When a restaurant closes, the mood can be a little depressed.
Louisiana Soul Bayou was no exception.
“Today is the last day, folks,” owner Jody Charles wrote on Facebook in late April. “I’m so sad to be leaving, but so happy to have you all as part of the family.”
After operating for about 3 1/2 years at the Chow Public Market and Eatery in the Boise Spectrum, 7709 W. Overland Road, Louisiana Soul Bayou has closed for good.
It was replaced by Bomb Burger, another local business. Bomb Burger is open with limited hours and specializes in “quality burgers and bar snacks,” according to its Instagram page.
Louisiana Soul Bayou, or LSB for short, will be missed. The restaurant, which billed itself as “the only authentic Cajun restaurant in the valley,” offered gumbo, ribs, catfish, shrimp, crawfish and boudin balls – the kind of food Charles grew up eating in New Iberia, Louisiana.
When he opened LSB in September 2020, it was the culmination of a lifelong journey. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Charles told the Idaho Statesman. “And when I moved here, I couldn’t even get half the things I grew up with in Louisiana. I wanted my kids to be able to taste and see where I came from. Eating here is a lot different than eating in Louisiana.”
So he cooked himself. LSB delivered a satisfying mix of Cajun, Creole and soul food. Google reviewers gave it 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Charles was especially proud of his popular po’ boy sandwiches. “The shrimp po’ boys are to die for,” he said.
There is reason to hope that there will be more in the future. A food truck is planned. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help finance the project.
“While we are sad to say goodbye to our storefront,” Charles wrote on Louisiana Soul Bayou’s Facebook page, “our catering service will keep the flavor alive and we have big plans, so stay tuned for news on our upcoming food truck!”
