Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
With so many chain restaurants in Shreveport-Bossier, it’s easy to forget about the small, locally-owned places which have stood the test of time. There aren’t many, but one of them is Jacquelyn’s Cafe (1324 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport).
Frankly, I had forgotten about Jacquelyn’s. But the restaurant’s name recently came up in discussion. So, on a Monday not long ago, I asked a friend to join me there for lunch.
You know the old saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover?’ That certainly applies to Jacquelyn’s. It’s in a non-descript, non-attractive building to say the least. There is nothing on the outside which suggests you will enjoy a delicious lunch. But looks can be deceiving.
Jacquelyn’s dining room, which has ceiling fans throughout, isn’t large. (Neither is the men’s restroom, by the way.) But when we arrived at 12:30, there was only one open table. That tells you something about the cafe’s popularity. And you know what I noticed? Everyone looked happy. There were smiles and laughter. There were even a couple of people dining solo who looked like they were enjoying themselves.
If you’re into fancy, big-board menus, Jacquelyn’s is not your place. Their menu is hand-written in chalk on two boards near the front counter. (What’s keeping someone from being mischievous, and erasing the first number in the price of a sandwich?) On those boards, you will find a variety of salads, sandwiches, a soup of the day (along with New England Clam Chowder every day), house specialties, and desserts.
At Jacquelyn’s, like at other places, you pay before your meal. That’s fine, except for one thing. Unless you’re paying cash, you must leave your tip in advance. How can you tip based on the quality of service you haven’t had? If I didn’t like the service, do you go back to the counter and ask for your tip back?
On previous, though long ago visits to Jacquelyn’s, I was a fan of their shrimp salad. But on this day, I was in the mood for a sandwich. Lucky for me, Jacquelyn’s offers a Shrimp Salad Sandwich ($9.50). I also ordered a cup of Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya ($4.75). My friend chose a Chicken Salad Sandwich ($9.50), and a cup of New England Clam Chowder ($5). Thinking ahead to dessert, we decided to split a slice of Almond Jacq Pie ($6).
I need you to believe me when I tell you that within three minutes of my friend and I sitting down, our food was served. Three minutes! And remember, I told you the place was packed. I was very impressed.
I was also impressed with the look of our food. The cups of chowder and jambalaya were almost overflowing. My friend’s chowder was up to the top of the cup, and if there was any more jambalaya, it would have been falling out of the cup. The jambalaya was spicy, like jambalaya is supposed to be. It was close to being overcooked but turned out fine. My friend loved the chowder – she wants to have it again when the temperature outside is a lot cooler than what it was on this day
Our sandwiches looked just as good and filling as the jambalaya and chowder. The bread was thick and soft, but didn’t overwhelm what was on the inside. The servings of chicken salad and shrimp salad were more than fair, especially when you consider the price. Each sandwich came with shredded lettuce, a tomato, and a pickle, all on the side.
My shrimp salad was as promised – chopped gulf coast shrimp (I appreciated the shrimp wasn’t imported from overseas), tossed with eggs and relish, and served on untoasted wheat bread (my choice). It was outstanding! The sandwich tasted so fresh, and the mix of shrimp, eggs, and relish was just right.
My friend’s sandwich was made up of chopped chicken with celery and egg, and served on untoasted wheat bread (her choice). While her sandwich looked every bit as good as mine, my friend didn’t care as much for hers. She said the chicken salad was watery and tasted bland. I took a bite of the sandwich, and I thought it was good. That just goes to show how two people can taste the same thing and have different opinions.
Jacquelyn’s has been around 41 years. As Tina brought our pie, you would have never known she’s worked there 37 years. Tina, too, had a smile on her face, and was happy to chat it up with people throughout the restaurant. It’s nice to see someone who appears to enjoy their work, especially after they have worked in one place for so long.
The Almond Jaq Pie is Jacquelyn’s signature pie, named after “Jacquelyn.” It’s a combination of shortbread cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, amaretto, and ground almonds. It’s also a slice of heaven. To me, the best part was that it was cold. Think of eating an ice cream pie. It was so good.
The cost of our meal, before tax and tip, was $37.25. I thought that was an outstanding price, for the quality and quantity of what we ate. That Jacquelyn’s can serve sandwiches that size for $9.50 each is impressive. It makes you wonder why other places charge so much for what they serve.
Jacquelyn’s Cafe is very deserving of Four Forks, and that’s what they’re getting. The atmosphere, quality of food, prices, and friendly faces, make it a place where I would go out of my way for lunch. Hopefully, my enjoyable experience will help me remember them the next time I’m hungry.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?
Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.
