Last updated: December 5, 2023

In the Weeds

Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen feels like a natural extension of NoDa. The Cajun restaurant on the corner of North Davidson and 36th is gritty, bold, and bright, with wobbly tables and affordable food.

Serving a menu of classic Louisiana dishes, Boudreaux’s is the kind of place you go when you need a heavy stomach to make a heavy heart feel lighter. The floors creak as you step in, the the smell of Cajun spices, baked into the walls of the restaurant after years of service, hits you.

The menu received a face life not all too long ago, making improvements in readability. The restaurant is open for lunch a dinner, and the menu centers around Cajun classics like jambalaya, étouffée, and gumbo.

All of these dishes are a true homage to the original cuisine, filled with Andouille sausage, shrimp, or crawfish. The biggest way you can tell you’re not in New Orleans is the texture of the crawfish. It’s clear they weren’t just pulled from the mud, but still make for a tasty bowl. The gator po’ boy is a personal favorite; the meat really does taste something like chicken, fried to a welcome crunch but still tender on the inside.

If you prefer all of your cuisine to be infused with a bit of the Southeast, you’ll find your dishes in the sandwich section, which includes dishes such as a pimento cheese or pulled pork on a bun made of beignet dough, or entrées such as the bourbon fried chicken.

The beignets are a must-order, either for a starter or dessert. The light, fried pillows of dough are coated in powdered sugar and send you home with sugar dotting your clothes. They’re a sweet start to the restaurant’s brunch, served Saturdays and Sundays. Also part of the Boudreaux’s brunch: one of the best Bloody Mary bars in town. Order your preferred vodka from your server, and take it to a build-your-own station with a variety of mixes and accoutrements. The house mix is a fantastic, flavorful blend of heat and acid.

The service can be slow, but the servers are friendly and happy to answer any questions. This isn’t the kind of place you go to be doted on, though. You come here for big flavors, big personality, and a small bill. —Kristen Wile