There's a reason Mardi Gras—which falls on February 17 this year—is also known as Fat Tuesday. Defined by indulgent food and copious amount of drinking, the celebration culminates the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins and vices like chocolate, coffee and most of the good things in life are sacrificed for six weeks. Long story short: Mardi Gras is a time to stuff your face, and these specials are here to help you do just that. For a limited time only, dine on crawfish, slushies and po' boys galore at these eight restaurants and bars across town.
Messhall: Aside from the fact that Messhall's regularly scheduled Tuesday specials will be in effect (all oysters and tacos are just $1), a two-course Mardi Gras feast is available for $36. Featuring an authentic crawfish and shrimp boil and a cinnamon raisin bread pudding with praline sauce, the menu comes from Messhall's new chef Shane Pritchett, who arrived at the Los Feliz restaurant straight from New Orleans.
Mohawk Bend: The Mohawk Bend kitchen in Echo Park is being taken over by chef Bryant Terry for a New Orleans-inspired, multi-course meal. Dish details are still in the works, but you can bet that each plate will be plant-based. Dinner is at 6:30pm; tickets cost $40.To RSVP, contact authors@mohawk.la.
Dominick's and Little Dom's: Chef Brandon Boudet is transforming Dominick's (West Hollywood) and Little Dom's (Los Feliz) into a Big Easy mecca on Fat Tuesday, with specialty dishes that include jambalaya ($6), gumbo ($5), beignets ($5) and more at both locations.
Blue Plate Oysterette: For one day only, Blue Plate Oysterette is offering a shrimp po' boy ($17) to satisfy those with a hankering for the traditional New Orleans dish. Cornmeal crusted shrimp sits on a hoagie surrounded by lettuce, tomato, onion and cilantro aioli. Get it while you can at the West Hollywood location!
Sassafras: This Hollywood watering hole from the 1933 group is already New Orleans-inspired, so you know they're going to do Mardi Gras right. From 9pm-2am, the bar will be introducing frozen slushies with flavors that include watermelon daiquiri, Irish coffee and Singapore Sling. Dance to the Street Gumbo Grass Band, gaze at beautiful burlesque dancers and immerse yourself in the bayou spirit. Bonus points: No cover!
Preux & Proper: Along with their usual fried oyster po' boys ($13) and lobster po' boys ($18), the new Downtown restaurant will offer a foie gras po' boy for one night, melding your love of decadent foie gras and casual sandwich into one beautiful mashup.
The Flintridge Proper: The La Cañada Flintridge has been featuring limited Mardi Gras specials for a few days now for their New Orleans Carnival Week, where classic cocktails like Sazerac ($12) and a Proper Hurricane ($12) are making a rare appearance. Dine on gumbo ($12), catfish and hush puppies ($12), and po' boys ($12) made with Andouille sausage before finishing up with—what else?—king cake ($8).