First off I love gumbo, was a little hesitant about going do to being picky about my gumbo. Decided…read moreto give it a try when I was in town for work... man it's good. I had a large plate half and half of gumbo and their Voodoo red beans and it comes with a free piece of really good bread. And I was impressed. Service was fast, before I had my drink poured my food it the pick up. Lots of food got me full for an unbeatable price. Wish I took a picture...

I can't believe I haven't written a review of this location before. I have been coming here for 22…read moreyears since the very beginning in their first location. I believe that they are now on their third location and they have great comfort food with tons of flavor! I am a gumbo fanatic, but I don't go here for their gumbo. I like many of their dishes and some of my favorites are the Pazole Stew and the Drunken Chicken and Maque Choux. They used to have a peanut sauce that was to die for. They also have amazing specials like Lobster Etoufee and Hog Wild Red Chili. If you are in the mood for something different, you won't find recipes like these anywhere else in Kentucky.

One of the best cheap, filling and delicious spots in Lex. Will never let you down. Everything on…read morethe menu is stellar.

We tried Bourbon & Toulouse today and wow...what a hidden gem. The place itself is small and pretty…read moreunassuming from the outside, but don't let that fool you -- the food is incredible. We went with two adults and two kids and ordered a mix so we could try several things: jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, and chicken creole. Honestly, every dish was fantastic -- one better than the next. Tons of flavor, perfectly cooked, and the kind of food that makes you keep saying "just one more bite." It's casual, quick, and absolutely worth the stop. We'll definitely be back.

Stumbled upon a new food truck in Frankfort, KY. Finally, some soulful flavor has arrived in our…read morestates capitol. The owner said they just launched and are slowly refining their menu based on customer feedback. Try the jambalaya, mouthwatering, chefs kiss. I am excited to see this group take off, and dominate the spice scene. Don't forget to ask Danny for his Hometown Louisiana Special!

So first of the ambiance is kinda confusing, like it feels like they want to be a fine dining…read morerestaurant, while also kinda being a sports bar. Not to mention the fact that you HAVE TO HAVE A RESERVATION, was mind boggling for the place. Like the server was very nice and all, that is a plus. Though sadly the food, we had the gumbo and etu fay, it was honestly pretty sad. Like it's up there with the top 5 most sad restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food was pretty bland, and lacked any form of spice. Not to mention it was hard to tell what was actually in it, like a lot of the ingredients tasted over cooked. So yeah it's going to be a no for me.

We visited Knotty Pine On the Bayou on a Thursday. The restaurant is pretty good size. I didn't…read morerealize this until it was time for a restroom break. It was a long walk. The wicker chairs in the section to the left of the bar as you face the bar were unusually deep and low. Over time I think we all adjusted, but sitting in them definitely felt unusual. There are other chairs throughout the restaurant. I recommend finding a table with different chairs. Our waiter was knowledgeable and very efficient. We hadn't checked on the website, but found out Thursday is oyster day, with $1 oysters and fried oysters and $1.50 for Oyster Bienville. The fried oysters were delicious. The raw oysters were good, though I had one that was gritty. We are going again in two weeks and will try the Oyster Bienville along with other assorted oysters. Two of us had the special Pan Seared Sea Bass. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The crisp on the top was delicious and the fish itself was delicate and moist. It did indeed melt in my mouth. The potatoes were very good, though I didn't finish all of them. The greens were good. Mark had a ribeye and is still raving about it today. He ordered the preparation version made with just salt and pepper. He also had a cup of gumbo. He said it had an amazing depth of flavor. We wrapped up with dessert. Three folks had Key Lime Pie. I opted for Karma's Opera Crème Cake. Oh my goodness, it was huge, sweet and delicious. I tried a bit of key lime and it just didn't compare. That said, those who had the Key Lime Pie loved it. Not only would we return, but we have the date already scheduled. I'm looking forward to trying something different.

We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now. Went on a Thursday evening, special was…read moreseafood boils and place was crowded. Told it would be 45 minute wait, but seating at bar was first come first serve. So we sat at the bar. Service was great. Brian bartender was top notch and did a great job of explaining menu, drinks and specials. Was not pushy or didn't try to steer us towards one item or another. Jalapeño poppers for appetizer was good. Wife got the swamp water mahi mahi with side of jambalaya. She loved it and only offered me 1 bite! I got the swamp water pasta. This was also fantastic! Portions are large and filling. We didn't try any desserts as there was no room Cool vibe to this place. Nice ambiance. You could tell there were many regulars and everyone was very friendly. Will definitely go back to try the pork chop and the seafood boils next time!! Cost for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 draft beers and 2 wines was under $100. That's a great deal!!

I love Swampwater Grill! My BFF is an enormous crawfish fan, so we definitely always make it there…read morefor a couple of dinners during the spring season but it's a year-round destination for us. I'm not a crawfish person (too much work) so I usually get the Louisiana BBQ shrimp (which is NOT BBQ sauce - it's like butter and herbs and it's spicy but in a cumin way, not a Tabasco way). This time I got the wings that come with the same sauce and they are 10/10. Ranch dressing is housemade and the real deal. The char-grilled oysters are not to be missed. Happy hour has deals on both food and drink (as all good happy hours should) and includes oysters. Overall, prices are super fair because the portions are huge and most things come with a side or two. The jambalaya is worth bringing home if you don't have room and the cornbread is moist even the next day. And it's weird but I like the side salads, they aren't just white iceberg lettuce and two cherry tomatoes. Service has always been great. You can't get seated until at least half of your party is there but that's fair. We accidentally got a table for six and had eight show up and they just let us pull up a couple chairs and get in their way but acted like it was no big deal. Get there early because it fills up quick, including the parking lot. It's an old-school restaurant and the decor fits. It's got corny signs, tables made out of wine barrels and a fireplace in the corner. There is outside seating that I haven't sat at (I mean it overlooks a parking lot and there is usually someone smoking but at least it's there). There is a grumpy but capable bartender and young people working the host/ess stand who greet you cheerily and always say goodbye on the way out. Swampwater is right next to the Riverside Antique Mall, so make it a day and do some shopping beforehand. Both are more than worth the visit.

I was staying at a nearby hotel and noticed this restaurant had a drive thru. After a long day of…read more driving I didn't really want to dine in anywhere so a drive thru seemed like a great idea. The food is excellent! I ordered the artichoke and mushroom with Parmesan cheese sauce, potato salad, and Andy's Cajun Korn pudding. Portion sizes are very large! My entrée was large enough for two meals. The Cajun Korn pudding was a little spicy but not too much, mostly just good flavor. Potato salad was definitely unique, not like any other potato salad I have had before. Service was very friendly Although my experience today was strictly drive thru next time I will plan to dine in. An excellent experience.

This was our first time here and it was a great experience. I had never had étouffée before and…read morewhen we were looking at the menu, they offered to let us try it before committing to a full order. The service was amazing and they were all so nice. I recommend upgrading and getting your dishes over the jambalaya. It was delicious. The corn pudding was very unique and had a spicy kick. My husband ordered the red beans with smoked sausage and the gumbo. He also said that was delicious. When you go in you order at the counter and then there are a lot of sauces to choose from to put over your dish if you like. I recommend the garlic hot sauce. The dining area is spacious and decorated with unique art. I'm excited to try the bbq sandwiches and the chili dogs in the future.

The J. Gumbo's on Ludlow is AMAZING!!! The only thing better than the food is the service! They…read morewere SOOOOO nice, helpful, and friendly! I have a child with special needs and they went above and beyond to help him. I wish I could give them more than five stars!

3.5 I've lived near…read moreUC and tried the J Gumbo's in Clifton a lot during my UC days. I was happy to see this in UberEATS and ordered a bunch of stuff to re-live those memories. Disclaimer: I ordered via UberEATS. I won't be able to review the service or dining experience. I ordered a White Chili and a Shrimp Etouffee. Now, I've tried real Cajun food and J Gumbo's is not very close. But, it used to be good. Maybe it still is, I guess I ordered the wrong things. White Chili was alright. Wasn't bad, but didn't do much taste-wise. Shrimp Etouffee looked promising. I was happy that they didn't skimp on shrimp and just give like 4 pieces. It was a decent number. Taste-wise, I didn't like it. I could hardly taste any spice. I also got the cornbread. I know it was a $1.25, but I expected more than a small square. Also, I could taste a lil hint of jalapeno in it. Was it just me? It was okay, but not worth it really. The Clifton place used to toast and butter the bread. This one came plain. I guess the price is not very bad with $8 a bowl. Still, I feel like it's not the same. The spice isn't. The taste isn't. As much as I used to like J Gumbo's and it still brings nostalgia, I guess I'll go to Louisiana and get the real thing now. Again, it's not bad. It's decent. But, personally, I've had better food with the same chain earlier.

We arrived a few minutes early from our reservation time. We were greeted by the hostess and seated…read morequickly at our table. Our server, Chloe, introduced herself with a smile and provided us with a quick refresher. I knew from her energy that we were going to be in great hands for the evening. (and I was not wrong, lol) Chloe was personable, attentive, friendly, and down to earth. The service she provided us was excellent! I ordered the Swamp Thing for a cocktail. Sweet, fruity, and pretty... that green cocktail did exactly what it needed to do, lol. FIVE STARS! Now, on to the food... The Gator Bites are a MUST. I ordered the hot honey sauce on the side just to play it safe and I am glad I did, because babyyyy, that spice had no boundaries. If you're a lover of spicy things, you'll be good to order as is, lol! I also ordered the Roasted Oysters. Another MUST! The oysters had a parmesan crust with lemon garlic butter drizzled over them... They were gone in minutes! I was on the fence for my entree, but then my girl Chloe clocked that Pasta Mardi Gras and the rest is history. It was creamy, savory, and packed with flavor. I knew my girl wouldn't let me down! Our experience was excellent! I definitely recommend reservations. Pappadeaux wasn't terribly busy when we arrived, but by the time we finished up & headed out, they had a line out the door. If you're in the Cincy area, add to your foodie list! Overall, a great restaurant for a GNO, date night, or any celebration.

Food and Drink: Pappadeaux's!!! From the jump, I want to say a 10/10 experience. I had the Salmon…read moreAlexander special with crawfish, shrimp, scallops, and dirty rice. For appetizers, we had the roasted oysters and the hot honey gator bites. Everything was phenomenal. The special had a white wine sauce to die for and everything was wonderfully seasoned, I also had my salmon blackened which was chef's kiss. The gator bites were tender like chicken and the oysters were so flavorful! For the drink, I had the Swamp Thing cocktail and I was happily buzzed after finishing it. It was sweet, refreshing and the alcohol wasn't overpowering. Highly recommend Pappadeaux's if you're ever in the Cincinnati area!!! Customer Service: Chloe was our waitress and she was knowledgeable, sociable, funny and caring. She did a wonderful job in giving recommendations and telling us about the specials. She checked on us consistently and was never overbearing. The staff was timely with the appetizers, and the ebb and flow of the crowd seemed under control and all waiters/waitresses were ensuring orders were correct. Thank you Chloe for the top-tier service!! Ambiance: Pappadeaux's is typically upscale causal to business casual, but everyone is free to come as they are! It is family friendly for all ages. The decor gives an intimate open dining vibe. When it gets busy, it's BUSY. But the wait will be worth it! I guarantee there is something for everybody. This place is perfect for any occasion, celebration, graduation, birthday, date night, family dinner, a day trip - whatever your heart desires. The Cincy location is the best!