The Boot at The Preserve

New Orleans Cajun meal or a classic Southern recipe? It’s a choice that might make you come back to The Boot more than once, or twice, or many more times.

Executive Chef Chris Stone has worked from Miami to Dallas, and his eclectic menu likewise covers cultures across the Southeast.

“When I created the menu, I wanted a splash of Southern and a splash of New Orleans,” he said. “We’ve got the right staff working with us and an overall menu that I’m very proud of.” 

The restaurant’s two most popular menu items — BBQ Shrimp NOLA and the Pimiento Cheese and Fried Green Tomato Sandwich — attest to that mix.

The Boot also has a full bar. Its draft beer selection highlights craft beers from local Southeastern breweries like Good People, Back Forty, Avondale, Straight to Ale, Terrapin and NOLA Brewing from New Orleans.

As temperatures rise, The Boot will add a Southwest Chicken Salad with fresh lime juice to its spring and summer menu, and Stone said he’s never tasted a chicken salad quite like it. Turkey and salmon burgers will also be added to the menu this year to give guests healthier options. 

No matter the season, The Boot uses local vendors for all of its products. Its meat selection comes from steroid-free animals, according to Stone. 

Nestled among the residential areas of The Preserve, the restaurant boasts two patios for sunny days and an indoor fireplace lit in the evenings.

Inspired by the success of nearby  events like Moss Rock Festival and The Preserve Jazz Festival, The Boot is adding more live music nights this year.

Since opening in 2011, Stone said he has frequently welcomed customers who have just finished hiking or rock climbing at the Moss Rock Nature Preserve; the front of the restaurant faces the park.

“We wanted to be off the beaten path when we were choosing a location to open,” Stone said. “Our location is a perfect place to feel like you’ve gotten away from the city but still are in driving distance from your home.”