Ernest's Orleans Restaurant

Review summary

1. J

   Jason

   Nashville

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   We visited on New Years Eve for a dinner for four and celebration of my wife's birthday and having had previous meals at Ernest's, we were expecting a high-end experience and a great meal. I understand that this was an incredibly busy night, but the difference between our last visit and this one was night and day. Our waiter didn't introduce himself and in fact I never learned his name, he came to the table right after we were seated asking if we were ready to order, having assumed that we'd looked at the menu while waiting in the lobby for an hour past our reservation (there were no menus in the lobby to even look at). We ordered our drinks and everything from brewed tea to soft drinks tasted like they ran it through potting soil (Ernest's, please check your water supply, something is WRONG). We ordered one of our favorite apps, a large marinated crab claws, and the claws were neither large in quantity or size. While he brought plenty of bread, the experience of the waiter cleaning the table before bringing entrees out didn't happen, we had to do it ourselves. We ordered a filet, a ribeye, a snapper, and a pasta dish. The steaks were barely cooked, and not like ordered rare, like barely cooked. Cold. Rushed out the door. They tasted like they were cooked over charcoal briquets that had not yet ashed over for BBQ grilling, there was a chemical flavor to them. My pasta was bland, completely. No flavor at all to me. Another person tried it and said they tasted the same potting soil water in the noodles, like they'd been boiled in it, but I didn't detect it. The snapper was okay, but nothing great. No wrapped lemon like past visits, our mushrooms on the steaks were bland and flavorless. Onion rings were good though. We didn't stay for dessert at all. This was a $350 birthday meal of four entrees and an app that could have been beaten handily by Olive Garden. We'll probably come back in the hopes that this was an outlier and not a trend, but it will probably be a while.
   

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2. C

   Christopher

   Dallas

   7 reviews

   3.0

   7 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   3rd time to dine here this year and this was by far the worst. Food was excellent as it always is, no issues with that. New Years eve I understand being busy but our service was just mediocre. We were sat in the bar area which is usually loud but it was actually not a problem this visit. The water they served was straight from the tap. Didn't even taste filtered, like it came straight from the red river. Bar drinks (beer and wine) were cool at best, not cold. Felt rushed to order our dinner before our appetizer was delivered. Never was offered a 2nd round of bar drinks, I had to request that when the waitress ran by. Building needs a refresh. Some ceiling tiles stained and place just looks old. I understand it's got history but you do need to keep up with some changes. The past experiences I have had over the many years has changed. The excellent table service and personalized care you received in the past is gone unfortunately. I will be looking for a new fine dining establishment to frequent in the future. When you spend $200-300 for a meal for 2 you just deserve better.
   

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Shreveport

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great restaurant and food usually. This time and the previous visit the snapper was over cooked,dry and did not taste fresh. More than one person ordered this and they were all that way. We didn’t complain because they were so busy, but should have. That’s an expensive dish with fish and crab meat that should have been wonderful. It wasn’t. Won’t be ordering again which is a shame. It was my favorite for years and that was my last attempt. Everything else was fine with service and wait staff.
   

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4. M

   Michael

   VIP

   Austin

   4 reviews

   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   Incredibly expensive for what we received. For instance, we ordered the fried shrimp with remoulade for everyone when asked by the waitress if we wanted them along with marinated crab claws. Each fried shrimp order (2 small shrimp) was $14.00. The whole meal was very disappointing for the price. The entrees were good, but still not what a $120.00 / person meal should be. That price does not include alcohol nor desserts.
   

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5. K

   Kyle

   Philadelphia

   5 reviews

   1.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   A Shreveport Legend has lost its magic. Food was not even close to Ernest of old. Sad and disappointed.
   

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6. J

   John

   Puerto Vallarta

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Love Ernest. The service was a little slow but they brought some free apps out and told us ahead of time. We loved it and will be back. Get the crab claws!
   

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7. T

   Theron

   VIP

   Amsterdam

   132 reviews

   3.0

   132 reviews

   Dined on December 20, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Ernest's restaurant was a huge disappointment. From the muddy dirt parking lot to the dining room and restroom which haven't been updated since 1978. The food and service were also not up to par. They served wine in the wrong glasses, and the food was just okay. I am used to paying those prices for food, however, the food quality, service, decor, and ambiance need to match the price point. Do not waste your money at this restaurant which is stuck in the dark ages.
   

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8. S

   Sandy

   Shreveport

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were seated right on time. Service was excellent and food was amazing. The food portions were huge. This was my first time to dine here. Will definitely return.
   

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9. D

   Dee

   East Texas

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 13, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Earnest Orleans was phenomenal! The service was stellar from the time we walked in until the time we left. Brandy was our server and she is fantastic! She had extensive knowledge of Earnest Orleans history. Very impressive! I will most definitely be going back!
   

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10. D

    D R

    Mobile

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Excellent meal with wonderful service. Fine dining at its best.
    

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