5 /5 Billy Frizzell: This hole-in-the-wall Cajun restaurant / bar welcomes you with the mouthwatering aroma of rich, delicious cajun meals, as well as club sandwiches or a 14 ounce tender ribeye steak. Inside, the cozy, unpretentious dining area is filled with the warm, familiar chatter of regulars, feeling like a family kitchen. The menu features soulful, authentic Cajun food featuring daily lunch specials. The spectacular food at this Louisiana country Cajun restaurant is a symphony of rich, deep flavors, from a hearty, slow-cooked gumbo with a dark roux to a heaping plate of crispy fried catfish, onion rings, firecracker shrimp, fried frog legs, Norwegian salmon, hamburger steak with gravy, shrimp salad, shrimp Poboy sandwich, beef tips and rice. A country store sits in the front corner of the building, well stocked with cold beer and spirits. The restrooms are located in the front of the building, and are clean and bright inside. We ordered the 14 ounce 1881 ribeye steak and hamburger steak with gravy. The 1881 ribeye steak definitely did not disappoint. This a top quality blue ribbon steak, best I have ever tasted in my lifetime. The chef cooking the ribeye, definitely understands the assignment. The side salad was fabulously put together with tender chopped lettuce, fresh red ripe, diced tomatoes and just the right amount of grated cheese. The red skin french fries are phenomenally golden and tender. But please definitely dont order the sautéed mushrooms. The disgusting, oily sauteed mushrooms were slimy and had a rubbery texture, swimming in a pool of greasy, watery liquid that tasted of burnt rubber and had a sad, washed-out whitish brown, unappealing hue. The hamburger steak was delicious but the gravy arrived cold on the plate. The brown gravy was a disappointing, unappetizing addition to the meal because it had clearly not been heated properly. Instead of the rich, smooth, and flowing texture it should have had, the sauce was congealed, with a thick, clumpy consistency. When served, the gravy was not warm and velvety, but rather an unpleasantly lukewarm or even chilly temperature that made the accompanying hot food cold on contact, giving the food a muted flavor. Nevertheless, we sent the gravy back to the kitchen to be properly heated. The sweet potato casserole presented a visual promise of a classic, comforting side dish with its golden-brown topping, but that expectation quickly dissipated upon tasting. The initial creamy texture and mild sweetness gave way to a disappointing charcoal-like bitterness emanating from the bottom layer. Digging further into the bowl revealed a distinctly scorched section where the sugars had not caramelized but rather blackened and hardened against the dish. This unfortunate element permeated the otherwise decent flavors, leaving a gritty, unpleasant aftertaste that completely undermined the dishs potential. With that being said, we will look forward to returning again to explore more of the available menu options.
UPDATE: We returned today and ordered Cheeseburgers and Red Skin Fries. The Cheeseburger is stacked high with fresh lettuce, a thick slice of tomato, and onions, all held together by a pliable, slightly squishy bun. With the first bite, the juicy, savory flavor of the patty, seasoned perfectly with salt and pepper, paired well with the creamy American cheese and condiments. Alongside the cheeseburger, the Red Skin Fries, piled high, offered their own delight, each one golden and perfectly crispy on the outside, fluffy within, and delivering a satisfying salty crunch..
