Bayona

I make a point of eating at Bayona whenever I'm in New Orleans. The food never disappoints, ever. This time, my dinner companion and I shared the bone marrow appetizer (which was other-worldly delicious). We also both got the smoked quail salad, and it was even more perfect than the last time I had it--the sauce on the smoked quail is balanced to perfection. My entree was the duck, perfectly prepared. Not a single thing amiss. Except for the service. This time we had a waiter whose game seemed to be feigned familiarity--speaking absurdly in third person ("what will we have next?" "Shall I bring our check?"), virtually slurring his words, and slumping against any wall or table while he talked. It was a very unusual experience for me at Bayona, where the service has always been warm but entirely professional. I tried to deal only with our secondary server, whose name I think was Peter. He was excellent and actually salvaged the experience.

Appreciated how accommodating this restaurant was to provide vegan options for my partner and I. We had a couple of starters in addition to our entrees. The food was pretty good, overall. Some of the dishes were overly salty or had a texture issue (such as the breaded eggplant medalions we had). My official rating for the food is 3.5/5. The service, however? 5 stars! Splitting the difference and giving this place 4 stars. Dietary restrictions: Vegan options.

By far the best meal we had in New Orleans, and that says a lot. The entire experience was beyond amazing. The wait staff instantly makes you feel like family. The food was like no other. The extra touches like the champagne for our anniversary we weren't expecting, it's just the above and beyond you don't see anymore. I cannot wait to return.