Alright folks, let me walk you through how I tackled figuring out what’s cookin’ at Reel Cajun these days and what it’ll actually cost ya. I was jonesing for some proper gumbo last Tuesday, and realized I hadn’t checked out their menu in ages. Heard whispers about price changes too. So, I grabbed my beat-up notepad and headed out.
Step One: The Recon Mission
First thing, I drove over around 1 PM – figured lunch crowd would be thinning but kitchen still buzzing. Walked right in, didn’t make eye contact with the host stand like some kinda pro spy… just beelined for the stack of menus near the front door. Snatched one fresh off the pile. Quick victory snap in my head – got the menu.
Digging Into the Details
Grabbed a corner booth, slid in, and spread this bad boy open. Felt that laminated crinkle under my fingers, you know? My plan was simple:
- Snap pictures: Pulled out my phone and took clear shots of every page. Close-ups on the small print, especially the prices tucked in corners. Didn’t want any “Is that a $14 or $40?” nonsense later.
- Jot down the changes: My trusty notepad came out. Scribbled down anything that looked new compared to my foggy memory. Spotted two new po’boys – a fried green tomato one and a spicy catfish version. Made a big star next to those.
- Spot the price tags: This was the meat of it. Scanned every dish line by line, comparing current numbers to the scribbles from my last visit months back. Man, the boiled crawfish per pound? Up a solid $2.50. Shrimp Étouffée plate? Gone up by $1.75. Jambalaya still holding strong price-wise. Big sigh. Noted ’em all down.
Double-Checking & Dodging Looks
Wasn’t about to rely on memory alone. Cross-referenced the paper menu prices against the specials board behind the counter, squinting like I was deciphering ancient scrolls. Had to act casual while doing this – pretended to zone out, maybe admire the Mardi Gras beads hanging nearby. Didn’t need staff thinking I was casing the joint for robbery or something. Got a few weird looks, powered through. The board prices matched the menu. Good.
The Final Tally & Heading Out
All info gathered? Packed up my notepad and pen. Slid out of the booth smooth as butter, left the menu back where I found it. Walked out past the host stand – “Just checking the menu before dinner, thanks!” with a wave. Boom. Mission accomplished without spending a dime… yet. Felt like I’d run a mini-marathon just scanning food names and numbers. Now I had the raw, real-deal info fresh off the press to share – no guesswork.
The Reveal (What You Really Wanna Know)
So, what’s new and what costs more? Here’s the quick scoop:
- Gumbo (Cup): Now $8.25
- Shrimp Étouffée Plate: Pushing $18.50
- Fried Catfish Po’Boy: Still $14 (small win)
- Crawfish (per lb): Big jump to $14.95
- New Fried Green Tomato Po’Boy: Listed at $15.50
- Spicy Catfish Po’Boy (New): Going for $16
There you have it. Fresh intel from the field. Pays to just go get the real thing sometimes.
