Relish: A taste of the 'BBig' Easy at BB's

By Tim Pawul & Mimi Arnold     1/28/10 6:00pm

In a salute to the New Orleans Saints football team that recently made it to the Super Bowl, we decided to have some New Orleans-style grub this week at BB's Cajun cafe. And like the team's play in last Sunday's NFC Championship, our football-inspired decision did not disappoint, as BB's offered a quick, casual and down-home meal. Before we get into the details of the place, it's necessary to point out two things. First, that BB's will start delivery in a few weeks, and second, the menu is undergoing a bit of modification, so some of the items that we sampled may not be available in the future. Still, that shouldn't discourage you from trying out the place.

Ambiance

The environment in BB's is exactly what you'd expect from a diner with a Southern personality and menu. The interior was small, holding only six or seven tables, and there was only one waitress to hustle the customers in a timely fashion.

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Upon entering, we were presented with a Bourbon Street-style display of five or so margarita and daiquiri machines. An eclectic range of patrons, ranging from college kids, families and business people alike, frequent the place to grab a quick lunch or late breakfast. We recommend coming here for lunch or late-night food when you feel like having fun or are looking for unhealthy grub without the wait - Thursday through Saturday, BB's is open until 3 a.m.

Food

We ordered an appetizer, two entrees and two gumbos - one shrimp and one chicken and sausage. For the appetizer, we shared loaded pollo bullets, which were nothing short of incredible.

This appetizer featured about 15 golf ball-sized chunks of chicken wrapped in bacon and stuffed with hot peppers and cheese. The variety of flavors complemented each other and left a hint of heat lingering in our mouths to welcome a mouthwatering taste of juicy bacon.

Tim's entree, fish tacos, was slightly underwhelming. The offering was bland, a little light in portion and extremely greasy, which made the dish less appetizing.

On the other hand, Mimi ordered da half and half sha po'boy, which proved to be an excellent choice. The sandwich was palatable - and huge, with enough food for two people. For a small charge, it came with gumbo. The combination of deep-fried oysters and shrimp with both traditional and unique sandwich condiments made the sandwich worth ordering again. The gumbos were delightful and nicely seasoned, though diners have the chance to douse the food in whatever Louisiana hot sauce they desire.

Price

Nothing is outrageously expensive, but the food is not as cheap as the casual atmosphere may suggest. The full sandwiches cost about $11 each, with the half sandwich running about $8.50. However, the fantastically named breakfast wraps and sandwiches ("Heart Attack," "Breakfast Beast" and "Morning Glory" to name a few) are cheaper by $1 or so. The drinks were relatively inexpensive at $5, and the advertised specials even more so - $1.75 Lone Star and $2.50 Bud and Miller Light everyday, as well as Pork Chop Friday and Cajun Brunch Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Service

Though just one waitress was serving the restaurant, the service was surprisingly decent and satisfying. The sandwiches came out before the appetizer - an odd choice, though not altogether bothersome.

Tim's Recommendation

Without a question, the loaded pollo bullets were Tim's favorite. Honestly, how can anything involving cheese wrapped in bacon be bad?

Mimi's Recommendation

Da half and half sha po'boy proved to be Mimi's top choice even though she could only eat one-half of it. The shrimp were unexpectedly large, but it came without the fishy taste that sometimes accompanies fried seafood.

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