Fargo’s Cajun Cafe

All About Food | September 10th, 2015

With the recent anniversary of Hurricane Katrina I was inspired to write about The Cajun Café.

When I sat down with the owner Gary Gilbertson I found that I was meeting with a very happy, laid back, informative fun guy. He never stopped smiling while talking about his place, which I loved.

Gary has been in the food business for quite some time. He has been the owner of the Cajun Café for the last 14 years, the first four years in downtown Fargo before moving to its current location, in south Fargo. Gary found it to be to his advantage to move out of downtown and buy his own building to house the restaurant.

He was inspired to open the Cajun Café after he was asked to cook for a dinner during Riverfront Days. He was asked to make a cajun catfish from fish caught in the Red River. It was expected that about 100 people would come out but instead 400 people showed up to try Cajun cooking -- the taste of Louisiana was a hit.

He loved the idea of having Cajun cuisine in the area, but also realized that everybody's taste buds are not going to be so acceptable either. He decided to have everything on his menu from burgers to Cajun food and slowly introduce people to Louisiana cuisine.

My first experience eating this food was when it was located downtown on Second and Broadway. My favorite item on the menu then and still now is the rice and beans. I love it. When Mike and I were just there Mike had the Cajun catfish. It was a very generous portion of catfish I have to say, and Mike said it was really good and he'd have it again.

Gary’s favorite item on the menu is étouffée, which is a signature to the Cajun and Creole cuisine most popular in New Orleans; it is an ingredient that is mostly used with seafood, usually crawfish.

You will also find alligator and frog's legs among other interesting choices on the menu. Items like sweet potato biscuits and cane syrup are always a must when you visit this wonderful restaurant.

The Cajun Café also offers breakfast all day, every day, with breakfast specials Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. People line up right out the door on Sunday mornings for breakfast. If you are wondering about reservations, know that they don't take them. But, you can always get a seat; even if there's a long line it does not take long.

They also have a full bar. For the first time I actually tried one of their signature drinks, the Louisiana Lemonade, made by another staple of the Cajun Cafe, "Mary.” Mary is always there, and it was my understanding that she came up with these signature drinks.

Here is my good/bad criteria list for every restaurant:

1. Location: Easy to find

2. Parking availability: Has its own parking lot but it is small

3. Variety of menu -- not too much, not too little: Perfect amount

4. Wait staff: Very pleasant -- they answered all of the questions

5. Dining area: Clean

6. The food and presentation: Down-home feel

7. The cost: "Affordable." One can eat and afford a beverage -- $2.75 - $20.95

8. The bathroom -- VERY IMPORTANT: Clean

9. Would I go back and would I recommend it: Absolutely!!

10. Most interesting fact about the restaurant:

One of the most incredible things Gary told me is they're not online and never have been. Now that's amazing!