Mount Vernon – Delicious Food Chronicles from a New Yorker

The Bayou Restaurant in Mt. Vernon, NY says that it has “New York’s best authentic Cajun food!” And it was darn good for my lunch there. I went with someone who visits frequently and knows exactly what to order. Here is what we did. See their eclectic menu, click here.

Cajun Grilled Vegetables. This seems like a conservative choice given how interesting the menu is. However, this was the most excellent plate of grilled vegetables I have had in a long time. The squash and the zucchini were still succulent in the middle. The asparagus retained the taste and freshness. Eating veggies has never been so tasty. The garlic bread contrasts with the veggies’ texture well. This is a win!

VooDoo Wings. My friend says that this is the best wings he has ever had anywhere. I agree since this is now the best non-spicy wings I have ever had. Hard to describe the spice though. It’s a blend of Cajun, American, Creole, and a little Asian. We could not put them down. Dip or not to dip? You cannot go wrong. I loved the wings both ways. Another win!

Grilled Peppered Catfish: Farm raised filet marinated and blackened to perfection served with seasoned rice & greens. I am not a catfish fan but this dish did not taste like catfish. The fish was soft, sweet, and with a smoky grilled after taste. The yellow rice was the kind that was so good that you would put five pounds on your hips immediately after you finish your meal.

Southern Fried Kickin’Chicken: served with smashed potatoes & cole slaw. This was supposed to be one of their most popular dishes. Unfortunately, it was dry and not tasty for both the white and the dark meat. I was not impressed. I think it was an off-day for the fried chicken. Although I could not finish the tasteless chicken, I went after the corn bread with zest. The corn bread was the best corn bread I have ever had. It was so temping that I forgot I was full. I believe it was the butter that did it to me.

The Bayou was decorated with hot sauce bottles, women’s bras, alligator heads, and miscellaneous old and dirty looking swampy items. The tables are a little greasy and beat up. They supposedly have live bands at night. Check out their events here.

This is not my typical restaurants as far as decor goes but the food was SUPREME. That’s why there are so many “the best I have ever had” in this post. It’s not bad writing. It’s simply the truth. Highly recommend the Bayou for the food.

This experience took place at

The Bayou Restaurant
580 Gramatan Ave
Mt Vernon, NY 10552
(914) 668-2634

A friend took me to this hole in the wall, Ripe Kitchen and Bar, in Mount Vernon, NY, for Jamaican and Caribbean food. After we parked, the first thing he said to me was, “Don’t worry. The neighborhood is ok.” Since I grew up in the “busy” part of the Bronx and have good situational awareness, I was not bothered by the colorful and diverse showing of the people and the bars on the windows. But I was surprised after we entered the dark restaurant and went to the back yard. The backyard felt like an oasis on this sunny August afternoon in NY. See picture below.

The food was excellent! The best dish of the night was the “Big-Ass” steak! I had the curried goat and it was no comparison to the steak. I was very happy that my friend shared his steak. The steak was marinated thoroughly and the char was nice and even on the outside. Inside, it was as ordered – medium. It was tender and it was tasty. When my friend ordered the steak, he said to the waitress, “Medium. Medium.” Not once but twice and with a head nod and eye contact. Later, he explained that when a black man orders a medium steak, one must insist otherwise the presumption is “a black man wants a well-done steak no matter what he says.” That was education for me.

This is the banana boat, plantain with salted fish, fish roes and sour cream. The contrast between the sweet and the salty was interesting, not necessarily my cup of tea since the salted fish reminded me of the Taiwanese sticky rice bun. The worlds did not collide for me on this dish.

This is jerk chicken wings. Pretty awesome. A little tangy and a little crispy.

This is the curried goat which was much better the next day as lunch. But heavy. Be aware – it’s heavy.

All in all, it was a great dinner in Mount Vernon where I could feel and taste the winds and the sands of the Caribbean. I highly recommend the place and the “Big-Ass” steak!

This experience took place at the

Ripe Kitchen & Bar

151 West Sandford Boulevard

Mount Vernon, NY 10550

914-665-7689

Category: Mount Vernon

The Bayou Restaurant in Mount Vernon, NY- Supreme and Authentic Cajun Food

Ripe Kitchen and Bar in Mount Vernon, NY

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