THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bleaux Magnolia

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bleaux Magnolia Restaurant Review:

Seek out this Creole gem, hidden kitty-corner from the Napa Town Center’s parking garage. The street scene feels less backwoods from the attractive patio; pulled-back orange curtains and indigo napkins punctuate, while mesh walls let in the breeze on hot Napa nights. Sweat it out anyway with gumbo packed with crab, scallops and prawns, imbued with pepper from tasso pork; it’s made to order, so you can opt to tone down the heat. Mudbugs for the etouffée come fresh from the bayous of the Sacramento River delta; a lone crawfish hugs a mound of rice while its shelled, ultra-tender counterparts wade in a shallow stew of rich, earthy roux. Ease into Big Easy territory with starters like soft crab cakes with zingy Asian pear and jicama slaw and mango aïoli, or fried green tomatoes layered with mozzarella. Save room for light, spongy bread pudding studded with huckleberries, or better yet, a grown-up sassafrass root beer float, frothy with vanilla gelato-laced foam, served in a Coca-Cola glass with straws. Sunday brunch boasts sweet corn and bacon flapjacks and Monte Cristo beignets. There’s a small but creative wine list, or temper the heat with a cold Louisiana brew.