Streetcar Po-Boys
The Streetcar – Shrimp, Oysters, Catfish
Bourbon Street – Roast Beef and Gravy
Crescent City – Muffuletta
Marie Laveau – Boudin
Pirogue – Crawfish Boudin
Fried Okra and Fried Pickles
Hush Puppies, Corn Fritters, Fried Mac & Cheese
Praline Style King Cake
Beignets
Bread Pudding
Cream Cheese King Cake
Whether a result of my Midwestern upbringing or my career choice I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist and someone who craves authenticity, thus when I heard about a new New Orleans themed Po-Boy shop so dedicated to their craft that breads and proteins were being imported from NOLA I could not wait to go…all I needed was a group, something thankfully facilitated by a cronut-tasting with several like-minded diners earlier that day. A surprisingly expansive space with festive décor replete with shiny red vinyl booths and a truly splendid paisley carpet it was just prior to 11:30am that our large group arrived but having contacted the restaurant in advance the small team couldn’t have been more accommodating, tables rearranged and service perfect throughout our 90 minute stay. Focused on diversity with an eye towards capacity and thus ordering in groups it was a total of five sandwiches, seven sides, and four desserts that I personally experienced and although I cannot pretend to be a Po-boy ‘expert’ every single item I tasted was a delight. Beginning first with all thing fried it was snappy pickles, creamy macaroni, sweet corn, okra, and softly spiced hushpuppies that first landed on our table and with low prices and big flavors there was more than enough to share…or even to make a meal in itself alongside the ample portions of slaw and house-made chips accompanying the sandwiches. Moving next to the Po-boys, it was with the eponymous “Streetcar” that we started and with surprisingly plump shrimp and oysters full of brine the trend of superlative ingredients spanned right through two soft, spicy takes on boudin plus excellent ‘debris-style’ roast beef all served “dressed without mayo” on crunchy, lightly yeasted French bread on par or better than any I’ve found in Las Vegas to date. Equally impressed by a thickly stacked muffaletta served on its traditional roll with house-made olive spread a bit less briny than I recall down south it was here that we moved from savory to desserts and with many already feeling plenty sweet from the pre-meal cronuts it can only be said that a surprise praline-style King Cake in addition to the fresh made cream cheese standard that we ordered in advance was a gluttonous gift, both cakes every bit as good as I recall from Haydel’s and the freshness paying dividends as bright yeasty notes tempered the slowly melting glaze. Never one to skimp on experience, especially as the owner stopped by to talk shop and express her thanks for our visit, it was with beignets and bread pudding that the afternoon concluded and with the former far less dense and oily than those at Café de Monde, though not quite as rich in flavor, the latter simply stole the show as rich, eggy bread melded with boozy caramel and raisins in a simple coffee cup served still-bubbling hot…homey, authentic, and in my opinion “perfect.”
streetcarpoboysonline.com/