Harold and Belle’s restaurant is located in South Central Los Angeles where you can find a true southern kitchen.
In the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and 10th Avenue in the Crenshaw district, Harold and Belle’s has been the local sensation and a family tradition.
This family owned restaurant opened its doors back in 1969 by Harold Legaux and his wife Belle. After the passing on Harold Sr. in 1979 his son Harold Jr. took over. Harold Jr. added a newer, high class couture vision to the place.
As you walk in, the lights are dimmed and there’s jazz music playing making you feel like you are in New Orleans.
With a friendly environment, it is clear why the restaurant is full from lunch to dinner, and it is obvious that Harold and Belle’s is the place to be.
Depending on the day and time you arrive there is a big chance you will have to wait for a table.
Make reservations to avoid waiting an hour or even more to be seated. The place tends to always have a full house especially over the weekends and holidays. The waiting area has been remodeled and expanded as well as the dining area, which sits almost 150 people and has about 50 members in the staff including part and full time.
You may also notice several plaques prominently displayed on the restaurant walls. A few notable ones that are a testament to the quality of their establishment include the Steve Harvey Hoodie Award, the California Restaurant Writer’s Award and Los Angeles Magazine’s Best Ethnic Restaurant Award.
Tables have flowers as center pieces as well as a lit candle making a romantic atmosphere.
Harold & Belle’s Creole Restaurant offers a full catering service.
The restaurant is a hot spot during Mardi Gras celebrations that include a live band, people from the neighborhood and delicious food.
Make sure you don’t eat anything before and save room for the dishes that are worth every dime. Prices range from $12 – $40.
The restaurant offers appetizers such as fried crab cakes that are large. They are soft and warm inside, leaving your taste buds wanting more.
At Harold & Belle’s, the customer has a choice of a crunchy green salad topped with fresh vegetables and dressing of your choice, or their famous clam chowder. Either choice is a fabulous way to start your dining experience.
The menu has a variety of home- style favorites such as fried chicken, barbecue pork ribs and a meatloaf that can take you back to our childhood.
Fried seafood dinners like scallops, shrimp and catfish are the perfect combination of fried on the outside and soft on the inside.
Sautéed specialty dishes like Shrimp Ryan, crawfish creole and shrimp scampi offer customers such large portions, that most will leave with boxes of leftovers.
The restaurant also features signature dishes such as gumbo and their award winning jambalaya.
The grill menu offers grilled fish, lobster tail and New York steak.
Most plates come with your choice of mashed or bake potato, and a corn on the cob.
The restaurant offers lunch specials until 4 p.m. that include old fashion burgers, ribs and shrimp combinations.
The dessert menu is also worth mentioning. With scrumptious peach cobbler, key lime pie and an ultimate chocolate cake, it is important to save room after your meal.
The staff is also a large part of the pleasant experience. The waiters are very friendly, and walk around to make sure everyone has everything that they need.
Harold and Belle’s is a perfect restaurant for a fancy dinner with a significant other, or a family dinner.
