Tom Brady, one of the last quarterbacks picked in his draft class, feels like a good comparison for Boudreaux’s. It is surrounded by so many trendy restaurants, that it seems to get severely and unfairly overlooked. I have no idea why because it is the best cajun food I’ve had outside of New Orleans, and if you’ve had cajun food before, you know that means it is some of the best food around, period.

The Ambiance

The ambiance could be why this place doesn’t get the love it deserves. It doesn’t make for the perfect backdrop on your next Instagram post, the lighting is unbalanced, and the playlist could use some work. When we first sat down, Moby was blaring over the speakers. Now don’t get me wrong I enjoy Moby’s music from time to time, but in that moment I felt like Jason Bourne taking a break from fighting corruption to enjoy some jambalaya. As the meal went on and I had more time to take in my surroundings, not only did the sound track get better, but I began to see the underlying charm of this restaurant. The lamp posts on the wall, the floor to ceiling wooden bookshelves, and the beautiful wooden bar, give it a New Orleans feel that you are looking for. The bar is this massive, unique cut of wood that looks like an epic place to watch a Saints game or decompress with an old fashion after a long day at work. I will certainly be back to test those barstools.

What to Order

This is a place that lets the food do the talking. Plain and simple. Since Jerry and my trip to Boudreaux’s all I can think about is that crawfish and spinach dip appetizer. My lord is it good. Crawfish and shrimp drowning in cream cheese and asiago, served with some perfectly toasted flatbread and homemade chips. I mean what more can you ask for out of a dip. It is quite the portion size (like everything else on this menu) so when Jerry tapped out with about half the dish left, I was happy as a clam.

After devouring the crawfish and spinach dip Jerry and I split the gumbo yaya. Now, I’ll be honest, this is the first time I’ve truly had gumbo. I’ve stayed away because it doesn’t look appetizing. Mud water poured over white rice? hard pass. Thankfully Jerry was adamant that we order and split the gumbo because boy was I wrong on that one. The seasoning of this gumbo yaya was fantastic. It was hearty and rich with flavor. The broth paired with the andouille sausage and some rice for texture, ooh doggy. Never have I been so happy to have been so wrong.

Jambalaya on the other hand. Now, that’s my wheelhouse. I’d go as far as to say jambalaya is a top 5 food for me. I mean it’s just a mishmash of goodness. With such a love for jambalaya, I was going into this with high standards. It has also been a food I’ve been making at the house lately, trying to perfect the recipe, so I was going in with the added hopes that Jerry would take one bite out of Boudreaux’s and say “don’t worry Zanz, your jambalaya is perfect, the other ones add too much flavor” or something along those lines to spare my ego and continue to fuel my daydream of being a top chef. All that to say, Boudreaux’s had an uphill battle for me to admit that I liked their jambalaya. Not only did I like it, but it is the second best I’ve had, only behind The Original French Market in New Orleans, which has been a staple since 1802. It’s damn good and a must get at this restaurant. And, while you are add it, get totally nuts and add the side of fried chicken. You deserve it.

Wrap Up

Boudreaux’s is a hidden gem up in NoDa. I am seriously flabbergasted, by how little people talk about this place. It is serving up killer food in such a perfect location. If you are up in NoDa for a couple beers or a show at The Neighborhood Theater, you should absolutely pop in for a bite. There are so many items on this menu I can’t wait to go back and try.

-Zanzibar