BBQ Shrimp Done Right

So I'm sure that most of you remember a not-so-nice piece I wrote about Slice a few weeks ago. Well, not too long after I had my terrible barbecue shrimp po-boy there, I made a point to go somewhere in the city and have the real thing. The "real thing" being authentic New Orleans style barbecue shrimp. After all, some classic New Orleans dishes just cannot be replicated. You either shell out the cash for the real deal or pay little money for big disappointment.

The good news is that there are many places in the city to get great barbecue shrimp. You can go to Pascal's Manale, located Uptown on Napoleon Avenue; or take a walk off Canal Street to Deanie's Seafood, located on the corner of Dauphine and Iberville in the French Quarter. Deanie's offers barbecue shrimp for a reasonable price (under $20) and they also have a barbecue shrimp pasta dish with peeled shrimp (for those of you who don't like working too hard for your food). But my personal favorite place to get these tasty critters would have to be Mr. B's Bistro, located on Royal Street in the French Quarter. At $24.50 (for eight shrimp), their shrimp dish is one of the more expensive ones, but worth every penny. Pascal's Manale's shrimp are also around $24, and while they are very good, I found that their sauce was a tad too oily for my liking. Mr. B's, however, has this recipe perfected. The shrimp are large, easy to peel, and perfectly cooked. Their sauce is a beautiful blend of butter, pepper, spices, and lemon that creates a tangy and savory combination you will never forget.

Barbecue shrimp is a quintessential New Orleans dish, so if you're visiting the city you definitely don't want to miss out on the opportunity to try it. Just please don't be tempted by hole-in-the-wall places claiming to have "the original" or "the best" in the city. My advice? Go to Mr. B's and grab a seat at the bar, order a drink and the barbecue shrimp, say "yes" to the bib, and then go to town on one of the best seafood dishes this city has to offer. In that order... and you can thank me later.


Baby spinach and goat cheese salad: Baby spinach tossed with a warm bacon vinaigrette and topped with a goat cheese medallion... and it's not served on a Styrofoam plate.