You’d likely never know this adorable, plant-filled space on a block bearing a street name no one knows (that feels more like an alley) could be the best thing to happen to your week. Located directly across from one of the two U.S. Court of Appeals loading docks, this oasis quickly transports the diner to a country they may have never visited and may now want to visit immediately.
This isn’t that “Mexican” place you have in your hometown that mostly serves to pacify the American palate. That isn’t to say it will feel unfamiliar or awkward; you may just realize excessive grease and cheese aren’t required for enjoyment of every item.
With the exception of tortas (sandwiches) and a couple of desserts, everything is gluten-free. Not just in the “no-gluten-containing-ingredients” way you may find many places, but instead it’s an environment where staff are trained on cross-contamination (and where they have a dedicated frier). There are also numerous vegetarian and vegan options.
Happy hour is 3-6 weekdays, and you’ll definitely leave happier. Then again, that’s kinda guaranteed anytime you visit.
Do yourself a flavor 😉 and walk right on over from the streetcar or even the French Quarter. Should you take the ferry over here from Algiers? Well, I sure won’t discourage it!
Come hungry, thirsty, and ready for your life (or at least taste buds) to be improved.
ItalianBrunchPizzaAllergen FriendlyDeliveryDinnerKid FriendlyOpen Late NightLunchOutdoor SeatingTake AwayVegetarian OptionsVegan OptionsPastaBread ItemsBreakfast
People are saying
View more
Christopher Davis
We sat out in the air conditioned front section and Christy took great care of us! We were looking for some yummy gluten free options and Sophia’s pizza was really great. Next time we will try the gf pastas. Christy was awesome and the kale salad was my favorite - definitely try the kale salad.
We had a great time dining in for a company dinner. The service was fast and our server, Sirius, was an excellent host. He was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. I forgot to take pictures but the food was delicious! And the cornbread was probably my favorite thing I ate. My co-worker is also gluten free and was able to enjoy a lot of food and even the charbroiled oysters! Would recommend!
There aren’t many gluten free options. It’s kinda our fault since we thought a seafood restaurant would have more fish options that weren’t shellfish.
The service was great and welcoming.
It was really really loud inside though there were few people dining at the time.
It was $20 for a standard burger with a bag of chips. I kinda think that it was overpriced.
Excellent food, the fish and grits was perfect and the maduros really elevated the dish. Finding a place down here with a nearly fully gluten free menu can be tricky, but Besame's careful menu planning makes it so your celiac friends don't have to choose between deliciousness and safety.
Great restaurant with authentic food and amazing service! Could accommodate my gluten allergy which I sincerely appreciate :-). Steak frites and eggs are fire 🔥
AmericanOpen Late NightLunchBurgersCiderDessertsFriesKnowledgeable StaffSeparate GF MenuDinnerBread ItemsKid FriendlyTake AwayBrunchDeliveryBarRestaurant
People are saying
View more
Ricardo R
We waited 40mn for a table for a late dinner. The person at the reception wasnt the friendliest but we were hungry. BIG SHOUT-OUT to Paul on the merch side to be kind enough to talk to us while we waited! We finally got a table and ended up waiting 15/20 mn to get a server. Wasnt too thrilled about that. Server was nice and informative on food allergies though. They have a gluten free menu available, but the seasoned fries weren't gluten free, needs updated. We got a burger and a pulled pork sandwich with green beans sub for fries. Overall wasnt impressed with the food specially for the price. Manager came to check on us and we ended up talking about music and tattoos! Memorabilia was interesting on the walls.
I would give 6 Stars if I could. For an early morning breakfast, there is no other option near the French Quarter. Whole menu available for breakfast.. you can get a curry, a salad or traditional breakfast and smoothie / juice. Menu clearly marked for gluten free and nourishing vegetarian options. Very very delicious and friendly service. Fast and low prices considering all the ingredients. Nice decor and truly an oasis! PS, you don’t need to be gluten free / vegan or vegetarian or health conscious to have a great meal here!!
I cannot have gluten or seed oils due to severe allergies, and this restaurant was very accommodating with their steak and working with me on sides because it's very difficult to eat out sometimes. The New York strip was cooked. Absolutely perfectly service was fantastic and the restaurant was very clean.
Excellent choice for dinner. Top notch service, unique drinks, and a great ambiance. Gluten free options. We tried both raw and charbroiled oysters. Yum! I had the risotto. It had a bit of a kick. Husband had pasta. So good!
Boris was a fantastic server! He helped me feel safe and cared for regarding my celiac dietary restrictions. The food was excellent and quick! Would definitely eat here again!
Great service. Amazing food. Loved the atmosphere. Really enjoyable gluten-free options!
**Edit** Would love to come back but that's a long trip from Western Canada! Lol
We only waited like 15 minutes. Very good service. Food was amazing. Not very pricy either. 10 out of 10. You can customize your burger , hotdog, ETC. You can sub a gluten free bun too. Definitely recommend 👌🏻
Good Gluten Free options.
The house potatoes were stupidly good... I mean wow. I didn't know potatoes could be that good.
Also really liked the sticky beets dish, and the grilled carrots dish on the tofu-based ricotta alternative. That stuff was magic (and I'm not vegan). We used that as dip sauce for the potatoes and... it was incredible.
For the main course we ordered both the beef and chicken. Both were quite good, but honestly we enjoyed the small other dishes above better than the main course 😅.
Had creme brulee for desert, it was good too, but not particularly extraordinary.
This is our favorite place for special occasions with the family, or drinks and plate sharing with my friends after work. The food is always fresh, delicious, and interesting. Both beautiful to look at and eat. The staff is extremely accommodating of my family members who have celiac disease, making sure to take careful notes on their orders. Patron this spot. You will not be disappointed.
I ordered from M bistro because they have gluten free options and the staff it’s not only knowledgeable about celiac disease, but very accommodating and flexible. I had a gluten-free cheeseburger with gluten-free bun the first night and the second night I had gluten-free pasta with chicken. (and actually, they realized that the pasta that they were originally had gluten in it so they remade my whole entire meal without me having to worry about it and told me what happened.) 100% would recommend if you have celiac disease or are on a gluten-free diet for health reasons.
Amazing food! And the service was great. The server remembered us from the prior day that one of us was gluten free, and when we accidentally ordered a non-GF dish he came to our table to warn us then took it away and swapped it out with something else.
Great place. Gluten-free options for pasta and pizza. Some other menu items could be gluten-free, but you had to ask, they were not marked. They had one of the best GF pizza crust I ever had. I look forward to trying other menu items. Points off for a wobbly table and chair.
The falafels are excellent. The humus and tahini are so fresh. I’ve been twice in 3 days and will go back at least a third before I leave NOLA.
They are very knowledgeable about gluten free options as well.
If you want freshly made and excellent food you can feel good about eating, then I highly recommend Cleo’s.
This was a great find in a recent trip to New Orleans. The food and service were amazing. They were able to point me to several gluten free options. I was able to eat any of the specialty oysters without breadcrumbs. The red snapper dish was also gluten free and delicious. The cocktails were fun, too.
I’m vegan and the options were not very good. The smoothie was full of ice and not blended very well. I got a sandwich on gluten free bread and because the bread was gluten free it doesn’t hold like normal bread. But most restaurants with gluten free bread know to toast it so it doesn’t get soggy. They did not toast the bread and it was soggy.
It's basic food with a casual atmosphere. Decent amount of options on the menu that can accommodate kids plus gluten free options. Music was up so loud conversation was very difficult but everyone was friendly yet not overly attentive. Having 8 different items on the menu nothing was bad but nothing that was great either. Stop in and expect to get full at a fair price.
Fun place to visit. I'm gluten free, and was able to eat the red beans and rice (most are not gf). Had no issues. Fast-paced restaurant with a good vibe. People I was with got the oysters and they smelled amazing. They loved them. Would go back if I was with gluten eating people so they could experience it.
Absolutely amazing! There are so many foods and sauces that are gluten free and safe for celiacs! One of the best dining experiences I have had by far! Server was incredibly friendly and helpful too!
Great spot for fresh poke in the CBD! Good for gluten free. All the ingredients are fresh and stored separately and they have a gluten free tamari marinade for the fish. Each portion is mixed in a clean bowl and the staff were knowledgeable about what was and was not gluten free.
This is, quite literally, one of the best, if not the best places to eat in NOLA for this price range. The menu has something for everyone...vegan, gluten free, sweet tooth, savory. My favorite breakfast place in the world, and I am super snobby about breakfast. Probably the only place in the world where you can get homemade ice cream and donuts, gourmet coffee, draft beer, frozen mimosas and coffees alongside a funky menu that includes the perfect breakfast burrito and fried cauliflower bites that taste like general tsos chicken. You will want to come back to this place as soon as you leave. So freaking delicious... ALL DAY!
Great food. Had a separate menu for gluten and dairy allergies with almost everything included from the regular menu, so awesome choice if you have an allergy.
Delicious food and pleasant service. We actually went back a second time since we enjoyed it so much. The crepes, pancaked and breakfast sandwich was all good. They had yummy gluten free pancakes the first time but unfortunately not the second.
Celiac friendly
