Carlos recognized me almost instantly. I thought he looked like he'd put on a few pounds. But there was no mistaking the man running the front of the house at Louisiana Kitchen, which opened last Saturday in the former New Orleans Bistro space on Cordell Ave.

The menu is almost exactly, exactly the same as that of the now-departed Louisiana Express. They even managed to carry over the phone number from Louisiana Express: 301 652 6945. The only accidental omission, Carlos admitted, was the "Cajun pizza". They're going to try to run without it for now. Prices seem to be very slightly higher...a quarter here, fifty cents there, maybe a buck on a few of the apps. But the setting is now fresh and shiny, with new furniture, dishes and flatware, and finally some room between the tables.

Yes, the spicy fries are back!

Running the kitchen is co-owner José Blanco, the long-time chef at L.E. The two of them managed to hire many of the former staff from L.E., although I didn't see any of them on this Thursday afternoon. Several locations for the venture were considered from Silver Spring to Frederick, but when the former New Orleans Bistro space came available, everything clicked into place. The space came broom-clean with none of the decorations, so the interior re-do has been limited to a new floor, some paint and wallpaper, new fixtures, and the addition of a window from the dining room to the back of the rotisserie. There aren't that many clichéd doohickeys on the wall yet. José's in-laws are helping with some ongoing tweaks to the interior, but otherwise it's up and running.

There's also a little blurb on their website regarding the passing of Peter Finkhauser, the owner of Louisiana Express.

But how's the food? And do they serve breakfast?

Cheap and comforting, despite being way too middle-of-the-road to be authentic. I'd never take a yat here, lest I die of embarrassment. However, my customary catfish "beignets" and regular (née veggie) creole were as I remembered them.

Breakfast (07:30- M-Sa, 09:00- Su) is on the menu, with the usual poached egg options etc.

YAY! I've been missing this.

Poached eggs creole. Calas. Beignets. Cafe au lait. By any other name, LEx is back. Happy day.

Oooh. Breakfast @ LE was something I've been missing. Will have to stop by sometime soon.

I had a Muffaletta at lunchtime. The idea sounded great, thinking back to my last stop at Central Grocery a few years ago.

The bread is off - Not even close. The olive spread - yuck and not a kick but so spicy literally burned my mouth.

Here's to hoping some of the other ideas are executed better...Will try another time or two but not off to a good start. Anyones experience better?

OK, this is now on my must-eat-at list.

About two decades ago, the New Orleans Emporium in Adams Morgan was the best Creole/Cajun place around, by far. The bar was upstairs, and my friends and I would dive into "Cajun popcorn" (fried crawfish tails) and "Oyster Shooters" (fresh shucked oyster with a dollop of hot sauce and a shot of peppar vodka in a tumbler). A basket of popcorn and 3-4 shooters would get us ready to move downstairs to the restaurant, where the blackened lamb chops were simply incredible. When that place closed, the only reasonable facsimile was Louisiana Express, and maybe RTs in Alexandria. If this place is in the same league, here I come!

Thanks fopr the update. I am sooo looking forward to this. The old LE was slipping a bit at the end, tho.

My experience was similar to ol_ironstomach’s. A couple weeks ago, when I walked into L.K. to get The George Oakley Duo a gig. Carlos came up to me and said “George do you want your regular, red beans and rice with an Iced Café au Lait?”. I hadn’t been in Louisiana Express in three or four years. I hadn’t intended to eat, but I couldn’t resist. The food was great and I landed the gig. Louisiana Kitchen and Bayou Bar will be having live music on Monday nights through December the first. The name of the group is The George Oakley Duo. We will be starting at 6 and going till 9. This is an audition. If it goes well we may continue. If you want to hear some jazz in Bethesda, come on out.

Ok, I have no idea why I never had the pain perdu at Lousiana Express, but I didn't. I got stuck on the breakfast po'boy, and that's just what I would have for brunch. And thus it went at Lousiana Kitchen, until I ended up going twice in one weekend, and just didn't want the po'boy again. OMG. The french toast is chunks of baguette, drowned in eggy goodness, and then *deep fried*. It's kind of like a beignet on steroids.

I'm afraid to go back. Thank god they don't serve it for dinner.