Boudreaux’s Bistro brings Louisiana charm to Payson
The fried shrimp po'boy at Boudreaux's Bistro in Payson for $6.75 on Tuesday, August 21, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
The New Orleans BBQ shrimp is a chef's special for $12.99 at Boudreaux's Bistro in Payson on Tuesday, August 21, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
The smothered fried catfish is a chef's special for $12.99 at Boudreaux's Bistro in Payson on Tuesday, August 21, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
We may have been raised in the West, but a recent visit to Boudreaux’s Bistro in Payson has left us ravin’ about Cajun cuisine.
Boudreaux’s offers a slice of Southern comfort in south Utah County, from its lively ambience to its Louisiana-inspired menu options. Our party of four enjoyed pretty much everything we tried — and are still wondering if further visits will make us brave enough to try a couple of the alligator-infused items on the menu. (Mainly alligator sausage, which, it was explained to us, is a mixture of alligator meat and pork.)
We were impressed with Boudreaux’s from our first impression as an employee cheerily threw open the front door as we approached on Payson’s Main Street. We were also intrigued by the restaurant’s layout, which was long and skinny, and the atmosphere, which was upbeat and active.
There was a couch and reading area just inside the door, and seven or eight tables along the left-hand wall. The kitchen and cooking area runs along the right side of the restaurant, and is open and in plain view. Patrons choose their own table and peruse the menu, then approach the front desk to place their orders. An eclectic but extremely lively form of music was constantly playing over the speakers, adding a certain amount of pep to the proceedings. It certainly lit a fuse under our two small boys, ages 5 and 3, who were bopping their heads and shoulders continually to the music throughout the meal.
We eyed the Cajun Creole Favorites portion of the menu and thought we were being prudent by choosing the “pick three” option — allowing a plate with portions of three different choices. However, we loved the Red Beans With Sausage selection so much, we wished we had ordered a full plate of it. The creamy concoction was served over white rice and the whole combination was simply sumptuous.
Not that the other two options were chopped liver — which, thankfully, they weren’t. The other two samples were of the Chicken Étoufeé and the Jambalaya. The Chicken Étoufeé was an ever-so-slightly spicy chicken stew with onions, bell pepper and celery that was also served over rice. The Jambalaya featured a fusion of various flavors from the combination of rice, chicken, sausage, celery, onions, bell peppers and a tomato sauce. Both dishes were excellent.
Another solid dish was the Blackened Chicken Pasta, which was accented with a garlic sauce, rotini pasta and diced tomatoes and parsley on top. The Grilled Chicken Salad was also delicious and came packed with mixed greens, bell peppers, red onions, tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, croutons and cheese. We tried two different dressings, and had a split decision on which was best — my wife preferring the raspberry vinaigrette while the honey mustard was my favorite.
As if all that wasn’t enough, we also tried one of the restaurant’s specialties — a Po’ Boy Sandwich. We ordered the Deli Sliced Ham and it was not for the faint of heart. Served on New Orleans french bread, and including several fixings, the sandwich was piled high with three slices of ham. Quite a mouthful!
We couldn’t leave without ordering a dessert that caught our attention: Fried Candy Bar. Yes, you read that right. The candy bar, in this case a Milky Way, was dipped in batter, fried, and then drizzled in chocolate and caramel and served on a skewer. We could definitely get used to Southern dining if this is what follows a meal.
Dining at Boudreaux’s is casual, with orders served on styrofoam plates accompanied by plastic utensils. We look forward to visiting again, even if it is a bit of a drive.
Where: 47 S. Main St., Payson
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday
Prices: $3.75-$10.25
Info: (801) 465-1222, www.boudreauxsbistro.biz