The District Restaurant Review: Christmas Lunch, Craft Cocktails & Shrimp and Grits Envy

What do you get when you blend Southern comfort food with modern flair, add generous craft cocktails, and serve it all in a downtown lounge atmosphere? A dining experience at The District that turns an ordinary lunch into a full-blown celebration.

For my department’s Christmas lunch, we traded spreadsheets for spirits and headed to The District in downtown Ponchatoula—a lounge bar and eatery known for its modern takes on Southern classics. Think shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, Cajun pasta, and a cocktail menu that leans festive when the season calls for it.

First Impressions

We arrived right as the doors opened, arms full of gift bags for our office exchange, instantly setting the tone for a relaxed, celebratory afternoon. The staff greeted us in full holiday spirit, ugly Christmas sweaters and all, and our server wasted no time getting us settled. Drinks were the first order of business.

I opted to play it safe with lemon water and lemonade, but my coworkers chose adventure. The Christmas cocktail flight made its way to the table, featuring a gingerbread cocktail, a frosted sugar cookie martini, and a peppermint concoction that looked as festive as it tasted. The bartender was very generous—so much so that even a small sample had me feeling pleasantly buzzed. Lively is the right word.

Appetizer: Voodoo Eggrolls and Seafood Dip

Before entrées, we shared the Voodoo Eggrolls and the Seafood Dip. Both were solid starters, though not without room for improvement. The eggrolls were fried to a perfect crisp, but I couldn’t help thinking they would shine brighter with a boudin-style filling alongside the cheese—just a little extra Southern depth. The seafood dip had good flavor, but the consistency leaned too runny for the fried pita chips it came with. Creamier would’ve made it a standout.

The Entree: 12 Spice Chicken Pasta

For my main dish, I ordered the 12 Spice Chicken Pasta, a cavatappi pasta tossed in their signature spiced Alfredo sauce with spinach, feta, grilled chicken, and toasted French bread on the side. Comforting, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully prepared—the noodles held the sauce beautifully and weren’t overcooked, which is always a win. It was a genuinely good plate.

The Real Main Event: Shrimp and Grits

But the star of the afternoon wasn’t even what I ordered.

My supervisor’s Shrimp and Grits stole the show: smoked gouda grits topped with sautéed jumbo shrimp and finished with a pico BBQ shrimp sauce. One bite was all it took. The grits were creamy and cheesy, almost polenta-like, while the sauce was rich, savory, and indulgent without being heavy. I looked her dead in the eye and said, “I’m jealous. I should have gotten that.”

And I meant it.

Final Thoughts

I’ll absolutely be returning to The District, and next time, those shrimp and grits are mine. Not optional.

Sometimes a good meal is more than just food. It’s laughter over cocktails, gift bags at your feet, and the kind of dish that lingers in your mind long after the plates are cleared. This Christmas lunch checked all those boxes.

If you’re ever in downtown Ponchatoula and want to enjoy brunch with the girls or an intimate date night, visit The District.

Would you try any of these dishes? Let me know in the comments!