By Karen Talbot

Apr. 26, 2017:  "Darn Good Eats" adorns the window of this American bar and Cajun-Creole pub, and that says it all. It is casual and animated and serves the only New Orleans-style food in our area, much like places in the French Quarter. 

I hadn't been back to The Bayou Restaurant for quite a while and I'm really glad I did go back. The owner, Peter Van Cott, opened this fun restaurant in 1991 and the two chefs, Enrique and Martin Garcia, who are cousins and have been cooking there for twenty years, seem to have the touch when it comes to making authentic gumbo and the like.

Appetizers:  You might want to try mudbugs, better known as crayfish, which can be ordered in one-pound sizes for $12.99. They are served in a delicious sauce of Old Bay Seasoning, garlic, butter, and many other spices. Plan to also order the "Slab O' Cornbread" to soak up the sauce. I also highly recommend the Creole gumbo, consisting of chicken, sausage, shrimp, okra, and rice in a delicious sauce. Darn Good.

Main Courses: Grilled shrimp gris gris is large shrimp marinated in fresh herbs, garlic, and pepper, served with cucumber salsa, lemon, and lime garnish, collared greens, and rice. Bayou Po' Boys are served on a hero roll with lettuce, tomato, onions, and remoulade sauce. The fried oyster and the Cajun Philly cheese brisket po' boys were both very good.

Special Events:  The Bayou features the top blues and Zydeco artists in the market. Monday is Open Jam, Tuesday is Fat Taco Tuesday, Wednesday is Voodoo Night, and Thursday is Karaoke Night with 99 cent oysters on the half shell. 

The Bayou offers many appetizers, salads, po' boys, house specialties, and sides, all tasty and well prepared, and 100 hot sauces that you can try and buy. Happy hour ends at 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday.  The Bayou is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and brunch is served Sunday 11:30 am to 3:30 pm.

The Bayou Restaurant
580 Gramatan Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10552  
914-668-2634

Sunday to Wednesday:  11:30 am to 11:00 pm
Thursday to Saturday:  11:30 am to 1:00 am
Brunch on Sunday: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Happy Hour: until 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday  

Pictured here:  The Bayou Restaurant in Mount Vernon.

Photos courtesy Peter Van Cott, the owner