<em>Pictured above: Catfish Creole Sandwich made into a salad.</em>
<h3>By Molly Ingram</h3>
The Lunch Bunch met at 1635 On the Avenue in Port Royal last week for lunch to see what this new, “hot” restaurant was all about. Lorett Hayes, owner of 1635, met us when we arrived and showed us to our table. Inside, for what is described as a kind of casual, down-home place, was a lovely open atmosphere punctuated with white table clothes, not what we expected at all.

Last Tuesday we had seven of The Island News team in attendance and I think we managed to try just about all of the menu options, and several, being all women, we asked Chef Lorett, to modify for our “I-really-need-a-salad” group. There was definitely a Louisiana/New Orleans vibe to the menu. But there is something there for everyone.

We started out with a yummy potato and cheese soup which was light and creamy. It was perfect for our first kind of “fall” day. After that, the gang enjoyed Fish Tacos with Cajun spiced white fish and poppy seed dressing which got rave reviews, and what I think was my personal favorite, the Tomato Basil Pie. Think about a baked “puff pastry filled with red onions, cream cheese, fresh basil, roasted tomatoes and Colby Cheese.” I call that double yum. Everyone else enjoyed the Crab Cakes, Catfish Creole Sandwich made into a salad, and the Cranberry Chicken Salad.

But the best advice I can give you is to save room for dessert. Out of the kitchen came two cheesecakes – one was a chocolate and raspberry concoction and the other was a salted caramel cheesecake that looked like it was made in layers. I have to admit that the caramel piece kind of ended sitting in front of me and slowly vanishing….it was really GOOD!

1635 has only been open for four months and there was a good crowd there for lunch. The prices seemed reasonable and there were vegetarian options on the menu. All in all, the Island News team gave 1635 a big thumbs up! You will find them at 1635-B Paris Avenue in Port Royal.

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<em>From left: Crab Cakes; Tomato Basil Pie; Cranberry Chicken Salad; salted caramel cheesecake.</em>