Natchez

Critics' Pick

31 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003 40.724719 -73.990527
between 1st and 2nd Sts. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-460-9171 Send to Phone

Cuisine: Cajun/Creole
Price Range:
$$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
8 out of 10
|
5 Reviews | Write a Review

Map Rate & Review

Nearby Subway Stops

F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.

Prices

$15-$22

Payment Methods

Cash Only

Special Features

Good for Groups
Outdoor Dining

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

This venue is closed.

Natchez brings big New Orleans flavors to the East Village, without frills or gimmicks. Stripped of the usual trappings like a voluminous wine list and plush surroundings, the kitchen dedicates itself to the food--inherently rich, intensely flavored Cajun-Creole fare. Consider, for instance, the hearty, compulsively edible andouille-and-duck gumbo: Pleasingly spicy, but far from scorching, it’s deftly thickened with a rich roux to the proper point between soup and stew and fortified with popcorn rice. A bowl of gumbo, a cold beer, and a surprisingly wieldy po’boy of crunchy fried shrimp tucked into a soft, Philly-cheese-steak-style roll smeared with sweet chipotle sauce and served with excellent homemade potato chips makes a fine Louisiana feast. But the rest of Shawn Knight’s short menu, which he tends to tweak almost nightly, offers less-obvious, more-sophisticated takes on Creole-style New York bistro cooking. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld