by Katie Woodall
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Jonesboro is home to a wide variety of eateries, with new restaurants popping up almost monthly. N’awlins, Arkansas recently opened as a local establishment, specializing in Cajun and Creole cuisines.

John Miller opened the restaurant in December 2016 with his father Glin. It features traditional Cajun and Creole recipes that have been in their family for years.

“It’s an underserved market in Jonesboro. It’s something we both really like to do; we’ve done it as a hobby for years and years. We knew we were going to do something unique to make it work,” Miller said.

The owners made several trips to Louisiana to taste foods they wanted to incorporate into their menu. Some of the traditional Louisiana fare N’awlins offers include gumbo and boudin, as well as classic desserts such as bananas foster and New Orleans-style bread pudding.

“I’ve been working on the gumbo recipe for about 10 years or more. We really want everything to just be as true to the style as possible,” Miller said.

While the owners are trying to promote the restaurant, some patrons said they just happened to stumble upon it while they were downtown.

Arkansas State student Jackson Ochello said he first discovered the restaurant by chance.

“I just happened to be walking by and saw the sign for Cajun food. I love Cajun food, so I decided to have lunch and wasn’t disappointed,” he said.

Miller said he’s hopeful the business will continue to grow. Although they’ve worked with East Arkansas Broadcasters, bought billboard space and used social media, Miller said word of mouth has enticed most patrons.

“The majority of people are first-time visitors. We’re building a fairly loyal following, and a lot of the first-time visits are from suggestions by other people,” he said.

Located at 303 S. Main St., N’awlins, Arkansas is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on the restaurant or to see the menu, visit www.nawlinsarkansas.com or the Facebook page.