The Cajun Foodie

I finally made it to Parasol’s Restaurant & Bar.  From the outside of this Irish Channel establishment, one would think dive bar.  That assumption is confirmed as you enter the place.  The bar is small, dark, smokey, and dingy in a good way.  Parasol’s is widely known for its St. Patty’s day celebration and what a party they put on.

Sometimes lost in the whole deal is the back kitchen serving up some killer food.  The kitchen crew serves up a variety of po-boys and traditional sides such as fries, wings, onion rings, etc.  But what most people come here for is there roast beef po-boy.  They claim to have the city’s best po-boy.  That is a statement used by many who serve the famous sandwiches but few can actually deliver on that.  All of their po-boys may not be the best but the roast beef is indeed the best one that I have eaten in a city full of wannabes.

You may ask what makes Parasol’s roast beef po-boy different from the rest and the answer is simple.  The combination of the po-boy bread and the actual roast used is quite simply like nothing else.  The sandwich is of the no frills variety……bread, roast and traditional toppings.  If you are like me and think that a roast beef po-boy is not the real deal unless it is messy, then this is the one for you.  The gravy on this one is plentiful.  The roast is boiled in water until cooked through and then the magic takes place.  Once the roast is done, the gravy is made by adding a mixture of flour and seasoning into the cooking liquid from the roast.  The roast is then added to the mix to create what will go on the po-boy.  The sandwich is put in the oven for a quick toast on the bread.

As if the roast beef po-boy was not enough for me, I had to order the gravy cheese fries.  These are made using the same gravy on the po-boy and topped with copious amounts of cheese.  A single order comes filled to the top of a full size to go box and can feed a small army alone.

While waiting for my food to be prepared, I had a beer from the bar and rediscovered my love for video poker.  Once my order was up, I had to decide if I wanted to eat in or just take it home.  The smell was overwhelming and made my decision for me.  I grabbed a seat at one of the tables in right outside the kitchen and began feasting.  From the first bite till’ the last, all I could think about was how lucky I am that I don’t live too close to this place.  I would definitely eat, drink and sleep there if I did so.  The roast was plentiful, tender and well seasoned.  And as mentioned before, there was ample amounts of gravy which required quite a bit of napkins.  The french bread was slightly toasted but still chewy which is key for a real New Orleans po-boy.  So that I could enjoy some of the gravy cheese fries, I held off on eating the whole sandwich.  Ignoring the remainder of the sandwich didn’t last long as I couldn’t just let it sit there for too long.  I had to finish it off along with what fell off the sandwich with the first few bites.

This sandwich indeed lives up to its billing as the best in town.  It has the ideal french bread, tender roast and very savory gravy.  If you are looking to get a roast beef po-boy and don’t mind getting a little messy, this is the one for you.  Parasol’s has all that one could want in a neighborhood establishment.  Although it can be considered more of a dive joint, that doesn’t deter the wide variety of customers attracted to the place.

If you are in the city and looking for a quick bite to eat and a cold beverage, this is the place to go especially if you want to get a great roast beef po-boy.  Also, venture over here for Saint Patty’s Day as they throw the best block party in the city.