A Perfect Day in the Warehouse District
For a relaxed, romantic date night in the New Orleans Warehouse District, Plates is built for exactly that: a small table for two along our big windows and old brick wall, a spread of shareable small plates, and a bottle of Spanish wine to linger over. There's no pressure to commit to one entrée and hope you chose right — you order a few plates, explore the menu together, and see where the night takes you.
That's the whole idea. Plates is the only restaurant in New Orleans that has made family-style and small-plate dining its entire language, and it turns out to be the most natural thing in the world for a date. Sharing lowers the stakes. You taste more, you talk more, and dinner unfolds at your pace instead of the kitchen's.
Where to sit
Ask for a two-top along the windows and the exposed brick. It's the warmest corner of a refined, industrial room inside the historic Cotton Mill — candlelight, high ceilings, and just enough buzz to feel like you're out without having to shout across the table.
What to order
Start with the Garlic Shrimp — our most-ordered plate and the best one-bite summary of what we do: classic Spanish garlic-shrimp tapas rebuilt with the flavors of this city, French black-garlic soubise, Vietnamese chili crunch, and Spanish pimentón. Add the Viet-Cajun Butter Roasted Oysters, our take on chargrilled, roasted in a screaming-hot cast-iron escargot pan with a Viet-Cajun crawfish butter and Italian panna gratta. The Wild Mushroom Toast — inspired by a dish at Mimi's in the Marigny, where our chef first fell for tapas — is the quiet showstopper.
Pour a bottle of Spanish red, and finish the way we'd finish it: Basque cheesecake and a glass of PX sherry. That last course is the one people text their friends about.
Come early or come late
Our daily happy hour runs 4–6 p.m. with cocktails from $8 — a low-key way to start a date at the bar before you move to your table. Dinner runs until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and the room stays easy all night.
Good to know
Reservations for two are on OpenTable; walk-ins are welcome at the bar.
Where we are: 1051 Annunciation Street, Warehouse District, two blocks from the Convention Center.
Parking: metered street parking is free after 7 p.m. and on Sundays, plus a discounted lot diagonal from us at John Churchill Chase & Annunciation.
FAQ
Is Plates good for a date night? Yes — it's one of the most relaxed date-night spots in the Warehouse District. Shared small plates, a deep Spanish and global wine list, and an intimate window table make it easy to settle in for the evening.
Do I need a reservation for two? Reservations for parties up to 10 are on OpenTable and recommended on weekends, but the bar takes walk-ins if you'd rather be spontaneous.
Is small-plates dining enough food for dinner? Absolutely. Three to four plates per person makes a full, satisfying dinner — and because you're sharing, you get to taste far more of the menu than a single entrée would allow.
What should first-timers order? The Garlic Shrimp, the Viet-Cajun Butter Roasted Oysters, and the Wild Mushroom Toast, finished with Basque cheesecake and PX sherry.
When is happy hour? Daily, 4–6 p.m., with cocktails from $8 — a great way to start a date at the bar.