King's Palace Cafe is a great place on Beale in which to have a pre-blues club dinner or a late night bowl of chili. The gumbo has won many local awards, but some people may find it overly spicy. Other Cajun dishes are well done, especially the shrimp and crayfish etouffee, while the barbecue ribs are tender and meaty. Inside the restaurant, bare wood floors contrast with the velvet wall coverings. The brick walls and pressed-tin ceiling make for a fairly high noise level. A back room, separated from the main dining room only by some pillars, features live bands on weekends. Both the crowd and the service are casual.
• Hours: Su-Th 11a-10:30p, F-Sa 11a-late