Gene's Po-Boy - New Orleans, LA

I found myself in the rugged and rebuilt city of New Orleans, Louisiana during Mardi Gras this year. And I say it that way because it was unplanned that I was to visit during one of craziest celebrations nationally known. My friend Shoshana and I decided to go to NOLA the night before... realizing in the morning that the next day was Fat Tuesday. We arrived, rented a car, visited her dad in Baton Rouge, and headed back down to the city. After driving around the French Quarter for an hour and basically getting nowhere, we decided we should return the car the next day and take public transit.

NOLA Tip #1 - Don't rent a car. Stay near the Quarter and take public transit (bus or railcar), uber, taxi, etc. AND, from the airport there is a poorly marked bus called the E-2 express that will take you into downtown for $2.50. It is located in the departures area of the airport. Don't pay $20-30 for a taxi or for the downtown shuttle.

Anyways... leading up to the trip, I chatted with my coworker Steve about NOLA. Being one of his favorite places to visit, he gave me a host of places to eat and things to do. I wrote a list down and totally forgot to bring it. But there was one place I remembered him mentioning. This place was Gene's, famous for their limited menu of sandwiches - quoted by Steve "we have four types of sandwiches - beef, other beef, hot sausage, and cheeseburger". This is where the locals eat. I knew I had to visit because these are the places I look for.

On our way to Gene's, it was sad to see the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina and that poverty was worsened by the disaster. Gene's is located outside of the city where things are still being rebuilt and is not in the nicest of neighborhoods. We pulled up to a parking lot, knowing that we had arrived. Marked by the hot pink exterior and the plain signage... reading "Gene's Po-Boy", as well as google maps telling us that we had arrived. We stepped into the shop and were greeted by a bright colored yellow menu, a steel counter, bathrooms to the right, a poker booth, and no seating area. I ordered a roast beef with everything on it (on the menu it's called "D'Phillis Roast Beef - had roast beef, gravy, mayo, your choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle). In the south, expect politeness everywhere but at Gene's don't expect nice service or smiles. The sass is all part of the experience. Got my sandwich, said thank you, and we left.

I opened up the sandwich - wrapped in a paper plate and wrapping, as if to say good luck. Gooey, messy, and oozing with flavor.. I knew I couldn't eat this in the car. OH, and I forgot to grab napkins. I licked off my hands and we were on our way. When we arrived where we were staying that night, I couldn't wait any longer and dug in.

And, I'll say this.. Gene's does not make best sandwich I've ever had. However, it is delicious, full of salt, full of flavor, and it all becomes this messy glob of a sandwich you can't resist.. probably especially if you're drinking. I'll say it again - this place is open 24/7 and they sell $10 sandwiches that could feed two people. Amongst all the good food in New Orleans, make a stop at Gene's, and get more than a taste of local flavor, get an experience.