After wanting to visit for months, my wife and I finally got to try Bourbon Street Cafe in downtown Tulsa recently and had a great experience. We had been planning on attending the Zach Bryan concert at TU’s football stadium but it was canceled due to weather. Since it was our fifth dating anniversary and we already had a babysitter, we decided to go out to eat instead and walked into Bourbon Street with no reservation and were able to get a table easily.
Bourbon Street Cafe sits at 211 E. 2nd Street in the heart of Blue Dome District, owned by Ward Harrison, David Southard, and Clayton Robertson — first opened in Tulsa in 1996 and moved to its current downtown location in 2022.
The menu leans deep into Louisiana — Cajun and Creole classics, hand-cut steaks, Gulf seafood, pasta — with a full bar built around Big Easy cocktails and occasional live music. There’s also a semi-private dining room for groups up to 50 and a weekend brunch program with mimosa towers and Bananas Foster French toast.
The Hurricane: A Tale of Three Drinks
The Hurricane ($10) was solid — better than Cherry Street competitor NOLA’s but still nowhere close to Pat O’Brien’s, the original home of the Hurricane. It wasn’t nearly as sweet as the Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane, which I consider the standard, but it was much sweeter than NOLA’s.
Bourbon Street makes theirs with spiced rum, house-made passionfruit, OJ, and cranberry — a crowd-friendly build that leans fruity without going cloying. NOLA’s goes a completely different direction, anchoring theirs in house barrel-aged Rose Rock rum with a house-made fassionola syrup made from hibiscus, mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and strawberry, finished with fresh lime juice. I don’t remember exactly what Pat O’Brien’s uses, but it’s much sweeter and smoother than anywhere else I’ve been. Wildly different drinks masquerading as the same thing.
If you’re a hurricane purist, it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into before you order. If you just want a good rum cocktail on a night out downtown, Bourbon Street’s version delivers.
What We Ate
The crab cakes ($18) were excellent — I loved the beurre blanc sauce. Bourbon Street’s version cuts through the richness of the crab cake exactly the way it should.
The Cajun bowl ($17) was superb — hot honey glazed chicken over rice with red beans, andouille, avocado, and roasted red peppers. The chicken had just the right amount of heat, and it works especially well against the earthiness of the red beans and andouille.
The chicken bon ton ($27) was pretty good too. It’s one of the restaurant’s signature dishes — a fried chicken breast topped with shrimp and crab in a creamy Nawlins-style Alfredo, available hot or not. My wife ordered it not hot. The portion was big enough that she couldn’t finish it, so I got to. I wasn’t super impressed with the mac and cheese or fries, but they were fine.
For dessert, we split the bread pudding — one of my favorite desserts anywhere — and loved it. Bread pudding is deeply embedded in New Orleans food culture, and Bourbon Street’s version holds up.
Atmosphere, Service, and One Big Regret
The space itself channels the French Quarter without overdoing it — photos of New Orleans jazz artists line the dining room walls, the bar area anchors the live music program, and the energy on a Friday night was exactly what you’d want from a place like this. Excellent service, solid atmosphere.
My only regret was not asking for an outdoor table because that covered patio looks awesome. I prefer fresh air 100% of the time so I’m always looking for the best restaurant patios. Shoot me a DM on Instagram or Facebook and let me know your favorite Tulsa-area patio restaurants I should check out!
Is Bourbon Street Cafe Worth It?
I think I still prefer NOLA’s in terms of both atmosphere and food, but Bourbon Street is a nice alternative for anyone who prefers to go downtown. The menu has serious range — beyond what we tried, the kitchen is putting out things like a blackened Filet Oscar, Tabasco pork chops over dirty rice, and charbroiled oysters — and the cocktail list gives you plenty to work with beyond the Hurricane.
Reservations are available, but walk-ins were no problem on a Friday night.
Bourbon Street Cafe Tulsa Details
Address: 211 E. 2nd Street, Tulsa, OK 74103
Website: bourbonstreetcafe.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Bourbon Street Cafe in Tulsa
Does Bourbon Street Cafe take reservations?
Yes. Reservations are available, though walk-ins are welcome when tables are open.
Does Bourbon Street Cafe have live music?
Yes. The Tulsa location features occasional live music.
Does Bourbon Street Cafe have outdoor seating?
Yes — there’s a covered patio.
Does Bourbon Street Cafe serve brunch?
Yes. Weekend brunch includes a specialty menu with items like Bananas Foster French Toast and Chicken and Waffles, plus mimosa towers.
Is there parking near Bourbon Street Cafe in Tulsa?
There are plenty of paid parking lots in the area, but free street parking is an option too — just know it can be competitive in this corridor. Street parking becomes free after 5 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, but spots go fast. We had to circle the block twice before finding one.
Does Bourbon Street Cafe have a happy hour?
Yes — both a daytime and a late-night happy hour with discounted cocktails, beer, wine, and select appetizers.
