The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

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New Orleans comes to Hollywood in revamped bar

Five 0 Four serves authentic New Orleans cocktails, including hurricanes modeled after the world famous Pat O'Brien's. Photo Credit: Trisha Sprouse / Daily Sundial

Laissez les bons temps rouler – let the good times roll. Or so say the staff at Five 0 Four, a Cajun/Creole restaurant and bar located in the heart of Hollywood.

Named for the New Orleans area code, Five 0 Four shut down for a few weeks in January and recently reopened with a more upscale decor and revamped menu.

The restaurant now offers an array of authentic cuisine from the bayou sure to please even the most discerning southern palate. Po’boys, etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp and grits abound on the lunch and dinner menu.

The most popular menu item, the lobster bisque burger, held true to its rich and juicy claim to fame, dripping in a decadent orange cream sauce. Fried to a deep golden brown, the corn and jalapeno hush puppies had just the right amount of crunch on the outside with a moist cornbread texture on the inside.

For dessert, hot and fluffy beignets come dusted in powdered sugar and are served with a choice of dipping sauces – banana creme, blueberry creme or marmalade and Nutella. Perfection is an understatement.

Food isn’t the only fare imported from the French Quarter – hurricanes and cyclones rival the strength and taste of the original cocktails served at the world famous Pat O’Briens. A variety of Abita beer is available, and a row of frozen daiquiri machines churn out frosty libations with five fruity flavors to choose from, including strawberry and wild cherry.

The service is attentive, friendly and swift. Prices are reasonable with the average entree ranging between $10-12, beers around $4 and two-for-one drinks during happy hour.

Who needs New Orleans when the spirit of Mardi Gras lives right here in Los Angeles? To celebrate the mo nth-long festival, Five 0 Four has many thematic events scheduled throughout the weekend, including a crawfish boil on Saturday, a shrimp and crab boil on Sunday, a jazz band on Monday and a Mardi Gras extravaganza planned for Fat Tuesday on Feb. 21.

The color and vibrancy of New Orleans is evident throughout the space. Yellow, purple and green lights dance off the walls behind the bar. The open patio concept allows for ample people watching on Hollywood Boulevard, with plenty of space heaters and clear plastic covers to keep patrons warm on cold nights.

While the charm is quasi-regional, make no mistake — this is a Hollywood bar, and with that comes the Hollywood crowd — a mix of hipsters, rockers, and see-and-be-seeners.

The crowd is slightly rowdy, but so what? The food is great, the drinks are strong and the atmosphere is lively. And that’s what Mardi Gras is all about.

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