Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen — Restaurant in Duluth

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, I had one of the WORST EXPERIENCE AT A RESTAURANT EVER! I was apart of a party that reserved the appointment at 8:45pm. We arrived on time and the reserved seating was not ready. Prior to that, the restaurant called my party head THREE TIMES threatening that if we weren’t there on time then we wouldn’t be seated. When we arrived, we had to WAIT because the designated area was not ready. It made no sense because they continuously called prior to make sure we were coming and the area STILL WASN’T READY. When we walked in, all of the servers scattered like roaches to avoid being the server for our party. As we waited, we could sense and see on the servers faces that they didn’t want to serve us and were annoyed that a large party(which majority were children) had come in. It was very off putting being that it made me feel like they didn’t want to be bothered with us. I TIP GREAT (might I add) we waited 15 minutes before we were seated. The seating seemed rushed to be put together & they STILL HAD TO CLEAN A TABLE OFF BECAUSE THERE WASN’T ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE ENTIRE PARTY. This was very odd because the restaurant kept calling to make sure the entire party was coming and they took a head count so they were fully aware of how many people were coming. Then when we sat down, my party head saw that her sister and niece(whom is a young toddler) were about to come but it was right a little after 9pm. She had an unfortunate situation happen while she was en route which prohibited her from coming on time ( maybe 5 to 10 minutes behind). My party head asked the waitress if it was ok for her sister and niece to still come in and the waitress had to ask management. Then two managers (one Caucasian the other African American) approached the table with the rudest attitudes questioning why the 2 guests were late and just being very in accommodating after she told her why she was behind. The Caucasian manager was VERY RUDE AND ACTED AS THOUGH WE DIDN’T MATTER and SHE WAS READY TO GET OFF. The manager then proceeded to argue with our party head as though we were wrong when in fact we were there ON TIME AND STILL HAD TO WAIT MORE THAN 10 minutes to be seated. The party head asked to speak to another manager because it was getting riled up and unprofessional all because she asked if it was okay for her to come in after being told about the unforeseen circumstance that put her sister and toddler niece behind. Both managers RUDELY REPLIED “WE’RE THE MANAGERS BUT WE CAN GET OUR HIGHER SUPERVISOR FOR YOU” and SARCASTICALLY walked off. When they were gone, One of our party members was able to bring her sister and niece in. When the Caucasian manager came back to the table, we told her we didn’t need them any longer bc they were able to come inside. Well that made the manager even more furious and she then continued to question us and it just put a very bad taste in my mouth because it made me feel very unwanted and as those the manager wanted to cause a problem and didn’t want us there. So we decided to LEAVE AND CANCEL OUR DRINK ORDER! My thing is that if the time slot was available to book for 8:45pm and WE SHOWED UP ON TIME, why look aggravated when we arrive? Also, WHY WASN’T THE SEATING AREA READY WHEN WE GOT THERE after she was HARASSED BY PHONE CALLS PRIOR TO OUR ARRIVAL TO MAKE SURE WE WERE COMING?? Thirdly, the way the managers handled the situation was VERY RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL and AGGRESSIVE, making us feel that they’d probably do something to our food if we stayed and ordered. The fact that we felt so uncomfortable to where we decided to leave after being hungry and leaving a dance recital speaks VOLUMES to the LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WE WERE SHOWN!!! I have NEVER BEEN TREATED SO POORLY BY A RESTAURANT THAT GAVE PISS POOR PERFORMANCE AND REGARD TO THEIR CUSTOMERS!!! I will NEVER PATRONIZE THIS LOCATION due to this! I love Pappadeaux’s but this makes me never want to come to this location EVER AGAIN!! 0 out of 10 WILL NEVER RECOMMEND...

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen continues to be one of the most reliable choices for anyone craving bold, flavorful seafood dishes prepared with care and served in generous portions. I’ve dined at various locations over the years, and the experience has remained impressively consistent when it comes to the food. Whether you're in the mood for a casual seafood feast or celebrating a special occasion with a Cajun twist, Pappadeaux delivers a menu that's both extensive and exciting.

One of the standout dishes that keeps me coming back is the blackened catfish with crawfish étouffée. The catfish is always cooked to perfection—flaky and moist on the inside, with a crisp, well-seasoned crust on the outside. The crawfish étouffée is rich, buttery, and packed with flavor, combining a deep roux base with tender pieces of crawfish that bring a true taste of Louisiana right to your plate. This dish alone is worth the visit, especially when paired with a side of dirty rice or garlic mashed potatoes.

The seafood platter is another crowd-pleaser. It’s a hearty combination of fried shrimp, oysters, and catfish, all cooked to a golden crisp and served with their tangy tartar and cocktail sauces. It’s a great way to sample multiple items at once, and perfect for sharing. I’ve also tried the grilled lobster tail and king crab legs on occasion, and both are served with drawn butter and perfectly seasoned. These premium options highlight the quality of ingredients Pappadeaux uses, and how well they let the natural sweetness of the seafood shine.

Appetizers here are far from an afterthought. The shrimp and crawfish fondeaux is a personal favorite—served hot and bubbling in a small cast iron dish, it’s a decadent, creamy blend of cheeses, seafood, and mushrooms that pairs wonderfully with toasted garlic bread. The crab cakes are equally impressive, loaded with lump crab meat and very little filler, complemented by a zesty remoulade. Their signature gumbo deserves a mention as well: it's smoky, rich, and filled with shrimp, sausage, and okra. Every spoonful reminds me of the kind of gumbo you’d expect from a mom-and-pop shop in New Orleans.

That said, not everything about the Pappadeaux experience is flawless. The biggest drawback, in my opinion, is the service. During multiple visits, I’ve noticed that the waitstaff often seem stretched too thin. It’s not uncommon to wait longer than expected for drinks to be refilled, orders to be taken, or meals to be delivered. While the staff are usually polite, the overall attentiveness is inconsistent, especially when the restaurant is crowded—which it frequently is during peak dining hours.

The ambiance can also be a bit much. With an open floor plan, high ceilings, and lots of patrons, the noise level can get very loud. This makes it less ideal for intimate dinners or quiet conversations. It's definitely more of a lively, bustling spot than a serene dining experience.

In spite of these challenges, I find myself returning time and again. The food is the star here—rich, flavorful, satisfying, and served in portions that ensure you never leave hungry. With a few improvements in service and acoustics, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen could easily rank among the top-tier dining establishments in its class. Until then, it remains a must-visit for seafood lovers looking for bold flavors and hearty plates in a festive...

If I could leave zero stars I would. Let me start by saying I have always had nothing short of amazing experiences at the Jimmy Carter location. This past Sunday, 4/21 we were supposed to have celebratory dinner for my daughter's dance recital. I decided to book at this specific location due to it being around the corners from Gas South Theatre, which where my child was performing. I booked my family's reservation 4 days in advance. I heard nothing from the restaurant until 20 minutes before my reservation time. During the 1st call, I was asked if we still were coming which I confirmed, the employee continued on to give me their reservation policy. This employee called back less than 5 minutes later as we are trying to wrap up at my daughter's recital. On this 2nd call he reiterates the reservation policy saying if we all are not there by 8:45, they will not be able to accommodate us bc they close at 9pm. After this 2nd call, it rubbed me the wrong way bc it was such an aggressive tone stressing the fact that they close at 9pm. We arrived on time for our reservation, only to be told they had to find where they were going to put us. We were taken to our table at 9:01pm. A member of my party had an emergency with her child and had to run to her car, upon returning to entrance she was told she could not come in at 9:03pm. Also, my parties table was not fitting as we were squeezing to make it work. It almost seemed like they were purposely looking to inconvenience us someway/somehow to get us to leave/cancel reservation. Two managers young white woman and young black woman (both refused to give their names) came over and escalated the situation even more. They told me my sister would not be able to come inside. The white young manger was very disrespectful and argued me down in front of my family. Sadly, due to the poor treatment, fear of food being tampered with and the unwillingness to assist we decided to leave. My daughter was VERY saddened to find out she would no longer be dining at her favorite restaurant to celebrate her recital. Our server and majority of the staff from buss boys, host, management, and other servers all carried the same attitude especially as they all stood in line seemingly amused/laughing as we all walked out. It was VERY evident we were not wanted assuming due to our party size and nearing closing time. If there were any issues regarding my party size and or reservation time, I should have been contacted in advance. Not allow us to show up then make us feel unwanted, disrespected and disregarded. I am truly disgusted at how we...