LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After nearly six years of serving up Creole classics here in Lincoln, the popular Cajun restaurant — A Taste of Louisiana — has announced that it will be closing its doors at the end of November.
The owner, Pokey Black, opened the restaurant — located at 27th Street and Fletcher Avenue — in 2020, one year after he moved to Nebraska from Louisiana.
“I think you have to become a person of value to really become successful,” said Black, who figured that the best thing he could offer his new state was a taste from back home.
“I feel like it’s the only authentic Cajun restaurant in Lincoln,” he said. “I source everything from Louisiana.
Committed to authenticity, Black’s menu features oxtail stew, red beans and rice, and collard greens with ham.
He says he gets his beef from Nebraska but drives 15 hours to the crawfish farms in his hometown, Lake Charles, Louisiana, to bring back fresh seafood.
It is this type of dedication that customers say they can feel from him.
“He has a good attitude; the food’s always great. It has a great atmosphere to come to and eat…all around a great place,” said longtime customer Jeremy Sharp.
Black says it was his customers who kept him going.
“I have a lot of love and support from people; I get all age groups from kids that love it to the older folks, and I feel like it says something,” he said.
Despite his best efforts, Black posted on Facebook on Wednesday, saying Nov. 29 will be his last day open.
He says there were many reasons, but mostly economic hardships, such as rising rent and increased costs for food products and cups.
Black attempted to raise prices slightly, but it did not help him break even. In addition, he says the stress of being the only cook in the kitchen took a toll on his personal life.
“I have no life, I only come here or go to the gym,” he said.
Black said that overworking himself also led to hip issues.
“Most people just see the finished product. They don’t understand the process,” he said.
Currently, the restaurant is prioritizing staying open long enough to fulfill Thanksgiving orders for its customers before shutting down.
Black’s advice to others in this position? “Take care of yourself, because no one else is going to.”
He adds that once he is back on track, he hopes to eventually open a food trailer to keep Cajun meals available in Lincoln.
Tags: A Taste of Louisiana, Cajun food, collard greens, crawfish, creole food, facebook announcement, food trailer, hometown food, increased food costs, Lake Charles, Lincoln restaurant, louisiana, oxtail stew, Pokey Black, restaurant closing down, small business, Thanksgiving meals
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