SULPHUR — There’s a new Ruth Street power player.

LeBleu’s Landing has entered the fray as another option for Cajun food in Southwest Louisiana.

Calling home the building where Cajun Charlie’s was previously located, LeBleu’s is an extension of The Sausage Link, the restaurant and meat market on U.S. 90.

In fact, LeBleu’s has a Sausage Link annex, where visitors can purchase boudin, sausage and meat, as well as spices and jellies.

Owner Kevin Downs said that while preparing to open the restaurant he hoped LeBleu’s would not just be a place for locals to eat, but a stopping point for Interstate 10 travelers.

Thus, LeBleu’s has a large blinking sign as well as a gift shop. Patrons can also watch through a window as boudin and sausage are made.

I ate at LeBleu’s with family and friends on a recent weeknight.

We all got the buffet, but there are enough options on the buffet to satisfy many tastes.

LeBleu’s always has a full salad bar, and every time I’ve been, there have been three or four variations of rice and gravy as well as fried fish and fried shrimp.

On the night we went, options were jambalaya, beef tips, pork roast, shrimp étoufée and shrimp sauce piquante. There was also cornbread, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn.

As previously stated, there were enough options to satisfy everyone ­­— I made an attempt to try as many rice and gravy options as possible, while my Aunt Susan settled for fried fish, fried shrimp and french fries.

Perhaps the fastest mover off the buffet was the dessert, “Chocolate Yummy,” a concoction of chocolate, cool whip, cream cheese and pecan crust. Our server told us it was the creation of “Miss Christy,” whom she also said is the head cook.

Needless to say, none of us left hungry.

Dinner for four of us totaled $52.20, just exceeding the $50 limit we abide by for restaurant reviews.

Menu items I’ve tried include crawfish pie, crawfish pistolettes and cream cheese boudin balls.

I’ve also been told the catfish pirogue (two fried catfish filets smothered with cheesy crawfish sauce) is delicious.

The fish has drawn rave reviews from everyone — I like the fish, my mom likes the fish, my friends like the fish, and a lady who called me on the phone to tell me how much her husband likes the catfish pirogue also likes the fish.

In short: the fried fish is excellent; you should try the fish.

Most of the restaurant’s entrées are in the $9-to-$12 range, while a few get a little pricier. A seafood platter is $21.99 and a 16-ounce T-Bone or filet mignon is $21.99.

LeBleu’s also features a wine and beer list.

According to a history on the restaurant’s website, the restaurant’s name is a tribute to the LeBleus who settled in the area in the 1700s.

Online: www.lebleuslanding.com

A mix of shrimp etoufee

fried fish and shrimp