Whole Lotta Muffaletta

Well it seems New Orleans was once again on the mind this weekend, as well as being in South Austin. If you happen to drive down William Cannon and spot the strip mall by the towering Gold's Gym, you may miss the tightly placed Cypress Grill. Let me tell you, turn around, park your car, and open the doors to even more Cajun cuisine. This place has been here several years, and spits out tasty Cajun dishes every time. They have Abita, a full bar, and nightly music. My family and I go there almost every other time we get together, and my brother once worked there. This last visit, we had Muffalettas and salad. A quarter Muffaletta will fill up a lunch hunger like no other. The meat is greasy and good, and the olive tapenade is fantastic. The bread seals it all together with softness and crunch. Be sure to try their gumbo, it's some of the best in town. After a weekend of Cajun I may want to eat a ton of veggies, but I'll never regret a minute of it!

Cypress Grill

Jambalaya and a Crawfish Pie and File' Gumbo

For those who know South Austin, those who are willing to venture down there, and those who love N'awlins there's a hidden away restaurant you must go see. It's Evangeline Cafe, and it's like stepping into a shack of a place in the Big Easy with memorabilia, music, and Cajun ambiance galore. Usually, any place in a strip mall is not a first pick, but as soon as you walk into this place you'll feel anywhere but in the burbs of Austin. There's Abita, gumbo, etoufee, pistolette, and much more. There's music 6 nights a week (they're closed on Sundays) and the clientele is as different as night and day. We decided on Shrimp Etoufee and the stuffed Redfish. Pretty tasty, though I would add a little more kick to the Redfish. I rinsed all mine down with a cold Abita Root beer. Owner Curtis Clark is from Lake Charles so you know he knows what he's doing. As they say at the restaurant, "Old Austin didn't die, it just moved South". Head down Brodie Lane and check out this Cajun corner.

Evangeline Cafe