Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Restaurant September 16, 2010
1815 Rosewood Ave
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 474-5652
www.nubianqueenlolas.com
Last night, I was hoping to get home by 8 pm to crank out at least 2 food blogs for backlogged restaurants. I picked up my little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America by 6:00 and was at Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Restaurant by 7. We did not leave til almost 9!
Let me back track a little. Lola, obvious owner of Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Restaurant is an East Austin neighborhood heroine. She feeds the homeless straight from her kitchen and her patrons have the option to donate to her cause. Her little hole in a wall has three tables. One small table that can seat two and two bigger tables that can seat 6-8 people each. I’ve heard her Cajun Soul Food wins over people in droves.
Hanging from the ceiling are Mardi Gras beads dangling assorted kitschy knick knacks.
A newly married couple shared one of the big tables with my little and me. The soft-spoken sweet wife declared Lola’s one of her favorite places and that we cannot go wrong with whatever we order. Excited, I ordered the jambalaya with a side of beans and a side of yams and my little ordered the fried catfish and fries.
Then we waited for our food. This is the part that really killed me. We waited an hour and a half to get our food. Now I went home to check yelp after the meal and it was a pretty universal complaint, the wait. It is just Lola cooking back there. I wish I did more homework before going to pick up my little. I feel if I knew better, I would have taken us during the weekend and not on a night where I had to worry about my little doing her homework and getting into bed at a decent hour for school the next day. I had also planned on being home quite earlier. So I have to stress, the food is delicious. The cook, owner, and hostess (Lola) and servers (Lola and her high school student daughter) are super sweet and hospitable women. Just be prepared for an insane wait. Come on a weekend for lunch where you can enjoy a book or a long conversation.
My little talked the ears off the sweet couple who shared the table with us. She made us play games where the rules constantly changed to benefit her and demonstrated car dance moves. She’s declared her time at Nubian Queen Lola’s the best time of her life and she can eat the fried fish and fries everyday. I did tell you once that she has a habit of declaring the most recent eatery we try out as her favorite right? Even so, I do have to agree with little and the Austin masses. Lola can cook and make you feel at home.
The long awaited for, jambalaya with beans and yams.
The meal was tantalizing. The amount of meat in the jambalaya leaves you wanting, but your taste buds are in for a treat. It was delicious. My little would have gobbled up most of my entree had I not stopped her.
I almost forgot to mention pricing. Little’s kid’s plate of fried catfish and fries and my jambalaya and our two orders of super sweet Cajun tea came out to be just under $20 before tip.
My little was all too happy to stay out later and put off her homework.