Bourbon Street Grille — Restaurant in Dahlonega

A Disappointing Departure from Authentic Cajun Cuisine

As a proud New Orleans native, I ventured into Bourbon Street Grill in Dahlonega, GA with high hopes of finding a taste of home. Regrettably, my experience left me sorely disappointed and longing for the genuine flavors of Cajun cuisine. The food at this establishment fell far short of capturing the essence of New Orleans, and I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone seeking an authentic culinary experience.

First and foremost, the red beans and rice were an abomination that defied explanation. The dish lacked the complex blend of spices and smoky undertones that are the hallmarks of traditional New Orleans fare. Instead, I was served a bland, uninspired concoction that could have easily been mistaken for any ordinary rice dish. The absence of authentic flavor left me feeling cheated and disheartened.

Perhaps the most egregious offense was committed against the Andouille sausage. I anticipated biting into a savory link bursting with the distinct smokiness and robust flavors of true Cajun sausage. Unfortunately, what I received was a subpar imitation, resembling nothing more than ordinary sausage doused in an overwhelming amount of generic spicy seasoning. It was a pitiful attempt to mimic the real thing and left me craving the genuine article.

The Boudin, a staple of Cajun cuisine, was an utter disappointment. Instead of savoring the harmonious blend of meats and spices, I was met with an overpowering wave of salt. The dish lacked any nuance or subtlety, relying solely on a false sense of spiciness to give the illusion of Cajun authenticity. It was a feeble attempt to recreate a classic dish, and it fell miserably short of the mark.

In conclusion, my visit to Bourbon Street Grill in Dahlonega, GA was a disheartening experience for someone seeking the true flavors of New Orleans and Cajun cuisine. The lackluster red beans and rice, the counterfeit Andouille sausage, and the overly salted Boudin all contributed to my profound disappointment. If you are looking for an authentic taste of New Orleans, I implore you to steer clear of this establishment. There are undoubtedly better options available that genuinely capture the essence of Cajun...

FIVE STARS does not do this restaurant justice! My wife says this is the best meal she has ever eaten out and that says a lot. We dined here on Thursday night to celebrate our 32nd anniversary and it was perfect.

When we walked in they told us they had a large wedding party that had reserved but offered a high top table back in the bar area. We assumed the service would be slow with such a large group but our server remained attentive and helpful for the entire evening. We asked about the flexibility of having our food prepared without any dairy products and our server said she would mark our order with a dairy allergy so that my wife would not have to worry.

We began with a glass of Merlot and ordered the Boyou Bruschetta which was served promptly for our appetizer. This was excellent but very different than any Bruschetta we have had in the past. We skipped the Asiago topping and the Balsamic reduction really set this dish off. We HIGHLY recommend giving this a try.

For our entree, I asked our server if it was possible to have the crab cake blackened. No restaurant has been able to prepare a crab cake blackened since I was in my early twenties living in Tampa. The chef said no problem, they could prepare it any way I desired. When it arrived at our table it was pure PERFECTION. My wife ordered off of their Vegetarian/Vegan menu and ordered the Jambalaya and then asked for chicken. I tasted one bite and it was amazing, expertly seasoned and full of flavor.

SERVICE = 5 STAR FOOD = 5 STAR VALUE = 5 STAR

We brought home leftovers which made for a great lunch at work the following day that was equally as good. With three glass of wine and our meals, our total check before tip was only $58. We have had meals that paled in comparison for over double the cost.

I don't know if I can call this is a hidden gem with the crowd but it is a place we will return often. Thank You to the entire staff and owners at Bourbon Street Grille for a perfect celebration of our...

we were not impressed. we drove quite a distance, called ahead to let them know that we had a large party. they do not do reservations, and that was understandable. we just wanted to give them the heads up, and they stated that it was fine. we got there and they had a set up for us with 10 seats at one table and 4 at another across the room. all we needed were 2 extra at the table for 10. we were a party of 12. they refused that. then offered to make one large table if we wait 40 min. we agreed too do that, but at that point we quickly realized that we were inconveniencing the workers. all we asked for was 2 seats added to the table of 10. they had put a two seater next to two 4 seaters. and then had a separate table of 4 across the room. we only asked to take away the table for 2, to add that other table of 4 in its place. they refused. anyway.... so it went into a very long wait for a nearly empty restaurant. (we came at their off hours to avoid the busy hour, we asked when we called). the head server came over to our table and asked if we were doing separate checks, and we explained that we would do one check. that made them happy.and the attitudes started to ease. between all of us, we were about split on our opinions of the food. half agreed it was ok, and half agreed it was not great. needless to say, nothing special across the board. better than a chain restaurant, for some of the dishes, and not good for the rest. the dining room was as if we were in a basement cafeteria, and for the price of the dishes, it seemed unbalanced. also, very basic tables and chairs. nothing cozy or comfortable, for the room was very hot! it was a 90 plus degree day, in the late afternoon, and it felt like 75-76 degrees inside. we...