Laissez bon temps rouler, y’all.
The food in New Orleans is rightly celebrated, and nothing quite encompasses the spirit of the city like the humble po’boy. Whether you want one with plump fried shrimp or gravy-laden roast beef, there are plenty of spots in Atlanta doing the dish justice.
Here are a few of the best.
Adele’s on Canton
1169 Canton St, Roswell, GA 30075; 770-594-0655, www.adelescajun.com/
Adele’s on Canton bleeds bayou. Chef Mac was born and raised in New Orleans, and he and his wife run this Roswell spot as if they were still there. And that means they have a menu full of po’boys.
Customers have the choice of 14 versions, which include alligator, shrimp and roast beef. But a can’t-miss option is the ham and Swiss, with thinly sliced meat and melted cheese.
AJ’s Famous Seafood and Po’Boys
2100 Roswell Road #2148, Marietta, GA 30062; 678-999-0767, www.ajs-famous-seafood.com/
If a restaurant is going to proclaim its po’boys famous right there in name, it better live up. East Cobb’s AJ’s does. The seafood options include shrimp, oyster, soft shell crab and fish, all fresh and fried crisp. But the real winner here is the roast beef po’boy, dripping with gravy.
So messy that you’ll need two handfuls of napkins. But so good that you won’t care.
Crawfish Shack Seafood
4337 Buford Highway NE #170, Atlanta, Ga. 30341; 404-329-1610, www.crawfishshackseafood.com/
Real Cajun food on Buford Highway? Oh yes. It’s real, and it’s spectacular. Crawfish Shack is making one of the best sandwiches in Atlanta. Fresh, sweet shrimp tossed in a light cornmeal batter and fried just enough. And that remoulade? More, please.
If you’re there at the right time of year, you can snag a real treat in the form of the soft shell crab po’boy.
Corner Grille
3823 Main St, Atlanta, Ga. 30337; 404-767-1135, thecornergrillecollegepark.com
Nestled on Main Street in College Park, Corner Grille exudes a homey atmosphere that is irresistible. That hominess, and more than a twinge of Cajun influence, is threaded throughout the menu. The catfish for the po’boy is fried and nestled into soft bread with lettuce, tomato and remoulade. It’s salty and rich and will satisfy the deepest cravings for a taste of the bayou.
Fred’s Meat and Bread
99 Krog St NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30307; 404-688-3733, www.fredsmeatandbread.com/
This Krog Street eatery is serving up some truly impressive sandwiches. The burger is juicy and the grinder unforgettable. But it's the oyster po'boy that can't be overlooked.
Fresh and plump oysters are joined by fried avocado, lettuce, pickled green tomato, bacon and spicy mayo. It’s all tucked into some of the best made bread in town, with just the right chew and crumble. There won’t be any sharing with this one.
Star Provisions
1198 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30318; 404-365-0410, www.starprovisions.com/
The fried shrimp po’boy has been praised since the moment it hit the menu. Sweet Georgia white shrimp are fried with a touch of spice. They sit on a soft French roll with fresh lettuce, tomato and house-made pickles, with a spicy mayo that brings it all together.
You can also get it at the newly opened W.H. Stiles Fish Camp in Ponce City Market. The AJC's own Wyatt Williams called it "as good as any sandwich Quatrano's restaurants have ever served."
