My fiancé & I stopped In here. We're pescatarians we had red snapper, catfish prawns it was all cooked and seasoned to perfection. Green beans and garlic bread are wonderful Now that Mac n cheese wasnt it for us both it was horrible gritty over seasoned took away that cheese flavor taste , Yams are over cooked pretty much could be used to make a pie. Taste was good but I don't like watery over cooked yams personally. Out serve was Jordan was absolutely amazing , the service and ambience are top tier music was a vibe bathrooms were clean Over all we'd come back for vibes but we know we wouldn't order crack n cheese or yams!! read more

Service this time was a 5/10--pretty slow, one of my sides was forgotten, and we weren't checked on as often as we should've been. That being said, the food portions are great and packed with flavor. My regular order is the first combo--clams, shrimp, and crawfish tossed in the house special sauce, medium spicy. I also love the chargrilled oysters, house wings, and garlic crab. Definitely enough for two people to share and still have leftovers. read more

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So I found this place on TikTok and by the pictures in the videos, the food looked immaculate very delicious, looking, drool, dripping down your mouth delicious looking. But unfortunately, that wasn't the case when it came down to eating, I ordered the oxtails with a side of crack and cheese also greens. My son ordered the loaded lobster and crab fries, and my nephew he ordered chicken tenders and french fries due to him being a picky eater. I'm gonna first start with the oxtails they weren't bad. They definitely had a smoky taste which I was kind of lost as to why smoky flavor was needed for the oxtails but hey different strokes for different folks. They were definitely seasoned well but still missing some flavaaaa that was needed and I know that sounds weird but if you ever taste oxtails, then you know. The greens was terrible definitely not season well the texture of them was perfect. They were cooked well, but when it just came to the flavoring of them, absolutely not! The crack and cheese was probably the worst because it had this flavoring of a seafood twist and the mac & cheese, and the noodles were definitely overcooked and mushy. The visual of it was beautiful, but the taste of it was zero out of 10. Onto my son's loaded lobster and crab fries. Now this dish was seasoned to the tea! The flavor was definitely popping. Everything was seasoning. Great! The fries were cooked great nice crispiness. Let's just say this was probably the best thing that was ordered at my table and I was side eyeing my son with jealousy because his food just tasted so great. My nephew chose the basic dish, but it was definitely good. The tenders was nice and juicy. The flavoring and seasoning of the chicken tenders was great even the presentation of how it was garnished looked beautiful. The fries again was very tasty. Very seasoned and fried correctly with a nice crisp and taste delicious as well. All in all I gave this place two stars only because I was highly disappointed with my oxtails my greens and my crack and cheese and I just knew by the pictures of it. It was going to be delicious and for 40 something dollars you would think that that would've been a star dish, but it definitely disappointed ! I also ordered an alcoholic beverage, which was called the now and later that drink definitely needed some work on it now not later. Needless to say it taste like something that someone just didn't put any time into making. It was disgusting. The bartender definitely needs to up her skills when it comes to Mixology with liquor! read more

Stopped by for some food after visiting the Oakland Zoo, we had a party of 8 and got lucky to get in quick. Staff were super friendly at the door. Tried the Loaded crab oysters and 3 piece chicken combo with Garlic noodles and Crack and cheese. The chicken was excellent, hot and crispy!!! Oysters were on point, perfect appetizer, garlic noodles were delicious! The vibes of this establishment are great, good staff and good music playing. I am definitely going to swing by again when visiting the Town read more

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First time eating here. As soon as you walk in, you get the family feel. From how you're greeted from when you first walk in, you know you're about to be in for a treat. We ordered to go, and although the wait is more than were used to, it was definitely worth it! The Ox tail meat fell off the bone, juicy and tender. The lobster fries, I can't stop thinking about them!! Good amount of lobster, garlicky and just delicious. Definitely going back!! read more

Chef Smelly's - Lobster loaded fries. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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I'm a regular and always order through DoorDash from Chef Smelly's, and they never miss. Every time my food arrives, it's hot, fresh, and packaged well, which I really appreciate. This plate was everything! The braised oxtails were super tender, fall-off-the-bone good, and full of rich, deep flavor. They were served over seasoned rice that soaked up all that sauce perfectly. The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy, topped with green onions and a little seasoning that gave them extra flavor. And the Brussels sprouts were cooked just right. They're slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned really well. What I love most is the consistency. No matter how many times I order, the quality is always there and the portions are generous. Chef Smelly's has definitely become one of my go-to spots, and I'll keep coming back for more! P.S. The other photos are from my previous review. I guess Yelp updated my new review but left the old photos up. Either way, fantastic food like always. read more

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Make a reservation if you're going on a weekend. The place fills up! Prepare to wait a while for food since everything is prepared fresh so make sure you bring good company. Vibe was cool- they had a DJ playing some old school R&B and hip hop. It was pretty warm Inside so wear layers. Loved the fresh flowers on the tables Food was SO flavorful, rich and delicious with huge portions! Everything is made to order. - baked oysters -blackened catfish, shrimp and garlic noodles - braised oxtails So good I ordered an extra garlic noodz to bring home. Prices aren't for penny pinchers so expect to splurge a bit but you'll have leftovers. Will definitely need a mint and a walk after. Thanks Chef Smelly! read more

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Treatment. Lively service. Huge and I mean huge portions. Traditional Cajun cuisine with Bay Area touches. Beautiful crispness on everything fried. But it's one of those friendly places where the music is so loud that we couldn't hear each other across the table. I'd come back and try out a variety of things next time. read more

Chef Smelly's - Shrimp and crab salad. Huge potions. Would have liked more shrimp. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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We visited Chef Smelly's for the first time today. It did not disappoint. The restaurant was nicely decorated and our server, John, was pleasant, attentive and timely, We tasted why the garlic crab was ranked in the top four restaurants in the Bay Area. We also had blackened and deep fried shrimp, as well as fried catfish and oysters. All were delicious! However, the garlic bread was a small loaf of bread soaked in garlic butter and was mushy, and there were no deserts as the person who made deserts was not in today. read more

Chef Smelly's - Garlic crab and garlic noodles, fried catfish, prawns and oysters, blackened prawns, collard greens and garlic bread, - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were initially seated by a window that was open. Because of the wind, our menus and tablecloth were constantly blowing around, which made it uncomfortable to sit there. After requesting a different spot, we were able to move tables for a more comfortable dining experience. Once we were seated and beginning to order, our waiter informed us that the restaurant does not accept card payments and only takes Zelle or cash. This information was surprising and would have been helpful to know before we sat down and started ordering. We first attempted to order drinks from the bar, but were told the bartender was not there and that the bar was not open at the time. Instead, we ordered Sprite and lemonade. For appetizers, we originally wanted the Oysters Rockefeller, but were told it was no longer on the menu. We then ordered the crab baked oysters and fried chicken as appetizers. The fried chicken arrived hot, well-seasoned, and flavorful. The baked oysters also came out hot, and while they were enjoyable, the portion felt small considering they were $25 for three oysters. For our main course, we ordered the seafood platter, which included three pieces of fish, two shrimp, and two oysters, along with two sides: mac & cheese and green beans. The mac & cheese had a flavor that reminded us more of a seafood-style mac rather than a traditional one. The green beans were more like crisp snap beans rather than the softer, slow-cooked style; however, they had a nice garlic flavor and were still tasty. When it was time to pay, we had to send the payment through Zelle and show the waiter a screenshot as proof of payment. Additionally, the tables were placed very close together, which made the space feel crowded, we could clearly hear our neighboring table humming along to the music. Overall, the food had some enjoyable elements, particularly the seasoning on the fried chicken and the flavor of the green beans. However, the payment limitations, unavailable menu items, bar closure, and seating setup affected the overall dining experience read more

Chef Smelly's - Fried chicken and crab oysters (baked) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

The food was SO GOOD! My bf and I shared the blackened salmon with garlic noodles, and the mac and cheese. The salmon was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. Everyone who helped us out was really kind and knew the menu well. The wait between ordering and being served was a bit long, but everything was worth the wait. I will be truthful and say that the first time we received the salmon dish, it was undercooked. We quietly and quickly brought this up to our server, and he brought out a new dish in no time. We really appreciated how this issue was handled and resolved, and we'll definitely come back again and recommend this spot to everyone. read more

Chef Smelly's - Mac and Cheese AKA Crack and Cheese - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is a must go if you're in Oakland! I've been here several times and I'm never disappointed. You get bang for your buck and it's blacked owned. The food is full of flavor and you will most likely be leaving with leftovers. The service is good and the place is a vibe, they usually have music playing in the back ground. read more

Chef Smelly's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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I found out about Chef Smelly's from a YouTube foodie Latryguy because the food looked great. I tried their special, the Oxtail...it comes over rice and you have the choice of two sides. I went with the "Crack and Cheese " and Candied Yams. The food took a while to arrive but it was worth the wait. You get three big pieces of fall off the bone full flavored oxtail in a delicious sauce. The crack and cheese and yams were also very tasty. The service was attentive and excellent. I could tell the owner paid a lot of attention to the interior design from the chandelier to the table setting with petite vase with flower and condiments like Crystal hot sauce. Parking can be difficult but I got lucky with meter parking on Broadway. I'll definitely be back:) read more

Chef Smelly's - Oxtail with Crack and Cheese and Candied Yams - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

The food tasted great, fresh, and was seasoned well. My oxtails plate wasn't as hot as others at the table, as if they waited to bring mine out after it was ready. I ended up heating it the next day as leftovers and it tasted great and was hot. 8/10 (Oxtails need to be hot, with more flavor; meat itself was cooked to perfection (not too much fat, good size, and good portion of food)). I would highly recommend their seafood w/ the garlic noodles (which has a sweet garlic flavor), delicious crab, and shrimp.The wait was long: I didn't know you could make reservations ahead of time. The restaurant is small and seating is limited. Staff was okay. Not the friendliest or most welcoming but they were okay to interact with. Would recommend and consider eating here again with reservations. read more

Chef Smelly's - Whole Dungeness Crab, Prawns and Garlic Noodles 10/10 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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Moment of transparency. It took me a long time post this. My husband loves going to Chef Smelly's. We have literally going here since before the pandemic when Chef Smelly was a pop up only open 1 to 2 days a week. So needless to say we are faithful customers. Honestly to see another black owned business grow and flourish in the Bay Area make my heart smile. But I have to give my honest opinion of this last experience on Father's Day 2024. As I said earlier my husband loves Chef Smelly's take on crab and garlic noodles so our go to is the couples platter. This happens to be our first time actually dining in as we normally get our food to go and enjoy eating in the comfort of our home. So I thought it would be something different for us to experience the dine in option. Sadly this dine in experience was extremely underwhelming. It took nearly 2 hours to get our food from the time that we sat down. We got to the restaurant early as we anticipated the crowd. We accepted the first seating option so we could get our order in ASAP. In the effort to keep this post from getting too long I do appreciate that Chef Smelly himself came out to apologize about the delay an read more

Chef Smelly's - Trifecta with garlic noodles - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

It was my second time at Smelly's and I will be back! Once again, they did not disappoint!! The oysters were fried to perfection!! Great portion sizes and the staff is very attentive and professional! I wish the could afford to eat here every day! read more

This review is a few weeks old but I will say I wish I had my 2 way right now. I need them perfectly fried shrimp, catfish, garlic green beans and Brussels sprouts. And those sprouts with a sweet and spicy balsamic balanced sauce...YES! REDO AND YES AGAIN Service always friendly comfy at the bar. Lots of characters in the dining room but the bar is just enough room qmd eye contact with tender. read more

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Looking for food on a Saturday night and came across Smelly's. Cute place on the corner but misleading sign on the outside of the building, says AU. Get inside and quickly seated without a reservation at 7:30 pm for 4 people. Waiter very nice and bartender approached us, notifying the bill will be separate checks. Decor is simple and plenty of seating to include sitting at the bar and window. Good smelling food is in the air, getting hungrier! We ordered Honey Hot lemon pepper chicken tenders and Brussel sprouts, amazing! Right amount of Balsamic vinaigrette, nice char and perfect seasoning. Hot lemon pepper chicken was drained as well and that hot sauce is tastefully good on anything I put it on, may want to ask for an extra portion. Meals were, 3 way catfish, oyster, prawns with the garlic green beans and crack and cheese, grits with cheese and salmon and wings with sides. Crack and cheese is ok, seems it wasn't as hot as the other food. Garlic string beans ate cooked to perfection, if you like a slight crunch! Catfish and shrimp most definitely were creole seasoned and the fried crust was just as tasty with another perfect crunch! Grits were disappointing as they weren't creamy, a bit lumpy and dry, however, salmon was very tasty. If time allows me to come back before my trip end, I will be back to give them another shot. Should have ordered crab and garlic noodles because when they came out for the table next to us, it looked and smelled really good. My only suggestions are to fix the signage (aside from the flip chart sign on the corner) and pls make those cheesy grits a lot more creamier! read more

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Now you know if you don't know!! This is the spot that your great great grandmother used to teach them how to cook, I had the oxtails over rice with the crackling macaroni and cheese, and greens and yams, my friend had garlic noodles and gumbo over rice, damn that gumbo had big old sausages in it and that crab oh my God I might go every day this week Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 Recommended dishes Creole Snow Crab Garlic Noodles and Blackened Prawns, Deep Fried Red Snapper Mac and Cheese and Garlicky Green Beans, And Garlic Noodles, Lobster, Mac & Cheese read more

Chef Smelly's - I have the oxtails over rice with the garlic noodles and the yams and gumbo the Alaska snow crab big old hot links over rice - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

The food was great the service was horrible! I ordered my food at 845 they told me 30-45 minutes I didn't get my food until 950. Not only was the service horrible but they didn't even make my food right and I spent 200 bucks. I got the 2 extravaganza fries and swapped the fries for noodles my shrimp was missing on both plates. They had me waiting and didn't get my order right. If you wanna eat here you should dine in cause I seen people that sat down after I ordered and got there food before I got mine. They charging too much money to be having bad service like this read more

Chef Smelly's - This is my extravaganza on garlic noodles clearly missing the shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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The lobster was burnt and tasted like chemicals. I tried adding lemon with hopes to help and that didn't change anything. The garlic noodles tasted more like candy than garlic. The crab was okay. Customer service was great! Everybody was very friendly. The best thing from dinner was the Coke in a can. read more

Chef Smelly's - Creole Loaded Lobster Dungeness Crab Fries sub Garlic Noodles - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

Before you place your order, you wait outside, which I did not care for. There was only 1 waitress taking orders Togo and covering the tables inside. They did let us sit at the bar waiting on the orders. The fish is definitely cooked to order. Catfish was the best but the Snapper was good too. The sweet potato was perfect! Not too sweet and the seasoning was on point! The garlic noodles & green beans were too greasy, over saturated with butter. The lunch special was the " twenty dolla holla" available on Weds & Thursday! Well worth it. The parking was very difficult and they have an old parklet taking up good space that could be for Togo runs. The one waitress working had a smile that made me forget I was irritated waiting outside! She was SO NICE! And the staff bringing out the orders were equally friendly! I'll go again even if only for the sweet potato! read more

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One of my favorite gems in Oakland, and a must-have food experience for folks craving soul food in the East Bay. Can't wait to come back soon. read more

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Chef Smelly's was okay. It's certainly an upscale feeling for a dining experience, but I did not love our Mac and cheese and the fried fish was just okay. The Mac and cheese tasted kinda grainy, not so melty. I did not love the fried oysters at all, would have definitely gone for more fried shrimp if I were to go back. I've had way better Cajun/southern food, but I'm glad there is a local spot here in Uptown. read more

Chef Smelly's - Fried fish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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This creole restaurant is mostly painted black inside. It has three t.v.'s so my husband was happy that he could watch the game while we waited for our food. Our waitress Niya was friendly and attentive. We all agreed that she was absolutely fantastic! We ordered fried oysters and hush puppies with honey butter as appetizers. Both were very delicious. My family ordered catfish po-boys which came with French fries. The portion was large. The fish and fries were good, although nothing really stood out as exceptional. I ordered blackened prawns and fried catfish with crack and cheese and yams. I preferred the prawns over the catfish. The prawns were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. I did not enjoy the crack and cheese. It just wasn't my taste. I replaced it with collard greens, which were generally good. However, they tasted a bit sweet. The yams were great! Overall, it was a good, solid experience and I recommend this restaurant. read more

Chef Smelly's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

Their food is DA BOMB!!! The menu is AWESOME! Was just there again on Sunday 10/19/25 and ready to go back already. If this place was closer to Sacramento, I'd really be in trouble! read more

Chef Smelly's - Oxtails - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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I visited on a Saturday evening and managed to get a window bar seat. Both the food and service were good, and the portions were generous. Running a business in Oakland these days comes with its own unique challenges, so I truly hope this place thrives. Oakland needs more establishments like this one. If they can improve their reservation process, I believe this could become a staple in the Oakland community. BB read more

Visit Chef Smelly's for the first time for Valentine's Day lunch. The food and service was amazing. Literally everything we ate was great from the garlic bread as an appetizer to the Brussels sprouts we didn't take a photo of. Both plates had a very generous amount of food. Everything was great and definitely will be returning! read more

Chef Smelly's - Fried snapper, fried prawns with "crack and cheese" and green beans - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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Outstanding Experience All Around! From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed like family. The chef, Smelly, truly went above and beyond I was lucky enough to win one of his Instagram contests and received a free $20 fish meal, which was absolutely delicious! The portions were so generous I was able to split my meal into three servings, and every bite was just as good as the first. His wife and the entire staff were warm, friendly, and made me feel right at home. The atmosphere was clean and cozy, giving off that perfect "home-style" vibe that makes you want to stay a while. The bartender also deserves a special shoutout She made the best Old Fashioned I've ever had, hands down. This is exactly the kind of business every community needs: great food, genuine hospitality, and people who truly care about their customers. I'll definitely be back soon. read more

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I just left Chef Smelly's enjoying my Sunday. My husband and I had just finished our food along with two friends. We had been sitting there for about 15 minutes just talking and laughing about our day. The hostess came over with a nasty attitude and said you guys have to leave because we have a reservation here. Please keep in mind I just order another to go order that we were waiting for. But because they received our money the hostess thought it was ok to rush us out. I think that was very rude and I told her so. I ask her where is the reservation. She said they should be arriving soon. I paid my money like all of the other people in the restaurant. I will never be back. The food was ok and the waitress service was very good. But the hostess ruin my entire experience. read more

My family and I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while. We decided to come to celebrate my father's first Heavenly Birthday, June 25, 2025. The service and food were amazing. The place is a bit small and gets crowded. A reservation is definitely needed in a Friday and/or Saturday. We tried pretty much everything and it was all finger licking good read more

I've been supporting Chef Smelly's pop-up for years, and this recent meal restored my faith in why it's one of Oakland's best spots for bold Creole flavors. Toddler-approved, too! The Food * Crack 'n Cheese (Mac & Cheese) - So dang good, rich, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned. * Broiled Oysters with Crab - YUM! Loaded with flavor and a definite highlight. * Prawns - Always on point. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. * Snapper & Trifecta Garlic Noodles - Decent. Not my top pick, but still solid. Things to Know * Delivery was surprisingly warm when it arrived, which is a win! * Ordering ahead is a must--food can take 45 minutes to an hour to be ready. * The inside is super congested--not much seating, so be prepared if you're picking up. Despite the wait, the food is worth it! If you're craving rich, flavorful Creole dishes, Chef Smelly's should be on your list. read more

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I've had this place saved in my list of restaurants I wanted to try in Oakland for a while now, and recently I finally got to go! We got the oxtails with Mac n cheese and candied yams and the loaded fries with shrimp. I personally really liked the food! The oxtails were extremely flavorful, as were the Mac n cheese and candied yams. It was however on the pricey side for sure, as this dish was about $40 and since it was a special that wasn't on the menu, I was a bit caught off guard by that. With that said it was still an overall good meal. read more

Chef Smelly's - Oxtails with Mac n cheese and candied yams - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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My guy never disappoints. Always smacking that's what's happening Keep whipping them pots Chef Smelly read more

Chef Smelly's never disappoints. I've been eating his food for sometime now and it gets better and better! Love the food, service and ambiance. Would recommend to anyone who loves good food! read more

Keeping this short and sweet: Wings: 9.5/10 Yams: 9/10 Mac and Cheese: 8.5/10 Collard Greens: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Prepare to wait as the food is prepared fresh. Wait is definitely worth it. read more

Chef Smelly's - 4 piece wings with mac and cheese / yams and a side of collard greens - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

Hello yes the food was good that I had, the service took a little long, and the amenities around I think they could have done a little better I think they can fix up the spot with a little paint just cleaning up a little bit more it looks too much like a club then a restaurant again the food was good. It is a little pricey for the service I would probably try it again. read more

Made for the $30 holla Wednesday while I was on staycation. The food was good. The service was so warm and friendly and the space is like most soul food establishments in the Bay. I did have an appreciation for the Brandenburg Ginger Beer on hand! Not everyone had them. Those hot honey chicken wings are magical. I don't know what fried chicken fairy they have in the back .. but the only way those wings are created is magically. Too good just the perfect combination of sweet crunchy spicy golden brown delicious goodness! The catfish was flaky and tender, the oysters were fried hard as requested and the prawns were perfect! I ordered Mac n cheese and greens as my sides they were both delicious. Flavorful, cheesy goodness. It was my first visit, I would go back for sure. read more

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That "pay for drinks separately from food" setup is already annoying, but when the service is trash on top of it? It turns the whole place into a time-wasting obstacle course. read more

Chef Smelly's - Smelly - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

5 STARS! Chef Smelly's is THAT spot! I was just walking to grab lunch when the signs out front caught my eye -- and wow, BEST decision ever! Tried the catfish po'boy on my first visit and it was next level -- crispy, seasoned perfectly, and the portion was HUGE! Looked amazing and tasted even better. Came back TODAY (yep, couldn't resist ) for the oxtail on garlic noodles with garlic mashed potatoes, sweet yams, and garlic bread -- every bite was bursting with flavor! The oxtail was so well seasoned and tender The beautiful lady working there was super sweet and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The ambiance was so beautiful and calming. Every table adorned flowers and a candle Big portions, bold flavors, and all-around good vibes -- Chef Smelly's definitely understood the assignment! will definitely be visiting often just to try everything read more

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