The Dats we went to used to be on Kirkwood and is around the corner on 4th Street. I'm not sure why Yelp still has it on South Grant. Long ago, Dats used to be Yats, but while retaining the Yats format, they changed. It's not quite as good as Yats in Indy but it's still pretty good. This is inside of a tiny market, and they serve Middle Eastern foods, too. We ordered Cajun, a Thai Chili ettouffe and another with spinach artichoke and crawdad etouffe. These are served over rice, and come with garlic bread. These had been simmering for a while but were still pretty flavorful. Unlike Yats, there aren't a selection of hot sauces, but they were pretty nicely-spiced. Warn them if you can't handle spice. You get a beverage from a cooler, and many are available. There are seats for about 25 or so inside, more outside. The price isn't high for this restaurant row. Parking on the street costs money, unless it's Sunday. It's low-key, reasonably good food and a wide variety of it. We'll be back to try the Middle Eastern items, like falafel. The store is somewhat tiny and caters to Middle Eastern and South Asian tastes, with a few Latin additions. It's like a bodega in some ways, perhaps Bloomington's version of a deli with seats and variety. read more

Street parking and lots of available seating. Food was decent and service was friendly. read more

DATS - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Cool little Cajun restaurant with an international grocery connected. Walk up counter service and outdoor patio seating. Gumbo was great and I really enjoyed the bread. read more

DATS - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

My experience here was fantastic! I got the voodoowich, a sandwich with the voodoo chicken and it was such a good deal with two large halves of a sandwich for only 10$. The chicken was pretty spicy with very good flavor on thick French bread. I also got a half and half order (great option for those unsure about their orders) with the jambalaya and the bourbon chicken. The jambalaya was very well seasoned and good flavor and texture and the bourbon chicken was very sweet but not overpowering and very flavorful. I also got the peanut butter pie which was DELICIOUS and a MUST HAVE. The serve was super fast and the worker was super nice and helpful. The outdoor ambiance was wonderful and a night with nice weather would be a perfect time to come! read more

Nice people. I tried the gumbo. I'd give it a 6/10. As a Cajun from the Deep South of Louisiana, I was raised on gumbo. I think the proportions of spices in Dats gumbo is alittle off from the majority of gumbos I've had. It's not bad though I will say, I don't have hope when I see a restaurant microwave gumbo.... read more

Best (only?) Étouffée in Bloomington Indiana. Indiana that resides within the u.s.a. On the continent of America. The spinach artichoke is sooper good read more

Food was good enough. A not as good knockoff of Yats. Very messy but it's expected. Probably not best to eat in the car.

Dats is a favorite local spot that offers great food and great portions. I always enjoy eating here, food is always hot and ready fast. Eerily similar to Yats (logo is literally the exact same and they offer the exact same things) but it tastes noticeably different. Dats also has menu options that are not available at Yats. It's also pretty cheap so that's nice. read more

I was a little worried based on some of the reviews, but decided to give it a try because the friend I was having lunch with wanted to try it. We arrived at 12:30 on a Sunday and the place was empty...more worried....I ordered the gumbo and was pleasantly surprised by the flavorful sausage and tender chicken in a nicely seasoned thick soup served over rice. The buttery toasted bread seemed the same as that served at the Indianapolis chain that bears a similar name. The quality of my gumbo was also similar to that Indianapolis chain. I don't know if maybe Dats went through a rough patch a couple of years ago and that they've now stabilized things? Service was fast, and the mardi gras decor was fun. read more

DATS - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

One word, delicious. Service was excellent. It's in a grocery shop/slash pick up order environment but has seating and tables on the next to it. It actually works surprisingly. The food wasn't spicy but flavored. Definitely recommend. Dessert was delicious read more

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The only thing DATS has going for it is price. You can basically eat two meals for $6 - $7. However, it's like eating empty calories and does not do Cajun/Creole food justice. I ordered the gumbo and thai peanut etouffee. The gumbo was kind of just a brown slop - hardly had the developed flavors of a true gumbo. There was also nothing in it but meat really. Sure, that's the most bang for your buck, but I expect a gumbo to be chock full of okra, peppers, etc. The thai peanut etouffee was okay - it was all kind of just really salty. An entree also comes with some garlic bread, which was probably the tasty part of the meal. Oh, you can sample - just ask. read more

DATS - Gumbo & Thai peanut etouffe - $7.75 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I've been here several times before because I love YATS up in Indianapolis, and I always seem to wind up slightly disappointed with my food. They don't make the rice right and the sauce is a little bland. Also the last time I went there for food the owner/manager was quite rude. Will not be returning read more

I've been to Dats multiple times and have always loved it. There locations all give off the same cozy vibe and I've never had a negative experience with any of their workers. The food is consistent and you know exactly how it's gonna taste every time. The bread they give you on the side balances the rich and spicy curries/gumbos. The chili cheese etoufee w/ crawfish is a classic and definitely their best in my opinion. Definitely in my top 5 Bloomington eats. read more

DATS - Chili-Cheese Etoufee with Crawfish Dinner Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I love dats! I was convinced to come here for the first time this year after going to Yats in Muncie a couple months ago! This place is great, and the little store inside is so cute! One of my favorites read more

Awful. My food tasted like it was re-heated Spanish rice with hot dogs. I got the jambalaya entree. The only good thing was the self serve sauces. If you ever been to YATS, you will be immensely disappointed. read more

DATS - Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Not much to look at, but this place doesn't mess around with the spice. Prices are reasonable and the food was good, if not spectacular.

Great food and prices. The staff was fast and helpful. We enjoyed the atmosphere. Order at the counter, eat at a table.

It breaks my heart to give a 2 because this was a go-to back when I was in school. And YATS! in Indianapolis is one of my favorites... weren't these at one point the same... But the food was bland, the ratio of rice to étouffée was off (not enough étouffée) and it took awhile to get our food. My hope is that this visit was an anomaly. Unfortunately I don't get back to campus enough to risk it given all the other amazing restaurants in Btown. read more

DATS - Chili cheese étouffée with crawfish. So much rice... would have loved more étouffée - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Love Dats! I like to order bourbon chicken, caramelized corn and beans, or my favorite the gumbo. Sometimes I wish my bread had more butter spread, but other than that they are very reliable and always delicious. read more

Great food and service! Very friendly! Excited to be back to try their gyros. Price is very reasonable!

The food wasn't as described on the website. The menu incorrectly stated that the Thai peanut etouffee is "smothered in fresh vegetables", but no vegetables were detected. It was so spicy that I could only tolerate a small amount of the sauce with the entire serving of rice. There was a slight peanutty taste, but again, actual peanuts were hard to find. The bourbon chicken stew was described as having a rich, sweet bourbon sauce, but it was just bare chunks of chicken on top of rice. The chicken was seasoned, but it was a far cry from a rich sauce. A very disappointing experience. The only saving grace was the flourless chocolate cake. read more

Definitely not a fancy place but the food is amazing! Super simple slow cooker meals over rice- yum :). THe bourbon chicken is super delicious and the buffalo chicken has a real nice kick to it. Great place to hang and study for a while too! Definitely a Bloomington favorite! read more

DATS - 1/2 buffalo 1/2 bourbon - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Always fast, always tastes good buuunch of food for the price just avoid the bourbon street chi em. Looks like cat food lol

We heard that this was a Yats alternative in Bloomington. The service was friendly and they had a few vegetarian options but only one vegan option. The tables were pretty cute and the bread was really good. Single stall M and F restrooms. I'd try it again if there were more vegan options. read more

DATS - Vegan Ratatouille - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

You guys complain the serve? Yes ! ! ! I understand you ! ! ! Because there is no serve in Dat's= = Seriously... Not kidding... However, What you need to do is just focus on the food !!!!!! Its really delicious. Maybe is not fits for some people who seek for the classy ambience. You know, Dat's is a cheap restaurant.. But for the "eat-people".. woo.. you will never forget the dishes there. I would like to say that "Bourbon Chicken" is the best choice ! Like me, who have already moved from Bloomington to indy now. Always missing the food.. Every time I back to B-town.. I back to Dat's ... You should try. Please! read more

DATS - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Service was great. Our order took minutes to pack up and the food tasted amazing! 10/10 would recommend!

Dats is the shit. Great food. Good prices. Owner is a very nice guy. Located in a cool old house that was transformed into a restaurant. I usually go with the chili cheese etoufe (sp?) with crawfish and the spinach artichoke etoufe. Comes with two pieces of bread and you can add two more pieces for like 25 cents which i suggest to mop up all the tasty juices. You can also supersize the order (significantly larger) for a few bucks or half and half your order (I always do). They also have an ever rotating menu with the offerings of the day as well as a sandwich option. The voodoo-wich is always a winner in my book. Make sure to take advantage of the hot sauce/seasoning bar which boasts a large selection of home make Louisiana style hot sauces, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, cajun seasoning, etc. Also, a little known secret is their parking out back (yes, they also have parking on side). Both are free. If you under the alley that runs behind the restaurant at the side of the block which runs along fourth street and drive up the alley a bit they have four or five free spots that are always open. read more

I believe DATS was my second to last meal in Bloomington. I don't know why my boyfriend didn't take me here sooner. If you want some good southern comfort food, COME HEREEEE!!!! I went with whatever the bf ordered which was red beans and sausage. We were both able to share this dish because it's pretty big. The rice was just perfect & so much flavors in the sausages as well as the beans. A dish so simple yet so satisfying. To make it even better, their variety of sauces made it 10x better! Try mixing a couple of the sauces together. It's really good. TRUST. I cannot wait to come back here when I visit again. Staff is super friendly & street parking is not too hard to find. read more

DATS - Red Beans w/ Sausage - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Great great great Excellent jambalaya and red beans with sausage! The Cajun place in Bloomington IN. read more

DATS - Jambalaya and red beans with sausage - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This is a questionable 4 stars for me because I both love DATS and also bemoan how much it has gone downhill in recent years. I've been coming here since it opened as a remote extension of Indianapolis-based YAT's, before breaking off and being renamed DATS. I'm a Cajun food fanatic so I was thrilled when it opened and have been here many dozens of times over the years. It's in a charmingly decrepit old house close to campus and downtown, with a laid-back and chill vibe. Every dish on the rotating menu used to be outstanding. Unfortunately, over the years it has really gone downhill. The Jambalaya (a cornerstone of the menu) is always dried out and clumpy, and barely has enough sausage in it to earn its name. All the dishes that are sauce-based and served over rice are still good (and unlike with Jambalaya the rice is not dried out because it's not mixed in and sitting all day. However, they totally skimp on the good stuff and you always find that your dish is about 75% rice. The only consistently good items any more are the gumbo and the datwich/voodoo wich. The gumbo had a deep, dark roux that is amongst the best I've had anywhere, including in New Orleans. The datwich and voodoo wich are both great because they are not obscured by rice. Anyway, DATS used to be amazing and still could be if they set out to recapture the glory of their early days. read more

Days is awesome, especially for the price. I'll admit that he atmosphere is a bit run down. But I love it in there. Any where I can tell has a local character and mom and pop feel makes me happy. The hot sauce bar has good options. I'd love to see some more exotic varieties....but I'm an enthusiast. Most will think it more than necessary and be happy. I mean, they have over 10 options The price is the best part. For $6, you can totally get two solid meals out of the order. I always get the vegan succotash. It has hominy. Tell me another restaurant that has hominy! I have heard killer reviews of the bourbon chicken but never tried it. I know that their etoufees (sp?) are amazing from my days as a vegetarian. Its not the number one stop in BLM....not the best Cajun ever...but in town for a minute and like cheap with quality, head to Days. From mild to wild spice, they got you covered. read more

I've been here a bunch of times over the years. I really love it, I've never had a meal I didn't enjoy. I find the flavors to be rich and delicious, with really good portions for the money. One of my particular favorites is the Spinach-Artichoke Etoufee, but I can't say I've had anything that wasn't tasty overall. Another aspect I really like is the lack of complication here, there's no guesswork since most of the entrees all follow the same format. read more

So this place is not a place to dine in at in my opinion. I have eaten DATS a few times either through Btownmenus, or picking it up myself. The Gumbo is the absolute star! I get it every time. Sooo much flavor and depth. A little kick, sausage and chicken in Gumbo great taste and texture. Also have eaten the Jambalaya which is a 4 1/2 star meal as well. Tiramisu good too! Priced good. Again, the Gumbo is GREAT... read more

Super good home food! I got the drunken chicken and bourbon chicken - both wonderful. read more

DATS - Drunken chicken Half and Half with Bourbon Chicken - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

DATS is the perfect place to have in the middle of a college town like Bloomington. The food isn't anything fancy, but it's delicious, flavorful Cajun- and Creole-inspired combinations of meat, beans, hot sauce, and veggies all laid out on top of rice and served with a little extra bread for those days when you need to carboload. You can pay about $8 for a combination of two options, and you can probably get about 3-4 meals out of that $8, depending on how hungry you get. (I know I've never finished a full DATS meal in one sitting.) The voodoo chicken is fantastic if you like some heat - it uses 5 hot sauces, so no worries about getting bored. My latest DATS combo was that and the bourbon chicken, which is much milder (almost to the point of bland, at least after the voodoo!). Mixing them together helped balance out the spice with a little sweetness. Starving students, I strongly recommend checking it out; it's a great way to keep your budget balanced while still getting to eat out once in a while. read more

Amazing little Cajun-style comforf food eatery. Totally unpretentious, with great tasting food. I ordered the entree sized jambalaya with sausages and chicken. Great tasting, the blend of spices, seasoning, everything. A bit overcooked on the rice and therefore mushy. Really close to a 5 star rating. Good value for money and I will be coming back. read more

I have no idea how this place doesn't have 5 stars. Consistently delicious food every time I come. Had the voodoo chicken/ chili cheese crayfish etouffé and my mom had the spinach artichoke etouffé and drunken chicken which was an awesome parring. I also think my favorite thing here is always the bread, I don't know what seasoning is on it but it's amazing. Perfect spicy food for a cold and rainy day, especially this week being post Mardi Gras! read more

I like this place. Quick lunch and allows discounts To community employees. Thank you read more

Delicious fresh food, low prices, friendly service, fun atmosphere and great music! We ordered something we hadn't had before and didn't really like it, so he gave us balklava to make up for it - which was heavenly! We will be back! read more

Gumbo inedible. Left with a queasy stomach after 4 bites. Informed the cashier. The owner/cook? begin yelling at me as I exited. Do not recommend. Truly nasty. Disappointed. Generic garlic bread was edible. read more