What’s Up Diner relocates, continues to serve specialities
Using skills she learned from her family’s history in the restaurant industry, Paige Shelton realized a dream by opening her own eatery, What’s Up Diner.
She rst opened in August of 2012 on South Lakeshore Drive before moving Jan. 7 to her current location at 2826 Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City near the foot of the Shreveport-Barksdale bridge.
Besides her family’s recipes and her own, Shelton also brought her secret weapon, chef Johnny Cowherd, whose many fans and followers will be happy to learn his new location.
“We’ve been very well-received. We had to move from the place on South Lakeshore Drive because we simply outgrew it,” Shelton said.
As it states on their logo, the food is homegrown and delicious. Everything here is delectably made in-house from scratch. Shelton also goes to great lengths to provide homestyle service along with the homestyle food.
Lunch kicked off with chips and salsa, and the salsa (made fresh in-house, of course) was excellent. The salsa had just the right degree of spiciness to make it popular with everyone. The avors were perfectly blended to make this a great start to a great meal and the fresh chips were just right.
The appetizer we tried rst was a unique winner. The jalapeno poppers here are not the usual pepper simply battered and fried. What’s Up Diner chops up the jalapenos and mixes them with cheddar cheese before rolling them up in a ball and encasing them in a delicate batter before frying them to perfection. The dipping sauce is another freshly-made masterpiece.
Burgers are popular here, and the Cajun burger was up rst: Angus beef served on a fresh jalapeno cheese bun with craw sh tails, onion, jalapenos, lettuce and tomato.
The Angus is grilled to order and makes this a premium burger.
Excellent sandwiches include the patty melt, the club and a awless BLT, the classic diner sandwich. Also, though I’ve never been to Philadelphia, their version of the Philly cheesesteak sandwich is so delectable that travel is not needed.
Seafood is always a necessity at any self-respecting southern diner, and What’s Up Diner comes through with excellent versions of the seafood platter with sh and shrimp perfectly battered and fried. Whole or lleted catfish come either fried or grilled, and they are all seaworthy.
Don’t miss What’s Up Diner specials like the Santa Fe chicken grilled with melted Swiss cheese and grilled peppers and onions. Also, the country fried steak is hand-breaded, handpattied and simply delicious with country gravy. These come with a choice of two sides.
Burgers, po’boys and sandwiches come with your choice of chips or fries. Po’boys come in shrimp, turkey or ham versions.
Daily specials include the taco salad on Tuesdays with either chicken or beef and, the always popular, chicken and dumplings on Friday.
What’s Up Diner is family friendly with a children’s menu.
Saving room for dessert at a diner this good is always a challenge but give it the old college try.
You will not want to miss the blackberry and apple cobblers, but the really unique selection is the pecan pie cobbler-like pecan pie lling with a little extra texture. Delicious, like nothing else. Cover any of these with ice cream, and you will be in heaven.
Breakfast was not available when we visited, but beginning Feb. 18 breakfast will be added.
– Karl Hasten
WHAT’S UP DINER
2826 Barksdale Blvd. Bossier City, La
Phone: 318-742-8898
Fax: 318-742-8808
E-Mail: whatsupdiner@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Whatsupdiner
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10:30 am to 8:30 pm Sunday: 10:30 am to 3:00 pm Closed: Mondays
Service: Exemplary
