Eatery's fried catfish fillets are lovely, served hot and crisp in the cornmeal-crusted style of the south, moist and fresh-tasting within, served with tangy tartar sauce in a house-baked baguette, alongside fries on the side for a very fair price of RM18.
The seafood gumbo's good too, blending both Cajun and Creole classic elements - smooth shrimp and calamari with okra in roux-thickened sauce, a soulful soup-stew with rice, also a decent meal for RM18.
It'll be interesting to see more Southern cooking on Eatery's menu eventually - our wish list includes comfort fare like jambalaya, étouffée, hush puppies and bananas foster, but there's much to consider if Eatery expands its reach to Tennessee for Nashville hot chicken and Texas for pecan pies, as well as elsewhere for fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy.
Southern-inspired cocktails are worthwhile - the Bourbon Smash (RM30; bourbon with peach, black tea, lemon and peach syrup) and Cajun Collins (RM28; gin with passionfruit, lemon juice, soda water and a Cajun spice rim) would be terrific thirst-quenchers while sitting on the porch on a sultry Baton Rouge summer afternoon.
Service is cheerful and efficient, ensuring a pleasant visit for a casual meal.
