New Awlins Cafe

The pies are great, the gumbo was some of the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve been to Nola countless times) and the owners are very nice and accommodating. I’ll be coming back regularly.

Great food and really nice people. One bite of the gumbo and you realize why you miss New Orleans! The oyster po boy is fresh and delicious, and they don’t skimp on the portions. And of course you have to take home some pie!

What a fantastic experience. Through no fault of the chef, I related to him that i don’t eat chicken… which was added in my seafood pasta (otherwise absolutely delicious) When he was checking in on our dining experience, I felt I needed to explain to him why I didn’t eat the pasta I ordered. He offered to remake the pasta without the chicken. By that time, I had already ordered a cup of crawfish étouffée and ate it (it was delicious). So I declined his nice gesture. We also found out that he was the baker at Lawrence’s Bakery on Elysian Fields (in New Orleans) back in the 80’s… I grew up in that neighborhood and used to love cream puffs from Lawrence’s…likely made by him. We started talking about all the businesses around the area, Ferraras, Schwegmann, Canal Villerie… etc. When we finally got up to pay he insisted that I not pay for the pasta… said «that’s how we do it in New Orleans…» What a warm person! Oh. and we all loved our food… that’s coming from 2 New Orleans natives who are rather picky with our cajun cuisine.

In the mood for Cajun food and I brought my Wife here June 25, 2015. After having heard so much about the place we were eager to go. Plus I met the pie man one day at a auto shop. He came through selling pies and I was amazed at how he hustled. I asked if he had a restaurant and the rest is history.
We were there sitting at a table exploring the menu. After a short time we ordered our food and drinks. The drinks took a while before being served. I water doesn’t take long to fix does it? My Wife wanted gumbo and I ordered the catfish combo with red beans and rice. After waiting for five minutes the waitress returned saying they were out of gumbo. It wasn’t a deal breaker but communication is paramount, you should know that ahead of time. She ended up ordering a shrimp poboy.
They were kind enough to bring us some crawfish tails, a boudin ball, hush puppies and shrimps to make up for it. The boudin ball just didn’t move us. It lacked flavor of other Cajun eateries we’ve patronized. Still the crawfish tails and hush puppies were good. The messed up part was rje guy serving it had a runny nose. Come on man you’re grown go to the restroom and handle that.
Our meals came out and wow everything was piping hot. My Wife’s poboy was huge and not skimpy on the shrimp. The house bread was really good and soft, a heck of a sandwich. My fish had good flavor, my red beans and rice were delicious. My Wife got an mini apple to go. She ate it the next day and said it was good.
We returned with relatives in September celebrating life and someone wanted Cajun food. Unfortunately the family owned place has a problem with staffing. Also myself and someone else at the table got what was clearly reheated red beans from a day or two prior. My Wife got another pie and they gave her an additional one both were old and got thrown away. The next day my Wife and I were both sick. Our relatives threw out the pie they got too.
The folks running the place can cook. Cleanliness however may be an issue.

Had the red beans and catfish. Best catfish I’ve had in a long time. Breading was tasty without being too thick and not greasy at all. My wife had the Crawfish Etoufee. Incredible. Chock full of crawfish and the roux was to die for. We will be back.

I am so glad I found this gem! Came here with a friend for lunch since we were both craving some Cajun food and have been wanting to try this place. Between the both of us, we ordered the boudin balls, crawfish pie, catfish po boys, a side of gumbo, a side of jambalaya, and a seafood platter. Safe to say we were really hungry! Everything was great, especially the boudin balls and crawfish pie. The catfish was really good as well… nicely breaded and good flavor. I’m excited to eat my leftovers later!

The food was ok, the place just didn’t seem very clean and something just seemed off there not sure what but just needed a better setup or something .I order the crawfish poboy and my wife ordered the crawfish étouffée and for the price should have been a much bigger serving on the crawfish étouffée. Over not bad but price was kinda high for the food served.36.00 for 2 people and a class of tea.

I joined my co worker for lunch yesterday. She’s from New Orleans and she said that the food was spot on. I couldn’t decide between the oyster po boy and the crawfish bread so I ordered both.
They bake their own bread — you’ll understand why this is important if you try it.
Owners are from New Orleans and moved to TX after Katrina. Everyone who hails from the south felt at home here.

I visited New Awlins Café which was recommended to me by friends and I was not disappointed in the food. The po’ boys are served on homemade (by the owner) French bread that makes this sandwich complete. Just like in New Orleans, it had the right amount of outside crunch followed by a light soft interior. Dressed with the appropriate fixings, this sandwich was DELISH! Also, I had it with a cup of gumbo which was not lacking in meat/​seafood and I looked forward to coming back.
Tonight I went back for dinner and was so pleased with the Crawfish Pie — WOW! All my family members enjoyed their meals as well. It’s great that we can BYOB and be welcomed by such a nice family.
We all felt that the food was worth the value and look forward to returning.
Thanks for another delicious meal!!!
Linda & Jeremy

First off they had a guy playing the steel drum, and he was actually pretty good. I’m personally not a huge fan of live performers at dinner since it makes conversation difficult.
Gumbo was good enough to make me wish I’d made it the whole meal instead of just a cup. Good heat, flavor, meat content, etc…
The breading on the fried catfish was good enough I didn’t really need tartar sauce (though it didn’t come with the meal so I’m not sure if it was just forgotten or they are really proud of their breading). The portion was a little small, and the fries are nothing special.
The service was what you’d expect from a «pay at the register» place. It wasn’t deplorable, but not fantastic either.
Buttermilk pie for dessert was fantastic. The owner claims winning awards in New Orleans and I believe him. I will be coming back to try the savory pies and more dessert.

I really wanted to like this place but something was just missing. While most of the people in the place were really nice, our waitress didn’t seem to want to be there. Maybe she was having a bad day! The bread on my crawfish étouffée sandwich was crunchy and tasty, but I was disappointed by the amount of étouffée. For $ 11, I was expecting a little more meat or maybe a side of some sort. My husband got the fried crawfish and fries. They were good, but nothing over the top.

Wow! I think I just tasted me Some heaven!!!
Crawfish pie is incredible! Cup of gumbo authentic and shrimp Poboy stuffed with shrimps!!!
Great family story and very friendly service! I will definitely be back to try everything else!

If you ever want to taste the flavor of Louisiana from a true South Louisiana family, stop by New Awlins café. I’ve heard from businesses around that the owner brings pies to other businesses in the area to sample. That’s an example of true Southern hospitality.
I’m from Baton Rouge, so I know what a good Cajun restaurant when I eat at one. And I respect the different cultures of Cajun food. I had the crawfish pie and two boudin balls. They were off the chain! Just the kind of Cajun flavor my taste buds crave. Think bold, zesty, and rich. Will try the pecan pie next time.

My wife had and shared a cup of gumbo with me, very tasty. We usually share everything and today was no diff. The crawfish bread sammy was delish along with a couple of jumbo fried boudin balls, all of these goodies went down real well with iced unsweetened teas. Visited with the owner and his wife, very nice people. The service was timely and very friendly, we’ll definitely go back to try mo’ stuff. Should’a picked up a pie while we were there.

If you have never had a craw fish or seafood pie, this is the place to go. I’ve tried them both as appetizers, and both were incredibly savory. I read the backstory on this place in an article of the Austin Chronicle, and hearing their amazing story about their start in New Orleans and eventual migration to Austin is what initially brought me to try it out. However, the food has me coming back for more. I have tried both their craw fish and oyster Po Boys and they were both really delicious and packed with oysters and craw fish. I have found that a lot of places put too much slaw in their sandwiches, but this place really does it right. I have yet to try the gumbo or étouffée but I will definitely try them next time I go.
The service is also amazing. I was reading some other reviews that stated one of the owners came out to the table to make sure everything was up to par, and this also happened when I went with some friends. He was a very kind gentleman and said one day of the week they even have a live band (I’m sorry, for the life of me I can’t remember what day it is.) The place itself isn’t fancy, but the food is enough to keep people coming back again and again. If you’re looking for some authentic, I’d highly recommend you try this place out!

New Orleans food is the best I will be back its a must try the pies is the best in Austin

Friendly service is a hallmark here. One of the owners came to our table to see how everything was and it was fabulous! We had the crawfish pie and the gumbo. Both were exquisite. It felt like we were in a five star Brennan’s only better. My lunch buddy is from New Orleans and he’s bringing his family back.
You could miss this place, which I almost did bc the property owners of the retail strip center are long overdue in updating the space at McNeil and 183, but give it a shot. Inside interior is clean and inviting, but food is truly delicious and unlike anything else labeled as Cajun in Austin or central Texas for that matter.

The food = delicious & service = Excellent! The hand painted murals were beautiful. Overall, I would definitely visit this café in the future! Shouts out to waitress, Dimple and her husband the CHEF! You and your family were awesome!

$ 28 — Remember that amount.
I had the combo fried seafood plate, a cup of ettoufee and a glass of water. The seafood was scant and the batter greasy. The etoufee was better than average but had an 80% rice ratio.
The bill was $ 28 BEFORE tip. Wow!

While I’m not from Louisiana, I am from Southeast TX, and that’s about damn near as you can get to LA without being in LA.
I’m always lamenting about how there are very few good seafood/​cajun/​creole places in Austin. New Awlins Café tries to fill that void.
We got there just before 9 p.m. on a Saturday. There were a couple of tables still lingering, but they left as we waited for our order.
My boyfriend and I got the 8″ shrimp poboy, a side of gumbo and a side of red beans and rice.
The shrimp on the poboy was perfectly cooked — I would’ve preferred a bit more spicy, I had to douse it in Louisiana hot sauce (my fave!). The bread had a good chew but still slightly crunchy on the outside. The gumbo was a a tad bit on the salty side but I just think that it’s because it was the end of the day. It’s a minor thing, but some green onions on top would’ve made it better! The red beans and rice was good, nothing fancy there.
Service was good and we got our food in a timely manner. Knowing that we were going to share the poboy, another basket would’ve been nice, I just used an extra napkin.
The dining area leaves a bit to be desired though. While I’m all about «vintage» chairs, the reused office chairs need to go. For the ambiance, I do think the price can be a dollar or so less on entrees.