We ate a 3-course, Cajun-inspired meal at this Columbus restaurant. Our review
A building as red as the Georgia Bulldogs’ jerseys on a Saturday night stands in downtown Columbus with enough TVs inside to watch any college football game you want.
It’s the former home of Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub. Now, it’s Hank’s Bar & Grill.
I’ve eaten there a few times and figured it was time for a review in a food category that doesn’t seem to get enough love: Cajun cuisine.
Some of the menu items look like they’re from a Louisiana kitchen, so Ledger-Enquirer visual journalist Mike Haskey and I walked down to Hank’s and grabbed lunch Tuesday.
We decided to order enough selections for a three-course, Cajun-inspired meal, complete with appetizer, entree and dessert.
Our appetizer, the Cajun Nachos, is a creative new take on the classic game-day dish. It features tortilla chips topped with Hank’s signature Cajun Dip, bacon, cheese and green onions. The dip seems to be made up of shrimp, crawfish, smoked sausage and a sauce reminiscent of etouffee.
The nachos are creamy and spicy, with a hint of earthy flavor. The seafood tastes amazing and is a nice change from the crunch jalapenos typically give the traditional variety of the dish.
The appetizer was large enough for me to not order an entree. In fact, you could split all three dishes we ordered and easily have enough food for two people.
Mike ordered the Cajun Double Burger with fries. The burger comes with two 4-ounce beef patties, melted provolone, American and Swiss cheeses, sauteed mushrooms, red onion and jalapeños.
I’ve had that burger and found the taste to be good. It doesn’t overwhelm the natural taste of the meat. The burger has elements of Cajun influences, with the onions and jalapeños adding a nice crunch.
However, if you’re lactose intolerant, you might want to choose something with less cheese.
The fries are crispy and perfect for any dipping sauce you may want to use.
The beignets really stole the show for me. One order gives you six soft and crispy pastries with the option of caramel or chocolate sauce for the dip.
I chose the chocolate sauce — and I made the right choice.
There was a slight crunch as I bit into the beignet with a soft fluffy inside. The powdered sugar on top wasn’t overwhelming but added a nice sweetness.
If you’re looking for a quick snack downtown, I’d definitely suggest popping in and ordering some of these beignets. Just don’t let anyone catch you dipping your finger in the leftover chocolate sauce. Or do — I won’t judge.
So, if you want to watch some college football, eat a meal or just a snack, I’d recommend Hank’s.
Oh, and I must thank whoever put “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe on the music playlist at Hank’s. I just apologize if anyone had to hear me singing.