Not Your Mama's Cafe & Tavern

i've been here several times with good food, despite my mom's warning about her rancid fried oyster poyboy.  never again!  tonight was terrible.  how can you have a horrible meal with a wedge salad and a bowl of gumbo?  go to not your mama's!  we were left by our waitress, shondell, for about 25 minutes after getting apps.  didn't check on our drinks or anything in the meantime.  i went to the bar myself to see if i could order a drink, but apparently there is no bartender, so i sat down and waited a bit more for our waitress to appear.  

granted the gloopy bleu cheese wedge salad was alright, and the fried alligator only had a few bad pieces, despite the breading not staying on.  but our bowls of gumbo were water thin and so terribly salty that it was inedible (not to mention the raw salad shrimp that seemed to have been thrown in as an afterthought) and our full bowls sat there as we asked for the check, explained to our waitress that the gumbo was terrible and waited another 10 minutes for said check.

upon paying for dinner shondell offered to speak to the owner and see if the gumbo could be taken off the check.  almost immediately (she does something fast at least) she returned to tell us that he said he made it himself and there was nothing wrong with it.  i guess he didn't taste it!  so, we were charged for it.  i guess the customer is never right at not your mama's ...

anyway, it was supposed to be a nice night out after a rough week, and now i guess i'll have to make a grilled cheese or something.  good thing i have a cold watermelon in the fridge to get the taste of salt out of my mouth.  

there is no good reason for bad gumbo in this part of the country.  from now on, when i don't feel like cooking my own i will head to camille's, pay less, get friendly prompt service, and leave feeling like a champ, not a chump.  

avoid this place at all costs!

The food was excellent.  Proportions are huge.  A little pricey though.

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am a vegetarian, that my wife and I went to Not Your Mama's Cafe knowing that is, predominately, a seafood restaurant, that it received very good reviews from other diners, but that I would have few choices of foods that I'll be able to eat.  

The front of the restaurant was simple, unassuming, but welcoming.  The dining area was clean, well-decorated with signs that contained interesting and thought-provoking statements, and there was ample space between the tables.  The bathrooms were clean and well-stocked with supplies.

Our server (Briana) was sincerely welcoming, gracious, and accommodating.  My wife ordered the Crawfish Po-Boy. I requested an-off-the-menu Fried Eggplant Po-Boy made from the eggplant appetizer.  I'm under the impression that the kitchen staff never balked at this special order, as it arrived as requested.  Both my wife's and my main entree were served hot, were flavorful, well seasoned, and not greasy.  The side salad contained cold and fresh vegetables that were served on a chilled plate.

Although Not Your Mama's Cafe was not our first dining choice in Livonia, it will be the next time we are in town!