LA Juicy Seafood — Restaurant in O’Fallon

I’ve eaten at the Paducah, KY location multiple times while traveling. It’s a very different dining experience from O’Fallon. I’m wondering if it’s due to Covid? For starters, with prices a bit higher, you would expect better than average food. Some of it tastes like it comes from a frozen supplier. Second, invest into real plates, cups, and utensils. Not only does it relate better to the price you pay versus being served a styrofoam cup and plate which can’t be recycled it’s expensive for the business owner constantly replacing these items instead of using a dishwasher. Costs for businesses means price inflation to customers which I’ve noticed people already complaining about your prices and some regulars even said they’ve been raised twice since you opened. Your response to one reviewer was that legally you have to use disposable items right now which is not true. Yet you allow customers to take their own cup to the refill station. That’s one thing most restaurants I’ve been to are doing entirely different. Most are bringing you a fresh glass and sometimes a new straw every time. They don’t want the chance of our germs contaminating the refill stations. Even the gas stations like QT are prohibiting refills right now since they prescreen their employees before a shift to confirm no fevers, but customers not the case. Third, the front signage is absolutely awful compared to Kentucky. Unless you’re driving down highway K at night and the sign is illuminated it’s almost impossible to read. Whoever’s responsible for installing that sign should be ashamed of themselves. There appears to be leftover black signage from the Chinese buffet behind your red sign masking the new sign especially during daylight hours. It keeps customers from finding you or even people that know absolutely nothing about your establishment from detecting a new restaurant even though you have amazing street view that many people pay high dollar for. If it was me, I’d rather fix the sign in hopes of building a bigger business. If you are the same owner as Kentucky do what you’re doing there only better, because it’s working there and O’Fallon can always use better places to eat. Sorry if it seems like I’m complaining, but I’m just trying to provide solid thoughts to improve...

Our first time at this restaurant. There are many things to like about this place, but unfortunately it’s not on our “can’t wait to go back” list at this point.

We sat in a booth, and realized that every inch of all the beautiful wood planked walls in the place are covered with the customer graffiti. Most are good comments, but some were inappropriate, and a few would be considered extremely offensive to some people. If you want to avoid this, get a table away from the walls. I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I can’t believe the management has allowed this to get out of hand.

The condiment table seemed unsanitary. Too many things to mention, but reaching into boxes to get plastic utensils is an example. The packaged crackers were not good and had a bad smell (we mentioned this to the staff). The positive thing, and I wish all restaurants would adopt this, is that there was a hand washing sink adjacent to the table. I liked that.

My Salmon salad was not unique in any way and I wouldn’t order it again. It was served on a plate that had a mirror like border that showed fingerprints and just looked unclean. In retrospect I should have sent it back.

The sea chowder and the gumbo soup was delicious. However, eating the big bowls with tiny plastic spoons was ridiculous. It would be nice if they would offer a “cup” size. On a side note, I asked if any of their three soups they offer were “in house” recipes, and the answer I got was unclear. The clam chowder was definitely from another source…..

My wife tried the crab cakes, and again, they were unspectacular and overcooked.

There are many good reviews about this place from people who tried the more intricate items on the menu and really enjoyed them. It’s one of those places that I’d tell my friends and relatives to give the place a try. It’s got it’s quirks, but most people can probably overlook them, and in time the place will improve. It has a lot of potential, and I hope it does well. So far, it is the only seafood restaurant...

My mom & I had the snow crab & shrimp lunch special mild w/garlic, Cajun, & butter. It was great tasting but the snow crab legs were just pretty small this day. We actually both wanted king crab but they was out the day we went. So my sister was kind enough to give everyone a bite of her sausage from her bag & that was so much better, plus less work for the amount in those tiny crabs. I can’t handle really hot but I will say their mild is not spicy at all. For me medium was perfect since my sister ordered that (her shrimp was perfect for a tad of spice to it as well) She said she’d order hot next time. So if you’re looking for spicy I didn’t get that w/the mild. Down south I ordered mild from a restaurant just like this & that was like ordering hot here in Missouri! I was shocked in the difference of what mild & hot is just between a few states lol! As I mentioned sister had sausage & shrimp medium w/garlic Cajun seasoning lunch special, one niece had shrimp Alfredo w/an order of crab rangoon, & the other niece had a fried chicken strip basket. Everyone that tried that crab Rangoon said it was CB okay but we’re spoiled from our local restaurant here that has the best we’ve ever had & we’re talking best in any state we’ve ever eaten Chinese! The chicken strip basket my niece said wasn’t good since they fry in in the same grease as all their other stuff. She said it tasted fishy along w/the fries. Staff was nice, not a long wait for our food, & we helped out cleaning our own mess up, just to help them out. Restaurant was clean, had plastic gloves & plastic bibs to help keep yourself clean w/the mouth watering good that easily drips whenever you’re eating anything w/melted butter. Definitely was a fun time, decorated great, & bathrooms were clean good. We’ll definitely be back for more. Thanks LaJuicey for a great...