Tuesday, 10 May, 2011 11:23
by Chris Jay
The Shrimp with Garlic Sauce from Linn's Kitchen in Bossier City.
About 7 years ago, a Chinese take-out spot opened at the intersection of Line Avenue and E. 70th Street in Shreveport. While the restaurant itself was modest, the food was great for the price, and my girlfriend and I became friends with the young couple who ran the place, Sky and Cindy Linn. They were always asking us: "When you getting married?" I'd say "I think I'll have the House Lo-Mein," and Sky would say "Okay, House Lo Mein. When you getting married?" Honestly, Sky Linn put more pressure on me to get married than any of my own family members did.
SB Magazine's editor at the time, Mike Whitehead, wrote an editorial about the unexpected friendship he'd also struck with Sky and Cindy. Years passed, I did end up proposing to my girlfriend (she said yes, three years ago) and Sky and Cindy Linn went from managing the Shreveport restaurant to owning Linn's Kitchen, with locations in Bossier City (2091 Stockwell Rd) and Benton (4717 Palmetto Road).
The food at Linn's Kitchen is very good. Everything tastes fresh, the vegetables are crispy and flavorful, and portions are large. Some of my personal favorites are the Chicken with Garlic Sauce ($7.95) and the House Special Lo-Mein ($4.85-$7.55). Two of their house specialties, the Happy Family and Scallops & Shrimp in Garlic Sauce (both $9.55), are also fantastic. Dinner portions are large enough for two to share.
Shreveport-Bossier has more than its share of beloved restauranteurs and servers. Many of us have talked smack with the ladies from Strawn's Eat Shops or George's Grill, lingered for a tea refill and conversation at Cotton Boll Grill, or shared a few laughs with Agatha Fertitta McCall at Fertitta's. One of the reasons I love living in Shreveport-Bossier is because you find yourself making friends in unexpected places. As someone who has sent a wedding invitation to the guy at the Chinese take-out place around the corner, I can attest to that fact.