Comments on: New Cajun/Creole restaurant to replace Big Lick BBQ

By: gee

gee — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:04:32 +0000

we ate there last week and spent time w/a delightful woman who said she was the Lucy of the restaurant’s name. she’d found a large number of menu errors – when the menus are corrected quite a few selections will have fewer sides and such. the ETOUFEE was wonderful – the wham bam was very tasty – but also close to overpriced. the jamabalaya was dry, over seasoned, lacking moisture-celery-onions-etc. her cornbread is sweet tasty. the pork chop was very nicely done (but the menu says plural); the mac & cheese is bland. the menu may be a bit overpriced, e.g., the stuffed baked potato is basically a protein, bacon bits and cheese. they have a lot of start-up glitches to work out, they were having software problems as we talked. everyone was friendly and most welcoming. the colors are fun. everything is clean. 4 TVs for a tiny dining room at a not-sports-bar price point seemed to not fit well. I’ve eaten in New Orleans several times. I have hopes for her, if she gets these things in order: methods, trained staff, pricing, authentic foods. downtown’s cajun/creole just isn’t – it would be wonderful to have real NO food!

By: Lindsey Nair

Lindsey Nair — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:50:09 +0000

OK, I talked to Jimenez again and she did own the Bayou Cafe in Rocky Mount. She said she closed it because she had problems with the building and moved back to New Orleans for a while.

By: Mike D

Mike D — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:40:47 +0000

The guard rail beside the parking lot has been painted green.

I may very well find something I would like there and would be willing to try.
Just never have eaten this type of food and not knowing whats what I would not want to drop $15-$20 on a dinner I could not eat.
But I still not have closed the door one ever trying.

By: crooked road

crooked road — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:24:47 +0000

Rick H, I always put brisket in a different category, like ribs. Being raised here in the Mid-Atlantic South, barbecue means pork to me. That takes nothing from brisket, as I’ve had lots of brisket that was tastier than most of the pork barbecue. Just a different box, in my mind.

Having eaten barbecue at lots of places across the Carolinas, I have to say that a lot of them are currently living on reputation. Sure, they might still use wood instead of gas, or go whole hog or whatever the nuance. But a lot of them that are supposed to be legendary? They currently turn out some really lazy quality.

Maybe that’s why I like Due South, because they don’t have 50 years of history to convince you it’s good, they have to make it good right now. That, and the fact that even decent barbecue joints are as rare as hen’s teeth around this region.

By: Rick H.

Rick H. — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 04:08:31 +0000

David, if the best BBQ you’ve ever had was Ridgewood, you haven’t had any really good BBQ. It is good, I won’t deny that, but there is so much better out there. I’d agree with crooked road, to an extent.

Due South is right up there, better than Ridgewood, but I’m not even sure I’d put Due South in my top 10, because I’ve clogged my arteries up just that much.

All you have to do is cross the border into Carolina and you’ll get better – and a plane ride to Texas will blow your mind.

By: tass

tass — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:22:58 +0000

Those aren’t mardi gras colors, they’re Patrick Henry High School colors!

Not a whole lot of vegetarian food in New Orleans but if she makes a veggie version of dirty rice, I’m there!

Also, I’m with Roy … any word about whether she’ll be open for breakfast? Cafe au lait and beignets would help with mourning-Tudor’s process.

By: crooked road

crooked road — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:22:13 +0000

Due South in Christiansburg crushes Ridgewood, which is indeed good barbecue. That’s just indicative of how skilled Due South is at cooking good ‘cue.

I’ve had lots of barbecue in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and all over the Deep South. Due South is easily top five.

Not trying to turn this into another barbecue argument, just giving recognition where due.

By: Art Hill

Art Hill — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:45:54 +0000

Sweet!!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:45:15 +0000

Lindsey, you are not bringing the hard-hitting culinary investigative reporting we’re accustomed to. For shame!

By: David in Salem

David in Salem — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Best BBQ I have ever had – Ridgewood Barbecue near Piney Flats, Sullivan County, TN.

Looking forward to trying this Cajun!!! Hopefully, she can make me a good Mint Julep.