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Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Cajun/Creole Seafood, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
2410 Richmond AveHouston, TX 77098
Neighborhood: Upper Kirby
(713) 527-9137
Announcement
It's Mardi Gras time! We are gonna be having a good ol' time from 2/17 thru 2/21!! Come on by for some yummy crawfish & a Swampthing!
Announced 5 hours ago- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
83 reviews for Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Review Highlights
"I had the best Crawfish & shrimp dinner I've ever had."
(in 21 reviews)
"...can also get Cajun classics like budan and fried alligator."
(in 6 reviews)
"They have great gumbo, creole food, and awesome drinks."
(in 13 reviews)
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83 reviews in English
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Review from David N.
12/30/2011
Recently was craving some solid cajun food, and I love hole in the walls but sometimes you just want something that you know will be good. Pappadeaux always fills that void. We started out with the fried alligator! I remember the first time I ever had fried alligator and I got tricked into it by my uncle telling me it was just chicken. Alligator blows chicken away! But if you're freaking out think of it as chicken first and it'll be the best chicken you ever had.
I had the crawfish platter as I get a good mix of the fried crawfish & crawfish etouffee. I love the etouffee as it's just the right about of creamy with lots of crawfish. The service is very attentive.
I'm excited to come back and try their BRUNCH buffet!Listed in: Best Breakfast, Best Cajun/Creole Food
-
Review from Albert M.
Crosby, TX
12/19/2011
I had the 16oz ribeye with garlic potatoes and beans and rice. The wife had the big easy platter. We also had iced tea and a Dr. Peppers. Total was $84.
The service and atmosphere were wonderful. The food was pretty good. My steak was as good as Saltgrass which is one of my favorites. The garlic potatoes were just ok at best. The beans and rice had a good flavor but were to hot/spicy to eat. My wife said hers was good but not as good as Red Lobster except for the stuffed shrimp which was very good. The lobster was a little tough.
We would both eat there again. -
Review from Jason L.
Katy, TX
12/1/2011
Food is okay but Pappadeaux's is probably the most overrated, over-priced (for what you get in value) restaurant in all of greater Houston. The place is usually extremely loud and I always get the dumb luck of sitting at a table next to someone who behaves as if he/she has been on lockdown for 15 years. The waitstaff seems as if they will only give you great attention if you were part of a large group (hint: bigger tip).
Razoo's gives you much better value for the money. Everytime I leave Pappadeaux's, I feel like I've been cheated big time. -
Review from D J.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/28/2012
3 words
Blackened Catfish Appelousas
Since 1995, everytime I get to Houston(which was almost yearly since), my cousins and friends would kindly drive me straight from the airport to this fine establishment to knock off jetlag and kickoff the fun and excitement of partying in the dirty south. I HEART THE F OUT OF THIS PLACE and I'll one day bring it to the fine people of the Bay Area. You will not be afraid to lick the plate in front of anyone when you've tasted this masterpiece. -
Review from Matt S.
Conroe, TX
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stuffed crap always good. Pappadaux may not be upscale upscale seafood but still a good place to go.
-
Review from Kam S.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
11/17/2011
First time. Not a big seafood guy unless Im frying chicken on a boat but this place made good on Houstons fat charm. Id do it again if i was in town.
-
Review from Van L.
After reading Camille P.'s review, I had to give this place a try. Plus, it was perfect time for happy hour, so with that incentive, why not?
The happy hour menu is not your standard bar food you will find at a local dive. The menu consisted of...well...seafood (i.e. catfish, salmon, and shrimp). We ordered basically everything off the happy hour menu due to the prices being so cheap. A poboy (shrimp and catfish) will barely graze your pockets at $3.50 a sandwich. At that price, I didn't think they were going to be put together well or even large for that matter. I was completely wrong (check photos). It's nice knowing that at $3.50 you can still get a decent meals nowadays. You can't even get a combo meal at McDonalds for that price it seems. Both the catfish and shrimp poboy were delicious. But if you had to choose, take the catfish. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it simply just tasted better of the two.
The catfish beignets are basically fried catfish-poppers. I am not sure why they call it beignets, but doesn't that mean it has like a doughy texture similar to a doughnut? The fried pickles were as good as you can come by in Houston. They were pickle perfect and fried to heaven. The orange shrimp was also refreshing from all the fried food that I was devouring. It somewhat tastes like if you were to take a boiled shrimp and dip it into a sweet and sour sauce.
Now...my gripe. The boudain was NOT a boudain. After I ordered it, the bar staff told us that's what the happy hour one looks like - a slab of meat similar to a hamburger patty. Apparently, the happy hour boudain is a patty while the "real" boudain is the link on the regular menu. The bar staff continued to tell me the boudain off the happy hour is not good and extremely salty. I like their honesty, and I should've trusted them. The dish came out, and mother of God....they weren't kidding on it being salty. I can imagine this dish be used in drunk dare games, so avoid this one at all cost. Don't be tempted by the $2.50 price tag and think, "it can't be that bad". Yes....yes it can be.
All in all, I had a wonderful time here. The staff was nice to us, food came out quickly and perfectly (minus the boudain - but I deserved that for not listening to them). I could see myself wasting my whole afternoon here drinking the heat away, stuffing my face, and enjoying good company.
So Camille, thank you for the suggestive review! Hats off to you! -
Review from Josh M.
Houston, TX
8/12/2011
Never really a bad choice in our experience. We don't make it here to often, but it's typically quite busy when we do. Waits though are usually less then quoted which is nice.
I don't think anything I've tried has been bad either, though I do prefer the non-fried stuff. They usually have cheap raw oysters too which is never a bad thing! -
Review from Camille P.
Houston, TX
4/25/2011
Buffet Time!!!!
I have dined here for lunch, dinner and their Sunday brunch buffet. This is a very busy location, but it is my favorite location. I believe it is the only location that has brunch.
The staff is very friendly, especially the hostesses, they are so sweet and cute!
Their lunch specials are great. I usually get the seafood salad which comes with huge chunks of lobster, shrimp and scallops and tons of lettuce, tomatoes and a rich mayo based dressing.
Their gumbo is okay. I prefer a really thick roux and theirs is a little thin. But they are generous with the shrimp and sausage.
Their boudin is good as well. It comes steamed and has a side of buttered white rice. So good..that can be a meal in itself..
For dinner, I usually get the cedar plank salmon. It is always cooked the way I want it and the fish is so fresh. Their poboys are very good and the complimentary bread and butter is a plus!
I tried their buffet for the first time on Easter Sunday. Since it was an Easter Brunch Buffet, the price went from the usual $19.95 per person to just $22.95. It was more expensive because they included Prime Rib and Leg of Lamb, as opposed to the usual Roast Beef and Ham at their carving station.
The buffet had the following:
Omelette Station
Pancakes
Waffles
Eggs benedict
Bacon and Egg Croissant Sammie
Boiled Shrimp
Fruit salad
Greek Salad
Smoked Salmon with all the fixings
Home Fries
Corn grits with capers
Link breakfast sausage
Bacon
Scrambled Eggs
Chicken Mardi Gras
Dirty Rice
Fried Catfish
Fried Chicken tenders
Crawfish Etouffee
Shrimp and Sausage gumbo
Glazed Ham
Prime Rib
Leg of Lamb
All kinds of rolls and breads
cookies
beignets
cake bars
I want to go back and relive the buffet as I type this!
Sure it is a chain, but I tell you, they've got a pretty darn good operation going on. -
Review from Russell C.
Houston, TX
7/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Me & wifee & 4 children: "How long is the wait?" Hostess: "25 minutes". We were actually seated after an hour which, considering the fact the restaurant was 1/2 full, was frustrating. We were going to leave, but the hostess assured us the service and meal was worth the wait.
She was right. The food was good. The service was good. The price was a bit high, but I went there knowing it would be. -
Review from Adrian O.
Houston, TX
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was ok...the chicken breast was not seasoned well but it was ok
Worst part of the $500 bill was the bug that jumped on the table then was killed with a napkin and the waiter just looked and said nothing. No apology or anything...what waiter woulndt apologize for the inconvenience I dont get it.... -
Review from Sam S.
10/1/2011
Great for Sunday brunch. Get's packed though; go before church let's out. And avoid on mother's day at all cost!
-
Review from ruby d.
Houston, TX
7/17/2011
It's a chain but that doesn't mean it doesn't have good ass food.
some people are put off by chain restarants.
we came in at around 7pm on a Saturday night and for 2 people there was no wait at all.
I just felt this weird vibe from the hostesses...almost bitchy I'd say.
but hey, different strokes for different folks. People automatically assume that younger people can't enjoy good food at a nice restaurant or that we tip badly. This is my biggest pet peeve.
My moms a hard working waitress for over 15 years now and she knows if she treats customers badly, she's not going to expect good tips...
now for the food:
MISSISSIPPI CATFISH OPELOSUS! loooooove. the only thing i'd say is i would've liked a little more sauce on top but that's really no biggie.
my brother ordered the catfish etoufettee, and it was equally if not better than my blackened catfish!
our waitress was super sweet and super helpful with my watermelon lemonade (also yum).
this location was really nice, close to everything, can't wait to come back! -
Review from david k.
Lincoln Park, MI
6/5/2011
Sunday Buffet - 6/5
Wasnt too crowded at 10:30. Food was ok, very good lox. Boiled shrimp a little mushy. The highlight was my waiter, Dami. He was great. Attentive to every detail, and friendly too. Otherwise i would give it a 2 or 3. -
Review from J L.
Houston, TX
10/14/2011
After an exhaustive search for the best seafood gumbo ever - Pappadeux is a clear winner in our book. It comes just loaded with oysters, shrimp and all the other goodies. Not like so many that drown out the more expensive ingredients with okra and celery. In fact, all of Pappadeux food is good to me. Just the right amount of spiciness. The service is what you expect from a well-trained restaurant chain gang - friendly, helpful and efficient. Parking is ample - and it's at least one place in Houston where there's not a valet scam going on.
My only real complaint is that over the years the portions have been getting smaller and the price seems to be raising a couple more dollars on everything - every time I turn around. Boudreaux's definitely edges Pappadeux out on the value for your money nowadays. Still, that doesn't seem to stop the crowds from pouring in at all times of the day. There seems to be a particularly large crowd of transplants from Louisiana that have made this their home away from home at this location. -
Review from Shecky S.
Houston, TX
10/11/2011
I don't think this place is worth the money. I got the king salmon florentine and it was rather greasy.
-
Review from Sophia V.
Houston, TX
One of my favorite Pappadeaux's locations from all the others! The food is great, live band, and the service is great.
You can't leave without trying the Crab Cakes in the light butter sauce. I usually get this dish as my full entree instead of an appetizer. But instead of getting 1 crab cake, I usually get two or three. Another one of my favorites would have to be the Pasta Mardi Gras. Full of kick & favor!
Also, they have the best desserts. The dessert display tray usually goes around and I can't help but to order one or two of them! Definitely come here on Fridays for Lent! -
Review from Ted A.
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gumbo.... & Red fish.....
Great service....
Terrific drinks
The Trifecta. When i travel and there is a Pappadeaux's, i go there without any hesitation. They have one of the most consistent products in the market and they know how to hire bar tenders that are real bartenders. -
Review from Mr K.
West Hills, CA
This is probably the best corporate Cajun food around. Some of the food is even better than some of the mom and pop places I've been to. We fly in from California a few times a year and we always make a stop here at some point. I love the blackened catfish and the popcorn crawfish.
-
Review from Anne L.
Houston, TX
11/29/2010 5 Check-ins Here
So...as you can tell from my checkins, I come here often....it is not because of the amazing food rather it is conveniently 2 mins from my house, un intimidating like some other nearby seafood restaurants...besides the other one that has a bar like atmosphere, Danton's....(Yes, I know there is Goodes) and I can sit at the bar and not feel wierd about being by myself....
Decor: Typical Chain Restaurant..Loads of parking..
Tip: Do not go Sunday it is packed from those that attended their weekly church attendance and now gorging themselves in the brunch all you can eat...not my cup of tea...
Occassion to Go: Best for work meetings (numerous conference rooms) or business lunch... I come merely for the cheap seafood...
Service: Well, unfortunately this is someting it definitely lacks...usually my meal is always fulled of requests like: please could I have slatines, pepper/salt, zipper, cracker, another drink...they are oblivious to what should accompany any of their entrees...Yesterday, three glass breaking incidents occurred in an hour!! The last one smashed right in front of the face of the man sitting by me!! Yes, and no manager came to apologize till I started inferring that they should be scared it's not a lawsuit waiting to happen!! Wow!
Food: The crab is affordable, the oysters are in abundance ($5 for a dozen) they have a cheap happy hour)...great greek salad, and gumbo!
In Short: I will continue to return because it is really close to me until I venture into Dantons or try out Goodes for HH...lol... -
Review from Harold B.
Houston, TX
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
man this was a hit with the fam!!!! $22.95 for a buffet here was a steal!!!!
the food was all on point and the crowd wasnt bad @ all !!!
omelettes, waffles, pancakes, seafood, etouffee, meats (ham, lamb, P Rib)..all were good..damn good!!!! I agree with Camille tho, the gumbo coulda been killa if thicker cuz it had the seafood qty!!! desserts were all hits too !!!!
I will def be finding a reason to hit this up again soon!!! -
Review from Khoi L.
1/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had lunch here Saturday. I love that Pappas restaurants can be counted on to be consistently good.
Shrimp Cocktail: 4.5/5 - I love the shrimp in the pico de gallo & cocktail sauce.
Pappadeaux Oytsters: 4/5 - It was served w/ crabmeat, spinach, & hollandaise.
Lobster Bisque: 5/5 - It had great flavor & was meaty.
Shrimp Po Boy: 4/5 - The po boy had coleslaw & creamy remoulade dressing & served w/ French fries.
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5 -
Review from Polly R.
6/25/2010
Man oh man! I'm sure this place gets sardine-can-packed, but we lucked out on our visit. Ample parking & tables. Not so good for business, so good for us.
I'm going to engrave this into your brain.. fondeaux, fondeaux, fondeaux!
And please no one give me the hippie/health freak speech about how much butter and cheese this thing has.. you'll only make me hungrier.
If you likes fish, the Pontchartrain Fillet with the shrimp on top & god knows what else on it is the BOMB. The crawfish platter with fried and saute/orwhateverelse crawfish w/rice is the BOMB. Even the baked potato is the BOMB. The portions are huge, you may need an ambulance. I almost did.
The service was super nice & fast. I think the server's name is Enrique, if it is, I recommend this gentleman.
Oh! The lemonade is awesome. So's the freakin' bread.
Did I mention this place was the bomb? -
Review from Farrah A.
3/7/2010
Completely forgot about this location, til we came here for an early dinner on Fat Tuesday (to avoid larger than life crowds at other places).
They had a live zydeco band outside, were boiling crawdads in the front patio and in the back of the house, beads for everyone and a well-prepped staff. And we were lucky enough to get seated inside with the French doors open facing the patio - away from the cool breeze outside but close enough for the party atmosphere.
If you come here, ask to sit in Ester's section. She could probably recite their menu to you, knows her drinks and is entertaining.
What I love about Pappadeaux is how insanely inexpensive and fresh their oysters are: $3.95 a dozen! That's cheaper than Golden Seafood. One thing about Pappadeux is that if they're ever not serving oysters, I wouldn't dare order them anywhere else because I know they always got the good stuff. And if they don't, buyer beware at other places.
Crawfish was okay this time of year, but for their price, completely worth it. Mondays and Tuesday through April 27, 5pm to close, they've got boiled crawfish (with corn and potatoes) at $3.95 a pound!
Other menu items worth trying: Seafood Cobb Salad, Pasta Mardi Gras and a tall Swamp Thing. This frozen bev will knock you off your ghetto-fabulous booty. -
Review from Edgar V.
12/20/2008
This review would normally rate a 2-star but gets upgraded to 3 stars since they reasonably pulled off our annual Christmas (yes, I said it) company lunch.
Our group of 46 was seated and served promptly and relatively efficiently. All told, service lasted an hour and 45 minutes - almost as long as some Christmas (yes, I said it again) Masses. Without a Nativity procession or creche in sight.
Semi-structured menu. Choice of a soup or Greek salad for an appetizer. Entree choice of blackened redfish, shrimp etoufee, or sirloin steak. Dessert choice of NY cheesecake or creme brulee. All the soda or tea you could guzzle. Our planning committee secured this feedbag at a rate of $40 per person before 18% service fee.
I had the Greek salad (okay), sirloin steak (ho hum), and creme brulee (meh). Portions were huge but what good is "more" when it is all "blah"? I nixed the offer of a take-home box - who needs a "blah flashback" with the food when I'm getting it by writing this review?
Service was mixed - kudos to one of the waitstaff that actually remembered me from last year's fiesta. I don't know if that's a good thing to be recognized - either I'm such a freak that I burned myself into her long-term memory, she's that good at faces, or she just said it to amuse me. Unfortunately for her, my boss decided whether to up the gratuity or not. ("Not" is the correct answer).
Service point deduction: In my college days, I worked for a catering company run by the prissiest 'mo in town (this is a mark of High Honor, mind you). He would have shuddered at the sight of the waitstaff putting my bread plate on top of my entree plate before taking the resulting stack from in front of me. Then, repeating the offense on my neighbors' settings. I was tempted to provide immediate instruction but realized that was not my role as guest. Consider this an open plea to the Pappadeaux management: Stop this atrocity!
Food: +1 mainly for quantity
Handling of large party: +2
Speed: +1
Service: -1 -
Review from Leslie P.
Houston, TX
6/17/2008
This place is so, so, so, so, SO overrated.
I do like the atmosphere. It's fun, and white table cloth nice (but you can still dress extremely casual).
However, the food is so medium tasting compared to other Cajun seafood restaurants in Houston. To start, I got the crawfish bisque, which was pretty much all creme and three actual crawfish tails. It didn't have the dark, rich roux taste that a good bisque should have. We split the much advertised and recently added to the menu clams, which were incredibly disappointing. You get 7 of them in this little tiny dish in a fairly tasteless broth with bacon. Weird, right? I don't want bacon on my clams. My dining companion did enjoy her crab cake because it was a lot of actual crab meat instead of too much breading.
The fried soft shell crabs are TINY, compared to the deliciously plump ones I get at Mardi Gras Grill (to be fair, they are about ten dollars cheaper here). The batter that they fry everything with is too heavy and exactly like the batter they fry fish in at a fast food restaurant.
The service was embarrassingly slow. I would understand if the restaurant was busy, but we came for a late lunch (around 2:30) and the place was empty. Our server took forever bringing everything out.
Houston is a place with great seafood restaurants galore - in short, go somewhere else. -
Review from Ms. Shari Z.
Boston, MA
7/17/2008
You kind of can't go wrong here.
Portions are LARGE. Hey, it's Texas. The food is fantastic, sauces are different and tasty. They offer some out of the ordinary things like frog legs...not for me, but if you're in the market, now you know where to go!
This place is fun for groups, great for families, or whoever doesn't want to sit in a restaurant that plays musak versions of Billy Joel songs.
yay! -
Review from Ro N.
New York, NY
9/6/2007
I miss eating here.....
I love it when it's their crawfish season and their crabmeat salad is the shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh***.
This is one of the places that I miss so much in Houston!
Grrrrs....
I always come back here whenever I am back in town!
I don't get anything else here except the crawfish boil, boudin, and the salad!
I don't order the other greasy entree! Because the other stuff is very greasy!
5 STARS is only for the crawfish boil, boudin, and crabmeat salad!
Oh and I like their crawfish Bisque too!
For dessert-get the creme brule---LOVE THE FRESH FRUIT TOPPING! -
Review from Jazz C.
Alameda, CA
12/26/2007
I was prepared to love this place after reading all the rave reviews. Unfortunately, we were so disgruntled with the food and service that we decided to find dessert elsewhere. It was a Wednesday night. We were first seated at a table with only one place setting. We eventually just had to steal a place setting from the next table. The service was indifferent, ranging from the incredibly long wait for every course to the dishes being left uncleared from the table after each course. We were never asked if we wanted more drinks. We were charged for a soft-shelled crab appetizer instead of the "add-on" to the dinner. Then we sat, and sat, and sat, surrounded by our half-eaten dishes, until we miraculously lasso'd our waiter and requested the check.
The food is overpriced and indifferent as well. The Oyster Trio is mediocre, the fried crawfish is...well, could be Long John Silver. The soft-shelled crab was forgettable, the fries sucked! The sauces came in PAPER pill cups. Not the stainless steel sauce cups you get at Friday's or sports bars...nope, PAPER CUPS. The Yellowfin Tuna with Poppyseed Vinaigrette was incredibly salty, although to their credit, seared properly. Not worth $23.95. Such a disappointment. It immediately negated the otherwise cozy atmosphere and cool paintings on the walls. Also, the bread has a good texture but little flavor. (Far from the "OMG, I could eat this bread all night!")
The sad thing is, we had a far superior, less expensive dinner at our hotel restaurant the previous night, for five dollars less, including incredibly memorable desserts and wine! So sad.
Summary: My husband, who's not picky, said," I would never come back here." -
Review from Lynn S.
Dallas, TX
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had the Louisiana Gumbo with shrimp po boy. It was okay. I did, however, taste my husband's grilled chicken pasta and the pasta dish was much better. We had calamari and the parmesan bread which were very good. It may be a while before I go back.
-
Review from Drew R.
San Mateo, CA
9/9/2007
What can I say to make an emphasis on how much I love this place! CRAWFISH, CRAWFISH, CRAWFISH. It's all I have to say to make anyone crave this place.
For starters, I suggest that anyone try the blackened oyster and shrimp fondeaux with crawfish. It's a can't miss! For the main course, I would choose either the crawfish platter, a mix of nicely-battered fried crawdaddies and crawfish etouffee or the Lobster and Steak.. This place is just to die for and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Houston for the first time. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
As I recall in my days in Houston, If you go on a Friday or Sunday, better hope you have some patience; Fridays are usually paydays and on Sunday--the after church crowd will find their promise land here. -
Review from David C.
11/16/2008
Maybe I would appreciate Pappadeaux more if I wasn't born and raised on the East Coast. I see a lot of reviewers saying the portions are huge-- is that always a good thing? Especially with fried foods, their value depreciates so much after it hits the fridge.
Not only does it have enormous portions, the food is so heavy. Gumbo, fried foods, etouffees, creamy Cajun noodles. It is just brutal. Also, it is way too loud. After a visit to Pappadeaux, I just want to sit in the corner and eat fruit salad for the next 3 days. If you go here, split the entree. -
Review from Little Miss Sunshine B.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2007
My ode to pappadeaux:
Pappadeaux, oh how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee for the baked potatoes that are loaded with goodies, I love thee for the gumbo that taste as if it's from my mother's kitchen. I love thee for the fried shrimp, crab legs, and Cajun chicken.
Do you remember when you refused to bring out my baked potato, told me it would be a one hour wait, and I was reduced to eating at Chilli's instead? I forgive you pappadeaux, I forgive you. -
Review from Cameron B.
Houston, TX
6/9/2010
I know, I know, it's a chain restaurant, but it is consistently delicious.
Pappadeaux's offers the delicious Greek salad and grilled seafood entrees that Pappa's Seafood offers as well as more Cajun or Southern options such as gumbo, etouffee, and fried seafood platters.
I have learned about an off the menu item they offer if asked - Blackened Boudin... It is so delicious! -
Review from Michael B.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/18/2007
I must be getting spoiled in my old age. Just 11 years ago I thought Pappadeaux was the greatest thing on the planet. Maybe it's Houston, maybe it's me but Pappa needs to get a brand new bag.
The Pappadeaux mojo wasn't working last night. I got to the joint and the parking lot had exactly one space open, which was great considering my prior experiences. As I got to the front door I realized there must have been more because I didn't have to wait. That was a first, and I was very glad of it.
I left my wallet at home but had 60 in cash so I figured I wouldn't be able to really splurge like my stomach was begging me to, but when I sat down and opened the menu I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the entrees were about 22 bucks. I always get the seafood platter and tonight was no exception.
But first I had to have a drink and this time it was a hurricane. Something they call a Category Five. Mmmm. It was frigid and gave me brain freeze and a good buzz, but the pineapple wedge skewered on top was..uhmm..old. That cherry wasn't looking too healthy either. No matter I stuck them in the bread plate. BTW, the bread was not even warm and the crust was too crusty.
My Oyster Trio arrived on a hot plate and my man Marcus delivered the appropriate warning with a twinkle in his eye. Oh no, not another hot plate. This was one of the most unappetizing looking oyster dishes I have ever seen. I think they were supposed to be Rockefeller, Casino and something else, but they were just pitiful. Little bits of meat with a whole lotta seasoning and cheese and bread crumbs. Plus my little fork was bent.
The main course arrived 3 minutes too early but at least the plate wasn't hot. There was a stuffed crab-thing that looked like a spaceship from Buckaroo Banzai. There were four or five fried oysters that were decent. There were a half dozen butterflied fried shrimp. Decent, but shrimp is rather tired after all these years. There was a healthy filet of catfish that was flaky and tender. And there was a giant prawn-ball that fell apart when I picked it up by the tail. All of this was swimming in a pile of mediocre dirty rice.
But I was hungry.
Bottom line. Too much stuffing and not enough meat. Too much fried and not enough flavor. Something has gone radically wrong at Pappadeaux, or maybe my old memories were just too romantic. -
Review from Kev L.
Kansas City, MO
10/17/2008
What a disgrace.
This palce is an insult to anyone from Louisiana. It's okay to screw up on one or two dishes. I think every resturant is entitled to it's share of crappy dishes. But don't sit here and argue with me about what is a Shrimp Po-Boy and what isn't.
Let me take you back to 1994. (ok so im exaggerating on the date) so I order a Shrimp Po-Boy. Mind you, when I got the "Shrimp sandwich", it was the longest piece of french bread I have ever seen in my entire life. I am not kidding here. And most insulting was the fact that it had one, two, NINE SHRIMP. I mean please, where I come from, a Po boy has 3x that amount. And if we are taking overstuffed, forget that equation. Make it 50+ shrimp.
The most insulting thing was when I asked the waiter what this dish was he replied back, "This is a Po Boy Sandwich" and I remember specificlly replying back, no this is not a po-boy, this is a shrimp sandwich. So he had the nerve to say what any noob in the resturant business should never EVER say.
"Sir, that's how they make them in Lousiana"
When he told me that, It had to be the biggest outrage ever. I told him "Son, I am from Louisiana, and this is nowhere NEAR what a Po-boy should be."
I had him take it back and remove it from my check. It's jacked up when you screw up a dish so bad, you don't even get to taste it.
Sorry, but bad food AND bad service = one star (In this case, id give ZERO stars if Yelp allowed it!)
There's much much better in H-town. Don't waste your money here. -
Review from Sam B.
Portland, OR
10/29/2006
If you order a soup and want to share between 2 people, order a bowl (only $1 more) and ask them to split it into 2 bowls- no fee.
If you order a platter- it's enough for 2-3 people. Ask them to divide it on to 2 plates- no extra charge.
If you love chocolate, their Chocolate Mouse with Oreos is one fantastic dessert that should not be missed. -
Review from Sarah T.
Houston, TX
4/2/2009
Pappadeaux has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.
Typically, I'll go in alone around four. That's normally when restraunts change over from lunch to dinner. In a lot of restaurants, service will suffer during shift change, but that's never happened to me here.
It is a chain restaurant, so sometimes, the staff isn't very knowlegeable, but they always provide good service. I asked one waiter if they had any gumbo with out seafood. They don't, but he had the kitchen make a cup of chicken gumbo to-go for my friend who couldn't make it.
I usually order a half dozen oysters and a cup of the crawfish bisque. Paired off with a glass of the Messina Hoff Riesling, it makes a perfect late lunch or early dinner.
I'd be doing everyone a disservice if I didn't take the time to express how amazing that crawfish bisque I mentioned is. It's a cream-style bisque that surpasses any other I've ever had.
I'm a big fan of the stuffed crab. The seafood stuffing is the best I've had.
Everyone I know raves about the fondue. It is really good, but make sure a couple of someones are going to share, or it's all you'll be able to eat!Listed in: Where's Sarah?
-
Review from Roy L.
Houston, TX
8/19/2006
Food: Good
Selection: Good
Location: Good
Ambience: Good
Price: Good
= 5 stars
Rec: crawfish ettoufee -
Review from Michael H.
Houston, TX
4/16/2011
Once upon a time I got chub thinking about the yummy fried fun here. Now I am as impotent as the cuisine
