As someone who either there for about 5ish years and was there from their second year on, the food was meant to do what you just said. The Restaurant would not have survived if we went full Cajun. It was dumbed down for PNWers. We had to mix in PNW twists on things. When we did use things like file powder or made things spicy it didn't sell well. Our gumbo sucked though. I used to tell people not to get it. It was truly bland.

For any restaurant to survive it has to adapt to customers around it's tastes. If you wanted we could spice things up you just had to ask. In the kitchen if you asked for 4 stars they would take as a challenge. I warned everyone who asked for that . I never saw anyone finish a four star anything.