Bennachin Restaurant

As we walked into the little place we were met with a warm casual atmosphere and a smile from the hostess. The space though small seemed to offer a nice intimacy with quiet service and hushed conversation from the other gourmands in the place. The meal began with iced herbal tea which was wonderfully refreshing after wandering the Quarter. The tea was not sweet but had a nice fragrant finish. We moved on to a bean fritter appetizer with a savory chutney(a hint of tamarind I think) which was exciting and as savoured these we looked forward to the entrees. I enjoyed ""the special"" which was a fragrant jerk chicken smothered in a spicey brown gravy with great depth of flavor. The chicken fell apart into delicate morsels and muddled with the white rice base which was delightful. The vegetables with the plate had been cooked in a broth that left the veggies both firm and delicious. My wife and I shared tastes of the other's dish to broaden our experience of the dishes. I was at a loss as to which I loved more. For a great lunch or dinner and a delicious cultural experience I strongly recommend giving Bennachin a go. more

Although I cannot comment regarding authenticity of African cuisine (because I have not visited Africa yet), but I can tell you that I totally LOVED the food and recommend it! It is not like anything else you can find in New Orleans. more

I worked for a non-profit rebuild organization for 4 years and i would take groups of 18 at a time to bennichan up to 4 days a week. I have never had a bad meal yet... the reason it takes more time to serve the food is because it is made from scratch as you order it... no microwaving, made it last week and froze it B.S. it is the real deal. After bringing nearly 2,000 ppl there i can say that only 30 or so did not care for it... I can't wait till they have their booth at jazz fest so I can have a mango freeze and fried plantains together!! more

Nice ambiance, poor food. Not authentic African cuisine. more

We were in New Orleans recently and after a searching a while about restaurants that serve vegetarian food, we stumbled onto Bennachin and decided to give it a try. Needless to say we were not disappointed. For appetizers we had black-eyed pea fritters which were really good. Then I got Nbodle without beef for my entree and my husband got some chicken dish. Both of us enjoyed our entrees and left the restaurant happy. Pros: Food more

I moved from New Orleans over 3 years ago & I miss this place most of all. I brought all my visitors to this restaurant & they all loved it. I still recommend it to friends who will be visiting the city. Try the peanut stew - which can be made vegetarian. I still have cravings! Pros: great food Cons: does anything else matter? more

We called ahead for a 7:00p dinner for 9 people on a Friday. The table was ready when we arrived. The appetizers ($3 - $5) were all great, especially the chicken and the blackeyed pea/eggplant/smoked fish ""cake"". The lamb was stewed and served w/ broccoli, and the grilled fish entree was perfectly cooked, flaky and moist with great spices. There is no entree more than $12.95, and there was plenty of food on each plate. I always get the ginger drink ($1.50) which is a combination of spicy (ginger) and sweet (honey?) that is very refreshing. If you want alcohol, you'll have to bring your own. We brought two bottles of wine, and they provided the glasses (no charge). With 9 full bellies and including a >20% tip, each person spent $20. It is a very relaxed atmoshpere and prompt service when you ask for something. This was such a great dinner, I signed up just to review it. Thus, this is my 1st review. Go to Bennachin. Pros: food, atmoshphere, location Cons: parking, heat more

This is a long-time favorite of ours. We always, always take out-of-town visitors here so they can experience the richness of the variety of cuisines to be found in modern NOLA, and understand the West African origins of such signature dishes as gumbo and jambalaya. The food is always carefully prepared; don't expect to rush through your meal. Vegans and vegetarians will find plenty to enjoy here, so it's a great place to go when you're in a group of people with varied tastes to satisfy. And keep an eye out for their booth at Jazz Fest! One more thing--after Katrina, they've been cash-only. If you forget, there's an ATM across the street at Verti Marte. Pros: Excellent food, every visit. Cons: Service is slow--not negligent, just relaxed. more

Skip in here before 3 to take advantage of the lunch specials - lots of choices for under 6$. My favorite is the spinach with coconut rice and fried plantains. Don't miss the black eyed pea fritters for an appatizer and try one of their specialty drinks. You can try this resteraunt while not missing out on New Orleans favorites like Red Beans and Rice or Jambalaya - skip the bourbon street dives this is what New Orleans is all about - great food! Pros: Many vegetarian options Cons: Somewhat slow service more

One of the best restaurants in town! The food is great. Lots of vegetarian dishes. Give the ginger drink a try it's unique and refreshing on a hot New Orleans day. The service is slow, but very friendly. Relax and enjoy. Pros: Great food, great price, French Quater Location Cons: Service is slow more

You can't find such good food for such a good price anywhere else in the French Quarter. The service was a bit slow, but it appeared to be such because there were so many people coming to pick up take-out and it seems as though only one family works there. The food is wonderful though and if I lived in town I'd eat there a minimum of once a week. Pros: food, friendliness, value more