Mardi Gras isn’t just limited to New Orleans. Long Island is home to numerous restaurants and venues hosting their own special Fat Tuesday celebrations on Feb. 25.
From Cajun-style food to jazz-fueled atmospheres, these are some of the restaurants that bring the fun of New Orleans to LI.
Bayou Jones
153 Merrick Ave., Merrick, 516-378-7177, bayoujones.com
This Southern Kitchen and Bar is celebrating Fat Tuesday in style with free Mardi Gra related giveaways and live music from Long Island’s own Roy Wilson and The Buzzards. To get your stomach into the Louisiana spirit, Bayou Jones has an array of Louisiana-styled dishes like jambalaya, blackened catfish tacos, alligator skewers, gumbo, and crawfish diablo. As a Fat Tuesday special, Bayou Jones’s dining room is offering a three-course meal at the fixed prices of $50 from 5-6 p.m. and $55 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Big Daddy’s
1 Park Lane, Massapequa, 516-799-8887, bigdaddysny.com
Big Daddy’s offers a week-long celebration of Fat Tuesday starting on Feb. 19 that is filled with live music, live crawfish boils, and 2-for-1 Oyster Shooters. This all leads up to their big party, that’ll include a classic New Orleans Style Buffet and live music from The Kings Cobras. Some of the Louisiana style cooking that Big Daddy’s has to offer are Baton Rouge Broiled Oysters, Cajun Burger, Big Easy Fried Chicken, and Habanero Goat Cheese Grits.
Biscuits and Barbeque
106 East 2nd St., Mineola, 516-493-9797, biscuitsandbarbeque.com
This trailer converted into a diner-style restaurant gives a lively atmosphere that’ll surely liven up anyone’s Mardi Gras. Biscuits and Barbeque, which was featured in a 2018 episode of the Emmy Award winning show Marvelous Ms. Maisel, offers can’t miss dishes like the alligator sausage, the brisket, the smoked barbecued half chicken, the mac ‘n cheese, and their big portion of biscuits and gravy. Leave credit cards at home as this is a cash-only establishment, but make sure to bring a mighty appetite.
Blackbirds Grille
553 Old Montauk Hwy., Sayville, 631-593-4144, blackbirdsgrille.com
Let the good times roll at the Blackbirds Grille and enjoy their Mardi Gras specials. From Friday Feb. 21 until Feb. 25, start the meal off right with any of their delectable appetizers of alligator sausage bao, crawfish etouffee, charbroiled oysters, or andouille and crab cheesecake. Then feast upon an entree of bacon-wrapped chicken breast, pecan-breaded catfish, Cajun shrimp and grits, or blackened Delmonico.
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Pub Crawl
Begins at The Penny Pub, 79 W Main S.t, Bay Shore, @bayshorerestaurantcommittee
The Bay Shore Restaurant Committee will be holding its first annual Mardi Gras Pub Crawl. For $10, participants will get beads and a bracelet that’s good for food and drink specials at any of the participating stops along the crawl. Some of the businesses participating in the bar crawl include; Penny Pub, Corks & Taps, Changing Times, T.J. Finleys, and The Tap Room. Some of the establishments participating will also have live music to help give the night a New Orleans-esque atmosphere. The fun begins by registering at The Penny Pub at 5 p.m. on Mardi Gras.
Grasso’s
134 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor, 631- 367-6060, grassosrestaurant.com
Searching for a friendly place with food and live music to celebrate Mardi Gras? Look no further than Grasso’s, a place that visitors have called the “Cheers of Cold Spring Harbor.” Patrons can enjoy a meal off of Grasso’s Mardi Gras special menu made by executive chef Tony Canales, as they enjoy blues music performed by the band Back on Bourbon Street. By the end of this relaxing night, it’ll surely feel like Grasso’s is a place “where everyone knows your name.”
Louisiana Joe’s Sandwich Shop
488 Merrick Rd., Oceanside, 516-442-9838, louisianajoes.com
Wake up with the delicious taste of New Orleans-inspired cooking by coming to this casual eatery. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Louisiana Joe’s serves mouthwashing traditional foods like Po-boys, Gumbos, and Jambalaya for lunch, and savory platters and sandwiches for breakfast. Coming and trying one of the breakfast sandwiches like the “The Rising Sun” which is made of two fried eggs, crumbled chorizo, cheese and bayou sauce on a toasted kaiser roll, will surely help Mardi Gras start on a high note.
Mara’s Southern Kitchen
236 West Jericho Tpke., Syosset, 516-554-5510, marasouthernkitchen.com
Mara’s Southern Kitchen is a Southern, barbecue, and Cajun restaurant offering free beads, $5 hurricanes, and $7 monsoons as part of their Mardi Gras celebration, but the big draw is definitely their food. Mara serves fresh oysters, crawfish, crabs and shrimp that are flown in from the Louisiana Gulf and are made for order. Some menu highlights are the blackened redfish, catfish New Orleans, which is a sautéed catfish fillet glazed with crawfish etouffee, and gator bites made from Louisiana alligators. Make sure to save room for a dessert of Bluegrass pie, banana butterscotch rye pie, strawberry jalapeno ice cream, or chocolate scotch ice cream.
Po’Boy Brewery
200 Wilson St., Port Jefferson Station, 631-828-1131, poboybrewery.com
Wear a Mardi Gras mask or outfit and enjoy a refreshing beer while listening to jazz music. Po’Boy Brewery will be pairing up with The Mobile Munchiez food truck to offer festive foods, like jambalaya, po’boys and empanadas. To add even more fun to the festivities, the brewery is also offering a deal where for $12 patrons can get a pint and a do-it-yourself Voodoo doll kit. Seating is limited so it is advised to get tickets in advance.
Treme Blues and Jazz Club
53 Main St., Islip. 631-277-2008, tremeislip.com
One of the few jazz clubs on Long Island, Treme Blues and Jazz Club will get visitors to dance the night away with live music and drinks. Slap Yo Mama Jazz Brigade will be back to play sweet jazz once again. Although Treme is a music venue, its menu features New Orleans-style cocktails such as hurricane, vieux carre, sazerac, and roffignac.
