So far, I've only been to Creole Kitchen for breakfast (and I know you're probably thinking, "Breakfast"??? Trust me, go). But I definitely plan to go back for dinner in the future, especially since they're expanding their space. As it stands, they only have a few small tables inside, so dining in can be a bit hectic, but once that new space gets opened? Game on. I had the fish and grits w/ eggs. Honestly, I probably could've just skipped the eggs because they really weren't needed, but the fish and grits were fantastic. The food is made to order, and it's good, filling food. It's basically home cooked happiness on a plate. Definitely worth a visit. read more

First things first: the food deserves five stars. It's awesome. I had the blackened chicken po-boy and it was huge, the bread was perfect, the chicken was seasoned expertly, and it was so good. My lady had the shrimp and grits and I had a few bites of that and it was damn good, too. But I didn't really want the blackened chicken po-boy. I wanted the blackened catfish dinner. Which I didn't get because the blackened catfish dinner is $12.99 if you get it from the order window, but it's $17.99 if you sit in the dining room. In fact, EVERY ITEM costs a few dollars more if you sit in the dining room. I had never been to a restaurant where the exact same food was more expensive if you sat in the dining room to eat it (who does that, seriously?), but I had already ordered my Pepsi so I didn't want to leave the dining room and go to the adjacent order window to get my food. Instead, I experienced eating in the kind of restaurant where you pay more for the food if you want to eat it there for the first time, and got something I didn't really want quite as much because it was cheaper. But not as much cheaper as it would be if I got that po-boy from the carryout window. I'll be back, don't get me wrong, but you can be damn sure I'm going to the window and not sitting in the dining room. 5 extra bucks just to sit down at a table. That's the type of shit you lose a star for. read more

Nice people good food everything is great here fires was next the best but everything else was on point tell anybody to come try

Finally got here after numerous yelpers recommended it. My office is actually about 2 blocks away, so I will be a regular customer soon because....IZ GOOOODD!! Took the ol' lady here for lunch and got a little bit of everything. Sides - Red beans and rice (good but nothing too special), gumbo (VERY good), homemade chips (good) Muffaletta - not a traditional muffaletta, but good. Thick slices of meat, and the standard olive "tapinade" was more like a salad with olives. Kind of a Columbus version of a muffaletta. The thick slabs of meat make the sandwich seem kind of "rustic". Fried Bluefish Poboy - really good fish, lightly dusted, thick fresh fillets on a hoagie. I agree that different bread would make it better, but the ingredients were fresh tasting and cooked well. Overall delicious, lots of variety - we didn't even really scrape the surface of the creole menu (jambalaya, etouffe, fried oysters, blackened fish all sounded good). Not as spicy as either one of us would have liked, but other Yelpers say to ask for spicy and they'll give it to you. Next time!!! Very good food, amazing value! I kills me to think I've spent more at Wendy's a couple of blocks away with this gem nearby - NEVER AGAIN read more

The shrimp and grits are great. I get it every time I come here. I've tried to order other things off the menu but they're usually out of stock of what I want. I recommend getting there early to get what you want. read more

Awesome place. To start out, the service is wonderful! They really make you feel welcome at Creole Kitchen. I also liked the way the menu was done in home-made stencil script, nice touch. The food is YUMMERS (yes, I just made that word up). Warning, the portions are huge, which is not a problem because you can take your tasty bits home for a midnight snack (are you a sleepwalker foodie?). However, as it's hard for me to restrain myself when faced with a tasty tilapia sandwich, I felt like it would be more appropriate for me to roll on out of there than to bother moving my lower extremities. My foodie partner in crime got a shrimp po'boy, which I highly recommend. My tilapia was great, don't get me wrong, but the shrimp on that po'boy was out of this world southern cooking goodness. The fries and the chips were...ok. Nothing special. The coleslaw was very tasty. By the way, we went there in the afternoon after they stopped serving breakfast so we missed out on....wait for it.....beignets! I love those things. If you are crazy craving those delicious devils, Creole Kitchen is your place. And in general the breakfast menu looks great. Can't wait to go back to sample it. read more

This place is a Columbus gem. It's a hole in the wall restaurant that has been building a larger dining area. The food is some of the best food in the area. It is DEFINITELY the best creole food in the area. Nice and spicy and full of flavor. They are not afraid to make the food spicy. I've been to places that are reluctant to make the food spicy, even when it is supposed to be spicy. I think these types of places are concerned their customers will think it is too much. NOT CREOLE KITCHEN. The food is perfectly spiced and delicious. I tell everyone I know to visit. In short, the food is amazing, the employees are friendly, and the prices are fair for what you get. 5/5 read more

Went here on the recommendation of other yelpers and was not nearly as impressed as they. The catfish po'boy I had was just not as creolishous as I was hoping it would be. The catfish was nicely corn dusted and plentiful. The lettuce, tomato, pickles, and banana peppers were all very fresh and nice. So what's the problem? Numero uno and the biggest issue with this sandwich is the bread. A po'boy is traditional Louisiana fare. Louisiana gained culinary notoriety for its fusion of French and southern US styles. The key to this is French, which is why the po'boy is ALWAYS served on a Baguette! But not these, not these poor, poor boys. They are served on the northern bastard child Hoagie bun. Worse yet is that this "hoagie" bun seems, in both size and flavor, more like a glorified hot dog bun making this sandwich literally fall off the bun. The sauce of choice seems to be some kind of mayo, mustard hybrid. It is startlingly bland; neither spicy nor refreshing. No tables inside or picnic tables outside means that you have to take it to go, meaning that it is unavoidably getting cold by the time you get to where you are going. As quaint as the shop was and as cheap as the food was I doubt that I will be back. PS. Avoid the sweet tea, tasted like lemon Nestea with 2 pounds of sugar added. And I even like obnoxiously sweet tea. read more

I sadly thought it was just mediocre. I had the shrimp po boy and the bread to filling ratio was way off. I ended up taking the top half of the bun so that I could somewhat even out the fact that I felt like I was only eating bread. I ordered my sandwich with fries (you can pick either fries or chips) and instantly regretted it when I saw them. They were dark, soggy, and tasted like they were fried in old oil. I am a huge fan of cajun food and was really hoping for better. Will I come back on my own? Probably not. But if a friend ends up wanting to go I'll may go and give the rest of the menu a second chance since the menu itself is so huge. read more

We tried this on a whim about 6 years ago because I wanted to try gator. What an awesome stroke of luck! Even now when I'm craving Cajun, my husband picks up a takeout order from only Creole Kitchen. Everything we've has there is amazing. My favorites are the seafood jambalaya and the gumbo. They also do something special to red beans and rice to make it amazing! My boys love saying they're eating gator for dinner and the sauce it comes with is one of my favorites. I wish I could say more but now I'm hungry. Hopefully it's around for a long time!! read more

I love the Creole chicken and creole rice. I will pass on the macaroni and cheese! I hate I get asked for money every time I go but I normally call ahead and I'm in and out. My food is also fresh and hot! For the wing dinner which comes with 2 sides you can't beat for $10! read more

How have I not written a review of my favorite walk in place in Columbus? The Chef is amazing and caring and you can see his passion. The po boys are HUGE and outstanding. They have the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever eaten. Have taken quite a few friends here and they all love it. read more

"Let's eat something light for lunch," I said to Brian. "We're making prime rib for your mom tonight." So of course we headed over to Creole Kitchen to try their huge, deep-fried oyster po' boys. I had eaten there before once, on my own, and admittedly not under the best conditions (it was almost closing time for them). I tried to get the crawfish etouffee that time, but had had to settle for shrimp. It was ok. I kind of forgot about it for a long while. Until now. I am so glad that we made it back. We felt like seafood (light, right? low calorie, right? Ha!), which is hardly to be found in German Village. The only option in walking distance was Banana Bean, which was likely to be crowded to the point of fire hazard on a Saturday morning. The oyster po'boys were pure hedonistic pleasure. The breaded, fried oysters were crisp and salty on the outside, smooth and musky on the inside. No lewd commentary please. I also deeply approve of the buns used for the po' boys. I really hate trying to chew hard baguettes when the filling is delicate and squishy, as is the case with oysters. These rolls were appropriately soft yet crispy-crusted. Also they toasted the cut sides on the well greased griddle. Yum. Now, these sandwiches were more than big enough for us (in fact, I gave 1/3 of mine to Brian, who ate it in spite of protestations of satiety), but we saw the most amazing sandwich there while we were waiting for our order. We asked what it was and were informed that it was a variation of the toni po' boy. The toni is a foot-long sandwich loaded with fried chicken, shrimp and crawfish. This one, however, substituted the chicken for fried alligator (for Lent?). Wow. We'll have to try it next time. The people here are as sweet and warm-hearted as can be. They put up with our pesky questions with good humor and made sure we had our hot kettle chips (spicy-good) and tartar sauce (flavorful for a mayonnaise based concoction). My only real reservation (aside form my earlier "meh" etouffee) is that you have to take away your food to eat it. I always think that fried food suffers in transportation. I'll be back, though. I swear it. The toni po' boy shall not go unconquered! read more

Fresh ingredients, great flavor, loads of seafood! read more

Creole Kitchen - Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya, Seafood Fettuccine with loads of fresh seafood and beignets! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We wanted to get food from Creole Kitchen for a party. We called and left a message. No response. We called a second day and got a busy signal for 3 hours. We sent an email later the second day; not response until the next day with a promise to call within 2 hours. Over 24 hours later still no call. We called again and were told to call a different number, one which was also not answered. We located our food at Jezebel's Bayou in Cleveland and will drive it to Columbus. Overall, Creole Kitchen is one of the most inconsiderate, irresponsible companies I have ever encountered. I have never eaten their food and based on this experience, I never will. If there was a way to give them fewer than 1 star, I would. read more

I love Creole Kitchen. Since we live right down the street, we hit it up about once or twice a month. There are only 2 small tables in there, so don't plan on eating there. They have bought the place next door, and are supposedly opening up a sit-down restaurant space around 1/15. First, their breakfast is really good, and really cheap. They get pretty busy for breakfast, so be sure to call it in ahead of time and show up about 5 minutes after they say it'll be ready. The creole eggs benedict & big breakfast are our favorites. Get an order of beignets too! The lunch/dinner menu is very good as well. The crawfish etouffee is one of my favorites. Their wings are also good, and huge. Their sides have all been delicious as well. Their portions are huge for breakfast & dinner. The only caveat here is that you WILL get harassed for money on the way in. There are WAY too many people loitering by the front door and parking lot. read more

This place is right down the street from us and by far one of the best restaurants in town. I really enjoy their dinner options- the blackened catfish is what I typically get. BUT, you must try their breakfast! Their breakfast is the best in town. In fact, I think they were actually named one of the best in the country recently? Their portions are huge and prices are low! There are only a couple of tables to eat there so we always call ahead for pick up. I hear they are opening a sit down restaurant next door, but it isn't opened yet. read more

Delicious food. I got spoiled on southern cooking when I lived in the lowcountry and have missed creole seafood the most. Called on New Year's Eve and ordered Oyster Po' Boy and Crawfish Etoufee with creole rice and mac and cheese. My order was ready in 20 minutes. The Oyster Po'Boy was delicious, the best I've had in awhile. And it comes with a creole tartar sauce that is a little spicy The potato chips served with the sandwich are also coated in the spicy creole seasoning. My husband liked his crawfish etoufee but was expecting more crawfish, Next time he'll opt for a sandwhich. Much better value at only $6. The mac and cheese was southern style - perfect! I think Creole Kitchen just got new regulars! read more

I ordered the Full size crawfish étouffée and it was $14.95. I was given the choice to choose between 1 through 10 for level of spiciness. I asked for five. For the price I thought the portion sizes really small. I also found to be super spicy and laking any other flavor. Honestly I was underwhelmed by the whole product the place that I was in and what I got for what I paid. I won't be back read more

Creole Kitchen - Crawfish étouffée with Cajun rice and Mac & cheese - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Found out about this place on reddit and immediately had to try it. Stopped in at the counter, was greeted by the owner himself, and treated me like he had known me forever. Very nice man, we had a nice chat while I was waiting for my fried catfish Po Boy. People here complain about the service, and yes it did take awhile for my food to come out, but I wasn't in a hurry and didn't mind. I took the carryout bag to the dining room which is next to the counter/kitchen. Sandwich was HUGE and piping out. Some of the best fried catfish I've ever had. Only thing better in NOLA is that bread they use, but this was a great sandwich and a value at only 10 bucks. I will be back early and often to sample their other items. I'm a big fan! read more

I came here yesterday for an early supper. I've been here before but not in years. I don't know if they've always had them but I enjoyed seeing the seats in the place. I ordered a muffaletta. It wasn't like the ones I had eaten in N.O. No olive salad for one thing. It wasn't bad but not great either. read more

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Yum, yum, yum.... I want to go to there. That is all I can think of when someone mentions creole to me now. Having the craving for some good creole cooking after a recent visit to Heaven On Seven in Chicago, I stumbled across this place while staying with family in Columbus for the summer. Not being from Columbus, I didn't quite know which neighborhoods were on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak - and I am so glad that I didn't miss this place because of where it's located. Take the drive - this cooking is so worth it! The seafood jambalaya is incredible - huge portions ( I got two meals for myself and my 16 year old cousin ate the rest of it for dinner the next night. The shrimp po boys are great - crispy, doughy bread that with all the fixings just falls apart as you try to stuff your face with it's greatness. I need to go back :) read more

After bae made fun of me for eating box jambalaya decided I had to find a good creole spot in Columbus. I'm a Houston transplant so was lucky to have some great creole while there and of course the occasional trip the NOLA. We tried the shrimp po boy, seafood jambalaya and a side of gumbo. Everything was on point! Flavors were good and portions were generous. Will def come back!! read more

Went to Creole Kitchen with family for breakfast on recommendation. I'm so sorry I went and subjected my family to such a poor experience. First, I'll say that my family has breakfast meet-ups all of the time and with all of the places we've been, we've never experienced such terrible service AND food. Overall ambiance: It's okay. The inside is colorful and they try to make it happy with the whole creole/NOLA theme. The drawback is the loiterers and panhandlers in the strip mall where they're located. I'll note that we experienced the sit-down side of the restaurant since we had a large group, but they do have a carry-out side which is separate customer access. Service: With a few of us having arrived at about 9 AM, things started out okay. The waitress was friendly and warm. We ordered the requisite coffees, drinks, etc. and waited for others to arrive. When our group started to get larger, that is where the problems began. It was painfully obvious that they are used to having no more than a couple of folks in this restaurant at a time; however, that is ZERO excuse for poorly trained wait staff and terribly executed services. You're a restaurant. You can't expect that it's always going to be slow. You never know when you're going to have a group. Get it together. The waitress, while her attitude stayed consistently great (definitely a plus and the ONLY reason I tipped at all), did horribly. She never came to check on us or refill drinks/coffees unless called over to the tables. A different, shorter and older lady started out taking food orders. She took one table's order then promptly disappeared. Then, the young girl came back, taking orders. She obviously, had not been trained on how to keep orders together by table. By the time we all finished ordering, it is now around 10:15 AM. Crazy. After waiting about an hour for our food, few people were satisfied. The waitress brought out food sporadically. She had no idea which tables which plates of food belonged to and kept calling out orders and confusing things. Ridiculous. To add insult to injury, when we were finished, we had to go to a counter to pay instead of getting table service for our checks. The older lady got really rude toward the end which was comical, since she should have been glad we didn't walk out. By the time this nightmare ended it was NOON. Yes. We were there for 3 DARN HOURS. Food: The beignets were just okay. They were small pieces and way over-powdered, but still tasted pretty good. That's where it stopped. So, I'll say we ordered coffee and were asked what kind of creamer we wanted. One of the people at my table asked if it was non-dairy and the waitress didn't know. She then brings out entire containers-full of powdered, fake, non-dairy creamer in Kroger containers. No ... don't do that crap. Off-putting. Water was gross--no filter and straight from a tap. Grits were inconsistent. One person said they were good, a few others turned their noses up at a plop of mess. I sent my entire plate back. The pancakes were flat and greasy. It is not difficult to make a pancake--most 8 year-olds can do this, no problem. My eggs had a green tint to them because they were not scrambled but sitting in a pan to just cook and were probably not fresh. They claim they have turkey sausage, but one person said she literally spit it out since it tasted like hamburger. No way that was turkey. Gross. In conclusion, I definitely try my hardest to support local joints, including women and minority owned places, but I will never be able to support this mess. read more

After reading the reviews about this place I had to try it. It is a take-out place. Stopped in last week and got the shrimp and chicken e'touffee. It was delicious. It was over a little rice. I got as sides mac and cheese, and greens. They both were good also, and a chocolate chip cookie. I did get also some fried chicken wings. I was going to share with a friend so wanted to have enough food so we could sample. All was fantastic. I saw them making sandwiches, they looked good also and mean to go back sometime. Kind of a dive looking on the outside. The neighborhood is not the best, but don't let that deter you. They are trying to revive it. I found when i lived in NYC the best food came from not so good looking neighborhoods and places. I do love food and trying new places. read more

First time at the kitchen really enjoyed our meals. Had the chicken and andouille jambalaya and the blackened chicken with beans and red potatoes. Everything was excellent. Customer service was great. Would absolutely recommend! read more

Happy News! The dining room is now open and serving the same delicious food we all know and love cooked by Chef Butcher and his staff. read more

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I really do love this place. I am hoovering between 4 and 5 stars. This rough and tumble place is carry out joint located in Mount Vernon Plaza. The po' boys are top notch- the catfish is good, the shrimp excellent. The red beans and rice are done well as is the mac and cheese. The place has fantastic food, is no nonsense and cheap, and the staff is always great. Be mindful of the neighborhood... and note that it does close early- around 7. read more

Creole Kitchen - Sweet potato pie $3.00 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Get the Creole Wings!!!! For $8.95, you can get 12-Wings and 2 sides! That's epically bueno in my eyes! Tagging along with the other reviews, this is probably not the safest place to visit after dark. That being said, the employees are very nice and pretty talkative. The service is extra fast and the quality is pretty solid. I'm not usually a fan of a "fried-chicken-like" wing, but the seasoning that they put on the wings makes it all worthwhile! I'd say if you haven't been here, go!!!! (P.S. Carry-Out only) read more

Wow. Um. This is really great Creole food, and cheap. The neighborhood, yeah, I won't go there after dark. Daytime is fine though and the guys that work there couldn't be nicer. They normally only do beignets in the morning (yes, they serve breakfast) but they were so sweet when they found out that my friend Ruby "came all the way from downtown to try the beignets" that they made them for us. OMG, OMG. AMAZING! Dangerous! Delicious! The side order of the red beans and rice is vegetarian and delicious. The sweet tea was amazing and local (and I normally don't go for sweet beverages) and tasted like cloves? There are 2 or 3 small tables at the front window and we were going to get the food to go but after they were so nice we decided to stay and eat in. Super fabulous. read more

This place just feels right. --and I'm southern born, southern breed-- Staff are super nice. Aromas intoxicating. This is real etouffee. Get the dirty rice and boiled cabbage too. The po'boys are generous and delicious. They have the ability to make food spicy here without making it gritty. Everything is real and cooked with love. It's a bit far from me, so I haven't have the chance to try out breakfast yet. read more

chef butcher is the best!!!!!...you have to call for daily specials which are always fun to try. I love everything and they have a lot of choices for people who don't eat pork or shellfish. The Cajun wings are amazing....everything is good. Another thing I like about this place is chef butcher...he is a very humble man who could have had his restaurant anywhere in the city. He is a man that other chefs will come out and tip there hat off too...as he is a legend. However, he decided he wanted to make good food affordable and available to people who can't always get to it...So he placed his restaurant in the hood...And its all good. He is also quit the philanthropist and mentors people. Knowing this some how makes the food even better. read more

Found Creole Kitchen while skimming yelp restaurants/reviews one day, and am so happy to have stumbled upon it. The portions were large, food was great, and our server was very kind. Being able to select varying levels of spiciness for each dish was a great touch too. Do yourself a favor and try this place! read more

This is primarily carry out right now. It's a cramped space and service is all about just getting it done but oh my....when you crack that Styrofoam open, you'll realize you just got a ticket to heaven for about $7! My omelette was PACKED full of bacon, cheese, veggies and no joke, the thickness of lasagna. Seriously, it was huge. Hands down best grits I've ever had. Clounds of creamy, slightly salty, delishiousness, swimming in a golden pool of butter. (Not margarine BUTTER) Grilled italian bread with more butter finished it off. Portion was "go get a friend" size. Only draw back, its not quite 10am and I need a nap! read more

I have eaten all over the world and this place is dirty. I saw the head chef stick his fingers in a pot and taste what was in it and then added salt and stuck the same fingers back into the pot. I would never go back. I friend of mine told me she was told to "hurry up and order".. yep bad all around.. read more

The most friendly people work here! The food is delicious! I am a vegetarian and they have a vegetarian po boy sandwich but I just had a sandwich for lunch, so Chef Junior was happy to accommodate, he whipped up a rice and veggie et touffe dish for me. The heat was perfect. The veggies were grilled just right. When I am in Columbus I will be frequenting Creole Kitchen. And if you like SWEET sweet tea, they've got just the stuff. Thanks Creole Kitchen :) read more

This is the best creole food I've ever had. Period. Toni Po Boy- just don't eat before, it's MASSIVE.

Food is beyond spectacular & awesome customer service! Also breakfast is amazing. Very flavorful & at a reasonable price! Best creole restaurant in town. read more

Creole Kitchen - Creole Omelet w/ grits - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Had the chix wings which were excellent! Had a bite of Mac n cheese, not impressed. Beignets were awesome!

5 star French toast and pancakes. I have been enjoying their food for the last 8 years and have never been disappointed. Great staff also!