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PLAINFIELD – It’s October, and as the weather gets colder and I resign myself to another Midwestern winter, I can’t help but think of warmer places.
For instance, New Orleans.
While I can't pick up and head to the Big Easy, I recently had the opportunity to try a taste of Louisiana during a visit to Moe Joe's, a Cajun and Caribbean eatery in downtown Plainfield.
I visited Moe Joe’s for lunch with a co-worker. When we arrived, I was struck by the way the interior décor mimics the streets of New Orleans with brick walls, red cobblestone flooring and vintage-looking gaslight-inspired fixtures. A high, wood-beamed ceiling added warmth and rustic style to the dining room.
As we sat down to peruse the menu, I couldn’t help but feel intimidated. Moe Joe’s options are many, with Cajun classics such as gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and blackened catfish. The restaurant also serves a range of sandwiches, including po’boys and burgers. For the adventurous, Moe Joe’s offers frog, wild boar and alligator dishes. Appetizers include grilled andouille sausage, New Orleans-style crawfish boil and fried green tomatoes on crostini with pimento cheese.
A server took our order, politely answering our many questions, and brought us a small loaf of warm, crumbly cornbread with cinnamon butter.
I opted for the fried catfish, which was tender, flaky and well-seasoned. It was served with two sides of my choice, and I selected sweet potato fries, which came with a cinnamon coating, and Brussels sprouts with bacon, which added saltiness and crunch.
My co-worker decided to build her own burger, and was happy with the hand-ground beef. She said the chips that accompanied the burger were perfect, and was impressed by the large portion.
While Moe Joe’s was fun for lunch, I imagine it’s even better at dinnertime. The bar area has a decorative tin-colored ceiling and offers an impressive draft beer list, plus more than 50 options in bottles and cans. A variety of wine and cocktails – including one called “Give Me Some Beads” – are served as well.
On Saturday, the restaurant will host a Halloween bash, with a DJ, holiday-themed drinks and prizes, and a costume contest.
All in all, if you can’t swing a trip to New Orleans, a night at Moe Joe’s just might help to fend off any bitterness about having to survive another Chicago area winter.
• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at The Herald-News. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a restaurant and then reports on the experience. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.
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IF YOU GO
WHAT: Moe Joe’s
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 1 a.m. Sunday
WHERE: 24033 W. Lockport St., Plainfield
INFO: www.eatmoejoes.com