I love this place:) I had the chicken and sausage gumbo and the smothered pork roast was sooooo tasty. Peach bread pudding is oh so good. It's off beaten path of all the tourist spots but worth the drive.
(5)
Steven C.
Hmmm, In Orlando on business gives me the chance to have dinner with my favorite Cuz. They're in West Orlando, I'm down in LBV.... How about Winter Haven? Dial up my Yelp friends and hmmm... cajun? in Central Florida? Sure WTHN? Started with some Fried Pickles and Boudin Balls. After 10 minutes of sophomoric ball jokes, the apps showed up. FPs were very traditional southern with battered chips that were crispy on the outside and a served with a nice cajun aoli (yah, mayo with cayenne). Balls were really good. They had all the flavor of that crazy LA sausage but with a crunchy exterior. I went with mama's jambalaya with some crawfish for main. Good dish but I would have loved having the crayfish whole and in the shell. Nothing like sucking out the salty goodness on those heads. Summary, good food, reasonable prices and our server was phenomenal. Come here hungry!
(4)
Robert M.
Let's start with total honesty. I was concerned about heading here, being in the middle of Florida, could cuisine from New Orleans truly be edible? But our friends who took us promised us a good meal - well, they didn't lie, and the Big Easy delivered on their promise! The staff is WONDERFUL, they will know you're name by the time dinner is delivered. Their recommendations on the beers were spot on. They were always there to ask how you were doing, but not in an intrusive manner. The food we had was delicious, tasted fresh, and was fairly priced! In fact, we were over fed, as my wife and I both had to take half of our entree's home for a later meal. We had the fried fish, the shrimp and grits, and the crawfish - each and every dish was fresh, well cooked, and delicious. I'm looking forward to going back and meeting/getting to know the chef!
Remoulade sauce? Yes please! My gf and I have visited a handful of times since moving to the area a year ago and we have been satisfied each and every time. As far as appetizers go, the Cajun Crab dip is alright, but I am obsessed with their fried green tomatoes drizzled with remoulade sauce. The tangy sauce works perfectly with the lightly battered tomatoes. We have devoured many of their entrees, however, a few of the standouts would have to be the jambalaya, shrimp & grits, blackened redfish and the shrimp po'boy. EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS. Now if you're considering eating at a Cajun/New Orleans restaurant then you have almost surely heard about beignets. Do yourself a favor and order them, you will not be disappointed. [Beignets are probably the only item on the menu that would not be improved by adding a generous drizzle of remoulade sauce] Very friendly service + great food...it's a no-brainer
(5)
Christopher F.
Wow, Found this place a few weeks ago and have been back 4 times. Love it. Food is great. Nice people. Had the red beans and rice and it was great. If you live close or not its worth the drive.
(5)
Megan S.
What a quaint place! Went to dinner with my parents here one night, and this place was quite delicious! For appetizers, we got gator bites which seemed like a small portion but was good for just appetizer. The gator bites are served with fries, so technically it could be a meal. For dinner, the portion was large but not as large as their competitor. I had a chicken dish, my mom had a crab cake, and my dad had shrimp and grits. Everyone loved their food! The food was really good and flavored quite well. I also had their blackberry sangria which was super good! The menu was really vast, and I was highly amused that the dessert menu was located right next to the appetizers (I was tempted to have a dessert as an appetizer, but my parents disapproved... so much for "life is short, eat dessert first" hrmmph!). The prices were also really good. The decor is less busy than their competitor, and it's also a lot quieter. They do have a small but great beer selection, which is a nice touch. The restaurant itself is quite large and they have an outdoor seating area. Service was good but not great. Our server did a lot of extra back and forth between our table and the bar... rather than waiting for my dad to decide if he liked the beer sample she brought over, she dropped it off then left and came back several minutes later. That was odd.
(4)
Norris A.
Ok food would eat again. I just moved in the area don't get food like this all the time. Need more seasoning on food.
(4)
Dawn C.
Love it love it love it! Let's start with staff. They stay around, know you by name and if you leave something behind guard it until you return. If something isn't right they have been known to fix it themselves! LOL Food: I have not had anything that was not awesome. My personal preference is the muffuletta and it is divine. Hush puppies are probably the best I have had from coast to coast and over seas. Price: PERFECT! Ambience: Just the right social background but you can have a conversation without yelling. Beverages: They have it all... Bonus: They change things up and add new items and soup often AND will bring you a sample! I go every time I am in town. They are smart and expand at a rate that won't shut them down. Looking forward to a long lived experience!
(5)
Brian D.
Bottom line, I'm coming back. The crawfish etouffee was great, the cornbread was excellent, and the bread pudding was just powerful.
(5)
Styarria G.
While the wait time for food was slow, I found the food to be worth the wait. The server was really friendly; she kept checking on us and was knowledgeable on the menu items. I found the food to be really good and flavorful. Of course we couldn't leave without an order of beignets, which were delicious (how could they not be). They were dusted with powdered sugar and topped with chocolate suace, yum! The atmosphere is very laid back. There were several televisions on an array of channels. There were cartoons on one, sports on a couple, and TV shows on a couple more. There was a steady flow of people coming and going but not at all loud or crowded. It's a nice place to eat on a Sunday afternoon.
They have expanded! They took over the space next to them and they're now twice as big! It's quite exciting to see a good restaurant actually come successful. They even have a proper bar area now. The food is still pretty good, but our last two visits have been met with some inconsistency. We won't be giving on this place anytime soon, though. My favorite is Grandma's Jambalaya, and one should really get it Creole Style (it's more tomato-ey, and also spicier, and just all around more flavorful), and my fiance's favorite is the Classic Cheese Steak Po' boy. It comes with jus (a la French Dip, but not the same), so if yours doesn't, do ask. Their Beignets are probably the best in town we've ever tried. Unfortunately, we always seem to get too full from the main entree that we often don't have room for dessert. Service has always been friendly; we've never had any issues. The atmosphere of the original dining room is more Mardi Gras-y. But the new dining room is currently still lacking a good vibe - perhaps it's just still too new. Another gem in the Winter Garden area. =)
(4)
Rebecca R.
I moved to a location not far from this restaurant about two months ago, and since then I have eaten here maybe eight or nine times. Now granted, I"m from Chicago and NOT cajun country, so take my reviews in that light. I have been slowly working my way through their very large menu and I have yet to find anything on the menu I did not enjoy, with the possible exception of a crawfish dish where I thought that the crawfish might have gone off -- but when I mentioned it they happily replaced it with the same dish made from shrimp. My favorite items so far has to be the shrimp and grits. With regards to the bread pudding with bourbon sauce, it's probably not a good idea if your driver to be the one eating it -- just saying. The waitresses (yet to see a waiter) are all perky and helpful ... the wifi is kind of weak.
(5)
Tiffany C.
This place had some delicious food. I ordered that blackened chicken Cobb salad and everything was so fresh and very yummy. My friends that came with me really enjoyed their meal, they both ordered the shrimp and grits. All of the servers and staff were very friendly. I can't wait to come back to try something else.
(5)
Skye L.
Boyfriend and I visited for lunch. Overall experience was alright. There were only a few other diners so service was speedy and the server was friendly. We started with the Boudin balls and a cup of crawfish corn chowder. Did not enjoy the boudin balls. The breeding was strange and dry and the filling didn't have much flavor. However, the chowder was one of the best I've had. For entrees we ordered the N'awlins platter and Bayou Pasta. The platter consisted of shrimp, crawfish, whitefish, and oysters, all fried. It came with fries, hush puppies, and crunchy sweet potatoes (sweet potato casserole). The best thing on the platter was the crawfish. Oysters were pretty slimy and the whitefish lacked flavor. Fries were nice and crispy with a soft center. Hush puppies were sweet with a crisp exterior. The Bayou pasta contained crawfish, andouille sausage, and mushrooms. The sauce was a Cajun cream sauce. Sadly, the pasta didn't have much flavor. It looked delicious and had a decent amount of crawfish and sausage, but the sauce was heavy on the cream, which seemed to dilute the Cajun flavor. For dessert we tried the custard filled beignets. They were delicious. Hot and crisp on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. Decent place but definitely overpriced for the quality of the food and the atmosphere.
(3)
Becky L.
Absolutely FANTASTIC! We had 3 different entrees at our table (shrimp & grits, jambalaya, and pulled pork sandwich) and all of us were working hard to clear our plates. There were so many flavors infused into each part of the dish. We also splurged and got dessert and it was equally as delicious! We had The Big Easy beignets and Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce. In the end, my group is "fat and happy" and is asking if we can go back tomorrow.
(5)
Natalie J.
My husband and I love the shrimp here! The first time we are here I got the rice and beans which were a bit too spicy for me to eat. The food is so well seasoned. One of the best places to get seafood.
Let's get this out of the way - Food is good. Service is friendly. Cons - Can be pricey. Service took forever and a day. Very very slow. The server flat out lied. When I ask of you have WiFi and you say no, but there's a BrightHouse network available don't let me see a network on my phone titled "Big Easy". They do have a WiFi network, it's just secured and they are not willing to share the password. So if you don't have BrightHouse, you're screwed as reception fluctuated between 1-2 bars inside. Besides, you're a business - What the hell are you locking it down for and not allowing customers access?
(3)
Roberto D.
Shrimp and grits were great. Sweet potato fries were sweet as well, love that butter.Good job
(5)
Jami M.
Love the fact they are owner operated. This was my 3rd time eating at The Big Easy and I must say the food never disappoint. However, I do feel the service is a bit too slow. I waited at the counter for several minutes and no one greeted me. So I decided to walk over to the bar as to not feel awkward while other patrons starred at me as if I was in the wrong restaurant. Oh well I still enjoyed my food and the portions are awesome!
(4)
Elizabeth D.
Great food and SUCH wonderful people! We went with our three lovely kids on their Tuesday night kids' movie night. They went above and beyond to give us a nice night out... even talking to and playing around with our kids. Highly recommend.
(5)
SweetPea M.
Some good things, some bad. For example we love the burgers including the turkey burger, the fries and cornbread. Don't like the crab cakes (too dry/not enough crab meat) or the rice and beans which is more like spicy bean soup with a little bit of rice. Service has been hit or miss too.
(2)
Thom S.
Great food, people and prices - what more could you ask? Set in a casual atmosphere, you'd never suspect the quality of what you find at a strip mall location like this.
(5)
Craig L.
I was born and raised in Louisiana, so I'm always a little weary when I try a new cajun/creole restaurant. Happy to report that my worries were quickly dismissed after eating here. I've been here probably a dozen times over the last year, and I've never had a bad experience. There are some dishes that I like better than others, but I think that's more of my point of reference. For example, I like the jambalaya, but the one my mom makes has a different flavor and more sauce. It doesn't make it bad, just not what I'm used to for Jambalaya. The Crawfish pasta and shrimp po-boys are REALLY good. The boiled crawfish are fantastic, but sadly a little pricy. I'm also a big fan of the Gumbo and the red beans and rice. Portions are very generous and you definitely shouldn't leave hungry. The staff is attentive and service has always been top notch. Thankful for the full bar and the Abita beers.
(5)
Steve W.
Incredible food, great NOLA atmosphere and friendly service!! As close as you can get to the French Quarter without leaving Florida!!! If you love great food from the Bayou please check The Big Easy out!!!
(5)
Luis G.
Came here in the afternoon with family for lunch, The restaurant was empty, that made me a bit nervous but, what the heck why not. We ordered a few different things from the menu and I have to say we were all pleasantly surprised. The food was fast, and it was really good, our server was quick and precise. We will definitely be returning.
(5)
Colleen B.
I really love this place and happy to see it has expanded. I have eaten here about 5 times and every time it has been a hit! My favorite is the Red Fish - but I have tried the jambalaya, lobster ravioli and crawfish etouffee as well - and they are all very tasty! This place is a must try!
(4)
Stephania K.
The food is mediocre. Like who cooks this stuff. This place is always empty and now I know why. The owner is rude and the food sucks..
(1)
Chris D.
Really great variety of eats from the easy! Shrimp n grits outstanding! Pork roast very tender. Extremely attentive service great food you should try this place'
(4)
Paul C.
Save your gas money...no reason to drive to New Orleans! The Big Easy is right here in Centeral FL The food is great the service even better. Po-Boys, old school specialties, the fried combo - shrimp, oysters and crawfish outstanding!
(5)
Mathew A.
I've haven't been to Louisiana yet, but if this is a taste of what food is like, I can't wait. Everything I've tried is delicious. The owner is from Louisiana. The servers are nice and friendly. Affordable prices. One of my favorite locally owned restaurants in the area.
(5)
Colton B.
Ok. First off. I made an account just to say how good this place was. My wife and I are from Mobile and she grew up eating Cajun food. Growing up With fresh sea food right out of the gulf, moving to Orlando we have been very disappointed... until today. We have tried numerous sea food places and establishments claiming to be Cajun. But none have impressed us ...until today. The big easy is by far THE BEST place in Orlando for wonderful DELICIOUSLY Cajun food! Come watch the game on one side or if you're more into a relaxed vibe sit on the other side. With a full bar, delicious drinks, and wonderful service. My wife and I will definitely become regulars. Thank you Big Easy!
(5)
Hay H.
I never write reviews. In fact, this is my first. Been craving Cajun food for a while now and found this place thanks to yelp. Had the roast beef po' Boy. It did not disappoint. It's delicious. Maybe the best sandwich I've ever had. What's even better than the food is the staff. So friendly and so on top of things as soon as I stepped in. Please consider opening one in So Cal. Will be back if I'm ever in the Orlando again. Thanks!
(5)
Alex B.
Incredibly happy and family friendly atmosphere. If it were possible if eat there every night! The dishes are flavorful and filling. The staff is remarkably friendly and fully knowledgeable about the menu and what each dish is like. I recommend this restaurant to all of my friends and family down here!
(5)
Elizabeth T.
Fabulous food. Try to go there whenever we are in the area. Shrimp and grits and Cajun redfish are two of my favorites. Kids love the po boys (the roast beef is amazing) and husband likes the jambalaya.
(5)
Ash P.
LOVE the jambalaya. They offer a variety of New Orleans style food and beers. Such a refreshing change from the typical types of restaurants seen in the area.
Love the crawfish boil! It was a lil bit spicy for me coz of the Cajun seasoning but I finished everything regardless. The beignets are super yummy too!
(5)
Michael F.
Best N'awlins food in Orlando. Morgan and Missy strive to make authentic Louisiana cuisine and, for the most part, they do. Great service and a friendly atmosphere to enjoy a poboy, some gumbo, or some shrimp grits. Good stuff.
(4)
Leslie S.
I ordered the Bayou pasta and it was extremely rich but tasty. It had many chunks of crawfish and andouille sausage and mushrooms in it. My only negative is that it's cool in the restaurant, cool enough to chill my food quicker than expected.
(4)
Bruce H.
I found this place from YELP reviews and decided to try it out. We are always looking for local places to experience. My wife and I enjoyed dinner here last night. Based on the recommendations of our waitress Denise I tried the Redfish in Cajun Cream with Andouille Sausage and shrimp. The fish wash blackened and was cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of spice and very moist. The sides were green beans and Sweet Potato Crunch. Fabulous dish. I also tried the seafood chowder and it was up there with my top ten chowder experiences. My wife enjoyed the Mulffeletta with a side of sweet potato fries. We finished with the Bread Pudding in Bourbon sauce. The price are very fair and you get high quality food for the value. The ambience is nice with Cajun music in the background. Why pay the high prices for places like BB Kings, House of Blues, and others with good quality but higher prices. This place is authentic and a great value. Also daily specials so check it out. There were so many tempting entrees on the menu and it was difficult to decide. Denise would bring the different dishes by the table to show us the entrees ordered by other diners. The owner also stopped by to check our satisfaction. Well worth the visit.
(5)
Susan H.
This is my first ever review, and I'm only writing one because my family and I have had so many bad experiences here that I feel it's well deserved. The service is slow and the food isn't great - I always stay away from their rice dishes because their rice is horrible, last night I had the shrimp and grits and the grits are bad too, the macaroni and cheese I ordered for my son was standard Kraft mac and cheese, and my friend's roast beef po' boy was mostly bread. Their hush puppies are actually amazing... But half the time I get them, they're burned. We sat for quite a while with empty beer glasses, and even watched another couple walk out angry after they had their drinks because the service was so slow. My mother-in-law stopped coming here months ago because the owner would not honor his own coupon because she didn't correctly "register" the deal, even though she thought she had. The only reason I tried them again last night was because I had friends visiting that had heard of the place. They won't be back, and I'm definitely not either. Sorry!
(1)
Jason C.
Traveling thru the area and saw the reviews on Yelp so that pushed us to give Big Easy a try. Man the reviews on this place are spot on for sure. Absolutely awesome Cajun food. I've been to Louisiana a lot on business and this place holds up great against that. Location is in a strip mall store front next to a Publix grocery but don't let that fool you. It's sort of like a small neighborhood dive. Don't expect a big thematic experience. It's got the feel of a local bar/grill. Service was great. Staff friendly. Very clean from what we could see. Server suggested a few dishes and she mentioned that while it's not on the menu ask them to make the Jambalaya with a creole flair instead of how it's listed. I did and it was amazing. Gumbo was phenomenal as well. A tad pricy for the small pub look and feel but the food didn't disappoint.
(5)
Tanya H.
Amazingly delicious food and outstanding service! Loved their blackberry sangria. Everyone at my table loved their food, although the one vegan person in my group was SOL (not necessarily unexpected at a Cajun restaurant though; she went with the sweet potato fries). I debated between the blackened fish or the shrimp po' boys and opted for the fish, which was so good it left me wanting to go back to try the shrimp one as well. Maybe someday if I'm ever back in town... Oh, and be sure to save room for dessert. The beignets are fantastic!
(5)
Amanda M.
First authentic roast beef poboy I have found since leaving Louisiana. the french bread was even authentic which seems to be an impossible hurdle for any other place I have tried. Really means a lot to me to get the food I miss so much. I will be back... a lot!
(5)
Publius V.
The staff was friendly and incredibly helpful (even had a visit from the owner); the food was piping hot, and well prepared; and, their uniquely prepared made-from-scratch blueberry cobbler is the best dessert item in all of Orlando/West Orange County!
After golf, we stopped at the big easy based on reviews on yelp. I had the jumbalya and gumbo, excellent! My friends had the red beans, pork tenderloin, pulled pork sandwich and ponchatrain chicken, all were happy with their meals. We would definitely go back
(5)
Rachel L.
It took us forever to finally eat here, we went after hearing once again how great it was. I would agree with that. It was busy inside which is a good sign. The menu was true New Orleans, and the staff friendly. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and my husband got the steak sandwich. We ordered the crab dip for an appetizer, it was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again. The bread was warm, but became tough as it cooled down. The bread to dip ratio was off. I really liked my shrimp and grits, however, it was coated in this thick sauce (one layer grits, one layer sauce, then topped with shrimp. When I order this again, I will ask for that sauce on the side. It was too overpowering for the dish, took away the simplicity of the shrimp and grits. My husband liked his steak sandwich. The bread pudding was good, and you can sign up for text messages coupon offers. We will probably be back. It was a little expensive for the area.
The corner of Stoneybrook West and Avalon, where Big Easy is located, is a restaurant black hole! I try not to become too attached to these Mom and Pop joints that open around this intersection as none of them seem to last more than few months (Hobo's BBQ, Yabi, Wow FIKA - - even a Starbucks went under!). A few seem to stand the test of time (ex. Hagan O'Reilly's), and it looks as though the Big Easy has joined those ranks. Great food, incredible service, and reasonable prices - what's there not to like? Make sure you sign up to receive their text messages/e-mails, and you'll be invited to special events, happy hour specials, and more! Tonight 50% of their profits were donated to Hurricane Sandy relief, could this restaurant be anymore awesome?
(4)
Bryan A.
Very impressive... In a shopping center that doesn't get much visibility and traffic, I was shocked when I walked into The Big Easy on a Saturday night to find myself getting the last available table. The place was hoppin'. I decided to get the crawfish special they had going on (i posted a pic). It came with a decent amount of crawfish. They were very good. I was also able to try my wife's fried oyster po'boy which was delicious. They only had like 2 beers on tap but one was Abita Turbo-dog which I was okay with. They ought to add a few more Abita beers on tap, that would be cool. Some of the other meals that other people were getting looked really good. Will have to try again... Always a fan of good spots close to the house.
(4)
Alicia M.
Great restaurant!!!! I have been going there since about the time they opened. The food continues to be spectacular. The service is great, the waitresses make you feel like a friend, and the owners will take the time to sit and chat. Its one of my favorite places to go to. My recommendations: Cajun Crab Dip, Bayou Pasta and the Beinets!!!
(5)
Janene H.
Whenever I'm in a part of town I don't usually travel I like to try new restaurants. When in the Stoneybrook area of Winter Garden I used my handy Yelp app on my iphone and found The Big Easy with some decent reviews. Having been to New Orleans several times I was excited to give them a try. At 5:30pm on a weekday the place was empty, not a good sign. The walls were painted fluorescent colors and decorated sparsely. It felt a little forced N'awlins style to me. I placed my to-go order and waited. My food was ready quick; A couple of shrimp po'boys (my go to gauge for New Orleans style food) with sides of sweet potato fries and gumbo, both side were an upcharge. There were ample shrimp for the $10 price tag but they were a little bland. The zip came from the sauce. The lettuce and tomato were dull and limp. The bread just so-so. The sweet potato fries were ok too, but definitely not worth an up charge. They were obviously the frozen crinkle cut variety. The Big Easy is the kind of place I might give a few more tries before writing them off. As it stands it is not a place I am dieing to go back to try.
(3)
Simone D.
Not a fan. Sarcastic wait staff. Ill seasoned food. As a Nola native I was extremely disappointed. Particularly with the crawfish on mardi gras. Also I didn't think fried catfish was that hard to prepare...
(1)
Tinisha G.
Excellent place to eat. I ordered the jambalaya creole, my husband had the shrimp salad with a side of curry grits! We were the only customers in on around noon on Saturday! I assume it was due to the 4th July holiday! Anyhow great place for the NO experience.
(5)
Kelly D.
Absolutely delicious!!! As a native of New Orleans trust me when I say EAT HERE!!!! The shrimp poboy was perfection! Plenty of fried shrimp and fresh bread! The crab and corn bisque is my favorite item on the menu!
(5)
Chelsea W.
Visited this location Saturday afternoon after having it bookmarked for what seems like forever and after my experience I really wish i would have tried it sooner! The service was excellent from start to finish and I think that had to do wtih the fact this is a mom and pop restaurant. Let me recommend that you visit on an empty stomach because you will want to lick your plate clean and the portion sizes are very generous. I ordered the red beans and rice which was served with two quartered slices of cornbread and andouille sausage and it was excellent but a little on the spicey side which was unexpected so if you dont like a little kick then maybe selected something else. My husband ordered the jambalaya which was surprisingly not spicy at all. I guess I should clarify that statement.....it had a lot of great spices in the flavoring but it was not spicy hot. The waitress recognized that we were new (im assuming they have a lot of repeat customers--also a great sign!) and they brought us a couple of beignets at the end which i was way too full for but not full enough to enjoy still ;). Try this place out and support your local businesses!!
(5)
Moo B.
One of a very few descent Cajun restaurant in town. Definitely the best on the west side. My favorite is always crawfish ettoufee. Having been to New Orleans multiple times, I definitely say this is as good as it gets in this area.
(4)
John R.
Pub atmosphere and decor. But great Nawlins food, cooked by NO natives who ended up in the Orlando burbs.. Great wait staff, their recommendations were great. Enjoyed everything. Worth a detour.
(5)
Jen B.
Yum! Glad we finally got to try out The Big Easy! There were lots of choices on the menu but I pretty much am always going to go immediately to the shrimp po-boy to make my first impression. So I did. And it was good. Good shrimp, great bread and dressed nicely! Others with me tried the seafood sampler appetizer and the jambalaya and everyone was very happy with their order. We even had the beignets for dessert! And again, yum. A little greasy but still good and worth it! We will be back! There's so much more that I want to try! The crab dip, the baked brie appetizer, the pastas, the deserts. Lots of choices!
(4)
Jared V.
I went here for dinner. I got the Bayou pasta and my wife got a salad with red beans and rice as a side. We like potato salad so we got a side of that to try as well. My pasta was spicy, creamy, had plenty of crawfish and andouille sausage in it, and was delicious. The bread that came with it was cooked well, effectively garlic-flavored and was not overbuttered. It complimented the pasta well. The salad was fine; the red beans and rice were delicious. The potato salad was horrible and tasted rancid, so we did not eat it. We had reasonable service; there was one waitress and only 2 other tables in the restaurant had guests. My water was refilled promptly but I had to ask for silverware as there was none on my table and was not brought with my food (minor inconvenience, so nothing to be upset about with that). The restaurant was clean. Their music was a bit loud, but as there were only about 8 people in the entire place, it would likely not seem loud if the tables were filled. The place is waffle house style, where the kitchen is visible from the tables. The prices were a little higher than I expected, but the portions were reasonable and I left full. Had it not been for the lousy potato salad, I would have likely given 5 stars. I'm interested in going back and trying their jambalaya and their crawfish etouffee.
(4)
Hank S.
Having lived in Lousiana for some time I was excited to try a cajun restaurant in the area. If you can get past the horrible decor the food is pretty decent. I've never seen it very busy which is always a concern but that may be because of it's location in a strip mall. The menu is mainly centered around sandwiches and pastas. I tried the chicken and sausage gumbo, it was okay and really oily. It was similar to what you could probably make with a box of Zatarans at home. I have been here more than once though and the service has always been very good. The fries have a nice cajun seasoning on them and the sandwiches are pretty decent. The sausage po'boy and the fried fish po'boy in particular. If you are truly looking for an authentic cajun place this may not be for you, this is more of a cajun inspired restaurant, but that isnt' necessarily a bad thing. It is one of the few places in Orlando like it and one of only a couple places I know of where you can order shrimp n grits.
(4)
Bill M.
All around excellence. We've lived In the area for half a year and this was our first visit to Big Easy based on yelp reviews. We went on a Wednesday night around 6pm and surprised it wasn't more crowded. Service was great; pleasant, attentive, and helpful. The menu selection is quite large for such a small restaurant. Large enough that could visit 20-30 times and never duplicate a meal. Food quality was excellent. Extremely authentic Louisiana cuisine. Reasonably priced and the portions were large. Highly recommend if you're in the mood Cajun food.
(5)
Mark L.
First time visiting The Big Easy. -sat out on the Patio for lunch -the Shrimp Poppers were very tasty. -enjoyed two meals from the Classic Choices part of the menu (Jambalaya - Creole style and Bayou Pasta) We will be back!
(4)
Anne F.
Good family restaurant. We ordered 3 different appetizers, jambalaya 2 different ways, and kids meals. Appetizers were good, the creole style jamb was better than grandma's and the kids meals were average. Service was great. The waitress was honest about her likes even admitting she had dislikes on the menu. Overall we'd come back and bring the 4 kiddies ;)
(3)
Mike F.
We have been here several times now and enjoy the food and the casual atmosphere.
(4)
Hillary P.
I enjoy this little place... the service has always been good and the food is always great!! I love the shrimp and grits, the fried chicken and the deserts are also great!
(4)
Hillary P.
We went here at the suggestion of friends and we were very much impressed with The Big Easy. We were lucky enough to find a Living Social Deal but we will certainly go back even with no coupon. We got the fried pickles and they were great. My husband got the Pork Roast and it was very tender and juicy. The cornbread was like cake it was soooo god. I got the fried seafood platter with oysters, cat fish and shrimp and was very much enjoying my choice! We really wanted dessert going in but were way too stuffed for any more after but will make a point next time! Service was great and they had a crowd with guests who all seemed to have beeen there before. I can understand why! Highly recommended!
Great food; great service; very reasonable prices. Haven't had a bad meal yet.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Husband had the jambalaya and it was delicious. He had it Cajun style and it had a nice easy spice to it. But the best part of his meal....the cornbread. Yum! We got the fried pickle appy. Came out piping hot and delicious. And the shrimp po-boy was good. The bread was a bit too toasty for my liking. It flaked all over. The shrimp were good though. And big Sammy - I could only eat 1/4 of it. Would def go back. Kid friendly and extremely clean.
(4)
Brian L.
Awesome food, owner operated and they care about the customer. Extremely tasty, not to be missed!
(5)
Adam P.
Solid four star experience. Great portions, and friendly staff. The owner walked outside as we were leaving to personally thank us for visiting. I will definitely be bringing out of town guests to try some Louisiana cuisine.
(4)
John M.
This is the closest thing to New Orleans food Orlando has ever had. We split the shrimp Po-Boy and the crawfish etouffee and both were excellent . The food was fresh and the bread on the Po-Boy was light and tasty. Only gripe is that it was $2.00 for a can of Diet Coke. Would have preferred soda from a soda fountain for those prices.
(5)
K J.
The Big Easy was fantastic!! The service was outstanding, the owner comes around and makes everyone feel right at home. The food was delicious and it is cooked right in front of you so you watch the chef working on your food. Dessert was the best part, I think what I had was called The Big Easy and it was sweet potato fries with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, it may sound weird but it was so good! I've recommended it to all of my friends!
(5)
Sarah C.
Finally made it to this restaurant and I was not disappointed! Absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. Great portions. Will definitely be back and recommend to friends.
(4)
Jeff H.
So the gumbo is good, but that's about it. The bread they use for the poboy is nasty at best. The crawfish etouffee was laughable if it had 2 oz of over cooked meat in it i would be amazed. When I pointed this out to the owner's wife, she did absolutely nothing. Really? I give the place 6 mo to a year at best.
(1)
Kenny C.
Superflavorful. We had the brie appetizer - and it was so yummy! Sweet and savory. Just wish both sides of our toast had been toasted. Beer selection was decent. The etouffee was really, really good. Although, the rice was a little too al dente. A slight bite when you eat is is fine... but the rice almost had a crunch. The taste of the etouffee was so good, I could have cared less about the crunch rice. The shrimp po boy made me wanna slap my momma. Well, to be fair - I want to slap her when she chews gum - but the sandwich was out of this world. The shrimp were cooked to perfection. The bread was crusty on the outside and soft and pliable on the inside. The remoulade sauce was not too hot. For dessert we had a chocolate something.... they were on sale, but it wouldn't have mattered - it was so good. Super, super, super.... I'm just glad it's not closer to my house - I'd get take out every night.
(4)
Sarah A.
The hubby and I had a few hours of time to kill before our flight back to Cali, and he yelped and found this place - fantastic! We started with the crab dip which came with the perfect French bread. We also ordered the hush puppies which were totally delish. They looked overdone to me, but it was actually a yummy crust. The waitress even brought me drawn butter for dipping, heavenly! For my main course I had the shrimp and grits - shrimp perfectly cooked, grits flavorful (maybe done with broth?), and a yummy mild curry sauce. It was huge, even though I loved it I couldn't finish it. Came with cornbread on the side which had an unexpected creamy consistency to it - delightful! My husband had the crawfish po'boy, which he said was very good too (came with fries). I am sad to find this place on the opposite end of the country, but better to have loved and lost then never love at all (or something like that).
(5)
Leyna R.
Awesome place! Been there three times and it was excellent each time. My only complaint is canned drinks, but I can easily overlook that for really excellent food. I will be visiting again soon!
(5)
Matt H.
Fantastic New Orleans style food. Oyster po' boy and gumbo were top notch. We will back soon to make sure we try the beignets.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rick J.
I love this place:) I had the chicken and sausage gumbo and the smothered pork roast was sooooo tasty. Peach bread pudding is oh so good. It's off beaten path of all the tourist spots but worth the drive.
(5)Steven C.
Hmmm, In Orlando on business gives me the chance to have dinner with my favorite Cuz. They're in West Orlando, I'm down in LBV.... How about Winter Haven? Dial up my Yelp friends and hmmm... cajun? in Central Florida? Sure WTHN? Started with some Fried Pickles and Boudin Balls. After 10 minutes of sophomoric ball jokes, the apps showed up. FPs were very traditional southern with battered chips that were crispy on the outside and a served with a nice cajun aoli (yah, mayo with cayenne). Balls were really good. They had all the flavor of that crazy LA sausage but with a crunchy exterior. I went with mama's jambalaya with some crawfish for main. Good dish but I would have loved having the crayfish whole and in the shell. Nothing like sucking out the salty goodness on those heads. Summary, good food, reasonable prices and our server was phenomenal. Come here hungry!
(4)Robert M.
Let's start with total honesty. I was concerned about heading here, being in the middle of Florida, could cuisine from New Orleans truly be edible? But our friends who took us promised us a good meal - well, they didn't lie, and the Big Easy delivered on their promise! The staff is WONDERFUL, they will know you're name by the time dinner is delivered. Their recommendations on the beers were spot on. They were always there to ask how you were doing, but not in an intrusive manner. The food we had was delicious, tasted fresh, and was fairly priced! In fact, we were over fed, as my wife and I both had to take half of our entree's home for a later meal. We had the fried fish, the shrimp and grits, and the crawfish - each and every dish was fresh, well cooked, and delicious. I'm looking forward to going back and meeting/getting to know the chef!
(4)Joan L.
It has been a few years, but New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit. Why? The flavorful and delectable food! Well, "The Big Easy" is a little piece of New Orleans right in a Winter Garden, FL. We let Yelp guide us to this spot on our trek from Georgia to South Florida. Since I was the only one in my party that eats spicy food, our server graciously guided us through the menu so husband and the boys would not find any spicy surprises. I relished the thought of getting a bit of heat and thoroughly enjoyed my Crawfish Corn Chowder and Crawfish Étouffée. Both had just the right kick and were so flavorful. The Étouffée was served with cornbread which was moist and delicious. The men started with Cajun Crab Dip. They all loved it. Husband ordered the "Fall Off the Bone Ribs". Indeed, these ribs were so moist and juicy that they did fall off the bone! I tasted them myself and I was actually surprised that husband loved them since the sauce tasted somewhat mustardy, but I was not about to complain. As you can see from the picture, this was also a huge rack of ribs. The chef came out to see if everything was okay and mentioned that the ribs had just been added to the menu. 10 year old ordered the Crab Ravioli topped with Rich Lobster Sherry Cream Sauce. He loved this dish but it was so rich that even with his huge appetite, 10 year old could not finish it. My boy with the simple tastes, 11 year old ordered a burger. He said it was "okay". Since I was so full I did not taste the burger but it looked pretty huge and juicy to me. For simpler fare, The Big Easy also serves an array of Po-Boys and sandwiches. They also have desserts which sound fantastic! Other Yelp reviews said the Beignets were to die for. Visions of Cafe du Monde were dancing in my mind. I was so tempted....but unfortunately we had to get back on the road. Maybe next time.... Hopefully we will get a chance to sample the cuisine of this unassuming little gem, with great food, reasonable prices, and friendly service again!
(5)Armando G.
Remoulade sauce? Yes please! My gf and I have visited a handful of times since moving to the area a year ago and we have been satisfied each and every time. As far as appetizers go, the Cajun Crab dip is alright, but I am obsessed with their fried green tomatoes drizzled with remoulade sauce. The tangy sauce works perfectly with the lightly battered tomatoes. We have devoured many of their entrees, however, a few of the standouts would have to be the jambalaya, shrimp & grits, blackened redfish and the shrimp po'boy. EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS. Now if you're considering eating at a Cajun/New Orleans restaurant then you have almost surely heard about beignets. Do yourself a favor and order them, you will not be disappointed. [Beignets are probably the only item on the menu that would not be improved by adding a generous drizzle of remoulade sauce] Very friendly service + great food...it's a no-brainer
(5)Christopher F.
Wow, Found this place a few weeks ago and have been back 4 times. Love it. Food is great. Nice people. Had the red beans and rice and it was great. If you live close or not its worth the drive.
(5)Megan S.
What a quaint place! Went to dinner with my parents here one night, and this place was quite delicious! For appetizers, we got gator bites which seemed like a small portion but was good for just appetizer. The gator bites are served with fries, so technically it could be a meal. For dinner, the portion was large but not as large as their competitor. I had a chicken dish, my mom had a crab cake, and my dad had shrimp and grits. Everyone loved their food! The food was really good and flavored quite well. I also had their blackberry sangria which was super good! The menu was really vast, and I was highly amused that the dessert menu was located right next to the appetizers (I was tempted to have a dessert as an appetizer, but my parents disapproved... so much for "life is short, eat dessert first" hrmmph!). The prices were also really good. The decor is less busy than their competitor, and it's also a lot quieter. They do have a small but great beer selection, which is a nice touch. The restaurant itself is quite large and they have an outdoor seating area. Service was good but not great. Our server did a lot of extra back and forth between our table and the bar... rather than waiting for my dad to decide if he liked the beer sample she brought over, she dropped it off then left and came back several minutes later. That was odd.
(4)Norris A.
Ok food would eat again. I just moved in the area don't get food like this all the time. Need more seasoning on food.
(4)Dawn C.
Love it love it love it! Let's start with staff. They stay around, know you by name and if you leave something behind guard it until you return. If something isn't right they have been known to fix it themselves! LOL Food: I have not had anything that was not awesome. My personal preference is the muffuletta and it is divine. Hush puppies are probably the best I have had from coast to coast and over seas. Price: PERFECT! Ambience: Just the right social background but you can have a conversation without yelling. Beverages: They have it all... Bonus: They change things up and add new items and soup often AND will bring you a sample! I go every time I am in town. They are smart and expand at a rate that won't shut them down. Looking forward to a long lived experience!
(5)Brian D.
Bottom line, I'm coming back. The crawfish etouffee was great, the cornbread was excellent, and the bread pudding was just powerful.
(5)Styarria G.
While the wait time for food was slow, I found the food to be worth the wait. The server was really friendly; she kept checking on us and was knowledgeable on the menu items. I found the food to be really good and flavorful. Of course we couldn't leave without an order of beignets, which were delicious (how could they not be). They were dusted with powdered sugar and topped with chocolate suace, yum! The atmosphere is very laid back. There were several televisions on an array of channels. There were cartoons on one, sports on a couple, and TV shows on a couple more. There was a steady flow of people coming and going but not at all loud or crowded. It's a nice place to eat on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)Steve A.
The Big Easy offers fairly authentic New Orleans style food in a convivial, neighborhood sports bar-like atmosphere. The emphasis is on fried food, including shrimp, crawfish and oysters, which can be ordered as an appetizer or in a po'boy sandwich. We enjoyed the mixed seafood appetizer and the fried pickles, but my favorite was the Mufaletta sandwich, as good as any I've had in New Orleans. The ham was tender and generous, the olive spread appropriately tangy, and the bread had the perfect crusty consistency. The sandwich was accompanied by some great battered fries, served piping hot. There are also entrees such as Étouffée and Jambalaya and blackened redfish. I found the flavors of the Étouffée and Jambalaya a bit too similar. Service was a real standout. A single waitress handled the whole room, and was more efficient than three people might have been. She kept our drinks refilled, checked back often, and made the whole experience a very pleasant one.
(4)Rayni K.
They have expanded! They took over the space next to them and they're now twice as big! It's quite exciting to see a good restaurant actually come successful. They even have a proper bar area now. The food is still pretty good, but our last two visits have been met with some inconsistency. We won't be giving on this place anytime soon, though. My favorite is Grandma's Jambalaya, and one should really get it Creole Style (it's more tomato-ey, and also spicier, and just all around more flavorful), and my fiance's favorite is the Classic Cheese Steak Po' boy. It comes with jus (a la French Dip, but not the same), so if yours doesn't, do ask. Their Beignets are probably the best in town we've ever tried. Unfortunately, we always seem to get too full from the main entree that we often don't have room for dessert. Service has always been friendly; we've never had any issues. The atmosphere of the original dining room is more Mardi Gras-y. But the new dining room is currently still lacking a good vibe - perhaps it's just still too new. Another gem in the Winter Garden area. =)
(4)Rebecca R.
I moved to a location not far from this restaurant about two months ago, and since then I have eaten here maybe eight or nine times. Now granted, I"m from Chicago and NOT cajun country, so take my reviews in that light. I have been slowly working my way through their very large menu and I have yet to find anything on the menu I did not enjoy, with the possible exception of a crawfish dish where I thought that the crawfish might have gone off -- but when I mentioned it they happily replaced it with the same dish made from shrimp. My favorite items so far has to be the shrimp and grits. With regards to the bread pudding with bourbon sauce, it's probably not a good idea if your driver to be the one eating it -- just saying. The waitresses (yet to see a waiter) are all perky and helpful ... the wifi is kind of weak.
(5)Tiffany C.
This place had some delicious food. I ordered that blackened chicken Cobb salad and everything was so fresh and very yummy. My friends that came with me really enjoyed their meal, they both ordered the shrimp and grits. All of the servers and staff were very friendly. I can't wait to come back to try something else.
(5)Skye L.
Boyfriend and I visited for lunch. Overall experience was alright. There were only a few other diners so service was speedy and the server was friendly. We started with the Boudin balls and a cup of crawfish corn chowder. Did not enjoy the boudin balls. The breeding was strange and dry and the filling didn't have much flavor. However, the chowder was one of the best I've had. For entrees we ordered the N'awlins platter and Bayou Pasta. The platter consisted of shrimp, crawfish, whitefish, and oysters, all fried. It came with fries, hush puppies, and crunchy sweet potatoes (sweet potato casserole). The best thing on the platter was the crawfish. Oysters were pretty slimy and the whitefish lacked flavor. Fries were nice and crispy with a soft center. Hush puppies were sweet with a crisp exterior. The Bayou pasta contained crawfish, andouille sausage, and mushrooms. The sauce was a Cajun cream sauce. Sadly, the pasta didn't have much flavor. It looked delicious and had a decent amount of crawfish and sausage, but the sauce was heavy on the cream, which seemed to dilute the Cajun flavor. For dessert we tried the custard filled beignets. They were delicious. Hot and crisp on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. Decent place but definitely overpriced for the quality of the food and the atmosphere.
(3)Becky L.
Absolutely FANTASTIC! We had 3 different entrees at our table (shrimp & grits, jambalaya, and pulled pork sandwich) and all of us were working hard to clear our plates. There were so many flavors infused into each part of the dish. We also splurged and got dessert and it was equally as delicious! We had The Big Easy beignets and Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce. In the end, my group is "fat and happy" and is asking if we can go back tomorrow.
(5)Natalie J.
My husband and I love the shrimp here! The first time we are here I got the rice and beans which were a bit too spicy for me to eat. The food is so well seasoned. One of the best places to get seafood.
(4)Alexis K.
Alrighty, I had my reservations about this place as I usually do with Cajun restaurants. I come from a creole family and Cajun cuisine is what I grew up with for everyday meals. A lot of the restaurants I've tried have either played it safe in the "kick" or spice dept. or have just been bland in general. Nobody makes it like grandma or mama but neither do they here and I love it! The étouffée was pretty traditional but the shrimp and grits .... Curried grits with a sun-dried Alfredo sauce over it?! It was incredible and the étouffée was absolutely perfect! I could eat it once a week if I lived here. The place is decorated dead on! And with nat king cole, ray Charles, etc. Playing throughout the restaurant. I felt just like I did at my grandmothers growing up. They've done a great job here. Do check it out!
(5)J R.
Let's get this out of the way - Food is good. Service is friendly. Cons - Can be pricey. Service took forever and a day. Very very slow. The server flat out lied. When I ask of you have WiFi and you say no, but there's a BrightHouse network available don't let me see a network on my phone titled "Big Easy". They do have a WiFi network, it's just secured and they are not willing to share the password. So if you don't have BrightHouse, you're screwed as reception fluctuated between 1-2 bars inside. Besides, you're a business - What the hell are you locking it down for and not allowing customers access?
(3)Roberto D.
Shrimp and grits were great. Sweet potato fries were sweet as well, love that butter.Good job
(5)Jami M.
Love the fact they are owner operated. This was my 3rd time eating at The Big Easy and I must say the food never disappoint. However, I do feel the service is a bit too slow. I waited at the counter for several minutes and no one greeted me. So I decided to walk over to the bar as to not feel awkward while other patrons starred at me as if I was in the wrong restaurant. Oh well I still enjoyed my food and the portions are awesome!
(4)Elizabeth D.
Great food and SUCH wonderful people! We went with our three lovely kids on their Tuesday night kids' movie night. They went above and beyond to give us a nice night out... even talking to and playing around with our kids. Highly recommend.
(5)SweetPea M.
Some good things, some bad. For example we love the burgers including the turkey burger, the fries and cornbread. Don't like the crab cakes (too dry/not enough crab meat) or the rice and beans which is more like spicy bean soup with a little bit of rice. Service has been hit or miss too.
(2)Thom S.
Great food, people and prices - what more could you ask? Set in a casual atmosphere, you'd never suspect the quality of what you find at a strip mall location like this.
(5)Craig L.
I was born and raised in Louisiana, so I'm always a little weary when I try a new cajun/creole restaurant. Happy to report that my worries were quickly dismissed after eating here. I've been here probably a dozen times over the last year, and I've never had a bad experience. There are some dishes that I like better than others, but I think that's more of my point of reference. For example, I like the jambalaya, but the one my mom makes has a different flavor and more sauce. It doesn't make it bad, just not what I'm used to for Jambalaya. The Crawfish pasta and shrimp po-boys are REALLY good. The boiled crawfish are fantastic, but sadly a little pricy. I'm also a big fan of the Gumbo and the red beans and rice. Portions are very generous and you definitely shouldn't leave hungry. The staff is attentive and service has always been top notch. Thankful for the full bar and the Abita beers.
(5)Steve W.
Incredible food, great NOLA atmosphere and friendly service!! As close as you can get to the French Quarter without leaving Florida!!! If you love great food from the Bayou please check The Big Easy out!!!
(5)Luis G.
Came here in the afternoon with family for lunch, The restaurant was empty, that made me a bit nervous but, what the heck why not. We ordered a few different things from the menu and I have to say we were all pleasantly surprised. The food was fast, and it was really good, our server was quick and precise. We will definitely be returning.
(5)Colleen B.
I really love this place and happy to see it has expanded. I have eaten here about 5 times and every time it has been a hit! My favorite is the Red Fish - but I have tried the jambalaya, lobster ravioli and crawfish etouffee as well - and they are all very tasty! This place is a must try!
(4)Stephania K.
The food is mediocre. Like who cooks this stuff. This place is always empty and now I know why. The owner is rude and the food sucks..
(1)Chris D.
Really great variety of eats from the easy! Shrimp n grits outstanding! Pork roast very tender. Extremely attentive service great food you should try this place'
(4)Paul C.
Save your gas money...no reason to drive to New Orleans! The Big Easy is right here in Centeral FL The food is great the service even better. Po-Boys, old school specialties, the fried combo - shrimp, oysters and crawfish outstanding!
(5)Mathew A.
I've haven't been to Louisiana yet, but if this is a taste of what food is like, I can't wait. Everything I've tried is delicious. The owner is from Louisiana. The servers are nice and friendly. Affordable prices. One of my favorite locally owned restaurants in the area.
(5)Colton B.
Ok. First off. I made an account just to say how good this place was. My wife and I are from Mobile and she grew up eating Cajun food. Growing up With fresh sea food right out of the gulf, moving to Orlando we have been very disappointed... until today. We have tried numerous sea food places and establishments claiming to be Cajun. But none have impressed us ...until today. The big easy is by far THE BEST place in Orlando for wonderful DELICIOUSLY Cajun food! Come watch the game on one side or if you're more into a relaxed vibe sit on the other side. With a full bar, delicious drinks, and wonderful service. My wife and I will definitely become regulars. Thank you Big Easy!
(5)Hay H.
I never write reviews. In fact, this is my first. Been craving Cajun food for a while now and found this place thanks to yelp. Had the roast beef po' Boy. It did not disappoint. It's delicious. Maybe the best sandwich I've ever had. What's even better than the food is the staff. So friendly and so on top of things as soon as I stepped in. Please consider opening one in So Cal. Will be back if I'm ever in the Orlando again. Thanks!
(5)Alex B.
Incredibly happy and family friendly atmosphere. If it were possible if eat there every night! The dishes are flavorful and filling. The staff is remarkably friendly and fully knowledgeable about the menu and what each dish is like. I recommend this restaurant to all of my friends and family down here!
(5)Elizabeth T.
Fabulous food. Try to go there whenever we are in the area. Shrimp and grits and Cajun redfish are two of my favorites. Kids love the po boys (the roast beef is amazing) and husband likes the jambalaya.
(5)Ash P.
LOVE the jambalaya. They offer a variety of New Orleans style food and beers. Such a refreshing change from the typical types of restaurants seen in the area.
(5)Stanley S.
We wanted to try this place for the longest time and finally got around to it. I wavered between 3 and 4 stars but give them the benefit of the doubt based on service (even though that could have been because it was a stormy night and the restaurant was fairly empty). The décor is very simple and it is kind of a cross between a deli and a upscale pizza restaurant. We have been to that other well known location in Winter Park, Ti**y's, so we compared the two. Whereas Ti**y's looks, to me, like it was decorated by Olde Pottery Barn, this location had a modern Spartan look. One side was a bit cozier and we were seated near the kitchen/bar area. Very roomy. Our server explained the specials but we opted for the regular menu. My wife had the Etouffee and I had the Jambalaya, both wanting to try the real deal dishes (in for a penny, in for a pound). I also had a cup of Gumbo which we shared. The Gumbo had a lot of flavor (no rice in it) but I found it to be too salty. My wife's Etouffee was OK as she liked it more than me. I found it to be a bit "earthy" in flavor. The Jumbalaya was Creole style (as I ordered it that way). It was a solid choice though I think it could have been a bit spicier. Both dinners came with very obvious home-made Cornbread which was nothing like the healthified version I make (theirs is much better and very light - wondering if they pan cook it like a Johnny cake?) Both portions were adequate and neither of us finished and took the remainder home. We found the restaurant to be a good solid choice if you are looking for Cajun cooking. It is not an everyday meal (food like that can't possibly be healthy even though delicious - LOL) but for something different it is a nice meal, though I can't say it is a meal I would go out of my way to have; mostly because of the style of cooking and high calorie content. One thing I would say is that I think if they want to be more upscale, they have to change a few things, like getting rid of paper napkins, the entry area is newstandish, etc. It doesn't have a mom and pop feel but it doesn't have that dining experience feel either. All in all, they do a good job at what they do and have carved out a niche' for themselves.
(4)Alexa D.
Love the crawfish boil! It was a lil bit spicy for me coz of the Cajun seasoning but I finished everything regardless. The beignets are super yummy too!
(5)Michael F.
Best N'awlins food in Orlando. Morgan and Missy strive to make authentic Louisiana cuisine and, for the most part, they do. Great service and a friendly atmosphere to enjoy a poboy, some gumbo, or some shrimp grits. Good stuff.
(4)Leslie S.
I ordered the Bayou pasta and it was extremely rich but tasty. It had many chunks of crawfish and andouille sausage and mushrooms in it. My only negative is that it's cool in the restaurant, cool enough to chill my food quicker than expected.
(4)Bruce H.
I found this place from YELP reviews and decided to try it out. We are always looking for local places to experience. My wife and I enjoyed dinner here last night. Based on the recommendations of our waitress Denise I tried the Redfish in Cajun Cream with Andouille Sausage and shrimp. The fish wash blackened and was cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of spice and very moist. The sides were green beans and Sweet Potato Crunch. Fabulous dish. I also tried the seafood chowder and it was up there with my top ten chowder experiences. My wife enjoyed the Mulffeletta with a side of sweet potato fries. We finished with the Bread Pudding in Bourbon sauce. The price are very fair and you get high quality food for the value. The ambience is nice with Cajun music in the background. Why pay the high prices for places like BB Kings, House of Blues, and others with good quality but higher prices. This place is authentic and a great value. Also daily specials so check it out. There were so many tempting entrees on the menu and it was difficult to decide. Denise would bring the different dishes by the table to show us the entrees ordered by other diners. The owner also stopped by to check our satisfaction. Well worth the visit.
(5)Susan H.
This is my first ever review, and I'm only writing one because my family and I have had so many bad experiences here that I feel it's well deserved. The service is slow and the food isn't great - I always stay away from their rice dishes because their rice is horrible, last night I had the shrimp and grits and the grits are bad too, the macaroni and cheese I ordered for my son was standard Kraft mac and cheese, and my friend's roast beef po' boy was mostly bread. Their hush puppies are actually amazing... But half the time I get them, they're burned. We sat for quite a while with empty beer glasses, and even watched another couple walk out angry after they had their drinks because the service was so slow. My mother-in-law stopped coming here months ago because the owner would not honor his own coupon because she didn't correctly "register" the deal, even though she thought she had. The only reason I tried them again last night was because I had friends visiting that had heard of the place. They won't be back, and I'm definitely not either. Sorry!
(1)Jason C.
Traveling thru the area and saw the reviews on Yelp so that pushed us to give Big Easy a try. Man the reviews on this place are spot on for sure. Absolutely awesome Cajun food. I've been to Louisiana a lot on business and this place holds up great against that. Location is in a strip mall store front next to a Publix grocery but don't let that fool you. It's sort of like a small neighborhood dive. Don't expect a big thematic experience. It's got the feel of a local bar/grill. Service was great. Staff friendly. Very clean from what we could see. Server suggested a few dishes and she mentioned that while it's not on the menu ask them to make the Jambalaya with a creole flair instead of how it's listed. I did and it was amazing. Gumbo was phenomenal as well. A tad pricy for the small pub look and feel but the food didn't disappoint.
(5)Tanya H.
Amazingly delicious food and outstanding service! Loved their blackberry sangria. Everyone at my table loved their food, although the one vegan person in my group was SOL (not necessarily unexpected at a Cajun restaurant though; she went with the sweet potato fries). I debated between the blackened fish or the shrimp po' boys and opted for the fish, which was so good it left me wanting to go back to try the shrimp one as well. Maybe someday if I'm ever back in town... Oh, and be sure to save room for dessert. The beignets are fantastic!
(5)Amanda M.
First authentic roast beef poboy I have found since leaving Louisiana. the french bread was even authentic which seems to be an impossible hurdle for any other place I have tried. Really means a lot to me to get the food I miss so much. I will be back... a lot!
(5)Publius V.
The staff was friendly and incredibly helpful (even had a visit from the owner); the food was piping hot, and well prepared; and, their uniquely prepared made-from-scratch blueberry cobbler is the best dessert item in all of Orlando/West Orange County!
(5)Erin M.
My fiancé and I tried this place out tonight based on the reviews of others on Yelp. It was pretty good; we split the shrimp po' boy and had the crab dip, and he got a cup of the gumbo and we got beignets for dessert. The dip was really good, but the po' boy was just average. There wasn't much shrimp on it, and the toppings were slim. He thought the gumbo was a little bland, and added some sugar to it and then really liked it. My favorite part were the beignets! Very good, and fresh. We'll be back to try some other items, but overall very happy with our experience!service was great, too.
(4)John P.
After golf, we stopped at the big easy based on reviews on yelp. I had the jumbalya and gumbo, excellent! My friends had the red beans, pork tenderloin, pulled pork sandwich and ponchatrain chicken, all were happy with their meals. We would definitely go back
(5)Rachel L.
It took us forever to finally eat here, we went after hearing once again how great it was. I would agree with that. It was busy inside which is a good sign. The menu was true New Orleans, and the staff friendly. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and my husband got the steak sandwich. We ordered the crab dip for an appetizer, it was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again. The bread was warm, but became tough as it cooled down. The bread to dip ratio was off. I really liked my shrimp and grits, however, it was coated in this thick sauce (one layer grits, one layer sauce, then topped with shrimp. When I order this again, I will ask for that sauce on the side. It was too overpowering for the dish, took away the simplicity of the shrimp and grits. My husband liked his steak sandwich. The bread pudding was good, and you can sign up for text messages coupon offers. We will probably be back. It was a little expensive for the area.
(3)Brian R.
These people are from N'Awlins y'all. This is real deal Cajun and the place painted in the purple and gold, with a Geaux Tigers banner to welcome you. Food was over the top good. The crawfish étouffée was perfect texture and just enough slow heat to add a big ol smile on my face. The redfish and the gumbo were both home runs too. This is worth a drive to get to, if you love Cajun and creole goodness!
(5)Melissa D.
The corner of Stoneybrook West and Avalon, where Big Easy is located, is a restaurant black hole! I try not to become too attached to these Mom and Pop joints that open around this intersection as none of them seem to last more than few months (Hobo's BBQ, Yabi, Wow FIKA - - even a Starbucks went under!). A few seem to stand the test of time (ex. Hagan O'Reilly's), and it looks as though the Big Easy has joined those ranks. Great food, incredible service, and reasonable prices - what's there not to like? Make sure you sign up to receive their text messages/e-mails, and you'll be invited to special events, happy hour specials, and more! Tonight 50% of their profits were donated to Hurricane Sandy relief, could this restaurant be anymore awesome?
(4)Bryan A.
Very impressive... In a shopping center that doesn't get much visibility and traffic, I was shocked when I walked into The Big Easy on a Saturday night to find myself getting the last available table. The place was hoppin'. I decided to get the crawfish special they had going on (i posted a pic). It came with a decent amount of crawfish. They were very good. I was also able to try my wife's fried oyster po'boy which was delicious. They only had like 2 beers on tap but one was Abita Turbo-dog which I was okay with. They ought to add a few more Abita beers on tap, that would be cool. Some of the other meals that other people were getting looked really good. Will have to try again... Always a fan of good spots close to the house.
(4)Alicia M.
Great restaurant!!!! I have been going there since about the time they opened. The food continues to be spectacular. The service is great, the waitresses make you feel like a friend, and the owners will take the time to sit and chat. Its one of my favorite places to go to. My recommendations: Cajun Crab Dip, Bayou Pasta and the Beinets!!!
(5)Janene H.
Whenever I'm in a part of town I don't usually travel I like to try new restaurants. When in the Stoneybrook area of Winter Garden I used my handy Yelp app on my iphone and found The Big Easy with some decent reviews. Having been to New Orleans several times I was excited to give them a try. At 5:30pm on a weekday the place was empty, not a good sign. The walls were painted fluorescent colors and decorated sparsely. It felt a little forced N'awlins style to me. I placed my to-go order and waited. My food was ready quick; A couple of shrimp po'boys (my go to gauge for New Orleans style food) with sides of sweet potato fries and gumbo, both side were an upcharge. There were ample shrimp for the $10 price tag but they were a little bland. The zip came from the sauce. The lettuce and tomato were dull and limp. The bread just so-so. The sweet potato fries were ok too, but definitely not worth an up charge. They were obviously the frozen crinkle cut variety. The Big Easy is the kind of place I might give a few more tries before writing them off. As it stands it is not a place I am dieing to go back to try.
(3)Simone D.
Not a fan. Sarcastic wait staff. Ill seasoned food. As a Nola native I was extremely disappointed. Particularly with the crawfish on mardi gras. Also I didn't think fried catfish was that hard to prepare...
(1)Tinisha G.
Excellent place to eat. I ordered the jambalaya creole, my husband had the shrimp salad with a side of curry grits! We were the only customers in on around noon on Saturday! I assume it was due to the 4th July holiday! Anyhow great place for the NO experience.
(5)Kelly D.
Absolutely delicious!!! As a native of New Orleans trust me when I say EAT HERE!!!! The shrimp poboy was perfection! Plenty of fried shrimp and fresh bread! The crab and corn bisque is my favorite item on the menu!
(5)Chelsea W.
Visited this location Saturday afternoon after having it bookmarked for what seems like forever and after my experience I really wish i would have tried it sooner! The service was excellent from start to finish and I think that had to do wtih the fact this is a mom and pop restaurant. Let me recommend that you visit on an empty stomach because you will want to lick your plate clean and the portion sizes are very generous. I ordered the red beans and rice which was served with two quartered slices of cornbread and andouille sausage and it was excellent but a little on the spicey side which was unexpected so if you dont like a little kick then maybe selected something else. My husband ordered the jambalaya which was surprisingly not spicy at all. I guess I should clarify that statement.....it had a lot of great spices in the flavoring but it was not spicy hot. The waitress recognized that we were new (im assuming they have a lot of repeat customers--also a great sign!) and they brought us a couple of beignets at the end which i was way too full for but not full enough to enjoy still ;). Try this place out and support your local businesses!!
(5)Moo B.
One of a very few descent Cajun restaurant in town. Definitely the best on the west side. My favorite is always crawfish ettoufee. Having been to New Orleans multiple times, I definitely say this is as good as it gets in this area.
(4)John R.
Pub atmosphere and decor. But great Nawlins food, cooked by NO natives who ended up in the Orlando burbs.. Great wait staff, their recommendations were great. Enjoyed everything. Worth a detour.
(5)Jen B.
Yum! Glad we finally got to try out The Big Easy! There were lots of choices on the menu but I pretty much am always going to go immediately to the shrimp po-boy to make my first impression. So I did. And it was good. Good shrimp, great bread and dressed nicely! Others with me tried the seafood sampler appetizer and the jambalaya and everyone was very happy with their order. We even had the beignets for dessert! And again, yum. A little greasy but still good and worth it! We will be back! There's so much more that I want to try! The crab dip, the baked brie appetizer, the pastas, the deserts. Lots of choices!
(4)Jared V.
I went here for dinner. I got the Bayou pasta and my wife got a salad with red beans and rice as a side. We like potato salad so we got a side of that to try as well. My pasta was spicy, creamy, had plenty of crawfish and andouille sausage in it, and was delicious. The bread that came with it was cooked well, effectively garlic-flavored and was not overbuttered. It complimented the pasta well. The salad was fine; the red beans and rice were delicious. The potato salad was horrible and tasted rancid, so we did not eat it. We had reasonable service; there was one waitress and only 2 other tables in the restaurant had guests. My water was refilled promptly but I had to ask for silverware as there was none on my table and was not brought with my food (minor inconvenience, so nothing to be upset about with that). The restaurant was clean. Their music was a bit loud, but as there were only about 8 people in the entire place, it would likely not seem loud if the tables were filled. The place is waffle house style, where the kitchen is visible from the tables. The prices were a little higher than I expected, but the portions were reasonable and I left full. Had it not been for the lousy potato salad, I would have likely given 5 stars. I'm interested in going back and trying their jambalaya and their crawfish etouffee.
(4)Hank S.
Having lived in Lousiana for some time I was excited to try a cajun restaurant in the area. If you can get past the horrible decor the food is pretty decent. I've never seen it very busy which is always a concern but that may be because of it's location in a strip mall. The menu is mainly centered around sandwiches and pastas. I tried the chicken and sausage gumbo, it was okay and really oily. It was similar to what you could probably make with a box of Zatarans at home. I have been here more than once though and the service has always been very good. The fries have a nice cajun seasoning on them and the sandwiches are pretty decent. The sausage po'boy and the fried fish po'boy in particular. If you are truly looking for an authentic cajun place this may not be for you, this is more of a cajun inspired restaurant, but that isnt' necessarily a bad thing. It is one of the few places in Orlando like it and one of only a couple places I know of where you can order shrimp n grits.
(4)Bill M.
All around excellence. We've lived In the area for half a year and this was our first visit to Big Easy based on yelp reviews. We went on a Wednesday night around 6pm and surprised it wasn't more crowded. Service was great; pleasant, attentive, and helpful. The menu selection is quite large for such a small restaurant. Large enough that could visit 20-30 times and never duplicate a meal. Food quality was excellent. Extremely authentic Louisiana cuisine. Reasonably priced and the portions were large. Highly recommend if you're in the mood Cajun food.
(5)Mark L.
First time visiting The Big Easy. -sat out on the Patio for lunch -the Shrimp Poppers were very tasty. -enjoyed two meals from the Classic Choices part of the menu (Jambalaya - Creole style and Bayou Pasta) We will be back!
(4)Anne F.
Good family restaurant. We ordered 3 different appetizers, jambalaya 2 different ways, and kids meals. Appetizers were good, the creole style jamb was better than grandma's and the kids meals were average. Service was great. The waitress was honest about her likes even admitting she had dislikes on the menu. Overall we'd come back and bring the 4 kiddies ;)
(3)Mike F.
We have been here several times now and enjoy the food and the casual atmosphere.
(4)Hillary P.
I enjoy this little place... the service has always been good and the food is always great!! I love the shrimp and grits, the fried chicken and the deserts are also great!
(4)Hillary P.
We went here at the suggestion of friends and we were very much impressed with The Big Easy. We were lucky enough to find a Living Social Deal but we will certainly go back even with no coupon. We got the fried pickles and they were great. My husband got the Pork Roast and it was very tender and juicy. The cornbread was like cake it was soooo god. I got the fried seafood platter with oysters, cat fish and shrimp and was very much enjoying my choice! We really wanted dessert going in but were way too stuffed for any more after but will make a point next time! Service was great and they had a crowd with guests who all seemed to have beeen there before. I can understand why! Highly recommended!
(5)Don S.
My family and I try to eat here at least once a week (and often bring guests). The only problem I have is deciding what to order! Everything I've eaten here has been wonderfully representative of the best Cajun/creole cuisine. The service is always friendly and efficient, and the owner is always present and interested in guests' reactions. You won't be disappointed. I've eaten crawfish étouffée all over Louisiana and the Big Easy's is as good as the best I've found there. This is hard to say for U of F gator whose homecoming was ruined by losses to LSU during the Billy Cannon days but I must be fair!
(5)Jason W.
dry catfish po'boy is never what you expect
(2)LeeAnne S.
Great food; great service; very reasonable prices. Haven't had a bad meal yet.
(5)Stephanie W.
Husband had the jambalaya and it was delicious. He had it Cajun style and it had a nice easy spice to it. But the best part of his meal....the cornbread. Yum! We got the fried pickle appy. Came out piping hot and delicious. And the shrimp po-boy was good. The bread was a bit too toasty for my liking. It flaked all over. The shrimp were good though. And big Sammy - I could only eat 1/4 of it. Would def go back. Kid friendly and extremely clean.
(4)Brian L.
Awesome food, owner operated and they care about the customer. Extremely tasty, not to be missed!
(5)Adam P.
Solid four star experience. Great portions, and friendly staff. The owner walked outside as we were leaving to personally thank us for visiting. I will definitely be bringing out of town guests to try some Louisiana cuisine.
(4)John M.
This is the closest thing to New Orleans food Orlando has ever had. We split the shrimp Po-Boy and the crawfish etouffee and both were excellent . The food was fresh and the bread on the Po-Boy was light and tasty. Only gripe is that it was $2.00 for a can of Diet Coke. Would have preferred soda from a soda fountain for those prices.
(5)K J.
The Big Easy was fantastic!! The service was outstanding, the owner comes around and makes everyone feel right at home. The food was delicious and it is cooked right in front of you so you watch the chef working on your food. Dessert was the best part, I think what I had was called The Big Easy and it was sweet potato fries with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, it may sound weird but it was so good! I've recommended it to all of my friends!
(5)Sarah C.
Finally made it to this restaurant and I was not disappointed! Absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. Great portions. Will definitely be back and recommend to friends.
(4)Jeff H.
So the gumbo is good, but that's about it. The bread they use for the poboy is nasty at best. The crawfish etouffee was laughable if it had 2 oz of over cooked meat in it i would be amazed. When I pointed this out to the owner's wife, she did absolutely nothing. Really? I give the place 6 mo to a year at best.
(1)Kenny C.
Superflavorful. We had the brie appetizer - and it was so yummy! Sweet and savory. Just wish both sides of our toast had been toasted. Beer selection was decent. The etouffee was really, really good. Although, the rice was a little too al dente. A slight bite when you eat is is fine... but the rice almost had a crunch. The taste of the etouffee was so good, I could have cared less about the crunch rice. The shrimp po boy made me wanna slap my momma. Well, to be fair - I want to slap her when she chews gum - but the sandwich was out of this world. The shrimp were cooked to perfection. The bread was crusty on the outside and soft and pliable on the inside. The remoulade sauce was not too hot. For dessert we had a chocolate something.... they were on sale, but it wouldn't have mattered - it was so good. Super, super, super.... I'm just glad it's not closer to my house - I'd get take out every night.
(4)Sarah A.
The hubby and I had a few hours of time to kill before our flight back to Cali, and he yelped and found this place - fantastic! We started with the crab dip which came with the perfect French bread. We also ordered the hush puppies which were totally delish. They looked overdone to me, but it was actually a yummy crust. The waitress even brought me drawn butter for dipping, heavenly! For my main course I had the shrimp and grits - shrimp perfectly cooked, grits flavorful (maybe done with broth?), and a yummy mild curry sauce. It was huge, even though I loved it I couldn't finish it. Came with cornbread on the side which had an unexpected creamy consistency to it - delightful! My husband had the crawfish po'boy, which he said was very good too (came with fries). I am sad to find this place on the opposite end of the country, but better to have loved and lost then never love at all (or something like that).
(5)Leyna R.
Awesome place! Been there three times and it was excellent each time. My only complaint is canned drinks, but I can easily overlook that for really excellent food. I will be visiting again soon!
(5)Matt H.
Fantastic New Orleans style food. Oyster po' boy and gumbo were top notch. We will back soon to make sure we try the beignets.
(5)