Ramsey’s dresses the part for Fat Tuesday
February 13, 2013
By Mika Stevenson| @kykernel
You can’t change a zebra’s stripes, but you can certainly paint it green, purple and gold.
The spirit of Mardi Gras was in full effect at Ramsey’s Diner on E. High St. for Fat Tuesday celebrations.
Decadent decorations transformed the family-style diner into a bar at the dead center of Bourbon Street. The diner was packed wall-to-wall with customers eager to try out the special Mardi Gras menu.
The menu featured red beans and rice, chicken and seafood gumbo, and a crawfish plate.
The bar also was filled with UK basketball fans sipping on a classic Cajun drink called “The Hurricane.”
As waitresses dressed in masks, wigs and beads walked non-stop from the kitchen to the tables, it was clear that Ramsey’s Diner was prepared for its Fat Tuesday crowd. Customers had up to a 30-minute wait for a table of two; many did not realize why there was such a crowd until they walked through the door and got smacked with the aroma of Old Bay seasoning.
“I forgot it was Fat Tuesday, but I am glad I came because crawfish are so hard to find around here,” said Erin White, a customer waiting for her table.
While some customers were happy about the food, others were surrounding the bar while happy hour was in full swing, ordering up rounds in preparation for the UK basketball game.
A group of UK students was among them.
One student, Ty Campbell, said, “This is the party before the party, and this is the best spot to watch the game. The staff is great.”
Ramsey’s Diner may have changed its stripes Tuesday night for its Fat Tuesday celebration, but once the masks are removed, the food, staff and atmosphere still remained.
