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Locals’ Choice, Round One: Gumbo

I wish I had a dollar every time I was asked the question, “Where should I eat?” At my day job, which is frequented by mostly visitors to the city, I am the go-to girl for dining recommendations. (Note: I was just asked about a restaurant while I was typing this. No joke.) I couldn’t be more tickled than when guests return to tell me that I was spot-on with my endorsement.

Now, I know what my favorites are, but I would like to gather the thoughts of you, my gentle (and opinionated) readers. Two of my goals here at NOLA-Eats.com is to engage our local friends and educate visitors. Today marks the first round in what we’re going to call Locals’ Choice. Once a week I will pose a culinary destination question. You get to chime in with your favorites and can even throw in your least favorite, if you please. All of these topics will be tagged “Locals’ Choice” and will help guide new residents and visitors to the city in doing the right thing when it comes to dining out in New Orleans. So, let’s get started…

Locals’ Choice, Round One: Who serves your favorite cup of gumbo? Is it seafood or other?


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November 5th, 2009 | Tags: , , | View Comments
  • dan
    ok im a little biased since myself and my head chef make it, but our seafood gumbo at the sugar shack (crab and shrimp) is definitely one of the best . our gumbo is silky smooth,dark roux, lots of shrimp and crab meat. the roux takes 2-3 hours to make and the gumbo another 3 1/2 hours
    unlike many many places in new orleans we make our gumbo from scratch
    give us a try and send us a comment
  • Sounds delicious!!
  • Why not? I've tried about half of the menu already :D
  • I honestly never eat gumbo at a restaurant. My maw maw makes the best!
  • I don't have a Maw Maw, so the next time yours makes some, be sure to save me a bowl. I'll send over some Tupperware for you to keep on hand!
  • Well, when out of town friends head to NO and ask me for recommendations, I send them to my momma's house for gumbo! :)

    Barring that, I'd say Mr. B's gumbo yaya or Muriel's seafood gumbo!
  • I have always found it difficult to find a seafood gumbo when dining out. Most establishments seem to serve a sausage/turkey incarnation. Great recommendations!
  • You're right... there don't seem to be as many seafood gumbos as there are sausage/poultry gumbos. One of my favorite gumbos to make is an "everything" gumbo, with sausage, andouille, chicken or duck, shrimp, and some lump crab added near the end. Dark roux.
  • Ok, I can get behind that gumbo!
  • Adam Corvin
    Probably the place I grew up eating Gumbo at: Koz's (use to be The Bakery preK). So happy Koz's son opened up one on Harrison. They also have THE BEST Po-Boys.
  • Hey, hey, hey now! Don't go rushing into po-boys yet. We've got to save that one for another post!

    ;)
  • Gwen Callahan
    I know it's a cheesy tourist place, but I love the gumbo at Cafe Pontalba. It's nice and spicy, dark roux-based seafood gumbo with pieces of crab in it.
  • That sounds like my kind of gumbo. I don't care for sausage, turkey and other meat bits. I like a dark, rich roux with crab and shrimp. PLEASE no fish, mmkay?

    Oh. And my favorite isn't in existence anymore. It was at Saia's Beef Room in Metairie. Long gone.
  • I would in no way consider myself a gumbo expert, especially since I am not from Louisiana, but based on the gumbo experiences I have had so far in New Orleans, I would say my favorites have been Herbsaint, Gumbo Shop, and Commander's Palace. Herbsaint and Commander's Palace versions use more of a tomato base, while Gumbo Shop's version definitely has a dark brown roux. Hope this helps! I'd love any other suggestions about where to try some more (or better) gumbo!
  • The tomato-base gumbos are my least favorite, but that's mainly because I prefer my tomatoes raw. I always avoided Gumbo Shop because I have a rule: If it starts with "Jazz", "Cajun", or any other New Orleans-y word and it's in a touristy location, I don't go inside. Kind of like the t-shirt shops called JAZZ VOODOO BLUES ZYDECO STORE. Tourist traps. Apparently, I've been wrong about Gumbo Shop.
  • I am not a fan of the tomato-based gumbo at all. That's not gumbo...it's SOUP. Give me a rich dark brown EVIL roux with loads of shrimp, ersters, and crab claws. THAT'S gumbo.
  • When out-of-towners ask me where to go to get "authentic New Orleans food" like gumbo, I tell them to go to Coop's on Decatur. It's tiny and the service may be anywhere from surly to chipper, but the food never disappoints. Plus, they make their own tasso!
  • I always recommend Coops to out-of-towners as well. And I always tell them to get the taste plate (which includes gumbo). But I cannot attest to the quality of the gumbo directly since, you know, I don't eat that business.
  • I've been meaning to go back to Coop's. The one and only time I went, my food was terrible, the service was terrible and there was a dog, which I am not fond of dining with. Then when I said something about it on the NOLA Eats forum on tribe.net (wow, almost six years ago!), their cook jumped my poop deck and threw a hissy. Do you remember that? Good times!
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