Laurie: “We’re on our way to New Orleans, do you know of a good poboy place in LaPlace?”

Bonnie: “Yea, Stop & Save (without hesitation).  It’s just a convenience store but they have great poboys!”

Laurie: “We’re on our way…”

Stopping at the Stop & Save was not a mistake.  Sometimes good food is found at unlikely places and this is one of them.  It is located in a residential neighborhood along with churches, country clubs and few other businesses.  A very nondescript store, Stop & Save was our destination for poboys.  Lunch was beyond our expectation.

The store is the typical convenience store with gas pumps outside and various quick sale items inside.  There is a small food counter that offers plate lunches and sandwiches mainly consisting of seafood and chicken.  There were four of us and we knew exactly what we wanted – 2 shrimp poboys and 2 oyster poboys dressed.  Sometimes when dealing with cooks or counter personnel they act as if they want to be anyplace but where they are.  Sandra, the cook behind the counter, was our friend from our first exchange.  Happy and friendly she acted as if we were old friends.  The raw seafood was weighed and cooked quickly then assembled for our enjoyment.  Sandra even asked how we wanted our oysters cooked – a little, medium, or crunchy.  We chose medium.  Sandra was upset because no pickles were available, that did not bother us; we were ready to eat.

Being a true convenience store, there were no tables or benches for customers to enjoy their lunch.  So off we went down Airline Highway toward New Orleans to find a park to eat our lunch.  The Bonnet Carré Spillway offered us the spot we wanted.  A table by the water isolated from other tables, blue sky, and warm temps – what more could we ask for?  Oh yes, lunch.

The poboys were beyond expectation.  The seafood was piled high and dressed to perfection sans pickles.  The seafood was cooked perfectly.  The oysters were excellent having a light crust and tasted like an oyster and not some overcooked questionable item.  The shrimp also had a light coating and cooked just enough.

After enjoying our lunch and surroundings, off we headed to NOLA.

Once was not enough!  Upon leaving NOLA and heading back to the Baton Rouge area five days later, we decided to give Stop & Save another try, to see if the poboys were really that good.  This time Sandra was not the cook, yet the poboys were just as good and with pickles.

If you are passing by LaPlace, either on the Interstate or Airline Highway, STOP in LaPlace and go to Stop & Save for poboys.  You will not be disappointed and if Sandra is cooking tell her the crazy Tiger fans with the camera say hi.

• Stop & Save
• 805 Newport Drive
• LaPlace, LA
• 985.652.5227

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