LAist: Eye Nosh: The Gumbo Pot...Not So Hot?

traci747

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:53:37 -0800

It's frustrating trying to find decent cajun food here. We go to Ragin Cajun in Hermosa (or is it Redondo? I get the 2 mixed up). It's decent, and the owner is a really cool guy. All the employees there are great - very friendly and it's usually just a fun experience. It's always filled with local and regulars and has a real authentic feel because most everyone knows someone else there. Thanks for the heads up on the gumbo pot. The food in the pic didn't look that great. I've never seen gumbo looking like that before!

jamiebeth

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:16:12 -0800

thanks for the rec, sparkylulu! i'm in sherman oaks most of the time, so maybe that's part of the problem. the international food has been pretty good, but i'm looking for something between a dupars/mels and a cheesecake factory, some sort of upscale diner with a large menu and good quality...i think i was totally spoiled by good diners in NYC!

Lindsay William-Ross

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:11:00 -0800

Sparkylulu the pic is fine; I just meant that since the food looks great in the photo we'd have no idea it wasn't a positive experience without reading your write up! You know, the whole "a picture speaks a thousand words" saying... but in this case without your words we wouldn't know what you really thought! For anyone doing Eye Nosh pics for our LAist Photos pool it helps to include some words about the meal on the Flickr page, or direct us to your blog or Yelp review so we know your thoughts on the meal!

Sparkylulu

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:57:00 -0800

Sorry you didn't like the pic. All I had on me was my iPhone. Jamiebeth, I have to agree with Lindsay, there are some fantastic places to eat in LA. You just have to find them amidst the sprawl. Here's a quick suggestion, and mainly because it was a recent discovery: Blu Jam Cafe on Melrose. Some of the finest breakfast and brunch I have ever ever had. You can read about it here if you want: http://septenary.blogspot.com/2008/08/chowhound-blu-jam-cafe-west-hollywood.html Thanks, LAist and Lindsay for linking my review. If I had known I would have directed people to my blog...I could use the traffic. ;)

Deliverance

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:15:31 -0800

Gotta agree with theory here. My dad's family is French Creole, and when we compared The Gumbo Pot to authentic Louisiana cuisine, there is no comparison...at all. The red beans & rice are really bland, the potato salad mediocre, and the shrimp po' boys have a woefully inadequate amount of shrimp. It's really too bad because it would be so convenient to get good red beans & rice there and save myself the time it takes to make it homemade. Ah well.

ryguy178

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:31:37 -0800

I eat at the gumbo pot at least 3 times a week. The first time I ate there, I felt the need to tell the guy who runs it that it was the best meal i've ever had for under 7 dollars. I got the meatloaf with creole salad and extra cornbread. you have to get the Creole Mustard Potato Salad. I totally disagree about it having no flavor, its amazing. I order just a side of it all the time with my lunch from other places. It is the best potato salad I've ever had. When asked to chose the side, I asked the guy what he recommended and without hesitation he's like, "You're getting the Potato Salad." The cornbread is great too, I always order an extra one for 75 cents. And I thought the hush puppies were really good.

Lindsay William-Ross

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:33:57 -0800

jamiebeth... wow, there's tons of amazing non-chain food in LA at great places where you can feel comfortable. what part(s) of town do you eat in? what kinds of food? where are you getting your recommendations? there is life beyond the cheesecake factory, that's for sure, in any area, in any cuisine, for any budget.

jamiebeth

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:05:25 -0800

Foe of Gumbo Pot, had a very sad po boy a few months ago, haven't been back since. Love Loteria and recently had a decent Brisket BBQ sandwich from Bryan's Pit BBQ, though it's far from authentic BBQ and more like the brisket my mom made for Rosh Hashanah... In general, I am foe of food in LA except for sushi and mexican...I know many people might pounce on that statement, but I've been here a year and haven't found a good, normal, non-chain where I feel comfortable, enjoy the food and want to go back time after time. It makes me sad. I always have to stifle a gasp when I ask people where they like to eat and they answer "The Cheesecake Factory." Sigh. Other than that LA has been treating me very well.

theory

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:18:05 -0800

As a bayou raised Cajun living in Hollywood, I have to say that the cuisine served at this place is far from authentic. While I agree with the reviewer that the food is mediocre, it is hardly a benchmark by which you should judge food from NOLA. The Gumbo Pot should make it very clear that what they are selling is a butchering of Creole flavors and practices: Jambalaya is not supposed to be wet and resemble Rotel. Gumbo should consist of less grease and more flavor. Less Roux more Sausage! Beignet mix should be bought from the source: www.cafedumonde.com Cornbread and Collards? How about Hush Puppies and Shrimp Boulettes? I'm afraid the only authentic Cajun food in L.A. is cooked at my apartment. Who's coming for dinner?

Julie Wolfson

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:49:36 -0800

We eat at the Gumbo Pot all the time. They are always nice and helpful and the food is amazing. Love the jambalaya and the po' boys. They also have amazing fried chicken, mint iced tea, biegnets. Wow now I'm hungry. I think I'll head over there right now!