By Jeanni Ritchie
It was the end of my first week at a writing retreat in Leesville. Except for one takeout burger earlier in the week, I’d been living on Sargento Snack Packs and Coca-Cola.
It was time for a real meal.
I scoured local menus, unsure of what my “reward meal” would be. I knew it would come after a 12-hour writing stretch. I didn’t know it would come right before the bottom dropped out of the sky!
But first, the decision had to be made. I knew I’d found my winner when I saw the description for the Shrimp Ala Palmero at Joe’s Italian Grill: shrimp cooked in a butter lemon wine sauce and fresh garlic served over your choice of spaghetti, angel hair, or ziti pasta.
It was the perfect comfort food — a big bowl of pasta — but with a lighter sauce. Perfect!
My friend Anh and I had driven to the Joe’s Italian Kitchen in DeRidder last year. Same great food, same owner. In fact, I’d spoken with Joe a few times when he was considering opening an Alexandria location. (Sadly that didn’t pan out!) But this was a different location, and a different order.
I’d gotten a veal parmigiana sandwich in DeRidder. Now I was trying the pasta.
And a piece of chocolate mousse cake because that display case when you pay for your to-go order is to adults what candy in a grocery store check-out lane is to children! If the pasta was my reward, the cake would be my bonus prize!
I got back to the plantation home where I was staying, two bags in hand, right as a swirling gust of wind picked up everything in its path — including the metal wind chimes I’d just walked under — and sent them flying across the yard! I grabbed my to-go bags a little tighter and rushed inside.
The Shrimp Ala Palmero was everything I imagined it would be. Light, creamy, flavorful… I ate about ten bites past comfortably full. And I couldn’t even be mad at myself about it!
I saved the cake for later, and it made a perfect snack as I watched the U.S. Gymnastics American Cup on my tablet while the storm raged on outside. Chocolate is said to have beneficial calming compounds — turning my impulse buy into what was arguably a medical necessity.
In addition to the Shrimp Ala Palmero and other pasta dishes, Joe’s Italian Grill serves pizza, wings, lasagna, salad, subs, calzones, stromboli, eggplant, veal, calamari, and stuffed mushrooms. Desserts include cakes, cheesecakes, and tiramisu.
Child’s plates include kids’ portions of lasagna, manicotti, spaghetti, fettucini alfredo (also with chicken or shrimp), and cheese pizza.
A lunch special is available for adults Tuesday-Friday from 11 AM-3 PM. Choices include lunch portions of chicken or eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, manicotti, cannelloni, chicken or shrimp alfredo, and spaghetti.
From the pickiest eaters to the most adventurous, there’s something on the menu for everyone.
And even more in the display case!
Joe’s Italian Grill is located at 1762 S. 5th Street in Leesville, Louisiana. A second location is also open in DeRidder. The Leesville restaurant can be reached by phone at (337) 404-1125. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
