Metro Detroit: Ferndale’s Howe’s Bayou
When you walk in there is no question to the “type” of restaurant you are walking in to. The decor makes you feel like you are in New Orleans. It is cozy and dark. It is long and narrow with an antique ceiling and exposed brick walls giving that true feeling on an old New Orleans restaurant. There are Mardi Gras posters, beads and jazz memorabilia throughout…..This week’s adventure is at Howe’s Bayou in Ferndale.
Originally started around 1998 by Tom Brandel. After a couple of years he decided to step away and focus on his other venture, Tom’s Oyster Bars. This is when the current owner, Michael Hennes stepped in and has been dedicated to it success ever since.
Everything on the menu looked and sounded so good AND was reasonably priced for the kind of food you are getting.
We had their red beans and rice with grilled andouille sausage, a bowl of gumbo with cornbread and an Oyster Po’ Boy with house made chips. The Sausage and Red Beans and Rice were outstanding. They had a nice spice and the sausage was cross cut and grilled to add extra crispiness. The Po’ Boy was good, the oysters were breaded in an andouille sausage bread crumb mixture and serve with a delicious Remoulade sauce. The gumbo was also really good. It had the good dark rich broth that gumbo should have with big chunks of meat and vegetables. It was served with cornbread which we tried with all their homemade mustards. We loved them so much we purchased their Habanero mustard.
They serve great specialty and classic cocktails and a full selection of beers and wines, all at really reasonable prices. Beers range for $3-$4 for domestics and $6-$7 for craft beers, and the most expensive bottle of wine on their menu is $36 for a French Malbec. Most bottles run between $20 and $30. Teresa tried their Swampwater which was a bourbon based cocktail with triple sec, sour mix and Sprite.
Everything was great. We cant wait to go back. There were so many other items on the menu we would have loved to have tried, like the voodoo chicken and Shrimp, and catfish which comes blackened or mustard fried. Here’s a few pictures of some of their other food:
Howe’s Bayou is located in Ferndale on Woodward just North of 9 Mile at 22848 Woodward on the East side of Woodward. They are open Tues-Thurs from 11:30 AM – 10 PM and Fri-Sat from 11:30 AM – 11 PM. The kitchen closes each night 1 hour before the restaurant closes.
Until next week . . . live well, eat well and enjoy life!
-Keith & Teresa Becker