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February 1, 2011Thursday, Feb. 3
February 3, 2011
Visiting The French Loaf on West Park Ave. in Houma is like lunching or dining with your mom-n-’em.
The outside of the building foretells of what’s in store – no pretense, no fancy tablecloths or wait staff standing by.
That’s not to say you’re not in for a treat.
The casual decor and friendly staff are like going home to eat – if your mom makes killer roast beef po-boys and south Louisiana favorites, that is.
The French Loaf is a conversation starter, for sure. Varnished into the tabletops in the opening dining room are doubloons, beer and bottle caps, jewelry and, my favorite, vintage 45s … that’s a vinyl record (children, ask your mom-n-’em). Where else in the Tri-parishes can you gorge yourself on string-fried onion rings – a real contender for the city’s best title – while searching the recording catalogues of Tom Jones, Sam Cooke and Klymaxx?
And watching over you as you dine, Shirley Temple adorns the ladies’ bathroom door. She’s surrounded by Barbie and Ken bubble-gum cards. Likewise, Babe Ruth stares out from the men’s restroom door. He’s surrounded by other baseball greats – or, at least their bubble gum cards.
Three co-workers accompanied me on the first visit; we wanted to give the menu a real workout.
In addition to the onion rings ($3.50 small to $6.50 large), we ordered The French Loaf’s newest appetizer: fried pickles. Lightly battered, the pickles pack a punch. [One piece of advice, bite it whole. I made the mistake of halving my first pickle and the sour smack I so love was way more pronounced … and unexpected. Downing the next one whole was a wiser choice.]
My guests were more accustomed to all-things-fried and gave the pickles two thumbs up.
Having heard high praise of the roast beef po-boy, I wanted to try it. The 8-inch roast beef ($7.50) comes dressed to your liking and is loaded with fine cut meat and very thick gravy. Well-seasoned, the gravy hangs right where you want it – between the bread.
On a return visit, I had the gravy fries ($2.75). Consider me a fan. It’s that same roast beef gravy slathered all over crispy fries. One word: yum!
It was sandwiches all around the table during the first trip, although The French Loaf does offer a hot lunch special and platter choices served with salad, fries and grilled French bread. On this day, it was red beans and sausage or white beans and shrimp or a barbeque combo – ribs, chicken or sausage. The barbeque choices are from Doogie’s Smokehouse, which is served at The French Loaf weekdays.
Doogie’s dishes include smoked plates (served with two sides and French bread), which range from $5 to $9.95. Meats are also available a la carte, as is Doogie’s Secret Sauce. And smoked brisket and sausage or pulled pork is sold by the quarter-, half-pound and pound.
Doogie’s also delivers on his homemade bread pudding, covered with a pecan praline sauce ($2). That’s the lone dessert on the menu, but no one’s complaining. The portions are so big, you won’t leave hungry.
On this day, one guest chowed down on an 8-inch hot sausage po-boy ($7.45) loaded with sliced spicy links. Although the links didn’t pack a considerable punch, the hefty sandwich had just enough kick to complement its voluminous nature.
Potential customers can’t be concerned with using their hands to either enjoy the sausage sans bun or returning the links to their rightful location between the lettuce and tomato. The French Loaf was not stingy with the portion.
Another at our table ate the fried crawfish po-boy ($8.75). He reported it was good, but average. Loaded with shrimp, just as any local seafood eatery would serve.
The fried bacon-wrapped shrimp po-boy ($8.75), however, earned high praise. The shrimp stayed crispy and, despite the bacon wrap, wasn’t greasy at all.
The French Loaf’s menu includes a number of local favorites, which my guests and I agreed to give a try during future visits.
Appetizers include boudin bites, mini meat pies, corn nuggets and shrimp boulettes among the choices. And the potato choices also include sweet potato, mustard-based potato salad or a baked potato.
Platters range from seafood combos to oyster or soft-shell crab dishes. For land-lovers, there’s a hamburger steak platter.
And The French Loaf’s specialty item isn’t a sandwich at all. It’s the seafood stuffed potato.
Muffalatta fans have a seafood or Cajun choice. And there’s shrimp and okra gumbo or creamy crab soup for cold days.
Eating light? The French Loaf has a chef, chicken, shrimp or seafood salad.
The restaurant is open weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dine-in or drive-up service is offered. Don’t make the mistake of calling it “fast food.” As the staff is quick to remind diners, it’s not the fastest made, but “Nobody Beats The French Loaf,” the eatery’s moniker says.
Doogie’s Smokehouse is also available for catering.
So, there you go. The French Loaf is easy to miss – it’s situated between the Exxon gas station and K-Mart – and it’s only open on weekdays. But it’s worth the stop. Take your mom-n-’em.
The French Loaf 6949 West Park Ave., Houma (985) 851-6000 Restaurant Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Service at the drive-up window. Catering available from Doogie’s
