This past weekend marked a special milestone for us—my wife’s first Mother’s Day since the birth of our son. After months of round-the-clock parenting, we finally had our first date night without the baby. Thank goodness for my mom stepping in as babysitter, giving us a much-needed chance to reconnect as a couple.
For this special occasion, I decided on NOLA’s Creole & Cocktails, where we’d had an incredible experience about a year ago. We absolutely loved our first visit there back in October, so I knew she’d want to go again. But the primary reason I picked it was practical—I had Googled “Tulsa restaurants that take reservations” and it was one of the top results.
I initially wanted to try Kilkenny’s (owned by the same company) which we both enjoy but haven’t visited since before we got together, but they only take reservations on weekdays. NOLA’s fortunately took reservations through Yelp, and I was able to secure a lunch-time table after church at 12:45. I honestly doubted it was a legitimate reservation—I didn’t have much trust in Yelp—but sure enough it was real and they had our table ready to go with no wait.
We were seated at a prime spot by the window with a beautiful view of both the outdoor seating area and the Tulsa skyline beyond—the perfect setting for our celebratory lunch. We knew going in that this wouldn’t be a budget meal—our final bill came to $124 before tip—but for a special occasion like Mother’s Day, we felt it was worth the splurge.
Mixed Beginnings: The Cocktail Experience
We kicked things off with a couple of Hurricanes, which unfortunately fell short of expectations. The menu listed the ingredients simply as aged rum, house-made fassionola syrup, and fresh lime juice—resulting in drinks that were disappointingly tart. Having experienced the legendary Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans (where the drink was invented), I can attest that NOLA’s version bears little resemblance to the dangerously smooth, sweet concoction I remember.
Even the garnish differed from tradition—instead of the classic orange and cherry, ours came with pineapple. In NOLA’s defense, however, they certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol. These drinks packed a serious punch despite the flavor miss.
Cajun Cuisine Done Right
Our appetizer choice proved much more successful—Elegua’s Black Magic Deviled Eggs ($15). Six deviled eggs topped three different ways: two with blackened shrimp, two with blackened crawfish, and two with blackened blue lump crab knuckles, all served on a bed of fresh spinach. These were absolutely fantastic, so I immediately told Charity that we should elevate our Easter deviled eggs next year.
For my main course, I selected the Decatur Street Salmon ($26)—house-cut Atlantic salmon cooked on a wood cedar plank, served with Beurre Blanc, dirty rice, and a side. The salmon was exceptional, and the Beurre Blanc sauce complemented it perfectly. While the dirty rice was disappointingly dry, my side of fried green tomatoes satisfied a months-long craving. They were good, though I have to admit my wife’s homemade version still reigns supreme over any restaurant offering I’ve encountered.
My wife chose Ya Mama’s Gumbo in a bread bowl ($18)—classic Cajun gumbo with Andouille sausage, tasso ham, and white rice. She also added a side of fried green tomatoes for an additional $4. The gumbo at NOLA’s rivals anything you’d find in New Orleans itself—thick and savory with just the right amount of heat. I had enjoyed it on our previous visit and gladly traded a bite of my salmon for some of hers this time around.
Second Round: Cocktail Redemption
For our second round of drinks, I ventured into new territory with the Corpse Bride —a mixture of absinthe, crème de menthe, crème de cassis, and lime. I had never tried either absinthe or crème de menthe before, but I was feeling adventurous. The result was wonderfully refreshing, reminiscent of a mojito but with bolder flavors.
My wife ordered the Milk Punch —spiced rum, Irish cream, milk, cream, vanilla, and nutmeg. This delightful concoction was essentially an adult milkshake that would have worked beautifully as a dessert cocktail. Its cooling properties proved perfect for soothing her mouth after the spicy gumbo. All of the drinks we had were $12 apiece.
A Sweet Ending
We concluded our meal by sharing an order of beignets ($7)—traditional New Orleans-style fritters fried and coated with powdered sugar, served with warm spiced rum sauce. These were impressively authentic—fluffy, crisp, and warm, every bit as good as those from the famous Café du Monde. The spiced rum sauce added an excellent buttery and sweet dimension that elevated the classic dessert.
I was tempted to also order their bread pudding, which we’d enjoyed on our previous visit—a rich and decadent treat—but we were both approaching maximum capacity and decided to save it for next time.
Overall, our experience was excellent, featuring attentive service and a wonderful ambiance that transported us from Tulsa to the French Quarter for a few hours.
Cherry Street Stroll: Where It All Began
After our indulgent meal, we decided to walk off some calories with a stroll down Cherry Street before heading home to our baby. Cherry Street is one of Tulsa’s most walkable districts—if you haven’t explored it yet, be sure to check out our complete guide to Cherry Street for more recommendations.
The area was buzzing with families celebrating Mother’s Day, and we enjoyed taking in the vibrant murals and browsing the unique shops lining the street. Our walk eventually led us to The Coffee House on Cherry Street—where we first met back in 2017.
We noticed immediately that the coffee shop has undergone significant changes since our first encounter. The interior has been modernized, and while it looks stylish, we both found ourselves missing the cozier atmosphere of years past. The popularity of the place was evident from the line stretching out the door, and at $16 for two coffees, I was reminded why I’ve largely switched to home brewing these days.
My wife’s Witches Brew (a pumpkin spice, vanilla, and caramel latte) hit the mark, but my caramel macchiato was merely average. Still, we harbor no ill will toward the coffee shop and will undoubtedly return occasionally. Their desserts are typically outstanding, and we were once again tempted to indulge in a second sweet treat. Fortunately, their remaining offerings that afternoon were all gluten-free—which, in my experience, never quite measures up to the real thing despite looking delicious.
Rediscovering a Tulsa Gem
While we don’t typically spend much time on Cherry Street aside from visits to Chimis whenever my dad is in town, this outing reminded us why we should. I had forgotten just how fun and walkable this district is. We usually gravitate toward downtown for our nights out, but after this delightful experience, we’re already planning to work our way through Cherry Street’s restaurant scene in the near future.
For new parents looking for a special date night or visitors wanting to experience Tulsa’s culinary highlights, the combination of NOLA’s authentic Cajun cuisine followed by a leisurely Cherry Street exploration makes for a perfect outing. Sometimes the best experiences are right in your backyard—you just need the right occasion to rediscover them.
