If you are a local or passing through Texarkana looking to embark on a new journey full of rich, spicy flavors, tasty food, and culture, then you must stop at the Blue Water Bayou restaurant. I had the opportunity to visit the restaurant and I must say this is the best New Orleans/creole-style restaurant in Texarkana. They offer your classic southern style greens and macaroni & cheese, much like Madea used to make. They also offer infusions; Infusions are done by taking a menu item and adding various meats, vegetables, or sauces to liven up the dish. My personal favorite infusion is lobster macaroni. His creole roots can be tasted throughout his signature dishes such as stuffed creole turkey legs, stuffed potatoes, and of course their classic gumbo. They also offer a wide variety of food including salads and vegetable plates for those who are trying to watch the waistline.  

After a long deliberation, I decided to order creole spaghetti, panee chicken, crawfish etouffee, creole pasta, and fried gizzards. Of course, I had to pair them with my favorite sides, yams and macaroni & cheese. While waiting for our food, the waiter was fast, friendly, and polite. Our appetizer came out in less than 7 minutes and the rest of the food arrived within 20 minutes. The portions were hardy, and the dishes had a delicate presentation. 

For starters, we had fried gizzards, a classic southern cuisine. These deep-fried golden nuggets had the perfect crunch. They were fresh, hot, and seasoned to perfection. Every bite was juicy and tender. These were paired with a spicy remoulade cream sauce. This dish was simple and delicious. 

Up next, for our entrée we had the panee chicken, creole spaghetti, creole pasta, and crawfish étouffée. The panee chicken was unbelievably moist, juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. The fried chicken breast was smothered in a smooth, rich, creamy gumbo-based gravy. This is called their secrete gravy. This dish takes the classic smothered chicken to the next level. Up next, we had the creole spaghetti. This dish was bursting with flavors and was full of tender juicy beef, sausage links, meatballs, and fresh peppers. It also had a creole tomato base sauce with plenty of spice that had a wonderful savory kick. I would recommend this dish to anyone. Next, we had the creole pasta. It had a delicious, creole, creamy pepper sauce paired with tender shrimp, blackened chicken, and crawfish. This dish was seasoned with in-house seasoning. This dish is a must try. Finally, the famous crawfish étouffée arrived. This is a classical elegant dish that starts off as a roux, the holy trinity (bell pepper, celery, and onions) is added along with the crawfish, and is served on a bed of rice. This dish was nothing short of amazing. The spices and flavors were extremely impressive. All the flavors in these dishes were true to their local roots, and you could taste it in all the food. I highly recommend this food. It is heavy on the classic New Orleans flavors that complement the true authentic creole culture and experience. 

James Trent, the head chef, has been spicing things up in the kitchen for over 7 years. He has been serving southern creole cuisine in Texarkana for almost 2 years, one plate at a time. He said, “My passion for cooking stems from my culture and heritage. I learned from my grandma and other family cooks. My food is made with love, and I go in-depth with my flavors.” James and his son Kevin are the ultimate duo dedicated to providing high-quality, fresh New Orleans low-country cuisine with a twist. Low-country cuisine is popular in New Orleans. This cuisine combines southern soul food, seafood boils, and, of course, classic Creole cuisine.     

The restaurant is insanely delicious and is conveniently located near the heart of Texarkana, just minutes from downtown. I met up with a Texarkana local, Davon Fulton, and he referred to this place as a foodie’s paradise saying, “Everything here is delicious, when I have a taste for Creole food or something good, I come here to my Food Paradise.” When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted with a warm eclectic mural with a New Orleans Ambiance, and you can smell the amazing food before you enter the building. This restaurant offers a clean, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere with a serenade of jazz music playing in the background. From the workers sparking a conversation, to the locals picking your brain to see what you have tried, you will feel at home. This hidden gem is a hole in the wall full of great conversations and great food! Chef James’ theme was simple saying, “My theme is cooking just like in grandma’s kitchen.” If you are in the mood for some excellent food, stop by and tell them Zuleika sent you. This is good eating, and you do not want to miss out! 

Blue Water Bayou is located at 720 Texas Blvd Texarkana Texas   

Hours of operation   Mon – Friday 11 am –7 pm