Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Let’s tell the film industry where to go …

… for dinner.

When I get opportunities to visit local sets, I often find myself chatting with producers about business and, more importantly, food.


(Really, that's pretty much all I talk about. Before taking one blogger buddy to a screening of "There Will Be Blood" in Dallas, I forced him to eat one of my special omelets. "Won't go hungry on my watch, will you, Little Fella? No, not on my watch. Eat like a good cineaste, now. Good. Good boy.")


We know Superior Steakhouse, Columbia Café. Village Grille, Cush's Grocery and Bella Fresca get their fair shares of the entertainment dollar. Robert Trudeau's blog has some good chatter on Mona's Cafe.

But where else in northwest Louisiana should they be chowing down? What restaurants are quintessentially Shreveport? I want the out-of-the-way, the strange, the essentials. I want signature dishes.


I'll start with the easiest rec: Try the Shrimp Buster at Herby-K's, 1833 Pierre Ave.


Please post your favorites and we'll compile a list. (Send me pictures, if you dare.)


PHOTO: Herby K's opened in 1936 and began serving their signature sandwich, the Shrimp Buster, in 1946. (Jessica Leigh/The Times)

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tell everyone to go dinner at Wine Country Bistro on Line Avenue. It was the home away from home for several of the crew members from Comeback while the movie was filming.

Anonymous said...

Mmmm....

This post is making me hungry for India's Restaurant on Youree Drive. Granted, it isn't "quintessentially Shreveport," but it sure is delicious and friendly.

Anonymous said...

One place that may be short on atmosphere but is just darn good is Dahn's Noodle Garden. Oliver Stone apparently agrees with me, as a friend of mine who went to lunch there a month or so back spotted him eating, as well as Jeffrey Goodman. Maybe the place just attracts auteurs?

Anonymous said...

John Grindley of RFC...

We'll have a great menu at Abby Singer's Bistro in the RFC when we open. Plus the only balcony in downtown for those nice spring nights. I'm sure it will be film industry hang out.

Shane Bevel said...

If you don't put the Half and Half special from Krawdaddy's Kitchen (Mansfield Rd) on your list, you will be sent back to the frozen lakes of Minnesota!

Alexandyr Kent said...

I'll have you know that the crawdads in Minnesota -- pathetically referred to as crayfish -- ain't good for nuthin' but bait. But, to be fair, crayfish do attract walleye, which happen to be the best tasting fish on the planet. Banish me if you will, shanebevel, but I will have my pan-fried revenge.

Good list so far, bloggerheads. But we can do better than this. What else we got?

Robert E Trudeau said...

Thanks for the shout, Alex. Here's my Do Not Miss: inside Yeero-Yeero on Line Ave is an astoundingly elaborate
dining room. There you will find dynamite pastichio, salads, chicken soup and pannini.

Still, you can get all of it through their drive-in windows.

photo: http://flickr.com/photos/robert_trudeau/116812703/

Alexandyr Kent said...

I'm going to throw my props in (again) for Golden Land Superior, a Thai eatery at 7460 Youree Dr. Super fresh phos.

For the more adventurous, Era's Turkey Leg Express, 2112 Market St., is a fat-filled dream and a one-of-a-kind experience. It's also a drive-up window, so you'll be eating in your car.

A fantastic soup-and-sandwich shop? Good Eats, 2153 Airline Drive, Bossier City. I think it's only a lunch thing, but the tomato basil soup, laced with cream, is num-num. Great butcher case, too.

Best french fries in town? Madison Square Garden, 3839 Gilbert Dr. Their bread pudding's a devil, too.

Ugh ... I gotta up the yoga regimen again.

Barry Ingram said...

Do they still have Murrells?

Alexandyr Kent said...

Your Murrell's cheeseburger is safe, yes.

Anonymous said...

That Murrell's burger may be safe, but last time I drove by for one of Ms. Era's amazing turkey legs (seriously, how did she make those so JUICY?!), it was no longer doing business. Someone appears to have bought it, converted it to a rib shack, and renamed it "Smokin' Hogs" (paging Snoop Dogg). I hope she just moved...

Alexandyr Kent said...

Era's is gone? You ruined my week.

Unknown said...

On my blog in a section entitled "Good Eats in SB Land -- avoid dining at chains" I've got direct links to posts I've done on Columbia Cafe, Glenwood Village Tearoom, Herby-K's, Julie Anne's Bakery and Cafe, Lila's, Monjunis, Tacomania, and Yeero!!! Yeero!!!

One movie person did point out there's no place to dine vegetarian on the weekend in SB Land. Anyone know if this is true?

Alexandyr Kent said...

I don't know if that's really true. We might not have a strictly vegetarian dinner option for the weekend, but Thai and Indian restaurants have an assortment of vegetarian dishes. Indigo, 8660 Fern Ave., is a good option, I think. I think you can also go pretty veggie at Lucky Palace, 750 Isle of Capri Blvd., in Bossier City. I love both restaurants. Very fresh, and some of the most personable owners in the area.

I'm working from memory here, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anonymous said...

A Veggie-head heaven is to be found at Earthereal on Line Ave. near Byrd High. Earthereal is a soulful bakery and lunch restaurant where the owners work the counter and know almost every customer by name.

I'd also add to the list of good Shreveport eats, Jacquelyn's on Louisiana St. off Jordan. They're only open for lunch too but it's inexpensive yet refined regional cuisine--jambalaya, etouffee, monte cristo and a bad ass pie for dessert.

Robert E Trudeau said...

Boiled crawfish? Please see m review at Shreveport Blog.

mahogani (the media diva) said...

shane's, Shaver's or Kim's Seafood (in Bossier) for Cajun and Kim's does the "you buy we fry" (as does 20/20 Seafood on Greenwood Rd.) ...

Monjuni's has the best spaghetti (seriously) ..

For some great b'fast eat at Murrell's, George's or the Southfield Grill, and they MUST have a slice of Johnny's Pizza (or a muffaleta -- sp?).. I mean c'mon ...

Though Pete Harris (the king of soul food) is no longer around, Brother's Seafood is pretty close ... for you meat-eaters and carb-lovers ... check these places out lol ...

Oh and cakes and cookies from Julie Anne's or the Duugh Basket (best King cake I've ever tasted) .. (Cush's is not the only bakery in town!)

:)

Anonymous said...

Tell them that if they are downtown, they NEED to go see The HotDog Lady at Mickey's HotDog Stand!! Best hot dogs and smoked sausages around.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe nobody's mentioned a Shreveport institution: The Cub. Y'all can go spend your hard earned per diem at Superior's. Just give me the The Cub's ribeye, au grautins and wedge salad, and I'm a happy man.
Let's also not forget the great breakfasts and PIES at any of the Strawn's locations (King's Hwy, 70th St and Airline in Bossier.
Finally, the humongous burgers at Papa's and Co. on Washington off Youree.
The Glenwood Tearoom is wonderful, too!
I'm from L.A., and I've made three movies in S'port, so I know where I'll go to eat when I come back some day.