Saturday night. Dinner with my son and daughter-in-law. She wanted crab legs, and the casino…read moreoptions we had in mind weren't serving them that evening. So we headed to Kracy Cajun Seafood and Hibachi in Tempe, chasing a little seafood satisfaction in the middle of the desert.
The first thing that grabs you is the full-wall screen: sea turtles and beautiful fish drifting across it, turning dinner into something resembling a seat inside an aquarium. It's cool. The atmosphere is mellow, laid-back, and welcoming. We were seated almost immediately, and our server got the drink order going without wasting time.
So far, so good.
The menu was easy to navigate. I built my own boil: one pound of headless shrimp, sausage, two potatoes, one corn, and a $2 hard-boiled egg. I went with the "all flavor" seasoning, hot, and an unsweetened iced tea.
Now, two dollars for a boiled egg deserves a moment of silence. I've seen cartons of 18 eggs for under five bucks at Costco or Sam's Club. I understand restaurant markup, but apparently this egg had aspirations.
We also ordered Cajun fries. Small basket, good execution: crispy, seasoned just right, and worth reaching across the table for another one.
Then came the bag.
I gave it a proper shake, worked that sauce around, and emptied the whole glorious mess into my bowl. This is food that asks you to get your hands dirty, and I'm perfectly fine with that.
The shrimp were a decent size and cooked just right. The sausage--about eight coin-sized slices--tasted good. The corn was ordinary but enjoyable. My premium-priced egg seemed to have spent a little too much time in boiling water.
And the two potatoes? Missing in action.
When the server came around, I mentioned the disappearance. He gave me a look that seemed slightly doubtful but said he'd get them right away. "Right away" turned into about five to ten minutes. They eventually arrived.
At the table, you can get that fixed. With takeout, you might already be home before realizing your seventy-five-cent potatoes--or that two-dollar egg--never made the trip.
But let's give the kitchen its due: the sauce was excellent. Big flavor, satisfying heat, and enough restraint with the salt to let the shrimp actually taste like shrimp. It coated everything beautifully. This was a pretty good meal, and I enjoyed eating it.
Then came the math: $48, including tip, for one person. At that price, I start paying closer attention to every missing potato.
I also visited the restroom. Luis came with me and handed it an F on the Luis Scale. It was filthy. A restaurant can put sea turtles on the wall and serve a delicious seafood boil, but the bathroom needs some attention, too. That kind of neglect leaves an impression the sauce can't wash away.
Would I recommend it? If you want a flavorful seafood boil and the price doesn't bother you, yes. There's good food here.
For me, though, the cost, missing potatoes, and restroom made this a one-time visit.
On to the next. And don't forget to tip your servers.