Rum House brings Caribbean flavor to NOLA

New Orleans has long been considered one of the great cities in the United States for food lovers.  But if you think that reputation is built solely on its roots in Creole and Cajun cooking, you just haven’t spent enough time eating in the Big Easy.  Like the city itself, New Orleans is a melting pot of the world’s cuisines … you’ll find outstanding restaurants serving everything from Italian to Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian and African dishes, to name a few.  

It’s probably no surprise given its location near the Gulf of Mexico that Caribbean cuisine is well represented, too.  And I’ve found no better example than the food being served up at the Rum House Caribbean Taqueria.

Located on one of the busiest sections of Magazine Street which divides the Garden District and Irish Channel neighborhoods, the Rum House always seems to be busy.  That’s quite an accomplishment given the size of the building which can prominently be seen on the corner of Magazine and Ninth Street.

So, yes, you may have a wait, especially at peak dinner hours or happy hour for the bar.  But it’s probably going  to be worth it.  Just get your name in with the hostess and grab a drink if you’re inclined. 

You won’t have to go far to place that drink order.  The bar happens to be very close to the entrance and is one of the most prominent features inside the Rum House.  It is named for booze, after all.  

If you’re lucky, you’ll find a seat and be able to blend in with the atmosphere.  But even if the bar is also “standing room only,” there’s plenty of space inside to stand and mingle while you wait for your table. 

The wait will probably not be long.  The Rum House has a spacious dining area that's flooded with light from the street and neatly decorated with Caribbean-themed art on the wall.

The Rum House has plenty of Caribbean-inspired items on the menu, from jerk chicken and fish to a roti dish and seafood pepper pot stew.  But with “taqueria” in the restaurant’s title, it’s no surprise that most people come here for the tacos.

That’s why I couldn’t resist a Taco Trifecta plate of my own.  I chose their “Calypso Beef” taco (back left), the “DrewBrees” (center) and the “Rasta” taco.  The beef taco consisted of marinated slices of medium-cooked flank steak topped with a nice scoop of cool guacamole and a lime crema sauce – simple compared to some of their other taco offerings but just as delicious.   The “DrewBrees” is probably their most popular “masterpiece” – beef brisket debris, fries, queso blanco and pico de gallo, from bottom to top (the scoop of black beans came from my attempt to steal a bite from Punky’s plate).  The “Rasta” – a medley of veggies roasted in jerk seasoning then topped with cilantro and lime sour cream – was better than it has any right to be ... tasty enough to make anyone reconsider becoming a vegetarian.   

A heaping serving of Caribbean-style greens completed the meal, which I gleefully washed down with a pina colada, one of the many classic tropical cocktail on the Rum House’s drink menu.  The cost for a trifecta platter:  a very comfortable $18.  The pina colada was $11, which is really not bad given the size of the drink.  

Punky’s appetite must have been smaller than mine, since she chose the Two Dat taco dinner – two of their specialty tacos and her choice of two sides from the menu.  She couldn’t resist the “DrewBrees” either, but for her second taco she chose the Carolina BBQ -- pulled pork, slaw, roasted corn relish and Carolina-style barbecue sauce all hiding in one corn tortilla.  The aforementioned black beans and a side of roasted veggies (the same ones used for the Rasta taco) completed the plate.  And for comparison, you can get a Two Dat at the time of this post for around $17.     

The Kiddo also selected a Two Dat combo with a Calypso Beef taco and a mahi mahi fish taco, along with sides of sweet potato fries and coconut mango rice.  It all must have been good because no complaints were heard, and no bites were shared.  In fact, we all left Rum House quite satisfied. 

The full length of Magazine Street has plenty of dining options and just about every type of cuisine you can imagine, from classical French haute cuisine to tavern-style po-boy shops.  It’s a testament to the Rum House Caribbean Taqueria that it stands out for its food, lively atmosphere and affordable prices.