In lieu of an entrée at Gumbo, I opted for two indulgent appetizers – each entirely different ‘fried’ experience. The Natchitoches meat pies were surprising light and a flakey golden brown. I enjoyed the finely ground texture of the meat and the mild Creole flavors with an overall warm buttery appeal without being heavy. The jalapeno aioli added another dimension – I tasted less jalapeno and cooler ranch than I would have expected, but was very content nevertheless. On the other hand, the shrimp and eggplant beignets were heavy and doughier than I would have liked. Each fritter contained a bite or two of shrimp and the eggplant was entirely indiscernible. The Creole tartar sauce was undoubtedly the star of this dish and I appreciated the distinct Creole kick. The savory beignets were a unique concept that could be improved upon and I only hope that Gumbo adds the traditional sweet beignets to their dessert menu – a dish no New Orleans kitchen should be without! Overall, I think that Gumbo is a refreshing addition to the Worcester restaurant scene and I look forward to trying their other dishes. –MO
