Mudbugs Cajun Cafe is closing in Carmel after 13 years in business A new restaurant is coming, but it won't be Cajun

Liz Biro | Indianapolis Star

Show Caption Hide Caption Why crayfish can be found in Indiana Crayfish, also known as crawfish or crawdads, are identified with Cajun Country, especially Louisiana. But they also can be found in northern and Midwestern states, such as Indiana.

Get your Mudbugs Cajun Café food fix while it lasts, Carmel: After 13 years in business, the family that owns the restaurant is saying so long.

“It is bittersweet news for us to share with you that our last day will be December 26,” the owners said Sunday on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Belinda and Roy LeBlanc and their daughter, Kelly, operate the cafe, 20 W. Main St., that opened in 2007. Back then, the owners said, they had more time to dedicate to running the restaurant.

“Now we have four spirited grandkids and would like more time to spend with them — and to finally have some weekends free for fishing trips! — so we've found another family who is opening a new restaurant in our place,” the LeBlancs said in their Facebook post.

The LeBlancs said they have sold the restaurant to a family who plans to serve Mediterranean food in a redesigned space named Little Cairo, scheduled to open in early 2020.

Mudbugs has been a community gathering place known for friendly service, and the owners’ kindness continues as they step aside.

“Please join us in supporting [the new owners] in their new venture. Small business starts with courage — it succeeds with community,” they said of Little Cairo.

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Fans will miss Mudbugs' food as much as they will the owners. They poured out their hearts in comments on the Facebook post, lamenting the loss of hush puppies with spicy remoulade sauce, a dish named the 2007 Indiana State Fair's signature food.

Other menu highlights are Friday catfish étouffée, shrimp po’ boy sandwiches and beignets snow-covered in powdered sugar.

“To all the regulars and people who came in even though they were dubious about Cajun food and then became converts: we appreciate and will miss you very, very much,” the owners.

Mudbugs’ hours for its final week will be 11 a.m.-8 p.m Dec. 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 24 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 26.

Mudbugs is the second Cajun restaurant to close over the past two years. B's Po Boy restaurant in Fountain Square closed in November 2017. East-side Cajun restaurant Papa Roux closed in September 2018, but reopened shortly after as Yo Mama Roux.

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Other Cajun restaurants in the area are Zydeco’s in Mooresville, several Yats locations across the Indy area and Chef Tia & Co. at 4955 W. Washington St.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiro, and on Facebook. Call her at 317-444-6264.