Had a wonderful dinner here last night. The chef takes what he does seriously and the waitstaff are very friendly and professional. The upstairs balcony is a really nice place to sit and have nice meal and inside is fine as well. The water they serve is infused with basil and mint and is also a nice touch. The dishes are small plates, similar to a tapas but larger, so order at least two to start. Everything we had was delicious. I had the lobster tamale which was loaded with lobster inside the the claw points on top, nice plating. We had two plates each, split a third plate and were very satisfied so we took a desert to go, to enjoy later. The chef uses a lot of locally sourced food giving that fresh farm-to-table taste. There is a lot of south by southwest flavors with a lot of creativity in his dishes. I was impressed, we were very happy with our experience at Opal Basil on the Trace and plan to return.
(5)
Steven M.
Had an insane dinner Saturday night for Valentine's day at Opal Basil in Mandeville. opalbasil.com If you're on the Northshore it's well worth a trip. Tom Fitz has been raving about it on his first couple of visits so we gave it a shot. It's a tapas only kind of a place and right up our alley!! Posted all the pictures. Our server Meghan was perfect, each course was brought out in a timely manner, never two courses at the same time. All in all a great dinner. Started with and amuse bouche: Crispy Shrimp, bacon, Goat Cheese firecracker, lime chile sauce Choice of Soup or Salad Truffled sea scallop, pernod cream cauliflower "caviar" Heirloom tomato, shitake mushrooms, sriracha snow pea salad Mezzo (googled it, means middle) Red Chile pulled pork, manchego cheese polenta cake, honey BBQ sauce. (By Far my favorite!!) Choice of: Mixed baby greens, lump crab, citrus segments, red pepper, lemon vinaigrette Or: Roasted begetable terrine, wilted kale, avocado devilled egg, roasted garlic dressing Entree: Chimichurri beef filet, sweet potato crunch, piquillo pepper slaw Dessert: Blue berry bread pudding
(5)
Quin H.
Outstanding flavors. Reasonably priced. Wait staff a little too familiar but friendly. Will definitely return.
(5)
Robert G.
My wife and I had a very pleasant time enjoying the many dishes on the menu. Just the right size to experience many different flavors and styles. Recommend it to anyone looking for a very nice atmosphere, staff and creative cuisine.
(4)
Theresa N.
Love dinning there for lunch enjoy the wraps always fresh . Gave four stars because I would like more choices in sides an some gluten free deserts . The owners are great toward there customers highly recommend
(4)
Kevin K.
Great food and original menu options. You can choose the chef's menu or small tasting plates. Very good choice if you like to try a lot of options or share plates. Service was very nice and professional.
(5)
Nicole T.
Great place for a date! Chef's tasting menu is the way to go. With each delicious course is a delicious drink pairing of your choice of cocktail or wine. Never have I been disappointed. A must go to place if you're on the Northshore!
(5)
Theresa H.
Went here for my husband's birthday, it couldn't have been any better! The owners and hostess are amazing and so friendly but the food was out of this world. We needed a gluten and dairy free meal, and they really surpassed our expectations! We tried the chef's tasting which started with a shrimp dish, then beef & avocado and lobster & bacon coconut wrap. The mind blowing part was dessert, which was a gluten free brownie with plantains, berries and I think nuts. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Calvin E.
I have been several times and have never been let down. The small plates/tapas dishes are great to share and try new combinations The menu is seasonal and uses local sources, always fresh and well plated. Missed the usual waiter but still good service. Semi open kitchen adds to atmosphere. A great addition to Mandeville, we need to support this type of Restraunt that adds to the diversity of cuisine to our area.
(5)
Etienne T.
Some restaurants are good - some restaurants are fun to be in - but it's rare to find a restaurant where the personality and the history of the chef and owner is omnipresent and in such good taste. His wife helps carry that through by infusing that into the beverages as well. The flavor profile is steeped in south western and delivered with care and know how. Each dish has a distinctive nod to that background and each bite is fabulous. We made a reservation for 7 which gave us to the great luxury of trying everything in the menu including all 4 deserts. The standouts were clearly the naked Brie crisp - a duck dish on the ap list - the beef crisp - and a chocolate brownie desert to write home about. Each small plate was a piece of crafted deliciousness and the decor is a soothing see foam bathed in light flowing in from a wall of windows over the trace. The chef took time to speak to each and every table. He is proud of what he does and he should be. I would say it's one of a kind except he also shares his artistry at Vive downstairs and we found out that he now operates Jubilee - which will definitely be our next stop. Go - you won't regret a minute of it.
(5)
Lynette L.
We had dinner here last Friday night. We shared 3 plates and everything was wonderful, but the seafood tacos in the almond flour tortillas were the star for me. I'm still thinking about them...My husband loved the chili shrimp on pork check. The atmosphere is nice (especially for a date night), the balcony is great, service was very good and the chef makes rounds of the tables to check on diners. The menu changes, but I still have hopes of seeing those tacos again because rest assured we will be back. What really made this fantastic for us is that we have food sensitives and allergies. There is a long list of what we can't eat between us and that makes going out usually a sad experience of all those lovely looking things on the menu that we can't eat, followed by picking the only option on the menu that looks plausible and usually followed by some sort of unpleasant reaction the following day. We rarely go out because it just isn't worth it. We could eat most of the items on the menu here and what was amazing was that the server was actually knowledgeable enough to tell us what to avoid and the chef came by and told us to always let him know and he will alter whatever he can to accommodate. I hesitated to write the last paragraph because I don't want all you healthy folks to think this is a restaurant only catering to a dietary subset. It isn't, they just happen to have a knack for making great food that just happens to also be healthy and creative. The food is genuinely wonderful and is easily as good (better in many cases) as the food I've had at any of the chef driven restaurants on the South shore. P.S., they also have a lunch counter downstairs (Vive Foods) that looks great too and offers weekly lunch/dinner options delivered to home or work. We'll be stopping there next for a gluten free shrimp po boy for the man and whatever Paleo option they have for me!
(5)
Jeanne G.
Delicious food. So full of flavor! Small plates. Great atmosphere. Friendly staff and owner. Very personable. Will definitely frequent the restaurant.
(5)
Andrew T.
Amazing Tapas, very nice atmosphere. Tapas is as good as Vegas in Metairie. The creaux-nut brownie is awesome! Mojitos were also very tasty
(5)
Jacob B.
Food themed South meets Southwest! Try the Crawfish Relleno just to begin to taste the picture. The best part is that serving style is similar to 'tapas' but with more an appetizer size portion, so it makes a great relaxed setting for groups of friends or clients. They hav one of those menus that has you come back because everything on it you want to have a taste of. Favs were the Empanadas and the Fried Egg with Chorizo, and then they have Shrimp'n'Grits, but made with Blue Corn instead will get that everytime I come back. It's new to Old Mandeville as of Spring 2014, but quickly growing definitely worth treating your taste buds to.
(5)
Echo B.
Every aspect of this place was wonderful; I'm so glad to have found it. We passed the big white building up in the rain our first time by, but had no problem the second time around. The atmosphere was great with beautiful decor and ambient music. Hostess was nice and we had no problem getting a table without reservation around 6:30 on a Thursday. Server was knowledgable and sweet. My date and I ordered 5 tapas, 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 1 mojito and were stuffed by the end with the bill at $85 plus tip. Great deal, considering the quality coming out of the kitchen. Every ingredient is fresh, some even locally sourced so extra kudos to the chef's conscious effort. Chef Vasquez came out to say hello and welcome us, even the mixologist introduced herself. We need more places like this across the Northshore; I hope they continue to do well. We had: Lump crab over wilted spinach- not shy with the crab meat :) Crawfish deviled egg- perfect. You have to respect a place that doesn't put salt and pepper shakers on the table at all. Don't worry, you won't need them.. Everything is perfectly seasoned. Lobster empanada Cilantro shrimp gnocchi Almond crusted seafood cake- I didn't even get to see this dish, my dinnermate scarfed it down so fast. Fresh catch entree- I could have eaten an entire fish made this way! With the fried avocado, it was just over the top delicious. Tres leche triple cream cheese cake Everything was executed so well.. I can't wait to go back for lunch at Vive downstairs!
(5)
Ashley B.
Wonderful new place! Sure to be a local favorite! Love the menu, very creative. We usually have to head to the south shore for this kind of concept! Glad to see a place bringing mandeville up-to-date. Really great drink menu as well.
(5)
D S.
We had lunch there the end of March. Sat outside on a warm sunny afternoon. Everything we had was fantastic!!! I'm not a fan of cornbread, but the cornbread they served was heavenly. And since we don't have foie gras in California, I order that - and was so glad I did. It melted in my month. When I go back, I'd definitely have Opal Basil as a place to return to.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Jason C.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. The chef takes what he does seriously and the waitstaff are very friendly and professional. The upstairs balcony is a really nice place to sit and have nice meal and inside is fine as well. The water they serve is infused with basil and mint and is also a nice touch. The dishes are small plates, similar to a tapas but larger, so order at least two to start. Everything we had was delicious. I had the lobster tamale which was loaded with lobster inside the the claw points on top, nice plating. We had two plates each, split a third plate and were very satisfied so we took a desert to go, to enjoy later. The chef uses a lot of locally sourced food giving that fresh farm-to-table taste. There is a lot of south by southwest flavors with a lot of creativity in his dishes. I was impressed, we were very happy with our experience at Opal Basil on the Trace and plan to return.
(5)Steven M.
Had an insane dinner Saturday night for Valentine's day at Opal Basil in Mandeville. opalbasil.com If you're on the Northshore it's well worth a trip. Tom Fitz has been raving about it on his first couple of visits so we gave it a shot. It's a tapas only kind of a place and right up our alley!! Posted all the pictures. Our server Meghan was perfect, each course was brought out in a timely manner, never two courses at the same time. All in all a great dinner. Started with and amuse bouche: Crispy Shrimp, bacon, Goat Cheese firecracker, lime chile sauce Choice of Soup or Salad Truffled sea scallop, pernod cream cauliflower "caviar" Heirloom tomato, shitake mushrooms, sriracha snow pea salad Mezzo (googled it, means middle) Red Chile pulled pork, manchego cheese polenta cake, honey BBQ sauce. (By Far my favorite!!) Choice of: Mixed baby greens, lump crab, citrus segments, red pepper, lemon vinaigrette Or: Roasted begetable terrine, wilted kale, avocado devilled egg, roasted garlic dressing Entree: Chimichurri beef filet, sweet potato crunch, piquillo pepper slaw Dessert: Blue berry bread pudding
(5)Quin H.
Outstanding flavors. Reasonably priced. Wait staff a little too familiar but friendly. Will definitely return.
(5)Robert G.
My wife and I had a very pleasant time enjoying the many dishes on the menu. Just the right size to experience many different flavors and styles. Recommend it to anyone looking for a very nice atmosphere, staff and creative cuisine.
(4)Theresa N.
Love dinning there for lunch enjoy the wraps always fresh . Gave four stars because I would like more choices in sides an some gluten free deserts . The owners are great toward there customers highly recommend
(4)Kevin K.
Great food and original menu options. You can choose the chef's menu or small tasting plates. Very good choice if you like to try a lot of options or share plates. Service was very nice and professional.
(5)Nicole T.
Great place for a date! Chef's tasting menu is the way to go. With each delicious course is a delicious drink pairing of your choice of cocktail or wine. Never have I been disappointed. A must go to place if you're on the Northshore!
(5)Theresa H.
Went here for my husband's birthday, it couldn't have been any better! The owners and hostess are amazing and so friendly but the food was out of this world. We needed a gluten and dairy free meal, and they really surpassed our expectations! We tried the chef's tasting which started with a shrimp dish, then beef & avocado and lobster & bacon coconut wrap. The mind blowing part was dessert, which was a gluten free brownie with plantains, berries and I think nuts. Highly recommend it!
(5)Calvin E.
I have been several times and have never been let down. The small plates/tapas dishes are great to share and try new combinations The menu is seasonal and uses local sources, always fresh and well plated. Missed the usual waiter but still good service. Semi open kitchen adds to atmosphere. A great addition to Mandeville, we need to support this type of Restraunt that adds to the diversity of cuisine to our area.
(5)Etienne T.
Some restaurants are good - some restaurants are fun to be in - but it's rare to find a restaurant where the personality and the history of the chef and owner is omnipresent and in such good taste. His wife helps carry that through by infusing that into the beverages as well. The flavor profile is steeped in south western and delivered with care and know how. Each dish has a distinctive nod to that background and each bite is fabulous. We made a reservation for 7 which gave us to the great luxury of trying everything in the menu including all 4 deserts. The standouts were clearly the naked Brie crisp - a duck dish on the ap list - the beef crisp - and a chocolate brownie desert to write home about. Each small plate was a piece of crafted deliciousness and the decor is a soothing see foam bathed in light flowing in from a wall of windows over the trace. The chef took time to speak to each and every table. He is proud of what he does and he should be. I would say it's one of a kind except he also shares his artistry at Vive downstairs and we found out that he now operates Jubilee - which will definitely be our next stop. Go - you won't regret a minute of it.
(5)Lynette L.
We had dinner here last Friday night. We shared 3 plates and everything was wonderful, but the seafood tacos in the almond flour tortillas were the star for me. I'm still thinking about them...My husband loved the chili shrimp on pork check. The atmosphere is nice (especially for a date night), the balcony is great, service was very good and the chef makes rounds of the tables to check on diners. The menu changes, but I still have hopes of seeing those tacos again because rest assured we will be back. What really made this fantastic for us is that we have food sensitives and allergies. There is a long list of what we can't eat between us and that makes going out usually a sad experience of all those lovely looking things on the menu that we can't eat, followed by picking the only option on the menu that looks plausible and usually followed by some sort of unpleasant reaction the following day. We rarely go out because it just isn't worth it. We could eat most of the items on the menu here and what was amazing was that the server was actually knowledgeable enough to tell us what to avoid and the chef came by and told us to always let him know and he will alter whatever he can to accommodate. I hesitated to write the last paragraph because I don't want all you healthy folks to think this is a restaurant only catering to a dietary subset. It isn't, they just happen to have a knack for making great food that just happens to also be healthy and creative. The food is genuinely wonderful and is easily as good (better in many cases) as the food I've had at any of the chef driven restaurants on the South shore. P.S., they also have a lunch counter downstairs (Vive Foods) that looks great too and offers weekly lunch/dinner options delivered to home or work. We'll be stopping there next for a gluten free shrimp po boy for the man and whatever Paleo option they have for me!
(5)Jeanne G.
Delicious food. So full of flavor! Small plates. Great atmosphere. Friendly staff and owner. Very personable. Will definitely frequent the restaurant.
(5)Andrew T.
Amazing Tapas, very nice atmosphere. Tapas is as good as Vegas in Metairie. The creaux-nut brownie is awesome! Mojitos were also very tasty
(5)Jacob B.
Food themed South meets Southwest! Try the Crawfish Relleno just to begin to taste the picture. The best part is that serving style is similar to 'tapas' but with more an appetizer size portion, so it makes a great relaxed setting for groups of friends or clients. They hav one of those menus that has you come back because everything on it you want to have a taste of. Favs were the Empanadas and the Fried Egg with Chorizo, and then they have Shrimp'n'Grits, but made with Blue Corn instead will get that everytime I come back. It's new to Old Mandeville as of Spring 2014, but quickly growing definitely worth treating your taste buds to.
(5)Echo B.
Every aspect of this place was wonderful; I'm so glad to have found it. We passed the big white building up in the rain our first time by, but had no problem the second time around. The atmosphere was great with beautiful decor and ambient music. Hostess was nice and we had no problem getting a table without reservation around 6:30 on a Thursday. Server was knowledgable and sweet. My date and I ordered 5 tapas, 1 entree, 1 dessert, and 1 mojito and were stuffed by the end with the bill at $85 plus tip. Great deal, considering the quality coming out of the kitchen. Every ingredient is fresh, some even locally sourced so extra kudos to the chef's conscious effort. Chef Vasquez came out to say hello and welcome us, even the mixologist introduced herself. We need more places like this across the Northshore; I hope they continue to do well. We had: Lump crab over wilted spinach- not shy with the crab meat :) Crawfish deviled egg- perfect. You have to respect a place that doesn't put salt and pepper shakers on the table at all. Don't worry, you won't need them.. Everything is perfectly seasoned. Lobster empanada Cilantro shrimp gnocchi Almond crusted seafood cake- I didn't even get to see this dish, my dinnermate scarfed it down so fast. Fresh catch entree- I could have eaten an entire fish made this way! With the fried avocado, it was just over the top delicious. Tres leche triple cream cheese cake Everything was executed so well.. I can't wait to go back for lunch at Vive downstairs!
(5)Ashley B.
Wonderful new place! Sure to be a local favorite! Love the menu, very creative. We usually have to head to the south shore for this kind of concept! Glad to see a place bringing mandeville up-to-date. Really great drink menu as well.
(5)D S.
We had lunch there the end of March. Sat outside on a warm sunny afternoon. Everything we had was fantastic!!! I'm not a fan of cornbread, but the cornbread they served was heavenly. And since we don't have foie gras in California, I order that - and was so glad I did. It melted in my month. When I go back, I'd definitely have Opal Basil as a place to return to.
(5)