Find Some Southern Comfort at Bourbon & Beale

At Bourbon & Beale (2639 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-268-7266), a large menu covers all the popular Cajun, Creole and Memphis barbecue favorites—plus some creative additions to round it out. On our first visit, we asked our server what she would recommend, and she rattled off at least eight of her favorites—each one sounding more indulgent than the last.

We were excited to try something new, but when we had walked through the dining room on the way to the patio, I was hit with the smell of a freshly grilled burger, and I was done for. No amount of smoky barbecue or spicy jambalaya could steer my mind away from the idea of biting into a juicy burger. I ordered the Cajun burger, which was topped with provolone, veggies and just enough Cajun seasoning to give it a little zip.

Eli opted for one of the more popular dishes, the Cajun pasta jambalaya. It was cheesy and rich, with a mix of shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage smothered in a creamy Creole sauce. It was one of those dishes that makes you say, “I’ll never be able to finish this.” But… then you do, and you have few regrets. For dessert, warm beignets with raspberry sauce were a sweetly indulgent ending to a supremely indulgent meal.