If you're anywhere near Ellijay, this place is worth the stop. A true family-owned spot with an authentic Cajun feel, it delivers both on flavor and atmosphere. The food stands out right away. The Chicken Chardonnay is rich, perfectly prepared, and full of flavor. The fried shrimp are just as impressive--crispy, fresh, and easily some of the best you'll find. You can tell there's real attention to quality in every dish. The setting adds to the experience. Housed in a building from the 1800s, they've preserved the character beautifully. It has that warm, historic charm that makes you forget you're in North Georgia and not somewhere along the Gulf. Service is just as memorable. Ask for Shannon--she's an absolute gem and elevates the entire experience with her attention and personality. Great food, great atmosphere, and genuinely welcoming service. This is the kind of place you come back to. read more

After reading other reviews I feel bad about offering a mediocre review. I've dined here several times and although the food is good, it isn't memorable or worth $25 per dish. The portions continue to get smaller and food temperatures too. Like the orders sat waiting to be served and got cold on the meantime. Although our server was kind and got our order right, she was in no hurry and not very friendly. I don't know if she was not allowed to serve butter with bread or not, but we didn't get any (after my husband had to ask for bread,) but I suspect that if butter had been included it would have been rock hard. I'm well aware of rising operational costs and how trickle-down works, and I'm no stranger to restaurant and kitchen work, but details matter. It's the little things that matter. read more

Returned, quality maintained. Great service. Tried red beans and rice and crawfish cream, both taste fairly authentic, light spice. Hushpuppies good, catfish crisp and flaky. Sides in small dishes, but u get an idea of other things to try. Plenty of parking, next to old train tracks/depot. Off to the right as u enter town from 515. Nice Cajun deco/feel, booths and tables, beverages. Next to old train tracks/depot. Off to the right as u enter town from 515. read more

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It's been several years since we have been to the Cajun Depot Grille. I think close to 9! The decor is New Orleans jazzy with an exposed brick wall adds some rustic charm. Our server was friendly and patient as I took menu photos for Yelp. I ordered the dinner Shrimp & Grits and my husband got a Muffuletta. Mine came with a side salad which was iceberg salad with choice of dressing. I chose raspberry vinaigrette which was on the side- yay! The portions were generous. My husband said "Wow, this is really good." So that's good. My shrimp and grits were delicious once mixed in the bowl. The blend of Gouda and crunchy bacon with the shrimp was tasty. We are bringing home the leftovers. Overall, it was good & it was a pleasant experience. read more

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The waitress was inattentive, we had to ask for silverware and she only brought it to one of us. The salad was out two minutes before the food and had a caterpillar in it. Yes, a caterpillar! The staff was rude and was more concerned with going outside on the porch than with the customers. I do not recommend this place. We left without eating. Gross. read more

Every time we drive thru, we like to stop there. The food is good and plentiful. The workers are on the stop and courteous. read more

Food took quite a while to come out, the server was the best part of the meal--the manager had a terrible attitude. When we asked why the price of our meal was higher than the menu showed, we were told that the rice and red beans were $1.50 up charge. Really? Rice... and beans?? It was the same price as all the other sides. She said " Well I pay more, so the customer pays more." She obviously didn't care if we can back, so we won't be. read more

This place is Amazing! Had the special, blackened chicken over jambalaya, it was most excellent! Also had a cup of gumbo, truly authentic! Definitely worth going out of your way for! Heather is fantastic, can't say enough about my late lunch! read more

Over the pass 2-3 years the food has gotten worst. Just went there again yesterday in hopes that things got better, they did NOT. Service was horrible, it seemed our server was strung out on drugs. Don't go here, you've been warned. read more

The place used to be great when i was younger but now they jacked up their prices and downgraded on there portions and also i got the shrimp and grits and i had to take the shells off the shrimp in the plate.service was nice and respectful. read more

My brother found this place and it will go on the list to eat at next time we are in Elijay. The food here is delicious, everyone enjoyed their dish. They had a full bar, so I figured I would try the Old Fashioned. For $10 this was a darn good one. I would order again. Kudos to the bartender! It had more than one ice cube but was a good stiff pour and, so not watered down in the least bit. My jambalaya was so good. I was happy that the andouille was actually spicy. Sometimes places will say it is "spicy" and often they just mean it has some flavor. This had a kick and I loved it. It came with a side of fried okra that was fried well. My kids took most of it though, haha. My boys also liked their fried catfish. Our server was wonderful, helpful and patient. Overall this a great place to grab lunch or dinner. Check them out. read more

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Service and food were excellent!!! Authentic Cajun. The beignets were delicious!! Will definitely return!

My wife and I were down visiting my sister who relocated from RI to Ellijay in North Georgia . A friend from Atlanta had recommended that we simply must try out the Cajun Depot. We walked in for lunch just before the Crowd arrived. Our Server was polite, professional and a seasoned pro who handled over 37 customers by herself during our lunch. The Black and Blue Sandwich was outstanding as was the Black Bean Burger. The stand out dessert we shared was fresh to the table beignets. Don't be deceived as it at first by thinking this casual spot being a non fine dining experience. On the contrary it was indeed a fine dining experience. read more

We have been there twice. The food each time was amazing. The service was very prompt. The inside was clean and nicely decorated. A great place in Ellijay. read more

Cajun Depot Grill - Crayfish tails - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Not like a Cajun meal I ever had my oyster Po boy was a dry hoagie bun not toasted or flavored with a little garlic butter the fried oysters had no flavor to the batter at all just a bun with some oysters strewn on it. My shrimp jammers looked and tasted like they came from Sam's frozen food section and again were bland and tasteless. Cajun food should have BAM to it not a blaaa. Ya gotta step up to the spice rack to cook some Cajun food son!!! read more

We ate there recently on a trip to Ellijay. We both had shrimp and grits with gumbo, side salad, and Cole slaw. The service was great. It was not the best shrimp and grits I've ever had -- and it's a favorite dish of mine -- but it was good. I would order it again, though there are other items on the menu that I might want to try first. The gumbo was also good. The salad and Cole slaw were a notch above what you usually get in a restaurant. All in all, it hit the spot and we were pleased enough to want to go back. read more

How is it possible that although I've eaten at a dozen plus Cajun restaurants in New Orleans the best Cajun food I've ever had is in Georgia? It doesn't make sense until you eat here. Friends recommend Cajun Depot and I wasn't expecting much but I was in for shock. The seafood gumbo is in a class all it's own, perfectly cooked and seasoned by the cooking gods themselves. The andouille sausage is incredible, just the right amount of kick and tastier than I could have ever imagined. The collard greens were heavenly, the cole slaw was perfect I really wish this place wasn't 500 plus miles from home. My wife who isn't a fan of Cajun food only went to please me, imagine my surprise when she wanted to go back the very next day. If you like Cajun food and don't eat here you're making a BIG mistake. read more

Cajun Depot Grill - the interior of a restaurant - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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While visiting Ellijay we stopped by Cajun Depot Grill for an early dinner. Small, comfortable dining area. The waitress greeted us quickly and kindly. I overheard another guest harping on how amazing the gumbo was so I had to try a cup. He wasn't exaggerating, the gumbo is incredible. I also had the chicken fettuccine Alfredo. It comes blackened but I opted to have it grilled and it was delicious! Very creamy and seasoned well. My mom had the shrimp n grits and she loved it! The portions sizes are large and the pricing is fair. Will absolutely return when in the area again. read more

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Stopped in for lunch on our way to Blue Ridge for a long weekend. Despite the mixed reviews, we found this place to be pretty good, especially for the reasonable menu prices. Service was friendly and attentive and food came out quickly. There were some great lunch specials being offered, but we decided to share a whole crawfish po'boy and a bowl of red beans and rice. The po'boy was served with fries and remoulade and we were quickly brought lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle upon request. The red beans and rice was just okay, seemed to be missing something, but it was somewhat improved by a dash of hot sauce. The only small downside is that there is only one single-toilet restroom in the place. It was occupied by a pre-teen (who I think was goofing off on his phone) for a good ten minutes as we were trying to use the facilities and get back on the road. Still, an overall good experience and we will be back. read more

Arrived at 3:00 p.m. ordered off of the lunch menu did not receive our food until 5:00 p.m. then when it came time to pay we got charged the dinner menu price. Management was VERY rude. We will not be back! when leaving management made a remark about us "promise y'all won't be back?!?" read more

Good food Waitress hustled and worked hard Nice and clean spot!! Recommended to travelers and locals read more

So yummy! Everything was homemade and super delicious. Service was perfect. We will definitely be back! read more

Cajun Depot Grill - Crawfish, catfish, and sausage poboys. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

I struggled with the number of stars to give honestly. The restaraunt itself is small and not very new orleansy (lol) with regards to decorations and the bathroom was absolutely disgusting. The toilet was leaking everywhere and (unisex bathroom) had female fluids rumming down the front of the commode. Ick. But who goes out to eat for those things? The staff was great, answered any questions I had. They give you bread and butter, it would've been nice if the bread was warm but again not a big deal. I ordered the shrimp and grits with collards and Caesar salad, crab cake appetizer without the crawfish sauce. SO much food! I truly wasnt a fan of the collards. They weren't bad they just weren't good to me, perhaps the tomato's threw me off. The crab cakes were average, cooked to perfection but tasted like every other crab cake I ever had which isn't a bad thing. I was pleasantly surprised with the Caesar salad and the fact they give actual real bacon on top with enough parmesan cheese unlike many other restaraunts. It was delicious. The real star of the show was the shrimp and grits. It just doesn't make any sense how good they were. Definitely recommend!! I also liked the fact they had ginger ale. All this food and I paid just under $40 without the tip. read more

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About 1/2 a mile down the street from downtown Ellijay sits a gem of an eatery in historic depot building that's been serving food since 2001 (they even survived the pandemic shut-down in 2020). Their Cajun and creole flare is delish. Clean dining rooms and clean bathroom. We were eating at an odd time between lunch and dinner so we were seated right away; I don't know if it gets crowded during traditional meal times. If you have a large group, you probably want to make a reservation. Service was excellent. Our waitress gave us some excellent recommendations. If your taste palate is not tolerant of Cajun heat, be sure to ask which meals have heat. I don't like my food spicy; I ordered the stuffed catfish with butter sauce and it was just right! This is quality food, so don't expect fast food service. It took an appropriate amount of time to get the food. There were six in our group and we all enjoyed our different meals. Our group ordered the beignets and fried cheesecake for dessert... oh em gee.... Delish!! This is worth taking a jaunt off the high traffic beaten path of downtown Ellijay. read more

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Sloooooow service. Not busy. Waited for an Hour and a half after we ordered. Waitress got snippy when we asked politely about the delay. Mediocre food at best. Tiny shrimp. All food lacking flavor. Dads birthday lunch.....never again! read more

We had supper here on a Saturday night, wait was not as long as expected and the service was top notch! The shrimp and grits were amazing! They also have a crawfish cream dip that comes with the sampler and oh my goodness! It was the best... you could honestly drink it, I did, and with little to no shame! ‍ read more

Good food- great hush puppies and fried shrimp and oysters Great for Blackened fish very good- read more

Don't waste your time. Dirty tables and waited 10 minutes and no one ever came to the table with only 2 other parties in the restaurant. Ended up walking out b read more

This place is definitely worth visiting if not a weekly stop. It's not a place that just says it's Cajun food and just doesn't come close. It could easily close the doors on many fakes in and around Atlanta. As in lots of places around, they are short staffed so be patient because it's so worth the waiting. read more

Cajun Depot Grill - Door greeter - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Not a great experience today 11/5/22. We had 7 in our party, my wife walked in and the hostess asked how many and she was going to split the party. My wife asked if we could just put two tables together and the hostess really got an attitude. Our waitress was very nice and did a great job. But It took over an hour to get our food, (hamburgers and fries).There was three couples that came in way after us and they got their food and paid before we even got our food.Then the food was not great, below average hamburger, my fries were not hot, like they had been sitting for awhile. We did NOT sign the be back list read more

Overall a pretty bad experience. Service was terrible. She just didn't care about us. We had to ask other servers for help. Forgot several items in our order and one of us ended up no having any food because she forgot to place the order and them came up saying they were out of it. Food had no flavor and was sad. Not worth the money they charge. read more

The food was excellent, the service super. Recommended. And yes, the bathroom was very clean. Shrimp poboy, lunch special, grilled chicken sandwich all very good. read more

I'm a local and have eaten at this restaurant for years, and I have always had a good experience until today. The service was great, that wasn't the problem. The ambiance was nice, and the booth was clean. The problem I had was the fact that they were advertising a Gator tail plate for $24. I love Gator's tail, so my fiancee and I both ordered the Gator tail plate. Once receiving our plates we noticed that the "Gator tail" pieces were flat, once you bite into the meat you could tell it was not Gator Tail as tail of the gator is considered the tenderloin of the animal and the tail meat is white and tender. The rest of the alligator is dark meat, and so was this meat that we were served....sorry to say I won't be back for a long time due to them deceiving their customers. $72.33 down the drain! In a small town, you don't cheat your customers or you go under. read more

The food and service are top notch. This is our second time to eat here and it did not disappoint. The catfish was fried to perfection and very flaky. Crawfish tails and shrimp were also very good. Highly recommend. read more

Always pleased. Great if you aren't gluten free. Best burger in town, according to my company who isn't gluten free. Minus 1 star: I wish they had a dedicated fryer just for fries (this would make them gluten free). The old cook/owner used to have wings that weren't breaded & made them gluten free when requested; unfortunately their wings are now breaded & not ok for celiacs. Used to have the best gf wings in town. read more

Loved the catfish etoufee with honestly one of the best white rice I have ever tried. Baked potato was a bit try. Portions are great and responsible priced. Great staff! read more

Outstanding! We've passed this restaurant many times but never stopped until yesterday! Our first visit but certainly not our last. Great service. Our server, Tori, was professional and oh so pleasant. Reasonably priced drinks. Excellent food. The shrimp and grits were the best I've ever had! We look forward to returning soon. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. read more

Cajun Depot Grill - Shrimp and Gouda Grits with side of fried okra - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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Good local spot if your looking for decent cajun food. Service was spot on without a wait on a week day during the holidays. Highly suggest the red beans and rice as an appetizer! The gumbo leaves something to be desired. They definetly have some of the best catfish I have ever had! A must try. The jambalaya was a large serving of decent enough rice but with an amazing sausage with great flavor! A bit too much rice though. read more

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Christa (Krista?) introduced herself as newly-hired there and we were as friendly and patient as guests could be. When we arrived, the place was nearly empty. It wasn't long before the restaurant filled up. Let's review a few things that could have been better: 1. When we called ahead to ask if they had outdoor seating, they said yes. When we got there, there were two 2-person tables along a very narrow porch which faced the front. No ambiance. No way for us to all sit together. I would have been more clear about the outdoor seating setup if someone called ahead. 2. When I asked if the shrimp in the dish I was ordering had tails on, she said they did not. However, when the plate was brought to me, there were still tails on them. I would have worked with the kitchen to remove them before cooking. 3. Free refills on the soda is awesome. But, one in our party asked for no ice and twice they forgot. (Once on the original setting and once again for the refill.) I would have offered to bring a glass of soda with no ice instead of making the guest feel imposed upon. 4. The one drink we ordered from the bar, their version of a Long Island Iced Tea, cost $15. I think that's a bit steep and I would have either made it in a larger glass or reduced the price. We were visiting from out of town so it is unlikely we'll ever be dining in the area again. But, if we were, I think I'd try another spot before I came back here. Sorry. Just being honest. read more

In town for the Jeep fest, no business travel this time! We picked this restaurant because we wanted seafood. Our server was Katelyn (spelling?) and she was such a delight to talk too & have met! Everyone we encountered (staff) we are polite and welcoming. We decided to sit at the bar. The food we chose was the appetizer sampler & seafood platter. Everything was fantastic we ordered. All of the food was fresh, hot and seasoned perfectly. The remoulade sauce was one of the best I've ever had. We will certainly be back when in the area again! read more