Two for $20: Gumbo A Go-Go!

Half-and-half chicken Creole and gumbo is served at Gumbo a Go-Go!, 1420 W. 86th St., where the fare is bounteous, quick and tasty. (James Yee / The Indianapolis Star)

It was a long, painful trek to the Northside during rush hour -- almost as painful as the growing ache in our empty tummies. My boy Hayden and I were in need of a fill-up.

Our journey led us to Gumbo A Go-Go! Another strip-mall scene, but no matter. Ironically, my experience with these places is that they're the most unusual and pleasant, and serve the tastiest fare. And the food's cheap, too.

The mood

The Big Easy would be proud of Gumbo. Posters of New Orleans musicians and Mardi Gras partiers hang on one bright wall. The opposite wall is home to a giant mural of an old-timey dock -- vivid blue skies, steamboats, ferries, and hard-working, painted little men.

Jazz and blues blasted throughout the small, welcoming space. Hayden plopped down on a slatted bench running the length of one wall. I got the chair.

He lined up half-a-dozen hot sauces as we waited for our food. Examining each, he deciphered which was best to splat on his din-din -- a ritual he also engages in at home. Weirdo.

The food

A friendly server/cook/host/busboy took our orders from the blackboard menu behind him. Staples such as red beans and jambalaya share the menu with sandwiches and quite a few vegetarian options like vegan succotash and spinach-artichoke etouffee.

We both ordered half-and-half plates to sample as much as we could -- gumbo and chicken Creole for me, crawfish etouffee and bourbon chicken for him ($6.50 each).

Served quickly on foam plates, our choices were piled high atop white rice and came with spiced bread.

I enjoyed my chicken Creole -- with a base of tomatoes, onions and peppers -- more than the sausage and chicken gumbo.

The bourbon chicken was mild and gone in a flash. The crawfish etouffee satisfied Hayden's craving, a craving I didn't know it was possible to have.

Stuffed, we trashed our plates and were off to the next errand.

The drinks

A fountain drink each ($1.25).

The damage: $16