Compared to Lawrence, the deep south has a culture of its own. Within Louisiana, New Orleans is a different world complete with unique foods, music and architecture. Lawrence Restaurant, Jazz, attempts to create a small piece of French Quarter culture on Mass street.

The second I stepped foot in the restaurant, I was overwhelmed by dark colors, walls cluttered with Louisiana memorabilia and a giant pig sitting on the hostess stand. It was 5:30 on a Tuesday, so I was not surprised to see that the restaurant was basically empty.

I was brought to a table immediately upon walking in. The menu was filled with Louisiana delicacies and ‘Jazzy Appetizers’. Surprisingly enough for a restaurant on Mass, everything was extremely affordable. To start off I ordered gumbo, a Louisiana favorite, and fried pickles, one of my favorites. The gumbo tasted like shrimp vegetable soup with a kick of tabasco (which is available on every table).

By 6:00 I was eating my entree. I had ordered a Shrimp Po’Boy– a sandwich with shrimp on it. My meal was served on a baguette with shrimp coated in a buttery batter and sweet potato fries on the side. The portions were huge, but everything tasted great.

More people showed up and live music started. It was a five-man reggae cover band. By the time I was about to leave, people were out on the floor dancing to reggae versions of their favorite classics. Surprisingly, the band was not bad and helped add to the exciting atmosphere of the restaurant.

After my meal, I was too full to function and the venue was getting quite crowded. Before I headed out I had to grab a New Orleans classic to-go: beignets. These plain pastries topped with powdered sugar and whipped cream are a Louisiana delicacy that puts donuts to shame. I strongly recommend giving them a try.

All in all, I had a great experience at Jazz and I recommend it to anyone who wants to spend an evening immersed in Louisiana culture and can handle spicy food.