Gautreau's - Watkinsville, GA - May 8, 2007

The EATS Restaurant Tour is having their inaugural meeting at Gautreau's in Watkinsville, GA.

Dining from 5:30p - 7:30p
Health Rating: 100/100 (you don't see this too often)
Average Cost per person: $25.00 (including alcoholic drinks and appetizers)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: B
Atmosphere: B-
Service: A

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Barbecue Shrimp with Sauteed Potatoes
Food: B-
Atmosphere: B
Service: A
Review: Like Stephanie, I've eaten at Gautreau's in their previous locations many times plus the newest in Town Center. I've always found the food to be good and the service excellent. Our appetizers, fried dill pickle chips and sweet potato chips, were both delicious. I decided to try something new for my entrée since I've dined there before.
Unfortunately the BBQ shrimp was not what I expected, nor were the sautéed potatoes. The shrimp were boiled in shell and served in a thin buttery/oily sauce that was slightly acidic. Attempting to shell the shrimp made for a shirt soiling experience. The shrimp were somewhat tough in texture and the sauce did not have a BBQ flavor. As mentioned by my fellow diners the potatoes were similar to candied apples, not sautéed in the traditional sense but potato chunks coated in a sugary sweet sauce. The one menu item that lived up to its' name was the cajun hot mustard dressing on the salad. Each bite required a healthy dose of cold beer to cool my burning mouth. The service was excellent, the server was always there when needed and very attentive. As mentioned before, the atmosphere suffered from being in a very new, generic location and lacking a true "cajun" feel. I'll go back to Gautreau's for my favorite dishes but this experience was not bad, just not great.

Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Jambalaya with Sauteed Potatoes
Food: B
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A
Review: Overall the expericence was good. We ordered sweet potato chips and fried dill pickles for appetizers which were both excellent. But when it came to my entree I was not as pleased. I orderd the jambalya with saute potoates for my side. The jambalya was very dry. I usually expect that recipe to have more of a sauce on the rice itself, or at least for the rice to have a wet texture to it. It also lacked in seasoning, I would prefer it have more something to it. I also found the chicken to be over cooked. As for the saute potatoes, they really should have been called candied pototoes. Saute potatoes makes me think they will be cooked with onions, garlic and herbs versus with brown sugar, cinnamon and Tony Chachere seasoning. Not that they were bad but just not expected. They were actually good if they had had a different name.

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo with Sauteed Potatoes
Food: A
Atmosphere: B-
Service: A
Review: I actually used to live right across the street from Gautreau's when it was located next to the old post office. I have spent many an evening dining at Gautreau's, and have tried most items on the menu. Gautreau's has moved several times and I have eaten at every location. This is my first experience eating at their new location at the Town Center in Watkinsville. I have to admit the atmosphere at the newest location, though the location is actually better than the old East side location, is not near as comfortable as the East side location and is sorely lacking in originality when compared with the oldest location which is just around the corner. The food was as good as its ever been. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is one of my favorite meals, and I was not let down. I feel the dining experience itself is not what it could be because of the lack of character. It is just too "new" feeling, and the only Cajun flair it has is the artwork hanging on the walls. I think some live music, which of course isn't practical on a Tuesday Night, would add alot to the atmosphere. I don't think they even had music playing which made is just seem slightly sullen. But overall the food was enjoyable, and so was the company!

Matt Keedy
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Dish: Fried Catfish with Sautéed Potatoes
Food: B-
Atmosphere: C
Service: A
Review: What Gautreau lacks in other areas it makes up for in service! This being my first time as a patron at Gautreau I went in with a very open mind about what my experience would be like. Our waitress was very attentive to any an all needs of our table. The sweet potato chips were good, but in some cases soggy. I also sampled the fried cucumber and found those very tasty. The kitchen was very efficient in getting our meals to the table in a reasonable time. The catfish was lightly breaded which is a definite plus for me. The entree did not come with tarter sauce, which surprised me, but our waitress was quick to bring some out upon request. I was most disappointed in the Sautéed Potatoes. When I think sautéed potatoes it conjures up a whipped potato with perhaps onions and garlic. I have found this to also include andole sausage in many Cajun restaurants. The Gautreau sautéed potatoes are small wedges covered in a sweet syrup sauce with just a hint of Cajun spice. They reminded me more of pancakes in flavor than potatoes. Had they been on the menu as candied potatoes, I would have been expecting exactly what it was I was served. To make it in the restaurant business I think in some cases you have to be all things to all people. That is what I gathered from the atmosphere. Yes, there are Mardi Gras posters, fishing boat pictures, and an overall attempt to make it seem like a Cajun restaurant, but take all the decorations down and it could be any other place.