The service was subpar, and the food was just okay. I sat in the bar area and the atmosphere in there was great, but the service did not match. read more

Hush puppies were super dense. The roux of the gumbo was too dark. Shrimp on the Cobb salad weren't seasoned.

The quality of the food has really went down over the past few years. It used to be a great classy restaurant, but they recently changed their menu to compete with Tia Jaunita's and I'm not impressed. read more

They do know how to properly prepare a rib-eye steak. The gumbo (dark roux) has good flavor with a latent spiciness that sneaks up on you. However, it might be of a thicker consistency than you are accustomed to. This was my experience. The rolls are consistently wonderful. They have pretty decent happy-hour prices, with Shiner on draft. There is a separate bar area with limited table seating. There is a HUGE covered patio. The appetizer I ordered was overpriced: $5 for five boiled shrimp. Other persons in my party really liked the firecracker shrimp appetizer. read more

If you're going to be in Lufkin for very long, eventually you should probably eat here. I wouldn't put it at the top of the list if you can only stop at 1 place while you're in town. Food was good enough the few times I've been, but the staff seemed very distant beyond just writing down your order and that's about it. (I sat in the bar area during a slower lunch both visits) The fish tanks are fun! read more

Very disappointed. The best thing we're the rolls. Downhill after that. The stuffed shrimp was a mound of wet bread stuffing on a small shrimp. Not very appealing. The hush puppies were barely warm and weren't round, just a half hearted attempt at a ball. Our waiter was attentive. read more

My husband and I were there Nov 26. 2022 and had the best experience. Our waitress was Crystal and she was absolutely fabulous! Her suggestions were spot on and she had an overall great personality. She was super attentive and very prompt. Having her wait on us elevated the experience. The food was excellent! Compliments to the chef. (Lufkin, Tx location) read more

I'm from out of town here for business... I went to a wine bar... they were not friendly at all. I'm so glad I came to this spot... I asked my waitress which she preferred between two particular items and usually a waiter or waitress would choose the highest dollar amount but she didn't do that she chose something else that she really enjoyed so just for that I feel like I am at home. By the way I ordered a firecracker shrimp and the suggestion that she made spectacular. Great atmosphere and smelled wonderful when I walked in. I'll be back when I come back to visit Lufkin... read more

I stopped by Monday nite to grab dinner and decided to eat at the bar. Luther waited on me. His conversation and questions just made the time fly by. Really enjoyed how he engaged the customers Had the grilled snapper and it was wonderful. I snuck in for the happy hour specials and it was wonderful read more

Great place. Nice atmosphere. Great food. Friendly staff. Will definitely return. Thanks for a memorable evening.

Dang good food and service!!! I ordered cedar plank salmon with baked potatoes and broccoli. The band was playing on the patio and it was great music. My cousin ordered seafood platter and cleaned the platter. read more

The service was awesome and the food too. Very good Louisiana atmosphere brought to Texas. My favorite part was seeing the beautiful aquariums inside and the artwork on the walls. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting Cajun or seafood. read more

Ralph & Kacoo's - Seafood Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

This was a great atmosphere on a Saturday night with live music and delicious Cajun food!

Portion size ok, taste on the good side but nothing special. Service was friendly and timely

Just ok, a bit over priced for most of what you get. Had the wedge salad, way over dressed and be careful of those little bacon bits. Some are like little pebbles, very hard on your teeth. The steamed veg looks like it comes from a bag, not very appetizing. Ribeye wasn't to bad, over salted though. Service was a bit slow for a Tuesday night and a not full restaurant. read more

Very much overpriced for the quality and portions of food served. Went here for a business dinner and many complained of how small or lacking their meals were (salads were skimpy, steaks were bland, fish was dry and overcooked). The presentation of the food is also bad. I hadn't been here in years and now I remember why. read more

Wasn't expecting good Cajun food in pulp wood country. Delicious. Service with smile. Thank you. We'll be back!

My husband and I have been coming here occasionally for several years. The very first thing I ordered was Chicken Breaux Bridge. It was nothing short of superb! Tonight, it was again superb. My husband had the Seafood Platter. He said it was absolutely fantastic! Our waitress, Josette, was on top of everything too. Highly recommend! read more

Service was slow even tho they weren't busy. Portion was small for the entree my husband ordered. Oysters were good but that's about it. For the prices this place charges, the service should be spectacular but it wasn't. read more

Excellent! I was visiting family in Lufkin, and ate here for the second time ever. I finally tried alligator, and it was amazing (though I like the little guys, they are tasty). The Seafood Jambalaya was perfect- I could eat Cajun food forever. Add the taste of the biscuits and salad, and it equaled a pretty intense foodgasm. Anyway, Ralph and Kacoo's is as good as it gets. It's a shame that only 3 exist in the country! I'm glad there is one in my hometown, but I have to find an equivalent out here in Austin. Rico, one of the waiters, was a nice guy as well. Highly recommend! read more

Just got and paid for a 12 oz ribeye. I took one bite and noticed the meat was SPOILED! Absolutely 100% spoiled meat. I told our waiter and a manager but they did absolutely nothing but bring me a togo box to give it to my dog. bad service, worse food. we arrived early for lunch and were one of few in the restaurant and were still treated poorly. NOT THE RESTAURANT IT USE TO BE! Don't waste your time and certainly not your money! read more

Hubby and I went there to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It had literally been 10 years since we last ate there because we live out of town and we were *not* disappointed. Same great service and food that we remembered from our wedding night, which is saying a LOT! ;) Can't say enough about the taste and quality of the delicious food they serve, along with a wonderful staff! Atmosphere is laid back but with some elegance. We definitely will *not* be waiting another 10 years to go back... we now have an annual anniversary place! If you ever get anywhere near the little town of Lufkin, Texas, eat at this place. Just do it. read more

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Out of 8 visits, each has been great. The staff if very attentive and it's all totally worth the price. The happy hour menu is the best, as far as value goes. Bathrooms are clean and the ambiance is just right. Perfect for a major anniversary or birthday or grandmas last meal as a living breathing being. One of the finest places that serves food ever built in the state of Texas. read more

Certain grill chefs are better than others. The lady is awesome. Troy is good. Any others just don't get the expensive cuts of meats. Fish should be fine though. Desserts are always awesome. Decor is good. read more

I had the blackened gulf shrimp with grilled veggies it was good and came quickly. I had a trainee server and she did a good job. Her trainer hung a little close for my taste but, I guess he was just making sure. read more

I have ate here before and it was always good. Ate on Monday 12/20, after the lunch rush. My sons napkin had dried up food on it. SLOW service, our appetizer should have had fried shrimp, crawfish tails and alligator, no gator to be found and the appetizer was cold. My meal came with a soft shell crab that was so raw when I took a bite it squirted mush in my mouth. After waving down the waitress she said she would bring us a catfish filet. We didn't get it until we asked for the check. STAY AWAY FROM HERE, unless you are looking to get sick and have cold food. read more

Tastes like a seafood abortion. I'm not saying this to be dramatic. I LOVE seafood. When I say I love seafood, I don't mean "I love seafood, I'm so particular with my seafood palate." I mean "I love seafood so much that I'll even eat Long John Silvers and find a way to enjoy it." So to get a seafood platter so meh, and the fried clams tasted like straight dirt. It was gross. And to pay almost 80 bucks after tip for me and a friend and to walk away so disappointed? One star. read more

Had heard good things about this place, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's a chain, but a small one, so I figured we'd be in for something a step up. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't outstanding. I had the seafood platter which was certainly large on portions, but just about middle of the road on taste. Also tried the shrimp beingnets, and these were topped with an interesting sauce. Decor was very nice. Big fish tanks, dark wood, low lighting. Nice booths to sit in. Our server was a little new, didn't know the menu all that well but he was well intentioned. He was also at our table a little too frequently, but hey, at least he was enthusiastic. read more

Stopped on a Saturday. This place is always busy in Lufkin. I ordered the Seafood Platter and wife had a smaller dish. Food was cooked to perfection. The rolls were wonderful. The tea and the wine were great. The place is well organized. Our waitress could pick her game up a little. read more

My family and I were in Lufkin, Texas for a funeral, August 15, 2020, and happened upon Ralph and Kacoo's. Upon arrival, we noticed that a live band played on the weekend. We thought it would be nice to sit on the patio and listen, so we asked to be seated outside. We were told there would be a wait. So we waited. Thirty minutes later, several other customers ahead of us were seated. I decided to check our position on the list. The greeter at the door explained that people were not leaving because of the band. We decided to change our request and asked the wait time for indoor seating. She explained, that it would be a few more minutes. Another 20 minutes passed and no one acknowledged us or provided updates. I spoke with my family and asked if they wanted to leave and go somewhere else because it was getting late. We were about to leave when a very nice lady in a red blouse approached me and asked if we had been helped. I was very annoyed, so I explained that we had been waiting for quite a while and just wanted to be seated. She immediately went into action and got us seated. The level of professionalism shown to us was above reproach. She apologized profusely for our wait time and asked for our initial orders. She returned with drinks and appetizers. She stayed with us throughout the entire visit. After an hour and a half, we left the restaurant with only RAVE reviews regarding the service, the food, and this wonderful lady in the red blouse. Her personality was warm and welcoming. She made the experience feel like a visit with family. We enjoyed the conversations and laughter. My family and I were extremely pleased with the food and the service. We left behind a generous tip for the two additional servers, who had assisted the lady in the red blouse. Because I felt that the lady in the red blouse deserved more due to her amazing customer service, I left an additional tip just for her. Upon leaving the restaurant, I asked one of the servers the name of the lady in the red blouse. I was told she was the MANAGER!! Although my visit to Lufkin was for a sad occasion, the manager at Ralph and Kacoo's, made my experience to the restaurant one I will never forget. As a side note, not as a racial observation; we were one of two African American families visiting on that particular evening. In today's climate, this could have gone any number of ways. If visiting Lufkin, TX, we highly recommend that you stop by Ralph and Kacoo's. You will not be disappointed unless the lady in the red blouse is not there. read more

Went here with a party of 5 for Easter lunch. 2 lunches out of the 6 were decent. The other 4 were absolutely terrible. Especially when you consider the price. The food was tasteless, not seasoned well, and tough. Their prices are outrageously expensive. If the food had been as delicious as their prices are high then their would be no complaints. That is not the case. Do yourself a favor and spend your money elsewhere. Complete disappointment. read more

Acting on a recommendation from a friend in Longview, I decided to put off eating for an extra hour to wait for R&C's, and I'm damn sure I did! While waiting for service to work through the full bar of patrons, I had plenty of time to peruse the menu. Having a plan of attack, I quickly ordered a full course consisting of charbroiled oysters, their house salad, ribeye steak (med rare) with squash and green beans. Let me tell you, not one thing was was amiss. The oysters gone in moments, the salad tart and ample, followed up by a perfectly cooked steak dripping in herbed butter and accompanied by what could be the best squash I've ever had. I sadly had to miss desert due to dietary restrictions(celiac) , but will hope for another choice at a followup meal. read more

We go back over 30 years with Ralph & Kacoo's, having dined at their New Orleans location and have made recipes from their cookbook many, many times. Have learned the N'awlins location has closed, and was surprised to learn of their location in Lufkin, and stopped in when passing through town recently. Had the gumbo and etouffe, and both tasted like they came from a jar at the grocery store. There was nothing special about these standard dishes, which leads me to question the quality of other dishes. I might try something different in the future, but am not hopeful. I sat at the bar and had great service by Valerie. read more

Just now writing this review from June 20, 2016....Our late lunch here was good. Decor is very nice. Clean and comfortable booths. Barely decent wait staff. Food was really good and presentation was nice. Wait staff often makes or breaks the dining experience for diners. Management may need to reconsider their training program AND oversight of the staff to increase overall appeal and profit margin of this chain restaurant. I would have had another glass of wine if I could have caught sight of our wait person. It was NOT busy when we were there. No one at front reception to greet or seat for LONG periods of time. .. Potential is there for greatness..but folks don't come back to POTENTIALLY great places. read more

Ralph & Kacoo's - Seafood Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

Probably one of my favorite places in town to visit. Great selection of food. Seafood, Cajun food, and more. Fun drinks to choose from. Love this place. Every time I'm in town i have to come here. They even have live music on weekends. read more

The food is great and their $10 specials are unbelievable. Best stuffed shrimp and chicken fried steak in town! Their braised potatoes are amazing...wish the braised potatoes were available at dinner also. read more

I try and eat here every time I'm in the area. I've never been disappointed. Tonight was the cedar plank salmon. Cooked to perfection and rich in flavor. Steamed veggies was my side choice. Topped off the meal with the white chocolate bread pudding. Yum!! Service is always good. Restaurant is nice and clean. read more

Oh my gato get the mother fucking bread pudding. You will wet your panties. I know I did. read more

Ralph & Kacoo's - Seafood Near Me - Lufkin, Texas

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I went with a group of friends. The bread was hot and yummy. The food was okay, a little too salty for my taste but we had a great time. read more

$40 on a steak and it arrives looking like a ribeye from the freezer section of Dollar Tree. I noticed a few compliments on the steaks and I can say that evidently everyone has different standards. This is by far not the best steak in Texas. Call me I can change your mind on that. I only wish I would have gotten a picture of the steak so that everyone could see what they were going to experience before they ordered it. Now full disclosure I did not have this steak recently so this issue may have very well been resolved. Also noted the complaint had nothing to do with the kitchen or the staff as they only cook and serve what's available to them. So I would suggest on full review that someone at a corporate level make adjustments and opt for a new supplier. read more