Six Mardi Gras Events in Boston Worthy of New Orleans

Photo by Library of Congress on Flickr

Fat Tuesday is a perfect excuse to shed your inhibitions and indulge your gluttonous side. Unfortunately, not all of us can head south to celebrate with all the beads, masks, fried fare, and overall debauchery. Thankfully, these six restaurants are bringing a taste of Mardi Gras our way:

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler at The Hawthorne

Local mixologist legend and bar owner Jackson Cannon does not disappoint for New Orleans’ biggest party. Drink the night away with authentic New Orleans born cocktails like the Sazerac, Vieux Carré, and Ramos Gin Fizz. While you sip (or chug) your carefully crafted cocktail, enjoy classic Southern delicacies like fried oyster po’ boys, crawfish flown in fresh from Louisiana, and a six-foot long muffuletta loaded with house-cured deli meats. After a few libations, get down with Mickey Bones and the Hot Tamale Brass Band. Kenmore will feel more like Bourbon Street on March 4.

$75 per person, March 4, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., The Hawthorne, 500A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9150, facebook.com/events.

Le Mardi Gras at The Beehive

Swing all night long to the jazz hits of BT New Orleans 2nd Line Brass Band and receive complimentary beads courtesy of The Beehive. Indulge in chef Marc Orfaly’s Cajun inspired à la carte specials such as Louisiana shrimp and grits, pan-fried catfish, Cajun seafood jambalaya, and of course, NOLA’s most famous tiki cocktail, the Hurricane.

No cover charge, March 4, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., The Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0069, beehiveboston.com.

All-Day Mardi Gras at South Street Diner

Indulge in a lavish Cajun spread guilt-free. For just $5, feast on all-you-can-eat jambalaya and a full N’awlins style menu of gumbo and shrimp po’ boys. To top off the celebration, South Street is also serving Café Du Monde-inspired beignets—those little fried squares of heaven topped with powdered sugar.

No cover charge, March 4, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., South Street Diner, 178 Kneeland St., Boston, 617-350-0028, southstreetdiner.com.

Mardi Gras at Tryst 

Chef Paul Turano promises to bring authenticity to his special dinner this Fat Tuesday. Experience his three-course prix fixe menu with barbecue oysters with Creole butter, chicken and sausage gumbo with spicy fried shrimp, and for dessert, a delectable bread pudding served with butter pecan ice cream and rum sauce. Authentic cocktails and Hurricanes will be flowing all night.

$35 (tax & gratuity not included), March 4, 5-10 p.m., Tryst Restaurant, 689 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, 781-641-2227, trystrestaurant.com.

New Orleans at Estelle’s 

Shake up the classic Hurricane cocktail with a twist of Boston. Bar manager Jen LaForge has created the South End Hurricane, a Bourbon Street-inspired mashup of Prichard’s Peach Mango Rum, Cruzan Pineapple Rum, amaretto, Don Ciccio Hibiscus liqueur, lime juice, pineapple juice, and pomegranate juice. Estelle’s raises the bar in Fat Tuesday indulgence. Start with the classic gumbo, and for the main course chef Gburski offers two choices: braised duck and andouille sausage ètouffèe or Estelle’s Creole seafood jambalaya.

March 3, 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Estelle’s, 782 Tremont St., Boston, 857-250-2999, facebook.com/EstellesSouthernCuisine. 

Carnival de Brazil at Beat Hôtel

Samba your way through Mardi Gras with a Capirinha in your hand. Enjoy a special menu from Chopped star and former Beehive chef Rebecca Newell, and relish her Latin classics like Brazilian Moqueca (fish stew), pork empanadas, and steak with chimichurri sauce. Make sure to try Brazil’s most famous libation, the Caipirinha made from Cachaca, and dare to Samba to the music of Brazilian native Marcus Santos, whose band will be jamming all night long.

No cover charge, March 4, 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Beat Hôtel, 13 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-499-0001, beathotel.com.