Acadiana is the Louisiana-inspired offering from the restaurant group which gave us TenPenh, DC Coast and Ceiba. Just thinking of Southern cooking whets my appetite and chef Jeff Tunks delivers a good interpretation of contemporary New Orleans fare. Acadiana is located by the new Convention Center at 901 New York Ave. NW.

Cost – $$

Service – A-
Service has always been consistently good. Servers are very knowledgeable about the menu and quite attentive, even during the busiest of times.

Food – B+
When the basket of biscuits arrives at the table, I get this feeling that this meal is going to be good. Couple that with a traditional southern cocktail like a Sazerac or a bourbon and you are off to quite a start. The portions are pretty generous and the grillades and grits is quite good but the BBQ shrimp is even better.

Decor – B+
The little details makes this restaurant a treat. The decor isn’t necessarily novel but every time I dine here, I see a little nuance of Louisiana that humors me. Who doesn’t like alligator statues and an eclectic collection of chandeliers?

Feel – B+
Overall, Acadiana is pretty well executed and I really appreciate the lively sophistication. Definitely worth a try if you are in the mood for contemporary Cajun.

What’s the Buzz:

January 22, 2008 – Acadiana (That Guy at the Bar) – I love New Orleans cuisine, as you may have noticed from my favorite restaurants list. But, it’s really hard to find decent Cajun food in the DC area. To get my fix, I head to Acadiana in Penn Quarter, near the Washington DC Convention Center. Acadiana is run by the same team that owns DC Coast, Ceiba (another one of my favorites), and TenPenh. Full Article…

January 22, 2006 – Big Easy Moments (Washington Post) – There are moments at Acadiana that whisk me south. When my Sazerac lands on the table, I’m in New Orleans. Ignited with whiskey and pernod, the amber-colored cocktail is served with a cube of sugar steeped in bitters and threaded on a stir stick. Every sip of the drink tickles my throat. Full article…

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