered tabasco honey and fried chicken biscuit and a sausage egg and cheese biscuit sammy. The former was too big to eat as a sammy and was tackled open face. very good.
Second morning: eggs hollandaise with crab and the fall egg scramble. The former was truly delicious, but not uniform in temperature. Latter was a little underwhelming in flavor. Also got a sticky bun. ask for it warmed, it was flaky and croissainty on the outside, gooey and cinnamon rolly on the inside

I finally made it down to Willa Jean after hearing all the buzz around it. I know I’m in the minority, but the visit just fell flat for me. At first impression, wow, what a beautiful space! I’ll give it to the designers, they did a great job. It has a rustic feel and tons of windows allowing natural light. I liked that the staff all wore jeans and gingham plaid shirts giving it a laid back feel.
We wanted to try a little bit of everything since it was our first time so we had 2 appetizers and each an entrée. For an appetizer we ordered pigs in the blanket, it had a very buttery dough so it was greasy and left my fingers slicker than a wet weasel on a linoleum floor. It was ok. Next was the corn fritters. Again, ok.
For an entrée I got the tartine sampler, which was a great way to be able to taste a variety of items. Unfortunately the bread was so chewy it was hard to break off in a single bite and it left my jaw sore from biting down so hard. My husband got the fried chicken sandwich which had a nice heat from the slaw, but that was really all you could taste. The chicken was very under seasoned and the batter slipped right off.
I wanted to love this place so badly, but I was really underwhelmed. I will give the benefit of the doubt and try again for breakfast, but I’m not rushing to come back.
I am giving it 3 stars for atmosphere and the service was attentive and friendly.