DOE’S EAT PLACE | Bayou Eats

ARTICLE BY STARLA GATSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

With a stunning new interior, expanded seating, and the same legendary recipes, Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe is serving up tradition in a fresh new setting.

It was 4:17 PM when we pulled into the parking lot, and despite having only been open for 17 minutes, Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe was already busy. When we opened the door, we were greeted not only by the host but also by the sounds of friends catching up over post-work cocktails and family members laughing as they chatted about their days. Small groups occupied a handful of tables throughout the space, and several more stood by, waiting to be seated. Nearly every seat of the L-shaped bar was taken. There is no question about it: the community has taken to the new Doe’s of Monroe location right away. 

After spending the last 12 years nestled into Washington Plaza in Downtown Monroe, Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe moved into 2230 Tower Drive at the end of May. While the location changed, everything that is quintessentially Doe’s remains intact, just as the owners and staff hoped it would. 

You’ll still find tamales on the menu, and though they’re listed as an appetizer, no one would judge you if you ordered them for your entreé. As they’re made with the same recipe that Doe’s Eat Place founders Dominick “Doe” Signa and his wife Mamie perfected when they opened the first location in Greenville, Mississippi, they’re a classic choice and a piece of the restaurant’s history. Chili, gumbo, meatballs, and broiled or fried shrimp also remain as appetizer options. 

The main courses haven’t changed, either, and steak still reigns supreme. Visitors have plenty of options: filet, sirloin, porterhouse, ribeye, T-bone, and bone-in. You can even add broiled or fried lobster or shrimp to the mix, upgrading your regular steak dinner to a Surf & Turf experience. And, of course, those who aren’t in the mood for steak won’t be excluded here. Grilled or fried catfish filets, fried or broiled shrimp, lobster tails, grilled chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, and mahi mahi are also on the menu. Except for spaghetti, each entreé comes with a salad and at least one side — hand-cut French fries, a baked potato, green beans, mixed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, or potatoes au gratin. 

There’s even a menu section for the kids, offering chicken strips or spaghetti, and a small dessert menu featuring cheesecake, bread pudding, and a brownie à la mode. 

Fans of the Doe’s Eat Place bar can rest assured that it has made its way into the new space, too. Now, though, there’s more room to display the impressive whiskey and bourbon selection the steakhouse boasts. Where Washington Plaza left little room for the bottles to be displayed, that has been remedied at Tower Drive, thanks to Ruston-based Hart Designs, which created a shelving and lighting system to display Doe’s liquor offerings in a functional yet aesthetically pleasing way. 

The wood hanging behind it ties the new bar together beautifully. Pulled from the floors of an old building in Downtown Monroe, the wood, which is estimated to be around 200 years old, boasts a honey color that, when lit just right, looks a little like bourbon or whiskey is dripping down it. 

Behind the bar, which is a standout feature of Doe’s 2.0, the staff creates the same classic and seasonal cocktails Doe’s Eat Place patrons love. At the time of this article’s writing, there are 10 summer cocktails to choose from. One is the Lavender Sky, a refreshing combination of Roku Japanese Gin, coconut cream, lavender syrup, lemon juice, and soda. Those who prefer more traditional drinks might go for the Old Forester Old Fashioned. Made with Old Forester Bourbon, simple syrup, and Peychaud’s Bitters, it’s simple yet satisfying. Between these and other options, like the Cane Run Rum-based Coconut Mojito and the Ghost Tequila-based Saguaro, there’s a summer cocktail for everyone to enjoy. 

It’s clear that the menu hasn’t shifted, and neither has the friendly staff that makes and serves its contents — a delight and relief to Doe’s Eat Place regulars, we’re sure. But that doesn’t mean the relocation didn’t come without changes at all. The address changed, yes, but so did the interior of the building Doe’s now occupies. What’s now Doe’s of Monroe used to be Portico Restaurant and Bar, and, as the two restaurants fall into different categories — upscale steakhouse and fast casual bar and grill, respectively — a lot of work had to be done to transform the old Portico into the new Doe’s.

While there was no major structural work done, there was plenty of aesthetic restructuring and designing needed to transform 2230 Tower Drive into the steakhouse the Doe’s owners and staff dreamed of. Gregory Hudgins spearheaded the interior design for this project, and his expertise, the owners say, managed to capture exactly the look and feel they wanted Doe’s to have. 

One of the first changes Doe’s 2.0 visitors might notice is the booth space. The Doe’s team says the lack of adequate booth space was one of their biggest gripes with the Washington Plaza location. Here, in the new space, that problem has been solved. The building’s pre-existing interior brickwork was transformed into large booth cubbies, providing intimate areas for families and friends to tuck themselves away and break bread together. The dark-colored booth seats in the cubbies and at the more open booths sprinkled throughout the restaurant were created by Duncan Upholstery and offer comfort for those who plan to sit and stay awhile.

Besides the booths, visitors will likely notice the difference in the lighting of the space. Hart Designs is responsible for the lighting in Doe’s 2.0, and the company’s designs plus Billings Electrical’s efforts create a warm, inviting glow throughout the steakhouse. 

Ultimately, everyone involved in the construction of the new and improved Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe was tasked with working toward one goal, and it’s the same goal the steakhouse’s owners and staff posture themselves toward every day: to make the best restaurant they can make. The Doe’s team makes it clear that they aren’t working toward this goal in an attempt to outdo anyone else; they simply want to serve their patrons as best they can. Each aspect of this new space was designed and built with that desire in mind. 

Doe’s Eat Place of Monroe, located at 2230 Tower Drive, is open Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Though reservations are not required, they are recommended. Visit www.doeseatplacemonroe.com to plan your visit, or call (318) 816-7116 to reserve space for a party larger than six patrons.