RESTAURANT REVIEW: Cajun Noodle blends Louisiana, Italian

Blackened crawfish tails are a starter at The Cajun Noodle in Cabot.
Blackened crawfish tails are a starter at The Cajun Noodle in Cabot.

CABOT -- The name alone of this Louisiana-theme eating establishment is quite the head-turner. The Cajun Noodle?

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Sandwiches, like the blackened shrimp po-boy, come with fries at The Cajun Noodle in Cabot.

But given a whirl, this small restaurant, tucked in at the edge of a modern strip mall off of U.S. 67/167, reveals itself to be quite the hidden gem. It's a little off the beaten path, in the South Fork Shopping Center in the space that formerly housed Lonnie's Meat Market, but for those longing for south Louisiana fare, it's a trip worth making.

The Cajun Noodle

Address: South Fork Shopping Center, 2796 S. Second Street, Cabot

Hours: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. lunch, 4:30-9 p.m. for dinner, Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday

Cuisine: Louisiana fare with an Italian flair

Credit cards: AE, D, MC, V

Alcoholic beverages: Beer, wine, limited bar

Reservations: No

Carryout: Yes

Wheelchair accessible: Yes

(501) 286-6080

tinyurl.com/cajunno…

Originally in Lonoke, owners Michael and Naomi Coats reopened the restaurant in Cabot this past spring.

The atmosphere is festive with a half-dozen weathered wooden doors displayed as decor against one wall, Mardi Gras beads and vintage cooking utensils dangling from the ceiling and Mardi Gras wreaths and Razorback decor along a couple of the walls. Background music also offers a south Louisiana theme -- everything from authentic zydeco tunes to Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Born on the Bayou." And in addition to the usual salt and pepper shakers, there's a full-size bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce gracing each table.

We began a recent visit by ordering an appetizer of blackened crawfish tails with remoulade for $8.99. Other starters include fried mushrooms ($6.99), a bowl of Creole gumbo ($6.99), a bowl of red beans and rice ($5.99) made from scratch daily, and peel-and-eat shrimp ($9.99 half pound, $15.99 pound). For the more adventurous, there's also alligator -- 100 percent tail meat, farm-fresh from Georgia -- for $12.99 per 1/2 pound.

The Cajun Noodle offers a unique combination of Cajun fare with an Italian flair, hence its signature dish sharing its name. Priced at $18.99, the entree features fettuccine Alfredo, blackened chicken, crawfish and shrimp. But wait, there's more: It's topped with a piece of Cajun fried catfish.

The hearty eater in my party had to box up part of his meal. He reported his dish was tasty and spicy, but not too much so, offering just the right amount of kick. The noodles were a good consistency and all proteins were cooked just right.

Offerings added to the menu since our initial visit a couple of weeks ago include a selection of salads (most are $9.99). There's also a $1.99 side salad and a $6.99 dinner salad.

The blackened chicken salad ($9.99) I ordered featured a generous portion of sliced chicken breast on a bed of lettuce accented with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, homemade croutons and shredded cheddar. I chose the ranch dressing, which complemented the salad fine but, curious, I asked for a side of the remoulade sauce earlier served with the crawfish tails to try it as a dressing. It was tasty with the salad but, alas, a little too thick for pouring.

On an earlier visit, the blackened shrimp po-boy ($10.99), which came with fries, served on a 6-inch pistolette (miniature loaf of French bread) from New Orleans' Leidenheimer Baking Co. was a little softer on its crust than I would have preferred but otherwise very good. Other sandwiches, which include french fries, are po-boys filled with chicken, catfish or crawfish, a variety of chicken sandwiches and a BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Six burgers ($8.99-$12.99) are offered, ranging from a basic cheeseburger and one topped with andouille sausage to the Skeeter Bayou Burger topped with smoked cheddar, fried crawfish tails, fried jalapenos and remoulade sauce. Then there's the 1/2-pound Thibodeaux Burger for those who can't decide between a burger or barbecue, as it includes a 1/4 pound of smoked pulled pork topped with coleslaw and cheese.

During that visit, my dining companion chose the shrimp etouffee ($14.99) which was served over white rice. He reported that the accompanying golden sauce was thick, creamy and flavorful. The shrimp in his dish were generously sized and the side piece of Cajun fried catfish also was flavorful.

Other Creole dishes include Louisiana boudin ($12.99) and Cajun andouille sausage ($12.99), served with cottage-fried potatoes or dirty rice and an ear of boiled corn. Dat Der Dirty Chicken ($11.99) features a full breast of grilled or blackened chicken served on a bed of dirty rice. Also available are boiled crawfish, shrimp, crab legs and crawfish ($6.99 per pound of crawfish up to $39.99 for sampler bucket). The crawfish arrive from a supplier alive in season, flash- frozen out of season.

The younger member of our party ordered chicken strips off the kids menu (other options: burger and grilled cheese, all served with thick steak fries). The strips were generously sized and perfectly deep fried.

Side offerings ($1.69-$2.69) include Cajun corn on the cob, Cajun boiled potatoes, fries, white rice and dirty rice.

Desserts include Key lime pie, homemade bread pudding and bananas Foster. On our two visits, we shared bananas Foster and the bread pudding. Both were delicious, but the perfectly molded square shape of the bread pudding was a little surprising for this native New Orleanian, who is used to this dish served in a bowl and more loose in texture. But the taste did not disappoint.

In addition to the usual sodas and tea, the Cajun Noodle, which recently obtained a liquor license, now also offers small selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks.

Weekend on 08/11/2016

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