great food, great music, great neighborhood. since leaving south louisiana, there's been a boudin shaped hole in my heart that only the free man can fill. as my fiancé so eloquently put it, i wish these devilishly good fried temptations weren't so close to my house. is gumbo a healthier alternative? i hope so because theirs is delicious. the étouffée is made differently depending on that night's chef, one version being lighter than the other- still good, but dare i say less authentic? either way, the savory sweet cornbread along side is enough to make me go back. these creole favorites are served every night (even sundays) until midnight.
sitting outside on an unseasonably warm night, the music of the brass band drifting out onto the street, staring off at the rows of abandoned historic buildings, i can almost forget where i am... new orleans? no not quite, but still, the deep ellum vibe is the closest thing to it. if you're looking for the real thing, go between 7-10pm, when there's a guaranteed jazz ensemble, or after 10 for a more rock or hip-hop scene.
what would i change if it were my bar? three beers on tap isn't enough to compete with the dozens of other bars in this area. and even a dive bar should have cleaner tables. and at the risk of sounding really lame, the noise level was unnecessary. i want to be able to hear the music again next week too!