Corner Cafe
3316 Green Acres Rd, Metairie, LA 70003, USA
Metairie 3: Houma Blvd To Kenner Line
Backstory
The restaurant opened in a former barbershop in the late 1990s. Although it's surrounded by solid residential neighborhoods, the location has always drawn a lot of working people looking for an uncomplicated meal, and that remains true.
Dining Room
The big room with its small bar has the pleasant old-style environment that is suggested by the restaurant's name. An O-gauge toy train runs around the entire dining room constantly. Most of the customers appear to be regulars, but the service staff is welcoming and friendly.
Why It's Essential
West of Transcontinental Drive in Metairie, dining opportunities become dramatically sparser. And the suburbs don't have a lot of neighborhood-style cafes to begin with. This little restaurant is wedged into an old strip mall anchored by a convenience store. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and it's only a little better inside. But from breakfast through an early-ending dinner, they cook everything in house and with greater expertise than you expect.
Why It's Good
Sandwiches and blue-plate specials form the nucleus of the menu. The poor boys are very well made, the roast beef being a particularly good example of the kitchen's abilities. Fried seafood is hot and crisp. The handful of Italian dishes are marked by an elementary but tasty red sauce. They have a knack for frying eggplant here. They open early to serve a basic breakfast menu.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Onion rings<br /> Fried cheese sticks, marinara sauce<br /> »Fried eggplant, marinara sauce<br /> »Stuffed artichoke<br /> Cheese-stuffed jalapeno peppers Jalapeno hushpuppies<br /> Fried crab stuffing balls<br /> Hot wings<br /> »Seafood gumbo<br /> Chicken and sausage gumbo<br /> <em><strong>Salads</strong></em><br /> Grilled chicken salad<br /> Club salad<br /> Fried chicken salad<br /> Fried shrimp salad<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> Club sandwich on toast<br /> »Roast beef poor boy<br /> »Chicken parmesan poor boy<br /> Battered chicken poor boy<br /> »Ham poor boy<br /> »Meatball poor boy<br /> »Hot or smoked sausage poor boy<br /> Hamburger<br /> Turkey breast poor boy<br /> »Grand slam poor boy (ham, roast beef, swiss)<br /> »Fried shrimp, oyster, or catfish poor boy<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Fried shrimp, oyster, catfish, or combo platter<br /> »Stuffed crab platter<br /> »Stuffed shrimp platter<br /> Popcorn shrimp<br /> Fried chicken strips<br /> Eggplant or chicken parmesan, pasta <br /> Meatballs and spaghetti<br /> »Daily specials<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Bread pudding with rum sauce<br /> Turtle cheesecake<br /> Cheesecake
Deficiencies
The facade is in need of renovation, and the interior could be brighter.
For Best Results
The poor boys are the best bets, but the daily specials are at least as good.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
1
Local Color
1
Service
2
Value