the Bayou - Pop-up Bar in Windsor

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Posted 2023-03-27 by Jen ⇒ follow

It might just be a pop-up bar, but the Bayou has enough space to handle a lot more customers than the phrase 'pop-up' conjures in your mind. There are rows of tables each seating 4-5 on the street front along the walkway at 124 Chapel Street, Windsor. There are tables for two along the front of the open bar where you have the best of both worlds; being inside but able to face the street without doors blocking your view as you watch the world go by. Further in there are bar stools at the bar, and across the room, an upholstered long seat with tables and chairs as you can see from the images.

Operating from Wednesdays to Thursdays from 3pm to late, and Fridays to Sundays from 12pm to late - with DJ's Fridays and Saturdays, the bar is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Follow them on Instagram as they post which DJs will be entertaining you on the night. With plans for the venue by the owners, until it happens, the Bayou will be operating on the premises for the next three months testing the waters for their business. It's only been open a week, and this weekend being the first proper weekend it's been operating, it already had a healthy injection of customers according to the bar owners. That's good news and I hope customers will venture in to check out this new kid on the block that's beautifully set up, as they're here for a good time, not a long time.

Between them, the 4 owners have a lengthy number of years of experience in hospitality and have kept it simple. It's not hard to see that their philosophy is to keep the menu simple but do it well. There's nowhere to hide when there are only a few choices for food. New Orleans Bayou influenced, bar food on offer includes Fried Chicken; Prawn Po'boy; Duck Pate; Tin of Anchovies; Garlic Bread; and Cajun Fries. On the blackboard, as you can see, the Shots were $11 each; The Damp Cat; Blood & Sand; Voodoo; and Pornstar Shotini. As this is my 'hood' and I'm just an 8 min walk from the Bayou, on the way home today I decided to pop in and sample the duck pate and the fried chicken. Two of us sharing, it's all we could fit in. Let's just say if what I enjoyed was anything to go by, I'm going to happily go again soon, to try the rest of the select menu.

Not drinking, I didn't even look at the drinks menu. Silly me; or I could have told you all about it. Guess you're just going to have to check it out yourself. What I ate was perfection. The toast to spread the pate on was perfect with enough 'give' to still recognise it as bread and not a cracker, but firm and crispy enough - it was the perfect vehicle for the pate with a pop of pickles and jalapeño. The fried chicken wings with a healthy amount of batter on them were so tender and moist, even the bones were still soft and juicy. Look at that fresh, crisp celery with a perfect filling that made it even tastier. Looking out at the customers on the street front, they all looked pretty chilled, doing what this bar is designed for. Each with their lovely glasses of wines etc. deep in conversation with their partners/friends, chowing down on their delightful bites. The whole scenario looked very idyllic, all it needed was a flowing bayou streaming past and a few frogs croaking to transport you to New Orleans.