Bourbon Street Hideaway

This is part 2. Please check out Part 1 below first!
Where was I? Oh right CRUNCHY rice. I had everyone try it to make sure I wasn’t crazy. Rice was through and through crunchy. In the mean time, I also tried my wife’s Crawfish Étouffée. Of course, I got a bad crawfish. The texture was dry and very fishy tasting. My wife informed me that the dish was rampant with bad crawfish. You can tell even before eating them by whether their tail is curled or straight. Curled means they were darn near alive by the time they were cooked. Straight means they were dead for a while and already decomposing before being cooked. Another group member had the Étouffée and his was also fishy tasting.
7.) Server never came to ask how the food was. The hostess did come back to fill up waters, and that’s when I explained I had an issue with my dish (no one wanted to pile on the disappointment of the Étouffée). She went to get the server. Server returns and asks, «You didn’t like it?»
Me: «Well, the rice is crunchy.»
«I am sorry about that. Would you like me to get you another one?»
«Is the Jambalaya made individually per order or one big batch?»
«Usually one big batch.»
«Then no. I would like to order something else. May I have a menu?»
«Sure.»
Returns with menu. After some time pondering what is still Cajun, but has a good chance of being made to order, I chose the Alligator Piquant.
8.) As we wait, our group has been asked if they want boxes. My wife said yes (Waste not, want not), but the other two did not have anything remotely worth taking home. Server brings a box and leaves. 20 minutes go by and the dirty plates sit untouched. Multiple times I saw the sever glance at the plates, but continue on to other tasks.
9.) My reorder arrives, and I take one bite of the rice. I realize they probably made one big batch of undercooked, crunchy rice, not just the Jambalaya! I started picking out the alligator. Not very good either. I have explained alligator as the point between a white fish and chicken. This was closer to rubbery over cooked chicken than anything else. It was squeaky when chewed. Set my fork down (no spoon received for a liquid dish) and called it quits.
10.) The server came back to check how the food was this time. I said, «Not good. Same crunchy rice.» She expressed sympathy and walked away.
11.) The server returns to ask how to split up the check. I said on one (Prior arrangement. Details not important), but that I didn’t believe the two entrees I ordered should be added. She said she needed to talk to her manager (didn’t know there was a manager. Sorry, that was snarky). She returned with the bill and said the two meals are not on there. I thanked her for taking care of those, and added that this was my birthday meal and it was frankly, awful. She apologized once more.
12.) I struggled greatly with how to tip. I understand people make mistakes, and that the food issues were not our servers fault… but I couldn’t give 20%. In hopes that lessons are learned from this, I noted all the issues on the back of a receipt for them to see. As I am wrapping up, the server asks if there is anything else they can do… a free birthday dessert. I responded with, «Not at this time.» I left my phone number stating I would love to speak to someone. This review will be altered if amends are made.
I hope no one takes this review personally or as a testament to his or her character, but Bourbon St Hideaway is not going to make it long-​term if things are not corrected soon. The décor and the «only game in town» are not going to sustain business. Any situation can be fixed in the moment, and if a server doesn’t have the authority or confidence to take care of it immediately then the manager should step in and make it right. The manager on 2÷9÷2016 was nowhere to be seen.
Currently, Bourbon St Hideaway has the service and quality of a fast food joint for the price of a fine dining establishment.

Atmosphere is quaint and cozy. Staff was friendly and attentive. Lemon drop martini was OK. Our waitress recommend the quiche as an appetizer and it was tasty. Enough for 4 to share. The wedge salad was OK but I’ve had better. I had the salmon and it was very good. Other people at my table had the alligator, stuffed shrimp, and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their meal. I would recommend this restaurant especially if you had out of town guest because it’s a very different experience compared to other local establishments.

Amazing cocktails! The blood orange mojito was exquisite. Friendly, competent waitstaff topped it all off. I’ll be back to try dinner when I’m hungry, 100%. Very relaxing atmosphere, as well

I wondered whether the best Cajun food in Fort Wayne was indeed authentic, showed heart and soul, was adventurous, featured sass, pizazz and fresh ingredients, and so came here to test things out.
We were a party of five. We had the jambalaya, catfish, buffalo shrimp, gumbo, wedge salad, house salad, flatbread with chicken and Tasso ham, mushrooms stuffed with crab, cheese grits, smashed red potatoes.
The service was attentive and polite. We were seated in a table near the kitchen door where one of the overhead lights was broken. Since the restaurant is already subterranean, we relied on a candlelight to see. We ate in the semi-​darkness. It was dark enough that we had to use our phones to read the menu.
We were not served rolls but had to ask for them. When we asked, the waitress answered, «Yes, you can have some rolls.» This was odd– it made us feel as if we were imposing. The rolls were dinner rolls shaped like little ciabatta, and were warm, served with butter.
The salads, especially the wedge salad, were fresh, and the mixture of ingredients delicious (the wedge featured olives and pimento peppers, along with dressing and extra blue cheese on the side).
The gumbo was a gummy mess. It was too thick, heavy on flour, and bland. I could not taste any andouille sausage. The chicken pieces were large and bland. It was chicken with paste.
The jambalaya was large but featured predominantly rice and a sauce heavy on chili peppers. The presentation, on a plate, was disappointing.
The buffalo shrimp were overdone and made with frozen, medium-​sized shrimp. The sauce was heavy on Tabasco (which was actually very good), but for $ 13.50 there were four over-​cooked shrimps.
The crab-​stuffed mushroom were stuffed with shredded crabmeat and cheese. There were 8 mushrooms of the grocery-​store size. They tasted fine, mainly of cheese.
The smashed potatoes had small chunks of soft, buttery potatoes and skins and were good. The grits were cheesy and a nice, spongy consistency with a good corn flavor— like a cheesy polenta.
In all, I would call the experience disappointing. It was polite, Midwestern Cajun food, made to look good with a hint of spices, but compromising on the freshness of seafood ingredients and lacking in imagination. A Cajun restaurants needs to have a stellar gumbo. Bourbon Street Hideaway plays it too safe, too bland.

This is such a cool place! Atmosphere is so speakeasy-​like. Staff is always helpful. I can’t go there and order plain food. When on Bourbon Street… as they say. Portions are generous. Hubby likes the Jambalaya. The gumbo is good too. They gave gator on the menu. The twisted Mac and cheese is good. Nice choice of beers and martin is.

Fort Wayne needs more places like this! Super cool atmosphere, knowledgable staff and fantastic food and drink. Truly authentic New Orleans style cuisine. The quiche appetizer was delicious, and the catfish and shrimp entrees followed suit. It is a little on the pricey end, but the quality of the food and service make it worth while. We will definitely be back.

A little hidden gem in fort wayne, I’ve been here several times now and always enjoy it. Book in advance, it’s only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and it’s quite small so tables fill up.
The food here is excellent, I’d give it 5 stars. Try the gumbo, alligator quiche, jambalaya, BBQ shrimp, scallops, or blackened salmon. I didn’t love the ettouffle but that was probably more down to bad ordering on my part. Salads are nice and the fruit mojitos are awesome.
The atmosphere is romantic, dark and cosy, great in the winter and for a date.
This place is pricey but the service can be a bit touch and go, the manager is lovely and really knows her stuff, but the waitresses don’t seem well trained or experienced. For that reason I’ve given this place 4 rather than 5 stars.

Great food! Tasted like authentic New Orleans style. Great atmosphere! A quaint gem with a ton of character. Very friendly service! Thursday $ 7 menu is wonderful! Brought me back to my experience in New Orleans!

If you’re looking for a cozy, dark place to get some interesting — and delicious — cocktails or a neat beer and maybe some appetizers, this is the place to go. The atmosphere and décor is great, it’s dimly lit, and you can sit at this little bar and enjoy company without having to shout at anyone. The gumbo was absolutely stellar — everything else was sorely lacking. I had the jumbo stuffed shrimp which was probably the size of an appetizer instead of an entrée, and tasted like lump crab meat out of a plastic container. The shrimp were NOT jumbo and it was served simply with probably ¼ cup corn and lots of sauce — that’s it. My boyfriend had the special which was fettuccine alfredo and the fettuccine was literally stuck together and gummy and the sauce, which was heavily globbed on — was honestly nothing special. For such a nice atmosphere, creative cocktails (mojito is the way to go!), an awesome selection of beers and a gumbo that tastes like its imported from New Orleans, we were so disappointed.

We had dinner here over the holidays and I would give it an ok rating. I had the Crawfish Etoufee and was a little disspointed in the quality. The BBQ shrimp were not the greatest but the hurricanes were great. The service was good and the bartender was attentive (especially with the drinks).
The basement atmosphere is cozy and the décor reminds me a little of New Orleans. I probably won’t go back but the concept is a good one the food just needs work

My wife and I, along with a couple (who are natives of Lafayette, LA), went to this place last Friday, November 9, 2012.
It is located down in the basement, with the «Columbia Street» bar upstairs. Check their website for photos and their menu.
I had the «N’awlins Crawfish Etoufee», which features crawfish tailmeat in a brown, flavorful sauce containing «Trinity vegetables» (onions, green peppers, celery) and tomatoes over rice. It could have been spicer, but I really liked it.
My wife and one friend had the «Crispy Smothered Catfish», which features cajun cornmeal crusted catfish filet topped with crawfish etoufee, rice and a skewer of roasted vegetables. She really enjoyed this dish.
We both had the chicken gumbo soup rather than a salad. It was somewhat spicy and very tasty. Both our friends had the ‘Wedge Salad’, which was made from an entire quarter head of lettuce with jalapenos, green & black olives, blue cheese crumbles and blue cheese dressing. This was declared «delicious»!
Our other friend had the «Crab Stuffed Shrimp», consisting of five shrimp stuffed with crab, along with ‘mache choux’, a Cajun vegetable dish made of fresh corn, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, garlic and celery. She enjoyed this dish, but said the mache choux was not made the way she makes it herself, although it was good.
Although we were all quite full after eating the above dinners, we all had desserts… my wife and I split a «Chocolate Voodoo Bread Pudding» (bread pudding with raisins in it, topped with bourbon whipped cream and chocolate sauce. YUMMY! Our friends split a «Sweet Potato Pecan Pie ala mode». They liked this a lot.
We used the $ 20 coupons we’d gotten from «Daily Deal», but I observed that they have the best deals on Thursday evening: the $ 7 menu. We’ll be back for this!