Cafe Bouchee a great value for good food

SEAGROVE BEACH, FL – Café Bouchee brings a touch of Louisiana to Seagrove Beach in a restaurant that features made-from scratch food and excellent value.
   
Breakfast and lunch are offered six days a week (the restaurant is closed Monday). Breakfast is served until 2 p.m., with lunch also available starting at 10:30 a.m.
   
We took advantage of Cafe Bouchee being open for dinner Friday and Saturday, and enjoyed an evening visit. Another visit for lunch (or late breakfast) proved to be just as enjoyable.
   
Desserts were not available on either visit, but are made onsite when offered, and include cheesecake, and an ice cream scoop rolled in pecans.
   
For me, the highlight of the menu was an order of bowtie pasta in a light garlic cream sauce. It included oven-dried tomatoes, English peas and Feta, and was topped with grilled chicken. The dish had lots of bright flavor, and was creamy without being over the top.
   
A close runner-up was the traditional New Orleans brunch dish Grits and Grillades (gree-ahds). A half-dozen slices of veal had been dredged in flour and fried, then bathed in a rich brown demi-glace. The meat was fork-tender and delicious.
   
Another good New Orleans classic was the roast beef po-boy. The tender roast beef sandwich came dressed with lettuce and tomato and lots of gravy. Mayonnaise is available if you ask.
   
The bread did good service soaking up all the gravy and holding the sandwich together, but this is still a messy (and tasty) proposition.
   
Among the appetizers, we enjoyed beautifully fried crawfish tails. I usually find fried crawfish to be too heavy and oil-laden, but these little morsels were crisp and light. A good remoulade was served alongside for dipping, and was addictive.
   
Fried grit cakes were served with shrimp and a tasso-laced cream sauce. The sauce was quite rich and thick, the shrimp was excellent, and the cakes were amazing.
   
The triangles of fried grits had a golden brown crust that gave way to a soft interior. While the sauce was good, the grits were the star of the plate.
   
The artichoke dip was a surprise, in a good way. We were expecting the often seen warm dip loaded with mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese.
   
What we were served was a soft, cream cheesebased spread that was filled with chunks of artichoke hearts. It was judiciously seasoned, and got a flavor boost from green onion. Toast rounds were served alongside.
   
The only item on the menu that was not a hit was a cup of gumbo. It tasted fine, but didn’t resemble gumbo. It lacked the structure that comes from a good roux. It also had large chunks of chicken and vegetables that made it more like a chunky soup than a thick, cooked-down gumbo.
   
For breakfast, Café Bouchee also offers eggs, omelets, a Belgian waffle and pancakes. Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and onions are served with a bagel, and Eggs Benedict make for a classic brunch.
   
At lunch and dinner, salads include a Caesar; steak and chicken with sweet peppers and Feta; and fresh tuna. Among the sandwich options are an 8-ounce burger, a Rueben, and a shrimp po-boy. An openface sandwich features grilled chicken, dried tomatoes, Feta and mushrooms.
   
At dinner, we also enjoyed chicken piccata, and thick crab cakes served with shrimp. Both were served with garlic mashed potatoes and a mix of seasoned vegetables.
   
The interior of Café Bouchee is pleasant but simple. Serviceable tables and chairs line the Lshaped dining room.
   
The staff was cordial, and well-acquainted with the menu. They also seem to take pride in what is served, offering information on how it is prepared and what makes it taste good.
   
With a good staff and good food, Café Bouchee is sure to build on an already loyal local following. And the remarkably low prices on the menu won’t hurt.

Cafe Bouchee

4935 E. County Road 30A
Seagrove Beach
850-231-2033

Hours
Breakfast - 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
Lunch - 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
Dinner - 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Reservations
Not necessary

Handicap accessibility
Good

Children's menu
Yes

Price range
Breakfast - $5.25-12.50
Lunch - $7-$12
Entrees - $9-$18

Payment
Major credit cards