Cajun Kates — Restaurant in Wilmington

My husband and i are from out of state, so we googled food near us, and this was the first place I saw. We were greeted warmly by the owners by explaining that it was a chill vibe (we're all about the chill vibes!), there's no wait staff, no tipping; just order and your name is called when the order is ready. Sounds good to us!

I ordered the jambalaya (I recommend getting it with green onions on top!) and my husband ordered gator on a stick that came with a creole honey mustard. The jambalaya was delicious and the flavor was all in the chicken and the sausage, with just the right amount of consistency: not dry and not soupy. I tried a bite of the gator (first time i had alligator that wasn't fried); if you told me it was pork sausage, I would've believed you, it tasted just like it, it was so good! I thought I'd also be creative by adding a small amount of honey mustard to the jambalaya to get just the right balance of sweet and heat. We were also given a sample of their hot sauce, which was a Mango habanero vibe, which i also tried a small amount on the jambalaya. We ended up taking the sample with us.

To cap off lunch, we split an ice box pie made with homemade coffee ice cream with heath bar chunks and deliciously rich chocolate ganache. As much as i wanted an order for each of us, I'm glad we we split one because we were so full at the end.

It was a fabulous first time experience. We will definitely be back when we're back in the area to buy the gator sausage in packs, and try the Mac n cheese and Muffaletta sandwich! The atmosphere is pleasant, the customer service is superb, and i love the New Orleans decor. What i love the most is that with every bite of food I took, I could tell everything was made not just from scratch, but most of...

It's been six years since I last reviewed this restaurant. In that time, one might assume that food quality had changed, slipped. Not so at Cajun Kate's! This evening I enjoyed their special Seafood Gumbo and a Savory Crawfish Pie. Everything is just as delicious as it is anytime I stop in to eat, lo these many years later. From their hand-breaded seafood to Don's deep, dark roux, to Kate's house made sauces, everything is equally wonderful return after return. And that is the hallmark of trained professional chefs. Anyone can have a lucky day in the kitchen, but professionals can create and recreate wonderful food over and over. Consistency. The yummy Jambalaya you had four years ago will hit just as hard when you order it next month.

In our current economy, when so many people's prices have shot through the roof while food quality suffers to the disappointment of customers, Cajun Kate's maintains high standards and offers generous portions. I have never walked away hungry.

The environment is lively and comfortable like a real New Orleans Po' Boy shop. There's music, conversation (mostly about the food), and happy people eating.

As the lazy summer winds down and the drudgery of the fall schedule once again dominates our lives, you should make a trip to Cajun Kate's to soothe your soul and ease your mind.

Pictured: Chilled Seafood Salad, Southern Catfish Fingers, some of Kate's fierce cupcakes, Fried Gulf Oysters or Soft Shell Crabs with her Black Eyed Pea and...

Whole traveling, my husband and I phoned this establishment after finding it during an impromptu food search.

After calling to inquire on seating and with highly motivated Ben we were on our way.

From the moment we walked in, we were impressed! The customer service was absolutely outstanding—warm, attentive, and genuinely caring without being overbearing. They made us priority 1 and we felt welcomed and appreciated, which is rare these days.

The cajun food was excellent — full of New Orleans flavor, and clearly crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each dish was perfectly seasoned and tasted like it was made with passion and love for the culinary craft.

The owners take pride in every detail. Their commitment to excellence shows in the friendly service, consistent quality, and overall vision for the restaurant.

And meeting owner/chef Don really sealed the deal! His genuine down to earth customer focus and service were impeccable!

Cleanliness was also top-notch—which gave us even more confidence in the care and professionalism behind the scenes.

This restaurant sets the standard for how dining should be done. A true 5-star experience all the way around—we can’t wait foe another opportunity...