Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New Orleans / Louisiana
  4. New Orleans
  5. Central Business District

Balise - Permanently Closed

4.3
4.3
524 Reviews
$31 to $50
French
Balise is a tavern restaurant located in the Central Business District of New Orleans. This is the second restaurant from husband and wife team Justin and Mia Devillier, co-owners of the renowned Uptown restaurant La Petite Grocery. Balise evokes the bygone era with a recognizable Old-World, New Orleans feel. Set in a 19th century Creole townhouse, Balise features a Louisiana-focused menu created by Chef Justin Devillier (James Beard winner for Best Chef: South in 2016) and a world-class beverage program created by Bar Director, Jesse Carr & Wine Sommelier, Jonathan Sanders. The name Balise is derived from one of the first settlements at the mouth of the Mississippi River’s Birdfoot Delta, which controlled commerce coming from the Gulf of Mexico to New France. Battered by the river and sea throughout its existence, Balise pays tribute to the resiliency and determination of this settlement – qualities that are still seen across the Gulf Coast region today.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    French, Contemporary Southern, Creole / Cajun / Southern

  • Hours of operation

    CLOSED MONDAYS DINNER Tuesday - Thursday: 4:30pm - 10:00pm Friday & Saturday 4:30pm - 11:00pm Sunday 4:30-10:00pm SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH *we always open for Brunch service on Saints home game days at 10:00am* 11:00am - 2:00pm The restaurant is also available for private events at any hour of the day. Please note that we will be closed for the following holidays: Memorial Day - Monday, May 19, 2018 Independence Day - Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Labor Day - Monday, September 3, 2018 Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 22, 2018 Christmas Eve - Monday, December 24, 2018 Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25, 2018 New Year's Day - Tuesday, January 1, 2019

  • Phone number

    (504) 459-4449

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive chef

    Justin Devillier

  • Catering

    Please contact our Events Coordinator, Sara Roberts for details on how we can cater your next event.

  • Private party facilities

    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

  • Private party contact

    Allison Bandera: (866) 229-3582

  • Neighborhood

    Central Business District

  • Cross street

    Girod Street

  • Parking details

    There is ample metered street parking in the neighborhood as well as fee based parking lots within walking distance from the restaurant.

  • Public transit

    The street car line runs down Carondelet Street in front of Balise. There is a stop on the corner of Girod just before the restaurant.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 524 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Sort by

  1. Chuck

    New Orleans

    75 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    75 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Balise is now closed for good. We ate there at the last dinner
  2. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great finale dinner, so sad they’re now closed.
  3. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing place!
  4. Goodasever

    New Orleans

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food. Excellent crab gratin and delicious gumbo. Fried oyster BLT also great.
  5. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2019

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    So odd. We left as soon as we sat down. Our server was nice, bless her heart, and earned us that the owner was experimenting with music at the main bar and that it would be loud. We kept hearing random loud blasts of music from the front room. The restaurant was empty on a Saturday night, which is a big warning sign in a town like New Orleans. Needless to say, we left. Too many amazing restaurants around here to waste time on an odd place like this.
  6. Reneed

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2019

    overall1food1service5ambience2
    The reviews here were generally good so we were shocked at the overall experience. The oysters were tasty but just 3 and the gin fizz cocktail was spot on. Salads and fish and chips were extremely forgettable. Apparently the owner likes to get drunk and mess with the sound system. The whole back dining room of guests were upset about this. Apparently it had been going on for an hour before we got there. We tipped our server 20% because it wasn’t her fault and we could not get out of there soon enough!! 🤯 locals and never to return-
  7. ScottS

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The meal was amazing on all fronts. Our favorite break if the whole trip.
  8. CarleyM

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I went to Balise for dinner this past Sunday and was extremely impressed! I’ve heard amazing things about it and have eaten at Balise’s sister restaurant Justine (also amazing) and I’m just sad I didn’t come sooner! The Shrimp Pan Roast is a MUST!!!! It’s quite possibly the best dish I’ve had since moving to New Orleans 5 months ago. We also had the Crab Gratin which was also incredible. The service and drinks were also amazing! Could not recommend this restaurant more!
  9. Michelle

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2019

    overall4food2service4ambience4
    We are not used to having burnt chips served with fish&chips, it might have been helpful to know there was also no salad or vegetables with the main courses, we would have ordered the salads at the same time. Very kind of the staff to split one salad into two seperate small serves, thank you
  10. JeremyC

    New Orleans

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good ambience. Good service. Great food! Would certainly recommend and go back myself.
  11. Teri

    New Orleans

    15 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on May 16, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Ordered the crab cake and a glass of Sparkling Rose' Enjoyed it. My friend had the mussels, and she enjoyed them. Very nice staff
  12. PatriciaN

    New Orleans

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 10, 2019

    overall4food4service2ambience4
    We love Balise and like to take out of town friends there for a nice dinner. THe food is always good. The service is hit and miss. This time it was more of a miss. We had to do a lot of waiting for drinks and then appetizers and did not feel well taken care of by our waitress.
  13. alanG

    New York Area

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2019

    overall2food2service1ambience2
    Slow service, food took too long to come out and our waitress was MIA for most of the meal. Also, tried changing reservation from 5 to 6 people but was told they had no availability. When we got there, there were quite a few empty tables so 6 shouldn’t have been a problem.
  14. MichelleA

    New Orleans

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2019

    overall1food2service1ambience3
    We usually sit at the bar and have had good experiences in the past, but this was not the case on this visit. It was Jazz Fest weekend and they were extremely understaffed. Our server was filling waters, taking orders, bussing tables and bringing out food. We didn’t blame him as he was doing the best he could. Management needs to better prepare for busy nights and ensure there is ample staffing. We brought a couple with us that had never been to Balise before. Needless to say they were less than impressed. Other diners were deserting their tables because it was taking so long to get drink orders. We live in the neighborhood and it may be a while (if ever) before we come back. There are too many great dining options in the area to risk a poor experience. Time to step it up!
  15. Jannapnap

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Exceptional!!! Thrilled to have been afforded a table for a culinary experience such as this. Every course was as strong as the last and the execution was perfection. As a gourmand who has traveled the earth in search of unique and solid interpretations of local recipes this was masterful!! 20 on a scale of 1-10!!!
  16. jojo

    Cleveland

    13 reviews

    1.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2019

    overall1food4service1ambience1
    Good food but overpriced. My small onion soup-sized crock of macaroni and cheese was $12. It was tasty, but seriously? A two year-old could've eaten more! Service was slow...slothlike... absolutely terrible. No attention to us or anyone around us. The staff cared more about their phones and their own conversation than their patrons, it seemed. The "1/4 pound crab cake " was more like 1/16 of a pound, which again, would not satisfy a 2 year old much less a 6'4", 250lb man. Tasty, expensive, overpriced food, horrible service. So disappointed.
  17. WILLIAMD

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2019

    overall2food4service1ambience3
    Good was good but service was abominable. It took over 30 minutes once seated to get drinks and despite the place being empty it took almost an hour for our meal to show up.
  18. Foodnwinegirl

    London

    33 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2019

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    Beginning with the service, our group couldn’t have been more disappointed. We waited an incredibly long time 1.5 hours to be exact before our entrees arrived. When asked about the delay, our waitress snarkily replied ‘its Jazz Fest; we’re busy. However, the restaurant was not busy after 10pm and folks seated after us, received their meals before us. When our entrees finally arrived, they were incredibly underwhelming. We won’t be going back!
  19. EliseD

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on May 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Had a fantastic dinner with friends last night. I love Justin’s La Petit Grocery and have wanted to try Balise for some time now. It did not disappoint. We let our adorable server Jeffrey take care of us and followed his recommendations and thoroughly enjoyed it all! Blue Crab Gratin and the Spicy shrimp were excellent. The chocolate creme brûlée was the perfect dessert. I will definitely return!! Looking forward to Sunday brunch at Justine...
  20. DennisM

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Superb food! Friendly and wonderful service in a quiet, outdoor setting - and, during Jazz Fest, no less! Loved it.
  21. TexasT

    Houston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Relaxed, and quiet atmosphere with knowledgeable and attentive service made for a great night talking with old friends.
  22. Gregg

    Dallas

    328 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    328 reviews

    Dined on April 26, 2019

    overall1food1service3ambience2
    Absolutely a horrible experience. We come to the Nola often and decided on this trip to try new restaurants. What a mistake. From the host at the front door being rude and extremely uncooperative to the table where we were seated being uncomfortable plus in a poor location to the bland food without any plate appearance we needless to say will never return nor should anyone else as New Orleans has too many tremendous restaurants. Only positive comments were the wine we selected and our server Stacy who was a pleasure.
  23. NOLA11

    New Orleans

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 26, 2019

    overall3food4service1ambience2
    Great food. Poor service. Servers were more interested in their own conversations and congregating around the point of sale to gossip, than be concerned with the guests. The dishes were very good, but the lack of professionalism and courtesy from the servers make this place a big NO for me. This is the first time I have ever written a negative review on open table. Hopefully, the management can fix the server issue and be the establishment that they tout of being.
  24. Neighborhoodexplorer

    New Orleans

    30 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2019

    overall3food4service2ambience1
    The only reason I give this place a rating of 3 is because of the food, which was very good. We are locals and have wanted to try Balise for a while. We did make a reservation and ended up being seated in the bar rather than a dining room which we thought was odd. The bar was VERY LOUD with blaring music and loud bar patrons. We had to shout across the table to hear each other. At first the server was very attentive but when the restaurant got busier he disappeared, it looked like they were understaffed the way the staff was rushing around. By the time he reappeared and asked about desert we had had enough of the bar and the noise and asked for the check. It was a very disappointing experience.
  25. PatriciaN

    New Orleans

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    We love Balise. We were admittedly disappointed to hear we could not order the eggs Benedict because they were out of biscuits on this Easter Sunday. We still enjoyed our food and time together. We will be back.
  26. tallguy

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2019

    overall3food2service4ambience3
    I would make a qualified recommendation. This was my third visit and the quality seems to have fallen off a bit. I ordered the spicy shrimp dish which was almost too hot to eat. When I mentioned this to my waitress, she replied that there was a new line cook who had a heavy hand with spices. No apology. No offer to do anything to make amends.
  27. KristenL

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 21, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The wine and drinks list were both very unique and the staff was happy to help pick something out. The food was great and the prices very reasonable. We would definitely go again.
  28. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 20, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Incredible appetizers, average entrees. Get the chicken liver pate and smoke fish dip at the bar!
  29. theresaf

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 19, 2019

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    It was the best meal we had in New Orleans! Delicious cocktails and food. I think our waitress forgot to fire our entrees so we had to rush through dinner in order to be to an event on time, but I think it was an honest mistake. Otherwise service was good. Would definitely return here and recommend to others.
  30. Rick

    Salt Lake City

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 13, 2019

    overall2food2service1ambience2
    food was mediocre at best. Service was earnest but fell short of working well. Basically, a lot of nice people accomplishing little.
  31. MaryB

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 10, 2019

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    We were excited to try this tavern, Rigatoni was great and served hot but has to ask for spoon to share this starter . Chicken Confit and fish and chips were at best average and french fries were cold. Service was unattentive on a slow Tuesday night. We were excited to try this restaurant but left very disappointed. Mary B. Boston
  32. CTFoodie

    New York Area

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We had a delicious dinner. The service was excellent. Will go back. Try the shrimp and Brussels sprouts. Delicious.
  33. GeneF

    New Orleans

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The service was great. Rigatoni, Pan Roasted Shrimp & Fish and chips all excellent. Cocktails were perfect.
  34. MichelleS

    Phoenix

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on April 6, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great service from the very start! Jeffry F. was outstanding, suggesting excellent wines & food. The pork belly appetizer was amazing! The food was about the best we have ever had in NOLA and will certainly go back again.
  35. Alexandre

    New Orleans

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 4, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Super restaurant very good food and nice atmosphere
  36. UptownBob

    Chicago

    45 reviews

    4.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on April 2, 2019

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    The service, the room, the greeting at the front door perfect. The only complaint I had was my main course. I ordered a hangar steak, medium rare with a chimichurri sauce. The steak was impossibly tough, with only a tiny amount of chimichurri. I would go back, but order something else. My dining companion ordered a Cobb salad with added crab which looked exceptional. The blistered green beans with fresh grated horseradish were sublime.
  37. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    23 reviews

    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on March 31, 2019

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    Nice upscale pub with good food.
  38. Skbulder

    Atlanta Metro

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on March 31, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The food is very well prepared and the ambiance is as advertised. Exposed brick walls make this feel like old Bew Orleans. The waiter was a little new so he lacked knowledge but overall the experience was enjoyable.
  39. Andrea214

    New York Area

    50 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on March 31, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Friends visiting from out of town
  40. Local21

    New Orleans

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on March 29, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food and experience. The chicken confit and fish special was outstanding! We will definitely be back.

FAQs

Balise - Permanently Closed is rated 4.3 stars by 524 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Google Map for Balise - Permanently Closed

640 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Girod Street

  • Neighborhood

    Central Business District

  • Hours of operation

    CLOSED MONDAYS DINNER Tuesday - Thursday: 4:30pm - 10:00pm Friday & Saturday 4:30pm - 11:00pm Sunday 4:30-10:00pm SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH *we always open for Brunch service on Saints home game days at 10:00am* 11:00am - 2:00pm The restaurant is also available for private events at any hour of the day. Please note that we will be closed for the following holidays: Memorial Day - Monday, May 19, 2018 Independence Day - Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Labor Day - Monday, September 3, 2018 Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 22, 2018 Christmas Eve - Monday, December 24, 2018 Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25, 2018 New Year's Day - Tuesday, January 1, 2019

  • Cuisines

    French, Contemporary Southern, Creole / Cajun / Southern

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    There is ample metered street parking in the neighborhood as well as fee based parking lots within walking distance from the restaurant.

  • Public transit

    The street car line runs down Carondelet Street in front of Balise. There is a stop on the corner of Girod just before the restaurant.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Justin Devillier

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (504) 459-4449

  • Catering

    Please contact our Events Coordinator, Sara Roberts for details on how we can cater your next event.

  • Private party facilities

    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.

  • Private party contact

    Allison Bandera: (866) 229-3582

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
Rentalcars Logo
OpenTable Logo