As native Louisianians, we have a firm rule: don’t eat in a “Cajun” restaurant or “New Orleans bistro” anywhere outside of Louisiana. We’ve been known to ignore the rule on occasion, and usually to our regret.
But with the official opening of D’Juan’s New Orleans Bistro in January, we marked our calendars to make a visit after the one-month mark. Thus, for a pre-Valentine’s outing, the wife and I made the short drive to Highlands of West Village in Smyrna to see if we’d find a true taste of Louisiana.
Now, to be fair, it wasn’t as if we were going in blind. New Orleans native Donald Williams, Jr., enjoyed great success at his Vinings-area original location. Neighborhood business conditions there contributed to his seeking a more spacious, upscale atmosphere designed to transport diners straight to the French Quarter.
Homework First
Before our visit, we checked out some of the online reviews, and made a list of our “most likely” order items. Walking in to D’Juans New Orleans Bistro, we felt transported immediately to New Orleans, meeting face-to-face with a giant jester apropos of the New Orleans Mardi Gras spirit.
While the online reviews raved about the chargrilled oysters and crawfish mac and cheese, we decided not to tempt fate with these more delicate seafoods. Nothing against D’Juan’s New Orleans Bistro, but we’ll reserve those for a trip back home.
We chose other crowd favorites, and were glad we did. For starters, we selected the Stuffed Crab Cake Egg Rolls. This unique and addictive fusion starter was lightly fried then served sliced in an open-face presentation.
Entree Selection
The fried catfish po-boy featured a huge serving of tender, moist fried catfish, laid across a soft, fresh loaf of French bread. We went with a “fully dressed” version, featuring lettuce, tomato and pickle. The moisture from the toppings caused a bit of sogginess with the fish filet. But the banging flavor trade-off was fully worth the minor texture change. The po-boy came with a side of home-made remoulade sauce. That added a bit of sweet and heat to the sandwich concotion. Plus, that sauce was excellent for those (like me!) who like to dip their fries in sauces other than ketchup.
Our second entree, the D’Juan’s take on jambalaya, wasn’t a traditional New Orleans presentation. It packed an excellent flavor combination with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage. Unlike our down-home jambalaya, D’Juan’s included a savory tomato sauce. It played well with the mushy rice, adding another rich flavor profile to the dish.
We fully intended to finish with a serving of the Beignet Bites. At D’Juan, they’re dusted with a signature blend of powdered sugar and cinnamon, earning rave reviews from the dessert lovers. But we had put away too much food already, so we’ll just have to reserve those for another visit.
Excellent Service Experience
We’ll add here that our service was excellent. Our waiter, Michael, was a new transplant to the Atlanta area. He arrived about the same time as D’Juan’s opened in Smyrna. Despite being a recent transplant, he was helpful in describing dishes for our selection.
D’Juan’s also features a full bar service, including New Orleans specialties along side the usual and regional favorites. Parking is easy, either on the street front or in the carpark directly behind the restaurant. And while our February visit was made during cooler days, the outdoor patio looks like it will be perfect with warmer weather arrives.
You’ll find D’Juans in the heart of the West Village development in Smyrna at 4500 West Village Place, Suite 1017, Smyrna, GA 30080. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, with slightly later opening hours on weekends. The restaurant also features a soulful Sunday brunch service. And we’ve spotted several promotions for daily specials plus special public events.
For reservations or more information, call 678-653-9885 or visit their website at www.djuans.com.
More New Orleans-related Posts
If you want more from our New Orleans experiences, check out these other posts:
