House of Blues – You know the music, but do you know the food?

We all know that the House of Blues (referred to as HOB for short) is a great live music venue. The size and layout of the venue, while large, gives the impression that you are in a very intimate setting and makes for an enjoyable, up-close listening experience.

What you may not know is that the HOB also offers a great dining venue. Drawing inspiration from the delta, the menu has a decidedly southern edge to it. Some of those southern specialties include the Creole Seafood Jambalaya, the Blackened Cajun Chicken Sandwich and the Crispy Catfish Nuggets. Not to be missed is the Voodoo Shrimp, a flavorful appetizer of pan-seared shrimp in a beer reduction sauce, accompanied by a slice of delicious rosemary cornbread.

The menu just wouldn’t be complete without showcasing some great southern barbecue favorites such as the full rack of BBQ Basted Baby Back Ribs and the Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich. The meat is cooked tender and juicy and the barbecue sauce is that perfect combination of sweet and tangy.

The building that the HOB is situated in is huge. The first floor houses the restaurant, bar and a tiny platform stage for the live band that plays nightly. There is even a company store for those die hard HOB fans and tourists who must have a t-shirt or cap with the HOB logo. You can also pick up some of that delicious HOB Joe’s BBQ Sauce to take home. The large music venue where various acts perform is located downstairs with a separate bar to accommodate those watching the show. Tickets are available at the box office.

The southern “blues” theme is carried throughout the entire establishment down to such details as the pictures on the walls and the candle holders. If you didn’t know any better you might think for a moment that you were actually in New Orleans. As a tribute to that great city, there is an entire wall covered with Mardi Gras beads from the city itself.

Gospel Brunch Buffet

Something to experience (at least once) is the House of Blues Famous Gospel Brunch offered every Sunday starting at 11am. This musical dining event takes place downstairs where large tables and buffet stations are set up. The menu is your typical brunch offerings with a few added southern touches like the crawfish tails at the omelet station and the biscuits and gravy and cheese grits in the buffet line. The musical performance offers gospel music and calls for some audience participation. Guests are asked to stand or wave their arms at various points during the performance. Tickets for the event are $40.00 for adults and $18.50 for children. Children under 5 years of age are free.

Happy hour at the House of Blues is quite a bargain. Some draft beers are just $2.00 and several entrees like the Blackened Chicken Quesadilla and the Pulled Pork Sandwich are discounted to $4.99. Cocktails are also discounted making happy hour a great time to visit this establishment.

The House of Blues offers a complete package combining both food and music into one great venue. As they like to say at the House of Blues – let music and food feed your soul.

House of Blues
1055 Fifth Avenue
Gaslamp Quarter
619.299.BLUE (2583)
www.houseofblues.com