I loved having lunch right along the river! It's a hot day today but there's shade and fans so we felt fine. I had the salmon and my coworker had the Cajun pasta. Great portions and the salmon was great. We did have to wait a bit to be seated but it was lunchtime so that's fine. I'm in Sacramento area again next month so I'll definitely enjoy this restaurant again. read more

Crawdads on the River - Grilled salmon - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

I want to like this place. great location, great view. But both times we have been there the service is underwhelming. Waited 5 min in bar high tables, no one came to talk to us. went back to front, waited 5 more minutes for host to return, then asked for table with server. waited at table for 10 min before server came to take our order. Ordered drinks and food at same time. Got food before drinks arrived. Saw server only 3 times - take order, deliver drinks and give us the bill. food was good. wasn't given proper serving utensils (no knives, only forks) for our order. probably won't come back. Spent $100 for 2 of us. just don't feel like place is well managed for customer service. can't tell if they are understaffed or not organized read more

Who wants to enjoy Sacramento river scenery while dining? Love love love the location! Cannot be more perfect to see sunset from this spot. Food: I totally recommend Cajun Pasta. This is their best pasta. Decent portion with generous toppings. It seems one of the best seller menu, totally recommended by the server. Drink: great selection of beers on tap. Parking: free on their complex (covered parking) Restrooms: decent clean To-go box: dusty, make sure you clean it before putting your foods! For first timer, be mindful that you would need to walk across metal bridge and going down a bit steep steps to the premise, especially ladies with their high heels and long dress!! The back area can be booked for private events . read more

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Friendly staff, beautiful interior and outside! The food is good bar food. The location is the best part of the restaurant! Fun music and tvs for sports! Definitely a must visit when you're in Sacramento! read more

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Got to Crawdads on the River for Valentine's Day brunch, and was shocked at how much space the restaurant really has and such a beautiful location by the Sacramento River as well. To find it off the Garden Highway Level, it's at the river level so there's some stairs to take to head to the lower level from the driving level. If you have trouble walking this might not be the best choice for you because it is a bit of a walk from the parking lots to the restaurant, and since it's at the lower level coming back up the stairs after eating may not be easy for some people. Service was great everyone was as very welcoming and helpful. I needed something changed from my order, and it was very efficiently done. All the food seemed very fresh. All the dishes were served piping hot. Really enjoyed the Cajun Pasta. It was delicious and portion was satisfying. We also ordered the calamari, and enjoyed this as well. We ordered the drink called the Mardi Gras and it was just the right amount of alcohol, frozen blending and sweetness. We would love to be back again. read more

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This is the go to place to go to in the summer in Sacramento! Took work friends out twice with a party of 8, and were seated quickly and the staff were so quick, kind and attentive! Some of my friends have never tried Crawdads so ordered them as an appetizer. Everyone got their own entree and everything looked great, including poke nachos, pasta, salads and fish. I didn't know Sacramento had riverside restaurants like this so was pleasantly surprised! The view of the river and the open air seating is fantastic! read more

Loved the fish and chips and the calamari! They were very crispy and had lots of flavor. I recommend getting both! If you can, get a seat by the water for the pretty view. read more

Unfortunately their food is as bad as most people mentioned here on yelp but the view is spectacular. The restaurant was empty when I arrived with only two people working the restaurant. The Chicken wings were probably the worst I've ever had! The drinks were also weak and nothing to write home about. Cheers read more

Food met expectations but did not exceed them. I had the fish and chips. Order calamari and a salad as an appetizer, but they all came out together. That made for way too much food on the table at once, and made it impossible to eat the salad. The fish was excellent but the French fries were bottom of the barrel. read more

We were seated right away and enjoyed a riverside seat in a cozy spot. Only a crawfish bucket on the menu. Crab cakes spicey, beet salad delicious! Fish and chips were good, burger was good as well. The grilled cheese stole the show! The cheese was super stringy and tasty! read more

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My server helped me pick the crab grilled cheese; he recommended it but I did not like it. It had a strong pepper taste. The sauce they put on top was too much and too over powering. I wish I would have gotten something else. Side salad was good. I also tried the fried calamari and I wish there were bigger pieces in it. Half of it was scraps. My friends ordered alcoholic drinks and they said they were ok. One drink they had to send back because it wasn't good. My server was also the bartender, so service was slow. Views were beautiful. read more

Crawdads on the River - View from the table - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

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This place is such a hidden gem. The view is just breathtaking right at the river. I haven't been here for years and it did not disappoint. It was even better than I remembered. I ordered the cauliflower tacos. I wanted something more light and it fit the bill. Cauliflower were roasted and crispy. The pico de gallo was light and had fresh tomatoes. We had to get the bucket of crawdads since it is in the name of the restaurant after all. I like how they don't put much filler in there with the corn and sausage and there was a good serving of crawdads. It's big enough to share and serve two. I loved the fries here. It's coated and so crispy. The calamari was good and flavorful too. Service was good and our server frequently checked up on us. read more

Crawdads on the River - Cauliflower tacos - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Food is great. Service it takes awhile our food to get in the table. The view are great. Nice to see the boat passing-by and look more classy place. read more

Crawdads on the River - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

There was no wait time surprisingly. We came to celebrate-my daughter's Birthday. I'm impressed how they changed the inside of Crawdads. It been awhile coming here. However, the inside is really welcoming. Our waiter Sara B. was fantastic and pleasant. She recommended the Crab Grilled Cheese We ordered as an appetizer Calamari. Entree was 2 orders of the Crab Grilled Cheese and an order of Blacken Fish Tacos. The food was served Heat hot with lots of flavor. We will be back. read more

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Excellent place close to the river foods is amazing. Great fun atmosphere. Servers and bartenders very friendly and helpful. We had a great time here with family and kids. Great place !!! read more

Crawdads on the River - Pasta Cajun Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

The Ambiance drew us in, followed by friendliness of staff. Zariah was an outstanding waitress! And Josh was an amazing Bartender. The food was delicious and a very fair price. This will be our new favorite place anytime we are In Sacramento! And the restrooms were beautiful and clean! read more

We went on a beautiful day and the view was gorgeous. They did seem a little understaffed but I didn't mind with the view and my drink. The James a the Giant Peach cocktail was delicious and I don't see it very often at restaurants so I was excited to order. I didn't take a photo but we ordered the chowder fries to begin with and it was topped with bacon. Bacon makes most things delicious I didn't see any clams in it which I thought would have some. The potatoes inside them were fairly large and considering it was over French fries it was a bit much for me. It was good but I don't know if I'd order again. The Cajun pasta was yummy with a very generous amount of sauce and the shrimps were cooked perfectly. Unfortunately my boyfriend ordered the crawdads burger and the meat was lacking a lot of flavor and it was rather dry so it was disappointing. We live walking distance away so we'll probably return and give the other menu items a chance. The view and cocktail truly saved the experience. read more

Crawdads on the River - Cajun Pasta Crawdads Burger - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

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You go here for the fun river views, and it was really nice and quiet and we really enjoyed it. Our waiter was good and the food came out at a reasonable time. Everything tasted good but the crawfish were a bit overcooked. The flavor saved it. I would have liked thicker sausage and more corn and potatoes. The price was high for what you got. Overall if you go in with your reasonable expectations you will be pleased. read more

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This past Friday was such a vibe! I have not been to crawdads on the river in some years now. The menu has changed, but the drinks are still on point!! I had the Creole Burrito and washed it down with a Mardi Gras drink!! Can we say AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! 1000/1000!!! You have to try these two menu items as a combo!! Both of our servers were great but Simone's energy was exceptional!! I'll be back sooner than later next time. read more

Crawdads on the River - Mardis Gras drink!!!! A must have!! - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I had a fine experience at this restaurant. Came for a quick bite to eat for a late lunch and I got ceviche. It was fine and our server was very friendly. One of the best parts of the restaurant is that it was right on the water so you could look right out in the river as you enjoyed your food read more

Crawdads on the River - Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

I would definitely recommend this place for fun the food. It's some things are OK. My waiter. Josh was absolutely amazing like he was very attentive. I always love the Cajun shrimp salad. That's my go to and the is the crab grilled cheese. It's really good also like I said really great fun place to bethe Ambiance is trendy. It's by the water. read more

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First time eating at crawdads on the river. This was my dad and mom's favorite spot to eat when they come to Sacramento. In tradition of my mother, may she rest in peace. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri like the one in the picture of her and my dad sitting out on the dock by the Riverside. I ordered the steak and shrimp skewers with a salad. It was Divine. The state was perfectly cooked not to dead not to alive just perfect. My daughter had the nachos made to her liking my uncle ordered fish and chips. The fries were so good the ones I got to sneak from his plate lol my father ordered jambalaya and it smelled delicious. Everybody was pleased with their meals are server/bartender/host was amazing super friendly super nice . The decorations for Christmas made me feel so warm and welcomed and special and I really felt like we were eating at home. I definitely definitely want to come back. Maybe when it's not raining that way I can sit by Riverside. And order some more of those daiquiris. read more

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Great location on the river. We went on a weekday so it wasn't too crowded. They obviously make their money plowing you with drinks which are good. With that said, the food here isn't great. The burger (which should be a staple) is two patties that are not fresh beef but bought from a vendor and pedestrian. A Big Mac is better. The salads are decent and appear to be fresh. read more

Came by for early dinner and sat outside. No day with great views of the river. Staff provided great service and meals and drinks came out fast. read more

This place was a hidden gem. The food is good overall. The service could have been better; however, the waitress was doing her best to manage all tables at once. The ambiance appears nice and quiet overall. This place does turn into a club during the summer. It's worth checking out. You have a front seat view of the Sacramento River. read more

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Ambiance was good with the river and the nice breeze. Service was good. Food was alright.

Amazing place to visit the decor is great, clean. I got the eggs Benedict which was perfect. Lots of amazing Mimoas !! read more

Crawdads on the River - River View Outside - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

First time here, and it was a great experience, called in earlier to reserve a spot facing the river. Nice options for food a Louisiana spin with seafood which was different. We enjoyed our time and food overall was great. I had the Alaskan Cod. Sister just didn't like her burrito. She said there wasn't much flavor. Cod nachos delicious but a bit pricy. Yulia helped us out was friendly, would recommend. read more

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I've been here numerous times specially during summer because this is one of the restaurant that has the boat launch. When we come here before getting on the boat, we normally eat and have a few drinks. I love their seafood pasta. It's so good. I really really like it. The drinks and bartenders are very good. They're very friendly and efficient. As far as the ambience they can get crowded before noon time everyone is here before getting on the boat. They also have a band playing on some days. It's a very cool atmosphere and party scene. read more

My hubby and I enjoyed our brunch at this Crawdads. We ate on the deck and loved the view of the Sacramento River. They have live music and great service. Dress is casual and the vibe is chill. We ordered the crab grilled cheese sandwich and chowder fries. Both were delicious . We are definitely going back again. read more

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GREAT location on the river! Food is tasty and the drinks are decent (depending on who's working). The staff is always friendly. It's a unique dining experience because of the location. On a summer day you can enjoy an ice cold beverage while people watching those on their boat. My favorite item they serve is the Cajun pasta. The sauce is so good I can drink it. It's a blend of creamy, spicy, tangy flavors and when the thickness meets the linguini noodles it makes the perfect marriage. This would be a place ai recommend you bring out of town relatives for a fun experience. read more

Beautiful view and food was very good, service was great. Really enjoyed our dinner. read more

Crawdads on the River - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

This was an unexpected find for us. We were looking for a place to walk along the River and stumbled on Crawdads. It's nestled down in the marina literally in the water. What a treat. Friendly and attentive service. The food had a true Cajun vibe. The driver Chips stated it off with a great bite. Then the blackened cod and Cajun pasta brought, generously portioned, brought it home. The river otters kept us delighted while the river breeze kept us just right after a pretty hot day. The crowd was happy, friendly and laid back. True river life. I'm sure this place is hopping when the music is live and the sun is down. I can't wait for a return trip. read more

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Came on a Saturday afternoon in winter. Took a solid 10 minutes to be seated in a virtually empty restaurant. Servers were less than attentive but when they came by they were friendly. 4 stars is purely for the food, drink, and views! I can't believe I grew up in Sacramento and had never come here. Highly recommend the calamari! read more

Crawdads on the River - Margarita and Lemonade - Seafood Near Me - Sacramento, California

Well it doesn't get better than this venue. It's gorgeous out on the patio, right on the river. The servers were super nice too, but the food and drink quality and pricing left much to be desired. Our appetizers were disgustingly greasy. Then they charged some sort of service fee on our tab. apparently because we had a large group. But we paid separately- so not cool. It was like $10 for a beer. The classy view comes with a cost! read more

This isn't a place to come for a family dinner. If you want to get drunk, get bad service, and overpay for food then this is the spot. We were seated in the bar with 3 kids, there was live music so the kids had their ears covered until the band finally stopped at 5:25. Then the drunk idiot started singing and that lasted a good 45 mins. Our appetizer was dropped off but we had no plates, silverware or napkins. Our waitress stopped by every so often and it took a long time to get water refills and utensils. Our diiner came but the two kids meals (pasta and butter) took another 15-20 minutes. I got the grilled cheese with crab, yuk. We were celebrating my grand daughter's bday. My son asked if they serve birthday cake. Why yes they do. Got the bill and saw they charged $10 for a piece of cake. I will never go back. read more

Staff was great and on it. Literally right on the river with great views. We used their back room for a party and another bar area with tv's to watch the game. The service was good and food was even better. read more

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Walked down to Crawdads and was shocked how many young people hung out here. It was completely full (people even standing in the bar area). It was nice to sit around and watch the boats driving by. I can't speak on the food as we only came for drinks. I ordered a frozen slushie ( it was $16 and lacked all flavor) I also attempted to order the APEROL SPRITZ frozen but they didn't have it available. Environment : busy but fun Drinks: overpriced and lacked flavor PRO: the cutest little photo area read more

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Disappointed by the Food, Despite the Great Location Crawdads on the River has an unbeatable location--there's really nothing better than dining right on the water. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the hype or the price. Based on the reviews, we were expecting much better. The calamari was just okay, but the accompanying sauce was unpleasant, to put it mildly. The clam chowder was a major letdown--bland and lacking flavor. Honestly, even a can of Progresso clam chowder would've been more satisfying. It's a great spot to enjoy the view, but don't come expecting a great meal. The atmosphere today was sad, too quiet. Service good, the our waitress didn't seem surprised we didn't finish the calamari. read more

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We came here for lunch back on 7/19. Our family went on a boat ride and they were going to come here for lunch. Since we couldn't make the boat ride, we decided to meet with them to eat. Hubby and I shared the fish and chips as we weren't too hungry yet and figured we would go explore Sac and get something else to eat later on. I had very little low expectations just from the pics I saw. I took a picture of the food, but can't seem to find it anymore. Their fish and chips here were different. The batter was not your typical batter. The fish was a little too dense for my liking. It wasn't bad, but also not memorable. It also didn't have that crunch factor to it which I feel like all fish n chips should have. I can't say we will be back here on our own accord, but if family chooses to come here, I'll have to pick something else. I will say, it was nice to eat here with a view of the water and seeing all the boats coming and going/passing by! read more