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| - I have loved New Orleans Takeout for over twenty years! Ever since a good college friend of mine (Mark) introduced it to me, I was hooked. I used to go to the Fordem Avenue location just about every week when I was living and working downtown. It was always good, cheap food that was ready in minutes. And the Fordem Avenue location was easy to get to and park at.
Now, here I am twenty plus years later and I recently re-discovered the Monroe Street location- yes, I had been there before, but now that my daughter is attending a weeknight soccer camp at UW and I have an hour to kill over the late side of the dinner hour, it is becoming a weekly dinner treat for me.
The last two weeks I have had the half-portion Mardi Gras combo. A good size plate, I cannot imagine what the full size would be. The half is fine for a meal. It comes with Red Beans and Rice (ohhh, so nice!), Shrimp Étouffée and Jambalaya and a side of corn bread. The corn bread is the best I have ever had (and I will make my own corn bread from scratch from time to time). So moist and snapping with good corn flavor. Definitely not dry. The étouffée contains three or four nice size shrimp nestled in a warm, spicy sauce (but not too spicy- bottles of hot sauce for those who like it really spicy) with the requisite veggies. Jambalaya had good balance with ham/chicken and rice was perfectly cooked and seasoned. And the Red Beans and Rice was a real winner, helping to cool down the bite of the étouffée.
Next time I want to try the Oyster Po Boy and Blackened Catfish to see if they are as good as I remember.
Service here is as friendly and laid back as the Big Easy (these guys and women have a genuine smile plastered on their face), but each time has been prompt. Not much room to sit (maybe 8-10 stools on Monroe Street), hence the "take-out" designation in the name. Not the most attractive place in the world, but very homey and warm, with great jazz and zydecajun music. And if you eat there there is god people watching out the big windows.
I gave it five stars but in reality 4.5 is more like it. But the great music makes me decide to round it up.
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