Puke-A-Rifik

Reviewer: Jennifer Kiata

Review Date: 04/27/2008 01:44AM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

I knew from the second my boyfriend
and I walked up to this place he wasn't gonna get any tonight.

This place has no air conditioning - just swamp coolers.

Prices are high.

But from what I have read from the previous responses the prices are high because they haul bread and crawfish from "true" and "authentic" cajun places to bring them to a Holy strip mall in Northwest Austin

I had the Basil Muff and a cup of ettouffee - thank god I wasn't paying tonight

The alleged bottles of hot sauce on the table were presented in empty Abita six pack holders.

Like I said all of the hot sauces were empty and presented in crusted over bottles.

Swamp coolers

Open windows
No air conditioning

bugs

No Dice

I told my BF that there would be no poonanie tonight

Rip Off

Reviewer: cajun craver

Review Date: 03/07/2008 07:36PM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

This place is outrageously priced. The staff is borderline hostile, with the exception of the owner, who unfortunately seems to be intimidated by the unruly crew. It cost me 13 bucks and some change for a catfish po-boy and a side of gumbo. What a rip off!

The food is good, but I'd need to take out a second mortgage if I ate there twice a week. Posts about the health dept. are accurate. You'll see a badly failed inspection any day now. I live two blocks away from this place, but I'm searching for my cajun fix elsewhere now. They've priced me out.

Try the Chowder

Reviewer: craig

Review Date: 12/12/2007 05:07PM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

Loved the food, atmosphere, selection, service and authentic Cajuns cooking and serving. Their selection of all things bayou - seasonings, etc. made me feel like I should be watchin' for gators! Check it out - portions are generous and outstanding food!

Reviewer: Paul Enevidez

Review Date: 09/27/2007 05:55PM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

Food is really overrated and overpriced.

This place smells like dumpster juice. The entire strip mall should be condemned.

Definitely original decor and flavor!!!!

Reviewer: James Nagy

http://www.texashomestead.com

Review Date: 02/26/2007 02:55PM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

We took a drive from central Austin to get a taste of what a long time Austin resident friend of mine described as "one of Austin's best cajun places to eat" I ordered a cup of crawfish etoufee and a poor boy w/shrimp and oysters. Both were tasty and reasonably priced as was the home-made muffalatta.
Not a corporate copy cat chain at all!!

Authentic food and atmosphere

Reviewer: Karen - regular customer

Review Date: 12/24/2006 09:21AM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

Sambet's is authentic cajun cuisine and atmosphere, especially if you don't have the time to make the trip the Nawlins. The owners are awesome, the food is consistently great and we frequent the restaurant. The atmosphere is pure New Orleans...the ambiance is true New Orleans, whether you appreciate it for that or not, that's what it looks like in Lousiana, too, folks! The health department gave them an excellent rating, guys, start paying attention. If you want foofey dining and so-so food, go to Gumbos! As for price, it's very reasonable considering the expensive ingredients and the culinary expertise that go into making true Lousiana meals. My husband and his family grew up in New Orleans and later moved on to other locations in the US; we *have* to take them to Sambet's everytime they visit us in Austin, so there are several more testimonials to Sambet's excellence and authenticity. Yes, everyone in our family also cooks true Cajun food, and does it from scratch, but when we are in a hurry or just want to take a break from our fast-paced lives, we visit Sambets!

Disgusting

Reviewer: Janet Howard

Review Date: 12/21/2006 04:44PM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

My quarter muffaletta was made with burned bread so the sandwich
tasted a bit ashy.

Tables and floor were filthy.

$10.88 for a sandwich, side, and drink.

hit and miss

Reviewer: dave

Review Date: 08/15/2006 09:33PM

Rating: +1/+3(Not bad)

I think the decor is great - reminds me of some of the local places in N.O. I have had great luck with the gumbo - spicy, full of good stuff and they do the rue right. Not cheap but good.

Now the sandwiches are another story. The bread is OK I guess. The joints I frequent in New Orleans (johnny's, central grocery, teddy's grill etc) ALL have fresh bread delivered daily by a local bakery. I realize that may be hard to do in Austin but I just have high standards. The poboys are really not that good in my opinion. I've been there many times (and will probably return) and I've never been impressed with the sandwiches. The roast beef was especially strange - not resembling in the least anything I have ever had in Louisiana. I suspect the "gravy" ? was from a jar for gods sake. I had better at Gene's.

To be fair - gumbo good. boudin good. poboy bad. I'll return eventually and update my review if necessary.

Good Eats

Reviewer: Mary Huff

Review Date: 08/08/2006 02:51PM

Rating: +2/+3(Goooood)

I agree this is what post Katrina cajun food tastes like.
The muffalottas dressed with cajun oliev salad are the best
muffs on the Northside.

Excellent choice of hot sauces at each table.
The bourdain sausage is good too. Just the right amount of spice.

I noticed that the websiet is down http://www.sambets.com

totally authentic- check it out

Reviewer: anonymous

Review Date: 08/03/2006 08:50PM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

wow- read all reviews here. not sure what first two were talking about. Definite down-home ambience. Simple, totally cajun authentic atmosphere. They're very proud of the fact that everything is homemade and all bread is freshly baked. They cook everything to order so don't come in expecting fast food. You may wait 15-20 minutes, but it's worth the wait and the $11-$13 you'll pay for lunch which does include a drink. And hot sauces are on every table- 5-6 bottles. Lady at the register says it's not the cheapest lunch in town, but guarantees one of the best in town. i found out about them when they were voted best kept secret in austin by 94.7 and K-EYE news. Agree with one review very much like what you find in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) All food is cooked in a really cool oven- shaped like a microwave but cooks sandwiches up toasty. Shrimp and oyster poboys are crispy and seasoned just right and they have this amazing sauce (mayo, but little spicy) that is great. And not little shrimp or oysters- talkin' nice size, meaty seafood!! I talked to the owners today and you can expect a comment here in a day or so- she'll have more info for you...
HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you know what cajun food is supposed to be...
P>S> May see a puddle here or there, somethin' leaking, but never seen one bug in 3 years, once every week or so you'll find me there in one of their lawn chairs.
Extremely happy customer,
homer

Great Gumbo

Reviewer: Qzimoto

Review Date: 06/11/2006 10:12PM

Rating: +2/+3(Goooood)

Home made po-boys, gumbo, and etoufee. The owners are very personable and take a sincere interest in the place.

Yes the decor is a little lacking but it is just like any place you'd find in NOLA.

Prices reflect the cost of bringing authentic food to Austin.

Worth a try if you want the REAL thing.

Fantastic Cajun Grub

Reviewer: Hubbard

Review Date: 05/29/2006 08:59PM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

First of all, this restaurant is not cash only. They take credit cards. Second of all, the food is definitely worth the money. I guess the first two reviewers are used to Taco Bell prices. The food is hand made daily and the portions are very big. The seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee, pesto mufaletta, and red beans and rice are some of my favorites, but everything is fantastic there. I agree that the ambience leaves something to be desired, but it's about the food folks and this place is awesome.

Awesome stuff!!!

Reviewer: Jeremy R.

Review Date: 03/08/2006 01:49PM

Rating: +3/+3(Great)

Dingy, dark and full of hot sauces that will put the hurt on you. I have been frequenting Sambets for 15 years on and off. Don't let the microwave fool you - This food is for real! For lunch today I had the cajun pesto muffuletta (oh my God - Super yummy) with a side of mudbug creole (crawfish for you yanks) and topped it off with a slightly expensive crab cake. The flavor - isn't that the important factor - of each item sang zydeco on my tastebuds. The sandwich was piled high and fully dressed, the creole was like being in Mrs. Swamp Voodoo Lady's kitchen and that darn crabcake...watch out for these - too good. People at my work were waiting to see if I left my desk so they could snag it! Really folks, the last 2 reviews concentrated more on plastic chairs than flavor. I personally get it to go (not that my office is any more enjoyable). Give it a shot...

Over-priced, nasty, microwaved, CRAP!!!

Reviewer: Dee Snyder

Review Date: 01/17/2006 03:41PM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

Talk about a crock.. This place charged me $13 and some change for a Boudin Link and a Catfish Po' Boy! WHAT THE HECK? Isn't this supposed to be down home "POOR BOY" food.. You gotta be a "RICH BOY" to buy one at Sambets! It didn't even come with a drink, hot sauce, nothing. Just some suspiciously red faced(ie. drunk looking) guy with a big grin on his face (one that made me feel like I was getting ripped off, and he knew it).

The chairs are definitely sub par.. as are the tables filfthy.

I heard that this place is owned by the same guy that owned the Hot Dog stand that was in the same shopping center.. He was charging 6 bucks for a Hot Dog.. and now he's charging 6 bucks for a freaking PO BOY.

If you want _REAL_ New Orleans style / Cajun food.. go to GENES!
www.genesrestaurant.com ... Get your moneys worth.. buy authentic, delicious, New Orleans food.

gross

Reviewer: mike deans

Review Date: 01/13/2006 10:10PM

Rating: -1/+3(Crap)

This is supposed to be a cajun deli. It is a darkly lit hellhole. The chairs are broken lawnchairs. I'm all about ambience but sitting in a broken lawchair is too much for a customer to ask for. The tables are always dirty. Yes I have been there many times and a health inspection is in order. I got the quarter tukey muffaletta and a cup of crawfish etouffe. It was around $10 for down home "poor people food." - the muffaletta was pre-maid and microwaved on demand same for the etouffee. Depending on who is working there that day you can end up with a cup of etouffee that has 3 crawfish or 10 crawfish. $10 for a lunch is a bit much - and even then - that was the daily double special. Sorry man - sitting in an unlit room with no air conditioning on broken lawn chairs and eating marginal food while cockroaches walk by is not my idea of a restaurant.