By Jeanni Ritchie
Cenla Grill & Chill, your one-stop shop for burgers and bbq, as well as sno-cones and frozen lemonade, has expanded in more ways than one!
A wall was knocked out to make more room for dine-in customers and to host live music nights. In addition to all the good food offerings in town, we have a wealth of talented musicians in Central Louisiana.
Like Papa’s Axe…lead singer Jimmy Larrieu will soon be family as my son and his daughter are getting married. Grandparenting with a rock star….that should be fun!
But my visit was all about the food. Stopping in for Saturday lunch, I’d been enticed by the smell of the barbecue coming from the smoker outside and the chalkboard sign by the door declaring the Burger Special for $12. A burger, fries, and drink were perfect for a midday break. I’d been running around all morning and have a few stops left. The burger would be filling but the fries?
Those bring me back to childhood every time! My dad used to make these same homemade fries on our kitchen stove, fries that came from cutting up a potato yourself and not a frozen bag. But they had something even my daddy didn’t have…Lamm’s Lagniappe. Co-owner Jeremy Lamm’s All Purpose Cajun Seasoning is sprinkled right on top with cans available on each table if you’d like to add more.
Or to add to your burger as well like I did!
They even have Lamm’s Cajun seasoning shakers for purchase for sale in two sizes, small ($5) and large ($10). The seasoning is blended and packaged right here in Alexandria, and each shaker has the Bible verse from John 6:35:
I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Lamm and co-owner “Cajunman” Kenneth Blanchard have teamed up to bring one of the “coolest” spots in Cenla. While I enjoyed my lunch, there was a constant dinging of the outside doorbell as customers pulled up to the window for authentic New Orleans Style Sno-Balls. My grandkids and I have tripped the bell many times ourselves after a hot day at the Splash Pad in Kees Park. Half orange/half pink lemonade is my go-to. They love rainbow sno-cones. Such a refreshing treat after a day in the sun!
Follow Cenla Grill & Chill for the latest on live music nights and stop by and check out the food and new dining room for yourself.
Cenla Grill & Chill is located at 5532 Jackson Street Suite A, Alexandria. Their NEW operating hours are Monday- Friday 11 AM- 8 PM and Saturday 11 AM- 6 PM.
