My husband and I enjoyed an evening at Herbsaint while in New Orleans Feb. 11 - Feb 15. We were unable to get in on Saturday night at Brigtsen's, which was our first choice. But after our experience at Herbsaint, we're pleased with how things worked out. Dinner reservations were at 9:15 and when we arrived, the small place was bustling. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and were directed to a small bar area where we had a drink while our table was prepared. Tables are a bit close together, but this is a small space and once we sat down and started chatting with our party, we felt very comfortable. It's a bit noisy here, however, we were dining with friends and found that the chatty atmosphere added to our excitement of being in New Orleans on a pleasure trip. Our table had the lobster bisque and frog legs as appetizers and both were wonderfully delicious. As main courses we had the rabbit dish and the duck off the menu and a grouper special. All were rich, creatively prepared dishes and we all loved what we'd ordered. We made several nice selections from the wine list and were pleased with it and the service we received. Herbsaint probably isn't the place to go if you are looking for an intimate place to have a quiet conversation. But certainly eat here if you want fine dining done with creative flair in an atmosphere that feels as though everyone around you is having a great time. Loved it.

My favorite restaurant in New Orleans so far! We came just for drinks at 5:30, but enjoyed the atmosphere so much we didn't leave until 10! We sat in the bar area, and the bartenders were super friendly. The food and wine/alcohol were reasonably priced, and everything tasted great. They have a good list of authentic New Orleans cocktails including a potent sazerac. The restaurant had a friendly, convivial atmosphere, and not too noisy like a lot of places. Just great all around! We'll be back next time we're in New Orleans.

We loved Herbsaint! We ran in for a quick dinner just after arriving in New Orleans. (The restaurant was just across the street from our hotel; we'd made reservations earlier, during our drive to N.O.) We had the shrimp and grits as an appetizer. They were creamy and delicious, and the portion size was perfect to spilt between two people. I feared that they'd be too spicy, but no worries.

For our entrees, we had two of the evening's specials: a redfish served with vegetables and a pilaf, and a paneed pork tenderloin served with creamy polenta and mushrooms. Both were divine. Also, the waiter recommended excellent wines to accompany our food. (One, a delicious pinot noir, is a bottle that I'll definitely search out at my local wine shop.)

Service was excellent, and the flavors of the food were wonderful. I really noticed how each dish possessed layers of flavor; the flavors were complex and worked wonderfully together. Paired with the wines, the food was especially sublime.

As an earlier poster noted, one of our waiters was a tad on the pretentious side. However, this wasn't enough of a put-off to keep me away in the future. We'll be back at Herbsaint!

I had the privilege of eating at Herbsaint and Bayona which are both restaurants of a woman named Susan Spicer. I don't know her, but she's definitely a pro. While Bayona seems to have the best reputation, I could not see much difference in the quality of the two restaurants. Both provide creative and outstanding cuisine and gracious service. Like Bayona, Herbsaint is a small place that could easily be overlooked. Do yourself a favor and call ahead for a reservation. Herbsaint is definitely a must when in New Orleans.