Bossier City’s restaurant community is finishing out 2018 strong, with two interesting new international eateries opening and one popular new restaurant already planning to expand. BeauxJax Crafthouse, the Cajun restaurant and bar that anchors the west side of the East Bank District at 501 Barksdale Blvd., has plans to add a larger patio, upstairs seating and a public dining balcony, according to co-owner Beau Hays.
Hays said that, after their Rouxgaroux Bar – a speakeasy-style space located in the rear of the current restaurant – became overflow seating for the restaurant, it was clear that more space was needed. A public dining balcony in the East Bank District sounds pretty incredible to me; as far as I know, this would only be the second such restaurant balcony in Shreveport-Bossier.
One of the reasons for BeauxJax’s success is a menu item that started out as a late-night, off-menu snack. The Crawfish PepperJax Mac n’ Cheese is exactly what it sounds like: A spicy, cheesy platter of macaroni and cheese packed with crawfish tails ($9.79) that can be loaded up with additional ingredients like Andouille sausage, shrimp, and Bourbon chicken for a $4 upcharge. It’s really good, and was added to the menu after Hayes said the restaurant sold more than 100 orders on a single weekend night. Now it’s among their top-selling items.
I’d be remiss if I did not also point out that, next door to BeauxJax Crafthouse, some intrepid entrepreneur will soon be opening Bayou Axe Company, “North Louisiana’s first indoor axe-throwing range.” There’s a terrific opportunity here for a brand partnership: ThreauxAxe and BeauxJax?
Across town at 1964 Airline Drive, The Cajun Asian is planning to open on Tuesday, Dec. 11. If you haven’t liked their Facebook page, you should; this place really looks like it’s going to be something special. So far, they’ve shared images of menu items like jambalaya egg rolls and crawfish and cream cheese wontons. I’m as excited about The Cajun Asian as I have been about any new local restaurant in years.
Finally – just up the street from The Cajun Asian – there’s also a new taqueria, Mi Pueblito. I’ve not visited Mi Pueblito yet, but looking through the photos on their Facebook page has me ready to pay a visit. It’s an antojitos place, or a restaurant that specializes in little snacks like elotes and pan dulces as well as tacos, but most of the reviews online rave about their torta sandwiches. Mi Pueblito is located in a shopping center at 1890 Airline Drive, essentially behind Griff’s Hamburgers.
If you like this kind of local food writing, check out the latest edition of Eat Here: A Food Lover’s Guide to Shreveport-Bossier (download a .PDF here).
Like BeauxJax Crafthouse on Facebook.
Like Bayou Axe Company on Facebook.
Like The Cajun Asian on Facebook.
Like Mi Pueblito on Facebook.
