Nashville Food Blog

Why haven't you read anything on Bites about Papa Boudreaux's Cajun Café & Catering Co., the beloved nook of NOLA cuisine near the Natchez Trace in the community of Santa Fe? Because of threats from P.J. "The Enforcer" Tobia, who promised bodily harm if we drew any more customers to the tiny seven-table gumbo joint where two-hour waits are the norm.

"I'll hurt you--seriously," P.J. said. OK, maybe he just strongly implied it. But P.J.'s from Philly. It's better not to take any chances.

But now his embargo has lifted, thanks to some awesome news from Papa Boudreaux himself, Claude Bader. The New Orleans transplant has converted the restaurant space at the Dickson Ramada Inn, about a half-hour down I-40 at Hwy. 47, into a second Papa Boudreaux establishment with the same food, along with as much of the same feel as it can capture.

Bader hopes to have it open no later than Feb. 5.

"I was hoping we'd be open this week, but we just can't get it," says Bader, who's fond of telling folks he arrived in Middle Tennessee through a witness-relocation program.

Fans who already make the haul from Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky to the existing Papa Boudreaux--and who relish the two-hour waits in the parking lot as year-round tailgating--need not worry. Bader says he's keeping both places open. For people who mind the wait, it's just a 20-minute drive from the current location to the new one, which seats 98, has patio space for another 35, and can fit 125 into the adjacent banquet room.

Bader says he may eventually add some items to the menu, but rest assured the new place will still serve the staples: etouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, catfish, po' boys, shrimp creole and more. He hasn't decided whether to adopt the current place's Monday-night AYCE special, a seafood fanatic's steal at $18.95, but he doesn't rule it out.

For more information, call the existing Papa Boudreaux at (931) 682-0040. (And thanks to the Green Fairy for the tip!) The current Papa Boudreaux is located at 3419 Fly Road in Santa Fe some 15 minutes northwest of Leiper's Fork, but it's better just to watch for the Mardi Gras colors and the Christmas-lights fleur de lis.