Lexington, KY - While it was certainly not my first rodeo with the restaurant, my most recent trip to Onizim's (the restaurant formerly known as Furlong's) was nuanced by a newfound appreciation for Cajun cuisine, which I ascertained earlier this summer during my first visit to New Orleans. Don't get me wrong -- I've always liked Cajun food (seafood, sausage, spicy rice and cream sauce ... what's not to like?) -- but after steeping myself in it for more than 20 consecutive meals in the Big Easy this past August, my perspective on the comfort-food-with-a-kick has expanded. The full flavor and kick of the herbs and spices balanced by the delicate flavor of the seafood is intriguing; the lofty French and Spanish influences mingled with simple, rustic overtones appeals to both the food snob and the simpleton in me.
At Onizim's recently, my guest and I chose to sit in the bar area; with its low ceilings, wood paneling, sports banners and working fireplace, I've always found it to be a bit cozier and more casual than the main dining room. We started our meal with a couple of cocktails from the meticulously curated drink menu, which includes dozens of vintage cocktails and wines by the glass, and paired them with an appetizer of Cajun wontons -- stuffed with andouille sausage and crab, deep fried and served with a creamy aioli sauce, the appetizer was full of flavor and had the perfect soft-to-crunchy ratio. Though we had to wait a few minutes for our cocktails (he chose the bourbon and Benedictine-based Riding Lesson while I went with a classic gin and tonic), both were perfectly blended and worth the wait.
For dinner, we both ordered from the specials menu -- maybe not a terribly discerning decision given our charge to assess the restaurant for future diners, but they sounded so good we couldn't resist. My guest chose the fish special ($28), redfish stuffed with shrimp and crab prepared to his liking (he chose to have it blackened) and served with shrimp etouffee. I went with the steak special ($34), a filet mignon topped with a creamy seafood sauce and paired with half a lobster tail. As is Louisiana tradition, the meals are generous, each coming with a hearty dinner salad and your choice of two vegetables from an enticing list that includes jambalaya potatoes, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes, fried okra and many others. But more important, they're delicious -- my steak was perfectly cooked (or perfectly uncooked, I should say -- I like it rare) and the creamy, Hollandaise-style cream sauce laced with crab and crawfish flooded the plate with flavor and color. My guest's fish was also excellent; he actually paused several times during the meal to say so. Regular menu items include shrimp creole, oysters, frog legs, Louisiana Hot Brown, and several other seafood and pasta dishes.
As you have probably noticed if you subscribe to their e-mail or mailing lists, Onizim's has really embraced the social media phenomenon, using e-mail and Facebook to communicate and offer exclusive deals on a regular basis. Even if you're not in the social media loop, the regularly offered deals are significant --
half price bottles of wine every day, the "two meals plus a bottle of wine for $39.95" deal, happy hour specials, ladies night, you name it. It's a rare occasion to order two dinner specials, an appetizer, two salads and two rounds of drinks for under $100, but our meal, came to $96.32 before tip.