One Thursday evening, I took a walk up the newly renovated and reopened 400 block of Lake Street downtown. It was unnaturally cool and wet for the middle of July, so me and some dudes sought shelter and the warmth that only beer can bring. Enter Bayou Some Junque café, a low-lit space with a collection of literal junk chairs and tables made shiny and new. A bar wraps around the room, with a miasma of patrons listening to some horrible hip hop off a laptop. Unsure of what to think of the place, we sat at a long table and talked about cars. The beer was relatively cheap, but only domestics are to be found here. Work prohibits the drinking of liquor on weekday nights… usually.

The next day, I wanted to give its lunch menu a try. This place is also a café, boasting “famous” gumbo, jambalaya, etouffe, sandwiches, soups, and salads galore. The woman in charge makes the food herself on a small grill behind the bar. It came out promptly, piping hot. I went for a bowl of beef soup, because the bowls were very big, and my companion ordered a barbecue beef sandwich, topped with bacon, jalapeno cheese, and hugged by a soft, buttery jalapeno bun. What was placed before us smelled so amazing that, despite the temperature of the food, we dove right in.

Immediate explosions of peppery, Trinidad-esque, and Cajun flavors danced on our palettes. I could not have eaten it quicker. My soup was a medley of soft, but not overcooked, vegetables in a warm bath of deep flavor. The beef strips were seasoned to perfection with a pepper rub and cooked so delicately. I have never had beef in a soup that was so tender. The sandwich looked equally amazing, with barbecue sauce oozing from the bun. Juices collected on the plate, which the crunchy pickle was dipped in to complete the meal.

I am not complaining, but it was so underpriced for the quality and flavor of these dishes. I left an 80% tip. And I’m a cheapskate. The real shame is that they stop serving food at 3pm! However, they are open late, and the atmosphere is super chill. Mixed drinks are made in mason jars. Bikes and odd paraphernalia hang from the ceiling and walls. A glass display cabinet holds old-timey, dusty “junque” that is for sale. And parked out front are beautiful antique cars, also with a price tag. Give this place a shot during lunch. Maybe you’ll find it’s also your new favorite late-night spot.