Sometimes one can be fooled by a façade or advertising, thus robbing them of a wonderful opportunity. For instance, I'm always on the lookout for interesting culinary endeavors, in particular distinct cuisines like, shall we say, Cajun? So, when I came upon MudBugs website I was less than impressed & honestly when I drove past it, I couldn't see it from the street. Well, my friends while the website doesn't exactly inspire enthusiasm, the restaurant itself is far more sophisticated & worthy of a visit. As I previously mentioned Mudbugs doesn't have "curb appeal" as it's behind a store but when you walk in, the joint is rocking! I wondered in on a Saturday around 6pm & it was booked solid; luckily, I was able to belly up to the bar w/ a female companion. The facility has high, open ceilings, that of an old school train station so the noise level is more tolerable. There's a few Fleur-de-lis emblems hanging around, an homage to the namesakes' roots of the Bijou. The tables are elegantly basic, sort of the antithesis of many lesser chain restaurants I find to be fraudulently trendy. I don't like calling out individuals as a dining experience is a team effort but our waiter Evan was fabulous. He knew what to recommend, was personable, threw out jokes, was quick w/ orders & contributed greatly to the experience. Let's roll into the drinks, shall we?The adult drinking options are limited however they're crafted w/ finesse & care. The old fashioned was refreshing w/ a great balance of bitters & rum. The margarita had a nice tequila undertone w/ notes of lime & pear to round out the experience. My companion ordered the smoldering longbranch & I didn't sample this b/c mentally I can't put smoke & drink in the same glass & enjoy it. However, she assured me it was "ok."As for apps the crab dip wasn't to my liking & I must confess I'm a chef from Charleston SC, so it's hard to gain my favor when so many ingredients mask the purity of crab, especially when there's not much crab to speak of. That said I appreciate the various hatch chilis & jalapenos but it masked what I was after. Next up the calamari was near perfection. The green onions & calamari were expertly fried & the creole remoulade was flavorful but some of the "squid fries" wasn't to my palate. Long tentacles were cut like fries so texture wise I wasn't a fan. Overwise the dish was outstanding devoid of excess grease & a perfect chew. Finally, the wedge salad was pretty good minus two points. First Mudbugs, please don't serve the "core" of the lettuce as it's inedible. Next the balance off all other ingredients didn't match the shear size of the lettuce. If they had more dressing along w/ more blue cheese & bacon the balance would have been sufficient. Address these two items & another hit is on your hands. As for dinner I have made shrimp & grits in 6 restaurants, one of Michelin star caliber, so it's personal to me. I was weary reading the description of "sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, etc." What is all this crap!? They're ruining it! Well, I was wrong. The ingredients are blended into an absolutely amazing sauce to go w/ creamy & perfectly cooked grits & plump shrimp. In fact, my copilot liked my food more than hers. Regardless if you're a Shrimp & Grits aficionado or newbie, just get this dish and wait for Nirvana. As for my wine again no real French by the glass to speak of but the BR Cohn Cab was mellow, shallow legs and light while the Tahuan Malbec was somewhat forgettable w/ no noticeable fruits for the nose to sift through. The final plate was the salmon "Taterfish" plate. I thought it was a nice light dish w/ a crispy potato crust adding crunch juxtaposed to the tenderness of the salmon and the flavors of fish offset by the arugula forward salad with lemon caper butter. I thought it was refreshing but my company didn't like it. My suggestion is get it if you're hungry but want something light, a paradox I'm sure. The evening wrapped up & I'm very happy to say while I nitpick as critics do, I thought the restaurant was a resounding success. Although I didn't care for the peanut butter cheesecake or crème brûlée (both tasted off for some reason) there are so many positives to be gained from everything I craved. Don't be fooled like I was by a bland website w/ no curbside appeal. Enjoy great food, good service & creative libations in a safe area of town. Perhaps I'll see you there, I'll be the one w/ a smile, food and wine. Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)
Visit Restaurant Page
"Amaaaaaazing! The food is very tasty and quality. The service by Brook was excellent and the place is lovely."
"Upon entering you get the sidewalk cafe vibe. Always good music playing. There were signs warning of short staffing, but Kristin didn't miss a beat. She was patient , so cordial and accommodating. Warning my husband ( who has a shellfish allergy) that shrimp was cooked in the same oil as catfish. Word of caution to others. My husband ordered the old fashion meatloaf with gravy, savory greens, and not overly sweet yams. I had the "Homie Salad" with balsamic vinegar dressing. Let me put this out there folks. How do you feel about croutons?For me they are always "meh". Let me tell you, cornbread croutons, hit way differently. These "cake" cornbread croutons ( the sweeter cornbread), added such a distinctive touch to the salad. The chicken was crispy, hot and balanced in the seasonings to complement those croutons and fresh,fresh,fresh salad greens. They brew their own tea. And the rich, deep flavor ( not brown sugar water), comes sailing over your tongue. So refreshing. This cafe hits all the right buttons. Prices are friendly too"
