Oct 30, 2023 - Food and Drink

Dooky Chase's serves up a great New Orleans gumbo

Chelsea Brasted

A bowl of gumbo is seen in the foreground, with strips of chicken and sausage visible in the broth, and rice in a cylinder-shape off to the right side. In the background, a fried chicken thigh can be seen on a plate. — If you're going to Dooky Chase's, it's always smart to get fried chicken along with whatever you order. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios

When you eat at Dooky Chase's Restaurant, you become part of a storied list of patrons that includes Martin Luther King Jr., Beyoncé, Ray Charles, James Baldwin and former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

My order: A cup of gumbo ($8.95) and a fried chicken thigh ($3).

The gumbo is served elegantly, with a round of rice at the bowl's edge. Inside, you'll find a perfectly-seasoned gumbo with sausage, ham, chicken, shrimp and crab.

Flashback: Dooky Chase's family-owned restaurant is well-known for its history as a planning location for civil rights leaders, but late chef Leah Chase's art collection on its walls is also history-making, as it's said to be the first gallery for Black artists in the city.

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Dooky Chase's serves up a great New Orleans gumbo

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