New flavors and food textures are always welcome to my palate, as I personally get fed up with lack of variety. The first thing I was asked when I entered The Quarter Note in Washington Square Mall was if I was a “salt only” kind of girl or if I could brave venturing spices and flavors that aren’t readily available in the area. Namely, Cajun-inspired essences were on the menu. Mr. Bob Ballard, owner of The Quarter Note, gets it honest, though, as he is a former Bourbon Street pianist straight from New Orleans, Louisiana. The Quarter Note Piano Bar and Bistro isn’t just a restaurant, the entertainment is as unique as the food and first-rate. Mr. Ballard is the main entertainment on the piano but guest sax players, singers and others accompanying artists, including Jane Harmon, Carl Rodenberg, Tommy Stillwell and more, make appearances throughout each week. Ranging from jazz to rock, The Quarter Note is a must on your list of restaurants to try this month!

            I began my tasting with a plate full of appetizers that made everyone at the table look at me with large, round puppy dog eyes. I doled out the two types of shrimp along with the portabella mushroom and we all dug in. The hot dam’ shrimp is a fried shrimp tossed in a spicy petal sauce. It was an immediate explosion of flavor but the hot taste didn’t linger on your tongue. According to Bob, “you want a good flavor but you don’t want to run to the water trough every time you take a bite.” Next, we sampled the bacon wrapped shrimp. The bacon shrimp was pan seared in white wine and butter and grilled. The shrimp was succulent and juicy and the bacon gave it a very different, distinct taste.

            My co-connoisseur, Jake, allowed me to sample a bite of his black bean soup. Made from true black beans that are shipped from New Orleans, it wasn’t like your standard soup, it was a dark brown color and the taste was very organic. The natural taste of the black beans needed little or no extra spice. It was a very delicious beginning to a meal. Next, was my personal favorite, the stuffed portabella mushroom. Stuffed with a seafood filling and topped with very broad layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, this monster mushroom was hearty enough for a meal or appetizer.

            My entrée was a Muffalletta sandwich, inspired by the Central Grocery located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The Muffalletta is a toasted sandwich on a Foccacia roll smothered in virgin olive oil and stuffed with Mortedella sausage, Genoa salami, ham, mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese. Along with these exotic meats, the Muffalletta is topped with an Italian olive salad, made with black and green olives and carrots. This signature olive salad is also shipped in from New Orleans.

            I slipped another bite of Jake’s meal, the salmon burger. It was juicy and meaty. My two other escorts, Beth and Karen, enjoyed a High Note Burger and a Classic Chef Salad made with ham, Cajun turkey and homemade ranch dressing and croutons. The burger was a half-pound of certified Angus ground beef and served with your choice of cheese and fries, sweet potato fries or onion rings. The onion rings are coated in a beer batter and fried to perfection. Yum! The sweet potato fries were cut thick and crispy.

            Also, consider The Quarter Note when you are making your New Year’s plans. Tickets are $30/person and your choice of prime rib or chicken cordon bleu is being served along with some memories played on the piano, but hurry, only 90 tickets are available.

Call ahead for carryout or no wait at 812*401*1944. You must be at least 21 to enter The Quarter Note.