Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Café • Round Rock

Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Café • Round Rock

By Beth Wade Friday, 06 March 2009

It may be surprising that a place known for exceptional seafood is home to a great cut of steak, but that is just one of the many pleasant surprises at Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Café. Don’t let the name fool you — this fine dining establishment touts French-inspired Cajun cuisine in an upscale, intimate setting.

With 20 tables, Gumbo’s can seat up to 72 people. However, even in the small space, the conversations and normal noises of a restaurant are not overwhelming.

Gumbo’s first opened in Austin in 1994 by then-owners Michael and Yoli Amr, who moved the restaurant to Round Rock in 1998. The Amrs sold Gumbo’s and after changing hands a couple times, it was returned to its original owners, who then sold the restaurant to Shuler and Denise Page in April 2005. While the Gumbo’s in downtown Austin is a concept that originated from the Amrs’ restaurant, the two are separately owned and operated.

Gumbo’s serves many of the same items from the original menu, which was created by Michael Amr, a native of Baton Rouge, La. The Crawfish Eddy (lunch $9.95, dinner $10.95), served with buttered toast in a creamy tarragon sauce, is a perfect starter.

Along with a variety of seafood appetizers, Gumbo’s boasts some delicious salads. The kitchen tops a bed of lettuce with anything from feta cheese and Greek dressing to grilled beef tenderloin and prosciutto. While most would consider salad a lighter fare, these are anything but. The Greek salad (lunch $5.95, dinner $6.95) had large slices of tomatoes and cucumbers, kalamata olives, peppers and feta cheese.

Famous for its gumbo, the restaurant offers a variety of Louisiana-style options, including a Sunday brunch menu.

The popular Almond Crusted Chicken (lunch $12.95, dinner $16.95) is a favorite among diners. The chicken, breaded and pan sautéed, is served with au jus and topped with sautéed crabmeat.

The fish of the day (lunch $13.95, dinner $15.50), a choice of tilapia, catfish, salmon or rainbow trout, is available blackened and pan-sautéed in lemon pepper flour, or grilled and finished with an herb butter garlic cream sauce. Other options include St. Michael (lunch $15.95, dinner $19.50), a choice of fish topped with sautéed crawfish tails in Cajun herbs and spices, or St. George (lunch $16.95, dinner $20.95), fish topped with sautéed crabmeat and scallions in Creole herbs and spices.

Entrées are served with white or dirty rice, jambalaya, the vegetable of the day or chef’s potatoes, which are a different creation every day.

For dessert, a variety awaits anyone who could possibly have room after the large portions. The Whiskey Bay Cheesecake ($6.95) is topped in a warm whiskey sauce with toasted pecans.

Gumbo’s is also a great party destination. Live music can be enjoyed most Friday and Saturday nights on the patio, which is available for private parties. The dining room is also open for private events on Mondays when the restaurant is normally closed.

Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Café, 901 Round Rock Ave., Bldg. D, Round Rock, 671-7925, www.gumbosroundrock.com

• Lunch Tue.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Dinner Tue.-Thu. 5-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m.
• Brunch Sun. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Closed Mon.