Bayou Bar & Grill

Bayou Bar & Grill Restaurant Review:

The spirit of Crescent City finds its way into the food and atmosphere at the Bayou Bar & Grill. Inside, colorful Mardi Gras beads hang from rafters in the ceiling, and TVs throughout the bar broadcast the game (there’s even a massive TV in the center of the dining room). Laid back and authentic, the place serves such real Cajun fare as shrimp and crawfish etouffée, hand-breaded oysters, and crab cakes rémoulade. Po’ boy sandwiches come stuffed with all sorts of fillings --- the traditional fried shrimp, oysters, catfish, fried chicken, grilled grouper and smoked turkey. For the adventurous, the Bayou serves alligator chili (try it over french fries with added cheese). The Bloody Marys offered during weekend “Mardi Gras” brunch are locally famous, and you’ll need one (or three) to wash down eggs Pontchartrain (poached eggs with bacon, oysters and hollandaise sauce atop an English muffin). Desserts include such Southern favorites as bread pudding and chocolate pecan pie. The wine list is short and only features inexpensive labels, but the Bayou is better known for its cocktails and decent beer lineup (there’s a wide selection of New Orleans’ hometown brew, Abita).