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Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, Seafood Markets [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inner SunsetTue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I had dinner at PJs for the first time over the weekend. It was quite good, but not excellent. My friend had been wanting to take me there for years and we finally made it.
The meal was reasonably priced and turned out to be about $90 dollars total (including tip) for a dinner with 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine and 1 beer.
Because the of the very mixed Yelp reviews I was a little skeptical, but I didn't find anything terrible here. Everything was well prepared and tasted good.
To start we shared:
1) A bowl of gumbo (andouille sausage and chicken). Not as good as some homeade I've had, but very good.
2) Crab cakes were some of the best I've had in awhile.
For our entrees:
1) I had the spot prawns special (not on the regular menu). You don't see spot prawn often on a menu because they have been an endangered species and because they MUST be fresh otherwise enzymes from the prawn's head leak into its body and make the body mushy. The spot prawns were very good, but I was hoping the prawns would also have an intact orange roe sack (extra bonus), but they didn't. I still enjoyed these flavorful guys.
2) My friend had his favorite entree, the seared tuna. It was good, but I'm WAAAYYY over seared tuna (what is this the 80's?).
For desert we shared the bananas foster. It was good, but we were too full to finish it.
My only complaint was that I had made a reservation through Open Table and had requested a birthday candle on the desert to celebrate my friend's 35th birthday, but they did not comply. I've requested birthday candles before through Open Table and those restaurants complied. I don't know why PJ's let this slide. Oh well.
Although I liked PJ's quite a bit, including our server, I see this as a neighborhood spot and not necessarily a destination restaurant. If a friend suggested it, I would not protest, but it would never be a favorite for me.
A funny thing happened at the bathroom, though. I was trying to get into the bathroom and almost immediately the door opened - a man and a woman appeared out of the unisex bathroom. We all exchanged "knowing" glances and they were a little embarrassed. I laughingly said, "ooh, nasty". And they laughed. When I left, they were sitting at a table full of family-member-type-people and we waved to each other. Busted.
Maybe PJ's should now be called BJ's?
This place is closed.
Not just closed, but seemingly abandoned. Passing by today resulted in smelling the god awful stench of rotten crab and oysters in their long forgotten cooler.
They've also been tagged by Sunset Salvage for being past due on their trash bill (dated 6/5/08), and they have a mail pile about as deep as the piles of dead flies inside the restaurant.
Not sure what happened here, it was always full, and the food was pretty decent. I do know that what they've inflicted on the neighborhood by leaving that shellfish to rot is nothing less than a biohazard.
Shame on you for leaving such a disgusting mess.
UPDATE: Last week (6/24 or so) there was legal notices placed on the door showing a pending lawsuit from the owner of the building against PJ's management. To the tune of $8.5k for several months of back rent, as well as fees, cancellation of the lease, etc. etc.
Fun.
I am so upset that this place is closed. I read what happened on some other sites but apparently what made this place great was the staff.
For the fans...PJ's is not coming back (so it sounds like). I'm a local & walk by very often. :o( bummer
I love this place.
My absolute favs are the Clam Chowder, Crab Cakes, and my new "usual" dish Red…
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Lagniappe in Louisiana means a "little extra."
PJ's Oysterbed certainly provides you with a little extra. From their free jello shots to their succulent crab legs, you will definitely experience something special here.
Established in 1979, PJ's Oysterbed has aged well. The vibe, the atmosphere and the food is still alive and kicking. The 20th celebration of their Bayou By The Bay ( Wed and Thurs Nights) is a can't miss.
I visited PJ's on an early Thursday evening. The party was already in full swing as the owner was passing out orange jello shots to all the guests. We also got to snack on jalapeno cheesebread and cornbread while we waited for our order.
This is what we got.
Clam Chowder
Oysters Rockafeller
Half Dozen Oysters on a half shell
Crab Cakes
Crab Legs
Alligator Tail
The meal started out on a little down note due to the chowder and oyster rockafeller. The chowder was ok. It was not as hearty and chunky as some of the better chowders I've had. The oysters were a little small and the taste seemed a little off.
Things did get better as the oysters on the half shell and the crab cakes arrived. The oysters were plump and juicy. Splash a little lemon and dab a little horseradish... some cocktail sauce here and there. Perfect!!
The crab cakes were also very tasty. Rich and creamy.
The best dish of the night was the crab legs, which was one of the specials for that night. They were succulent and the sauce that coated the legs was buttery and sweet. The sauce was so good that I was about to go all ghetto and lick down the skillet.
To top off the meal, we got a plate of free alligator tail meat. We were suppose to get a free plate of sausages instead but they ran out. All the better because I have never tried alligator before. The sauce again was very nice and sweet. The fatty part of the alligator meat was especially tasty.
All in all... a solid performance by PJ's Oysterbed. Although, we did have to ask our server about the free jello shots and alligator meat before we received them, I certainly had a good time.
The vibe, food and atmosphere is all there. Pity, it took me 29 years to finally experience PJ's for the first time. It will not be the last.
First let me say, I like this hood, alot. It's not prestigious, and it's not ghetto. It's not the Mission, where are the trendy people like to hang out, but it does have a culture of it's own. God I'm sick of the Mission..
Anyways.
This place has damn good southern food, as well as some other specialties. Last time we came here, we had rezes but still had to wait a while for our table to be ready. Luckily we ended up shooting the shit with the owner, who offered us free wine while we waited. If you're really lucky, you can try some alligator (if he's gone to Louisiana to get some). The specials are usually really tasty, so I suggest trying one.
And, you won't get any posh ass "my shit don't stink" people who like to frequent some of the other nicer restaruants in San Francisco.
It has been decided that no one born North of the Mason Dixon line should be expected to suck the head of a crawfish.
We had a whole spread of mudbugs before us and we all dug in and learned how to eat them properly. I'm not really a fan so I'll withhold judgment on whether they are good or not, but the spicy corn on the cob that spilled out with everything else was ridiculously tasty.
The salmon was just ok, the alligator was not something I was down to try, and the desserts were run of the mill but of course I wolfed down enough bread pudding to make me too big to fit through the doors of the N on my way home.
PJ's for sure embodies the spirt of the Big Easy - beads everywhere, actual Cajun accents coming out of the mouths of the staff, and just a notch too loud music blaring from the sound system. Being a Mardi Gras veteran (um, every year in college, thankyouverymuch. And yes, it did add to the quality of my education.), I could certainly appreciate the spirit of PJs.
As part of a company team dinner, really the best part of it all was seeing my fellow coworkers react in a variety of ways when the buckets of crawfish were brought out: excitement (moving from table to table to maximize crawfish potential), fear (no way in &^%$ am I ripping apart that little crawfish body. I mean, look at those beady black eyes!), gradual acceptance (after I finish my drink, I'll try it out), and avoidance (um, could I get the vegetable plate?).
A friend wanted to go to this place for dinner Fri. night. He hadn't been there since he was a kid, so we tried it out.
There was some confusion when we were seated, and we did wait awhile even though we had a reservation.
We all got some free wine, and our server, (who turned out to be the owner) tried to make nice after the initial awkward situation.
The food was ok, some things better than others.
The mixed cold plate, (don't remember what it was called) was probably the best thing i had there.
We shared it, and everyone was pretty pleased.
Everything else was ok, nothing bad, but nothing special either.
It's an interesting place to go, and their fish seems really fresh. Also, they only serve sustainable fish. I appreciate that.
The owner/server also offered us some free bread pudding to take home. Neither my guy or myself like bread pudding, so i had to pass. It was a nice offer anyway though.
I'd probably go back if someone else wanted to go, but i probably wouldn't suggest it.
Dinner at PJ's was like stumbling upon a Mardi Gras party that is just about to kick into high gear...there's an energy there that could probably be a lot of fun if you hit it on the right night. I'm not down with the whole dismembering crawfish thing, but I totally loved the po-boys, gator bites and the salmon (apparently it's super high end).
The drinks were potent (but didn't taste medicinal - hurrah!), the staff and service were great to the large work party I was with and bonus: we got free beads. Thanks to PJ's, the phrase "Party Gras" is now a part of my vocabulary.
My boyfriend and I ate a PJ's during Dine About Town (which is a great deal by the way) and the food was great. It was the first time I've ever had salmon literally melt in my mouth..mmm. The shrimp was tasty as well, served in a skillet in this garlic butter sauce. For dessert, I recommend the bread pudding. I'm not usually a fan of bread pudding, but this one was pretty good!
Parking around that area is limited and yes it is true the place gets pretty crowded, but it is definitely worth the wait. The service is excellent. I will be coming back very soon!
MY FIRST TIME . . .
. . . here.
But, I can guarantee it will not be my last.
Food . . . I was pleased . . . but just had a Caesar salad, shared a calamari appetizer with a friend and had a glass of wine. Everything around me looked and smelled wonderfully good . . . and, from the looks on other guesties faces, their meals were excellent too.
Service . . . absolutely nothing to complain about. Our waitress was attentive, without being intrusive. Food was served quickly and with a smile.
Ambiance . . . we were seated next to the window and it was one of those cool, wet nights . . . I never took off my jacket. . . . otherwise, it was pleasant. We could hear each other talk, which is my baseline. Lights were low and decor unobtrusive. Nothing special, just pleasant.
Summary . . . a good place to meet a new friend for dinner.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you PJ's.
Thank you new friend.
We found this place on accident one night looking for a different restaurant. And you know, we've never gone back to try the other place! HA!
Chef Michael is God. Seriously. He treats his customers like they are family! I can't count how many jell-o shots we've taken together. Yes, JELL-O SHOTS! Free but Chef Michael has to be there. John (owner) great guy, not there or visible often but he was very hospitable.
The food is awesome. Another reason to go when Chef Michael is there, he always has specials that aren't on the menu. The gambas is my favorite, I'll pair that with a salad and call it done. The shrimp pasta is great too, angel hair pasta, tomato's with garlic and butter. Yum. When I'm feeling like getting dirty the roasted crab hits the spot (and it sells out, so ask first). But like the pound of shrimp, there is work to be done and it's a messy job. Someone has to do it!
The place is always packed so don't be surprised. Use opentable.con and make reservations on-line. And it's noisy as it's a small joint so don't be surprised! I don't think all the whining Yelpers can read. They are always surprised and write the most evil things about places.
I hate oysters...they are little shells full of boogers but the BBQ'd oysters and the Rocker feller ones were good! I amazed myself liking them.
Oh - The hot wings are deee-lic-ious! Nice flavor and spice. They always serve you an assortment of breads and crackers which is nice too.
The only thing that is missed is the all you can eat crawdad's served on a table covered in newspaper during carnival. Bring it back!
Not a bad little place. The owner, John, is obviously very proud of his business and loves to talk about their various offerings. When I came here, he came out to tell us about their specials, which we wound up ordering.
The first item was the PJ special plate thingy. When it was pitched, it really did sound like a very light dish. So, we were surprised when it came out in a cream sauce. While it was still very tasty, I was hoping for something a little lighter. The other special ordered was their blackened red fish. Now, this was amazing. Eating the two side by side, it was like switching between red and white wine.
We had considered bringing our own bottle of wine, but after finding out that they don't triple the price of bottles as other places do, we opt'd to order off their wine list.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR CRAWDADS ONLY
FACT: if you want crawdads in crawdad season in san francisco, come here. that is the simple fact.
beyond that i attest to nothing. i wouldnt even say its a good place to eat in general, and its in an absolutely stupid neighborhood.
but like i said, IF YOU WANT CRAWDADS WHAT THE HELL ELSE ARE YOU GONNA DO?
Dine About Town. This was one place that I was really excited about after reading the Prix Fixe Menu. How can you deny yourself 4 courses when every other restaurant offers 3?
We got to PJ's a bit early, about 15 minutes before our reservation. The waitress told us to hang at the bar and the bartender gave us free wine during the wait. 8pm rolls around and many tables clear, but why did our host (who I kept calling Paris Hilton) continue to seat people who walked in?
Thinking I was forgotten, I went up to the host table and told her "Sorry, is our table ready?" and she finally sat us down. From there the rest of the night couldn't go anywhere but up.
Rachel was our server and she was a peach. She served us our drinks, told us the DAT menu and we were off. I ordered the Clam Chowder, Shrimp Appetizer, 1.5 lbs of crawfish and Creme Brulee. My boyfriend got a huge salad, the mussel appetizer, crab cioppino and bread pudding.
DELICIOUS! Especially those mussels, I was sad there were only 4, but you go gaga over that sauce. There were tons of crawfish and I was stuffed. BF's crab cioppino was like a pasta with tons of seafood in it and that was also delightful.
I wasn't a fan of the clam chowder. I found myself putting some salt and pepper to flavor it.
DESSERT! I was very sad they didn't have Bengiets (spelling?) but the bread pudding and creme brulee were great too.
So good food and I intend to come again.. minus the Paris Hilton and it can perhaps earn its final star.
Feel free to call me a celebrity because I know the P in PJs. Yep. I do.
Now feel free to take that back because he sold his share a long long time ago.
In any case before I knew P, I have always loved this place. Went here for V-day last year and it was SOOO yummy!! I am an oyster fan and this place does em right. There is always a wait (even when you make reservations) but it's worth the wait. Lots of spicy dishes for those Cajun lovers too.
With Valentine's Day just a week away you may be looking for romantic places to take your main squeeze. And PJ's Oyster Bed is NOT the place. It's a fun, lively atmosphere for a large group of people, but boy is this place messy!
Besides being messy this was a very educational dinner. I learned....
1) Eating crawfish is way too much work
2) I love alligator. Who knew?
3) There's actually a beer out there that this wino likes, unfortunately, I may have had too many beers because I can't remember the name of it.
I love restaurants like this one, and there really aren't that many that even exist. From a customer service, home-y ambiance, and food standpoint, PJ's has jumped to the top of my own queue of restaurants to visit twice!
This restaurant may be participating in DAT for the first time or they just participate in a very endearing way: with the menu memorized and recited by the staff, written on an index card since it may have changed from day to day, and a special personal welcoming from the manager, owner, and chef of restaurant -- the "J" in "PJ's," John.
I have to say that I haven't been impressed to the level I was after last night's dinner. With a generous and tasty 4-course pre-fixe, PJ's now holds a prime spot in my heart and I would almost never hesitate to give a recommendation to my friends to try this place... that is of course, if you are not allergic to seafood. (Bad joke).
So, quick story: I had my heart set on the Crab Legs as my 3rd course. Much to my dismay, they didn't have any more left. Our server kindly involved the manager without me really complaining at all, and soon enough, the manager came in, up-sold me to try the red fish bisque and offered a pound of LOBSTER instead of crab legs. So imagine this: a basket of bread, oyster crackers, and cornbread; spicy and buttery red fish bisque; mussels in licking-the-skillet-clean sauce; a whole lobster with claws and everything; and a peach-included conglomerate of bread pudding all for $31.95! It was a steal!!!!!
In one soundbite: PJ's is a down-to-earth and welcoming establishment with personable waitstaff and management who take pride in offering the freshest and tastiest Louisiana-inspired deliciousness at a value that will drive my repeat business!!!
Thanks for a great time.
-Matt
I've eaten at PJ's several times, mostly because other people suggest it. While I do like PJs, I only think of it when I'm hanging around 9th & Irving. Some people are gonzo about the place, but I don't really get what's so great about PJ's. Then again, the number of restaurants that offer Cajun or Creole dishes here in the city, so maybe that explains it.
On weekends it can be difficult to get seated and I've had waits up to 45 minutes. Also, service can be slow. There are a few bar seats, but I found those to be uncomfortable as I was jostled constantly. My only weeknight experience was painless and service was excellent. PJs is also quite noisy -- sometimes it can be difficult to hear the person seated across from you. On to the food...
During my several trips, I've had the Trout Catahoule, Ahi Tuna, Alligator Eggs, Crab Cakes, Oysters Rockefeller and BBQ'd Oysters, among other things I can't recall.
Trout Catahoule. Skillet-fried Trout topped with a grilled medley of small shrimp, red onions, red bell peppers, and green peppers. The trout holds up well to the skillet and the vegetable top has a bit piquant flavor. It came with an undistinguished side of white rice and chinese brocolli.
Ahi Tuna. Seared on the outside, the inside was still cold. :( Sliced thinly and layered on top of a mound of garlic mashed potatoes, the presentation was interesting but not necessarily appealing. Eaten alone, both the tuna and mashed potatoes were tasty. But, being that the tuna was layered on the mash, the combination just didn't work for me.
Alligator Eggs. Giant pasta shells stuffed with a shellfish (crab?) filling and served with a rich sauce of some sort (maybe a derivative of hollandaise) that also contained andouille sausage. In any case, original and quite tasty.
Crab Cakes. What can you say about crab cakes? Yes, they were tasty...blah, blah, blah...
Oysters Rockefeller. Never really liked them as I prefer my oysters raw and in the half-shell. These were an adequate interpretation.
BBQd Oysters. What's the fuss? (see aforementioned preference)
So, PJ's is OK, not great. There are some interesting selections on the menu and it is one of the few places to get Louisiana-style food in the city. But, if you are going to go, my suggestion would be a weeknight, not a weekend.
I was (yet again) reminded on Yelp that I am wordy and long winded. I was (yet again) reminded that certain individuals may not read my reviews because of my incessantly endless typing.
See, what you probably aren't realizing is that in 410 reviews I may be talking about your ass. I may be throwing you off by by saying (in paragraph 17) that you wear Muppet Babies underoos or watch Mister Rogers repeats every morning like the very disturbed adult you are. Not to mention I probably let my readers know that when Mister Rogers takes off his sweater and waves goodbye at the end, you actually lift your arm and wave emphatically toward the screen like he's ACTUALLY waving at your dumb ass.
Whose gonna do some serious reading now, hmmmm?
So, I was told by my handsome, and quite sexy and musically knowledgeable, dinner companion "You'd better not...." upon my revealing that I *may* or *may not* incorporate stories about him in my Yelp reviews.
*crickets*
Well, now I don't have shit to say. OK I LIE! You know I lie! I always have somethin' to say.
I really want to tell you about how he ________ the ______ ______ of _______. I REALLY want to tell you about how he _________ the ______ then slapped ______ on my ______ then ate it. I suppose "I'd better not" if I want to continue to get nookie on a regular and satisfactory basis.
At exactly 7:30 p.m. I said "I don't know what I want for dinner, but I know I want something VERY interesting." We walked for thirty minutes, with me poo poo'ing every option we came across in the Sunset. You see, I don't usually visit the Sunset. Don't ask me why. There are too many dogs or lack of cabs or passive aggressive muni drivers or something. I'm not exactly sure why.
We happen upon the window of PJ's and think, perhaps, it would suffice my "VERY interesting" wishes. The sticker on the window immediately draws our attention:
PEOPLE ON YELP LOVE US!
"See," he exclaims. "People on Yelp love them!"
He's been hanging out with me WAY too much if he knows Yelp determines my entire life. Which, of course, it does.
"Ya, great." I say. "They get drunk, then stumble their drunk asses in here to eat, go home, slobbering all over themselves, hoping to hit up a hump train, then write a drunken review about the 'greatest place they've ever eaten'. Ya... I totally trust Yelpers."
I am NOT excluding myself in that statement by the way.
We decide to fore-go the wait for a table, because there is an available bar at which to eat AND drink. We're no fools! Ryan, our bartender/server.. well, let's just say he got us DRIZUNK! He served me a jazz tea, a concoction he was working on for the evening. The drink was adequate, but missing a splash of something. I let him know this since I found it to be my duty as a hump train hoping slobbering drunk Yelper. He then served me a punch filled to the brim with alcohol and.. well...
DRIZUNK I SAY! DRIZUNK!
Ryan was attentive and actually gave the impression that he enjoyed and appreciated us as customers. When he spent more time with the couple seated next to us at one point, I felt as if he was cheating on us and started to cry a little. Just a little. I thought of throwing a brick through his window and sticking my diaphram with a pin needle to help him remember how much he loves us, but I didn't... because I'm "sane".
My sexy companion ordered a gin martini, which came with a generously filled carafe. His exact words were, "I am quite impressed by that."
I was given permission to use that quote. I can't tell you about how he _______ his ________ the slathered it all over his _______ then _________ my _________ on top of it.
Nope. Strictly forbidden.
My rib/chicken/andouille plate was... well, adequate. The chicken was superb. The andouille was delicious. The ribs were... ehhh. I'm a black woman; I know the taste of good ribs in my sleep. These were a tad undercooked and a little too pink for my tastes, but a valiant effort nonetheless. I found myself enjoying, yet questioning, the BBQ baked beans in the dish, however. I haven't had a baked bean since 1987 so I didn't complain too much.
The cornbread basket however... BIG THUMBS UP. My handsome companion took _______ _______ basket then _______ it up and ate it _____ ______ my boobs with butter.
Oops. Almost gave that one away!
So, while you're busy waving at a 2-D Mr. Rogers, thinking he's actually getting ".. the feeling you know that we're friends" from your dumb, lack of attention spanned having ass, I'm busy eating at PJ's, giving it three stars, then writing about you in my long winded review.
WHEW! That, my friends, was a review full. I even impressed myself with my long-windedness there.
Dang. RIP Fred Rogers. RIP buddy.
Not that I actually wave at the screen or anything... cuz I don't. Not all the time anyways. Just when I feel sad and lonely.
I came here and did the dine about down dealie. The service was great, our server and the woman who owned (or maybe co-owned???) the place spent time telling us about it and some dishes to check out.
The food was good, everything was very tasty and never over seasoned (which is my total pet peeve). I had the cioppino and it was SUPER messy, but pretty tasty.
This probably isn't somewhere you go if you want to impress a date or something, as, like other's have said, the decor is a bit cheesy and it's pretty cramped. But if you just want some good food and are in the neighborhood, by all means check it out!
I think I have a new favorite spot in an unxeplored neighborhood!
Dropped by here coming back from the De Young one afternoon and it was really great! Sat at the bar and were entertained by a very eager-to-please bartender who really knew what he was doing.
A great mixologist, blending up all sorts of varieties of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, I swear I have seen this fellow somewhere else before.
Overall, I felt alot of good hospitality at this place and it drummed up all sorts of conversations about traveling to New Orleans. And these days, the hospitality is all I ask of this world to be frank.
I recommend trying the oysters and crab cakes, I will be coming back to be in this cozy little spot before you know it!
Last place in our dine about town run.
Place was packed, they were running behind so the hostess gave Mr & I complimentary wines while waiting for our table. I like the down to earth/party vibe of the place. Like the cajun music their playing.
Our waitress, a nice old lady were awesome. ^_^ I feel like I'm being served by Mom. All the food we ordered were delish except for the dessert, the creme brulee they had was so-so.
First Course:
Lobster bisque & Mixed Bolinas greens with toasted pecans and blue cheese crumbles
Second Course:
Garlic shrimp scampi with fresh Caribbean laughing bird rock shrimp & Steamed red fish broth and mussels boudalaise
Third Course:
Throw Down Cajum Style - Louisiana crawfish and spicy BBQ VooDoo shrimp "thrown down" on the New Orleans Times Picayune Newspaper & PJs Crab Cioppino or Buttered skillet roasted crab legs
Fourth Course:
Butterscotch Creme Brulee
Extra Course:
Extra course "I agnaippe" or "I AN YAP" (a little extra). For customers who come between 5-6pm or 8:30-9:30pm a free taste of one of eight specialty sausages made for PJs including "Crawfish Boudin."
Free "palette cleanzures" GATOR SHOT or RUM JELLO SHOT with fresh infused peach and cherries
We would go back again but this time, we are taking our car. It's hard to find a cab in the Richmond district.
I went here this weekend after walking by many times and thinking I should check it out. I am glad I didn't read the reviews where people said they got sick. Neither my husband nor I did. We got there and were told that the wait would be 35-45 minutes. We left and walked around and came back. They had grossly underestimated the wait time. However, when our wait time passed 1 hour, they brought us some free calamari and apologized for the wait. That was a nice touch and made up for the mistake. The bartender also is pretty good there. I ordered a mixed drink while the husband ordered a Louisiana beer while we waited.
Now for the food. We got something that was mixed seafood sizzling in a skillet, and had a great sauce on it. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the dish. We also got oysters and 1.5 pounds of crawfish (the small order). The crawfish were nicely spiced and quite good. After talking with the manager we found out that they fly the crawfish in live every week. I would agree with a previous poster that they are more of a seafood place with a bit of a cajun twist. I had a bunch of friends at LSU and visited LA pretty often and they didn't serve a lot of the Louisiana staples. If you don't go there expecting a recreation of Louisiana (and really I don't think that you ever could do that outside of the southeast) then you should be pretty happy with the quality of the food.
The restaurant is a lot smaller than it looks like from the outside. It was pretty crowed when we first got there (hence the long wait) but the staff was very friendly even though very busy. Later in the evening when the place had calmed down a bit we were able to chat with some of them a bit. It seems like a really good friendly neighborhood place that cares a lot about their customers.
This place was was the joint back in the day, but as my friends have confirmed (after this visit) only gone down-hill since. I love the location in my regular stompin grounds of the inner sunset, a tight squeeze w/seating which means 30-45 min wait...and much longer for parties over 4.
Ally D and Mayumi F were adamant for oysters and since we were just across the street at Yancy's decided to hop over to PJ's. The wait quoted by Brandon was 20 min and a pretty close quote tho we were seated in 30...we ended up singing happy b-day like 3 times..i guess this is the spot for that afterall.
The flavors here are cajun, New Orleans-ish- the murals painted on the backwall look like everyone is in a daze of transcendental stupor or just on something not prescribed over the counter...even the animals..o_0 '
We ordered a dozen oysters and a bottle of Bolla (pinot grigio) which was an excellent pairing--good show Ally! The oysters were tasty, but much smaller than i remembered from a year ago. I asked Brandon if the kitchen was the same since then and he said yes...but i dunno.
For your oyster slurping needs i recommend swaying from this place and if in San Mateo head to Kingfish..if in the city go to either Bar Crudo(Nob Hill) or Anchor Oyster Bar(Castro). Mada onaka heta kara Oyaji e itta!!!!!!
I've eaten at PJ's twice, and both times I have left slightly confused.
It calls itself Cajun, but I'd say it's a seafood restaurant with a hint of Cajun. Where's the catfish, the hush puppies, the greens? Where are the New Orleans beers?
I like the old-style environment and the staff is really nice and accomodating. It says neighborhood restaurant all over it. It's a nice place to stop by if you're in the area and want to have a drink and some calamari or crab cakes. Only drawback with the space is that it gets really loud, really fast.
I started with 1/2 dozen oysters, and I have to say that the cocktail sauce is great. Better than the mignonette, and I am a mignonette girl usually. Then I had the house salad, which is nice with a chopped pecans and blue cheese. For my entree, I had the roasted 1/2 Dungeness crab which was very good.
My husband had the gumbo, which was tasty and had a smoky, spicy flavor, and the fried calamari, which was crispy and pretty good - a little over-breaded for my taste. He had the ribs for dinner which were a little bit dry.
Not a destination, but I'd stop in again to sit at the bar and slurp down some oysters.
We stopped in for a bite some time after Bay to Breakers. I had something really marvelous called Alligator Eggs which are kind of a fried, breaded, stuffed pasta in a spicy bacon cream sauce. Omigod the calories, but it was worth it.
Best of all in this restaurant is the really great bread. I love cornbread done right. It was the perfect texture, not too crumbly with just a few jalepenos mixed in for good measure. We had a couple of cold brews with our cue and seafood. Three people very well fed for under a hundred bucks and the service was just superb.
Come on down.
PJ'S OYSTERBED HAS CLOSED IT'S DOORS FOREVER!!!!
(long story.. I know Michael and the old floor Manager Brendan. It is done forever. Ugh)
The oysters, the gumbo... even the chowder is pretty good (coming from me that is the highest compliment... for sure) The Shrimp Gambi is one of the best things I have had... white wine, garlic, olive oil, pepper flakes. I could dip up 5 gallons of that with bread.
The etouffe is fantastic.
Paul the barkeep is a gent and a class act. He regulates that bar with some of the best mixed drinks in the city. It would be a shame if they lost him... his bloody mary's are great, and he is always experimenting with new ideas.
A little pricey, so it is a rare treat... but happy hour can have you slugging oysters without a problem... cheers to new orleans life!
Just had a breakfast there the other day. I keep forgetting how freaking expensive it is!
I've been to PJ's just a few times. First time was for a friends birthday. Yesterday was for a bloody. Yes, that's right, it was Sunday and I needed a Bloody. I was determined to find the best Bloody Irving Street had to offer.
PJ's is a great, Nahlin's style restaurant with a good ole family vibe. There's a generous assortment of appetizer options and great Creole cookin'.
The decor is casual and inviting. We sat at the bar. I love a restaurant that you can go to just to have a drink, says something about the place.
I did find the best bloody on the block. Jalapeo infused vodka gives this bloody that extra punch for the spicey lovin' bloody connoisseurs. Ryan the bartender was VERY attentive, as was the lovely hostess. Again, a nice comfortable environment where you really feel like you're at home.
I enjoy PJ's, it's just what I was looking for to end my mellow Sunday. A little snack and a "Whole Lotta Punch" Bloody.
The fish here is really fresh.
The seafoad dishes are wonderful and delcious. Sometimes food just tastes really 'clean', this is a place where that is the case. Even the dishes with the heavier sauces have a freshness to them that you don't find everywhere.
They are a bit weak on the Creole/Cajun thing, but its still tastey.
I also have to agree that it is loud in there.
The jambalaya was pretty good but HELLO CAJUN RESTAURANT not spicy enough without an obligatory hot sauce slathering.
Although the wild salmon special was a MASSIVE cut of fish, the sweet and salty sauce didn't really enhance the flavor so much as distract.
The oysters on the half-shell were pretty good, although certainly not as good as one would imagine being the staple/namesake of this restaurant.
The service was pretty good, and the atmosphere is very festive/loud. Oh, they have Dixie beer which is appreciated.
I have no idea when I'll try it again but I feel like PJ's may need another visit.
You can almost always expect a long wait when dining here. The food is very good, but it is on the pricey side.
On a recent visit with friends we enjoyed a bottle of white wine with a couple of orders of the Oysters Rockefeller to start. The roasted Garlic Mussels were a treat too. I had the Shrimp Cappelini for dinner and found it quite tasty, but the texture of the sauce to the noodles was a tad gooey. Maybe it was just me, but I'd try something else in the future.
The sweet Swamp Pie was a nice finish to a very good meal.
Ah, the memories. Yet another ex of mine worked here, so I've eaten here quite often. The atmosphere is great- esp. when you have 10 jello shots handed to you before you're even seated!
Although I don't think it compares to New Orleans, it's still a lively and fun place. The food is pretty good. Things to try:
~ Alligator Eggs
~ Blue Crab Cakes
~ Creole Jambalaya
~ Shrimp Capellini
~ Ahi Tuna
~ Don't forget the Oysters!!
They also accommodate larger parties in the "Big Easy" room upstairs.
Once upon a time...I loved this place.
Yet, the two return trips I have made to this place have been bitterly disappointing. I have not been back since.
Food was mediocre--nothing special or memorable.
Service was horrible...as the servers did not have any personality nor cared. The three times I have been here, it was busy the first time, and slow the last two times...and the service was very, very bad the final two times.
Decor = cheesy. That is all.
So, no, you don't have my vote for this place. But eat at your own burning pockets.
Parking is a pain here.
COME HERE FOR THE APPETIZERS during happy hour 5-6pm.
I've been here a few times before and I still come back!
I'm pretty pleased with their appetizers, and you save money too!
Their menu entrees aren't very intriguing and are a bit more pricey.
I had the lamb chops and rock shrimp, came with mash potatoes.
Cost? $29
I was still hungry. Good thing? I was filled and saved a little money from all the appetizers I had.
BTW, SIGN UP FOR A B-DAY CARD! They give you a free meal!
As I left, I saw their specials written on the board. Ciopionno?!
= ( Sad our waitress didn't tell us the specials.
But...
happy my tummy was FULL!!!
Too bad this place closed, because the brunch was spicy amazingness and the oyster shooters tickled my insides.
The first time I went it was with a girlfriend after a very weird evening. We were hungry, I saw seafood, possibly Creole and figured I had to have it.
We walked in w/o a reservation during D.A.T, BIG MISTAKE! It was packed and it was wait 1 hour or eat at the "bar", so the bar it was. Our waitress, as cute as she was (Maryanne?) was like 70 maybe 80 years old. We had our fill of the buy 1 get 1 free oysters Rockefeller- yeah I killed off like 20 by myself...umm umm good! We also managed to eat like 3 baskets of those amazing cornbread muffins!!!
Second time was after Cassandra Wilson at Yoshi's S.F. (More on that at the Yoshi's S.F. review) again no reservation. This time not my fault, I was on a seldom had date with my babies daddy who just happens to be my husband. lol It was like 1hr to closing, now pay attention:
*No Napkins not even paper towel
*No Linens in General
*Out of 1/2 the seafood on the menu
*Out of hot wings??? (Hubby's last ditch attempt)
*No cornbread WWWHHHHAAATTT!! (Like Lil John)
So I had pasta with prawns, and hubby had the most expensive piece of fish (at the owner's request) for the least expensive fish price. P.J. was extremely apologetic and accommodating. I will chock part of it up to us not having reservations either time...doh! I will go back and hopefully have the Jambalaya...I begged P.J. for an all seafood version minus the chicken & sausages.
This place is one of the most amazing shell fish restaurants I've been to in San Francisco. As a boring typical marna girl it takes a lot to motivate me leave the marina campus, but this is well worth the trio.
Pjs Oysterbad or as they have been know "the Bayou of the Bay have been serving up hurricains and freshly steamed shell fish for the pst 20 years. To carry on the new orleans spirint I hear they they have special new orleans drinks, jellow shots, madri gras beads, etc on weds and thurs night
I went there with a large group of friends on a regular night and everyting was amazing. It's not hard to get all 8 of us picky eaters to agree.
The food is amazing, I've tried the crabcakes (heavenly! made with blue crab), fried calamari with several dipping sauces, steamed lobster, steamed crab, oyster on the 1/2 shell and bbq, not to forget the "Spot prawns (think they're called)" severed grill, steamed, canjun fried. oh yeah and there serve great cornbread as you sit down. you won't leave hungry!
And if you can save room for dessert. the bread pudding, banana's foster, and the mud pie are to die for.
oh and drinks are pleantiful too, becareful not to run into one of the owners John and his deadly jello, shots or your night is going to get out of control fast!
This restaurant is going on 20 years of history in san francisco! It's great, and in a fun area to hit up afterwards for some off campus bars
Had the $40 lamb chop + rock shrimp dish. Quite disappointing for the price paid. Lamb chops were nicely cooked but didn't have enough flavor to stand alone. Rock shrimps were overcooked. Sauce was great, if you don't mind the burnt garlic after taste.
I was expecting the crawfish to be somewhat sorted before being cooked and served at the table. Some were badly scarred, mutilated, and half decaying. It was not an appetizing sight, plus big fat mushy grey guts coming out of most of them.
The crab served whole was also disastrous looking. I couldn't bring myself up to order it. But what I saw was enough. I could tell from a table away that it was boiled for at least an hour.
Dining room was too crowded for any comfort. Noise level was beyond belief. French baguette was served cold and some tasted rock hard. Baguettes are supposed to be consumed the day they are baked. Jalapeno cornbread was also forgettable. I don't accept bread being served cold.
Oysters were half price but they were just the stock oysters. I was wondering if they've even heard of kumamoto. Mussels were 2 minutes overcooked.
Took the bar more than 25 minutes to serve us our beers. How difficult can it be? Servers didn't tell us what's on tap, all beers were served in bottles.
The specials and "dine about town" menus were recited by the waitress and were so complicated and long I retained nothing from her recital. My excuse: I left my brain at work. After a long day at work, I don't really want to use any more brain cells memorizing and ordering, just give me a piece of paper with simple text and diagrams on it and I'll be happy.
I will never go here again. Very unpleasant experience. Gave me a bad headache.
The way it goes down: driving through some general's tunnel, dark, belly hungers, turn corner, stop, turn corner, stop, toss in big pregnant gal and tiny seeder, park in da park, evening chill blows in, belly hungers, run to buy cookies before bakery closes, belly hungers, run into cozy warm PJ's, belly hungers, plop down and gloat over canjun creole menu, order wine, get food, belly hungers, belly fills, NO creole, leave larger than expected papers, gobble cookies, belly full.
(translation: fun time, fun loud atmosphere, warm n nice, bland-ish food, little overpriced.)
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