Parish Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Monroe

Parish and Cory Bahr's creations are an incredible treat, especially for such a relatively small town in Louisiana.

This restaurant's offerings begin with great ideas then allow great employees to transform quality ingredients into special occasions. We went there to celebrate our anniversary and Father's Day and it was a night to remember!

The specials were truly special especially the softshell crab and the rack of lamb. My tuna though was staples menu item that was anything but regular... It was a talented mixture of flavors I'd never have thought to combine.

Their desserts were solid but could use a little more attention (chocolate cheesecake I'm looking at you ;)

The waitstaff were phenomenal! Friendly and helpful and just incredibly attentive. I'd almost forgotten how good fantastic service can be... I literally would drink half my cup of water and somebody would quickly and pleasantly fill it. Our primary waiter Dylan was quick to step in and share his favorites when asked and generally great to work with, but it was also phenomenal to have other support staff fill in whenever needed to adjust order elements or table needs.

This was simply one of the best meals I've had in my entire life... and it goes beyond the food. The dining room environment and set up is just right for the space. The local art is on point.

So I could have one small ask, it would be just to make the dishes a little more plant-forward. I generally like eating vegan kinds of dishes, but understand that variety is the spice of life and vegan dishes can be challenging for this business market. Regardless, our waiter was phenomenal to offer me a side of succotash that was off the hook! I'm quite sure that if I'd asked they could have ...

The food here is exceptional! The dishes are unique and unlike any other restaurant in the area. Every time I eat here the food tastes amazing. The menu constantly changes but the roasted Brussel sprouts appetizer is a mainstay and you can’t go wrong with them. The lemon meringue pie is always on the menu and it will remind you of a cherished family recipe; it should, it was Cory’s grandfather’s recipe.

Parish is the downtown Monroe brainchild of Chef Cory Bahr, a culinary leader in Louisiana with numerous accolades under his belt. The food is outstanding and the restaurant vibe is contemporary casual with an intimate atmosphere that is still open and airy. There’s also a great fenced patio area for dining alfresco when the weather cooperates.

Cory changes the menu weekly depending on what’s in season. He uses primarily locally/regionally sourced ingredients to create amazingly delicious dishes. By keeping the menu simple he can create new dishes based on what’s available on any given week while staying true to his vision of offering an innovative take on classic Southern dishes. The menu always includes appetizers, a couple of salads, two or three fresh pasta dishes (they make the pasta in house) and six to eight entrees along with several dessert options. The drink menu includes a number of house specialties along with select beers. The wine list is built around options which pair well with Cory’s food. Parish also offers an extensive...

Overview Pros -Amazing flavors and atmosphere -Great staff -Menu has a wide variety of food styles and price points.

Cons -Lack of acoustic dampening in a small space can cause the restaurant to get very loud at times, If your looking for a quiet dining experience perhaps ask for a private table or avoid peak hours. Though it did make the place feel very alive.

Absolutely loved our dinner here. We started with sharing the Boudin, fried green tomatoes, and Stracciatella with bread appetizers. Everything was beautifully plated and tasted wonderful. I paired this portion of the meal with a Rye Campari, and found it to be a perfect mix of spice and sweet. For main courses we shared smoked pork belly with kimchi, shrimp&grits, and whitefish with assorted vegetables. Every bite was wonderful and was full of flavor, you could tell the recipes were crafted with love. This portion I paired with an old fashion, I found this drink to be extremely loud on smokey flavor in all the best ways with a light sweetness. It was a very clean old fashioned without all the smashed fruit which is how I prefer. We finished the night with lemon pie with pecan crust and raspberry sorbet. Even though we were there for the second night after opening, our waiter was extremely well informed on the menu and had a wonderful personality. I absolutely enjoyed my time at this restaurant and will have be going back soon to try more...