This is definitely one of the few places I've been in Hammond that is really a "special occasion" level restaurant. Not to say you can't go for any occasion, but when you want that special atmosphere and unique food, Tope La will deliver.
They have a good wine menu, fairly unique cocktails and on Fridays (I believe only in the summer) they have fish specials. Our latest dining experience was quite nice, though the food service was quite slow because they had a large rehearsal dinner there. Here's what we had:
- Bayou Dip - This was pretty good. Great flavor, maybe a little too runny, but all in all a great appetizer to share. Unique twist on the spinach & artichoke dip you're used too.
- Crabmeat & Artichoke Soup - I wasn't so impressed by this. The bisque lacked complexity, so it kind of just tasted like white gravy
- House Salads w/ Sugar Cane Vinaigrette - Very interesting concept for a vinaigrette dressing, though a little sweet for a whole salad.
- Tabasco Speckled Trout (Fish Special) - Quite good. Simple, served atop a sweet potato, crab cake and topped with a Tabasco butter.
- Amberjack Alfredo (Fish Special #2) - Also quite good. The fish was prepared well and the alfredo was unique with sundried tomatoes and topped with fried oysters.
- Swordfish (Fish Special #3) - This dish had so much promise but I was a little underwhelmed. It was served atop a reduction of arugula, onions, portabellas and tomatoes, then topped with a walnut dijon sauce I believe. I thought the sauce was overly sweet, the fish overcooked and lacking flavor and the reduction lacked complexity. The arugula didn't have it's usual bite.
I very much enjoy coming to Tope La because they have all of the Cajun/Creole classics but then also come up with unique specials that show forward thinking in the cuisine.
I found this place while visiting. That atmosphere was really nice. Very clean and classy. I sat at the bar on Friday 4pm. Mark-the bartender was great. I told him I wanted something "Louisiana". He suggested Shrimp and grits. It was so delicious. Came back on Saturday night. Melissa-bartender suggested lightly blackened alligator. I never tried alligator before. I loved it. I also loved the dollar martini's. Met really great people at the bar and the rest of the night was awesome! The food and staff are really awesome here. I highly recommend it.
Review Source:We go here often. Or, at least we did. Â Food is generally very good; and is often great. Service can sometimes be hit or miss, but the food usually makes up for it. But the last time we went things went badly. It started by my ordering one of the specials listed on the white board at the front door. When my order was brought out it did not include some of the sides listed on the board. I got up to go re-read the description to be sure, and was correct. I brought it to our servers attention who returned my plate to the kitchen. A few moments later he returned with the same plate, and said the board was wrong, it had not been changed from the lunch specials. The dinner version of the dish did not include the same sides as the lunch version. He offered to bring me a baked potato, which I declined since I cannot have them. He then offered to give me a free creme brulee for desert, which I accepted. When our bill was brought out the price for my dish was much higher than was listed on the board. I again went to double-check the board only to find that it had been changed since we arrived, and now had a MUCH higher price listed for my dinner dish. I complained, and explained that they had advertised the dish at that price, and was obligated to honor it. The manager was called over and I made the same point to him. He initially refused to honor the posted price, then said if he lowered the price he would have to charge me for the dessert. I resisted, stating that I did not ask for dessert, it was offered as a substitute for the side I did not get. After much heated discussion he stomped off with the bill, then returned and slammed it down on the table, with the lower price and no dessert charge.
We have not been back since, and feel that the manager acted in a most unprofessional manner. Â It is a shame, as we usually ate here at least once a week, and often twice. They have great specials. So, be forewarned, if you get one of the specials pay close attention to the price posted, and the price you get charged.
The food was delicious! I highly recommend the porcupine balls for an appetizer and the shrimp and grits. The wait staff was very friendly. My only complaint is that it took 2 hours from the time we were seated until the time the check came.... And we didn't order dessert. For that reason, we will save visits to this restaurants when we don't have the children with us.
Review Source:I was very pleased with Tope La. As a vegetarian in Louisiana, eating was very difficult. There wasn't a ton for me on the menu at Tope La, but our server, Everett, was very quick to point out what I could eat. He was training a new server, and he was still 100% on top of our table. He and my coworker got along famously, including making fun of me, which seems to happen. Our food was good as well. We got the spinach dip appetizer, a couple of salads and dessert. The dessert was their Sweet Potato Nutty something or other. Who cares? It was DELICIOUS!!! Sweet potato ice cream in a candy shell sitting atop a delicious praline sauce with a waffle cone. Oh my gosh! AMAZING! If I could figure out a way to get the sweet potato ice cream home to California for my coworker and my dad, I would. The restaurant was a little pricey, but it seemed that nearly everything in Louisiana was, so that wasn't really surprising. The atmosphere was nice while still having that after work, happy hour bar feel. Based on the service and dessert alone I would return, but all in all the experience was great.
Review Source:This is my favorite place to eat in Hammond. Â The food is an upscale Cajun menu. Â They have burgers and (very good) red beans with fried catfish if you aren't feeling too adventurous. Â The bayou dip is my favorite appetizer. Â The porcupine hush puppies are great too. Â The alligator and grilled oysters are good...people not used to Cajun cooking may find them too salty. Â Every entree I have had has been good. Â If you want a salad the grilled vegetable salad is great . Â If you want meat go for the injected pork tenderloin.
Not sure what is up with the negative reviews for this place....I typically stick with the entrees or salads and haven't been disappointed.
Definitely one of the more random restaurants I've been in. It seems to have a pretty nebulous identity - it's got a fancy atmosphere, but TVs on some walls and our table had "S loves M" scratched into it. Dinner was good, but expensive for what it was. I had the crabmeat-stuffed redfish with jumbo crabmeat on top - it came to something like $28. I would definitely go again for the lunch menu if I were in Hammond. It looked like they had a lot of their regular options but for cheaper, and also sandwiches for around $10. Cocktails range from $6.50 to $8, which was reasonable based on the types of liquor they were using. I'm sure you could do well options, though.
Not a lot of light option, for the record. All of the fish had heavy cream sauces, and the menu didn't have any vegetarian options beyond salads - not that I was really expecting it to, but it would have been nice to see.
The place is pretty large, and was fairly empty - we were eating dinner at 9:15 on a Saturday night in late April. They had a guy with a guitar playing acoustic covers of very random songs from the 90's, but didn't turn off the radio, so there was Cee-Lo Green intermixed with covers that ranged from Radiohead to Martina McBride. Definitely not a romantic atmosphere, whatever they were going for. But, the fish and crabmeat were very tasty and the cocktails got the job done - overall, we were pretty pleased and just amused at the restaurant itself.
Tope La has been in Hammond for about 10 years and is one of the "nicer" restaurants in town. The food is generally very good. I have eaten their about 10 times for various occasions. This time a group of colleagues and I met for an early dinner after work. I ordered off of the special "rustic Italian" menu they were featuring. A generous friend in the group ordered a couple of appetizers to share. One was the fried olives. This just lends credence to the idea that we fry anything in the south. They were pretty good. Since they were green olives they had a strong olive flavor. I like olives so that was OK for me. The other appetizer was outstanding. It was fried eggplant topped with a lump crab meat sauce. The crab meat was excellent and so was the sauce. For an entree, I ordered the chicken parmigiana. Not sure why, because I try to avoid past. It was just OK - nothing special. I give the four star rating taking into account all of my visits. Most of which the food have been very good. Â The service is always good as well - this time no different. Â Looking for a special occasion in Hammond - try Tope La.
Review Source:The appetizers are always good. If you like nuts in your entrees, the pecan crusted chicken or talapia are good. Don't order the sandwiches... just not that great. The main negative to this location is sanitation. Always ask for a tablecloth.  If not, you may have just had an old damp cloth wipe the worn tabletops... and they will absorb that wonderful smell. The bathrooms don't look like they've had  anything done to them  except for changing the toilet paper. The walls, mirror, stalls and pictures seriously need cleaning! It makes one wonder what the kitchen is like if the tables and bathrooms are gross.
Review Source:Drove up to Hammond to meet a friend for lunch and chose this place at her suggestion (close to her office). I thought the food was good, not great.
Our server was VERY young, but friendly and he did a nice job, all the orders were spot on.
Atmosphere was comfortable, sort of a tavern feel...don't be fooled by their website, it's not nearly as fancy at it appears on their website. "Tavern" really seems to describe it best.
One in our party ordered the crab and cheese pasta, she seemed pleased, but I had a bite and felt otherwise. Mostly pasta and cheese with just a hint of crab. Hubby seemed happy but not overjoyed with his selection, and my club sandwich was good, not great. Lacks the sophistication of sandwich mastery I'm accustomed to, but hey, after all, we were in Hammond.
I found the prices to be inflated for a Hammond tavern, maybe they're trying to keep the local college kids out of the dining scene and bring them in for happy hour and college night only, but as "mature" professionals, I felt that the value of the meal definitely fell short as compared to the pricing.
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