First, if you want a much more in-depth review of Southern Charm with better pictures, please read this piece on Nola.com. If you want some old-fashioned Hungry & Fit charm, stick around.
This recent take-out choice was inspired by an effort to support local business that were owned by black families. One of our favorite Mexican spots, La Providencia, showed their support for the black community and posted a list of black owned New Orleans’ eateries. They added a note about Southern Charm, which wasn’t on the list, most likely because it is a bit newer. This short article is more about our message to show support for the black community and encourage you to seek out local businesses to support during these hard times.
Now, let’s talk about food. I really wish we found this spot sooner, but it looks like a real dive on the outside. The blocky building sits between storage facilities and the small lot off of the highway is nearly fully hidden if you’re going the speed limit. You’d never expect such a clean and elegant bar and dining room to sit in between those walls. I was shocked and we felt underdressed wearing hurricane shorts and tees, even though we were only ordering take out. We quickly retreated to our car and waited for our food.
The take out menu was filled with tempting options, including some relatively expensive entrees. Alana indulged in one of them. When we arrived at home we unpacked brussel sprouts (10), a bowl of gumbo (9), the lagniappe burger (13), and their eggplant napoleon with pasta (25). The prices sit in parentheses next to the dishes. At $62 with tax and a total of $74 with tip, it certainly wasn’t a cheap meal, especially for the west bank of New Orleans. While I question whether it was worth it for take out, I have no doubt that it would have been worth it for dining in, due to the great service and stellar dining room.
Gumbo – I haven’t had anything quite like it, and I’ve eaten a lot of gumbo. Most gumbos in restaurants around here have either chicken and sausage or seafood. This had it all. Look at the picture. It had crab claws in it. At first, I thought they accidentally gave me a cup instead of the bowl that I paid for, but once I saw how packed with protein it was, I had no regrets. I don’t even remember eating any vegetables. It came with rice, although she asked if I’d like it on the side of packed with it in. I opted for it in so that it could soak up all the greatness during the ride home. It was the right decision. The broth was thick and rich, which is my preference when it comes to gumbo, but the greatest surprise came with the heat it packed. It was the spiciest gumbo I’ve eaten since we moved here. I would order it again.
Brussels – They were well cooked, with a few possibly being a touch overdone. It was a nice sized portion for a starter, and we ordered it without the bacon for Alana’s sake. I think the bacon definitely would’ve added an extra element that it was missing, but I can’t myself from comparing it to the faultless brussels at Three Muses. Not bad by any means, but it lacked depth and I’d opt to try another starter instead.
Lagniappe Burger – This $13 beast was well worth the price tag. It might have been the best value item in the whole meal. It included two full meat patties: one burger patty cooked to a perfect medium rare and one hot sausage, which could’ve packed more of a punch considering the heat in the gumbo. It had some healthy slices of bacon, as well as a very flavorful choice of cheese. The bun had a hint of sweetness and while the tomato and lettuce were too wilted by the time we got home to provide any relief, the burger overall was phenomenal. I’d want to try another entree next time, but would have a hard time avoiding a second round.
Eggplant Napoleon – I’ll eat anything but I’m very critical when it comes to eggplant, so I didn’t even try it, but Alana really enjoyed it. The seafood based cream sauce, however, was an entirely different story. I devoured it, dipping my probably frozen fries in it, instead of ketchup. They served it separately and gave a very generous portion that was used to cook some collared greens the next night. While I have a hard time seeing any eggplant dish valued at $25, the saving grace is that seafood sauce. It was flawless.
Our goal was to support a black owned business, but we really discovered a bit of a gem. There are very few places on the west bank that have a dining room and atmosphere worthy of date night, and there are even fewer with an intimate feel. We found a real winner and can’t wait to give them a fair chance when their dining room is open again. Find out more about them on their website.
