Louisiana Longhorn Café

Louisiana Longhorn Café

As many of you know, I frequently like to write about Mom and Pop kinds of restaurants; you know, places where the owner’s passion and personality is infused into every plate that comes out of the kitchen. The Louisiana Longhorn Café at 200-B E. Main Street in Round Rock is the epitome of a mom and pop. Proprietors Ray and Melinda Overstreet are 100% Cajun, from Louisiana and they’ve assembled a menu that borrows heavily from their heritage. And on top of that, as you can see from the alligator fused with the Longhorn on the wall, they also have a sense of humor.

The appetizers are what you’d expect to see if you hunkered down for the weekend in the great Atchafayala basin in Louisiana. The Onion and Jalapeno Strips are paper thin, flash fried, and served with a ranch dressing. This is a Louisiana comfort food at its best. And the Smoked Boudin Sausage has a flavor and authenticity to it that rocks. Boudin is an acquired taste and may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy it. It has a strong but pleasing flavor. And make a point to sample the Cajun Crab Cakes. No way are they giving out this recipe but let me assure you that they certainly work for me, especially with the unusual and zesty pineapple sauce. And if you like Gumbo, then LLC will flat-out make your day. The robust roux is the bomb!

Every time I review a Cajun restaurant, the first thing people ask me is, “How’s the etouffee?” Well, rest assured, the Crawfish Etouffee is the real deal. The crawfish are huge and from Louisiana (an issue these days), the sauce is terrific and the flavors are, as they should be, most comforting. Adore the sauce. The Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya also simmers with wonderful first-bite flavor rushes. It’s on the spicy side with onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. And the andoulie sausage has that characteristic taste that blends well with the milder chicken. Best of all, it’s beautifully moist and not the last bit dry.

There are neat sandwiches here as well. The Muffaletta, the quintessential N’Awlins sandwich is well represented here with that teasing combination of ham, turkey, and salami covered with the classic olive salad.. And it’s hard to leave this place without having at least one PoBoy. It would be the Shrimp for me on the Gambino’s French loaf. Simple, timeless, and delicious.

The desserts are hard to resist at Louisiana Longhorn Café as well. The Coconut Cream Pie, the Key Lime, and the rich and luxurious Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce will complete your descent into culinary decadence.

So get your cousin Tibedeaux and head down Main Street in Round Rock. The Louisiana Longhorn Café is as real as it gets.