Mardi Gras isn’t confined to New Orleans. Long Island Cajun restaurants bring the spirit of Fat Tuesday to the Northeast with their cuisine.
From Cajun-style food to jazz-fueled atmospheres, here are some restaurants to eat at in celebration of Mardi Gras this year.
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. 22 that is filled with live music, live crawfish boils, and 2-for-1 Oyster Shooters. This all leads up to their big party on March 1, that’ll include a classic New Orleans Style Buffet and live music from Al Santo Fat Tuesday Band. 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. There will be a family-friendly kick-off to Mardi Gras on Feb. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. with the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps., where a portion of your bill will go to the organization when you mention it to your server.
Blackbirds Grille
553 Old Montauk Hwy., Sayville, 631-593-4144, blackbirdsgrille.com
Let the good times roll at the Blackbirds Grille. 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.
Cajun Claws
6 N. Ocean Ave., Patchogue, 631-714-4477, cajunclawsrestaurant.com
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is incomplete without some Louisiana-inspired eats. Chow down on Cajun Claws’ ultimate boils, raw bar, seafood baskets, and more in celebration. And don’t forget to try a cocktail while you’re there.
Cajun Crab Shack
230 Jericho Tpke., Floral Park, 516-519-8821, crabshacknyc.com
It’s seafood galore at Cajun Crab Shack. Pick your “catch,” sauce, level of heat, and extras, and you have yourself a Mardi Gras meal. The New Orleans spirit is alive and well in this fun, festive restaurant, so come with an appetite and ready to get your party on.
Crab Du Jour Xpres Cajun Seafood
957 Nassau Rd., Uniondale, 516-806-2600, crabdujourxpressuniondale.com
Feast on tasty eats at Crab Du Jour Xpress Cajun Seafood, which specializes in take out orders so you can throw your party at home with all the right foods. Or you can dine in at this nautical-style restaurant.
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.”
Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood
Multiple Locations, hookreel.com/locations
This chain Cajun joint is the real deal. Head to its Valley Stream, Hicksville, or Bay Shore location and you’ll be hooked by the enticing menu. Happy hour is from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, so head there on Mardi Gras for drink specials and a bite to eat.
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 8 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 and tons of yummy cocktail specials 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 filet 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 a food truck that will offer traditional Cajun cuisine. To add even more fun to the festivities, the brewery is offering a do-it-yourself Voodoo doll kit. Seating is limited so it is advised to get tickets in advance.
The Cajun Bucket
472 Hempstead Tpke., West Hempstead, 516-344-5434, cajunbucket.com
Enjoy a variety of Cajun cuisine at The Cajun Bucket. Whether you dine in or take out, there are many options for the whole family. Grab your Mardi Gras lunch or dinner in West Hempstead, or at one of the restaurant’s other locations in Oceanside and Carle Place.
The Monster Crab Cajun Seafood
173 Morris Ave., Holtsville, 631-846-9729, themonstercrab.com
For some authentic Cajun cuisine to celebrate Mardi Gras, The Monster Crab has you covered with your choice of seafood boils, po’boy sandwiches, a raw bar, seafood baskets, and more. Plus, Mardi Gras would not be complete without one of The Monster Crab’s signature cocktails or martinis.
The One Juicy Cajun Seafood
113 Front St., Massapequa Park, 516-882-4255, theoneseafood.com
Hop off the train at the Long Island Rail Road’s Massapequa Park station and you can walk right over to The One Juicy Cajun Seafood, where you’re in for some delicious dishes for Mardi Gras. Here, you can build your own boil with your favorite seafood and seasonings, or try a basket with tasty sides and appetizers.
Voodoo Crab
Multiple Locations, voodoocrab.com
Visit Voodoo Crab in Rockville Centre, Massapequa, or Centreach, and you’ll get the same thing at each: choices of seafood boils, a raw bar, pasta and rice, meat entrees, and more. The owners want to give Long Islanders a true New Orleans experience, so expect a fun night there for Mardi Gras.
For more food and drink coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/food-drink.
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