Nestled in the back of the Galleria of Tuscaloosa sits the fine dining establishment named Evangeline’s. The sign is visible from the road, but the restaurant itself is tucked away in the back corner. (If you drive around, you’ll find ample parking behind the restaurant). The building is plain, and it blends in with the rest of the shopping center. As humble as the exterior may be, it hides a top notch dining experience.
Evangeline’s is, above all else, classy. The dining room is simply elegant, with white tablecloths, neatly arranged silverware and hints of soft yellow light scattered throughout the otherwise monochromatic room. After I was seated, I looked around and observed the crowd. It was a Thursday night, so needless to say, I was the youngest person in the room. (I assume my peers were at other fine establishments).
The staff and patrons looked professional, but relaxed. I spoke with David Simpson, managing partner of Evangeline’s, and he confirmed my suspicions. He said the crowd at Evangeline’s does tend to be older, especially around lunchtime. The restaurant is a hot spot for businessmen, recruiters and even some Tuscaloosa royalty. That being said, the staff at Evangeline’s does not play favorites. Even though I happened to be sitting next to a member of Tuscaloosa’s royal family, I was treated with the same respect she was.
I started the night with the crab cake appetizer. Be warned, this appetizer only comes with two crab cakes the size and color of jumbo hush puppies. The cakes had dark, crispy breading and hearty lumps of crab meat, which made the appetizer more filling than it looked. The remoulade served with the crab cakes was bolder than most, and even though I don’t normally dip crab cakes, I found myself drowning every bite in that sauce.
After the rather small appetizer, I was expecting “fine dining” sized entrees. However, the duck breast I ordered was massive. The meat was thick and tender, and served with blueberry-lemon chutney which made for a sweet combination. This came with spinach and two gigantic disks of roasted sweet potato. I also tried a salmon special, served with cheese grits. (The grits really stole the show – I’d recommend any dish with them). The woman sitting at the table next to me ordered a burger, and when I saw that gargantuan pretzel roll bun, I have to admit I had a fit of jealousy.
Though the food was great, what really impressed me was the mentality of everyone at Evangeline’s. David Simpson goes all-out for his customers, and is willing to do as much as he possibly can to make your night special. In my conversation with him, Simpson mentioned how if a customer calls ahead of time, almost any arrangement can be made. He pointed out the tables with black napkins and explained how some regulars prefer black napkins over white ones. He listed items that people order even though they’re not on the menu. He even gave me one of the Christmas cards that Evangeline’s sent out to frequent customers. All of this made one thing clear: Evangeline’s operates like a family, full of talented chefs and event planners that just loves to invite the neighbors over for dinner. In my time at Evangeline’s, I didn’t ever feel like a customer. I felt like an honored guest, and I can’t wait to become a member of their family.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Fashion show offers students valuable experience
