Located at 625 Polk St., Brenda’s French Soul Food drew me in with the promise of Southern comfort food where authentic Creole foods meet French inspired soul food. Inside, the buzz of people laughing and talking combined with the aroma of cajun spices reinforced my feeling of excitement to try new foods.

     The menu was full of New Orleans classics, such as gumbo, hushpuppies, and beignets, but what caught my eye was Brenda’s Fried Seafood Po’boy.

     Served on toasted French bread, the po’boy had crispy lettuce, fresh tomato, fried shrimp, and smoky chipotle remoulade. The shrimp is perfectly seasoned and appears to be firm but as you bite in, the tender meat breaks apart easily. The simple lettuce and tomato may seem unnecessary but without them the po’boy would not be able to be as fantastic as it is. The remoulade is key: smoky and spicy flavors coming together to cut through the richness of the shrimp all while not overwhelming each bite. 

     What sets the po’boy apart is its balance. Often fried seafood sandwiches can be greasy or lack structure, but in this sandwich the bread stays firm and all the different flavors only come together as you take a bite. 

     For the price of $19 the po’boy created a fair value that satisfied my appetite and my craving for comfort food.

     Brenda’s French Soul Food has a vast menu that I hope to try more parts of in the future. It reinforces itself as not just a sandwich restaurant, but as a place where people can come together for community and share food together. I rate Brenda’s French Soul Food a 4/5.