Louisiana may be 2,500 miles away, but the Portland restaurant scene is home to many New Orleans natives. And every February, Portland pays tribute to the city that birthed jazz, zydeco, and the Delta blues.
This year is no different, with restaurants offering jambalayas, gumbos, sazeracs, vieux carres, and even pączkis on Fat Tuesday—from Louisiana-inspired stalwarts like Acadia, Eat: An Oyster Bar, and Tapalaya, to still fresh-faced spots like The Waiting Room, Olympia Oyster Bar, and Rockin' Crab Cafe.
Of course, Fat Tuesday is also the day of Portland's annual Mardi Gras parade. Locals dress in carnival costumes to second line down North Mississippi Avenue behind large brass bands. So this Tuesday, take the opportunity to experience Cajun flavors and Creole spaces—one of the Americas' well-defined cuisines. You just need to choose which party (or parties) to sashay into. Laissez les bons temps roulez! (Note the points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they're organized geographically.)
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