07/15/09

Great Entrees and dessert

by JoanneG

My husband and I are originally from the Lake Charles, LA area and have finally found a little piece of Lake Charles heaven here in Austin. The food was superb - our first visit to Evangeline Cafe. We live in Hutto, TX but it was worth the hour or so drive. Don't skip the pecan praline pistolette - it is divine!!! Owner, Curtis Clarke, took some time to visit with us and our waiter, Sam (I believe that's his name - from Mississippi) was great too. Thanks Curtis and staff for a wonderful evening - we'll definitely be back for more!

02/24/09

The best homecooked southern meal in Austin!

by debbygail2003

I am originally from Austin, and I used to visit Evangeline's just about any chance I could throughout the week. The food is great, atmosphere is great. When I moved away in 2005 to go to school, every time I came to visit my parents I would always tell them I wanted to go eat at Cafe Evangelines. I am now officially back, living in my home town, and I'm still remaining faithful to my favorite restaurant.

I would recommend this to any and everyone. They do have live music, so if you do not like a particularly loud atmosphere, then visit them during the day, or on fridays before 10pm when they dont have live music going on.

My favorite thing on their menu??? Stuffed Pistolettes!!! They melt in your mouth, with an exploding center filled with your choice of meat and the perfect amount of spice.

12/22/08

We keep going back here

by JlovesK

Just wanted to say that we like the food and service here and have always enjoyed coming. My wife is from Louisiana and she says the food is just like being home - so we end up here a lot!

• Pros: Good Cajun

11/24/08

Classic South Austin!

by texasvandygirl

I LOVE the fried shrimp po-boy and it's the best when dressed with Evangeline Sauce. There is always a lively atmosphere and the service is relaxed...a great way to spend time enjoying the meal instead of feeling rushed. I have HIGHLY recommended this "hidden gem" a number of times. Laissez les bon temps roulet!

• Pros: Food, Atmosphere
• Cons: Parking

10/02/08

Great Cajun food without having to drive to Louisiana.

by cajunfoodfan

I'm very rarely in south Austin but I happened to drive by around lunchtime and saw this little place off of Brodie Lane today. I am originally from Texas but I lived in New Orleans for four years many years ago and developed a love of good cajun food. I was craving a good shrimp po boy and they did not disappoint me. It was as good as any I have ever had in Louisiana. I also tried the gumbo, which was excellent. For desert I ordered Miranda's Pecan Praline Pistolette, a delicious extremely rich concoction that I have never seen anywhere before. Anyone who says this place has bland food needs to go to the doctor and get their taste buds checked. Although, I admit that I did put some Louisiana hot sauce on my po boy because that's what you are supposed to do. What I'm trying to say here is I highly recommend this place for great cajun food and I will be making a regular trip from my far north Austin home to eat there again. I actually can't wait to go back and try their seafood platter and wash it down with an Abita beer. Now that's livin'.

• Pros: Wonderful atmosphere
• Cons: Kinda small (but that's OK)

08/23/08

As bland as Cajun can be...

by Leper

My fiance and I went here for dinner. I had the "seafood platter" for $17 - maybe the most expensive thing on the menu. She had the fried shrimp basket. We both found our meals to be excrutiatingly bland, even though much of it was fried. The "platter" was also more like a "plate." I.e. it was surprisingly small, consisting of 3 fried shrimp, 3 fried oysters, a stuffed crab, and a small fried catfish fillet, with a piece of lame bread, and possibly the least exciting "dirty rice" I've ever tasted. If it weren't for the passable service, I would have given this restaurant one star.

08/10/08

Evangeline Cafe is the worst place to eat or listen to live music, crowded , terrible owner and customer service

by Cajuneese

Many people already covered whats wrong with this place, I just want to point out that the owner is asking for cash only cover charge from customers at 10 pm. i am pretty sure there is a reason its unadvertised and is cash only. IRS come lokey here for some underreported revenues.

06/24/08

Bland!

by pouka

We were told about Evangeline's by two different people and I doubt I'll listen to either of them again. What a terrible experience. Two of us at the table ordered their "house specialty" Crawfish Evangeline. It was supposed to have a cream sauce that wasn't creamy. There was NO FLAVOR. The pasta was cold and wafer thin, I added a ton of the Evangeline hot sauce, and I'm a total wimp when it comes to hot & spicy, that seemed to at least add some flavor but no heat, then I had to add salt too. We actually added salt to the onion rings! And forget about the fried pickles, they're awful. I love fried pickles, I get them often but I have never seen fried hamburger slices for a reason, it's a bad idea Eva! The music was great, if a bit loud for dinner time but I wouldn't recommend it and I won't be back.

• Pros: Band, Servers
• Cons: Drunk dancing cook, painful chairs, terrible food

06/23/08

WHERE IS THE FLAVOR????

by Austinivy

I agree with the other reviews... I dont see why this place is so popular/so well reviewed??? I went there w/ high hopes being new to Austin & being Creole... Yet... I was soooo let down... I ordered Shrimp Etouffee... all it was onion (3 kinds) in a light brown cream gravy... it was served w/ dry cornbread w/ no flavor! Seriously Where was the flavor in that??? While waiting for my togo food I talked w/ the friendly staff & it seemed like they knew what they were talking about. After getting home... & being deeply disappointed I added some Tony's & a cajun style stewed tomatoes... Sadly I think it comes down to this... They need some REAL CREOLES in the KITCHEN!

• Pros: Staff...
• Cons: The food...

05/16/08

Something different, but not great.

by lizlovestoeat

I've enjoyed cajun and creole food up and down the Gulf Coast, and I have to say this isn't the best. The rice seemed par-boiled and the entrees (fried, etouffee, et cetera) are all kind of bland. Evangeline's is a better neighborhood bar than a restaurant, in my opinion - but it IS a nice place to stop in for a beer/margarita and an appetizer. If you're more interested in the food, try the Cypress Grill on William Cannon just West of MoPac instead.

• Pros: A nice watering hole, decent fried appetizers, parking is easy
• Cons: Food's not great, music can sometimes be overly loud