Nola’s is popular amongst Hamilton students as a lovely place to go when you don’t want Commons anymore. It is suitable for special occasions, such as birthdays and Family Weekend. Nola’s serves cuisine inspired by the chef-owners’ backgrounds and influenced by seasonal and local produce. Though Nola’s is closed on Monday, it is open 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and open until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. The prices of the meals are a tad higher than ramen noodle prices, with a price range of $12-$28. There is a new dinner special every day, but no other deals like kid’s meals or senior specials. The menu is limited and has minimal options for vegetarians, even fewer options for those with allergies and no choices for vegans.
A short Jitney ride down the Hill and a two-minute walk will bring you to a cute restaurant across the street from the Clinton Green, which has been boarded up and has a sign saying “Nola’s is under renovations! Lunch and Dinner served in the Annex!” to which you quickly become confused because you just wanted to go to Nola’s. Then you realize the Annex is next door, and all’s right with the world again.
Walking into the Annex at 5:10 p.m. is like walking into an underground speakeasy or hole-in-the-wall. The walls are weathered red brick with a dark wooden bar, dark hardwood floors and dark tables. There are splashes of white on the benches, pillows and accessories, giving a French Country vibe that would make any HGTV designer impressed.
The lighting is soft and intimate; a small candle sits on each table. It is a tiny venue, with maybe enough space for 20 patrons. Luckily, the crowd does not show up until 5:30. When not hosting Nola’s, the Annex is a wine tasting bar. For now, however, it is a quiet place to bring a close friend or significant other out to a delicious meal in a casual setting.
The service is quick, with only four people on staff: two to host and serve, one to bring out the complimentary bread and one to serve wine at the bar. One server, in particular, who was incredibly kind described all of the food that she laid out in front of us and never let our water run low.
The cheese platter is made up of several artisanal varieties of cheese, fruit, freshly-made mustard, local honey and fresh crostini. The cheeses featured were brie, gouda, manchego and Toscano Romano. The appetizer also had blueberries, fig and cranberry jam. The brie was sweet and melted on the tongue. While all the appetizers looked delicious, the cheese platter was by far the best option. The Nola burger was cooked a little too long, but had delicious sweet onions on top. The smoked portabello was flavorful, though the burrata cheese was too watery. Unfortunately, the smoked portabello is the only entree for vegetarians.
The dessert list is short, but interesting. Some options included Cider Mill cheesecake, lemon and blueberry cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake.
All in all, Nola’s is an excellent restaurant with a casual atmosphere. It’s a bit pricey, but could be a good spot to bring your parents when they’re in town. The restaurant is extremely small, so it is recommended that you make a reservation ahead on their website,
nolasinclinton.com
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