Fat Tuesday is next week, and Wichita will be full of Cajun-ified meals and parties
Fat Tuesday is less than a week away, and the school-night parties will be underway all over Wichita with lots of crawfish, oysters, hurricanes and beads.
Wichita’s big annual parties, including the Red Beans revival by Blue Moon Catering and the Cajun buffet at Doo-Dah Diner, will return to in-person formats after switching to to-go last year.
Lots of bars and restaurants all over town are putting in their own food-and-drink parties as well.
Here’s a guide to where to party on Fat Tuesday in Wichita, which is on March 1. Know of a party I missed? Email me at dneil@wichitaeagle.com and I’ll add it.
Red Bean’s Bayou Grill Memorial Fat Tuesday celebration: It’s become a Fat Tuesday tradition in Wichita — a big Mardis Gras party with a buffet of Cajun favorites that were once served at Wichita restaurant Red Bean’s Bayou Grill. The party was to-go only last year, but this year, it’ll be in person again. The buffet meal will be served from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Villa Luna, 8406 W. Central, and choices will include dishes like firecracker pasta, pork loin Thibodeaux, jambalaya and fried pickles. Attendees also can purchase adult beverages separately. The price is $30 for adults, $15 for ages 4-12 and free for kids 4 and under. A soft drink is included in the price. Reservations aren’t accepted — it’s first come, first served. Call 316-612-4694 with questions.
Doo-Dah Diner’s Fat Tuesday Cajun Feast, 206 E. Kellogg: This popular downtown diner has been putting on a Fat Tuesday feast for the past eight years, and the ninth annual will happen from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It will offer a buffet that includes jambalaya, shrimp etouffee, blackened chicken, a shrimp and crawfish boil, jalapeno cornbread muffins, oysters on the half shell and King Cake. It’s $30 a person, and seating is limited. The diner will not be open for regular business that day. Call 316-265-7011 to make a reservation.
River City Brewing Company’s Fat Tuesday Crawfish & Shrimp Boil, 150 N. Mosley: This downtown restaurant is bringing back its all-you-can-eat crawfish and shrimp boil from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Those who attend can help themselves to a boil that includes shrimp, crawfish imported overnight from Louisiana, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s $45 a person and for dine-in only. Tickets are available at www.facebook.com/RiverCityBrewingICT
Fat Tuesday at Central Standard Brewing, 156 S. Greenwood: This brewery’s Fat Tuesday celebration will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and the evening will include Cajun food and treats made by Pee Wee+Sweets and a free show by The Moonpie Brass Band.
Fat Tuesday at Mort’s, 923 E. First St.: This Old Town bar will celebrate Fat Tuesday with jambalaya and King Cakes while supplies last. There will also be live music, free beads and more. The hours will be 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
Fat Tuesday at The Rusty Nail, 1155 S. Washington: This restaurant will be serving shrimp po’ boys, muffuletta burgers and King Cake on Tuesday. It will also have $4 hurricanes and free beads. The bar’s hours will be 11 a.m. to midnight.
Fat Tuesday at Shamrock Lounge, 1784 W. Douglas: Local Caterer The Best Bite will be serving New Orleans style food from 6 to 10 p.m. (or until sold out) Tuesday out of the “Little House” building directly west of the Delano bar. The menu will include shrimp po’ boys, dirty rice and hush puppies, Cajun Alfredo jambalaya pasta and King Cake Waffle Tower.
Fat Tuesday at Whiskey Dicks, 801 S. Seneca: This bar’s annual Mardis Gras party starts at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and offerings will include half-price appetizers, $3 hurricanes and Cajun platters with frog legs, jalapeno hush puppies, crawfish jambalaya and Cajun slaw for $11.99. A Cajun mac with fried shrimp and crab will also be available. Drinks will be half-price during happy hour, which lasts from 3 to 6 p.m. Zydeco music will be playing. Must be 21 to attend.
And one party that’s been canceled
St. James Oyster Dinner, 3750 E. Douglas: The annual St. James Episcopal Church oyster dinner has just been canceled because of supply chain issues, making it impossible for the church to find oysters. The church is contacting people who purchased tickets for refunds. The dinner also was canceled last year because of COVID-19.
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
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