Fantastic server (Daniel), we'd take him back home to Santa Barbara to wait on us if we could. Husband had ettoufee and he rated it a 10. I had fried shrimp, it was great. Also had a side of their NOLA corn dish maque choux. Fantastic! Great job, and only two months past mean old Milton the hurricane. read more

Great atmosphere. Loved the lights and true married gras atmosphere. Fast service and food was very hot when served. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Indoor dining - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Food was exceptional... the blackened grouper was delicious. Great service, live music, the whole bourbon street vibe was really cool.

The food was phenomenal. We ordered from our condo and brought it back so I can't say anything about the decor. Crawfish etouffee was fabulous. The boys loved their Mac & cheese too. My adventurous son chose a Alfredo pasta dish with alligator & frog legs. It was excellent as well. Alligator was cooked well (often over cooked & dry at other restaurants) & the Alfredo had flavor (nice spicy vs the plain and bland versions more frequently offered). When in Sanibel again, I'll stop in on one of our first nights so I can have it again later in the week. It was that good. (Seriously, we almost had it two nights in a row.) read more

This spot is fantastic. I love the Cajun flavors of Mudbugs menu, not too hot, but complex and tasty. The staff is friendly, the food comes out so fast! And the restaurant gives a fun and beautiful aesthetic to dine in! Also the fresh local seafood and live music really puts it over the top!! I couldn't recommend this please more! read more

Best fried pickles I have ever had! Gretchen was attentive, friendly, and quite skilled behind the bar. Looking forward to future visits. Very cool atmosphere too! read more

While vacationing on Sanibel Island we were riding our bikes around the island. It was getting to be too much for me so I told my son that I was going to stop and catch up with them later. I saw Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen and I love me some Cajun food so of course I stopped there. It had great reviews and it didn't disappoint. I love that it had an outdoor patio. I had the fried oysters with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo. The oysters were too chewy but the flavor was perfect, the sides were all good. The chicken and gumbo was good but the rice was a little too firm for me. Overall it was a great dining experience and next I'm on the island I'd definitely go back. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Chicken and sausage gumbo. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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"Pass a good time" at Mudbugs Kitchen and enjoy a little cajun taste of NOLA right in the good ol Sannibel Island. We biked and ran around the island all morning enjoying the paths and the super hot and sunny day (83 and HUMID) and decided we needed a good bite to eat and drink before heading home. From the road, Mudbugs has a super cool vibe that screams NOLA at you, from the colonial porch to the mardi gras touches in every corner, the open air bar and and groovy mood. The menu really is not huge but love the appetizer selection from gator bites to crawfish fritters and pork rinds. Nice wine menu and good selection of draft and craft beers or local ciders. We started with a side of fries and these were the ABSOLUTE BEST!!! For $3 you get a huge basket of thick curly wedges, perfectly seasoned and piping hot! I would go back just for these! 2 at our table ordered the cajun chicken sandwich which at $12 did not come with a side but was beautifully presented and great flavours. On a lovely bun with nice large piece of grilled cajun chicken, melty cheese, pork belly cubes, lettuce and tomato. I ordered Jambalaya, $18 chicken and andouille sausage (my fav) with shallots and 2 garlic toast strips. It was good but I have had better, I like my rice a little less mushy and more fresh veg in mine. Decent serving. Would recommend for a fun atmosphere and fantastic fries! read more

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Really enjoyed the Cajun pasta and overall ambience. Great spot for a casual lunch or laid-back dinner.

Excellent food and atmosphere. They even had live music that was super good. I'm here on vaca and I typically won't repeat a place on vaca but I may make an exception for this place. read more

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The authentic architecture welcomed us and brought back memories of New Orleans. Lunch upstairs on the deck was sunny and breezy with a very cheerful server. Then our menu selections began arriving and WoW! We really enjoyed the cajun flavors of the oyster platters from broiled to raw. We rounded it off with the perfect shrimp po boy and a bowl of corn crab soup. The only improvement would have been a NOLA Cocktail, but alas it was a working lunch. It is always good to leave a lil sumthin to be desired next time. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Our friend, Wendy, a local, recommended this Cajun jewel for our first night in Sanibel. From its funky decor - which included a Chihuly-inspired chandelier- to the (nearly) authentic NOLA cuisine, we loved every aspect of our fun dining experience. Equally as enjoyable as our delicious food was our wonderfully entertaining server, Loretta ('Retta') who was attentive and offered excellent advice of menu choices. Ask to be seated outside upstairs (you might want to bring a light sweater or jacket). And don't forget to save room for Key Lime Pie. read more

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"Mudbugs" is slang for crayfish, crawfish, crawdads... mudbugs. For me, not a completely appealing image. But... Cajun, for sure. The menu is replete with traditional Cajun favorites. My companion had a Muffaletta (which she said was "fine."). I started my meal with Gumbo. Then (of course) I had a Shrimp Po'boy and fries. The Gumbo was good and very similar to what I have had in New Orleans, but it lacked character. It didn't have any distinctive spice, and the sausage and seafood all tasted pretty much the same. One unusual aspect was pieces of salmon, which certainly added texture and color... but again, not really flavor. The fries were quite distinctive: they had a very light coating and were very well-cooked all the way through. (I might even show up to Mudbugs sometime just to have the fries.) The Shrimp Po'boy was nearly a perfect re-creation of a French Quarter po'boy with a few noticeable differences. The shrimps seemed to have the same coating as the fries: a little crispy but certainly not bready. I liked the crunch. There were two long slices of pickle: I couldn't decide if they were dill or something else, but they certainly added texture. (I'd prefer a couple more.) The bun was very Nawlins, lightly toasted french bread with a little garlic butter. The lettuce was Romaine, and the tomatoes were fresh. The remoulade sauce (served on the side) was a bit disappointing. It looked like a cross between Thousand Island and Russian dressings, and it pretty much tasted like that. It was too sweet, and it had no spice at all. I needed to add some spice. There was Tabasco on the table. I do prefer Louisiana Hot Sauce, but I put a few dashes of Tabasco across the sandwich. It helped a lot. The sandwich had a very nice overall mouth feel. I knew I was eating a Shrimp Po'boy. I was glad I added spice. But overall, it was nice, but not really impressive. I know I'll have to return for some Jambalaya. Hopefully it will be a little spicy? read more

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Nice place. They did a great job of cleaning up after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We were greeted coming in the door for lunch. Had some Gumbo and split a po'boys clam sandwich. Everything was very good. Will definitely be back. read more

Popped into Mudbugs on a Tuesday afternoon for a drink and some appetizers. This is the middle of summer so crowds during the week were pretty low and we were sat immediately near the bar in a booth. Lots of Mardi Gras decorations adorn the walls and rock n roll played over the speakers. Our server was friendly and she advised us on the menus specialties and favorites since this was our first time; starters, drinks and entrees. Hubby had the Mudbugs Mojito (very berry) and I had the Sanibel Breeze (too much juice) but they were refreshing since it was very hot. Appetizers were BAYOU-STYLE CHAR-GRILLED Oysters and Blackened Fish Bites. The Fish bites were Grouper and the portion was excellent. The Oysters were 1/2 dozen and they were some of the best oysters we've had! I would come just for those! All in all, food was tasty and the drinks were just so-so. Loved the decor and our waitress was very attentive. We will be back to try some entrees and I'll re-rate my review. Three stars for lackluster drinks and the funky musty smell inside restaurant. read more

The ambiance is wonderful so is the food. If you travel to Sanibel don't miss it! Great atmosphere and you'll get everything what New Orleans can possibly offer. read more

Delicious and creative! Live music is fun to have, though not overwhelming. Staff is cheerful and no-nonsense. I'll be a regular when I'm in the area. read more

Found this place randomly and it was so worth it. We happened to make it at 5:30 right before happy hour ended. We got two shrimp cargots, two fried grouper tacos, pork belly, fried okra, and a dozen chargrilled oysters to split between four people. To be fair, I wasn't too hungry beforehand. Everything tasted great besides the pork belly--it was a bit hard and burnt. The shrimp was large and fresh, and the grouper was also very fresh. My parents really enjoyed the fried okra. Overall for the price and quality a solid 5/5 would come here again. The atmosphere and live music was also a plus! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants on the island! Tonight our service was AMAZING! Isabella is the best server we've ever had here! She's awesome!! We love the food and the love music is always so fun with such talented musicians. Mudbugs is a must! read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Grilled watermelon salad - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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While on Sanibel with family and seeing the great YELP review by fellow yelp'rs. For Mudbugs we decided to try it. Party of 6 hostess was very welcoming and we were impressed as you feel as if you were transported to New Orleans, we were quickly seated our server Samantha did an outstanding job friendly and attentive to making out dinner enjoyable. Some of the items we ordered for apps. Grilled oysters (very good) pork rinds outstanding. Shrimp po boy , fried shrimp plater jambalaya and the dirty rice that I personally enjoyed. Sorry guys no photos this time it's was to good to wait very large portions be hungry. Recommend read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Main area - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

The find was very good. Service was efficient and in a timely manner. The ambiance was so nice. . read more

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The atmosphere was great! I went with my family while on vacation, but didnt remember to take pictures. read more

Delicious creole food...the Cajun chicken Alfredo was scrumptious...the sauce was not overwhelmingly rich, light and creamy with a little Cajun kick...the etouffee was just the right amount of cream and sweetness from the crayfish...the blackened swordfish was a tad bit sour for my palate and the fish was a little fishy...world not order this again...the grilled corn (maque choux) was yummy...the beignets wasn't light and fluffy like Cafe Dumond's...kinda mochi like in the middle...kiwi sauce didn't fit with the beignets...would definitely come back to try other dishes... read more

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Absolutely amazing fresh food! Atmosphere is amazing. Staff is very accommodating. Food was absolutely amazing. Probably some of the freshest ingredients and vegetables I have had in a restaurant in a long time. read more

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We are here last Sunday from a recommendation we received. We brought our small service dog. Once the gentleman saw our 5lb dog (who was in a carryall) he escorted us to a side area (outside) where we could have our lunch. We were a party of 5 adults. The outdoor fans did not work and it was filled with flies which got worse once food arrived and small biting bugs that bite us all over our legs. I will say the food was great and our waitress went above to try to find a small desk fan to help redirect the flies. But to spend $320 for lunch prior to tip and get treated as second class citizens because we had a dog is unacceptable. A service dog should be allowed inside btw. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Bug bites - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Fun place with live music and delicious food. Highly recommend the Amber Brock beer! Waitress was helpful with food ideas. Worth return visit! read more

Amazing! Outstanding! Suburb! Everything was fantastic from food and service. We were Party of 16 and we were taken care of like royalty. Our server Alpha was excellent. She took care of absolutely everything single handedly! There were no errors on an meals or drinks! The food was outstanding as well. Every single appetizer was fantastic but my favorite was the calamari which as a twist of tang to it and it's to die for. The corn cream soup was delicious. The beignets both desert and appetizer were great. (I had no idea there were salty beignets). The jambalaya was also good! They even let us try some before ordering to make sure we liked it! However my favorite disk is the rack of lamb! Ohhh my goodness it was amazing! Overall, this place is the go to when in Sanibel! Food, atmosphere and service were great ! read more

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Have driven by this place for years during day trips to Sanibel/Captiva and decided to finally stop and see what all the fuss was about. So glad we did! Good shrimp po'boy sandwich. The crab and corn chowder was loaded with crab and so yummy I almost licked the bowl! Fun atmosphere, cold beer, and friendly service. Who could ask for more? We were here on a summer night midweek so not super crowded but we had a really nice meal and a fun evening. Hope to be back soon! read more

Amazing food some of the best Cajun I've had outside of New Orleans. Everything was prepared and the atmosphere is fantastic.

This might just be my favorite casual restaurant on the island. We come to Sanibel every year and always drive by Mudbugs but this year we decided to try it for Mardi Gras. We loved the atmosphere of the rooftop patio upstairs and could hear the live music outside. Our server was the best (wish I remembered her name) and everyone loved the Hurricanes. The appetizers were both amazing - Brussels sprout kabobs and Cajun gnocchi. For dinner we had the crab cakes, etoufee and scallops - all incredible. Overall this place felt like a full experience, and a great place to be on Mardi Gras. We can't wait to go back. read more

Got the blackened shrimp with mashed potatoes and veggies; really great food. Highly recommend. The atmosphere was also really cool.

Haven't had a bad meal yet and we've been going for 8 years. Food is fresh and hits the spot. Definitely feels like you are in New Orleans while dining. Top it off with beignets. Highly recommend MudBugs. read more

so creative the food here boudin balls and char grilled bayou oysters were a must order. Gave it 4 starts because my main course was very plan Jane. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Boudin balls - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Mudbugs never disappoints - from the live music to the drinks and happy hour specials and amazing grouper tacos! This place is a must when coming to Sanibel - so much so that my husband wants to go 2/3 times a trip!! read more

Service was great. We had fried pickles and grilled oysters and both were very good. we had a chicken sandwich and half Muffaletta. the muffaletta needed more olive salad. It was pressed and the meat that was missing were motadella and Swiss cheese. It had the ham salami and provolone. spoken from a true NOLA native. otherwise we enjoyed our meal. read more

Amazing food! Perfectly seasoned for a Cajun place. This might be one of my favorites outside of Louisiana! read more

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Best place to eat on Sanibel island. We noticed a sign for happy hour while waiting in a long line of traffic, so we pulled in for happy hour a a few beers! Excellent! Service and eats were so good we returned the next day for a late lunch! Catfish...wow! Fry's are delicious and the beer is nice and cold . I had the soft shell crab sandwich - yum! The crowning glory are the beignets, hot sweet and the best! I recommend the Carmel sauce as well. Donell took excellent care of us and we really enjoyed visiting with the handsome managing partner. A must-not to miss! read more

If you're like me, you miss traveling right about now. One of my favorite places to visit is New Orleans. One of the many reasons is, of course, the food. Mud Bugs is great. Fantastic takes in authentic New Orleanian foods. The Garlic/Parm beignet are delicious. They're a bit more doughy than traditional beignet but still yummy. I highly recommend. Their specialty cocktail does disappoint either. I had the blackened shrimp platter which was massive. 8 big shrimp and your choice of two sides. The prices are well worth it. They also have live music daily. If you sit outside on the balcony after dark, bring bug spray. Covid Precautions: all the servers were wearing masks. Social distancing was in place. I will be back. read more

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Excellent service, delicious food which came out super quick, amazing atmosphere, highly recommend! read more

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We tried them for the first time this year. WOW!! It was amazing!!We had shrimp etouffee , shrimp creole, fried green tomato blt, shrimp jambalaya, fried pork skins and charbroiled oysters. Everything was great. We we concerned how authentic the food would be but we're pleasantly surprised!! The other surprise was the atmosphere!! And live music by Slim was icing on the cake. We highly recommend evening here for sure !!! read more