This six-year-old restaurant with Executive Chef Arnold Gonzalez commanding the kitchen serves some of the best food in town at reasonable prices in a comfortable, fun atmosphere.
The décor is sophisticated, with a hint of that Bourbon Street vibe. Order a Hurricane or other tropical drink in a tall glass, and all you need is some jazz band tunes and a string of beads to feel like you are in the heart of New Orleans. Turn off your cell and leave the world outside while you take a comfortable seat in the dining room or at the bar.
The menu is based on Cajun-style cooking, which is a mix of French, Spanish, African and Indian influences. Centerpiece dishes of this cuisine, most celebrated in Louisiana, include jambalaya, gumbo and étoufée. Other signature dishes and sides have definite southern influence, such as catfish, spoon bread and po’boys. Even the desserts, such as sweet potato pecan pie and beignets with powdered sugar, send your heart back to New Orleans.
My friends and I started with drinks and appetizers. My absolute favorite are the crab cakes served with a spicy gumbo on top or the fried gator with the hot Cajun dipping sauce. For an even hotter start to your evening, try the jambalaya with shrimp, chicken and sausage in rice. But there are more than 20 choices, and most are less than $10, so there really is something for everyone.
When I stop by Michael’s for lunch, I like an appetizer and a bowl of gumbo. Now, I am not like President-elect Barack Obama, who insulted the owner of a Creole restaurant in New Orleans by pouring hot sauce over his bowl of gumbo. Personally, I think Michael’s seafood gumbo is hot enough to warm you especially on a cold winter’s day, but I don’t think you will offend them if you ask for a bottle of hot sauce.
