Gumbo House — Restaurant in Alaska

TL;DR - if you're looking for authentic Cajun (aka, Louisiana) food, look elsewhere. Interested in the details? Let me start with the positive: the restaurant itself is beautiful and clean, and our server (TJ?) was courteous, thoughtful and attentive. The menu is extensive and has a lot of staples of the Cajun food landscape. The positives end with that. The menu reads like a Louisianian's dream, but it becomes quickly evident the recipes are derived from someone who likely hasn't spent substantial (or any) time in the state from which the cuisine originates. Alaskans mostly have had negative views of this restaurant in my experience, and against my better judgement (being a New Orleanean with family from Acadiana) I figured a restaurant that traded on the name "Gumbo House" would nail it. I was tragically wrong. The gumbo (they allege 5 gumbos, but in reality there's only one) is a single base with extra protein tossed in as an afterthought. That does not make for a good gumbo, as anyone who knows what gumbo is will attest. Worse still, I've burned rouxs that taste less like crispy flour than this. While mostly fresh ingredients are used (I can forgive frozen Chinese crawfish in the seafood in Anchorage), crunchy celery in a gumbo with okra that is as slimy as it gets is a cardinal sin. The shrimp creole was a second strike, with enormous shrimp and more butter than tomato in the "broth." Yes, I said broth , and I know that is wrong as well. Creole is a meal by itself - it isn't meant to be a soup, and should sit proud on rice like sauce on spaghetti, not a soup. So much for redemption there. My kids had red beans... well, they were "red" and "beans" but not kidney beans as they should be. Here again we found crunchy trinity vegetables fully discernible in direct contravention to accepted practice. There were spices in these that even I could not identify, and not in a good way ... and raw carrots? In red beans? Holy frijoles! That ain't red beans, cher, that's something from a different culinary type altogether. We ordered bread (it's not free) and that actually was fully passable, but likely from a mix. All this being said, the icing on the cake was when I ordered seafood gumbo (I am pescatarian) it arrived with sausage. The owner's son happened to walk by and asked how things were as I discovered this, spoon in mouth, and I politely asked it to be removed (both from the table and the bill) whereupon the younger man acted as though it was I who had committed the error. Now, looking back at the menu with great scrutiny, I can see that apparently all gumbos include sausage (also, not a thing with Cajun cooking) but, the adage of the customer being right was not well-understood by this gentleman, who had the look of disgust all over his face as though I should just grin and bear it. In fact, had it not been for this interaction and the subsequent exchange with him, I likely would not have taken up my scribe for this review as it is never my intention, or want, to eviscerate someone trying in good faith to make a living. In any case, poor-tasting and ill-prepared food aside, that type of negative reaction to a misunderstanding is not something I'm willing to abide again and was the final nail in this coffin. It's a shame, too, because Cajun food, when done right, is glorious. That some may sample this and assume this is what it is meant to be is simultaneously a travesty and an insult to proper Cajun fare. In an interview on the wall, the owner states that he opened this restaurant because, "Anchorage lacked ... Cajun food." I'm here to tell you -...

Yo, Check Out This Spot - Gumbo House in Anchorage

The Vibe: So, Gumbo House is this chill little spot right in downtown Anchorage. It's like walking into someone's kitchen back in the Bayou, but you know, with snow outside. It's not fancy, but it's got that homely feel, which is dope when you're just looking to chill after a long day wiring houses.

The Food: They've got all sorts of Cajun and Creole grub, but let me tell ya, the Bucket-O-Gumbo is where it's at.

Bucket-O-Gumbo: Straight Up Huge: Dude, this isn't your average bowl of soup; it's like they took the whole pot and dumped it in front of you. It's meant for sharing, but if you're feeling yourself, you can go for it solo.

Taste Like Whoa: Every bite is like a flavor bomb going off in your mouth. You've got this thick, dark sauce that's all smoky from the roux, with chunks of sausage, chicken, and shrimp just chilling in there.

How It Looks: They bring it out in this actual bucket, and it's just wild. Like, you're not just eating, you're having a moment, ya know?

Radness: This thing is beyond rad. It's like, "Hey, you thought you were in Alaska? Nah, fam, we're doing Mardi Gras here." It's unexpected, it's massive, and it's packed with flavor. That's what makes it so lit.

Service and Chill Factor: The crew there is super cool. They're all about making you feel welcome, like you're part of the fam. The place isn't big, so it can get cozy, but in a good way, like you're just hanging out.

Overall Vibe: If you're in Anchorage and you're thinking, "Man, I need some good eats that aren't just burgers or seafood," hit up Gumbo House. That Bucket-O-Gumbo is where it's at. It's like a party in your mouth and you're all invited.

Final Thoughts: I'm giving this place a solid 5 out of 5 stars. But seriously, for that gumbo? Worth it. Definitely a must-visit if you're into trying something new or if you're missing that Southern...

This has to be the worst thing I have tasted in my whole life. It tasted like some left the gumbo burning on the stove for a couple of hours and then served it to me.

I ordered the flight of soups of jambalaya, red beans and rice, and their GUMBO. It was worst than the most burnt bitter cup of coffee I have ever had. After that you can taste Alaska is the furthest point away from the south and has no business making southern comfort food . The jambalaya tasted like it was tomato soup cut with a bottle of Louisiana hot sauce. I couldn't even use the hot sauce on the table because there was already more than enough in the soup. The red beans and rice was ok, but severely bland and only helped to cut the burnt coffee/flour taste out of my mouth from the gumbo.

Then when I tried to ask the waiter about the ultra bitter flavor, he was super arrogant and said " that's the same recipe we have made for the last 30 years." And was very rude about me just asking to make sure there wasn't a mistake. I heard him go to the kitchen and asked them to check the gumbo after total making a scene about me even asking if there is supposed to be a burnt coffee flavor.

When he came back he said they where checking on the gumbo and that they could give me some "corn bread" that cost $4 to make up for an $7-8 cup of soup.

Worst southern food I have ever had.

Glad I didn't get anything else that I love, off their menu, who knows what other food they can ruin.

I don't get why they just didn't offer me a different soup or even attemp to make things right before insulting me for asking about the terrible tasting food.

Worse than burnt coffee, so bitter and just wrong tasting in everything that has to do with cooking, and an insult to southern and French cooking, that the menu plays to know...