As New Orleans’ first and only restaurant-distillery, Lula’s offers an incredible atmosphere and a wide variety of food. Only a 30-minute streetcar ride from Tulane, Lula’s is a reasonable getaway for students seeking unique, high-quality food. I had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday weekend at Lula’s with my mother, who was in town. We both agreed that Lula’s is one of the best restaurants in the city.  

The founders, Jess Bourgeois and Bear Chaffery, met on Jess’ vacation with friends in New Zealand, after which both Bourgeois and Chaffery became obsessed with the distillation process. They continued their educational journey, with Bourgeois taking a course on rum production at Moonshine University and Chaffery completing a course in distillation at Cornell University. 

The combination of a distillery and restaurant proved to be a daunting task, as Bourgeois and Chaffery ran into legal troubles regarding zoning laws. In 2015, they had to head to the Louisiana State Capitol to seek approval for Lula’s existence, legally allowing micro-distilleries to exist in the state of Louisiana. House Bill 233 was signed into law in 2015, allowing Lula’s to become a reality. 

Lula’s environment is colorful and welcoming. Every time I have been to Lula’s, the staff has been warm and friendly. There are a few large televisions and even a projector, which makes Lula’s a suitable place to catch a sports game. 

I ordered lamb chops and a bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo on recommendation from the server, and both were fantastic. The lamb chops were my favorite. With five lamb chops topped with chimichurri sauce, two large onion rings, potatoes and green beans, I was delighted by the portion size. Although this dish came in at $31, it was worth it.

I am a stickler when it comes to portion sizes, and Lula’s did not disappoint. The chimichurri sauce complemented the gamey taste of the lamb perfectly and the sides were filling and tasted delectable. The dish also came with a side of ketchup. The presentation of the lamb chops was also phenomenal. The colors blended well, and overall, the dish looked just as good as it tasted. 

The second dish I ordered was a bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo, which I really enjoyed. The gumbo had a pleasingly healthy amount of chicken and sausage. To be transparent, I was unable to finish my bowl of gumbo, as I was already quite full from the lamb chops. My mom described the gumbo as the best she has had in New Orleans — smoky and flavorful with a generous amount of sausage and chicken.  

My only critique of the gumbo dish was the lackluster and messy presentation, with a bit of gumbo spilling over the side of the bowl. However, both my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed it, which cost us $12. 

Lula’s menu is so diverse that even after eating there multiple times, there are still plenty of dishes I would like to try. When— not if—I go back, I certainly will be ordering the chicken and biscuits off Lula’s brunch menu and the lemon ice box pie.  

Besides the small failure with my chicken and sausage gumbo, my mom and I’s experience at Lula’s was stellar. We will definitely be back to Lula’s in the near future.