The latest addition to the booming small bar scene in Adelaide is a two-storied joint in the old stables down the East End. The name NOLA stands for New Orleans, Louisiana, and the bar aims to encompass all the amazing quirks the city is so famous for.
Specialising in whiskey, they pride themselves on stocking some of the best and rarest whiskeys from America and Australia. Moonshine, bourbon and rye are just some of the tailored collection available, and the pricing won’t break the bank.
A tulip of beer and that amazing fried chicken
Another unique aspect of NOLA is the sixteen craft beer taps. The taps are the result of a successful crowd funding campaign which now allows NOLA to offer sixteen different craft beers at any given time. The available crafts beers are constantly changing, as generally only one keg will be bought of each to offer customers a bit of variety and encourage people to try new beers.
As well as whiskey and tap beer, there is also a wide variety of bottled and canned beers and ciders available. There are more than a few interesting ones on the menu, like Big Shed Brewing Co.’s spicy Cherry Popper cider, and Moon Dog’s Bjorn to Boogie Watermelon Weizen. If you’re celebrating something special, NOLA’s menu has a selection of 500mL+ bottled beers that are designed for sharing with friends. Boasting a much more intense and lengthy flavour palette than most beers, as well as a higher alcohol percentage and varied ageing periods, these beers are comparable to enjoying a nice bottle of wine with your crew.
Wild boar meatballs
A visit to NOLA isn’t complete without trying some of the amazing food from the kitchen. A unanimous opinion from both media and barflies alike has seen NOLA claim the title of most delicious fried chicken in Adelaide, accompanied by an ever-changing dipping sauce and perfected by a few drops of the numerous bottles of hot sauce that live on every table. Also on the menu is a variety of gumbo and jumbalaya, featuring ingredients that change every few days, like mushroom, prawn and mussel, duck and chorizo. Wild boar meatballs are another popular option, and if you come past during the day you can try a Po-Boy, a delicious roll filled with varying ingredients, like smoked mussel, three cheese and beef brisket, paired with salad and sauce. As with the tap beers, the food menu is always changing, so there’s always something new!
Smoked marlin cheviche
The future is bright for NOLA, with plans to become a Fringe venue, host tasting events and jazz nights on the cards, as well as a rapidly-building regular clientele that spend hours trying to taste all the newest beers and munching away on fried chicken. NOLA is open 12pm-12am Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm-2am Fridays and Saturdays and 12pm-12am Sundays.
