ORANGE SLICES
Guest Columnist
If you’re looking for white tablecloths, Rougarou Cajun Kitchen isn’t it. But if you’re after bold, no-nonsense Cajun cooking in a place with real soul, pull up a seat.
Tucked just off Henderson Street in downtown Chapel Hill, Rougarou has a cozy, unpolished charm — with dim lighting, eclectic décor, and a bar that seems to carry a few good stories of its own. Named after the Rougarou, a legendary Cajun shapeshifter, the restaurant brings a bit of New Orleans mystery and soul to town. Students, locals, and visitors alike have embraced Mandey Brown’s bold flavors and her journey. After all, being a college town means supporting fresh ideas, new voices, and the entrepreneurs who help shape our shared downtown experience.
What started as Imbibe Cajun Kitchen has grown into Rougarou — a loud, proud love letter to street food, second lines, and the kind of late-night eats you remember for the rest of your life. The menu doesn’t pull punches. Crawfish fries are smothered in buttery goodness and loaded with enough Cajun heat to make you sweat a little — and smile a lot…