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Boudreaux's Louisiana Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
501 E 36th StCharlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
(704) 331-9898
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
52 reviews for Boudreaux's Louisiana Kitchen
Review Highlights
"Get an Oyster Po' Boy and catch a show at the Neighborhood..."
(in 6 reviews)
"Great great great Sunday brunch."
(in 12 reviews)
"An absolutely lovely first Bloody Mary experience."
(in 4 reviews)
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Annie W.
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My days of the week include Bloody Mary Sundays and this is my favorite place to cure what ails me. If you want/need/crave a bloody mary, come here. Bloody Mary bars are wonderful because I can and will make a killer bloody mary when supplied with the right ingredients. They have several vodkas to choose from including a pepper vodka which is great for lovers of spice. There are probably 8 different bloody mixes to choose from, including a great house mix. There are hot sauces galore! And so many pickled vegetables to throw in, not just olives. The best thing is they'll have your vodka ready so once that clock hits noon, it's on.
The food at brunch (because I've only eaten here during brunch - prime bloody mary hour) is aiite. Standard omelettes and other things covered in hollandaise sauce. Have yet to try their beignets, but have heard great things about them.
In short - when it's bloody mary time, Boudreaux's is my number one. -
Review from Olly Y.
Richmond, CA
1/12/2012
This place is alright, and I'm not even from the South. A certain restaurant in California has better food then Boudreaux's.
The gumbo soup was thick and almost like a paste when it should have been soupy. The etouffe looked like some kind of an Asian dish, with it's near orange consistency and watered down taste. The balsamic vinegar dressing for their house salad was so acidic that it burnt my girlfriend's throat that she had to ask for something else.
The only that was was really quite good were the crawfish/spinach/cheese chips dip. Absolutely delighted with the way it tasted! But other than that I will probably not be returning to this restaurant again. -
Review from Stephanie K.
Charlotte, NC
12/30/2011
Bayou cooking has everything my little heart desires. Seafood (especially that of the shelled variety), spice, and plenty of rice! I never met a gumbo I didn't adore. Truly.
Boudreax's is a nice break from the downtown Charlotte restaurant scene. If you've never been to NoDa--you must check it out. I haven't spent nearly enough time in this neck of the woods. I have eaten at Boudreax's twice for brunch. Both times, I didn't leave disappointed. However, I wasn't "wowed" the way I hoped I would be.
About 5 years ago, I went to Baton Rouge and had my first beignet. My life hasn't been the same since. The beignets at Boudreax's are nothing close to the crispy, sweet, drippy, fried dough ball dusted in powdered sugar I had in LA. Instead, these were dry and bland. Described as "hot pockets with nothing in them" --the words didn't come out of my mouth.
Anyway, skip the beignets. I do recommend the eggs benedict. The cheddar cheese grits (extra $1) are AMAZING. Yes. Get those. And the homefires are perfectly dark and just crispy enough.
The atmosphere is very laid back and warm. There was live music when I was there which was a nice touch. I prefer Cajun Queen to Boudreax's, but then again I have only dined in for brunch. -
Review from Jeff S.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've never really been a cajun fan because I don't like crawfish and I'm not really a fan of beans and rice (see my latin and asian reviews). Thankfully my idea that all cajun food contains these is misguided.
On my last visit to Boudreaux's with the dinner group, I had the Cajun Carbonara and the she crab soup. The soup had a nice spice level to it as was as the pasta dish. The disappointment I had was that it looked like the pasta was the pre-cooked rotini version importanted from your favorite food service company. But it was still good.
The service was good, the drinks tasted good and were not weak like some places make them. Unfortunately, it was a lot of food where 1/2 of my meal went home in a box with me. But it tasted good the next day also.
My only surprise was the restaurant wasn't busy. When I called for a reservation at 7pm, they told me they had another big group coming in at that time and asked if we could go 15 before or after. But when a friend and I arrived early for drinks, that group had the only tables (2-3) occupied in the place. Oh well it was still good, we were still served and we still got out before that group. I just found the request odd considering they weren't busy.Listed in: QC Dinner Group, NoDa
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Review from Julia M.
12/20/2011
I have eaten at Boudreaux's a couple of times for lunch and while the food was pretty good, it was not extraordinary.
On my first visit, I just went with a Shrimp po boy and fries. It was good, but not the best Po Boy I've eaten. On my second visit, I went with the Shrimp creole. I liked it better than my first meal here, but overall, I prefer the food at Cajun Queen.
Both of my visits were at lunch during the week, so we did not have a long wait and our service was a-ok. I am not sure I would want to fight the crowds to come here for dinner on a weekend though since I have heard it gets really packed then. -
Review from Steven H.
Charlotte, NC
1/22/2012
I went here with a social group. The food was decent. [The pork chop was great, but nothing out of the ordinary]
Atmosphere: The atmosphere was a bit dingy, appearing to be shooting for culture it didn't have
Service: It was a little slower than desired, but it wasn't bad. -
Review from Jon O.
1/17/2012
I went to Boudreaux's last night for dinner and it was excellent. I shared a crawfish and spinach appetizer to start with which was served with a type of home made potato chips that was very tasty. For a main course I had a plate of their Jumbalaya which if you haven't had before you should definitely check it out. The thing that I believe makes their Jumbalaya stand out above other is that they don't skimp on the meats. Sometimes at places you will get a Jumbalaya that is mostly "filler" materials like rice and such but not here. The way it's prepared you get a uniform taste with each bite. It's also served with a piece of their cornbread which adds a little sweet to the dish and compliments the (what I would call) mild spiciness just right. Also, before my meal I had a Mojito which is worth mentioning because Boudreaux's does a great job at the bar with mixing up drinks. In addition to the great meal our service with very good as well. The server didn't bug us with endless "you need anything?" type questions but she didn't leave us hanging either. Another thing I've always liked about this place is the location. Once you are done with dinner you are pretty much right in the heart of NoDa so there are plenty of other Bars to hit up for some drinks or just people watching in general. The only bad thing I could maybe say about Boudreaux's is that the decor inside is a bit drab. It could probably stand a little updating but beyond that the food and service is always excellent.
Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from MARTIN C.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
Boudreau's compares with the better and best casual New Orleans establishments, serving a wide selection of Cajun/Creole recipes that did not let us down in any way.
Good to get out of Charlotte business district and experience the neighborhoods which have not been bulldozed by the big banks. Travelling to Charlotte: rent a car and visit the community. -
Review from Alese B.
Charlotte, NC
11/20/2011
This was the worst. Service was horrible. Came in on a Wednesday night at 8:00 very few people in the restaurant. Waitress acted like we bothering her by asking about items on the menu- which should be expected by new customers. Hubby asked if there was anything on the menu with a white creamy Alfredo type sauce waitress said no. He ordered something else and I ordered shrimp and grits. I went to the bathroom and on the wall the special of the day was shrimp Alfredo?!?! Hubby changed order to special.
My hubby enjoyed the shrimp Alfredo though it was by no means the best he's ever had. The shrimp and grits were GROSS. How do you have grits that are not cheesy and half cooked to the point of crunchiness?!?!? I have been to Louisiana and had Louisiana real quisine-and this was not it. -
Review from Tramela M.
Charlotte, NC
7/21/2011
Hubby and I went here last night, because I saw a shrimp po'boy that was in New Orleans on t.v. and had to have one. So I turned to Yelp to find the best options for a Po'boy. Well Boudreaux was close to the house, so we decided to go there. When we arrived, we stood at the front desk for about 5 minutes before we were sat. There as only two people that was working the floor that night, the bartender and the server. There was about four or five tables including a party of 8-10, so I think that there should have been at least another server on the floor.
So was in a hurry and very distant, which did not bother us much since he did provide great service and besides we were ready to eat anyway without all of the extra details. Of course I ordered the Shrimp Po'Boy and my hubby ordered the Blackened Bleu Burger. After ordering, it was about 15 minutes when we received our food.
First everything came out great and looked good, but my shrimp was sat on top of my po'boy, just waiting to fall off. I hate having to maneuver my food to my mouth. Three of the shrimp fell off onto the table, which I still ate and gave my hubby a chance to steal one, I just wished that they would have constructed the sandwich a bit better. Also a little spice would have been great . The fries was fantastic!! My hubby burger was good too, and the pasta salad was just meh, nothing special.
Overall the food was good, but nothing that transferred us to New Orleans. -
Review from Krista E.
Charlotte, NC
6/21/2011
Seriously one of my favorite eats in Charlotte. Service is always quick, food is always delicious, nice beer selection, great ambiance. I can't really comment on their seafood because I don't eat any but their other dishes are always excellent. They have a ridiculously tasty brunch on weekends.
My in-laws love this place so much they request we eat here every time they're in town. It's become a tradition. :) -
Review from Amber M.
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our friends from Raleigh, NC were in town so we took them to NoDa in hopes of eating at other place for dinner. After finding out the wait time was 1 hour and a half, we decided to try another place and walked into Boudreaux's with low expectations. Boy were we pleasantly surprised!! We were sat immediately with no wait time. The place is very cool and the service was awesome. Our waitress knew that it was our first time and suggested the crawfish spinach dip and we were VERY glad that she did! Excellent! I had the salmon special and it was SO.GOOD! Food came out hot and fast. Hubby had some chicken fried something meal and it was oh sooooo good as well! We were defiantly glad that we stumbled upon this place and will def be back!
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Review from Danielle P.
Charlotte, NC
1/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
There are some times when my taste buds want to feel like they are on a vaycay to NOLA without having to go any farther than NoDa, for those times there is Boudreaux's.
They have a solid menu, ranging from Po' Boy sandwiches to full on, dig-your-heals-in entrees. The bf swears by the Jambalaya. I'm more of a Shrimp & Grits gal myself. Honestly though, I've never had a bad dish there so feel free to go with what speaks to you. If it happens to be Sunday, I tempt you (well THEY tempt you) with brunch between 11:30-3. Stop by, order up a cajun bloody mary and enjoy the soulful sounds of the vibes player (or whoever they have performing this week).
Last time we were there Boudreaux's was surprisingly empty and for the life of me I can't see why. The server was sweet, the food was, as always, tasty and they Hurricanes were half price. Charlotte, get on in to Boudreaux's next time you are craving some cajun and laissez les bons temps rouler. -
Review from Danielle G.
Charlotte, NC
2/1/2011
Again, my Creole nose is tuned to the hunt to satisfy my craving for that perfect po'boy, that savory gumbo. Boudreaux was third on my list for my Cajun fancy, and I found myself there on Saturday night with a friend. There was about a 10 minute wait for a seat, which wasn't bad at all.
An absolutely lovely first Bloody Mary experience. Though the presentation was nothing like what Yelp's gorgeous picture provides, it was still smooth, yet hot and spicy. Good stuff, I would get another.
There was a bit of an awkward moment. My Cajun unicorn is a fried oyster po'boy. Never managed to have one, and have always been denied at the last minute. This was no exception.
Upon ordering, my waiter got a very sad, contemplative look on his face, informing me that due to the tragedy of the gulf oil spill, there were no more oysters. I stared at him incredulously, then slowly turned my eyes down to the Creative Loafing magazine I had open, to the page that advertised the largest oyster festival in the world that happened in Myrtle Beach that very day. Our eyes met and he had that panicked, feverish look that waitstaff sometimes get when they're fervently praying that you don't call them out on something.
So I didn't. I got a damn shrimp po'boy instead. [Miraculously, though the oysters were doomed, the shrimp managed to survive. Well... except for the ones on my sandwich.]
Incredulousness aside, the po'boy was pretty good. Huuuuuge roll, but it was soft, so there wasn't any bread stabbing painfully into my gums as I ate. Plenty of shrimp, so I guess my only lament would be that I wish the remoulade was tangier, or rather, tangy at all.
I got the potato salad as a side, which didn't disappoint. Sweeter than most potato salads, but great herb flavor and just the right amount of creamy.
My friend got the bourbon chicken, which she tells me would have been great if it wasn't so salty. It seemed to put her off her meal and she only managed to eat part of it.
All in all, I think I'd be back again to sample some gumbo when all is said and done. However, I need to tack off the rest of the restaurants on my Cajun bucket list'o Charlotte before I return here. -
Review from Sarah G.
Updated - 3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for lunch today...not as good as last time.
The server was wonderful and tried his best to accommodate us but the shrimp and grits wasn't as good as last time. The grits were just to thick and starchy. I give the service a 4 star and the food a 2 star. My coworkers had both remembered having the veggie burger before and remembering it to be a little more moist. Also, it was a little cold in the middle.
Not writing off Bourdreaux's for good they just need to work on being more consistent with the food. Oh... and they only had one other table besides us at lunch so no excuses about being busy.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2011
They have the most amazing shrimp and grits in the QC! They actually cook it with trinity which… Read more »
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Review from Britnie F.
Watkinsville, GA
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great great great Sunday brunch! Their cajun (bloody) mary's are to die for!!!!!!! Biscuits and gravy were excellent along with Charleston grits and cup of fruit!!
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Review from Sam J.
Hickory, NC
10/10/2011
I eat here often enough that the waiter knows what I want to drink before I sit at a table. I like the meat and two for lunch with sweet tea. The bill will be @$10 + tip per person. I hope that you are not in a hurry.
I have eaten several things on the lunch menu. I like the bourbon glazed pork chop with collard greens and pasta salad. I wish the chop was larger, or that there were two of the small pork chops. The pork chop is tender and the bourbon sauce is lip smacking delicious. On my last visit they, finally, had the meat loaf - not only on the menu but actually available - for lunch. Hoorah! Put a little dash of hot sauce on the meatloaf to kick it up a notch, y'all. Paired with red skinned mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn bread - outstanding. New Orleans' Oyster Po Boy? About eight fried oysters on top of a TON of julienned lettuce. Three tomato slices. First time I touched the sandwich all of the oysters fell off and scattered. Forget about actually picking it up to take a bite! I would have liked a few more fried oysters and a lot less lettuce. A little dash of hot sauce added to the perfectly fried oysters made them delicious. I like spicy Cajun! This sandwich needs tweaking. Cut back on or hooooold the lettuce, please.
Although initial seating is "sit anywhere you like" quick - don't come here if you are in a hurry for lunch. Service is slow. I have never seen over two servers and often there is only one person doing everything. Ordering is slow. Food delivery is slow. Getting the check is slow. Getting drink refills is slow. The restaurant always has several diners at lunch time. This is good food, but it is not fast food.
Food quality overall is well above average and on some days STELLAR. There is some real talent in the kitchen. For the excellent quality of food that you receive - it's not bad value at all. Good selection of beers. Several Cajun items on the menu that I have yet to try.
Overall, I come here as a semi-splurge for lunch when I am not rushed and want something excellent to eat. Boudreaux's Louisiana Kitchen fills the bill. -
Review from Shanell G.
Charlotte, NC
12/4/2010
I will start by saying that I rarely rate at five stars. However, I must for Boudreaux's. I visited the restaurant for the first time for lunch with my coworkers and was extremely satisfied. If you are unfamiliar with the NoDa district (as am I) you may pass by this place without second thought. However, don't miss out. My meal consisting of catfish, collards, and sweet potato fries was phenomenal!
However, I must note that my coworker ordered alligator bites as an appetizer, and I was less than impressed. It was not seasoned very well and was a bit chewy for gator.
I can only rate based upon the one meal that I had. But so far, so good! : ) -
Review from Talia R.
1/17/2011
"Yay! I'm a fan" pretty much sums it up. Good food, good vibe. If a well-stocked bloody mary bar doesn't really make you smile, there's something wrong. Coffee was extra weak, but hey, everyone has faults.
Croissant florentine benedict, beigets, bloodys FTW! -
Review from Justin C.
3/8/2010 4 photos
Wow, how is it possible for a Cajun place to have so little flavor? Everything here was completely bland, uninspired, and barely resembled the amazing food that comes out of New Orleans. I've seriously had better Lean Cuisines than what we ordered. It probably didn't help that we came a few days before Christmas, originally planning to eat at Revolution Pizza across the street, but having to settle on Boudreaux's because Revolution was closed for the holidays. As soon as we walked in you could feel the nasty cigarette smoke in the air (http://www.flickr.com/...), I definitely do not miss that about North Carolina restaurants.
After waiting well over 10 minutes, someone finally came by our table to bring us some water, but they didn't take our order. We waited another 10 minutes to at least see a waiter, and I finally got impatient, went over the bar, and asked who the hell we could give our order to because we had stuff to do besides sit around in an empty restaurant. Apparently there was some confusion over who was supposed to take our table, and instead of figuring out which of them should do it they though the best course of action was to ignore us completely, not smart.
Since we were already delayed a good bit due to the slow service, I decided to only get one appetizer for the table, the gator bites. I really love the flavor and texture of gator when cooked properly, and my mom or Nicole had never had it before, so I wanted them to try it as well. The pieces we got were pretty miniscule (http://www.flickr.com/...), and the plate as a whole wasn't much in size or appearance. They basically charge you for novelty, and then make it as generic as possible. In fact, the pieces were so small, some bites wound up being more breading than meat, really sad. The cajun "mayeaux" was also far too creamy, and too much mayo and not enough cajun.
I ordered the shrimp and crawfish etouffe as my main lunch item, as I generally love anything cooked in a good roux. This was another tragic failure. The shrimp were not cooked properly, and the crawfish was virtually missing. The roux was a sloppy mess (http://www.flickr.com/...), and even the cornbread was doughy instead of crumbly. Worst of all, there was NO flavor, it tasted so horribly bland. Etouffee is supposed to be one of the crown jewels of Creole cuisine and they butchered it.
My mom ordered the blackened chicken salad, which sadly was probably the best thing at the table, but unfortunately it too was still lacking any solid flavors. How you manage to cook something "blackened" and leave it devoid of any charred or spicy flavors is beyond me, but it looked like they just rubbed some red pepper on and prepared it normally.
I didn't even bother trying Nicole's oyster po'boy, because the baguette was completely ruined (http://www.flickr.com/...). The bread was practically crunching off like charcoal with each bite she took, and the oysters themselves were tiny and fried for entirely too long. The fries were edible, but overcooked as well, and probably sitting for a while because they weren't very warm.
How much of this horrible meal was due to it being Christmas week and them probably understaffed and under-enthused about having to work I'm not really sure, and I honestly don't care. If you're going to be open you should treat every day the same, and give customers the same quality of service you normally would, otherwise give everyone a 50% discount for your 50% effort.Listed in: Oh No They Didn't!
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Review from Liza B.
Washington, DC
9/4/2010
Eh - where's the flavor?
We walked in here pretty early on a Saturday - roughly 5:30ish. The place was pretty empty but as we were seated all the of the sudden the room filled up. There was one waiter for a long time and then finally a second waiter showed up. The service (although super busy) was very friendly and efficient.
We ordered the crab bruschetta, the jerk chicken sandwich, and the mahi mahi mulate. While the prices are fair (pretty cheap actually) the food is exactly what you pay for. The crab bruschetta thing was ok - no flavor and the texture reminded me of something from a can. The jerk chicken sandwich was blah - I literally just ate the chicken (which had NO spice or flavor...I thought this was a JERK chicken sandwich??) as the bread was too hard to bite into (stale?). The Mulate was pretty good - the etouffe was good but nothing memorable. The best part was probably the fries that came with the sandwich.
Overall - blah blah blah. Nothing was awful but nothing was good enough to make me come back. -
Review from Jules S.
2/21/2011
I was trying to figure out why I haven't written any 1 star reviews. I realized one reason is I don't want to feel responsible for a small business going under. Another is I'm pretty good at avoiding places that are likely to be a 1 star experience. And as a rule I usually find some redeeming qualities like value or service. But rules are meant to be broken.
Enter Boudreaux's. The first visit I was excited to try their etouffee because I love cajun food and like the etoufee at Cajun Queen but alternatives are always great. First we had to wait about 50 minutes for our food and after it came, I thought the etoufee was awful and the taste was bland. Perhaps I should have gone with the jambalaya or Shrimp and Grits, though none of the people enjoyed their meal. However, the meal just got worse when the server was pouring my sweet tea (apparently above me) and poured half a pitcher of sweet tea down my back. The server was off in Lala land or might have been on something because it took a chirp, or yelp if you will, to get him to notice that there was something wrong. So he then stood there and said "Oh whoa dude..." ... and so then I had to ask him to get a napkin or towel or something. "Oh, sure." I don't make a big deal of things, so I laughed off the tea and apathy and attributed it to having a bad day.
Then Mother's Day came around and I wanted to give it another try since it's an institution that has been around NoDa forever. They were having a brunch and I realize most places get overwhelmed for Mother's Day brunch, but this was truly amazing. The food took 2 hours and 20 minutes to get to us and was completely cold by the time it got to us. Really?? Really. So all we had during those hours waiting was weak bland coffee. They offered to remake the food, but I was worried it would take another hour or so. Quel désastre! I usually give places 3 tries before I'll review a place but in this case after 2 visits I will unequivocally never go back.
So if the food had been exceptional, sure, I would compensate the stars to make up for the terrible service, but it wasn't, so I didn't. I hope I never have to give another 1 star review again. It just makes me feel dirty. -
Review from John H.
11/1/2010
Before Cabo Fish Taco expanded into more space... the wait used to be ridiculous. What would normally happen was that we'd go to NoDa craving Cabo, but then end up at Boudreaux's. The thought was that we could grab a hurricane and then come back when our table at Cabo was ready. Needless-to-say we never made it to Cabo whenever we went to Boudreaux's.
The ettoufee is my favorite here... great and unique spot for Charlotte. Haven't gotten to try a lot of the menu items yet, but I will definitely be up to the challenge of getting to know all the items personally.
Usually for NoDa... end up parking on the street... it's worked out most of the time. Gallery crawl nights make it more challenging, but still doable. -
Review from sanny p.
Charlotte, NC
12/2/2009 2 photos
Me and one of my friends visited Boudreaux's last month after an evening yoga class in the neighborhood. It was a rainy, cold Thursday evening, so the place wasn't busy. Unfortunately, we were immediately struck by the VERY THICK haze and stench of cigarette smoke.
My friend ordered the black-bean veggie burger with a side of potato salad and I ordered the shrimp po'boy with a side of fries. We were both shocked by the large portions of both of our meals.
The seasoning on my fries was a tad stronger than I like but not overwhelming. The bread was lightly toasted and very thick which made eating the sandwich a little difficult.
However, my friend commented on the fact that her veggie burger had the texture and taste of a regular beef burger! Also, she noted that her potato salad was very satisfying and delicious.
Although our meals were very enjoyable, having to deal with the thick stench of smoke put a major damper on everything else. Also, our waitress didn't appear to be all that interested in providing much service to our table.
I hear good things about their brunch menu, so I would be willing to try them again during the day. Hopefully, the next time I go it will be on a nice day so I can sit outside and not have to worry about cigarette smoke interfering with my meal. -
Review from Amee R.
Matthews, NC
4/16/2009
I was soooo happy to have found this place before I started cooking some gumbo! I had my mothers reciepe written down and everything. I searched and I thought hmm this place maybe good.
I walked inside and if felt like I was back home - home away from home. The music touched my soul. I ate some gumbo and it was delicious and my fiance cleaned his bowl too!! Some truly good authentic Cajun/Creole food! -
Review from Beth M.
Tampa, FL
3/5/2010
Mimosa, gumbo and cornbread.
Mimosa--:-)
Gumbo--the meat was so lovely and tender, I ate it all first and then kind of looked and picked around my rice, wishing for more.
Cornbread--the sweet kind. Actually could have used a bit of salt to enhance the flavor. I grew up having cast-iron skillet cornbread, dense and crusty and not a hint of sugar. Love sweet cornbread, but as a fan of kettle corn, my ideal now includes both tastes at once.
The service was kind and leisurely. I was sad that the beignets are only on Saturday and Sunday...note that the mimosas are cheaper on Sunday. -
Review from Katie H.
Pleasant Hill, CA
7/23/2010
Being from California, I always look forward to an opportunity to get some Soul or Cajun food when I'm in this part of the country so Boudreaux's seemed like a good choice. While walking up to the restaurant the neighborhood reminded me of the funky shops and unique flavors found on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, CA. Far from scaring me away, this was an endearing throw-back to home. Across the street it was Hookah night and the sweet tobacco scents drifted in the air. As I shoved tightly folded dollars into the parking pay box ($3.00 which suprised me in an area so far from uptown) I noticed a fun looking book store on the back side of the restaurant.
When my dining partner and I walked in we were seated quickly although the waiter seemed a little brusque (in fairness he did appear to be the only wait-staff that evening). I finally settled on Ettouffee, Rice and of course corn bread. I was suprised to find that the potent spices and flavors that usually accompany this dish seemed to be lacking. The meal was fine, but a little bland for my preference and the cornbread was actually a little dry.
If you prefer milder Cajun cuisine, this might be the spot for you. If you're looking for something more authentic... keep looking and let me know where you find it! -
Review from Angela M.
2/18/2009
After a gluttonous weekend, we decided to walk to Boudreaux's for our Sunday morning recovery food. Well, most of us did, but we split up so that some of us took a car and put our name in. When we asked for 10, the hostess looked quite worried, even when we said we'd sit separately, and advised us to call ahead next time. Is this really a problem, when only three tables in the place have customers? But by the time we were seated and everyone got there, the restaurant was packed, and there was a line out the door! So take her advice: for large parties, call ahead.
I could really get to like this place, at least the bar. $2.50 Mimosas on Sundays! Woohoo! The server was very friendly, and took our orders for beverages, even though she couldn't legally serve us for 20 minutes. Sure enough, as soon as noon rolled around, we saw the bartender making our order. They were pretty good mimosas, especially for $2.50.
I was going to go with the Croissant Florentine (eggs Florentine on a croissant), but opted instead for the special omelet (shrimp, chevre, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes). I was glad that I'd avoided the Croissant Florentine because they'd used frozen spinach, but I wasn't thrilled with the omelet, since the eggs were overcooked, making the whole thing chewy. I wish I could have just gotten those toppings on scrambled eggs. The portions were HUGE, particularly for the biscuits and gravy.
While the food wasn't great, I think that had more to do with my tastes and poor ordering on my part. The staff was wonderful with that relaxed Cajun vibe permeating the air. I will definitely go back, but I'll be trying some of the Cajun classics instead of the omelets. -
Review from Dave K.
Charlotte, NC
8/5/2008
Great location for this Cajun eatery and bar. Cozy and spacious, if that makes sense....Get reservations if you have a large party, they will accommodate, but bring a flask because drink service is sloooooooowwww.
Food came out fast and hot which was nice for a large party like ours. The shrimp & grits was seasoned very well and pretty darn tasty. Not very spicy and slightly monotone in flavor, but not bad. They do well with their fish, as the blackened catfish was excellent. Lots of items to choose from; but kinda disappointed there were no buckets of crawdads to order.
They make up for that with tons of specialty drinks, most were yummy and fruity for the ladies.
I would definitely try it again. -
Review from Anna S.
Raleigh, NC
3/23/2010
My family loves this restaurant! It is located in Charlotte's arts district, NoDa. Boudreaux's is a delicious restaurant serving an array of Cajun food. Their fries are delicious, and they also make a mean vegetarian jambalaya (but its a special, and sadly not always on the menu). I don't eat meat, but I've heard that if you want seafood in Charlotte this is one of the best places to go!
The staff is friendly and attentive. Order the strawberry beer! -
Review from Joy S.
Charlotte, NC
10/23/2008 2 photos
I've had a few great dinners here, but my favorite was a night out with one of my best girlfriends when she was visiting. We rode around a bit uptown looking for something good, and then we headed out to NoDa when we exhausted our options.
I had the Vegeletta sandwich, and she had the blackened catfish. The food was great. Our server was funny, but he also left us alone when he saw that we were having a good time. We had my laptop with me, and we jumped on the Smelly Cat's internet connect and watched R. Kelly's "Real Talk" video on Youtube. We were sitting near the window out front, so we could watch the crowd pass by. We giggled and ate, and it was awesome. -
Review from Megan V.
Charlotte, NC
1/17/2009 1 Check-in Here
We ate at Boudreaux's during our Noda Gallery Crawl (I will mention we chose the coldest week of the year to go--d'oh!), and it was a warm welcome after our chilly tour. The staff is really friendly and attentive.
The food is also wonderful! I had the shrimp and grits, which was awesome! One of my favorite parts of the dish was the celery, which added a nice crunch. The shrimp and sausage were both very yummy, and the grits were a good consistency.
My hubby got the red beans and rice (this man loves him some red beans and rice) and said that it was done right. "Tough to imagine it better."
Our friend got the jambalaya, and also said that it was really great. He didn't finish it, but I think he doesn't eat a lot at one time.
Also, the cornbread was very tasty! All in all, it was a great experience--food was delish, all for about $9-$14 a dish.
Next time I will try something off of their bloody mary menu--they have a cool thing going on there! -
Review from Sam P.
12/19/2008 1 Check-in Here
This was my second trip to Boudreaux's. This time i was much more satisfied than the first trip (not that it was a bad 1st trip). Maybe my Cajun expectations were lower this time after being disappointed at the Cajun Queen a few days ago.
i went with the jambalaya as per usual and was very satisfied. Served with some cornbread, i had enough leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. My friend had some spicy noodle dish, i can't remember the name. He enjoyed it, said it didn't seem too southern and wasn't as spicy as advertised, but good.
We went right after they opened (11 am) for an early lunch and were the only people there, so the service was attentive.
2 entrees, 2 drinks =22 bucks plus tip -
Review from LD L.
Charlotte, NC
8/22/2011
I have not been in a while and should not have waited so long to go back. I was very pleased with my meal. I ordered the special: lump crab meat and shrimp over angel hair pasta. My friend ordered the shrimp po boy and the bread looked delicious. I may have that next time. The service and atmosphere were great: all the loud yuppies must have been at Cabo Fish Taco
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Review from Scott L.
Charlotte, NC
There's not much else to add about this NoDa favorite that hasn't already been said. If you get here on a Friday night around 6 its' a great place before taking in the gallery crawl. Recently I was here again with some friends. Last time I had the Gator Bites which are good but more of a novelty than a signature dish you should order time and time again.
I was reminded why its such a favorite, laid back casual atmosphere and excellent food at a fair price. A friend of mine who was a New Orleans native recommended getting the Beignets as they were as close to authentic one could get in this area. Alas I've never had them as they are only available at brunch.
On this visit I ordered the Shrimp Po' Boy. It was delicious, it was filling, the only complaint I had that the size of the bread was so large that it was very difficult to actually eat it. -
Review from Erin T.
San Antonio, TX
12/26/2008
I'm usually not a big fan of Cajun Cuisine, but Boudreaux's Louisiana Kitchen knocked my socks off. Came here for a nice brunch on a lazy Sunday morning. The restaurant reminds you of a "modern shack" you might find near the shores of the Louisiana Bayou. Multi-colored beads are hung all around with a chalkboard eloquently displaying current specials.
That morning there was a lovely jazz duo playing some tunes which complimented by $2 mimosa quite well. We ordered the shrimp and grits, tasso ham and cheedar grits. My shrimp and grits were pretty good but the chef could have went easy on the amount of celery and onions he put in there. Either way, it came with a lovely wine sauce on top of the creamy grits. Shrimps were plentiful and were plump and tasty. The tasso ham was so flavorful that I wish bits of them came in my shrimp and grits. Cheddar grits were good but let's face it, it's kind of hard to mess up cheddar grits.
There were a mix of people there including a table of what appeared to be college-aged kids with a really loud female in the group. Luckily they left about 15 mins after we arrived. There were also families and couples. Real cute. This is definitely a nice spot to take a date when you're getting to know each other (fellas, hint, hint!)
Service was quick and cordial. The manager will come out to make sure you're doing good which is always a nice touch in my opinion. After you're done eating, go check out some of the nearby boutiques. -
Review from Jason I.
Charlotte, NC
1/6/2007
I wanted to like this place, I really did. I had heard good things about it and was looking forward to going there, maybe I just built it up too much. Maybe I hit on an off night.
The decor was pretty cool, if a little random (local art is great, but not everybody likes nude portraits while they eat). Overall it was funky and I liked the bar area, but what the hell is going on with the toilet paper hanging from the ceiling. It's hard to think of anything less desirable than to feel like you're in a giant toilet (think trainspotting). Maybe its to make it feel like a dive bar, but leave that to EB's.
My real beef, however, was with the food, I had the she-crab soup and crawfish etoufee. The soup was spicy but didn't have any depth to it, just kind of hot for the sake of being hot. Same thing with the etouffee, peppery but no real flavor. And I know people are going to read the cabo review and think I have OCD, but the etouffee rice was either dried and hard or uncooked and hard. For god's sake people it's not difficult, I cook rice all the freakin time. If it's hard, don't send it out!!! People don't want to eat that! I'm at the point where I'm just going to boycott rice altogether, it's going to be tough, my sushi choices will be limited, but goddamn it, this is what it has come to! Do you see what you've done people?!?! Are you happy??
Sorry for the rant, back to the review: All in all the service was good, the people were friendly, and I would go back to drink and probably give the food another shot, just hold the rice. -
Review from Chris P.
Charlotte, NC
8/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Tonight was my first visit. I liked the atmosphere of this place. They had the "garage" doors open and it was a comfortable 75 degrees out. We had a couple drinks while we looked the menu over; their drink menu is really impressive. 1/2 price mimosas on Sunday, apparently. Our server was good too, but it wasn't crowded while we were there. We tried the gumbo first and it was pretty good. The cornbread that came on the side was kind of dry, but not too bad. My fiancé ordered the shrimp and grits and I had the red beans and rice. She really enjoyed hers, but mine felt like it was missing something. Or somethings. Not terrible, just lacking some spice. Overall though, it was a pretty decent meal, but I wasn't overly impressed.
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Review from Kathy T.
Gold Hill, NC
1/20/2011
Brunch is da bomb. Dinner is great. Lunch is intriguing. Have been here with at least 4 different groups of friends, and no one was disappointed. None of us could finish the more than ample portions, and the drinks/beer menu were good. This is a perennial favorite for eating anytime.
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Review from Thomas N.
Charlotte, NC
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The shrimp and grits were great...great atmosphere
