Gumbo Shop is a New Orleans mainstay for its wide variety of delicious gumbo. While this restaurant has been featured on “Best of New Orleans” and “Living in New Orleans” for its namesake dish, the rest of the menu is equally as delectable. Their chicken espagnole is fall-off-the-bone tender and steeped in a tasty garlic wine sauce. But that’s not all, even the desserts are phenomenal. The chocolate brownie pie, with vanilla ice cream of course, is the highlight. A warm fudge brownie is deliciously contrasted with the cold, rich ice cream to create a perfect dessert. Even though Gumbo Shop may be famous for its classic Creole soup, it offers so much more.
The Chicken Andouille Gumbo is the main attraction, and for good reason. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Two tumblers filled with New Orleans sazeracs, a whiskey rye with bitters and a lemon slice. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The plentiful pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to help wash it down. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Finn Martin: Not a spot remained once I finished my bowl of chicken andouille gumbo here. The service was lively and beyond helpful – noticing how much I enjoyed the praline sundae, our server Brandon immediately bounced to the fore with the recipe in hand for me to photograph and share with my family of gourmands. The French bread they serve here is fresh, light and to be reckoned with, and goes great as a second spoon to soak up whatever splotch of gumbo you’re seeking to down. It was here at Gumbo Shop where I had my first encounter with the sazerac, a cognac cousin to the Old Fashioned, and I must say, it’s whiskey and it’s smooth and it pairs well with what’s on your plate.
Charity Brown: According to our server, the best gumbo at Gumbo Shop was the seafood gumbo, and he was right! The flavor immediately stood out to me compared to any other gumbo dishes I’ve tried in NOLA. The texture was very different, a bit on the slimier side, but the taste made up for it. The service was true to the New Orleans hospitality. Our server was the best, making sure we walked away satisfied with our meal and our experience!
The chicken espagnole garnished with a cherry tomato. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Specialty cocktails made by the Gumbo Shop. The Blue Bayou shows at the front of the trio. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The brownie pie. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Emily Chandler: If you go to New Orleans and don’t stop at Gumbo Shop, you are missing out on one of the best restaurants in the French Quarter. The chicken gumbo was delicious and easily shared around the table for all to enjoy. The chicken espagnole had a deep rich flavor that kept me reaching for more long past being full. If you are looking for a good drink, the blue bayou was a fun blue twist to our table with a great pineapple taste. For dessert, the warm, gooey brownie pie was the perfect end to the meal.
The grilled chicken comes with a potato blended with sliced pieces of ham. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Catie Kuczynski: The incredible service really took this place to the next level. Getting a taste of true New Orleans hospitality, our waiter made the dinner experience one to remember. The food was good but nothing too shocking, with a reliable grilled chicken and classic potato mash. Overall, Gumbo Shop is a quality spot for a classic New Orleans meal.
A warm and sweet corn appetizer. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The gumbo filled poboy sandwich. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Gavin Meichelbock: Best gumbo in the city? I don’t know, but it’s definitely good. The waiter hyped up all the food way too much, so maybe my expectation was in a different place, because I thought the food was good but not mind-blowingly so. The chicken gumbo was a rich and viscous broth, but I wasn’t overwhelmed with Cajun flavor, other than the faintly smoky sausage. The corn appetizer was good, sweet corn with warm spices and great Cajun flavors. The shrimp po’boy is not what you’d expect, or maybe want, from a po’boy, but it wasn’t bad. It was essentially soup in a bread bowl. The French bread was super soft so it soaked up the sauce like a sponge. The shrimp was perfectly cooked. I liked the addition of whole green bell peppers and red onions because it added a bitterness and some texture to what could have been a mushy sandwich. The pecan pie was solid, but missing a great crust to take it to the next level. I loved the amount of pecans and the filling was warm and sweet, but not overly so. If the crust had been flakey, this would easily be a 4/5, but because it wasn’t, it gets a 3.5/5. The brownie pie was a perfect desert. Warm fudgy brownie, decadent thick fudge, cold creamy ice cream and added pecans for texture; you can NEVER go wrong. Gumbo Shop is a great dinner spot. Mind blowing? Maybe not, but worth a stop in if you’re in the city.
