Pictured Above: Chief’s Creole Café sits at 901 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg
Edyn Gottlieb | The Crow’s Nest
By Edyn Gottlieb
Chief’s Creole Café | $$ | 901 22nd St. S. | 727-498-8979
Chief’s Creole Café harnesses the authenticity of New Orleans’ savory flavors and culture in a warm, homestyle restaurant. From crispy crawfish fritters to hearty Creole gumbo, Chief’s will have your mouth watering from the first bite.
Creole cuisine originated in Louisiana and combines West African, French, Spanish and indigenous tastes. Chief’s focuses on bringing the rich flavors of Creole cuisine right here to St. Petersburg.
The bright coral building, complemented with a mural of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, beckons.
Upon entering, you will be escorted into what appears to be a family dining room. The room is cozy with mismatched chairs, china cabinets and a piano. The tables are close together, further emulating the comfort of home.
Chief’s was started by Elihu Brayboy and his wife, Carolyn, in honor of his late mother, Mary Brayboy Jones.
Jones was born in Louisiana and learned to cook Creole-style from her mother. She later became a nurse at then-segregated Mercy and Bayfront Hospitals and was employed by the Eckerd College Student Medical Center.
The “Chief” featured in the restaurant’s name represents Jones’s positive outlook on life, tenacity and perseverance. Chief’s opened in her honor on Nov. 1, 2014.
Its menu is extensive with “Bayou Classics” such as the shrimp po’boy, New-Orleans-style seafood and traditional Creole dishes like jambalaya and gumbo.
“My number one favorite dish is the gumbo,” Jarvis Anderson, chef at Creole Cafe, said.“It’s a traditional dish and has a lot of flavor in it.”
The beans and rice were well-seasoned and comforting, with traditional andouille sausage adding a hint of spice. The gumbo, complete with shrimp, chicken, sausage and crawfish, was hearty and rich. Most entrées include a garden salad and crumbly cornbread muffins.
“Customers really enjoy our jambalaya because it’s spicy but not too spicy to eat,” Anderson said.
Located at 901 22nd St. S., it’s only a seven minute drive from USF St. Petersburg.
Chief’s Creole Café is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and from 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner. On Sunday, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Orders can be placed by phone or at the restaurant. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dining room is currently closed, but takeout and delivery is available. Takeout seating is available in the outdoor seating area. For more information check out their website.
Edyn Gottlieb | The Crow’s Nest
