Bourbon n' Toulouse — Restaurant in Lexington

The Fat Man wanted some good Cajun cuisine. So, the wife and I headed up to Bourbon n' Toulouse to grab some treats from the bayou. B&T serves Cajun Creole specialties (including many gluten-free options) in simple, colorful surroundings.

I got a full order ½ and ½. One dish I tried was the Chicken Étouffée. This is made with a spicy roux-based brown gravy, shredded chicken, and rice. The roux was dark and rich, and the chicken was very tender. This dish had a great heat level, although heavy on the pepper. The rice was perfectly cooked and fluffy. This is their #1 selling dish.

The other half of my dinner was Cajun Red Chili. This is made with a spicy tomato base chili, beef, pork and is served over rice. This dish had many big chunks of meat with a sweet flavor on the front and a good heat level. The tomatoes offer good texture and acid to this award-winning dish. Neither dish was overwhelmingly hot, and they both were full of flavor.

My wife tried a ½ order of White Chili w/ Chicken. This is made with mild white chili, great northern beans, chicken, and red bell peppers with herbs and spices. This chili was thick and cooked well. The beans offered some texture and a chew. The seasoning on the chicken was flavorful and tender. It was mild with a low heat level. This dish is also award-winning.

They serve sliced baguette bread on the side with every meal. It was crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, with a nice amount of garlic butter. They also have a large number of hot sauces to go along with their food. I liked the Cajun Power Garlic. It offered some good heat with a sweet pop and a great garlic punch.

B&T serves half, full, and half-and-half orders of their dishes. Along with Cajun and Creole classics, they also serve sandwiches and vegetarian and vegan dishes. The staff is amiable, and the food comes quickly. This is a small place, so there may be a wait. The Fat Man says that Bourbon n' Toulouse is Fat Man Approved...

A hidden gem!

On our most recent roadtrip, we wanted to find a small business restaurant to support. Being in Lexington, the “bourbon” part of the title interested me. When trying to to find this restaurant, the GPS took us directly to it, but there was a restaurant about two doors down that we thought was actually this restaurant. Come to find out, there is a small window and door and that is where this gem lies.

Then we realized that it did not actually have anything to do with the drink bourbon, but more on the lines of Bourbon Street when it came to Mardi Gras. This did not deter us, though, as we were in love when we walked inside. Very colorful atmosphere, Mardi Gras beads hanging all over the place, Local and Louisiana type art decorating the walls and tables.

Upon entering, the worker who was extremely friendly, explained everything about the dishes and how they came. We were very impressed by him! 😀

We ordered two dishes that were half-and-half. One had Chicken Etouffee and Gumbo. The other was Red Beans/Sausage and Chicken Creole. Once I took a bite, I was instantly taken back to my childhood when I lived in Biloxi, Mississippi. Something about the taste just took me all the way back. I’m not even sure which item it was that I tasted or mixture of everything that it brought back. I cannot forget the butter bread. That was probably one of the most amazing breads I have ever tasted and went very well with these meals. 🍞

They had numerous sauces to accompany your meals. The food definitely had a kick in a few areas, but it was absolutely amazing! 🔥

I would come here again and again and suggest others give it a try if you haven’t and are in the area!

A very laid back setting. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free...

We were driving through Kentucky and were lucky enough to stop at this place. From the outside, it looks closed, as the windows are blacked/covered up. But upon entering, you are greeted with a warm, boisterous, and colorful environment. You place your orders at the front. The menu is predominantly New Orleans' style. The prices are incredibly reasonable (our two dinners, collectively, were under $13). The seating is very casual -- with makeshift tables and chairs. But the walls and ambience are upscale. The food is called out by your first name -- and comes rather quickly. Healthy, generous serving sizing provided. The food was cooked to near perfection. The barbecue chicken was mostly moist, with a rich, sweet, slightly tangy sauce. The chili was spicy, well seasoned, and with delicious homemade meatballs. The shrimp are perfectly cooked. They have a very eclectic assortment of hot sauces to sample; some of these hot sauces boast the Kentucky style, some the Louisiana style. After eating in New Orleans, I have to say that the food-- the spices, richness, and smells, bring me back to the Bourbon Street gastropubs (there is a slight, but unmistakable "Kentucky" print on the food, but it is well integrated)....