Chelsea tries: Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in Warner Robins. You voted and I tried it! Here’s my review.
About the Writer
Chelsea Madden writes for The Telegraph's service journalism team. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth.
“Authentic, mouthwatering Louisiana cuisine prepared fresh in a from-scratch kitchen.”
That’s what Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in Warner Robins promises. And I got to see if it lived up to this promise.
Last month, you guys voted for me to try a new restaurant in the “Chelsea Tries” poll and I couldn’t wait to dig in.
Here’s what I knew about Walk-On’s before I went:
Walk-On’s was founded in 2003 by a couple of walk-ons, more specifically Landry and Jack Warner, players for the LSU basketball team.
The restaurant is also co-owned by Drew Brees, an NFL Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player.
I also knew the menu had Louisiana cuisine and the restaurant itself is right next to Rigby’s Entertainment Complex.
However, there were still several things that I didn’t know about the restaurant and things I didn’t expect.
Below, I’ve broken down my experience into four categories: atmosphere, service, food and price.
The atmosphere
As soon as I walked in, I knew it would be the perfect place to watch a big game or have a night out with friends. It felt like an upscale sports bar and the staff was immediately welcoming.
My husband and I sat outside on the outdoor patio and the vibe was right. With the perfect 75-degree weather, the sun setting and the breeze gently blowing by, it was quite the evening.
The service
As soon as we got comfortable, our server greeted us and took our drink orders. His name was Justin and he was an unbelievable server.
He was friendly and helpful. He knew the menu like the back of his hand and recommended several dishes based on our tastes.
He was also super attentive. He checked on us frequently and was smiling the whole time. He genuinely seemed like he enjoyed his job and seemed like he cared about the customers there.
The food
The Walk-On’s menu is jam-packed with flavor: huge juicy burgers, delectable pastas and savory sandwiches, all with Cajun flair.
Hungry was completely underselling it – I was salivating as I read through the menu items.
My husband and I shared the waffle cheese fries as an appetizer. They were cheesy, salty, crunchy and well, incredible. The banana peppers on top were also a perfect touch. Chef’s kiss!
For my main, I ordered the bayou pasta. The pasta was linguine, topped with a cream sauce, crawfish and a heaping amount of fried shrimp. The entire dish was exceptional and each bite was filled with the perfect amount of seafood and pasta.
My husband ordered the ribeye poboy. It was packed with sliced ribeye, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and Dijon horseradish. He got the Louisiana street corn as a side.
He said his sandwich was great, but could have had more meat and the meat that he did have could have been less fatty. However, the corn was kickin’. I had a bite of it and it was full of flavor. 10/10 would recommend the corn for sure.
The price
Overall, the prices were a bit expensive, but as the restaurant boasts “from-scratch” cooking, it didn’t come with a surprise.
Our appetizer was $14. Although that seems pricey for some loaded fries, these fries were some of the best fries I have ever had.
My pasta was $19 and was well worth it as well. I was even able to have leftovers to take home.
My husband’s Poboy was also $19, since he got the full sandwich. He wasn’t super impressed and thus, didn’t think it was fully worth that price.
Overall, I would give Walk-On’s 4/5 crawfish (stars).
Have you tried Walk-On’s? What did you think?
Drop a comment or send an email to cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published March 17, 2023 at 2:16 PM.
