CLARKSVILLE, IN (September 22, 2023) – Many local residents were disappointed when Logan’s Roadhouse shut the doors for good at its Lewis and Clark Parkway location in Clarksville back in 2020. The result was an empty storefront sitting in a prime location right off of Interstate 65. That all changes Monday when Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opens its doors to the general public for the first time.
It was announced earlier this spring that the restaurant chain, co-owned by former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, was planning to open a new location in Clarksville. The company currently operates more than 80 locations across the south. It bills itself as “a restaurant and bar concept that pairs attention-to-detail and culinary excellence with a little Louisiana spice, pulling in that underdog mindset and hospitality, making you feel like family the moment you walk in.” It also has a really interesting back-story.
Although the Clarksville location won’t open to the public until Monday, September 25th, the owners invited some lucky locals for a chance to try the Walk-On’s experience early. Known as the “Walk-On’s Training Camp”, it is a chance for the new staff at the restaurant to sharpen their skills ahead of the grand opening. This reviewer was one of the fortunate few to receive that invitation, so I thought I would share some insight into the experience.
When you first enter the restaurant, you can’t even recognize the space from its days as a Logan’s Roadhouse. Several large televisions stand out across the bar and throughout the restaurant. The rich colors of navy blue, white, and wood tones give the restaurant a vibrant and comfortable feel. My wife and I were immediately greeted by several hostesses and invited to take our seat near the bar area. After briefly glancing at the menu, we decided to order the Boudin Balls appetizer, which were fried balls made up of spicy sausage and rice blend. They were served with a slightly spicy horseradish based sauce. The appetizer had a slight kick of spice but not too overwhelming. The Boudin Balls were steaming hot and very flavorful. The exterior was made up of a light and crispy cornmeal.
Now it was time to choose our entrees, which was no easy task based on the size and selection of the menu. Just as the website claims, the menu includes a plethora of choices with a bit of cajun flair from PoBoys and fried catfish to red beans and rice or crawfish étouffée. There are also many other options for those who may not enjoy Cajun food. I decided to try the Catfish Atchafalaya which is blackened or fried catfish fillets, with crawfish étouffée, fried shrimp, and rice. My wife went with the Cajundillas, a chipotle tortilla quesadilla with grilled chicken, andouille sausage, boudin, caramelized onions and jack cheese, service with a side of red beans and rice. Her quesadilla was stuffed with plenty of chicken, sausage, and cheese. Her red beans and rice were seasoned to perfection.
It has been a long time since I had tasted seafood as fresh as that in my plate of Catfish Atchafalaya. Unlike the fried shrimp at many restaurants, my shrimp was plump and tasted like it just came off a boat. It had a little bit of a peppery kick which I enjoyed. The catfish was just as fresh and didn’t have too much breading, which can sometime take away from the fish. The crawfish étouffée was extremely flavorful and tasted as though it had been simmering all day long, bringing out a multitude of flavors. The portion sizes were excellent with both my wife and I needing to-go boxes for the rest of our meal.
Although we did not partake in the offerings from the bar, we did see many options when it comes to beers on tap. They include popular domestic and import brands along with several craft beer options. My wife is not one to normally order a drink at a restaurant, but even she was interested in the variety of mixed drink and cocktail options. We will definitely be back again to sample the drink menu, especially since the restaurant added an outdoor seating area.
My final review of Clarksville’s newest restaurant has to be a shout-out to the amazing staff. For a restaurant that is completely new to the area, you would expect the staff to be a little overwhelmed or unprepared for the grand opening. This was definitely not the case at Walk-On’s. Every staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the various menu options and flavors. Although we didn’t get to try them, our server mentioned that the house hush puppies are one of the best items on the menu. Needless to say we will definitely be back to try them in the very near future.
As we were getting ready to leave, my wife and I happened to bump into the owner of the Clarksville location, who happened to be in Town with his young son. He spoke to us about his home in Tampa, Florida, and about how he owns another very successful location in Indianapolis. After experiencing just a bit of what Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux has to offer, I expect he will enjoy many years of success in Clarksville as well.
Review provided by Ken Conklin, Communications Director for the Town of Clarksville. Questions or comments may be emailed to kconklin@townofclarksville.com.