The Big Easy NC

The Big Easy NC is the bar and restaurant on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh that borrows its name and its cooking from New Orleans. Louisiana food, American standards and a long drink list all share the same room. The restaurant calls itself a little slice of New Orleans in downtown Raleigh.

Jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo and po’ boys come out of the kitchen, along with burgers, salads, pastas and wings. North Carolina beers sit alongside the cocktails, and live music and Southern hospitality do the rest on a downtown night.

What to know

• The kitchen describes its food as Cajun-inspired Southern fare with American classics beside it.
• A drink called the Hurricane Easy is one of the bar’s signatures.
• Seasonal craft cocktails appear on the list through the year.
• Fresh salads and pastas are on the menu for anyone skipping the Louisiana dishes.
• Current menus are posted online for anyone planning ahead.