Caliente!

Hmmm...this post has nothing to do with Mexican food, BUT it does deal with spicy food!

Cajun food is something I don't get to enjoy that often since I currently do not live in a city that offers fresh seafood. We're in a desert I tell ya! I don't always trust the quality of some of the seafood that's shipped in. Thankfully, Austin offers some great seafood options, and one of those is French Quarter Grille.

Blackened catfish topped with crawfish etouffee

The restaurant has such a cute interior that's cozy and comfortable. It's not too expensive considering how much seafood you're getting in your entree. Though I went during lunch, so I'm not sure if there's a difference in prices between the lunch menu that I saw, and the dinner menu. I was worried that they would skimp on the seafood portion, but they definitely did not.

Blackened catfish topped with crawfish and shrimp gumbo

I was so full afterward that I didn't order dessert, but I really wanted to. They had a few different kinds of Creme Brulee (regular, chocolate, raspberry) and cheesecake. Other items I want to try off their menu in the future are their Fried Green Tomatoes and their Cajun Crawfish Cheesecake (I believe that's what it's called). It apparently is a special appetizer that is not listed on their menu, but has a lot of hype behind it. I overheard one of the waiters describing it to a nearby table when they were ordering. 

Don't be nervous that the words crawfish and cheesecake are together! Would you be brave and try it?

Your Mom's!

"Get Stuffed at Your Mom's!"

If you want to go somewhere quirky, I recommend Your Mom's Burger Bar. They're known for their unique stuffed burgers. These burgers are fairly messy, especially mine because not only did I have a 1/2 lb. stuffed beef patty with monterey jack cheese and chorizo, but also a fried egg with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a guacamole and chipotle lime spread. I chose to have it on white bread, but you can also get your burger with wheat.

Frida Kahlo with fries

The Marie Laveau was more Cajun in its flavors. This burger was stuffed with monterey jack cheese and boudin, blackened Cajun style, with lettuce, tomato, onions, and a roumalade sauce.

Marie Laveau with onion rings

Overall, I liked the quirkiness of this place and the variety of burgers you can choose from, but did not really like the atmosphere. The seating is in a covered outdoor area that gets insanely hot, especially during the summers and also on top of the heat coming from the kitchen...it's not very comfortable. I recommend getting take-out instead.