Launched last fall by renowned local restaurateur and seafood wholesaler Wayne Stabiler, Le Creolé is the latest addition to the upscale dining market in the Southeast corner of the parish that includes Galatoire’s Bistro, French Market Bistro and Ruffino’s. Like Stabiler’s popular The Little Village—which has locations downtown and on Airline Highway—Le Creolé sets a classically intimate, New Orleans-style atmosphere for enjoying steaks, seafood and south Louisiana dishes both traditional and modern.
Leading the kitchen at Le Creolé is executive chef Ryan André, whose previous gig was at the famed Commander’s Palace in the Big Easy’s Garden District. André and Stabiler’s new menu includes daily lunch specials, a Sunday brunch and adventurous dinner dishes like Black Skillet Fried Bob White Quail, Crispy Buttermilk Battered Louisiana Frog Legs and Herb Panéed Rabbit Loin.
Scroll down to see what our secret diners thought of Le Creolé.
The Catcher and the Fry
There’s nothing better than fresh Louisiana seafood.
I’d recommend:
Stone Ground Grits and Shrimp Grillades ($24). Cajun spicy and grilled to perfection, these shrimp packed a magnificent punch. Served in a skillet, the grits were creamy and seasoned well, too. This dish was a big winner.
French Bread (complimentary). Some foodies will snicker and tell you to save room for the real food, but this warm, crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside bread is way too delicious to pass up. Like The Little Village, Le Creolé does bread oh so right.
Pecan Pie ($10). Wow, this is a radical pecan pie. I think the server should have mentioned it was a chocolate pecan pie, but as a chocolate fan I did not mind the surprise. Accompanied by a rich ribbon of decadent ganache, candied pecans and vanilla ice cream, this was worth every dollar.
Not my taste:
Tasting of Creole Louisiana ($30). For this price I was expecting more than a small trout filet, a tablespoon-sized scoop of blue crabmeat and two shrimp. Two? I guess they weren’t kidding when they named this dish a “tasting.” The minimal crab and shrimp were delicious, but the trout had a fishy taste.
Cajun Boudin Spring Roll ($10). Stuffed with a pork and rice boudin, this was disappointingly bland. The only thing saving it from total loss was the Asian-Cajun dipping sauce that tasted like a tangy blend of salty soy and sweet cane sugar.
The bottom line:
My table encountered as many misses as it did hits, but there are some excellent choices to be found at Le Creolé. The restaurant has a comfortable fine dining atmosphere that is, thankfully, not too uppity. The service was friendly and fast.
The NOLA strolla’
Like the Mississippi through the Big Easy, good food is in my blood.
I’d recommend:
Gulf Shrimp and Tasso Cheesecake ($10). These shrimp were delicious, and the spice, cream and consistency of the cheesecake blend was just right. This was my favorite of all of my table’s appetizers.
Crispy Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle ($17). This crispy, incredibly juicy chicken breast is served on light, fluffy waffles with a side of sweet cane sugar syrup, all served in a huge mound piled high. I ate the whole thing. The fact that the chicken was deboned was a nice touch, too. This was a filling serving of fried Southern goodness.
Not my taste:
Creole Coleslaw (complimentary side). This side came with my chicken and waffles, but it was dry and uninspired. I love a good slaw, especially an Asian-style one, but this resembled a garnish as opposed to an edible side dish.
Crawfish and Warm Goat Cheese Crepe ($9). This appetizer was all right, but far from the best Le Creolé has to offer. It would be a stand-out choice if served at Jazz Fest, but for fine dining it faltered. The crepe was well-cooked, but I couldn’t for the life of me taste the goat cheese.
The bottom line:
Overall a pleasant dining experience, Le Creolé’s menu and atmosphere were both comfortable and well thought out. Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly and most importantly, she understood exactly how a spicy Bloody Mary should taste.
Ms. Archi-texture
Consistency counts, just like balance and flavor.
I’d recommend:
Gulf Shrimp and Tasso Cheesecake ($10).The different flavor notes you get with each bite were spot on. The texture of the cake was light while shrimp gave the dish a good kick. The smoked tomato coulis balanced it all. Most importantly, the dish did what good appetizers do: It built anticipation for the main course. So satisfying, this could be an entrée if you’re not too hungry.
Grilled Certified Angus Tenderloin Filet ($32). Not your average steak and potatoes. The filet was seared just right and served with Pantalba potatoes—a scrumptious combination of Idaho and sweet potatoes diced, sauteed and enhanced by roasted shallots. This side medley is no afterthought. Delicious.
Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce ($10). Bread pudding is my standard dessert choice, and this unique version tops my list of favorites. Light, airy and full of flavor, this dinner roll-like golden bread is sauced with white chocolate, a savory sweet glaze that completes the dish without overpowering the other flavors.
Not my taste:
A Pricey Night Out. This restaurant left me so satisfied that I will have to go again just to find something to criticize. Though I will say that some of the appetizers and entrées were just a tad pricey. Honestly, I could skip the $25-$30 entrées and be satisfied with the appetizers and desserts.
The bottom line:
Each dessert was served with vanilla ice cream, and the warm French bread came with soft herb-infused butter. How thoughtful is that? I can’t complain about any of the dishes I had at Le Creolé, though those listed above were the best. This is one of my favorite new restaurants, and I definitely want to go back.
