Terrebonne hosting fundraising tournament
May 29, 2012
Cecile Brou Mongrue
May 31, 2012
Little has changed in the 25-plus years Dave LeBoeuf and his family have owned and operated Dave’s Cajun Kitchen. The Houma staple has earned favor among locals as a friendly, family-style neighborhood restaurant specializing in seafood and Cajun-style dishes.
A visit to Dave’s is like visiting family – literally. First, there’s plenty of LeBoeufs at work. Second, the atmosphere is that of a family kitchen. The west entrance leads into the bar and quaint dining area, while guests entering through the east side of the building pass the counter, through a doorway and into a spacious dining area.
Vinyl tablecloths cover the various-sized tables that fill the room. The yellow walls, wood wainscoting and south Louisiana paintings signal Dave’s is more of a family affair than a fancy diner. And that’s a good thing. It’s that casual, friendly feel that keeps locals coming back.
Our first visit to Dave’s is for lunch. After hearing a regular at a nearby table talk up the roast beef po-boy, I was sold. The light French bread is packed with homemade roast, which includes mostly chunks, a definite change from the more common shredded beef versions.
My guest orders from the lunch menu (grease boards around the dining room list the choices), opting for the baked chicken and creamed potatoes. The chicken is well seasoned and falls right off the bone. She enjoys Dave’s Delight to top off the meal. Dave’s Delight is a combination of flavors: chocolate pudding and whipped topping over a cookie base.
The dining area is packed with professionals enjoying a moment away from the office and seniors reconnecting over a meal. The reasonably priced meals and wide selection – the boards on this day include spaghetti and meatballs, baked chicken or a catfish dish.
The lunch selection changes daily and includes a choice of sides: salad, potato salad or beets on this particular visit.
A return trip for dinner confirms the restaurant’s consistency in friendliness, service and food quality.
This night, our guests decide to give the appetizers a try, selecting Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Catfish Chips. Both are crisp, fried and tasty, but it’s actually Mrs. Gloria’s dipping sauce that wins the highest marks. Our waitress dubbed it a “secret recipe,” but was able to divulge some ingredients: mayonnaise, horseradish, seasonings and a hint of dill.
The sauce perfectly compliments the crunchy, flaky catfish.
The seafood dish of the night is Grilled Bass ($12.99), which is accompanied by a vegetable medley steamed in butter sauce and toast. The bass is firm and covered with a mild crawfish sauce that earns a thumbs-up.
The Catfish Platter ($12.99) includes a heap of catfish filets and a pile of French fries. Because we’d just enjoyed a similar appetizer, it proved to be like a second helping of catfish. No complaints, but we agreed next time to try something else just for variety.
The picky eater in the bunch settled on a Chicken & Cheese Platter, which includes grilled chicken strips and fries. The cream sauce on the side – a tasty blend of cheese and shrimp – makes a great addition. One guest says she could have dined on the sauce alone.
I’m thrilled when I see Chicken & Sausage Gumbo on the menu. I enjoy a bowl of this rich, robust gumbo ($6.99) and a side of homemade mustard-based potato salad ($2.99). Dark, rich and loaded with Andouille sausage, chicken and hints of veggies, Dave’s gumbo has an earthy, abundant flavor. I’ll definitely be back for this one.
Because of Dave’s reputation for Cajun seafood, we pass on the rib-eye platter on this trip, but I hear the LeBouefs really know how to prep a tasty steak. Maybe next time.
My guests decided to give the dessert menu a whirl, ordering a slice each of the Lemon Meringue, Turtle Cheesecake and French Silk pies. (Desserts are $2.00 each.) The cheesecake has just the right combination of chocolate and caramel and is drizzled with a chocolate sauce. The French silk pie proves a good choice after the bass.
Dave’s portions are generous. My second half of the po-boy served as that night’s dinner, and I was only able to complete about half the ample bowl of gumbo on the second visit.
Filling food, friendly family service, moderate prices and a casual atmosphere make Dave’s Cajun Kitchen an ideal combo for local diners. We look forward to seeing what the LeBouefs have in store for the Houma area in years to come.
Fresh Cajun seafood dishes are the specialty at Dave’s Cajun Kitchen in Houma. The LeBouef’s family-style restaurant has been keeping customers coming back for more than 25 years.
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