By Anon E. Muss, Journal Services
Some of the best food in Shreveport-Bossier, or anywhere for that matter, isn’t always found at a trendy restaurant in an upscale part of town.
Sometimes, it’s in a place best described as a hole-in-the-wall.
Bayou Deli & Casserole Shop (637 East Kings Highway) is on a street I travel often. Yet, it’s a place in which I had never eaten. The building is small, and from the outside, doesn’t look like much. But a couple of weeks before Christmas, and a lunch visit with a good friend long overdue, we decided to give Bayou Deli a try.
When I say small, I mean small. There are only 10 tables, with seating for 34 people. Despite only two others eating while we were there on a Tuesday at Noon, the restaurant felt cramped. If you want to have a private conversation with your dining partner, this probably isn’t the place.
But Deli’s size is part of its charm, along with the green and white checkered tablecloths under glass, and its counter where you place your order. There’s also a drive-thru window, which is in clear view from most seats.
Being first-timers, we figured things out as we went. A server doesn’t take your order at your table. You place your order at the counter. But before you do, I suggest picking up a menu and taking it to your table. There, you can decide what you would like, because it will probably take you a while.
There are 26 — that’s right, 26 — hot and cold sandwiches to satisfy your appetite. Then there’s a Cajun Bowl, with your choice of shrimp or crawfish etouffee.
After taking our time to choose what to eat, we were ready. I ordered the Bayou Muffaletta. In full disclosure, I had seen a picture of it on social media, and it looked great. The muffaletta was described on the menu as having ham, salami, mozzarella, olive mix, and a touch of yellow mustard on a Muffaletta roll ($12.95).
All sandwiches come with your choice of Lay’s Potato Chips, Potato Salad, or Cole Slaw. I chose slaw.
It was a little chilly this particular day, so I wanted to warm up with an eight-ounce cup of Chicken & Sausage Gumbo ($5.95). While I failed to tell Kacie, who took our order and served our food, I wanted my gumbo first, she read my mind. Not long after we ordered, here came Kacie carrying a styrofoam container with smoke rising from a dark rue.
I love when food which is supposed to be hot is served hot. And the gumbo was served hot! It also had healthy helpings of rice, chicken, and sausage. The overall taste was a bit bland. However, the previous day at a restaurant, I had a bowl of gumbo which was one of the worst bowls of gumbo I have ever had. So by comparison, this bowl of gumbo wasn’t bad at all.
The muffaletta looked just like the picture. There were generous portions of everything promised. The muffaletta roll was toasted and crunchy — especially around the edges. It was everything you would expect from a muffaletta. However,
I found the taste to also be somewhat bland. Maybe my taste buds were having an off day.
The slaw was nothing special. It didn’t have any kick, and came in a small, vertical container. The slaw served its purpose as a side.
My friend went with the Cuban Pirogue ($11.95). It usually comes with pork roast, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, all on a sub roll, which is Panini-pressed. But my friend isn’t a fan of mustard. He expressed that to Kacie, and she offered to substitute it with mayonnaise. He went with chips for his side.
My friend told me he had not ordered a Cuban sandwich in awhile because “sometimes places don’t get it right. I took a chance because of the picture of their Cuban sandwich online. It was a full sandwich which took two hands to hold, and was loaded with plenty of meat. It was filling, warm, and tasty. Every bite was worth it.”
He also ordered a cup of gumbo. He said he thought it was “the right amount for an appetizer. I liked the consistency and thickness. It wasn’t soupy.”
For dessert, Bayou Deli offers four choices: a cookie (Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, or White Chocolate Macadamia), a Seven-Layer Brownie, or a slice of pie (Apple or Cherry). Kacie said the pies were homemade, which is why we chose one slice of apple and one slice of cherry. However, there must have been a misunderstanding, as a later conversation revealed the pies are not made in-store.
Nevertheless, we weren’t disappointed, although my friend enjoyed the slices (we shared) more than me.
“The apple pie had the right amount of sweetness, without it being too much,” he said. “The crust was the perfect amount of flaky and crispy.”
The cost of our lunch before tip and taxes was $46.70. Yes, that’s a lot (I think) for two people to have lunch. But, we had gumbo and pie in addition to our main meal. That’s certainly not necessary. Just the two sandwiches with sides would have been $26.90 (including two waters at $1 each). These days, lunch for two is seldom under $30.
Here’s one thing I appreciated about our visit. My buddy and I had not seen each other in a couple of months, so there was plenty of catching up to do. So much so that we were in the restaurant for two-and-a-half hours. Not once did we feel rushed, and not once did Kacie subtly suggest we hurry it up. Maybe it’s because we were the only ones there most of the time. But still, we were allowed the opportunity to eat and take our time talking.
So, I give Bayou Deli & Casserole Shop Three Forks. There are too many sandwich places to make an out-of-the-way trip to Bayou Deli. But, if I am in the area and want a good sandwich — and a hot bowl of gumbo — I would not hesitate to stop in. Heck, there are 25 more sandwiches to try.
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to review? Email: SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com
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
