Check, Please.

How y'all are? If you have never watched a Justin Wilson cooking show, you are missing out... big time. Unfortunately, Wilson passed away several years ago, but his legacy lives on. I used to watch Justin Wilson on PBS every Sunday afternoon. It was tradition. I may have only been 10 years old, but I loved the way he talked. He was Cajun "tru and tru." (Yeah... I tried to write a Cajun word. Let me know how that worked out.)

So recently, when my boss Brett wanted to go eat something different for lunch, I consulted my running tab of interesting restaurants, lovingly compiled by you (my readers). So thanks! We owe this gem to you.

We decided on CHOPS. It was fairly close, just off I-85 on Pelham, right next to the Starbucks and Kinkos. I was a little nervous to go because you guys all know that I'm a spice weenie. I try to pretend like I can handle it, but I just can't. To put it in perspective, I usually request a little barbecue sauce to be mixed in with buffalo sauce to cut the heat on wings, and the only place that won't do that is Hooters, but that's a whole other story. I'll save that rant for another day.

We come in to the tiny restaurant that is filled with coolers and it seems like the kitchen is three times the size of the eating area, which is odd. There is a sweet, quiet lady running around and a man standing in the open kitchen area in the back, stuffing and rubbing down raw, whole birds--maybe it was chicken, may it was something completely different. I don't know and didn't seem appropriate to question him.

We pick a table and sit down and the sweet, quiet lady came over to greet us and explained pretty much the entire menu so Brett and I would know what we were ordering. It was very authentic and we couldn't pronounce some of the words. I chose the Shrimp Etouffee and Brett got the Shrimp Po-Boy.

You would not believe the goodness that arrived at our table a few minutes later. My plate was piled high with white rice, perfect tiny shrimp and spicy white sauce. It came with a side of black-eyed peas and a fresh roll. Brett's what a nice hoagie-style roll with the usual suspects of a po-boy, but with this yummy house sauce. The sauce was mustard-based and pretty spicy, but it was unbelievable, especially on fries.

My Etouffee was phenomenal! It made my nose run but the flavor was so fantastic, I didn't even care. It was flour and butter based, kind of like a gravy, but way better. Brett's po-boy was probably one of the best I've ever had, even from the coast, and those fries... mmmmmmmmm. The fries were the most seasoned fries I have had, and probably the tastiest. I am very excited about my next trip to CHOPS. I'm ready to try everything on the menu.

As far as the service, our quiet and sweet server was very good, but the place has such a laid-back feel that you can get up and get more drink yourself. The owner was also gracious enough to give us the story on his background. I'd give you the story myself, but he tells it with much more flair, so I encourage to go and chat him up!

4.5 out of 5. You will not be disappointed, I GARONTEE! =)