Rick M.
Yelp
I love going someplace I haven't visited before and finding a gem like this!
I was in Healdsburg to play Sax with a new band that I just started working with occasionally and this place was in the same "parking lot" as the club I was gigging at, so it was a natural to drop in on Saturday afternoon around lunch.
It's in an old house converted into a restaurant and the place was packed!
Charming atmosphere, servers and kitchen staff bustling around at their jobs, people enjoying a great time and great food...it was well worth the 1/2 hour wait to get in.
Almost the entire band joined us, along with their significant others...we were seated at a classic wooden picnic table on the back patio shaded by a large umbrella.
Our server, Malisa, greeted us as soon as we sat down and got us drinks right away. She was a stellar waitperson...super sweet and on top of anything that we needed without being overbearing.
Just FYI...I've spent a LOT of time in N'Awlins and around the bayou.
I'm very familiar with this style of food.
What a welcome treat to see Abita Amber Lager ($5) (12 oz) on the drink menu...classic Louisiana beer...super refreshing! Of course, that was my choice.
A large 1 Liter carafe of Bloody Mary's ($45) were also ordered (also available for $12 for an 8 oz glass)...I'm not a tomato juice fan, so I didn't partake, but those that did raved about them.
Had to start with their Beignets ($8)
[Lightly fried French Pastry topped with powdered sugar, 3 per order]
WOW!!
It had been quite a while since I've had REAL Beignets and these were as authentic as it gets!
Pillowy, soft, with the right texture and covered with a generous dusting of powdered sugar that left a sugar mustache on your lips with every bite.
Followed that with Fried Pickles ($6)
A nice sized dish/bowl filled with flavorful bites...crispy texture, just the right amount of batter as to not overwhelm the thin rounds of delicious pickles, with an out of this world, authentic remoulade sauce for dipping.
Tried a slice of their Fried Green Tomatoes ($8) that the keyboard player ordered. 6 large slices...again, crispy texture, just the right amount of batter as to not overwhelm the delicious, tart tomatoes, also accompanied by that out of this world, authentic remoulade sauce for dipping.
SO many tempting choices for my main course...I would've been happy with any of them...but, I decided to go with one of my benchmark dishes for any Cajun/Creole place I visit:
Gumbo ($8 for a cup/$15 for a bowl)
[Chicken, Andouille, Okra]
I ordered the bowl...
Again...WOW!!
You could tell that it was made with an authentic, hand made roux...there's no faking that texture. The proteins and vegetables were cooked perfectly...succulent chicken, snappy andouille...and the okra was treated the way it's supposed to be...just the tiniest bit of the inherent viscosity that makes it such a taste treat. Accompanied by a generous serving of rice heaped in a straight line down the middle of the bowl and a crispy piece of toasted French bread on the side...
I couldn't have been happier!
I also got to enjoy half of my dining companion's order!
Their Saturday special:
Smoked Brisket Po'Boy ($20)
[The New Orleans classic on our custom French Bread from Costeaux Bakery]
[All Po'Boys come dressed: mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, tomato and pickle]
What a behemoth of a sandwich...that's why I wound up with half of it!
Super tender meat, with just the right amount of smoke on it and seasoned just right...I said it before and I'll say it again...it doesn't get more authentic than this!
Next time I get to this area, I'm trying more of their menu offerings...I gotta get to their Jambalya...and Muffaletta...and Red Beans and Rice...and Shrimp and Grits...and Fried Oysters...and Hush Puppies...and Fried Shrimp...and Blackened or Fried Catfish...and they even have Zapp's Kettle Chips and...and...and...LOL...
Take the time to try this place next time you're in this area...you'll be as content and impressed as I was...