Big Easy Cafe

I have to preface this review by stating that my husband loves Cajun food. No, he's not from Louisiana or even from the South, but his taste for the likes of jambalaya and gumbo are unparalleled among our friends. When we discovered a new Cajun restaurant around the corner from our house, we were quite excited, but nervous, to try the cuisine.

The Big Easy Cafe is a converted old house that has been fashioned into a cozy, dark dining room with coffee bar, along with tables on the street enclosed in a quaint black railing to provide both the dark mystery of New Orleans with the breezy atmosphere of its busy streets.

The menu consists of lunch, dinner, and on the weekends, brunch. A list of Cajun classics entice diners to take a taste of the beloved favorites, such as shrimp and grits, jambalaya, gumbo, and brisket. They also feature classic Southern sides, such as okra, mac & cheese, and hushpuppies. They also offer an array of desserts, including homemade beignets!

For lunch, we weren't super hungry, so we decided to split the beef brisket sandwich, which is easily enough food for two people. It comes with a choice two sides, and we chose the hushpuppies and dirty rice. The sandwich was wonderful: tender slices of perfectly sauced and spiced brisket on a fresh baked po boy roll. The rice, while good, was a bit too spicy, tasting almost exclusively of black and cayenne pepper. The hushpuppies were mealy and soft, and seasoned without tasting too salty.

The best part of splitting a meal is that you can have dessert with very little guilt! We decided that we couldn't leave without trying the beignets, which come as orders of 3, 6, or 9. We went with the small order, and they came to the table hot, with just enough powdered sugar to make them decadent without feeling like a carnival treat.

The service was excellent, particularly given that this restaurant is new (usually service is a bit haphazard at a newly opened establishment). However, the waitstaff and kitchen seem to be handling the enthusiasm of patrons quite well. I will certainly return.