Come Back Inn
8016 W Metairie Ave, Metairie, LA 70003, USA
Metairie 3: Houma Blvd To Kenner Line
Backstory
The West Metairie location opened in the mid-1960s, with a mostly Italian menu with emphasis on pizza and the muffuletta--a high point since Day One. In the 1980s it evolved into a poor boy and seafood cafe with Creole specials. They opened a second location in Kenner--never quite as good as the original--in the 2000s.
Dining Room
Better creature comforts than the average poor boy shop, but a little less atmospheric than the typical local neighborhood cafe.
Why It's Essential
The only restaurant in a wide circle centered on the intersection of West Metairie and David Drive, the Come Back Inn has a big population of local people on which to draw. It has served them well enough to stay busy most of the time, with a mix of working people at lunch and family types at dinner. They eat generous platters of standard New Orleans dishes, poor boys, and a rather famous muffuletta.
Why It's Good
Not a single surprise appears on the menu, except perhaps for the unusually large number different items. These include many plate specials, some so strongly associated with a particular day of the week that you'd think there were a law regulating them. Red beans Monday, stewed chicken (yum!) Tuesday, lasagna Wednesday, beef stew Thursday, and stuffed crabs Friday. How New Orleans can you get?
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Italian salad<br /> Chicken caesar salad<br /> Grilled shrimp salad<br /> »Garlic bread<br /> Seafood gumbo<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> »Muffuletta<br /> »Roast beef poor boys<br /> »Italian poor boys (Italian sausage, meatballs, panneed veal)<br /> Hamburger poor boy<br /> Fried seafood poor boys<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Red beans and rice<br /> Fried chicken<br /> »Fried seafood platters<br /> »Baked chicken (special on TU, TH, SA)<br /> »Stewed chicken (special TU)<br /> Lasagna (special WE)<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Bread pudding<br /> »Apple pie<br /> Cheesecake
Deficiencies
The Italian dishes--including the pizza--aren't very good. The fried chicken is cooked to order but disappointing.
For Best Results
Ask for the server's opinion about the daily specials. Some are much better than others. The muffuletta is best served on warmed bread but with the meats and cheeses unheated. Side dishes feed two.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Value