The French Market & Tavern Awards

The French Market & Tavern Restaurant Review:

Rick and Lauren Weaver, natives of New Orleans and Atlanta respectively, each wanted his and her dream businesses. His would be a restaurant serving his concept of Cajun/Creole fare, and hers would be a garden and home design shop plus bakery. Purchasing the historic Gardner Hardware Store in downtown Locust Grove in 2010, they merged their desires into a single enterprise. Respecting the building's historic elements, the pair retained its old brick walls and rich wood floors. Lunch is based on sandwiches including burgers, and a long lineup of salads. Creole classics dot the dinner menu, including a dark roux-based gumbo that’s full of andouille sausage and served over rice and crawfish etouffée. With an attached bakery, it's only reasonable that the dessert offerings should be cake-focused. Carrot cake is just one example of irresistible temptations. For brunch, the crab Benedict is a good choice, although the restaurant needs to get it out hot. We also like the house-made biscuits. The wine list fields selections from around the globe, but in brews there are two from New Orleans (Abita, of course, and Dixie), and local brewery Jailhouse is on draft along with Atlanta’s Sweetwater. Patio and garden are dog-friendly so long as there's not a private event in those spaces.