From boils to boudin, sink your teeth into this new metro-east Cajun eatery
A new option for Southern-style and Cajun soul food is now available in Collinsville.
Gator’s Louisiana Kitchen opened Wednesday at 1048 Collinsville Crossing and offers a mouth-watering menu of seafood, sandwiches, salads, soups, sides and many other savory selections.
Manager Eddie Hamid said the soul food he offered at Eddie’s Meat & Market in Washington Park always went over well with customers, so he decided to bring that to Collinsville.
The Collinsville eatery previously housed another restaurant, Stir Hibachi, which opened in October 2021. Hamid said the eatery closed about a year ago.
Gator’s is a family business, which includes Hamid’s son, daughter, and son-in-law, who all help out as needed.
In addition to the former hibachi restaurant space, Gator’s occupies the adjoining suite, which was previously occupied by Paws Pet Market. The wall between the two suites was removed, and the added space from the former pet supplies shop is now available as a dining area with a small bar section.
What’s on the menu at Gator’s?
On offer is an extensive menu of seafood boils, po’ boys and other Cajun fare.
Seafood boils of crawfish, shrimp, crab & shrimp, and snow crab are available and come with corn on the cob, smoked sausage and red potatoes. Add-ons include eggs, steamed rice, Texas toast, garlic noodles and butter.
Salads consist of a spring mix, cucumber, red onion, and tomato base. Options include the classic house salad, creamy Caesar, Cajun chicken (grilled or fried), blackened salmon (seared), crab cake, shrimp (grilled or fried) and fried crawfish. Salads are served with toasted bread.
Bayou Bites (starters) include Southwest chicken rolls, clam strips, crab cakes, fried crawfish tails, fried calamari rings, fried oysters, dirty loaded fries, crispy fried pickles, gator bites, fried mushrooms, pork boudin balls, shrimp cocktail and garlic mussels with toast.
Soups are sold by the cup or bowl. Choices are New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, and homemade gumbo.
Meal baskets come with fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, Texas toast, and choice of dipping sauce. For the main, choose from chicken tenders, crawfish tails, fried oysters, gator bites, clam strips, catfish fillets, catfish bites, cod, whole Jack, and jumbo shrimp.
Gator’s offers chef-inspired Louisiana dishes made from scratch. The Chef’s Creations menu consists of lobster mac & cheese, whole catfish dinner, pan-seared salmon fillet, Cajun spaghetti, seafood gumbo, creamy alfredo, Cajun shrimp dinner, shrimp and grits, and lemon-butter cod fillet.
Other offerings consist of smash burgers, crispy chicken or fish sandwiches, wings, and tacos (fish, shrimp, chicken, gator or crawfish).
Po’ boys are served on a French baguette and dressed with remoulade sauce, spring mix of greens, tomatoes, and pickles and served with fries. Choose from gator, sausage, fried oyster, fried shrimp, lobster roll and crawfish.
Side items are fried corn, collard greens, candied yams, spaghetti, cobbler, fried mushrooms, coleslaw, sweet potato fries, mac and cheese, red beans & rice, fries, potato chips, hush puppies, onion rings and fried pickles.
About Gator’s Louisiana Kitchen
Gator’s Louisiana Kitchen is located at 1048 Collinsville Crossing, Collinsville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 618-772-7265 or visit the business’ Facebook page.
