It's the closest you can get to New Orleans without hopping on a plane. Bayou, located on Pennsylvania Ave NW, is a vibrant concept restaurant with all the jazz of NOLA and of course, the accompanying cuisine.
Bayou falls under the Georgetown Events family with sister eateries like the popular Jetties and Surfside. The menus are collectively designed by the DC's well known Chef Rusty Holman. So of course, one is expected not to be disappointed.
Now let's talk Bayou eats... It's the real deal with spicy Cajun and creamy Creole that every stomach desires. There are too many delicious, mouth-watering options, so let's take it course by course.
For brunch, there's the Fried Green Tomatoes Benedict! Any of the brunch choices should be accompanied by an order of the Jalpeno Cheddar Grits - yum...
For Appetizers, I highly recommend the Barbeque Shrimp, Seafood Gumbo, Fried Green Tomatoes, Tuna & Green Tomato Tartare, and the Crawfish Cheesecake (yes, you read that correctly, it's a crawfish and sausage cheesecake appetizer, highly indulgent, but well worth a taste). And don't forget them biscuits!
You can't go wrong with any of the Po' Boys, but my favorites are the Frenchmen (fried oysters) or the Marigny (half fried oysters and half fried shrimp). Get them dressed, or shhh naked.
As for Entrees, try them all! The Jambalaya, the Shrimp and Grits, the Blackened Catfish served atop Collard Greens, and the pecan-crusted Maple Leaf Trout are some of my favs.
While you are at it, indulge in some of the housemade cocktails. There's the classic Hurricane, a little sweet but gets you feeling fuzzy in a flash. Other good choices are the Sazerac or the Frenchmen Fizz - classic to New Orleans. For those beer drinkers, enjoy one of the many Abitas offered - Purple Haze, Jockamo, and Amber are some of my favorites. Save the Root Beer Float for dessert.
Downstairs seating is cozy with only a few booths, but there are also some stools to pull up to the back bar. If you get the right seating, there is a large TV for sports viewing pleasure. Upstairs is a bit more hip, playing live music on weekends and some weeknights. There is also a bar upstairs, but it is mainly used for fundraisers or other events hosted on the second floor. If you do dine upstairs, you may want to bring a sweater because the temperature chills a few degrees. And in the summertime, there is the patio out front for those of you that like to dine outdoors. Don't worry, on cooler nights, they bring out the heaters.
