Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen — Restaurant in The Woodlands

I'll start off with the service was very good. Our waitress was great!

We went for an early dinner on a Saturday and were seated promptly. In looking around, the venue is well decorated. You could almost feel like you were in a cafe in New Orleans. The establishment is smaller than I would have expected, and it did feel a little cramped once more people started coming in.

We started with the crawfish dip which is served in a bowl and accompanied with fresh french bread and toasted garlic bread. The dip has a nice flavor and is very heavy with an aged cheese. The flavor of the cheese is the most prominent and at times overpowered the other ingredients. We then tried a cup of gumbo and were very disappointed as the roux had been burned. The flavor was bitter. We then tried a cup of crawfish etouffee. This was at least edible, but the seasoning was too much. I think it is either Tony's or Old Bay, but that is the most prominent of the flavor, which was very strong and salted. This wasn't a bad thing, but it lacked effort from the kitchen. We tried the crab cakes with the crawfish topping. These were one of the better things we tried. They had a nice flavor, as did the crawfish topping. I would recommend this over any of the other appetizers that we had. As an entree, I had the stuffed shrimp with the jambalaya. These were surprisingly pretty good. They didn't have much of a spice to them, but the seasoning and flavor went along well with the tartar sauce, which has a heavy dill pickle flavor.

Overall, the restaurant and concept are nice, but it falls pretty short of being a "New Orleans" kitchen. I suspect that are trying to tailor the menu to the locals, which is why the food was the way it was. For what it is, it is also fairly overpriced. This restaurant wouldn't survive...

It's a very small space. If you're into ambiance this probably won't be the place for you. Outside of this, it's a very clean place. It's multiple servers who come and keep your table squared away. You'll never wait long for a refill or for the current dishes to be cleaned off your table. I love that. The waiter we had was very noninvasive. I hate when they overstep too much. He checked on us once then let us eat and enjoy ourselves but was always close enough if we needed him. The food took a WHILE to come. The food is cooked with clean ingredients. I can tell. It all has a unique beautiful taste. They cook to make everything on that plate mandatory to enjoy it. Do not make adjustments to the meal. It all works together beautifully. Nothing is over or under-seasoned. I'm from Louisiana and know Cajun food very well. They are cajun recipes but with their flavor profile which I loved greatly. All the ingredients are clean and high quality. My body digested it so well and I didn't feel so full and disgusted like low-quality food makes you feel. For two our meal was 140 that's two entrees and one appetizer. 25-dollar tip. So it's a bit pricey but worth it imo. I'm very picky and was extremely satisfied with this food. They should stop serving chips and serve bread instead tho. Those chips sucked lol! I highly recommend it. We will return. I had the barramundi and my lady had the tri-color. We both cleaned our plates which is rare. I recommend both of those dishes highly. You feel like you're eating a high quality meal....

Nestled in the heart of Market Street, Schilleci’s serves up an authentic from scratch Cajun food that’s hard to find outside Louisiana. From the moment you step in, the atmosphere transports you to the Louisiana bayou, with its rustic decor, soft jazz playing in the background, and the spicy, savory aroma of Cajun spices wafting through the air.

The menu is a tribute to traditional Cajun flavors, featuring everything from jambalaya to crawfish étouffée, and each dish seems to carry a story. The gumbo, packed with sausage, shrimp, and tender chicken, is rich and smoky, with just the right amount of spice. It’s one of those dishes that wraps you in comfort with every bite. Their shrimp étouffée is a must-try, loaded with plump shrimp and served over fluffy rice that soaks up the decadent sauce beautifully.

For those looking for a kick, the creole and aged ribeye to perfection didn’t disappoint— it’s a flavor bomb of bold spices, perfectly balanced. And if you’re a fan of po’boys, don’t miss out on their shrimp po’boy: fried to golden perfection and nestled in a fresh, soft baguette with a zesty sauce.

Finish off with a beignet, fresh out of the fryer, dusted in powdered sugar.

The staff is as warm as the cuisine, making you feel like family. For anyone craving an authentic Cajun experience with a hearty dose of Southern hospitality, and may my daughter birthday dinner incredibly special. This is a gem that will keep you coming back for more. This place is a true taste of Louisiana right here in The Woodlands. Thank...