Mansur's on the Boulevard - Fine Creole Dining in Baton Rouge

When you first pull into the parking lot of Mansur's on the Boulevard (5720 Corporate Blvd) in the swinging capital city of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, you may be at first a wee bit concerned that you were the last to be invited to the party. The truth is that this excellent Creole bar and grill could have any number of things going on at once and more likely than not, does! They have a bar area where people can come by themselves or in swarms, laughing and carousing around one another; there are a number of private facilities which can be holding business luncheons, gatherings, or virtually any other party you can imagine.

When I went there for a recent dinner with my wife, I was hoping my reservation would not have been too late. But when we walked in we were whisked immediately to a sizeable booth in one of their very generously sized dining floors. With large ceilings, tall windows, well spaced tables, and airy jazz, classical, and musical theatre standards coming from the live piano player (Jo Garner) the mood was completely relaxed, unrushed, and fantastic.

We started off our meal both intrigued by one of Mansur's signature notes, their Brie & Crabmeat soup. The soup came out immediately and was taken very well by us both. The fact was that the creamy, thick, tasty broth was punctuated by tiny slivers of crabmeat; punctuated with a peppery kick which neither of us could accurately place, save black pepper or perhaps some red pepper shavings added to the broth hours prior. In either event the soup was well taken.

When our dishes arrived the real fun began. My wife ordered the rather generous and, by her own admission, "oh so delicious," Napa Salad. This was your basic salad which had its leafy greens accompanied by walnuts, bleu cheese, grapes, sliced apples, and cherry tomatoes. It was a conservative meal befitting the trip home from Baton Rouge's decadently sinful, easterly neighbor.

For my own tastes though something more caught my ear. Our server noted that the filet special of the evening was a 7 oz piece which came accompanied with prosciutto, carmelized onion, mushroom, and couscous. For any son who lived in my home growing up, couscous was almost a religion. My mother served it regularly much to the distaste of her next of kin. I can safely say that while the steak cut was top shelf, I still, more than ten years later still do not like the couscous. Maybe I'll try again in 2018, mom. More to the point though this Mansur's filet special came in the 7 and 10 oz. variety and while I thought I might have been hungry I opted for the smaller cut. I'm all the better for it; this steak was so rich and sopping in its own drizzle, my lip quivers just remembering.

All in all, Mansur's on the Boulevard is definitely worth a show the next time you have got to go to Baton Rouge. Similarly, if you're in the area, why not stop by? Say hi to my gracious host Shane and all his excellent staff who kept the food coming, glasses full, and sent both my wife and I off beaming from ear to ear.