Boucherie is one of those New Orleans restaurants that’s been around for a while—one of those spots that I’ve dubbed “perfect for a date night.” At Boucherie, meats are smoked, cured, aged and prepared in-house and purchased from local purveyors when available. Chef Nathanial Zimet has curated a menu here that is perfect for a special occasion or a casual affair.
I had heard about Boucherie’s amazing happy hour, so I knew I had to stop in. The happy hour, made for bright summer days, runs from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and is perfect whether you are getting the night started or you’re just grabbing a cocktail and quick bite to eat.
The drink menu will set you off on the right foot with select house red and white wines for $5, draft beers selling for a $1 discount, and old-fashioneds and Sazeracs for $7. The drink menu also offers a cocktail called Lisbon by Noon for $7, which is a crisp, minty refresher that is easily drinkable and adds a sparkly beginning to the evening. I consider this a perfect summer cocktail—cool without being too heavy.
Grit cake from Boucherie, photo courtesy of Randy Schmidt Photography
As for the food, you’ll have some delicious choices for happy hour. The steamed mussels are cooked perfectly with a butter sauce and collard greens and make for a tasty start. The blackened shrimp and grit cake is incredible; the grit cake has a crispy outside with a smooth buttery inside and the shrimp put it over the top. The boudin balls are just what you would expect from a place like Boucherie that prides itself in its meat selections. Flavorful and delicious and served in perfect bites, this dish left me wanting more. Finally, the fries, perfectly crispy and topped with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, were a delectable happy hour snack.
If you’re looking for more than a light bite, the menu here includes crispy skin duck with confit burnt cheesecake, strawberries, spicy greens salad and honey; a Boucherie Plate with sliced tasso, hogshead cheese, rillons, andouille, preserved kumquat mustard and baguette; a whole-hog pulled-pork cake, squash and ricotta tamale and aji verde; and W Black Farms wagyu hanger steak with roasted asparagus, garlicky smashed potatoes and roasted beets, with sauce provencal.
The folks at Boucherie are especially excited by their Coolinary menu. The restaurant will be offering this special menu Tuesday through Saturday from Tuesday, August 3, to Saturday, August 7, and Tuesday, August 17, to Saturday, September 4.
For $45, you will get three courses with your choice of the following:
First Course: Blackened Shrimp and Grit Cake with Warm House-Made Bacon Vinaigrette or Applewood Smoked Diver Scallop with African-Style Gumbo and Pecan Rice or Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Grilled Gulf Shrimp and Brazilian Cheese Bread.
Second Course: Crispy Skin Duck Confit with Charred Street Corn, Tomato Jam and Cotija; or Chicken Fried Whole Hog Pulled Pork with Summer Succotash and Smoked Buttermilk; or Pan Roasted Pompano with Fried Green Tomatoes and Peach Tartar Sauce.
Dessert: Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding or Thai Chili Chocolate Chess Pie or Chocolate Ganache Terrin.
Boucherie: 8115 Jeannette St., 504-862-5514. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
