Book Club, Lunch, and a Movie Date: An Afternoon at Benteaux
What do you get when you mix a cozy book club afternoon with Cajun-Asian fusion and a dash of “life happens” energy?
Some days are meant to unfold slowly.
Good conversation, a casual lunch, and ending the day at the movies. That’s exactly what this one turned into.
Before anything else, my best friend and I met up for our biweekly Lit Happens Book Club meeting. Our April theme, Quiet Tension and Hidden Things, stretched into May after a few reschedules. But like we always say… life happens 🤷🏾♀️
We spent the afternoon talking through recent reads like The Little Book of Good Enough and Convenience Store Woman, mixed in with current events and everyday life. The kind of conversation that doesn’t feel rushed or forced.
A Quick Reset Before Lunch
After book club, we made a quick Dollar Tree run. Nothing major, just one of those small stops that somehow becomes part of the memory.
A Cajun-Asian Fusion Lunch Spot with Strong Vibes
We headed over to Benteaux in downtown Hammond for lunch, a Cajun-Asian fusion spot that blends modern Japanese-American style with Louisiana flavor.
Even on a busy weekend afternoon, the restaurant felt calm and relaxed. It had that easygoing energy that makes you want to sit, talk, and stay a while.
Our server, Sharlene, was friendly and attentive from the start, which always sets the tone.
Drinks That Go Down a Little Too Easy
I kept it simple with my usual lemonade, while Garalisha ordered the Shiso Peach Tea cocktail made with St. Roch Vodka, yuzu, peach tea, and house-made shiso syrup.
One sip in, and I understood immediately.
It was smooth, light, and almost too easy to drink. The kind of cocktail where you don’t taste the alcohol much at all, which makes it a little dangerous in the best way.
Shareables: A Mix of Hits and Misses
We started with a few appetizers:
The Blue Store Egg Rolls were good, crispy, and filled with pork and cabbage, served with a honey garlic sauce. Solid, but pretty standard.
The Breaux Bao (chicken) was easily the standout. Soft buns, crispy chicken, and a wasabi remoulade that brought a spicy mustard-like kick. That sauce alone made the dish.
Then there were the Deauxritos. Creative idea, but the execution fell short. You only get a handful of wonton chips, and the charred scallion sour cream dip didn’t quite work. It felt like a missed opportunity when something like a cheese dip or that wasabi remoulade would’ve elevated it.
Entrées That Needed a Bit More Balance
For my entrée, I ordered the Seoul Rice Bowl.
Karaage chicken over jasmine rice with jinsou and curry ranch sauce. The rice was fluffy, the chicken had a great crunch (maybe slightly over-fried), but the sauce leaned too sweet. It overpowered everything else, and the curry ranch flavor barely came through. A little heat would have balanced it perfectly.
Garalisha ordered the Mandarin Chick’n, and this is where expectations didn’t match reality.
We expected something similar to classic Mandarin-style takeout chicken. Instead, it came with a savory brown gravy that was under-seasoned. Not salty, not sweet, not spicy. Just kind of flat.
A Small Mix-Up, Handled Gracefully
Garalisha originally wanted the Korean short ribs, but they were sold out. When she asked what else wasn’t available, there was a small misunderstanding that made us think the pepper jelly chicken was also unavailable.
Later, once we realized the mix-up, Sharlene handled it really well. She apologized, clarified everything, and offered to have the correct dish made to go.
That kind of service recovery always stands out.
From Lunch to the Movies
After lunch, we wrapped up the day with a little solo-but-together movie moment.
I went to see Michael, and I’ll definitely be sharing a full review on the blog soon.
Meanwhile, Garalisha went to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, which honestly felt very on brand for her.
The Takeaway
Benteaux is one of those places where the experience shines just as much as the food.
The atmosphere is great, the service is strong, and there are clear standout items on the menu. But some dishes could use better balance, especially when it comes to flavor.
I’d absolutely come back, but next time I’m sticking to what they seem to do best: appetizers, ramen, and those short ribs.
Because when Benteaux gets it right, it really gets it right.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Best for: Casual lunch dates, small group outings, and trying Cajun-Asian fusion appetizers.
Must-try: Breaux Bao (chicken), Shiso Peach Tea cocktail, and (next time) the Korean short ribs or ramen.
