Chez Lafayette was recommended to us by the bartender at our hotel, and it did not disappoint. The place was buzzing and truly felt like being in New Orleans on a Saturday night. We all ordered different seafood dishes and every single one was fantastic. The cocktail and wine list was impressive, too--plenty of great options. We felt lucky to snag a Saturday reservation and would absolutely go back. So glad we took the recommendation. read more

Came in for date night. RSVP on resy is convenient. Cool vibes with the teal paint and artwork on the walls, it reminds me of n'awlins. They have a sparkly corner bar near the front. Service is great. They are attentive, friendly, and timely. Food is very tasty. Our favorite was the fried chicken and gumbo! Wish there was a second piece of chicken, maybe a wing or something. I got a thigh/drumstick piece and I wished I could have just a bit more. Crunchy and flavorful. The gumbo was delectable and better than the stuff I had in New Orleans. Fried catfish was just ok in comparison. I do have some beef with the fact that the deviled eggs only had 5 half-eggs... where is the 6th?? 2.5 eggs for $13 is disappointing. Cocktails are done quite well. Our drinks were just strong enough and both vieux carre and pear sidecar were well balanced. Prices are steeper than expected but ok for a special night out. read more

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It honestly pains me to write this review because I was really excited to try this place. I decided to bring my husband here for his birthday brunch because he's from Louisiana, and this restaurant has been heavily hyped on social media. Unfortunately, this ended up being a good reminder that you can't always trust what you see on TikTok. First, the positives: the inside of the restaurant is really cute. It definitely has a kitschy, touristy New Orleans vibe, and the atmosphere is fun. The service was fine -- our server was friendly -- though she could have been a bit more attentive. Now the food. We started with two cups of gumbo. It was okay, but definitely not great. Both of us noticed it was strangely sweet, which isn't what you expect from gumbo. It was also much thicker than an authentic gumbo, and overall just lacked depth of flavor. My husband really wanted catfish, but oddly there was no catfish on the menu when we arrived around 11:30am, so he ordered the crispy chicken sandwich instead. They asked if he wanted it dipped in hot sauce or barbecue sauce, and he chose hot sauce -- but it seemed like it came out with barbecue sauce instead. Between the sauce and the very sweet coleslaw, the sandwich was again overly sweet. The fries were actually great, though. They had a nice Cajun seasoning, and honestly they ended up being the highlight of the meal. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and it pains me to say this, but it was probably the worst shrimp and grits I've had. The grits were basically plain and flavorless -- no cheese, herbs, or seasoning. It was just a bowl of plain grits with shrimp and sausage placed on top. The shrimp themselves were a good size, but there were only three, and the dish had capers, which is unusual for shrimp and grits and was surprising. Another confusing moment: when our gumbo came out, the bowls were sitting on top of a special menu advertising boudin croquettes. (You can see the menu in the photo I posted of the gumbo) My husband and I were excited because we love boudin, but when I asked about ordering them, we were told we couldn't order from that menu because it was the lunch menu. It was already noon, and we had been given the menu under our bowls, so that whole situation was just confusing. I guess they have multiple menus for different parts of the day. In total we ordered two cups of gumbo, a chicken sandwich, and shrimp and grits, and the bill was $72 before tip. For that price, we expected food that matched the hype -- but it just didn't. There are honestly much better spots nearby. If you're craving good Southern or Cajun-style food, I'd recommend Hot Fish House instead. Unfortunately this place just did not live up to the hype or the price tag. Sometimes TikTok gets it wrong. read more

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Went here with my parents for some creole style fare. The area of town isn't great Across from downtown public library but inside it's cute and have done nice job with ambiance. Nice touch repurposing doors as backs for the benches. The food was the real star. Crisp large and refreshing Caesar salad. Yes to the fried green tomatoes. Trust me on this one. Topped with grilled crawfish succotash was the star of evening. I had the honey pecan fried catfish and it didn't disappoint. Was worried would be too sweet but fried perfectly with no grease and wonderful flavors. The creole and blackened Chicken was also something worthy of coming back for. Last star would have hit if service been tad bit more aware. Not bad just not exceptional read more

Not only is the ambiance gorgeous, the feeling of the restaurant makes you feel warm and comfortable. I love the Hurricanes and absolutely adore their happy hour menu. The fried chicken gumbo is downright delicious. The charismatic servers are fantastic and make your whole experience fun and memorable. I came for the gumbo but stayed for the Hurricanes! read more

Chez Lafayette - Fried chicken Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Everything was amazingly delicious as always! Took my friend here which was her first time and of course she loved everything best margarita she's ever had! read more

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We came here for brunch on Valentine's Day. Parking was easy for us and the restaurant was easy to find. It's really cute on the inside. I love the salmon walls. Super perfect for a romantic brunch or dinner. We weren't greeted right away but they were also swamped. Even though they were busy they still did everything with a smile and delivered as fast as they could. Almost 20+ people walked in after us for a way looked like a bridal party. The staff really stepped in for another and we didn't feel neglected at all. I swear there were only about 5 people working that we could see. We were impressed. We ordered the hush puppies, flat bread, shrimp and grits, and crawfish Benedict. I loved everything except the Benedict. I plan to try it with crab next time around. The crawfish didn't have much flavor and I think it affected everything else. I also want to come in for their dinner menu. Anybody that can correctly make a hush puppy can cook anything for me and I'll try it ! We've been looking for a new date night spot and this will be it. MAKE A RESERVATION FOR DINNER. They really do get busy. I was shocked we didn't need one for brunch. read more

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Chez Lafayette is located downtown across from the library main branch. With a 6 pm reservation (Friday) we had no problem getting free street parking (back-in parking). Our original reservation was at 5:30 but we called to change (without issue!) due to babysitter time constraints. At the door we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. The atmosphere is cozy and the space is larger than from first glance from the street. I liked the general ambiance and the lighting was low but I could still read the menu. The restaurant was decorated a bit extra for Mardi Gras and the menu is creole NOLA inspired. I ordered the fried green tomatoes and the shrimp n grits. My husband got the duck leg and some clams. I loved my food, the slaw that came with the duck, and the clams were good (as clams are). I think the shrimp and grits were the best I've had in WA and the fried green tomatoes were great - I wish it had some sort of sauce or aioli ? The shrimp in particular were cooked perfectly. I had a great N/A drink and my husbands vieux carre was so smooth. The service was exceptional- just super friendly. The food came out a bit fast for normal service but personally I didn't mind. If we would've had a bit more of an appetite I would've ordered dessert! Guess I have to save it for next time. read more

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Came here on a Saturday mid morning and after eating here, I'm surprised it wasn't more busy! Service was quick, food was delicious! Loved the gumbo and the fried chicken was so crispy and flavorful! The beignets were fluffy and had just the amount of sweetness. We also loved the fries with the poboy! read more

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Omg this place is soooo good and worth the drive! I came from Marysville to try it. I got the Blackened Steak with poached eggs for brunch! Woooow my steak was cooked to perfection (medium well) and seasoned so tasty-like! Those poached eggs were a delight! I also loved the ambiance. All the windows and the atmosphere just made this place feel so open and cozy it was like a little New Orleans away from New Orleans. Our server was so nice and attentive! Just such a great experience, would love to come back for dinner to try that! read more

Chez Lafayette - Blackened steak and poached eggs - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Brunch with the family was a success! Sunday morning, at a bright, beautiful southern style restaurant! The service was amazing and the food was delicious. Would recommend!! read more

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Chez Lafayette is a sweet little restaurant in downtown Tacoma. We came for dinner before a show at the Pantages and had a lovely dinner. The vibe is clean and airy, and though open and filled with natural light it still felt intimate and romantic. Staff is friendly and attentive. Service was fairly quick--I think we came in right before the rush because the restaurant filled up pretty quickly as we were eating. The food was tasty. I am fairly spoiled by home-cooked cajun/creole food, and while nothing really compares to homemade, this came close. read more

Chez Lafayette - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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What a gem of a place to go. Super excited we went there for lunch. Jacob was our server. He was very easy to talk to. It was a little bit slower, but it was a great vibe. I will definitely go again. The Cajun creole food was on point and I would highly recommend anybody who likes that kind of food. This is the place to be. read more

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We met some friends for lunch at this very cute restaurant lunch on a very rainy and cold day. We found some parking across the street in front of the Library. There were few patrons. The server helped us with recommendations. The Fried Chicken and Gumbo was the Star. The Shrimp Po Boy in the Baguette was delicious with the Creole Tomato Bisque. Lots of unique things to try. Will be back again! read more

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The thing that stands out about chez Lafayette is the service. From booking a reservation, to being welcomed and seated, and the table service , it was all exceptional. The restaurant itself looks small from the exterior but has a decent sized dining room and is not cramped our small. The table set up favors smaller groups but they would have the ability to accommodate larger groups if needed. The food was seasoned well, and prepared with obviously fresh ingredients. I think it is priced at a level consistent with a date night dinner. For two people we spent about $150 after tip, that includes drinks and apps. Over all I like this spot because it is a unique dining option in Tacoma and the service and atmosphere are excellent. read more

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Love the vibes and food is so flavorful. Been twice already and loved both times. Must try at night since I believe dinner is a different menu. read more

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I have nothing bad to say about this place. I love the location. I love the French quarters aesthetic. The wait staff were very friendly & everything was timed well to come out during the meal. read more

Chez Lafayette - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Had dinner with a group of five at Chez Lafayette. The atmosphere was charming and evoked a sense of being somewhere far away -- definitely an international flair. This is a Cajun-style restaurant, and the food delivered both in flavor and presentation. We ordered Lafayette Salad, Stuffed Peppers (beautifully spiced rice stuffed in bell peppers -- flavorful and comforting), Gnocchi Andouille (rich, smoky, and perfectly cooked with a nice texture), Mussels & Crawfish Scampi, Petrale Sole (light, delicate, and well-prepared). And for dessert: Beignets (crispy outside, fluffy inside -- a perfect finish) The only downside was the loud group sitting nearby. Their voices and laughter echoed throughout the restaurant, making it hard for us to hold a conversation at times. Aside from that, the service was attentive and the overall experience delightful. Would definitely come back! read more

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Delicious food and amazing service The staff was very friendly. Very cute rustic ambiance

Food was amazing and restaurant was quaint and very good vibe! Service was rear and staff was friendly!

this is one of our favourite restaurant, the food is always so delicious and the staff is awesome. Last time I got the gumbo and was out of this world. the whole menu is awesome. read more

Came last minute for Valentine's Day, luckily got seats in the bar.the fried chicken and gumbo was delicious! And beignets for dessert hot and fresh, I will be back! read more

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Shrimp n grits were delicious. Also the pasta shrimp pasta chez la. Flavorful beautifully presented. Had the Pilsner with dinner. Wine, beer and cocktails available. Service was great, staff are friendly and attentive. I love the decor as well. Very open and welcoming. read more

Chez Lafayette - Pasta chez la and shrimp and grits - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Very cute restaurant that would be great for a date night. We came in for an early dinner so there was ample street parking. Due to that, we basically had the restaurant to ourselves and were seated quickly. The service was attentive but not overboard where they check on you too much so you can't enjoy the meal. I got the honey butter fried catfish. Under the fried catfish, there were greens and grits. It was all seasoned very well. I wished there were more greens as it was good. The beignets were messy to eat due to all the powdered sugar which is a given when ordering beignets. The beignets were different than every beignet I've ever had before. When you take a bite there was no pillowy dough in the middle. Rather there was a big air pocket. It was different. It still tasted alright but the texture was not familiar to me. read more

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Immediately on walking in, I noticed the decor of the restaurant. The salmon colored walls, the booths, the wall sconces and all the other small pieces of decor make the restaurant a super cute and welcoming environment. The window seats have a nice view of the city and rainier. It's a very aesthetic little restaurant. We ordered the fried oysters, the shrimp & mussel scampi and the jambalaya. I wouldn't say service is quick but the servers are very friendly. The oysters were first to come out. The outside was perfectly battered, crispy but not too thick and the inside was plump and juicy as you would want your oyster to be. The perfectly fried oyster w the sauce made this dish super enjoyable. This was my favorite dish. The crawfish and mussel scampi was full of both. I liked the crawfish and the seasoning but I felt that the mussels were not very good. Can't tell if they weren't fresh or they didn't go well with the seasoning. The jambalaya was bursting w flavor. But I had the same thought about the mussels in this one. The mussels were not very good. The shrimp and rice and sausages within this dish however were all very flavorful and enjoyable. read more

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We live in Puyallup, and my husband loves the catfish from their sister restaurant, Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen. I wanted a change of scenery, so we decided to try Chez Lafayette. It was surprising that the catfish didn't come with any sides--fries at the very least--but even so, the catfish itself was delicious. The gumbo, however, was a completely different story. The fried chicken in it was cooked perfectly, but the gumbo base was a miss. As someone who cooks often and makes gumbo myself, I could immediately tell the roux had been burnt. After trying it again to be sure, the burnt flavor was unmistakable. Coincidentally, another couple walking out noticed my reaction and the woman said, "Yep, it tastes burnt, doesn't it!?" When I shared this with the waiter, he apologized but said that was the batch for the entire day. It was disappointing to see it still being served to other tables even after the issue was mentioned. Ideally, someone in the kitchen should should be testing something made in such a big batch like this, also if you burn a roux you know it and should start over before wasting the rest of the ingredients. The service overall was also lacking. It took a long time to get someone's attention even though there were plenty of people working and few customers, and even longer to receive our final bill. Staff passed our table repeatedly with minimal eye contact, making it difficult to signal for help. I had high hopes for this place, and while the catfish was great, the gumbo and the service made the experience fall short. read more

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Food is good, service is slow. Wish the service was more attentive and efficient. Good for a date night, drinks were alright. I'll come back just for the food but won't expect great service. read more

The staff was super nice, very sweet. The food 10/10. Drinks 10/10. Ambiance 10/10. Went on a Friday night and got seated and greeted right away. Gumbo 10/10 Deviled eggs 7/10 Pasta Chez 10/10 read more

I was finally able to try this spot out after the multiple times we drove by it. Located downtown Tacoma, if you're dining early evening, parking is decent. Make sure to make reservations as space is limited. It's a quaint spot. It seemed short staffed. We sat in the bar area. We ordered food and it took a while to come out. Nobody checked on us for a long while, which was disappointing. I was really hoping to give a better review but it could've been the night. They were busy with limited staffing. Food was good but I can't say I would rave about it. If you're looking for Creole, stop in. As the evening went, the bar got busy which meant it was gonna take longer to get our check and boxes. Staff was kind though. That was the takeaway. we may give it another chance on a different night and see how things go. I really wanted to like it. read more

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Our second visit to Chez was nothing short of mediocre. While there was no wait to be seated, the service was disappointingly slow. We noticed other tables that arrived after us receiving their entrées first, while ours took much longer. When our food finally arrived, my friend's dish was delayed and undercooked--she ordered the fried chicken and gumbo, but the rice was not fully cooked. To top it off, our appetizer didn't even come out until after we had already received our entrées. I really hope that this was just a fluke cause I do want to come back again. read more

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The atmosphere here is sooooo cool. It has a great vibe with good service and very tasty food. I was highly impressed. The food really did remind me of the kind of food I was getting when I was in New Orleans. Great seasonings and flavor profiles all around. Beignets did leave something to be desired though. They weren't fluffy at all, just very flat. read more

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At the corner of Tacoma and 11th, a cute little Creole bistro with live jazz playing. With the ambiance of NOLA. Service was polite and professional. Daughter had the French onion soup. It was excellent. I had the rigatoni with shrimp and andouille sausage.it was amazing!!!! i highly recommend this for lunch or a date night! read more

Chez Lafayette - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I was excited to try this place since I heard about and it was owned by the Bourbon St family in Puyallup. So had lunch with my partner who works closeby, and we went there as they opened at Noon. We sat in the back near the windows and back door, and the place had a nice French feel but not necessarily New Orleans. I have been to New Orleans a few times and am a huge fan of Creole and Cajun foods. My faves are shrimp and grits, jambalaya, gumbo, etc so seeing the menu made my mouth water. Unfortunately, there was only one waiter/server and he seemed overwhelmed this day. We received our water and drinks fairly late after we had asked. But we tried to be patient since we can see they were understaffed. The food finally came but it was all SO HOT in temperature; we have never had food that hot before. So hot we took bites and I scalded my mouth. Due to the wait, I was already hangry, but tried to wait and blow off the heat to cool it all down. This was a bit disappointing. But as you can see, the food was visually beautiful and enticing! And despite the temperature the food was a solid 4. Gumbo and collard greens needed to be cooked longer (I have had my fair share of Southern food) but the fried chicken, catfish and grits were great. We also had jo jos and they were OK. The bill came to be $80 so $40 per person for lunch. Overall, good but I won't come again any time soon unless compelled to. read more

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We walked by this cute restaurant in the afternoon and proceeded to invite our friends to join us there for dinner. So glad we did. We started out with the Crawfish Hushpuppies. This ain't no Long John Silver Hushpuppy! This is a wonderfully light hushpuppy with crawfish, corn, and a sweet cornbread batter. It is served with a delicious slaw and sauce. I am already looking forward to ordering them again. The Branzino special served over a tomato relish with fresh herbs was delicious as well. While the size was small, the taste was wonderful. The Fried Green Tomatoes were coated lightly and fried to a perfect crunch (see the attached picture). It was served with succotash, crawfish, ham and more. I enjoyed it with some of the leftover tomato relish from our Branzino. We finished it off with the citrus tart - think key lime pie. The tart itself was a little tough to cut, but tasted delicious. On top of great food, the place has a lively date night vibe with friendly and professional staff. We will most definitely be back. Looking forward to trying one of their pastas - and of course - more Crawfish Hush Puppies : ) read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor complexity of the gumbo, I enjoyed the house shrub with the gumbo because the house shrub gave a clean mouthfeel after every rich bite of the gumbo! Excellent combination! And I also enjoyed the dessert, a bread pudding with the flavored dollop of whipped cream! I apologize because I don't remember the name of the the dessert all I remember is it started with r h e and I can't remember the rest so you'll have to look it up. The staff was very warm and attentive and I do intend on going back to try the other items on the menu. My food capacity did not allow me to put anything else in my stomach at the time but I did want more I just couldn't eat more. read more

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I am a Louisiana native and I have to say, this place checks all the boxes for creole/cajun cuisine! The wife and I came out for my big brother's 40th birthday and I was super impressed. The dining room reminds me of home so much! The French architecture was spot on! The service was super friendly and prompt and very had no complaints whatsoever! Needless to say, I would most definitely recommend this place to friends and family! As the Cajuns say: Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!!!!! read more

Chez Lafayette - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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My friend and I went here for dinner, and it was so cute and the staff was extremely friendly! We both got Po Boys, and shared an app and the bread pudding (not pictured). Everything was great, the food was quick and fresh. Would definitely go back! read more

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Im so sad to have to write this. I've dined here with my wife a lot and they just changed the menu. Before the fried chicken and catfish were my favorite dishes! Now they changed the cut of meat for the chicken and they now batter it. The taste of the batter was atrocious. My coworker got the catfish and they're now filets and they don't come with collard greens. I'm not sure if they have new management but I come back for the collard greens...they were so good! I probably won't be back now since they've changed the menu. Who wants beer battered tasting chicken? It was so soggy. Update: so the collards are seasonal....so sad. Don't know what was going on with the chicken though. read more

Top ten in Tacoma in my opinion. Chez Lafayette is a cute restaurant in downtown Tacoma. You walk in- instant New Orleans vibes- but tastefully. I visited with some friends- between the three of us, we had the Panzanella and Burrata: the acidity mixed with the creamy burrata- delicious, the jambalaya: my friend loved it, presented beautifully, the fried chicken and gumbo: this was the only dish I didn't care for, flavors were great, meat on the bone I struggle to eat- but flavors were fantastic, lastly the stuffed peppers- THOSE STOLE THE SHOW- fantastic explosion of the flavors, spice level- perfect. We topped it off sharing the rum bread pudding. Service was great for a busy Friday night. One of my new favorite places! I'm dreaming nightly of the stuffed peppers..... read more

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The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely tentative, helpful with the menu and friendly. The food was good, the gumbo and chicken were super tasty, but I felt just were needing a bit more salt. The tea was amazing and the mushroom tapenade (as recommended by our server) was a pleasant shock. I can't wait to visit next time and try more of the dishes, I love the feeling of this restaurant . The ambiance makes it feels like you're eating in Louisiana. read more

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