Looking for a taste of new orleans...literally!

November 29, 2007 7:42 PM

There used to be a really good cajun restaurant in Atlanta called "A Taste of New Orleans". It was on one of the Peachtree Streets/Blvd/Ave/etc near one of the famous strip joints (I forget the name). They had the absolute best andouille sausage with their red beans & rice! It's been about 10 years since I've been there, but I'm coming up short Googling for it. Did it close down or something? Are there any other good cajun restaurants in Atlanta?
posted by edjusted to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

Front Page News on Crescent Ave was (as of 4 years ago) a nice N.O. style place. I'm not sure if they do the full Cajun menu, but they made a nice muffuletta. On further research, their website has a menu and I see red beans and rice with andouille sausage on there. I would recommend it if the other place is gone. (I have no recollection of A Taste of New Orleans. I lived in that area, but I may have forgotten it.)
posted by parkerjackson at 7:49 PM on November 29, 2007

McKinnon's Louisianne? Right off Peachtree Road, not far from the former Gold Club.

As a side note, if you're looking for the sausage, Patak supplies a lot of Atlanta restaurants.

(on preview, Front Page News is near the Cheetah)
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:53 PM on November 29, 2007

I went to Taste Of New Orleans several times; I lived 3 blocks away. It's been gone for many years, perhaps even a whole decade. It was at this intersection, on the east side of West Peachtree at 8th Street:

Google Maps link

As for good cajun now, I realize this may sound like blasphemy, but Pappadeaux's really does get good reviews. Also check out Creative Loafing in general, I trust them.

Now, I'm off to go figure out how Front Page News could possibly be anywhere near the Cheetah ... I think you have 10th and 14th confused ...
posted by intermod at 8:08 PM on November 29, 2007

Ta-da.
posted by intermod at 8:09 PM on November 29, 2007

No way I'd recommend Pappadeaux's.

I did go to Depaux in Decatur. We had great food there (supported by a Tulane graduate's big smile). Then we met the owners who are from NO and are the real deal. So I can recommend that place. It's a little bit kitchy on the inside and the outside, but don't let all of their flair stop you.
posted by zpousman at 8:16 PM on November 29, 2007

Front Page News is only three blocks from the address intermod gave for ToNO. I'd say it's also "close" to the Cheetah. It's also across the street from a club that looks a bit like a strip club.

I'm guessing proximity to a strip club was not part of the original restaurant's appeal, though... so that's not the selling point. haha. Front Page News has a nice patio if you're there in good weather. I think I went with a NO-native once and he liked it, so there's one vote from someone who would know. I can't compare it to the other places though, so I defer.
posted by parkerjackson at 8:35 PM on November 29, 2007

Front Page News isn't worth it. Food is okay. Seconding Depaux. Everything is better in Decatur.
posted by Pants! at 8:52 PM on November 29, 2007

Just Loafin near Grant Park is pretty awesome, but its mostly sandwich type stuff.

Huey's is also completely yummy and is a good sit down place on Peachtree near El Amigo.
posted by stormygrey at 12:33 AM on November 30, 2007

Depeaux? Really? I've only eaten there once and I thought it was terrible. I had the beans and rice. Not that I can recommend any others. Since ATONO went under, there's been a dearth of decent Cajun places in town.

Here is the Creative Loafing's list of Cajun and Creole restaurants. Let me know if you find a decent one.
posted by donpardo at 3:58 AM on November 30, 2007

Ditto Huey's.
posted by SoulOnIce at 6:27 AM on November 30, 2007

I’ll second Just Loafin’, if you’re looking for decent po’boy, gumbo, or beignet. Their red beans and rice is okeh, but it comes in pitifully small servings if you get it as a side item to a sandwich. Also, Six Feet Under, which is just around the corner, has fairly good seafood, some of which has a creole flavor.
posted by breaks the guidelines? at 6:35 AM on November 30, 2007

I wasn't impressed with Front Page news the few times I tried it. I heard a rumor that the folks who were involved with the defunct Joe Dale's cajun place are now involved with the food at Fuzzy's bar on North Druid Hills. Can't vouch for the quality, though as it's been years since I ate there.
posted by pointystick at 7:11 AM on November 30, 2007

Taste of New Orleans did indeed close. My now-husband briefly waited tables there in the late '90s (I'm hoping that there's no connection between those two facts). They had some delicious boiled crawfish, too....

I've never been to Six Feet Under--I'm not in Atlanta anymore--but my parents love it.
posted by paleography at 11:37 AM on November 30, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the confirmation about Taste of New Orleans...sniff sniff... but thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be sure to check out at least one of these places the next time I'm in Atlanta.
posted by edjusted at 6:25 PM on December 1, 2007

Response by poster: Oh yeah, and fwiw the strip club was Cheetahs. haha
posted by edjusted at 6:27 PM on December 1, 2007

Response by poster: Well, I managed to go to Copeland's of New Orleans in Buckhead, mainly because the location was convenient. The gumbo was so-so. And I had the shrimp and crawfish etouffee (I asked for half shrimp half crawfish). The etouffee sauce was pretty good, but I've had better. The shrimp was cooked *perfectly* though. I wasn't blown away but I came away happy and satisfied.

(For the record too, I've been to Pappadeaux's in Dallas a few times and I think they're pretty good, fwiw.)

Thanks for the suggestions and the next time I'm in Atlanta, I'll try another cajun restaurant and report back!
posted by edjusted at 8:52 PM on December 12, 2007

I tried Huey’s for the first time a few days ago. The cajun omelette I had was pretty tasty, if a bit overpriced, but the service was really poor.

I meant to warn you away from Copeland’s in my earlier comment, but I couldn’t remember the name of the place. I hated it the one time I was there.
posted by breaks the guidelines? at 12:15 PM on December 17, 2007