Occasionally a restaurant becomes a 'legend in its own time'. Only a handful of restaurants ever achieve this kind of fame and one of them is Harold & Belle's located on West Jefferson Blvd., in Los Angeles.
Since 1969 it has presented customers with the best New Orleans style creole cuisine in Southern California. And the atmosphere and decor of the restaurant matches the cuisine for if you are familiar with New Orleans and its restaurants, then you are at home at Harold & Belle's.
Owners and chefs are Harold Legaux and Al Honore and perhaps most impressive is the consistency the restaurant shows both in the quality of the food and the serving staff. These high standards have never varied in all the visits this Writer has enjoyed.
On our most recent visit we had dinner with Ryan Legaux, a third generation of the family, and now an active manager.
The tempting food comes in very large portions so plan to order your luncheon or dinner accordingly. Let’s begin with their truly famous’ File’ Gumbo with hot and smoked beef sausage, shrimp, crab, chicken and richly seasoned broth. This served with French bread, steamed rice in a small or large portion. Many happy patrons leave with a carry-out bag.
Po-Boy Sandwiches are served all day with thirteen choices including shrimp, crab, Louisiana oysters, spicy crawfish popcorn and more. Closed sandwiches come with mayonnaise, sliced tomatoes, and note this, choice of homemade potato salad or cole slaw, French fries and a cup of red beans and rice. Luncheon specials are served until 4 p.m.
The menu offers thirteen appetizers including fried Catfish Nibbles, crawfish cakes and a new one, a delicious appetizer, fried sea scallops, introduced to us by Ryan.
There are entree’ Salads, some nine kinds including the famous Caesar; homestyle favorites with clam chowder or dinner salad, The nine choices include another winner, Jambalaya.
We ordered the sumptuous shrimp and crawfish Etouffee with steamed rice. It’s spicy but superb. Our starter was the most excellent clam chowder.
Desserts are not forgotten. Our young host suggested we try the Bread Pudding as well as a new item, a banana flavored cheese cake.
Accolades and awards have been showered on Harold & Belle's through the years. The Restaurant is a consistent Gold Award winner from the Southern California Restaurant Writers and two years ago Harold Legaux and Al Honore, were named 'Restaurateurs of the Year' by the California Restaurant Writers.
Harold and Belle’s is located at 2920 West Jefferson Blvd. just East of Crenshaw Blvd. Phone numbers (323) 735-9023 or (323)735-9918. Reservations are suggested. They open at 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. for luncheon. Dinners from 4 p.m. till 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Open seven days a week. There is valet parking.
Graphic Design by Impact Graphics