Brewton area residents can get a taste of Mardi Gras six days a week with the opening of Orleans Po Boys in downtown Brewton.
Owners Gregory and Donna Wendling are not strangers to the area having most recently operated a WOW Café and Wingery location in the same spot.
“I’m from the Orleans area,” Gregory Wendling said. “We really wanted to bring some of that to Brewton. We are independent and privately owned — not affiliated with any other restaurant. We’re happy to be doing business here.”
The restaurant, which is open Monday through Saturday, will focus on some specialty dishes typically found in the Big Easy, Wendling said.
“Everyone needs to stop by for the bread pudding,” Wendling said. “Growing up, I wasn’t really a big fan of bread pudding, but with the recipe we use and the rum sauce we serve over the bread pudding — well, I’m rethinking that now. It’s the best bread pudding you’ll ever have.”
Other New Orleans favorites include the po boy sandwich. Wendling said the dream of opening a po boy shop is one he’s been holding on to for quite some time.
“I’ve been thinking about this for about five years now,” Wendling said. “It’s just something I have wanted to do. The most enjoyable po boy, and one that’s really popular, is the roast beef po boy made on fresh French bread. People are really enjoying it.”
The po boy, which is more than a sandwich, is served on breads baked fresh every day at the restaurant, he said.
“Most sandwich and sub shops use a soft, fluffy bread to make their sandwiches,” Wendling said. “Staying true to New Orleans style, we use French bread that we bake fresh every day right here. The bread has got some texture to it and has that nice, wonderful crust and it holds up so well with the po boys we serve.”
Po boys on the menu include the popular roast beef as well as other favorites including oyster, shrimp, catfish, chicken tenders, meatballs, turkey, sausage, tuna and even a muffuletta.
“Of course we will focus on po boys since that’s our name,” Wendling said. “But we will also have other items on our menu that will please a lot of tastes. People are really trying out the menu and seem to be enjoying what we have to offer.”
Daily lunch and dinner special will be available each day along with traditional menu selections, he said.
“I wanted a way to honor my mom and making red beans and rice was a way I could do that,” Wendling said. “She was a great cook and this was one of her best dishes. That is our lunch special on Mondays.”
Tuesday’s special includes a choice of spaghetti and meatballs or veal parmigiana, both served with fresh bread and salad; Wednesday’s special is pot roast dinner with potatoes and carrots served with rice, salad and bread or ham with butterbeans served with rice, salad and bread; Thursday’s special is baked macaroni and cheese with pork chops, salad and bread. On Friday, the lunch special is a choice of fried catfish platter with French fries or Louisiana-style BBQ shrimp, both served with bread and salad.
“We will also offer specials for dinner as well,” Wendling said. “The menu offers something for everyone.”
With kids meals that range from peanut butter and jelly to macaroni and cheese and even fried catfish, pleasing the children in the family is a snap, he said.
“On weekends, our focus will be on seafood,” Wendling said. “We will have plenty of oysters, shrimp with our main focus on barbecue shrimp — it’s a specialty everyone needs to give a try.”
Wendling said he hopes area residents will stop by and see what the new restaurant has to offer.
“We want to be here for Brewton,” Wendling said. “When people come to the restaurant, they keep business going for the area. The money they spend here pays local employees and even the profits stay right here in Brewton. We have a home here and we want to be a big part of the city.”
Wendling said the restaurant currently employs 15 workers and is seeking more employees.
Business hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lunch service begins at 11 a.m. daily.
“We’re here beginning at 9 a.m. if someone wants to stop in for a cup of good coffee to start their day,” Wendling said. “We might even be able to serve a nice breakfast-style sandwich to go with that. We’re here and ready to serve this community.”