The Italian Barrel French Quarter
New Orleans
At a glance
Nestled quietly in the French Quarter of New Orleans, The Italian Barrel offers a taste of Northern Italy with its thoughtful, seasonal approach to Italian cuisine. Known for its intimate, candlelit setting, the restaurant serves as a haven for those seeking an authentic and romantic dining experience. Conveniently located near the New Orleans Jazz Museum and steps away from Frenchmen Street, it provides a serene escape from the bustling heart of the Quarter.
The menu is a tribute to classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Diners can expect a selection ranging from traditional osso buco to creatively prepared seasonal pastas and fresh Gulf seafood, all perfectly paired with an expertly curated wine list. The dining experience at The Italian Barrel is enhanced by genuine hospitality, ensuring each visit is memorable.
The atmosphere is both cozy and elegant, attracting couples for date nights and those celebrating special occasions. While rooted in Italian tradition, the welcoming environment reflects a modern appreciation for fine dining. With a commitment to high-quality ingredients and carefully crafted dishes, The Italian Barrel is a place where meals are celebrated leisurely, in line with the Northern Italian dining ethos that places importance on revering food as life's celebration.
Patrons consistently praise its romantic appeal and flavorful offerings, making it a favored destination for locals and tourists alike. The Italian Barrel is open daily, providing ample opportunity for visitors to savor a taste of Italy in the French Quarter.
Reviews
A very upscale Italian restaurant in New Orleans. It's a cozy place offering Northern Italian dishes. Although I've been to New Orleans several times I had never eaten in this restaurant. I was glad I tried it out as the food was incredible, the service was outstanding and the experience was very very good. My wait staff Connor was very attentive but not overbearing. He took my drink order and let me look over the menu. I opted for the Caprice and he brought out focaccia and olive oil for me to nibble on while I waited. The Caprice was well worth the wait although the amount was enough for two people. The tomatoes were ripe and fresh, the mozzarella was fantastic. The tomatoes are sprinkled with some fresh cut basil and there was a small cup of balsamic vinegar. The flavor of the salad was fresh and delicious. I only ate about half of it so I could save room for my entree. For my entree I chose the 8oz petite filet with green peppercorn sauce. It came with wilted spinach seasoned with pine nuts and Parmesan. I ordered my filet medium and it was done perfectly. The green peppercorn sauce enhance the flavor of the filet but did not compete with it. A perfect accompaniment. I took my time to savor and enjoy the beef. When I was done Connor asked me if I was ready for dessert. I was a bit full but I asked for the dessert menu anyway. I was debating between the panna cotta and the Italian olive oil cake. Connor suggested the cake so I went with his recommendation. The cake was moist and was served with fresh berries. It was just sweet enough but not overly sweet to follow the great dinner I just had. If you're looking for upscale restaurant and very delicious food as well as excellent service definitely give this restaurant a try! It's located at the end of the French quarter just behind the mint. Bon appetit!
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. The food was phenomenal, Terrie our server was amazing. She was super attentive and even gave us great advice on local spots to visit. She even brought out a delicious dessert to sing Happy Birthday to my husband. This restaurant beyond exceeded our expectations!!
Conner was incredible. All of the staff was well mannered and gave great suggestions. Food was SO GOOD and made with such intention. I ordered tiramisu and it was the best I’ve ever had. WILL be returning!!
One of the most exceptional Italian meals I've had in the states. I was so incredible surprised and pleased with our dining experience at Italian Barrel. We stopped for a glass of wine, but enjoyed the environment so much we decided to stay for dinner. We had our dogs with us so we sat outside at the bistro tables on the sidewalk. It felt so European with the woven bistro chairs and white tablecloths. The music from the local street performer was so perfect and added to the atmosphere. There were even occasional horse and carriages strolling by. The servers were so friendly and made us feel like we were regulars. We only had one official server but a total of 3 stopped by repeatedly to make sure we had everything we needed and chat with us about New Orleans and our travels. We ordered a bottle of Pecorino (a rare Italian White that we haven't seen since returning from Rome.) It transported us back to Italy along with the wonderful meal. We ordered Nonna Novella's Bolognese (a family recipe with the most melt in your mouth pasta), the Bruschetta (with the reddest cherry tomatoes, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano & basil served over toasted ciabatta) and the Bresaola (Arugula with thinly sliced cured beef, Parmigiano Reggiano, lemon-infused olive oil). It was perfect to split between two people and bonus point to our server for splitting the Bolognese for us. There were just so much thought and little simple touches that just made this meal so incredible special and memorable. We we never forget it.
You must try the bruschetta!!! We also got the Sea-bass which was wonderful! I personally got the penne pasta with vodka sauce it was good but honestly I was hoping for a little more. I would definitely still go back and again absolutely have to try the bruschetta! Our waitress Ally was amazing and very knowledgeable! We have a dairy allergy in the group and she knew what did and didn’t have dairy in it and or how to modify dishes! We really appreciate that! We sat outside and they had heaters at every table which were perfect!
