Lou Lou’s Serves Succulent Sea Fare (Business Lunch)

Food review  01-28-08

(Restaurant Review)

Lou Lou’s Fish Shack

708 N. College Ave., Fayetteville

479-443-1663

4.5 Forks

Cuisine: Seafood

Noise level: Low

Ambiance: Casual Coastal

Price Range: $7.49-$22.99

Time: 30 min.

Open Since: November 2007

The front door of Lou Lou’s Fish Shack is more like a portal to the left coast and a different way of life.

The restaurant, named for co-owner Scott Bowman’s great-grandmother, offers a laid-back atmosphere that takes you to the sunny beaches and good times of the southern California coast.

Bowman, Andy Hague, Jason Collins and Matt Christie, Lou Lou’s co-owners, renovated the former Sassafras building and opened Lou Lou’s.

When our three reviewers arrived at the restaurant for a weekday lunch they were greeted with a smile and warm southern ‘hello.’

The trio started with saltine crackers and pimento cheese spread. The restaurant does not offer a separate lunch menu but the wallet-friendly prices and speedy service made it ideal for professionals on the go.

The menu offered seafood lovers a wide variety of marine favorites, from yellowtail to king crab legs and for those that prefer terra firma cuisine, cheeseburgers and chicken were also included on the menu.

One diner, a self-proclaimed fish taco connoisseur, opted for the San Dee-Ah-Go Fish Tacos, which came with a side of rice and beans ($9.50).

The second diner chose the restaurant’s fried shrimp with a side of french fries, hush puppies and a pickle ($10).

The third diner decided to sample the crab cakes, which also came with a side of french fries, hush puppies and apple slaw ($13).

The portions for all three meals were more than satisfying. The fish taco fancier proclaimed the fish tacos the best in the land and the fried shrimp were “larger than life.”

The crab cakes were “better than homemade” and had hearty, flavorful chunks of meat.

The french fries were fresh cut and included the skins, a personal favorite for one of the diners.

The apple slaw was not a crowd pleaser but the sauces for the tacos and crab cakes evoked rave reviews from all three diners.

The prices were more than reasonable and the selection was enough to please even the pickiest of palates.

“This place makes me feel like I’m on the coast,” one diner said. “The food is fresh and full of flavor. I am definitely coming back.”

Another diner said he enjoyed his lunch and was looking forward to warm weather so he could enjoy his meal on the restaurant’s spacious patio.