Ever since New Orleans found the wormhole in the depths of its grandmother's armoire, it's been hopping by Chicago in hopes of turning the town Cajun. Take a bite out of its base camp with today's Groupon: for $12, you get $25 worth of jambalaya, shrimp, and more at The Big Easy in Hyde Park.

The Big Easy serves up a vigorous lineup of Cajun and Creole offerings with a smattering of Southern-barbecue favorites. Those searching the lengthy menu for the restaurant's signature dish can stop at the Bourbon Street stuffed jambalaya, a piquant mix of roasted chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage packed into a crunchy chicken breast and showered with vidalia sauce ($13.95). Strap on a James Carville-shaped bib for a plate of hickory- barbecue thick-cut ribs, served with a side of coleslaw, collard greens, and challah toast ($14.95). Seafood savorers can dig into the shrimp creole, which rests on a bed of Cajun rice ($13.95). To drink, The Big Easy offers an ambrosial collection of red and white wines ($5.95–$7.95 for a glass), and barley buffs can imbibe Goose Island Honker's Ale or one of several brews on draft ($4.95). This deal is also good towards the restaurant's four-course weekend brunch ($13.95), where diners sip orange/strawberry-blended juice, munch on whole-wheat muffins, and fill up on zesty gumbo, jumbo french toast, and more.

Located near the University of Chicago, The Big Easy marks a tasty spot for returning Maroons to reunite for the upcoming school year and for locals to challenge them to a philosophy duel. With New Orleans's jazz providing finger-snapping background music and steamy dishes being served around the room, you'll feel as if you've stepped into hole that leads to a Crescent City hotspot.

Reviews

Metromix reviewers give the Big Easy an average of 4.2 stars, and MenuPagers give it an average of four stars. Yelpers give it a three-star average.

• The food was fantastic, service was great, and the dessert buffet they had for brunch was amazing. Big Easy was definitely worth the trip down to Hyde Park, and I can't wait to go back. – KRD16, Metromix
• what I can tell you is that the big easy has big portions which were just as pleasing to look at as they were to eat. – Tasha B., Yelp