Sitting out on the balcony at Bourbon St. drinking a beer and downing a pulled pork bbq sandwich is practically a Spring rite of passage for my group of friends. When those first warm evenings roll around, we almost instinctively meet up there after work. We are particularly partial to $1 beer nights on Mondays.

Besides the pulled pork, I’ve also had the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and the Tenderloin sandwich, and they have all been delicious. All of the portions are MASSIVE…each sandwich comes with a cup of slaw and a heaping plate of fries…and you’ll most likely have some left over for lunch the next day.

My only complaint is related to what seems to be a constantly overwhelmed wait staff. When you’re eating something with spicy buffalo sauce on it, it becomes crucial to have a beverage on hand. And more often than not, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to return to the table once the food has been delivered. Whether this would require more staff or just a little more hustle and attentiveness from the existing staff is debatable.

Overall, the delicious food, lively atmosphere, and the outdoor seating make it a necessary Downtown experience.

My weekend wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Cafe Patachou at 49th and Penn. The cafe/bistro-like atmosphere is warm and inviting and the wait staff knows their repeat customers on a first-name basis. You can help yourself to a hot cup of coffee in a variety of flavors/strengths while you wait for a seat. Seating proves to be pretty hot real-estate…especially on Sundays. When the post-Church crowd starts filtering in, it’s a people-watcher’s paradise. The room is abuzz with all sorts of interesting conversations, and the friendly patrons will frequently start up a conversation with you.

Once you’re seated, you can look over the menu and admire the local artwork posted on the wall. Patachou’s specialty (in my opinion)is their omelettes. Choose from pre-designed omelettes with catchy names such as “The Overachiever” and “Hippie with a Benz” or create your own from a generous list of interesting ingredients. My personal favorite of the moment is the “Omelette You Can’t Refuse” which is made in support of the Heartland Film Festival. Filled with crunchy bacon, breakfast potatoes, cheese, and sour cream, it’s absolutely delicious. All omelettes come with your choice of toast with jelly/jam or their outstanding Cinnamon toast, and a cup of fresh fruit. If you don’t like omelettes, they have other breakfast options such as Croissant French Toast and Oatmeal with granola. They also have a pretty good selection of lunch items such as BLT’s, egg/chicken/tuna salad, and hearty soups. But my taste buds always draw me back to breakfast.

My one complaint is the sometimes lengthy wait you have to endure, but it’s a necessary inconvenience to preserve the atmosphere. I would like to see more outdoor seating added too. If you’ve got more than 2 people, outdoors seating is out of the questions. All-in-all, it is one of my favorite places in town to eat. I’m constantly torn between introducing new people to to this culinary delight and keeping it as my own little secret.