Yesterday evening after the Downtown pet parade, I was hungry. I was going to go back to Brass Door, where I’d been earlier in the day, and try one of their new menu items. They had been bought out by Corey B. Trotz for a private party, though, so I headed south to Beale Street for some Creole food at Johnny G’s.
As usual, I sat at the bar, and before I even got a menu I saw that one change had taken place since I’d last been in: PBR had been added to the draft beers! I ordered a 32 oz. PBR and took a look at the menu.
I was tempted to order their signature item, the Drunken Chicken, but since Johnny G’s is a relatively new restaurant, I hadn’t made it through the entire menu yet. So I was determined to try new and different things. I hadn’t yet had their jambalaya, so I ordered it. I wanted something else on the side, and after searching the menu I settled on a bowl of “Bucket House Greens.”
Oh my God… those GREENS!!! They were amazing! Just the right amount of meat to add flavor, and just the right amount of black pepper to spice things up. I was so glad I ordered a bowl of them, instead of the smaller cup. Honestly, if the bowl had been twice the size it was, I think I still would have finished all my greens. One of the best vegetables I have ever had Downtown.
As for the jambalaya, it was pretty good – it’s just that it was overshadowed by the awesomeness of the greens. The jambalaya was midly spicy, as compared to the set-your-mouth-on-fire spice of the jambalaya at Court House Deli. They have bottles of hot sauce, so you can season your jambalaya to taste at Johnny G’s if you want to turn up the heat.
If you have not yet been to Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen, I have now been enough times that I can make a recommendation for your first meal there: Get the Drunken Chicken and a bowl of Bucket House Greens. The Drunken Chicken is available three different ways – over rice, atop nachos, or on a sandwich. Choose whichever preparation suits you; all are good. As for the greens, get a bowl, not a cup. If you get the smaller portion, you will regret it once you taste those greens. It will cost you between $12 and $14 before tax and tip, depending on how you get your chicken. For Beale Street, that is quite a bargain.
All right, it’s a little after 9 on Sunday morning. Time to watch more Beavis and Butt-head videos on my Kindle Fire until 11 AM rolls around… then it’ll be time for mimosas at the Majestic. Lately I’ve been joining a few friends at the Goose after brunch, but today I’m not feeling it… will either be at the Saucer when it opens at 12, or possibly I’ll walk down to the Brass Door to try the new menu. If I make it to the Door, expect another food post soon.