Excellent, friendly service. The atmosphere is casual and very pleasant. The food is well prepared and tasty with good portions and great variety in selections. On street parking with lots within walking distance. The bread pudding is decadent and mouth watering!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Chicken and Waffles, Seafood Jambalaya, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese
Vy Nguyen
This Cajun/Creole gem adds a bit of spice to the Northampton food scene. The only downside is that the space is small and it gets crowded easily.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luna L.
I hate long reviews so I'll try to keep it simple: Way too damn loud. . The place is the size of a closet, not an Applebees. We just wanted a nice dinner and conversation, not to join in, marching in a Mummers Parade. Seating is crowded and the actual seats themselves are very uncomfortable. No "real" cocktails. They only have a "cordial" license. Look it up. $14 a drink for practically a "mocktail". Decided pretty quickly we weren't staying. Got the crabcake appetizer and it was very good. But not good enough to make us stay, which is unfortunate because I was really looking forward to the jambalaya. The decor is nice. Staff was relatively friendly & professional, but the negatives were negative enough, that it hit a sour note with us. Also 2 mediocre "cocktails" and 1 appetizer was over $50. Whew! I know prices have gone up, but holy wallet drainer. I wish them luck Not our vibe.
Donald Garner
Umm… yum!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim Romansky
Nice decor. Too many eateries are cold and bland, however the atmosphere here is on theme without being tacky. The food is great. Sure, your boomer uncle who exaggerates that week he spent in Nola will claim he’s had better Cajun/Creole but for the area it’s probably the best (and only?) option. The staff and overall service is prompt and cordial without doing that over the top, 1980s, obnoxiously bubbly stewardess act.Only suggestion: Love the marching band/big band jams but that region’s musicality runs deep. Expand that roster.The crab cakes Benedict is the best eggs benny around.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gator PO Boy
D Powers
Cute little place in downtown Northampton. Always excellent food and drink and service has always been super. The pumpkin martini was ok but their espresso martini is great! Many of the dishes do have some level of spice so be warned! Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Seafood Jambalaya, Alligator with Okra
Aidan W.
I really like this new spot in town. The food is top notch and the drink menu is varied and creative. It seems like they are still working through some kinks in the service flow, but all in all we have been treated well each time we have returned. However, the reason I don't see myself returning any time soon is that the chairs are extremely uncomfortable. I know it seems silly to care about the chairs, but they are honestly such a hinderance to enjoying your meal. I don't quite understand how those chairs were selected - they are entirely intolerable. I hope they rethink the seating, otherwise I can't really recommend Gombo for anything other than takeout!
Tara S.
Sadly Gombo is not anywhere near authentic, the spices and styles cater to New England palates. The guy who cooks at Gombo came from Big Mamou which closed a long time ago (it was awful), and he has admitted himself that he has no personal background in New Orleans cuisine. Just cooking at BM. Whether you like the food is a question of individual taste, but if you go expecting it to be Cajun, it's actually an outsider's interpretation of what Cajun should be. Personally I find that off putting. There's no richness of flavor, the beans and rice and grits and sauces are all just wrong. Also the servers are nice but wildly inexperienced. It's an expensive restaurant, totally not okay to have this level of amateur service-- it's like they got zero training.
Lindsey Z.
We popped in on Saturday, the restaurant was full, but we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar. First thing we noticed was how bright and loud the music was. The lighting especially was a huge turn off. We sat at the bar and we greeted. Staff were friendly but seemed overwhelmed. We ordered the gator bites & croquettes for appetizers. I was immediately turned off by the texture of the fried okra within the gator bites. Both dishes season well. For dinner we had the blackened catfish and jambalaya, both under seasoned. Drinks and bread pudding dessert were the best part. I think the staff needs help or direction. Plates not cleared until the very end. Our empty drink and appetizer plates sat the entire time in front of us. Another suggestion- turn down the music and soften the lights. We will try again hoping for a different outcome.
Patrick Macdonald
I’ve been several times- staff is quick, attentive and thoughtful. Food is very very good, definitely soulful and flavorful, especially in comparison to basically any other restaurant in the valley. Drinks are very very good. I think people expect to be treated like a TGIFridays or something here… it’s a small restaurant, be patient, be cool, have fun, quit fussing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Chicken and Waffles, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese, Gator PO Boy, Blue Point Oysters
Came for brunch. Was excited to see this chef was a former executive chef at Big Mamou (I miss that place). Wait person was very good and attentive and the restaurant decor is fun. Brunch was perfectly fine, but I was a little disappointed in the flavor profiles of the dishes. Tried the shrimp and grits and it was pretty one note, lacked salt, and the shrimp were a little over. Chicken and Waffles was a bit better- chicken was under seasoned and very crumbly, waffle was a little underdone. Overall, I needed bolder flavors for sure. It didn't tickle my yummy bone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kaleo Luna
It’s a nice place but that’s about it. Service is lousy. Food is lousy. Zero soul is put into this food and the employees stand around on their cell phones. Would not recommend coming here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Tim Allen
Definitely check this place out! Great atmosphere and friendly wait staff. The food was incredible!! Very authentic. Gator appetizer was the perfect kind of spicy, and the blackened chicken was great. Was scraping the plate at the end to get every morsel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese, Alligator with Okra
Kiki K.
Service, food, drinks, music and decor were great. We had the traditional dishes, gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish boulettes. Tastes like Nola!!
Xavier Ryer
Food and service is always amazing i come regularly and never get disappointed
Excellent, friendly service. The atmosphere is casual and very pleasant. The food is well prepared and tasty with good portions and great variety in selections. On street parking with lots within walking distance. The bread pudding is decadent and mouth watering!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Chicken and Waffles, Seafood Jambalaya, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese
This Cajun/Creole gem adds a bit of spice to the Northampton food scene. The only downside is that the space is small and it gets crowded easily.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I hate long reviews so I'll try to keep it simple: Way too damn loud. . The place is the size of a closet, not an Applebees. We just wanted a nice dinner and conversation, not to join in, marching in a Mummers Parade. Seating is crowded and the actual seats themselves are very uncomfortable. No "real" cocktails. They only have a "cordial" license. Look it up. $14 a drink for practically a "mocktail". Decided pretty quickly we weren't staying. Got the crabcake appetizer and it was very good. But not good enough to make us stay, which is unfortunate because I was really looking forward to the jambalaya. The decor is nice. Staff was relatively friendly & professional, but the negatives were negative enough, that it hit a sour note with us. Also 2 mediocre "cocktails" and 1 appetizer was over $50. Whew! I know prices have gone up, but holy wallet drainer. I wish them luck Not our vibe.
Umm… yum!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice decor. Too many eateries are cold and bland, however the atmosphere here is on theme without being tacky. The food is great. Sure, your boomer uncle who exaggerates that week he spent in Nola will claim he’s had better Cajun/Creole but for the area it’s probably the best (and only?) option. The staff and overall service is prompt and cordial without doing that over the top, 1980s, obnoxiously bubbly stewardess act.Only suggestion: Love the marching band/big band jams but that region’s musicality runs deep. Expand that roster.The crab cakes Benedict is the best eggs benny around.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gator PO Boy
Cute little place in downtown Northampton. Always excellent food and drink and service has always been super. The pumpkin martini was ok but their espresso martini is great! Many of the dishes do have some level of spice so be warned! Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Seafood Jambalaya, Alligator with Okra
I really like this new spot in town. The food is top notch and the drink menu is varied and creative. It seems like they are still working through some kinks in the service flow, but all in all we have been treated well each time we have returned. However, the reason I don't see myself returning any time soon is that the chairs are extremely uncomfortable. I know it seems silly to care about the chairs, but they are honestly such a hinderance to enjoying your meal. I don't quite understand how those chairs were selected - they are entirely intolerable. I hope they rethink the seating, otherwise I can't really recommend Gombo for anything other than takeout!
Sadly Gombo is not anywhere near authentic, the spices and styles cater to New England palates. The guy who cooks at Gombo came from Big Mamou which closed a long time ago (it was awful), and he has admitted himself that he has no personal background in New Orleans cuisine. Just cooking at BM. Whether you like the food is a question of individual taste, but if you go expecting it to be Cajun, it's actually an outsider's interpretation of what Cajun should be. Personally I find that off putting. There's no richness of flavor, the beans and rice and grits and sauces are all just wrong. Also the servers are nice but wildly inexperienced. It's an expensive restaurant, totally not okay to have this level of amateur service-- it's like they got zero training.
We popped in on Saturday, the restaurant was full, but we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar. First thing we noticed was how bright and loud the music was. The lighting especially was a huge turn off. We sat at the bar and we greeted. Staff were friendly but seemed overwhelmed. We ordered the gator bites & croquettes for appetizers. I was immediately turned off by the texture of the fried okra within the gator bites. Both dishes season well. For dinner we had the blackened catfish and jambalaya, both under seasoned. Drinks and bread pudding dessert were the best part. I think the staff needs help or direction. Plates not cleared until the very end. Our empty drink and appetizer plates sat the entire time in front of us. Another suggestion- turn down the music and soften the lights. We will try again hoping for a different outcome.
I’ve been several times- staff is quick, attentive and thoughtful. Food is very very good, definitely soulful and flavorful, especially in comparison to basically any other restaurant in the valley. Drinks are very very good. I think people expect to be treated like a TGIFridays or something here… it’s a small restaurant, be patient, be cool, have fun, quit fussing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Chicken and Waffles, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese, Gator PO Boy, Blue Point Oysters
Restaurantji Recommends
Came for brunch. Was excited to see this chef was a former executive chef at Big Mamou (I miss that place). Wait person was very good and attentive and the restaurant decor is fun. Brunch was perfectly fine, but I was a little disappointed in the flavor profiles of the dishes. Tried the shrimp and grits and it was pretty one note, lacked salt, and the shrimp were a little over. Chicken and Waffles was a bit better- chicken was under seasoned and very crumbly, waffle was a little underdone. Overall, I needed bolder flavors for sure. It didn't tickle my yummy bone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
It’s a nice place but that’s about it. Service is lousy. Food is lousy. Zero soul is put into this food and the employees stand around on their cell phones. Would not recommend coming here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Definitely check this place out! Great atmosphere and friendly wait staff. The food was incredible!! Very authentic. Gator appetizer was the perfect kind of spicy, and the blackened chicken was great. Was scraping the plate at the end to get every morsel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gumbo, Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese, Alligator with Okra
Service, food, drinks, music and decor were great. We had the traditional dishes, gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish boulettes. Tastes like Nola!!
Food and service is always amazing i come regularly and never get disappointed