Willa Jean in New Orleans, Louisiana
Willa Jean is a Southern bakery, bar, and restaurant located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District. It was opened in 2015 by James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Kelly Fields, who co-founded the restaurant with Pastry Chef Lisa White and named it after her grandmother. The building itself was completed in June 2015.
What Makes it Unique:
Willa Jean is a cherished spot known for its comforting Southern fare, which it serves with a modern and elegant touch. The restaurant elevates classic Southern dishes with creative flair and innovative twists while staying true to the region’s culinary heritage. The establishment functions as a full-service restaurant serving breakfast and brunch options, alongside its bakery and bar. It emphasizes the use of local, seasonal ingredients in its culinary creations. The atmosphere is described as lively and laid-back, with a “cozy industrial” vibe and plenty of natural light. It also features a walk-up coffee bar.
History:
Founded in 2015, Willa Jean was the vision of pastry chef Kelly Fields, a South Carolina native who had previously worked with renowned New Orleans chefs and served as the Executive Pastry Chef for the Besh Restaurant Group. The restaurant quickly garnered local and national recognition for its mastery of Southern flavors. In 2017, Kelly Fields established the Yes Ma’am foundation to inspire and support women in the hospitality industry.
Customer Feedback:
Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with the food described as “absolutely amazing” and the flavor “positively PHENOMENAL.”
- Positive Highlights: The fried chicken, the biscuits, the pimento breakfast sandwich, shrimp and grits, crab omelette, and chicken and waffles are all praised highly. The Artichoke “Cheese Business” Dip and the NOLA-Style BBQ Shrimp Tartine have also been highlighted. The dessert of warm chocolate chip Cookies + Milk is a noted favorite, as is the over-the-top Mardi Gras King Cake made with salted caramel, dulce de leche, sliced bananas, mascarpone cheese, and pecans. Many guests note that the food is so good it inspires returning for more.
- Atmosphere and Service: The overall vibe is noted as great, and the service is generally described as exceptional and attentive, though some reviews have indicated the service was just “ok” at times.
Highlight Menu Items:
Willa Jean is famous for its “biscuit situation” and classic Southern plates.
- “Biscuit Situation”:
- Fried Chicken + Tabasco Honey biscuit.
- Bacon + Egg + Pimento Cheese biscuit.
- Plates:
- WJ Breakfast: Two eggs, biscuit, cheesy grits, Benton’s bacon, and sausage.
- Chicken & Waffles: Sweet potato waffle, fried chicken, rum sauce, toasted marshmallow, and spiced pecan.
- Shrimp Creole: Heirloom grits and tomato gravy.
- Hangover Bowl: Short rib debris, cheesy grits, caramelized onion, garlic, potatoes, and egg.
- Sandwiches:
- WJ Burger: Two beef patties, American cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, WJ sauce, and house-made sesame roll.
- Sweet Stuff:
- Cookies + Milk: Warm chocolate chip cookies, vanilla milk, and cookie dough.
Significant Events:
Kelly Fields, the founder, won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2019, which is a significant national recognition for the chef who created Willa Jean. The restaurant’s King Cake is also a seasonal specialty that draws considerable attention.
Location and Contact Information:
- Address: 611 O’Keefe Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
- Phone: 504.509.7334
- General Email: [email protected]
- Press Inquiries: [email protected]
- Event Booking: For a party of 12 or more, or facility buyouts (up to 80 for dinner, 100 for reception), contact Reese Collins at [email protected].
- Website: https://www.willajean.com/
