The Cajun Foodie

George’s Restaurant in Baton Rouge is a one-of-a-kind that has spawned several other locations all declaring their own uniqueness. A bastion of killer food in a dark (and once very smoky) atmosphere, George’s has been dishing it out under the Perkins Overpass for quite a while but hasn’t skipped a beat.  As their website proclaims:

“This template for the Louisiana Neighborhood Resturant-Bar found in every city in the state, features the First Covered Parking, the First World Wide Satellite Tele-Communications, and now FIRST in Baton Rouge on the Internet.”

I don’t think the website has been updated in a while, but George’s motto is “Business in Great, People are Terrific, Life is Wonderful.”  With such an upbeat motto, you would think the place was painted like Joseph’s Technicolor Coat…and you’d be wrong. As much a dive as anywhere, George’s goodhearted spirit comes from the people inside, made friendly by the great grub and killer drinks.

If you drive around back on a Sunday, there’s a good chance you’ll catch them cranking up the smoker to make various dishes and poboys, and if you’re watching your weight and staying away from the smoked pork, you can always get the diet plate (a burger and a salad).

To get around to it though, first-timers, old-timers, and regular patrons alike get cravings for two of their items: the cheeseburger and the shrimp poboy. Often voted the best in town, the cheeseburger is a marvel meat and cheese that is hard to stay away from, but with only one eater to do the eating, I had to go with the shrimp poboy.

George’s poboys are not little weenie sandwiches, a half dozen underspiced shrimp wedged on a hoagie roll, their poboy’s are large and brimming with fresh shrimp freshly fried. Good-sized and with a nice batter, the shrimp nestle into the mayo and wait just underneath the crunchy crusted french bread. Awesome all around.

If you’re still hungry, get yourself some onion rings, famous in their own right and ranking up there as some of my favorite in the state and being some of the best I’ve had in months (along with Herby K’s).

Check them out- “you’ll fit right in!”