Cajun Cafe On the Bayou

Went with family we tried a lot of different food. Highly recommend this place. You can’t go wrong with any of the food and prices were good too. 11 local beers on tap

Excellent! We stopped in for a weekday lunch. Not too crowded but steady. We sat out back on the porch to watch the water. Very nice, but wishing for a.c. once we started to feel the heat from the food!
Started off with the fried green tomatoes, which were good mostly because of the spicy dressing.
My husband had a po boy that he really enjoyed. I had the shrimp étouffée which was awesome and a big enough serving that I could save half for dinner!
Overall will be going back, I want to try their deep fried meatloaf and my husband wants to try some of their other craft beers, they have a large selection.

Great food and I love the set up! They reserved tables that I was moved from but they only had about 10 customers in the entire place. I should be able to sit where ever the heck I want if Im paying… Sit in or out and take a walk thru New Orleans you have arrived. Stop by the flea market next door on a weekend or pull up boat side. Loved the gumbo and the fried crawfish!

Without a doubt the best fried green tomatoes in Tampa bay, very crispy and never oily. I love this place and highly recommend it. The price is great and the portions are huge. The jambalaya was good but their gumbo is amazing, rich and thick, with a lot of chicken and sausage, I really like how the food is so flavorful and never salty or greasy. Another thing they do to perfection is their cornbread, large pieces of crawfish and cheese. Now, to top it all off, their bread pudding, there are not words to describe how good and comforting it is, it’s a must try. perfectly sweetened, buttery and crispy on the outside and creamy in the inside with warm raisins and you can definitely taste the whisky, so delicious.

I came here for the Spring Beer Fest and it was AWESOME! For $ 50 I got a giant plate of delicious cajun food, unlimited beer samples, bottled water and cans of soda, PLUS passed appetizers which included pork rinds, bourbon bread pudding, bacon-​wrapped sausage, and more!
We cannot wait to go back to this restaurant for dinner. It’s about 30 minutes from home but the atmosphere is great, all the staff members were really nice, and the food was fantastic. The complimentary plate included crawfish cornbread, chicken étouffée, red beans and rice with sausage, and roast pork. All awesome!
If you get a chance to go for one of their beer fests, definitely do it. 90% of the place is covered so you’ll stay pretty cool and lines were very reasonable to non-​existent.

After driving past this spot for years, my girlfriend and I finally decided to have lunch here. We’re certainly glad we did!
We started with the crawfish cornbread which was very good. It’s a large portion and packed with crawfish and enough jalapeños to give it a nice warm contrast. It had plenty of corn and a lot of cheese. If you’re looking for a sweet cornbread, this isn’t it, it’s bursting with flavor and you really taste the crawfish.
Next up was the fried green tomatoes, which we ordered based on the Unilocal reviews and we’re absolutely pleased we did. It comes with 3 large tomato slices that are perfectly fried and seasoned. The tomatoes themselves are very juicy and thick so you’re getting your monies worth. The seasoning on the breading was perfectly balanced. It didn’t overpower the tomatoes at all and added a very nice spice to the dish. This is a go-​to whenever we go back.
She ordered the single crab cake and the side of gumbo. The crab cake was on the larger side and was full of fresh crab and seasoning. The dipping sauce had a nice kick to it and complimented the crab cake nicely. The cake was topping with their fried onions which were well cooked as well. The gumbo was full of sausage and chicken, it didn’t have too much rice in it which was nice to see. It was seasoned with just enough spice, it wasn’t overpowering and you want to keep going back. Overall it was a good entrée.
I ordered the bowl of Jambalaya which was actually a very generous portion. The Cajun spiced sausage were soft and easy to chew, the chicken was full of flavor, soft and juicy. The rice was cooked perfectly so the dish was very consistent and the seasoning was good. I like my food on the spicier side, so I added a generous portion of the hot sauce and the dish really popped with the extra spice. This was a nice, well balanced dish.
To cap it off we ordered the whiskey bread pudding and once we dove in we didn’t stop until it was done. Absolutely phenomenal and delicious and the sauce has so much flavor. The bread is very soft without being mushy, it has some crunch to it which gives very nice texture and the raisins are delicious to find throughout. One of the best bread puddings I’ve ever had and words just cannot express how amazing it really is.
This is no longer going to be a «place we drive by» it’s now going to become a place we «drive to». Highly recommend this café and we look forward to going back.

Absolutely amazing Cajun/​creole cuisine in the heart of Pinellas! This place is right off of Park Blvd as you’re heading towards the beaches, next to the Flea Market!
The atmosphere of the restaurant really makes you feel like you’re in the swamps of New Orleans! Great décor and outdoor seating with a view on the water. The music is very twangy and really makes you feel entrenched in the culture. This place encourages you to turn your cell phones off, in order to make the experience more authentic.
The food is well worth what you’re paying for! We went for lunch and ordered 2 craft beers, 2 apps, and 2 entrees, for a little under $ 60. For what we payed, my wife and I were very satisfied with the food!
The Po’Boys are delicious and served with a Cajun horseradish mayo. My wife had the shrimp étouffée, and I found myself eating more from her dish than my own! Highly recommended!
Another plus is the beer selection. Craft beers from Cigar City, RAPP, Green Bench, and Pair o Dice! Excellent choices from the tap to the bottle! I love places that have local breweries on the drink menu!
Our waiter even struck up a nice convo with us about other local delicacies around Pinellas Park. Venezuelan food next? Take me there!

I’m kicking myself in the head for not having come here sooner! Almost 2 years back in Florida and since living in St. Pete my husband and I have driven by here thousands of times and always say, «hey we should go there!». Finally, after we went to Clearwater, only to be disappointed by $ 30 parking for the day and we only needed to go to Ron Job for 1 thing, we decided on lunch. So driving home, Mike mentioned the Cajun spot on the bayou.
Nestled along a waterway is this true hidden gem. Upon walking in, we were greeted with warm smiles and a gentleman who told us we could sit anywhere inside or out. Of course we chose outside, despite the humidity. We found a nice booth that over looked the waterway and was not in direct sunlight. Their policy here is to turn off or silent cell phones so that you can properly enjoy your meal and conversation the old fashion way rather than being stuck on technology ²⁴⁄₇. I really love they have that because you go out today and people are forever in their cellphones during the entire meal. Just how society is now, sad but true. It really makes you appreciate a good conversation with authentic Cajun food.
We noticed a list of local brews on a back board and I spotted one from Pair O’ Dice brewery called Honey Cream. Our server was a delight! He smiled through the heat/​humidity and I felt bad since he was pouring with sweat. I noticed fried green tomatoes on their menu and I knew I had to get them! I’d never tried them before, but hearing my mom telling me how she used to eat them growing up in NC, I couldn’t pass them up. They are fried with a spicy sauce drizzled on top. They had my mouth watering with the first bite. Now since I haven’t had them, I can’t really compare and tell you if that’s how they are normally prepped. But I was satisfied! Thick cut green tomatoes and they reminded me of Granny Smith apples before I’d take each bite. My husband saw the jambalaya and so he ordered a cup as an appetizer so we could share both. Wow! I’m loving that jambalaya! Just enough heat to make the back of your mouth tingle but not make you run away.
Since I really wanted shrimp and grits, they actually don’t offer it in the menu! I was a bit shocked! I had no idea what to get at that point. Mike went for an oyster Po Boy and I’m still at a loss. I knew I wanted something with shrimp and should try something new as well. When I spotted it… the Shrimp Étouffée. I asked our server to describe it for me and he told me it’s tomato based with a bit of a creamy buttery taste and it comes with white rice. I was sold! While enjoying out apps and beers my husband and I finally had a meal where our cell phones were on silent and out of sight and enjoyed each other’s company and conversation.
When our food came out I was blown away! My dish, the sauce was not skimped on and it was literally overflowing on my plate! My tongue was out and I was going to devour that dish! The creamy smoothness of the sauce, which a little kick to it, the rice and the shrimp. I LOVE SHRIMP!!! I was so hooked on this dish and was moaning with each bite. Even when I was full and said I’d box it up, I just couldn’t stop eating it. And sitting outside, next to the water way, we watched as a couple went by on their paddle boards. Wild birds flying by and enjoying a nice breeze. The atmosphere here really makes you feel like you’ve driven out into the boonies and are truly hidden on a bayou in NoLa. And since that’s where Mike and I will be taking our 1 year anniversary this was the perfect place to visit to get us ready!

This place is awesome! I had a gator burger which was a spicy, barbecue ball of goodness.
The décor is cute, and the service is awesome. The best part of this place is the craft beer situation. On tap, they only serve Florida beers, but have cans and bottles of lots of other stuff.
The only downside is trying to get into the parking lot if you’re going the opposite way on Park. On a day that Wagon Wheel open, than it is even more impossible.

Crawfish Etouffe, their signature dish. Only other way to get authentic Cajun is to go to Luisianna. My wife and I have been going here for 14 years. Same friendly super courteous staff. Same louisiana bayou ambiance. Numerous flavored craft beers, and a whiskey pudding that finishes the meal with smooth purpous. This is a solid restaurant, well established and consistent in the best cuisine.
If you want something special for your significant other, this is the place.

Not gonna lie, this is some pretty damn good food. Highly recommend the gumbo and boudin balls.
Great selection of craft beers too.

Hidden gem alert!
So maybe it’s not so hidden, but to me it was. I took the opportunity to check out Cajun Café on my way back from a weekend on the beach. We arrived around 11 am (when they open) and we picked an inside seat because it was freezing the day that we came. We really enjoyed the views of the bayou and committed to coming back during a warmer time of year to sit outside.
The service was quick and the beer selection was great. Unique craft beers from all over the country on the menu. We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were absolutely delicious and so fresh. I got the jambalaya and my husband got the gumbo and both were flavorful and perfect for a cold Florida day.
I plan to return to check out the outside area and perhaps for one of their craft beer festivals. Great first impression!

Crawfish Cornbread — the best savory cornbread ever although the price is a bit steep at $ 9. It is seriously so good especially when it’s still warm!
Blackened Gator Burger — might be one of the best burgers I have ever had to my surprise.
It was a bit weird to be sitting next to alligators in ponds when you are eating a gator burger though.

Cajun and Creole cuisine has long been a favorite of mine, and so I was looking forward to a lunchtime stop at the Cajun Café on the Bayou while in the Pinellas Park area for some business meetings. The restaurant is located along Park Boulevard and right near the Wagon Wheel Flea Market. If you happen to cross over the creek via the Park Blvd bridge, then you’ve blown right past the entrance.
The café itself sits back from the main road at the end of a gravel parking lot, and… you guessed it… they are right alongside the afore-​mentioned Cross Bayou. From the outside this place looks like an old Florida fish camp, which is your first clue that the café is not a white tablecloth-​kinda place. Just climb out of your Lexus and mosey on up the ramp to the front door. You’ll be fine.
Inside, you’ll find a maze of smaller dining areas including a private party room, a fabulous wooden bar, and a great screened-​in patio overlooking the water. You’ll often see a variety of critters sunning on the banks, or drifting by in the water. The restaurant is non-​smoking, both inside and out. None of those sissy vape things either. No smoking… get it?
I like the rules of this place which state that they do their best to keep the dining area a pleasant and relaxing respite away from the hustle and bustle of today’s modern world. They have no television, no loud music, and they ask their guests to kindly walk outside and away from the dining areas if they need to use their cellphones. Small, hyperactive little ankle-​biters will be tied to a rope and tossed into the bayou as gator bait. (just kidding…)
They serve a lot of the classic New Orleans beers and ales, along with a nice selection of craft beers from around the area. If you prefer, the bartenders can whip up one of your favorite Bourbon Street cocktails, and after three or four of them you’ll find that everyone will cheer politely when you start to climb up on your table and yell, «Throw me somethin’, Mister!»
On the menu they have some fabulous appetizers including crab cakes, boudin balls, fried okra, Cajun sausage links, fried green tomatoes, and crawfish cornbread. They also serve a mean cup of gumbo, which is one of my favorites in town.
If you want to stick to the classics, then order red beans & rice, jambalaya, or dirty rice with one of their fried Bayou baskets — that could be shrimp, gator bites, frog legs, chicken, oysters, soft-​shelled crabs, catfish strips, and so on. You’ll also see crawfish Étouffée, alligator sauce piquant, catfish court bouillon, crab cakes, and shrimp creole. If you prefer a classic N’awlins Po’boy sandwich, then order yours loaded with roast beef, shrimp, crawfish, gator, catfish, soft-​shell crab, oyster, boudin balls, or creole-​roasted pork.
Hopefully you remembered to save some room for dessert, because the Cajun Café serves up some of the very finest whiskey bread pudding that you’ll find outside of the Crescent City.
The Café has all sorts of festivals and special events throughout the year, so don’t be surprised if the place is busy on the weekends. They do use the screened-​in patio as an outdoor beer garden, and oftentimes you get a plate of food to go with your beer tastings for a fixed price, and they have a special deal for the designated drivers in your group.
Feeling hungry yet? Good, then drive over to the Cajun Café on the Bayou and laissez les bons temps rouler!

I lived in this area years ago and I ate @ The Cajun Café several times then. I was very excited about being back down here so I could get a Gator Burger after 4 years. I was a little disappointed today.
I ordered a Gator Burger and fries– one of my favorites from here.
I was the only customer in the place on a Wednesday afternoon. After about 20 minutes I got my burger. They were out of Pepperdoux’s Hot Sauce (not happy), so I used Louisiana Brand instead. The burger was VERY hot, right off the grill, which I like! The first bites were O.K., but as I got further in I noticed a lot more gristle than I remembered in the past. In fact, there was a LOT of gristle in my Gator Burger!
I expected better for a burger that costs $ 13 (for just the burger and fries, with a Coke and tax it was over $ 16). I didn’t complain, I just wasn’t in the mood. Maybe I was still trying to salvage some of my good memories of this place. But, I wasn’t happy with the food today. I’ll try them again, someday, but I’ll be more apprehensive next time. See photo titled «Gristly Gator Burger»

My wife and I love Cajun and Creole food, and were really looking forward to trying this place. I hate to admit it, but I purposely drove past the entrance because I thought it looked a bit sketchy from the outside. I pulled over, re-​read the Unilocal raves and went back. I am so glad we did, because this place is the real deal!
The establishment is a little divey and has a few years of wear, but the atmosphere is really cool and reminds me of places along the bayous of Louisiana that I used to love during business trips nearby. The menu is loaded with specialties, and also includes a few items you’re not going to see around these parts very often, like Boudin Balls, Frog Legs and Gator Bites.
Our appetizer was Crawfish Cornbread, and it was outstanding with a hint of jalapeño and lots of crawfish. Just a killer kickoff for the meal, for sure. My wife ordered the Fried Catfish, which was fresh, lightly batter-​fried and she loved it. I had the Crawfish Étoufeé, and it was one of the best renditions ever, crammed with crawfish, spiced perfectly and delicious. We topped the meal off with Whiskey Bread Pudding, which was as big as a softball and large enough to feed the team. The taste, texture and sauce were super!
I’m already sifting through the menu for the next meal…

Hmmm… I know I reviewed this place already, where did it go?!
Our dining experience here was ok. There are signs telling you to turn off your cell phones. I don’t think this place is kid-​friendly either unless they are well behaved. I came with my son to check this place out– good thing he is well behaved! Interior is decorated to feel like New Orleans which is cool.
Server was pleasant enough… We ordered the crawfish cornbread, crawfish étouffée and my son ordered a chicken strip basket with fries. Cornbread was ok, kinda salty. But had a lot of crawfish in it. My étouffée was ok too. Big portion but seemed to be missing something. I brought the leftovers home for my husband and he thought the same thing.
Clientele was an older crowd while we were there. It was early evening on a weekday. There was also seating outside the back it looked like. Which might be nicer in cooler months. Overall, a decent dining experience. Be careful coming in and out, the one way in is a long bumpy road to the restaurant and is very narrow. Will have to come back with the hubby and try some other menu items. The bread pudding looks tempting.

Small, quaint, and charming, Cajun Café on the Bayou comes through with some delectable cajun/​creole style grub. This restaurant is really one of a kind in the Tampa Bay Area. If you want a little slice of Louisiana riverside dining this spot is your place to go to.
The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor and waterside dining. Being as it is not very updated or modern, do not be swayed by the older décor. There is a superabundance of craft beer offerings as well as tasty Lousiana-​style Cajun fare. The restaurant seems to cater to a more mature crowd and there are signs which indicated that you are not to use your cell phone while here, which would mean that they want their patrons to be present and enjoy the company they are with and their experience, not consumed by technology. As an avid Unilocaler this may be tough to contain your phone impulses but I suggest sneaking pictures anyways.
I sat outside at a picnic table during my dining experience here and it was quite hot as it is Florida in the summer. Our table tried lots of the menu offering and everyone’s entrée was devoured. I myself had the crawfish étouffée (comes with rice) and found it to be tasty and well seasoned. We also had an order of the cornbread with crawfish to start and it was good as well. They offer three types of hot sauce so take advantage of you want to doctor your meal to have more of a kick. For dessert, we all dug into an order of the whiskey bread pudding. It was delicious and the perfect ending to cap off our meal.
I look forward to trying the restaurant out again when I get the chance. I like the charm and rustic quality of the restaurant and how it offered a different scene from anything else you get in the Tampa Bay area.
The restaurant also serves as a venue for beer festivals; most recently they hosted a sour beer and bacon festival this past Saturday (8÷23÷15) and there is a larger beer festival taking place on November 7, 2015. This type of atmosphere is a nice departure from other beer festival venues. For more information on the 10^th annual Fall beer festival you may visit;
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i can completely understand the need of prohibiting all cell phones from the table while eating (as evidenced by the countless signs all along the wall warning you of their policy) as its meant to encourage conversation among your guests, but as a fellow Unilocaler my hands were literally shaking from not being able to whip out my camera phone to take a picture of my food to post it up on this lovely site. damn you Unilocal for creating a monster out of me!
oh well thank goodness im a rebel and thus explains the food pictures you see on my post anyways lol
i did read the description of the kids running around and them being prohibited from making loud noises. although i commend their attempts at a peaceful and relaxing meal, for any parent that alone can be a challenging task to take on even in the confides of your own home.
now for the food. for cajun restaurants in the bay area, the prices were relatively very reasonably priced & was packed full of flavor with each bite. i ordered the crab cakes which was pretty good and came with alot of meat (not too much bearding) which was appreciated. since its cajun food, each bite came with a little bit of a kick to it … Louisiana style. The jambalaya & gumbo was pretty good as i had a sampling of that from the misses plate. mom ordered the catfish which also was pretty good and had a nice taste and fry to it. every table had at least 3 different types of hot sauces to accompany your meal which was pretty cool!
the restaurant is also situated right by a lazy river which totally adds to the feel of the cajun restaurant. all in all not a bad experience as the wait staff was all very nice and catered to our table with the quickness. if you can get past the negative signage, your in for a hidden gem of a cajun treat!

I absolutely freaking adore this place. It is tucked down on the water next to the Wagon Wheel flea market on Park Blvd and can be easy to miss if you don’t know where it is. To get there, you have to find a small drive way and drive down into a bumpy parking lot that can be a pain when other cars are trying to navigate the space. It is well worth the effort.
Cajun Café is very Kitschy. From the half New Orleans half swampland décor to the signs that are hung everywhere that threaten you to put your cell phones away. If you are caught using it, you may be ejected. There is also a humorous section on the menu that warns parents to control their children. Make sure you read it. :)
Anyways, Cajun Café has a plethora of beer (both on tap and in bottles). My beer snob Husband is always happy to find some of his favorites here. The food however is the real star. I have been here twice now and tried a variety of things. I absolutely love the Alligator Piquant and have ordered it both times. It is a spicier dish that is packed full of flavor. It is also a huge helping that I normally end up happily eating half of for lunch the next day. I have also tried the gumbo, fried crawfish, sausage, fried green tomatoes, boudin balls and the whiskey bread pudding. They have all been delicious. The whiskey bread pudding is something that you MUST try when you visit. It is some of the best bread pudding I have ever had and it is perfect to share with a group (one or two people probably can not finish it. Our last visit four people verily tackled it).
If you are looking for traditional cajun fare, Cajun Café on the Bayou is the place to go… just remember to be on your best behavior. :)