Martha’s Bistro

Really delicious classic soul food. It’s a casual place but full of really nice people, just a happy place to be. Clean, good service and excellent food. The owners and staff couldn’t be nicer.

What a pleasant surprise! I was looking for some southern comfort food and when I walked in, I thought I had the wrong restaurant. A modern look, with a clean, minimalist feel. Not what I was expecting. The staff was very friendly and hospitable. I said I was in town on business and wanted something original before I headed home back west. She suggested the fried ribs. I had never heard of deep frying ribs, but I was willing to try them out. Man, I was not disappointed! Big meaty ribs and several sauces to choose from. I tried them all and liked each one for their uniqueness. You won’t regret ordering them!
The one downside was that they misplaced my order and finally realized I had been waiting for about 30 minutes without being served. The owner (one of them) came out and apologized to me personally. Miss Martha felt very bad that I was waiting so long. She talked with me until my food arrived. I appreciated the attention she gave me and I promised I’d be back for more fried ribs the next time I was in town.

I really enjoyed the live jazz band.

Lovely list of options covering plenty of southern comfort soul food meals. Prices are a bit steeper than I’d like to pay, but the atmosphere is kind and service more than adequate.

I don’t want to bash this place but it’s not for me so I’m giving them 0 Stars. Great building though. I can’t be fully honest due to fines.

I agree with all the other positive reviews, plus I think this soul food is as healthy as it is possible for true soul food to be. Those of you addicted to Sammy’s and other super popular seafood restaurants need to visit Martha’s. I was raised on this kind of food and if you want better even than authentic, this is your place. Brava, sisters, brava!!!

The ambiance is so pleasant and relaxing in which the employees also exemplify. When I visit, this is where my parents take me on Sundays after church. I have never had a dish here that I did not like. Everything and I mean absolutely everything here is like food for your soul, if you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself. I had the fried ribs which were tender and seasoned so well, will make your heart sing. Also the Blueberry Delight is like heaven and it’s not too sweet, the crust is almost like a shortbread cookie with pecans and layered with fresh bananas and blueberries in a creamy custard like filling, I love this place.

Omg amazing. Staff is friendly and professional. The fried green tomatoes are perfect. Daily specials are huge and filling. Prices are very fair. So wonderful for a professional lunch with great down home cooking. Highly recommend !

Best fried chicken in Louisiana. Period. I love this place. If you ate at the Eight Sisters in St. Francisville (now closed), this is run by the same extended family. The food is terrific, made to order. Apart from the fried chicken, you’d be remiss not ordering red beans and rice, and whatever greens are on the menu. And don’t forget the ooey gooey cake for desert! One of Zachary’s best eats, and rarely crowded. Prices are fantastic as well!

Great seafood gumbo! Broth was thicker, gravy-​like, with milder spices. I also had the fried catfish po-​boy. The fish was wonderful, with light breading, and the French bread was perfectly flaky, not too thick. Seemed homemade to me. Exactly the kind of food I was looking for, even though the atmosphere was a bit stuffy for soul food. The restaurant is in a strip mall and was playing elevator music, so it didn’t have that homey, broken-​in feel yet.

I came to Martha’s Bistro because it was rated so highly on Unilocal.The staff didn’t know what Unilocal was so I explained it to them and downloaded the app onto the owner –Mary’s — phone. I hope she reads this.
This is real home-​cooked soul food. I’ve been twice and enjoyed every bite. The seafood gumbo and sweet potato pie are off the hook. I’m writing this from the airport where I’m looking forward to tasting the cornbread and apple cobbler I brought for the trip.
Definitely worth the trip from Baton Rouge for any out-​of-​towner. The food is seconded only to the hospitality of this warm family-​owned business. I was introduced to Southern hospitality in a way this Northern boy won’t soon forget.

My cousin kept raving about Martha’s and we rescheduled a couple of times to drive out to Zachary to eat there. The food tasted like it was homemade. The red beans and rice were well seasoned and creamy. Definitely worth the wait for our food and the long drive. Family owned and operated and authentic.

I am a local Baton Rougean who moved to Central, La a decade ago. My wife and I visited Martha’s Bistro today for the first time. I ordered the Chicken and Red Beans with Collard greens as my side. My wife ordered the seafood combo consisting of fried Shrimp and Catfish with a side of potato salad.
Initially our feeling was a four star rating — but we were not informed yet. John, a manager and son of one of the eight sisters came by our table and we started chatting. My wife had read the history on the back of the menu and told John she had not seen onion rings on the menu — a specialty of Martha’s. John pointed out the specialty menu on the table — clearly visible — yet we had missed it. There were the onion rings among many other delights. John sent a small order of onion rings back to the kitchen for us and when they came out, I was really caught off guard. About 14 large breaded and fired onion rings on a platter with a 5 star visual presentation, and they turned out to be the best onion rings I have ever eaten — ever, by a very wide margin. The batter was crisp and light and did not overpower the onion flavor.
As we conversed with John more, he seemed to be enjoying discussing our first visit, he started explaining that his regular customers were well apprised of additional delicacies not on the menus all the time but still available. Like skillet cornbread, or strawberry delight (we had ordered the blueberry delight which was exceptional) and pointed out the daily specials (the menu we had missed on the table) and a few other tips — so be sure to ask.
All dishes had the grandmothers style exceptional flavors. The red beans and rice were creamy and rice perfectly cooked. The cornbread was country cornbread. The chicken was crisp and cooked to perfection and cooked to order — not fast food style. The french fries were fresh, crisp out and creamy in — perfect, the battered fresh catfish was perfect — golden brown, crisp and just enough batter — you certainly didn’t have to hunt for the catfish inside the batter — it was excellent. The fresh Shrimp were large and battered perfectly. All of the batters for each were different and perfect for each dish. Light and crisp for the onion rings similar to tempura batter, cornbread batter for the fish, and a nice crisp batter for the shrimp. All were awesome.
Martha’s is certainly a place you should regularly visit on your circuit and a sure hit if recommended to your friends and family. A home cooking treat. Be sure to become apprised of what the regulars know about Martha’s Bistro.

I’m spending time in Zachary for work and we stop in this place for lunch. Soul food theme that didn’t disappoint! Hearty appetites will love it and the service was sweet and quite efficient. I enjoyed the fried fish platter with a huge side of turnip greens and cornbread. My companion ordered the gumbo, which was tasty and a good amount of seafood.
The only clunker was the fried green tomato appetizer. I prefer using cornmeal to a batter and the kitchen forgot to season the tomatoes themselves before putting them in the batter. It made for a very bland dish.
We didn’t read the daily specials when we walked in. Gazing at the menu walking out, I was sad I didn’t order the oxtails, but there’s always next time!

Meh. I got a plate of greens, my husbang got the chicken fried steak and red beans and rice.
He said his was very good, definitely home cooking. My greens tasted like the flavored greens you can get from a can at the grocery store. At a restaurant that advertises as being home cookin’, if I order greens I want greens that have been cooked a good long time with enough pieces parts of a pig that they no longer qualify as healthy food, so this was a disappointment.
We may be back as husband’s food was very good. But we won’t order the greens!

The food was fantastic. The service was good. If you want good olé southern home cooking this is the place. I had the catfish acadiana and the broccoli casserole. I would highly recommend it. I didn’t have room for desert so I am planning my next trip.

I like this place because of its authentic black American cooking. Service was fine and the food was delicious, however the price as well as their claim of the fried green tomatoes were a bit over the top.

The food is delicious, fresh and served piping hot.