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Mother of Pearl - the BEST hidden gem in New Orleans

Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:06 am
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:06 am
This place is in the riverbend in the old Carrollton Market space.

It’s owned by the Black Pearl Catering company. They own the building and use the kitchen for their catering operation and decided to open a restaurant 3 nights a week, Wednesday-Friday.

My wife was looking at Coolinary menus and they had a really nice looking one at a great price. We had never heard of the place and that is sort of by design. They like being under the radar.

I couldn’t have been more impressed. It was a small, casual operation but the food was chefy and upscale.

They had 1 waiter for the entire place and he was running around and was an absolutely cool as hell guy. Casual service.

The prices are extremely reasonable for the high quality and the bottles of wine were, if anything, underpriced for what other restaurants are charging these days.

The waiter did say because of how they operate they do start to run out of popular items by later Friday sometimes.

We were absolutely pleased, so much so that we will be back for the regular menu.

Check them out
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
49636 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:18 am to
What did you have there?
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
75952 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:37 am to
Ate there a few months ago and it was really good. Nice relaxed service and decent drinks for such a setup.

The menu changes almost every week from what I understand. Truly just a result of what they are buying that week.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 12:57 pm to
We did the coolinary. I had the watermelon elote, the chicken dish and the lemon pie.

It was way better than you’d anticipate. Very good food
Posted by financetiger
Member since Feb 2008
1836 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 5:11 pm to
Sounds like you are either an owner or family of an owner.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
49636 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 5:29 pm to
quote:

Sounds like you are either an owner or family of an owner.


Nah…he talks about restaurants quite often on here. He’s a regular.
Posted by xXLSUXx
New Orleans, LA
Member since Oct 2010
10566 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 5:33 pm to
Interesting. Hadn't heard of this place. Been looking for something on the Coolinary list to jump out at me. Might have to give this place a try.
Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
10436 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 5:35 pm to
You can’t talk good about a restaurant on here without someone saying the “you work there - you own it” line.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
287646 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:02 pm to
quote:

We did the coolinary. I had the watermelon elote, the chicken dish and the lemon pie.



can you link your wife's yelp review, bunchie? this is kind of weak
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:38 pm to
lol she didn’t do one.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 7:39 pm to
quote:

Sounds like you are either an owner or family of an owner.


Yeah I set up 16 years and 130,000 posts to get to this point.

We had a good meal at a very under the radar place we had never heard of and the people were really nice. That is it.
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
75952 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 8:18 pm to
quote:


can you link your wife's yelp review


Was there any tearing of tights or panty hose on the table underside?
This post was edited on 8/2/25 at 9:54 pm
Posted by No Disrespect But
New Orleans
Member since Mar 2014
316 posts
Posted on 8/4/25 at 3:34 pm to
If the cooking is half as good as it was at Carrollton Station, it will be one of the best restaurants in town.
Posted by weurf3
nola
Member since Jun 2004
1217 posts
Posted on 9/1/25 at 1:47 pm to
Went Friday. Small, intimate space. It was great for a date or up to 6 people I'd say. Open kitchen, chef/owner there running it. Rotating small menu, chef driven not frou-frou.

Roasted cauliflower with shaved banans peppers, fresh herbs atop whipped feta was on point. Wagyu flank steak with homade chimi atop a mushroom risotto was very good. Crispy skin on drum with roasted peppers, onions, capers and kalamata olives was phenomenal.

Portions were large, pricing was very reasonable. $11 Woodford old fashions were made excellent. Thanks for suggesting this place. Give this place a try, we'll be back.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 9/1/25 at 1:54 pm to
Nice
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
2226 posts
Posted on 9/1/25 at 6:57 pm to
Thanks for heads up, this place flew under my radar. Sounds awesome.
Posted by Neauxla
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
33960 posts
Posted on 9/8/25 at 5:07 pm to
I went based on your recommendation and it was the best restaurant my SO and I have been to in a while!

Cute spot - not as cute as when it was carrolton market

wait staff and management extremely friendly and on point

appetizers were excellent! Got the cauliflower and the crab roulade. both fantastic

Entrees got the lamb and the fish. both were really good, fish better than lamb

desserts were not for me - I don't like tiramasu or lemon pie but my GF loved the lemon buttermilk pie

Will definitely be going back!

ETA: Sweet old man with 5 other people next to me asked me if it was our first time there. We said yes and then he beamed back with a huge smile, it's our 5th!
This post was edited on 9/8/25 at 5:10 pm
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 9/8/25 at 7:40 pm to
That’s awesome. I’m glad. I need to make it back there to get the regular menu.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
287646 posts
Posted on 9/14/25 at 4:10 pm to
Do they have a bar there bunchie?
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
127668 posts
Posted on 9/14/25 at 4:44 pm to
yes but as I recall it’s pretty small. Maybe 6 seats or so? Not sure the seating but they do have a bar
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