From Start to Finish,
Cajun Food With A Down-Home Atmosphere.
If you’re not already drooling from looking at the photos, let us just tell you about Acadian Grille, Omaha’s newest eatery featuring authentic Cajun cuisine. This Louisiana-inspired scratch kitchen is the real deal. We’re talking collard greens, po’ boys, jambalaya—the whole nine yards. And everything is prepared right there in front of you, using only fresh ingredients.
Our team decided to check out this new restaurant to see for ourselves what all the buzz was about… or should we say, to taste what all the buzz was about. And taste we did! The food was absolutely amazing. We started off with the Crab Cakes and Gator Bites. Our group was already crab cake lovers so we knew we’d like those, but Acadian Grille’s were exceptional! Complemented with mango slaw salad on the plate and drizzled with Creole mustard sauce—they basically melted in our mouths.
We figured it wouldn’t be a true southern experience without a little gumbo so we shared a bowl. It was seasoned well and it had just the right consistency. Every mama in Louisiana would be proud. For those leaning more towards the salad options, we strongly suggest trying Dan’s Romaine Wedge. It’s named after the owner so it has to be good, right? Right. It’s not your average salad; being served on romaine wedges definitely gives it a twist. Complete with crispy tasso ham, peppadews, red onions, and asiago cheese—each bite had the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. What really made the difference was the homemade Gorgonzola Cheese dressing, though… So. Much. Flavor. All the dressing options are homemade. When we go back, we definitely want to try some of the other ones.
Acadian Grille has quite the array of entrees, each one sounding a little more “soulful” than the one before. Since we were struggling to pick, we asked for some recommendations. Funny enough, there were at least two menu options that our group probably wouldn’t have selected on our own, but that turned out to be our favorites! This was especially true with the Crawfish Étouffée and the Shrimp & Grits. These two dishes alone are reason enough to visit Acadian Grille. Another one of our selections was the Portabella Swiss Burger, which, we were happy to learn, can be prepared vegan as well. Their steak was even memorable. The Herb Butter Sirloin served with cauliflower puree exceeded all our expectations. The Chipotle-Rubbed Ribeye was equally impressive. Needless to say, we were very pleased with this menu—from sautéed pasta to bayou favorites—there was a diverse range of options, all of which honored their Cajun roots through and through.
Our little dive into Louisiana life manifested when we learned that Acadian Grille proudly serves Louisiana’s very own Abita beer! The Abita Brewing Company was founded in 1986 in the piney woods outside of New Orleans. The majority of our group had never tried an Abita brew before but it’s safe to say that it won’t the last time for any of us.
Even though there wasn’t much room left in our stomachs, we squeezed in a little homemade ice cream and their highly-praised Blood Orange Crème Brulee.
A special thank you to Dan O’Brien, owner of Acadian Grille, and his cousin Matthew, who is the mastermind behind the menu. Having over 30 years as a chef, spending part of that time studying in Louisiana, he is definitely qualified to bring the beautiful blend of French and soul food that we know and love as Cajun food to Omaha. Head over to Acadian Grill, located at 725 N. 114th St., today!
