THE LOST CAJUN - WHO'S YOUR CRAWDADDY
Amarillo has a long love/hate relationship with Cajun Joints. During my lifetime, she has seen a plethora of restaurants, both authentic and pretenders, come and go. Some of them have hung on for awhile, and others were missed if you blinked too long. I am not sure the reasons for their failures, but that has never kept me from speculating, so here goes.
When it comes to a night out, we Amarillo Folk usually have a tight purse. Dining value is generally more focused on portions than quality or innovation; a $10.99 double-stacked chicken fry will usually win over a $17 Tuna Poke Appetizer or a $34 Mediterranean Halibut. The last time I looked, we are not near an ocean and because the majority of Cajun food is seafood based, the price will reflect it. If we want good, fresh seafood we are going to have to pay a premium for the fish’s plane ticket here. If you see cheap seafood in Amarillo, run away.
Which brings me to my next theory; is it just me or is anyone else confused by the difference between jambalaya, gumbo and etoufee? “Which one has okra?” “Which one is spicy?” “What’s a BOO-DAN?” We are just unfamiliar with dishes. Other cuisines suffer this dilemma also; Indian food, Vietnamese food and pretty much anything other than Chinese, Mexican and Beef have fallen victim to it. Some have overcome it, most have not.
The list of Cajun Casualties range from Willie’s Bayou & Bourbon Street, which were solid Joints, to Cajun Magic which I think was top-notch. Then there was Joe’s Crab Shack with its half-hearted, tie-dyed, hourly dance fest by the wait staff and Southern Fried Maine Lobster. I was not a fan. The only stalwart hanging in there for years has been Scott’s Oyster Bar, which I consider more of a Seafood Joint than a Cajun Joint. Nevertheless, it is an amazing Joint that will make an appearance on eatoutamarillo.com
Which brings me to the current Amarillo Food Scene and the introduction of 3 new Cajun Offerings: The Lost Cajun, The Drunken Oyster, and The Lazy Gator. All three restaurants have a pedigree of owners and chefs that have the potential to change Amarillo to a Cajun town. I make a rule of not going to any new restaurant for its first 90-120 days for a multitude of reasons. Amarillo bombards new restaurants the day they open and don’t let up for a while. Also, generally the chefs are working on perfecting the menu. Lastly, the staff is still learning the menus and their jobs. I never want to cloud my judgment of a new restaurant because the hostess is flustered or the potatoes are cold. I have not visited The Drunken Oyster or Lazy Gator yet, but look forward to partaking of their wares soon.
But I have been to The Lost Cajun and it hits a slew of buttons. Its food is really good. Its prices are affordable. Most of its dishes are in the $12 range. It’s located right in the middle of town in the newly remodeled Wolflin Square. The staff is great and the owner has over 25 years of restaurant experience. Mike Fogiel has owned Hoffbrau Steakhouse for a long time and in the last few years, purchased Ye Olde Pancake Station. Both of those Joints have a steady stream of loyal traffic and The Lost Cajun should keep that streak going. The Lost Cajun is a franchise with about 15 locations and look to be doubling soon.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
Finding The Lost Cajun takes a little work. It is located on the northeast end of Wolflin Square. Usually, I can tell people where a Joint is by telling what used to occupy the space, but for the life of me, I don’t remember anything being there. The best I can do is “It is in the building at the opposite end of Eat-Rite.”
When you arrive at The Lost Cajun, you are greeted with a “Thanks for joining us. Is this your first time coming here?” With an affirmative answer, a small paddle appears with spots for a sampling of gumbos, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and their lobster bisque. What a brilliant concept to overcome the lack of knowledge of their visitors. You get a taste and an education before pulling the trigger on your order. More Joints, and wannabes, should follow this example. It will stave off order regret and take the responsibility off of the wait staff to explain the dishes. I cannot commend The Lost Cajun enough on this.
The choices for the day were Voodoo Pasta and Cat-Toufee for lunch. The portions are large and you will get your money’s worth. The pasta was full of perfectly done shrimp and spot-on andouille sausage. The sauce is delicious and compliments everything perfectly. The Cat-Toufee is spectacular. Three large filets of catfish are served on a bed of rice with etoufee slathered on top. What an outstanding method of incorporating both entrees into one dish. The rice offers a nice base to catch all of the etoufee and clean your plate.
On every visit to The Lost Cajun, make room for a Beignet and Chicory Coffee to end the meal. It seems that every culture has their version of a sopapilla and the Beignet fill the Cajun niche. These sweet little dough pillows are a perfect end to a spicy meal and the Chicory Coffee is a wonderful compliment to their sweetness. (Sweet Little Dough Pillows would be an awesome band name, by the way.)
The Lost Cajun should be around for a long time, if the crowds since opening are any indication. It is usually full at lunch time, and I have seen lines form at times. Go take advantage of the Cajun Resurgence in Amarillo and find your way to The Lost Cajun.
Website
2401 I-40 W
Amarillo, TX 79109
806-576-0019
