I don’t think you guys know how difficult it was for me to type this entry’s title without making a bowling reference. Why bowling? If you’ve never been inside Sugar Shack, you’re only missing New Orleans’ ONLY mini bowling lanes. Well, at least I’m pretty sure they are.

I’ve been meaning to work in some of my pre-official blog writings into my permanent home here, and touching back on this post is a great segue into my update for one of my favorite casual establishments. Sugar Shack once had the biggest, most diverse menu I had seen any French Quarter establishment offer. The current menu is a shell of its former self, but those who have never laid their eyes upon their previous versions wouldn’t know any better. They still offer more variety than most casual restaurants in the area would want to have to worry about keeping inventory for. I’ve had a hearty veggie burger that offered lots of  fun texture provided by various seeds and mushrooms,  a simple yet tasty club sandwich, perfectly battered and fried fish tacos, and the biggest grilled shrimp I have ever seen in any seafood-based Mexican dish. Not once have I been disappointed in my selections. It also doesn’t hurt that the employees are just nice people.

My only gripe with them has been about  something that is a total non-issue. Working in the CBD, I had a hankering for a French fry po-boy. I just knew that Sugar Shack would pull through for me, but during our conversation, an employee had not even heard of such a thing. Inconceivable! However, I recently received a message from the owner of the Sugar Shack that they have added French fry po-boys to the menu, and now all is good in Leslie’s world.  I am highly impressed with their use of social networking forums to read their guests and give them exactly what they want.  Sugar Shack is a prime example of how any business can find out what their customers like and dislike, all without paying for marketing gurus or even having a website.

I know I said these guys are nice, but they really are. The delivery guys are polite when coming into my place of work, too, which I truly appreciate (Take note, Domino’s. You don’t need to holler at honeys while you’ve got my door wide open.)  More locals need to hear about and visit Sugar Shack. Don’t let the touristy French Quarter location fool you.