Po’boy sandwiches, jambalaya, and gumbo. Nothing signifies Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday, quite like New Orleans-inspired dishes. You can enjoy a limited-time Mardi Gras-inspired menu at Dixie Grill BBQ & Crab Shack from Feb. 18 until March 4.
The ‘Aiea-based eatery is known for its Southern cuisine — including fried okra, shrimp and grits, Southern-fried catfish and buttermilk pie — and features a special menu for Mardi Gras every year.
The eatery started its Mardi Gras menu back in 1997 at its former Ward location, according to restaurant general manager Andrew Gonsalves.
“When you think of Mardi Gras, there are some dishes that instantly come to mind — jambalaya, red beans and rice, and gumbo,” he says. “Although the preparation for these classic Mardi Gras dishes could be slightly different in each restaurant, it’s something guests expect when they think of Mardi Gras, which is why we chose to have these dishes on our menu.”
The dishes featured on the restaurant’s Mardi Gras menu are not on its regular menu, so this is the one time of the year to try them.
Three specialty cocktails are included on the Mardi Gras menu. The French 75 ($11) features sweet and sour mix, bubbly wine and gin served in a champagne flute. Meanwhile, the King Cake coquito ($11) — named for the signature Mardi Gras dessert — is a combo of vanilla, coconut milk, coconut cream, cinnamon, and bourbon with a colorful sugar rim.
Start your feast with seafood gumbo ($11) or shrimp hushpuppies ($12). The latter features golden balls of fried cornmeal with a shrimp filling. When paired with the creamy remoulade, it’s addictive.
If you’re craving a sandwich, choose from fried catfish or fried shrimp po’boys ($16). The fried seafood comes topped with lettuce, a tomato, pickles and housemade remoulade, and the sandwich is served with sweet potato fries.
Mardi Gras dinner specials include jambalaya ($23) — a flavorful mix of chicken, Andouille sausage and shrimp mixed with rice in a creamy piquant sauce — and red beans and rice ($23). The latter features red kidney beans on top of a bed of rice, and comes with or without Andouille sausage.
Finally, the Mardi Gras dessert selection includes pecan pie, peach cobbler and beignets ($9 each). While we didn’t get to try the beignets at a recent media preview, the pecan pie was a hit.
“With this year’s menu, I believe everything will be equally as popular and delicious,” Gonsalves says. “My personal favorite is the chicken and sausage jambalaya, and you can’t forget the dessert for me — that’s the pecan pie.”
CONTACT
Dixie Grill BBQ & Crab Shack
99-016 Kamehameha Hwy., ‘Aiea
808-485-2722
dixiegrill.com
Instagram: @dixiegrillhi
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
