Mena's Palace

Mena's Palace Restaurant Review:

Nothing much ever changes at Mena's, and apparently that's a good thing since the place has been a local success since the 1950s. It's that little neighborhood joint that you find in Anytown, USA, except here the calling card is the down-home Louisiana cooking. Exposed brick walls, neon beer signs and whirring ceiling fans create an easy atmosphere in the single dining room, flanked by a long, TV-equipped bar. Mena's remains a prime source of decent eats at low prices. Po' boys, veal Parmesan and chicken-fried steak are as frequent at Mena's as at any restaurant of its size in town. Gumbo, fried chicken, hamburger steak and stuffed crab are among the headliners. Almost everything comes with french fries and a salad. Swift table service is appropriately chummy. Desserts are pretty basic, but tasty: pecan pie, apple pie and bread pudding with rum sauce. The wine list is fairly straightforward as well, while the popular quaff is the Bloody Mary.