Poppa Po-Boys
Anecdotes & Analysis
Here's a joint that has the look many of us of Baby-Boom age and older recognize as the proper venue for poor boy sandwiches: a ramshackle dump on a side street. The menu is from the old school, too: they make virtually any variety of sandwich known to man, as well as a few platters of this and that. I wish I could say that these were brilliant sandwiches, but they're just slightly above average. (Warming the bread would help.)
Backstory
The Southern has been there as long as I can remember, and I grew up in this neighborhood. It was one of the early returners after the hurricane.
Dining Room
If it's been a long time since you've been here--or if you suspected that its stark exterior indicated grubbiness inside--take another look. They've performed a major renovation that makes the place presentable enough to take an out-of-town visitor. The floors and walls are painted with fanciful Cajun scenes.
Why It's Essential
NEEDS REVISIONIt's almost a given that the older poor boy shops have a certain something in their sandwiches that latter-day vendors never quite get right. The problem with the old joints, through, is that they have a way of running out of gas and disappearing. The Southern has grown in size and menu consistently, particularly in the last ten or so years. The full line of poor boys is here, with enough platters that you could call it a full-service restaurant.
Why It's Good
The old style of making poor boys has much to recommend it. When the roast beef is cooked in house, and when the seafood is fried to order, what comes to the table has a strong chance of being good--especially after decades of honing the recipes. The daily special platters are especially good. That they have not just red beans but white beans is a good sign that they're not just slinging it out.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Poor boy sandwiches</strong></em><br /> »Roast beef<br /> Barbecue beef<br /> Hot sausage<br /> »Meatballs with red sauce<br /> »Fried or grilled chicken<br /> Fried oyster<br /> Fried shrimp<br /> »Catfish<br /> <em><strong>Other Dishes</strong></em><br /> Muffuletta<br /> Seafood muffuletta<br /> Fried seafood platters (shrimp, oyster, catfish, or all three)<br /> Fried soft shell crab<br /> »Hamburger steak with onions<br /> Chicken-fried steak<br /> Fried pork chop<br /> Meatballs and spaghetti<br /> »Daily plate specials<br /> Bread pudding
For Best Results
The small sandwich is plenty enough for a standard appetite, even though the large is sold for the going price for a standard locally. Ask them to heat the bread if you're getting a poor boy, and not to heat it if you're getting a muffuletta. Like many shops, they get this backwards.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Environment
1
Local Color
2
Value