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Categories: Cajun/Creole, Caterers [Edit]
Neighborhood: Outer SunsetThu-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I first heard about this place through Check Please, Bay Area, and after also looking at the Yelp reviews, I KNEW I had to try it! Following the advice, I emailed for a reservation (you can also call). I received an email confirmation within a couple of days, and was totally excited for my dinner plans. But then, the day of, I got another email saying that the they actually would not be open that day. My dreams were shattered, but it was only for a short while, as I was able to change my reservation for a couple days later (a Thursday to a Saturday).
My friend and I showed up right on time for our reservation, having found parking right away about a half block away. Stacey welcomed me by name and sat us right away, with water and menus already on the table. My friend does not eat meat, though she does eat seafood, which was okay here. I would NOT recommend this place for people who either neither meat nor seafood, as that definitely dominates the menu.
We ordered:
Crabcakes: Full of big chunks of crabmeat, perfectly browned and crispy on the outside, served on a plate with a rich butter sauce. A couple of these could be a meal on it's own.
Crawfish Pasta: Everything I hoped it would be! Pieces of crawfish swimming in a delicious cream sauce with twisty pasta. So good!
Seafood Etouffee: A mix of seafood (scallops, shrimp, crawfish) with peppers and tomatoes in a roux-based sauce, served over rice. Very rich, huge portion, delicious!
Bread Pudding: Save room in your stomach for this dessert, the only one on the menu. Bread, chocolate, and a whiskey-based caramel sauce.
Be sure to make reservations, and come with an appetite! Oh, and know that this is not the place to linger, they need to turn these tables!
Was told by someone who lives out in the sunset to try this place, otherwise i would have NEVER heard about it!
First off, the aesthetic of the restaurant is super super cute. It only seats about 20 people and they have all the walls decorated and lights hung up on the perimeter.
Obviously the service was slow because it's just the one woman. Which i had no complaints of. We went to dinner and had no time limit, so we were fine to wait a bit.
We got our cornbread fresh from the oven and had to say, bit too spicy for this girl. I still ate it, but damn.
Then we split 2 starters and ordered the charcuterie plate and the pork medallions. The charcuterie was good but again the spicy sausage and the cherries!!! I should state at this point that i'm a wuss for spice, i still eat it though!! It comes with a blue cheese and one shaved white cheese, mixed greens, cherries, bacon explosion, sausage and this weird shrimp pate. I didn't really like the shrimp pate, the texture was too buoyant!!
The pork medallions were good. Rolled with spinach and had a cherry/pork jus. I would have drank that sauce if i could have.....
For an entree we split the catfish. It was breaded and had this butter pecan sauce and our sides were the blue lake beans and garlic mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed the sauce with the catfish, it was rich and perfect compliment to the fish. Beans and potatoes were good as well.
Dessert was the bread pudding. Perfect. That whiskey caramel sauce is too die for. You do have to eat it fast because like real hot fresh caramel sauce goes, it hardens when it cools. Honestly such a great end to this meal!!
We had also had some beers, and at $3.50 a bottle who wouldn't and our total bill was like 64.00. Crazy, i thought it was going to be way more but i thought that was totally reasonable.
We left feeling full in a good way not a roll me home because i cannot walk way.
OH and i do recommend making reservations, i just went on their website and emailed them.
I really wanted to LOVE this place. First off let me say the waitress was super nice. I had read reviews that she was grumpy or rude, but she was really nice. The place is tiny and was packed and ppl were being turned away, so reservations are a must.
On to the food, the reviews got me all excited but sadly the food was nothing to write home about.
We started with the beignets, which I noticed other tables had and not that many tables seemed to finsh them. They were just kinda blah tasteless fried balls.
My brother got a giant steak which he reported was a bit over cooked. My dad had the opah which was good, just ok nothing special. My boyfriend had the slow roasted pork stew, but it tasted and seemed made to oder and was not tender . I had the scallops and they were like burnt not seared. So in the end the food was just very ok. Maybe not worth the hype.
I just had like the best meal ever.
Grilled pork chop smothered with a gravy of caramelized onions and tasso ham, mustard/collard greens, and garlic mashed potatoes. Finger licking delicious. The jalapeno cornbread was also fantastic.
The man back there in the kitchen is hella talented and each dish prepared with fresh ingredients, lots of love and attention. I sat at the bar and everything coming out of that kitchen looked yummy including the crawfish pasta, bourbon shrimp, and fried chicken. And the chicken and sausage gumbo was actually pretty good and I am quite picky about my gumbo! I sampled a bit and ended up ordering a bowl to go.
Yes, the food takes awhile to come out and yes you might have to wait even with reservations and yes, the waitress can be a bit prickly...but if you just sit back relax, and focus on simply enjoying the experience and food, you will more than likely end up happy by the end of the night.
Going...back...soon.
No parking no problem...rode the motorcycle and parked on the sidewalk...funny though girlfriend was bitching because she doesn't like to ride on sports bike!
So I made a reservation at 645...lucky I did because the entire place is packed! We started with some cornbread...slightly dry for me but still good....spicy and hot to the touch.
Oysters are so good, eggplant was a good choice...stuffed little pockets with a sweet sauce!
By the time we got to our entrees, I was full... but I ordered the crawfish pasta... cheesy pasta that reminds you of mac n cheese with LOTS of crawfish. I've been to crawfish restaurants that you have to peel your own crawfish and it's such a pain to get a tiny piece.. so I wonder if they just buy the crawfish in bulk or peel it themselves! Spectacular dish! My girl got the butterfish which was good... friend ordered the steak which was sliced and didn't look that appetizing.
A little gem in outer sunset... will definitely be back soon!
Great Louisiana style food. Be sure to make reservations since it is a very small place and they are only open a few days a week. Finding parking is difficult, but worth it.
I don't own a car. Hell, I don't even know how to drive. And Ive never really cared to either.
Except that it means Cajun Pacific is all that harder for me to get to. This teeny tiny gem of a restaurant is located at the beach. Not the Richmond side either. Why do you have to be so far away?! And why cant you be open all week like a normal restaurant? For someone who works weekends this place is a tad inconvenient. But I guess I can't blame them for me being a workaholic pedestrian.
That said, this place is great. The jambalaya, when they have it, is amazing, and any craw fish themed special is guaranteed to be the best thing you've eaten at least all month. The cozy (as in 5-10 tables max ) atmosphere and lively hes-right-there cooking is also part of the charm.
hmmmm....Maybe Ill have to play sick so I can leave work early and have dinner there this weekend...
Last night, my boyfriend wanted to try Cajun food, so we went to Cajun food because his friend who was a good professional chef recommended him the restaurant.
At first, I couldn't imagine I can get delicious dinner. Because the place located not popular place and the facade was just like a surfing shop.
But my expectation was totally false. The place has a very warm comfortable atmosphere. Although the seat were full, a women who has very nice warm smile welcomed us and prepared two seats at the counter for us.
We started corn bread. It was slightly dry for me though, I ate completely. And then we tried Sausage Chicken & Rice Gumbo.
It was really yummy! A little bit spicy, but it stimulated my appetite,too.
Next, we ate crawfish puffs. It's amazing! Its' outside was crunchy and inside was filled with tasty crawfish paste. Oh, I had regret I ate snacks before we went to there. And last, we ate blackened rib-eye steak!! It was the best steak i ever had! Everybody should try it! The steak was cocked with special seasoning and it had really yummy smells. The steak was very tender and juicy!
WOOHOO! I was full by very very tasty foods and good services!
Definitely, I'm gonna go there soon!!
I came here on a date about a year and half ago and from what I can remember it was just an ok experience. The wait was ridiculously long, which can be great if you can spare few hours for a meal. And if you came in not hungry, order something and by the time it shows up, you will be.
I do like the pork chop that I had and the gumbo was alright. My date had some dish with 3 or 4 pieces of crawfish. And we all know how tiny the crawfish are when cooked, yeah? Poor date was hungry after eating there. He would probably order more if he had the time to spare.
Parting note: food that is not really worth the wait...for us. Depending on what you order, you might walk out of this place and into another restaurant. Allow plenty of time to get to know your dinning companion, yeah, bringing your parents are out of the question!
Came here every week prior to moving to Hawaii. INCREDIBLE food and service!!
If anyone is reading this and planning a trip tp Oahu, please bring us some Crawfish Pasta...will gladly pick you up at airport :)
My hubby and I have been coming for months- sometimes so-so service has kept us from bringing… Read more »
When I think of this place my mouth waters. The gross drool comin' from my mouth is slightly embarrassing sometimes.
I guess I am just that lucky....why?
so about a month ago, my friend Andy asked if I wanted to grab a cup of joe and on the way back he was talking about this place on Irving that he went to a long time ago. How the food was really really good, it was cajun and hearty. But there was a catch, they only opened like 3 days a week and it would always be packed..ALWAYS!!
So being the dumb boy I am, one day after work I decided to take my lady here. No, I did not know reservations were needed and found parking and walked right in. So first thing when we walked in the lady asked us, "do you guys have a reservation?"...I was like...o boy..."sorry no we dont.." But then to our surprise she said, "hmmm well hey we got one open slot right now, just have seat."
YES!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! From then on, it was all smoooooth sailing. We started off with the crab cakes, was not oily and too crunchy like how some places make them. These had a good consistency, kind of light, huge pieces of crab was visible, and delicious.
My lady had this cajun shrimp, with sides of ratatouille and potato mash. The shrimp was not overcooked, the flavors were great, ratatouille was a bit too spicy for her taste but still good and the mash was also very good.
I had the oyster po-boy and gumbo. One of the best po-boys I've ever had. Crunchy oysters with fresh tomatoes and lettuce..warm soft toasted bread, and the gumbo..spicy but good. And before I forget, we both got cornbread...man o man pieces of corn everywhere...what a tasty cornbread!!
To end it all we shared a bread pudding, which I have to say was one of the best i've had. Not the best of all, but one of the best. Nice and warm with carmelized brown sugar, i dont remember exactly..but it was good.
Overall a very wonderful dinner, and after that we took a nice stroll back to the car while it was still bright out.
Now keep in mind...this place is very small, enough for about 20-25 I would say. It can get loud so its not a very quiet romantic place and yes it would be a great idea to get reservations, cause not everybody can be like me and be lucky enough to get seats as a walk-in. Give it a shot guys~
I live in the Sunset and have for eight years. I love food as do all of my friends. This love has extended to cooking trips to Italy as well as roaming all over the City in search of the perfect bite. And so, as a self-proclaimed foodie, I know that a great meal can come from a fancy, Michelin star restaurant as well as a local hole in the wall joint. So, last night, when my friend suggested we try Cajun Pacific, I gladly went along. A decision I now regret.
My girlfriends, two sisters who are originally from Panama, were visiting me last night. One sister had her child along, a 20 month old boy who was quiet and very sweet. This sister was excited to try Cajun Pacific since she had seen a review on a local tv station. So, at about 8:30, we left my house for Cajun Pacific. Little did we know what was in store for us.
When we arrived, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the small restaurant (maybe 10 tables) was full except for one corner table. The waitress (who later identifed herself as one of the owners), told us it would be a 45 minute wait. I replied "fine, we'll wait." To which she replied "you will wait?!" Frankly, that was my first clue that maybe this was not the place to dine. Seriously, it was almost as if she expected us to decline the 45-minute wait and leave and, when we did not, she was not happy. But, the kid was fine and we thought we'd have some wine while we waited.
I will say that the restaurant smelled like it was putting out some tasty plates and the customers looked like they were enjoying themselves. I finally thought I had discovered a great restaurant in my neighborhood and one that I would want to eat at and also take my picky friends to as well. Sadly, this was not to be the case after all.
When we started our wait, my friend asked the waitress about the empty table in the corner. The waitress stated "that is for a reservation." This was probably clue number 2 in hindsight. It was by now 9 pm and the restaurant closes at 10. Was there really a reservation or just some reservation about serving us?
Next, my friend asked the waitress for wine or a wine list. I saw the waitress give it to my friend and, as my friend turned away , the waitress made an expression with her face like "what a pain" when my friend turned her back to walk away from the waitress. Clue number 3 that maybe this was not going to pan out to be a great experience. Now, I understand people have bad days but seriously it was so rude, obvious and random. I wanted to go right then and there but, since my friends really wanted to try the place, I kept quiet.
Next, and I truly don't know what the catalyst was for this, the waitress exclaimed "you know what, we will NOT be able to serve you tonight!" Other patrons looked perplexed. I was perplexed. A few more words were exchanged and we left. Thankfully, we ended up at Chow off Irving where we had a good dinner and nice people taking care of us.
Prior to this review, I have only read reviewes on YELP. I specifically signed up today because this experience was so upsetting I felt compelled to "YELP" about it. In other words, I do not perenially go online to complain or even to praise. However, I felt this situation was too bad not to publish to the rest of the would-be Cajun Pacific diners.
In addtion to good food, you should at least also expect to be respected when you dine anywhere. Here, this was not the case. What happened was particularly upsetting for my friends. They, unlike myself, are women of color. Unlike them, I have never, after a negative experience, considered that the situation was possibly caused because of my skin color. Well, for my friends, this is not their reality. They felt like this had to have been racially motivated. Honestely, I don't know. What I do know is that it was upsetting and unncessary. Some of the circumstances lend themselves to the argument that something else was at work here. Again, I don't know what but, the facts leading up to our expulsion are food, at least to me, for thought.
First, there the was the reserved empty table. It was 9 pm and the restaurant closed at 10 pm. Second, the waitress' demeanor when I told her that we would wait. Her facial reaction and tone indicated, at least to me, that she had hoped we would leave and not wait. Third, her reaction after my friend asked for a menu and wine list. Finally, her proclamation, seemingly out of nowhere, that they would not be serving us. Of course, she could have been having an extremely bad night, was tired, I don't know. IWhat I do know, however, is that when diners have as many choices in San Francisco as they do, I will not ever patronize this restaurant. I iwill implore you and my friends to do the same. Very unfortunate, un-San Francisco experience.
Cajun Pacific is more like a dinner party for 15 as oppose to being in a restaurant - expect personal service, fabulous food and please... don't come if you're in a rush.
And do check their website before coming - because they change their opening days and menu each week.
The whole (tiny) place is family run and their main source of business is catering... the restaurant service on weekends is more like cooking for pleasure!
The BF is a big fan of their crawfish cheesecake (savory appitizer)... which unfortunately was not on the menu at our most recent visit. We opted for a started of ahi tuna poke and it was divine.
Mains was a big debate... meat or fish? Some great selections on offer... halibut, fried chicken or even lamb chops? We opted for the crawfish pasta in spicy cheese sauce (very much a grownup's mac n cheese), and the meat loaf with grilled tomato topping. Both choices were fabulous and well balanced - not too salty, plenty of texture and flavour and right level of spice for us!
The meals are pretty big - even though we've been biking all day, we were full after the 2 courses and passed on the bread pudding with whiskey sauce (one of my faves).
Ahhh, guess I just have to go back another time for it! Perfect for a slow, intimate dinner:p
Finally got a chance to try this place! For being right across the street from me, I'm surprised I haven't done it earlier but they look very crowded on most nights. I came here on a Sunday afternoon for crawfish boil, $30 for all you can eat crawfish for 4 hours! The weather wasn't the best that day - it was drizzling and overcast for the most part, but that didn't stop the boil and they had enough seating inside.
The food "course" started with warm spicy corn bread muffins and beignets. Next came the crawfish. It was on a small side (we blamed it on the beginning of the season) but there was a lot of it, so I never felt like it wasn't enough. They had some potatoes, corn, and artichokes to go on a side and lots of the spicy red seasoning. As the day progressed they made scrawfish beignets and creamy pasta and crawfish dish as well as chicken and sausage gumbo.
The food was great and plentiful, and staff was very casual and friendly. I actually wasn't even sure who worked there or who were the friends. I'd love to come back here for a dinner!
This place is in my neighborhood, been here 2 times. My 1st experience was good and the 2nd was not the best. But one thing that stuck in my mind was the bread pudding! mmmmm....I will for sure be back for that! The portions are ok and the price was a bit expensive for what I got.
The great thing about this place is that the menu is changed weekly and the food is prepared right under your nose. Forreal, everything you eat tastes homemade (it's weird, but other people I was with agreed, so I know it's not just me).
The downside is that it is literally prepared RIGHT under your nose. This place is TINY. Think--apartment living room tiny. For this reason, the atmosphere is loud and not that intimate. The restaurant is also run by a couple- one in the kitchen and one manning the tables, so if there is a party of 12 ahead of you- don't even think about eating before they get their plates...not happening. but hang in there...the chipotle corn bread muffins are coming out of the oven and on to your plate and into your tummy faster than you can even think to complain.
I had dinner with my wife this place on Sat 6/13/09.
Good stuff. I really like the crawfish paste Definately will go back..
Sweet niblets... the food here is DELICIOUS! My BF and I finally got the chance to eat at this fine establishment this past weekend. Reservations were simple - shot a quick email to Cajun Pacific and I received fast response confirming our reservations for that evening.
After watching that week's episode of Top Chef (which featured gumbo and Louisiana food), my heart yearned for gumbo, so that was one of the first things we ordered. My goodness... the gumbo was dark and hearty. Smokey and had some heat. The rice was perfect... not soggy or mushy at all.
Next came the crawfish pasta. There were several patrons around us that had the pasta, so we decided to give it a go. The sauce was excellent and creamy. Good sized crawfishies. Mmmm MMMMMM!!!!
The bread pudding was yummy... but definitely something I'd only order again if I have a craving for it.
Cajun Pacific is a must in SF. You'll leave with a big smile on your face and a belly full of love and deliciousness.
My girlfriend and I went on a Friday evening. This is a very small place and appears to be only able to seat under 20 people. Only a staff of three people make the restaurant function, the cook, waitress, and food preparer/dishwasher. They are friendly. Be warned.....you must have reservations. Otherwise, you'll have to find another restaurant in the neigbhorhood.
As stated elsewhere, their menu changes weekly. This evening we started with the really nice corn bread and the gumbo. The gumbo was disappointing. It was watery and not very thick and extremely salty. We had to dilute it further with some hot water to cut the salt. Next we ordered some Hawaiian Blue Shrimp as an appetizer. The shrimps were large with excellent sweetness and the sauce was dynamite!
Next came the disappointing part... we had to wait about 1/2-3/4 hr before we got our entrees. We had a show downtown which fortunately didn't start until 9pm and we were at the restaurant at 6:30pm. The crawford fish pasta and my bbq shrimp dish were good.
Still worth a return.....
Old, old Yelper that I am, I have to admit that Cajun Pacific has been among my Bookmarks "To Try" for well over two years...which I believe equates to 18 years in Yelpland. In fact, I had forgotten about it until I flashed upon it in an old episode of...you guessed it..."Check Please! Bay Area". What I also remembered is that they're only open three nights a week for four hours. I thought I'd give it a shot and try a reservation on Friday evening...and actually got in.
Too lazy to drive across the city, Jamie W. and I decided to use our Fast Passes and take the N-Judah almost to the end of the line. It takes about 40 minutes from downtown and is quite a SF experience unto itself. It starts to thin out around 9th, and then it's almost a tomb by the time it gets to the 46th Street stop. Just one block north, Cajun Pacific is on Irving on the same block as a seashell necklace shop, a tiny ballet studio, and a big surf shop is on the corner.
I've walked by Cajun Pacific before on my way to Ocean Beach but didn't realize how incredibly small it is inside. TV does add 10 pounds to the place, or I added 10 pounds...or probably a combination of both! There are six tables for two (one of them could squeeze two anorexics on a bench), one table that can seat four, and three counter seats...that's it. It's run by a husband-and-wife team (she waits tables, he cooks), and there is an assistant who washes the dishes.
We ordered the $8.50 Crawfish Beignets with Remoulade. They were pretty good for savory donut holes, a little on the heavy side but I was hoping for some crunch inside for contrast. Jamie W. went traditional NOLA and ordered the $15 Fried Oyster Po' Boy with a Cup of Gumbo. The gumbo was really excellent and full of spicy flavor even without the hot sauce. I thought the Po' Boy was fine but not outstanding. Again, I thought it was a bit on the dense side, but the oysters tasted truly fresh.
I went a bit gourmet and ordered the $24 Jamaican Jerk Grilled Lamb Chops with a Fig Balsamic Glaze. It came with two sides, and I went old-school and had the garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed blue lake beans. Everything was tasty, though the glaze was a tad sweet for my taste. The fig flavor is a nice touch, and the sides were really fresh-tasting. I actually wish the sides were bigger as I would have even sacrificed one of the three chops to get more.
Even better was Jamie's side - the sweet potato gratin. But the sweets train didn't stop there. No. no...we went for the $6 Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. It was a huge portion that easily serves two. Very decadent and the brown sugar was melted just right. It was a great topper that makes me think the Ginger Cake at Chow's finally has real competition. The place filled up quickly, and be prepared to hear the diners at the adjoining tables drone on while thinking you're eavesdropping. It does amaze me when people think their lives are that fascinating.
FOOD - 4 stars...definitely more hits than misses, high-quality Cajun food worth seeking out...they change their menu weekly
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...let's get small...REALLY small
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...the entrees took quite a while to prepare (probably due to my lamb chops)
TOTAL - 4 stars...a long journey for Cajun in a small place, but a good gumbo is indeed hard to find anywhere else
Ohh, Cajun Pacific is great. It's right around the corner from us, and for some reason I'd never been (though my boyfriend had). Keep in mind that they're only open from Thursday through Sunday, though that can change according to vacations and their catering schedule, I think.
Anyway, we were there somewhat early so we were seated immediately. Don't expect fast service; this is the kind of place where everything's prepared separately, as it should be! Pretend you're French and actually sit and enjoy your food and have a conversation.
The salad with lime-Tabasco vinaigrette is fantastic. I ordered the BBQ shrimp with sides of blue lake beans and sweet potato gratin. The portion of shrimp was huge and everything was tasty and perfectly cooked. The chipotle corn muffins served with dinner were wonderful, too.
Best of all - WHISKEY BREAD PUDDING. Save room for that.
An advantage of living in the Outers (Richmond and Sunset) are these hidden restaurants that serve great, unique food. Cajun Pacific serves up cajun/creole style food in beach bum territory. These blocks are shrouded in fog, and you are more likely to find a surf shop. So when you come here get ready for some delicious crab po boys!
And a little secret. you can order deep fried turkeys for thanksgiving here.
Great little neighborhood spot. Went back for first time in years and now wondering why I waited so long. Had a cup of gumbo and pork cutlets smothered in a sauce containing crab and crawfish. I love how the flavors just slap you in the face. Mach choux and sweet potatoes gratin were also excellent. It's small, the service isn't the fastest and the drink selection could be better, but those are minor trade-offs. Oh and street parking is surprisingly tough (just FYI).
This place is SO SO SO good. Make a reservation - there are only about 20 seats and also, only open on Thurs, Fri and Sat. I had the bbq shrimp and it was perfect. Also the corn bread biscuits are amazing and they make them in a cast iron pan - YUM. In fact, double yum. If you like cooking from NOLA, check this place out!!
It's not worthwhile to describe the great dishes served here, as the menu changes weekly. On my first jaunt out to the outer outer Sunset restaurant, corn bread, seafood and a bacon explosion-inspired sausage platter were on the menu. I'd go into more detail, but you'll probably grow sad over the fantastic food you missed.
Just know that it's all good. And that you should save room for the bread pudding--I didn't, and it's probably tops on my list of desert-themed regrets.
What? I've never reviewed Cajun Pacific? Great UNIQUE place near the ocean. Stacey and Chuck are great and have something pretty special here! The gumbo is out of this world! So is the Walu... so delicious! And the bread pudding will kill you with pleasure.
There are a few things that keep us from going: it's far away, it's only open on Fridays and weekends, you usually need reservations, and it's a bit expensive.
I had a reservation and still waited over an hour before I was served... and there aren't many things I dislike as much as waiting. However, in this case, the wait was worth it! Of course, there was plenty of company to wait with.
When I finally got in, I saw that the restaurant is extremely tiny (maybe 20 people at most can be seated) and there were chirstmas tree lights hung the night I was there. The lighting was fine. Not too bright - which was good because it was also slightly dusty. Dust is my pet peeve. But in this case, just like the waiting, the food overwhelmingly made it a moot point.
It was Hawaiian fish night, and the place was packed. The kitchen is exposed and it's entertaining to watch the chef. The food aroma sent my taste bud into overdrive.
I've never had better tasting crab cakes - EVER. I ordered a fillet (of an uncommon fish I don't recall the name of) with macadamia nut and it was fantastic. I am definitely a "foodie" and if I set everything else aside except for the food itself, it's the best meal I've had in the SF Bay area.
This restaurant is open only "sometimes" so you need a reservation. The menu also changes frequently and is not vast.
5-star concept, 4-star execution.
A postage-stamp restaurant with a completely exposed 2-man kitchen that's only open 3 nights a week (and far from every week at that--reservations, obviously, are essential) is just the thing for the funkier-is-better Ocean Beach nabe. Even the menu is changed every week, so you're guaranteed a pretty unique experience, and of course if you're the type who loves to chat up the owners, you'll be in heaven.
The only thing is, the food could use a little dose of CBT (cheaper, bigger, or tastier)--improve on any one of those counts and you'd have an unassailable cult classic. As it is, I can go to The Front Porch for the same price, and Cajun Pacific's food (aside from the whiskey bread pudding) simply doesn't have that kind of wow factor. Even if they just heaped on more of those delicious sides (mmm...sweet potato gratin), it would be a start.
Just got back from Cajun Pacific and still happy to say that I've never had a bad/average/so-and-so meal here. The still-warm-from-the-oven spicy and not sweet cornbread, the perfectly cooked seafood and fish and the divine sauces - all full of flavor and so satisfying. I love that I can order anything knowing that I always end up with a belly full of goodness.
The restaurant is tiny and only open on certain weekends so make sure that you A. Check their website http://www.cajunpacifi... for hours and the weekend's menu B. Make reservations. Enjoy!
I left Cajun Pacific three hours ago and the smile on my face just won't wipe off. It was that good. The service and food were set at a comfortable and warm pace. Everything was cooked to perfection. The seductively crisp outer layer...followed by mouth watering soul...food orgasm anyone? This is true for the corn bread, crab cakes, and bread pudding. Delicious.
Outstanding food.
Very tasty selections ranging from etoufee(sp?) to blackened seafood to various shrimp selections. Haven't had anything bad yet. Opened only for a few days a week, Fri-Sun, sign-up for email listing includes weekly menu. Probably one of the best bread puddings around for dessert.
Parking is OK-to-horrible so, give yourself some time.
I found a piece of paint in my jambalaya! Ew. Kind of a bummer too... the food was good, but if I'm going to find pieces of chipped paint in my dish, that's plenty reason not to return.
Parking might be tough to find and the place is a bit small. But it's warm, cozy and everything on the menu is worth it. I've gotta give Chuck the best compliments, he knows his stuff!
Gotta try the baked oysters! They are fantastic!
This place is AWESOME!!!!!
Aside from the long wait for the food to come out, everything here is mighty darn good.
gumbo chicken with rice....perfect blend of spices for great heat and flavor. Huge piles of sausages and chicken
skirt steak......grilled to perfection with the crust seared with spices
bbq shrimp....i was watching chef maddox prepare this in hopes of stealing the recipe.......
so this is what I "learned".............start off by melting a healthy serving of butter.....add garlic.......drop in the prawns........add some sierra nevada......worchestire sauce....and a little bit of paprika........let simmer for 3 minutes.......
AWESOME!!!!i will try to make this tomorrow!!!
Nights from HELL, can't be too hellish if it starts with an amazing dinner!
I called to make reservations around 2pm for an early first dinner seating at 5:45. I left a message and got a return call confirming for the same day 10 mins later. The service was already impressing me! When the 2 of us arrived, the place was already half full. **Just to be clear, they turn people away simply for the sheer size of the place, I think that they may only serve and sit 15-20 people at maximum capacity, and that the small staff is for that number...three total, including the chef!**
Needless to say, after being on Ocean Beach for a beautiful Saturday afternoon, Cajun Pacific is a great alternative to Beach/Park Chalet or the Cliff House for non-counter- only dining, and it bar none has the best cuisine of those dining options.
I had the crawfish with bowtie pasta. It was decadent with out being overly-rich, spicy without being too hot. I rarely finish a dinner entree completely, this was an exception. My dining, yet soon-to-be-grievous partner had the special fresh fish of the day, which was Toro, a delicate white fish somewhat similar to fresh halibut. It was topped with a slightly tangy chopped tomato and served on top of garlicky mashed potatoes (I think as a chosen side) and the Blue Lake beans, which were more reminisced to hard peas in a pod, but wonderfully prepared! By the way, for your larger appetites out there, his fish serving was huge!
They do give each person at the table one rather small corn muffin, but sans any butter or honey, which may have complimented the dryness of them, they were not bad though. The other disconcerting issue I found, is that by just appeasing patrons who are surrounded so closely by the amazing aromas from that kitchen (DIRECTLY next to you) is that you do feel impatient and even more ravenous. It is understandable that the wait for the food is rather lengthy, because of the one and only chef, but perhaps a bit more muffins might make this more tolerable.
The host and the chef, I was under the impression, are a husband and wife team and work well to make the entire experience harmonious, in fact it was a precursor thought to how I wish any future relationships I embark upon are similar to.
The total bill, with tip and tax (we did not order any alcohol) was about forty dollars. I actually hesitated yelping this place, but out of pure selfishness for its continued success and long life, I had to.
And of course, it was not their "setting the stage" that the nights further events ended in utter nightmarish disaster. However, let's just say that I wrote this review without the ability to use my right hand. I will certainly be back when I can once again pick up a fork!
Do make a reservation if u can, the place only seats like 12. It's just the waitress (Stacey) and the cook. Two awesome people who can make a killer home-cooked cajun dinner.
What I had in mind:
- Crab Cakes
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
- Stella
What I was able to eat:
- Spicy Cornbread = Awesome :)
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp + crunchy green beanse+ garlic mashed potatoes - which was enough!
- Pale Ale
Being a smaller venue and if you arrive a little late, they sometimes run out of things on the menu (which changes weekly... dang i forgot to give my email for the weekly updates). They were out of the crab cakes, stella, and corn.
Mid price range ~ $20 easily.
Don't bother showing up early on a busy night, they won't bump you up on the reservation if all the tables are full.
ok, so this was probably my most incoherent review written, but i had a busy weekend and this is all i can remember for now..
We went back again last night. Everything was amazing once again. It gets freaking cold waiting outside for our table but we have a plan next time - park the car out front wait for the table then send my gf in to it and I will go park the car. But these reviews really should be about the food and the food here is top notch.
GF had:
corn dogs
pork chop (sides: corn, mashed potatoes)
I had:
gumbo
catfish (sides: corn, sweet potato au gratin)
We shared bread pudding.
All the food was Amazing again!
I had no idea they have been around a decade! I wish I knew about them years ago.
Holy F'n God!!!
I found this place, right here on Yelp. I have wanted Cajun w/o the whole PJ's…
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Less than a mile away from Ocean Beach in a quiet residential area is this cozy little restaurant with a "Welcome Back" feeling; even if it was your first time stepping foot here. Stacey, who replied to my email reservation right away, had such a warm, welcoming charm. We arrived 5 min before opening (6pm) and there was another couple waiting as well. For a Friday night, it was pretty slow. For some odd reason, everyone who came in were seated right next to eachother despite the half-empty restaurant which is no bigger than the size of a large bedroom.
Stacey gave us their daily special (Fried Green Tomatoes) and our menus which change weekly. There wasn't much of a selection, I remember counting about 9-10 entrees total, about 6-7 appetizers, and one dessert. I went for the Cajun Crawfish Pasta which looked like pasta baked in a spicy mac n cheese sauce topped with creamy, sauteed crawfish; the spicyness was just perfect for me; enough to make me take my sweater off without bustin' a sweat. For $17, it sure was worth it! Enough to feed 2 people!
My friend went for the BBQ shrimp with garlic mash and white rice; you get to choose 2 of your own sides for a total of $19. In his words, "The shrimp is real good, the mash is ok and the rice is rice. I was just expecting something more, Cajun. More...Creole." meaning he wanted more spice, more bang, more messy finger-lickin' crawfish sucking, beer guzzling...you get my point.
This place seemed more of a quiet, homey, mom-dad& kid joint. The service was very personal, atmosphere warm & welcoming, parking was easy but I'm sure we just got lucky. Dinner for two, two beers and their pudding cake dessert=$64(-tip). I'd probably come back one more time but on a week when its a different menu.
It must be Christmas time because this weekend I experienced the spirit of giving and came face to face with Santa Craws.
Props for the sheer graciousness when, apparently we blundered into their private crawfish boil. We felt rather awkward, invaders in the intimate friends and family atmosphere, the but in light of Chuck's kindly munificence stayed around to get down and dirty with the mountain of fresh amazing juicy spicy crimson crawfish - a dripping delicious seasoning of sharing.
Thanks again to the generous and friendly crew at Cajun Pacific.
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