At Gumbo Social in Bayview, Donaye Ball serves up tantalizing soul food like customizable gumbo and po'boys, all infused with warm Southern charm.
"$15 for lunch, $30 for dinner At lunch, you get gumbo and a half po’boy for just $15, which is an excellent deal by any standards The smoked turkey gumbo, the shredded pork po’boy, and a side of red beans" - julia chen 1
"Dontaye Ball’s ode to gumbo is open for lunch on the city’s east side. His farmers market phenomenon-turned-restaurant has brought gumbo to the city’s dining zeitgeist in a big way, making space for okra, andouille sausage, and black-eyed peas in the bowl. Plus, the po’ boys go hard here, too." - Dianne de Guzman
"For years Gumbo Social chef and owner Dontaye Ball made diners swoon with his customizable bowls of gumbo sold at farmers markets across the city. But as of mid-2023, he put down roots in the Bayview neighborhood. The restaurant offers three kinds of gumbo, including a vegan option, plus four kinds of po’boys and sides like tots, corn hoecakes, and vegan greens. Diners can amp up their bowl of gumbo with add-ons including blue crab, hotlinks, scallops, or, for the plant-based diners, roasted jackfruit." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff
"This Bayview spot is the city’s undisputed gumbo champ—theirs is slow-cooked, buttery, and packed with chicken and sausage. But the sleeper hit on their menu? The po’boys. The hefty sandwiches are finished with a creamy, garlicky sauce that soaks into the perfectly toasted roll. Both the gumbo and a shrimp po’boy are on hand at OSL, plus a vegan mushroom gumbo for the plant-based crowd. " - julia chen 1
"Gumbo Social will serve chicken and sausage gumbo, a vegan version, and shrimp po’boys at Outside Lands 2024." - Dianne de Guzman