Gumbeaux's Cajun Cafe - Douglasville, GA

One of the largest dilemma's I face living in Atlanta is where to go for some good ol' seafood.  I am talking fresh simple preparations with great flavors.  For the past few years I have heard a number of people mention a place in Douglasville, GA.  This weekend one of my besties urged me to join on a visit to Gumbeaux's Cajun Cafe to make and celebrate with new friends.

Now let me warn you this place does not take reservations. This was small fact that my girl decided to leave out as she knows me, I do not like to wait.  As the first to arrive she told me to put our name on the list for a party of 14.  Yes, you read that correctly a table for 14 people, with no reservations and 5 large parties already on the list before us.  So as most who know me can attest, as long as I have my Kindle I'm good.

Eventually our turn comes and we round up to grab our seats.  I did not study the menu prior so I decided to rely on the combination of absolute curiosity and a strong recommendation provided by our friends father, Mr. Richard.

And so it begins, with large and small bowls of Seafood Chowder, Lobster and Shrimp Bisque and Seafood Gumbo.  It was exciting just watching it all come out and of course I had my spoon in everybody's bowl for a taste.  Everyone was like family even though we had only met just moments before. The flavors of each were so very rich.  I promise in my heart  I wanted to finish my bowl, but then the thought that more food was on the way stopped me dead in my tracks.

Seafood Chowder

Lobster and Shrimp Bisque

Seafood Gumbo

And then, there was the "Heart Attack Stack."  Described as a 'fried grit cake on jalapeno creamed corn, topped with a fried crab cake that is sandwiched between two fried green tomatoes, then topped with hollandaise sauce."  Yes, that is way to much in one dish, but when you compiled that perfect bite with all the elements in one... it was absolute heaven.  The salty sweet spicy goodness accented texture of the grit cake. It was one of those times, where in the the moment you may not even realize how much you have said without even opening your mouth.  You close your eyes, flinch ever so slightly and then a huge smile slowly spreads across your face... pure ecstasy.

Heart Attack Stack

With all of this you would think the meal was over. That would make to much sense, just as I sit back on my seat, I see them coming with more plates.  To my relief I did only order the shrimp Po'boy, which I was only able to take a few bites of before picking off he shrimp. But it was Captain Creole's Platter that stole the show.  It was 'a little bit of everything fried: catfish, oysters, shrimp, tilapia, crawfish, gator and a fried cajun crab cake,' that looked like it 10lbs worth of food.  Jaws simply dropped at the site.  It was ordered to be shared by two, but it easily could have fed 5 people.

Shrimp Po'boy

Captain Creole's Platter

 In the end I left a very happy and extremely full camper.  So next time your heading west on I-20 in GA, stop in and visit Gumbeaux's.  Eat Bright!!