Mae & Co. is a small, unassuming place that serves quality food.

Mae & Co. could become a local favorite dining spot

318 Forum’s always-hungry reporter often has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.

What’s in a name?

Well, if we’re talking about a restaurant, its name usually indicates the type of food served. Think Monjunis Italian Café & Grocery. 2Johns Steak & Seafood. Ta’Molly’s Mexican Kitchen.

But sometimes, you’re left to wonder. That was the case when getting ready to visit Mae & Co. (1023 Provenance Blvd., Shreveport) for the first time. There was nothing in the name that gave me a clue as to what I might be eating, although the small type on their website reads, “Chicken-Oysters-Beer.” So, on a recent Tuesday, I invited a friend to join me for lunch and discover what kind of food Mae & Co. offers.

We arrived at 12:15 and opened the door to a restaurant empty of customers.

Hmmm. … Not necessarily a good sign. Corley, who would be our hostess, server and cashier, invited us to sit wherever we liked. Mae & Co.’s dining area is small and quaint, featuring tables both in front and at the back. There’s also a nice bar — I counted 14 chairs — with two televisions overhead. There was another television in the back dining room. A mix of soothing and cheerful music played throughout.

It wasn’t long before my friend inquired about the restaurant’s name. As Corley explained, Mae was the nickname of the lady who taught the restaurant’s owner, Chef Blake Jackson, how to cook when Chef Jackson was young. Naming his restaurant after her was his way of giving thanks. That was pretty cool.

As for the menu, Mae & Co. offered appetizers (listed as “snacks”), salads (only two), “Sammie’s” (six, mostly po-boys), wings, sides and desserts. There was also a daily lunch special. (Corley later said there would be additions to the menu the following day, including three salads and four wraps.)

My friend and I were really hungry, so we ordered a snack of fried shrimp ($12). Before too long, Corley brought out a serving tray that was way too big for the shrimp.

It made the shrimp look small. I was disappointed.

However, one bite replaced my disappointment with satisfaction. The dozen shrimp, while not large, weren’t popcorn-size, either. Each was perfectly coated with a batter that tasted nothing like what I usually expect when eating shrimp. I quizzed Corley, and sure enough, the batter was homemade. Corley said everything at Mae & Co. is homemade. That included the cocktail sauce and remoulade, which were served with the shrimp. I could have consumed a gallon of that remoulade sauce; it was so good. Corley said it was made with a base of green goddess dressing.

On Tuesdays, the lunch special is red beans and rice. That’s not something I eat every day, so I chose it as my entrée. I had a choice between a cup and a bowl. Did I mention I was hungry? I chose the bowl ($15).

My friend had a hard time deciding what to order, bouncing back and forth between a salad, wings and a Sammie. She settled on the hot fish Sammie ($20). For an extra $2.50, she could also get a stack of seven onion rings. I was feeling generous, so I gave her the go-ahead to spend the additional money.

Within a reasonable amount of time, Corley served our food. My bowl of red beans and rice was large, complete with a few sausage slices and topped with parsley. Now, I made the mistake of adding some Tabasco sauce before tasting the red beans and rice. Oops! It turns out that extra heat was not needed, as the red beans and rice had their own spicy taste. However, I like hot, so all was good. The dish came with a side of jalapeno cornbread, which was neither too hard nor too soft.

While my friend’s sandwich looked good, it was the onion rings that dominated her plate. They looked as beautiful as onion rings can look. Once again, the batter was perfect — none had crumbled onto the plate — and without a sign of grease. In return for spending the extra dollars, my friend allowed me to have a couple of rings.

They were delicious. The onion taste was fairly mild, allowing me to savor the batter’s taste.

As for her Sammie, it was served with a thick piece of grilled redfish and topped with Napa slaw, tomato chili mayo and brioche. My friend said the fish was a little on the fishy-tasting side, but overall, thought the Sammie was good.

Corley tried her best to persuade us to order dessert — a blueberry thyme cobbler (there was also a Hope Float on the menu, available in Coke or root beer).

However, considering we had a starter in addition to our meal, we were too full to eat more. Maybe next time.

The cost of our meal before tax and tip was $67.73. Yes, that’s a bit much for lunch. However, we received quality food and service for the price paid.

I give Mae & Co. Three Forks. I went out of my way, driving 40 minutes to get there, and I doubt I would do that again. But if I am in the area, I would definitely return. I hope their business picks up. This is one of those places that could become a local favorite for those who live nearby. It’s casual (our drinks were served in plastic cups), yet it has a really nice atmosphere where you can enjoy good food and great company.

Thanks, Mae, for sharing your knowledge.