Chicken ‘n Sausage Gumbo is a specialty of Cajun restaurant Poppy’s, set to open in Steiner Ranch in August. Courtesy Deidra Harvey
By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News
Hudson Bend residents Deidra and Mark Harvey are convinced number 13 will be lucky when the couple opens Poppy’s Southern Recipes in mid-August.
The restaurant is named after Deidra’s father, Don Gonzales, Jr., who is called “Poppy” by his 13 grandchildren. Gonzales and wife, Alice, are also co-owners with the Harveys in the new venture located at 4300 N. Quinlan Park Road, Ste. 100, Austin, formerly Hecho En Mexico.
“We’re from Beaumont originally, which is 30 minutes from Louisiana,” Deidra said. “There’s a lot of influence from Louisiana in Beaumont.”
However, once the Gonzales and Harvey families relocated from Beaumont to western Travis County in 2014, Deidra said the Louisiana natives were not able to find some of the fare they were used to eating such as spicy foods that are “real, flavorful, good, solid food.”
The restaurant will feature classic Cajun cuisine including gumbo, bisque, etouffee, jambalaya and shrimp scampi as well as fried fish, fried shrimp and po boys, she said.
“Around here, there isn’t really a place to just go grab some fried fish,” Deidra said. “(Poppy’s) is not just a fry shack. We’re going to have some baked cod, mahi mahi and other things so we can really bring everybody out (here), whether you want a fried fish or a grilled cobb salad.”
Originally, the entrepreneurs were slated to lease space in the new shopping center Gateway to Falconhead in Bee Cave, she said. After being hit with building issues, the couples were able to get out of their lease and waited until the right property came along, Deidra said.
“We looked at (the new restaurant site) and we were sold on it from the first time we went in,” she said. “That next week, we made an offer, they accepted and, boom, here we are.”
The venue will serve about 85 people and offer a covered, outdoor patio for dining, Deidra said. It will feature a full-service bar and wine pairings, with a playscape available for children, she said.
“We’re excited to share our recipes and heritage with this area,” she said. “It has been lacking for awhile. I know people either have to drive all the way into Austin or down (RM) 620 (for Cajun food). And, if you are in Steiner Ranch, once you’re home, who wants to get back into traffic on (RM) 620?”
Poppy’s does not yet have a telephone number or website.
Shrimp ‘n Grits is featured on the menu of Poppy’s Southern Recipes. DEIDRA HARVEY