Pierre’s Mardi Gras Café
2816 S. Cooper St
Hours: Tues-Thurs 11:30-7:30; Fri-Sat 11:30-8:30; Sun 12-4; Closed Mondays
(817) 557-9990
For a taste of real New Orleans home cooking, go to Pierre’s Mardi Gras Café on South Cooper Street at the intersection with California Lane.
Roosevelt and Wendy Pierre moved to North Texas after Hurricane Katrina. They owned a catering business in addition to jobs as an accountant (Roosevelt) and postal worker (Wendy). Lucky for Arlington they decided to stay here and open this café.
If you’re hungry, go for a Plate Dinner, either the BBQ Shrimp with potato salad & dirty rice ($8.50) or the Catfish Mardi Gras (grilled or fried catfish in etoufee sauce; $9.50). Other plate dinners include Red Beans & Rice with smothered pork chops ($7.50), and Chicken Drumettes and Jambalaya ($7.99).
Seafood platter (Catfish; Oyster; Shrimp) include fries or onion rings and a side salad ($9.99 or $12.50 for combo).
The fried seafood is delicious…and I love the Catfish Mardi Gras…but the PoBoys are probably the most popular menu items.
The café serves original New Orleans PoBoys. The shrimp or oysters are breaded in cornmeal and the french bread is toasted inside & outside. If you order a PoBoy, might as order it ‘Dressed’ (Cajun-speak for everything on it).
Selection for Po Boys ($5.99 to $6.50 for 6”, $7.50 to $10 for 12”) include: BBQ shrimp, shrimp, oyster, ½ shrimp ½ oyster, Roast Beef, Ham, Hot Sausage, Hamburger, Philly Steak, and Philly Steak Surf & Turf (steak & shrimp).
You can get side dishes of jambalaya ($3.50, $5.99) and Dirty Rice ($2.50). And don’t forget about the gumbo. They call it Pierre’s Famous Seafood Gumbo. I just call to order a large for pickup so I can take it home and eat it the rest of the week. A large is $9, but you can get a cup for $3.99.
There are only two choices for Kids Meals: chicken tenders, plain burger ($4.50, fries and small drink included).
I suggest you pace yourself, because if you like dessert you may want to save room for bread pudding (only $2.75). They also have homemade pralines ($1.25). The weekly dessert special is usually a cake.
This is a small, casual restaurant. You order at the counter. There are only about 9 tables in the whole place. It’s in a strip shopping center. Believe me, it’s nothing fancy. But who cares when the food tastes this good?!?
And the Pierre family still caters, so give them a call if you’re thinking about catering an upcoming special event. Their number is 817-557-9990.
Arlington Insider 