Feel like a VIP almost anytime I go here. The owner actually goes out of his way to meet my friends and I at the door if he sees us coming and seats us! can you believe that? Fun friendly night spot during the week, and lines out the door on the weekend. YOU MUST get the fried catfish, BEWARE they will try to upsell with the grilled, ignore the suggestion and get the fried, AMAAZING.
(4)
Devin B.
We have recently relocated to visalia for my husbands job and while staying in our holtel, decided to try crawdaddy's! I'm so happy we did! We started by ordering a half dozen oyster shooters, and the kids meals ( pizza & macaroni and cheese), the food came out really quickly, and the oysters we so fresh and the kids food looked so good! We then ordered our meals, my husband got the shrimp Po'boy and I got the pasta Jambalaya!!! We both were so pleased with our food! We even ordered another half dozen oyster shooters! I couldn't even finish all my food, the plate was so big and full of yumminess! The price was pretty good for as much food as we got! I think I found my favorite place here!!! The staff was awesome, the man I assume was the manager gave my daughter a little toy and everyone checked on us frequently!!! Awesome food! Awesome atmosphere! Awesome staff!!!! Love it!!!!
(5)
Sara G.
We visited at 5pm on a Friday and the place was empty. Food was decent but not really traditional Cajun or Creole. More of a Cajun/Creole/American fusion. Service was ok. I'd expect it to be superb considering we were the only customers. I also thought they were a little pricey. Overall a disappointment.
(2)
Yung H.
We went to this restaurant at the recommendation of the front desk clerk at the hotel we were staying at. The 1st floor was pretty lively, and we could hear the music playing. The band was pretty good. We ate on the 2nd floor balcony, and people watched as they passed by downstairs on the street. For Visalia, the location is pretty good. However, the food was pretty bad in general. I asked the waitresses if the oysters in the oyster shooters were fresh, and where they were from, and she didn't know the answers. She said no one had ever asked those questions before. I ordered the seafood gumbo. It tasted like gumbo ingredients boiled in a tomato broth. My wife's pasta jambalaya was pretty tasteless. I should note that we ordered dishes from the downstairs menu, because we felt like having Cajun food. The 2nd floor menu is traditional fair, like steaks and the like. If I ever pass through VIsalia again, I am definitely skipping this place.
(2)
Erin And David L.
The nightlife at this newer establishment is much better than the food. This is a three story building the first story is a restaurant/bar and the second is a lounge/bar... I don't really know what is on the third story to be honest. I heard a rumor once that the third story is haunted. Fun for friends and family!
(3)
Esther G.
great service and great food! Our hostess Dora was simply great and beautiful. Very nice customer service and very considerate. Great music upstairs. I was in visalia for my boyfriends birthday weekend and his was one of our first restaurants in visalia and we loved it! Dora was awesome!
(5)
Bradley S.
We ate upstairs in the fancy formal dining area. They had some live music playing which was nice. The servers were good about getting to us and brought out our food pretty quickly, although there was only 2 other people upstairs with us. The food wasn't bad, but for what they charged it wasn't worth it. We could have gotten the same thing at Mimi's for half the price... At least we got our appetizer half price using our movie ticket.
(3)
Andrew A.
I went to this place which I heard was great and it was a sure let down.. I arrived and with open tables still waited about 10 mins before anyone attempted to sit me down, then waited another 10 to get a menu...A band was supposed to play at 9 but noithing happned till about 945 still not eating. A younger band showed up but was told it was old slow boring band day and that is what happened. Finally a waitress came to take my order and no crawdads...what the H... what kind of place says New Orleans and no crawdads..what a joke...I ordered chicken fried steak which was ok but took a while...empty glass sat for awhile so I got up went to the bar for a refill and the guy tried to charge me for another soda....NEVER GO if your hungry...a sad day in Visalia, CA
(1)
Jessica L.
Great spot for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, hanging with a large group of friends. They have karaoke during the week, and on the weekends at night it turns into a club. Great steak with pasta Alfredo. I wouldn't come eat here all the time, but for special occasions it is alright. Make sure that you take cash because they do charge a cover to get in during the weekend - Chavo is the best bartender and Lou is great too. Sal the DJ is the best DJ, so if he is downstairs, stay downstairs, if he is upstairs, then go upstairs!
(4)
Shari R.
I absolutely love this place, fabulous food and music. The staff and owner/manager were incredibly gracious and attentive. We tried 3 different items, the popcorn crawfish was excellent and the Etouffee was my favorite entree, but the gumbo was delicious also. Will definitely be returning as soon as possible!
(5)
Celly G.
i guess for being in the middle of no where it does its job. always super crowded though, its impossible to be on the dancefloor most of the time... they make some decent drinks.
(2)
Maureen M.
This place should be in L.A. because it Rocks!!!! We walked in and were instantly transported to the French Quarter in New Orleans! The food was fantastic, the music was smokin' and the service was 5 star all the way! There is also two floors of Dancing on the weekends so don't miss it!!! I will be coming back for more!!!!!
(5)
Reuben D.
I have now discovered another place down Main Street that is a club and serves cocktails: Blitz. So i take back my previous statement that Crawdaddies is the only real "club" in Visalia. Everything else is still the same, though. That is all.
(3)
Marijojo S.
The ambiance was not so great. People dinning there would just stare. That was very disappointing. We dined upstairs. I was hoping for a more compassionate crowd, since we weren't from there. The food tasted okay. I was shocked with the portion of what they served; we did pay quite a good amount. I ordered the chicken marsala. I would not go back there again.
(2)
Jorge E.
upon visiting the family my better half and i decided to venture away from the back yard pool and see what this little town had to offer other than skin cancer and slow breathing. seriously, i love this town. its got its rough edges, the heat, the smog, but its a small down vibe that's cool and family friendly. hey, i am not reviewing Visalia. so for Crawdaddys. i wont compare it to the cuisine of my beloved SF or its surrounding areas, that would be unfair. the food. ok, i am sure the food has been frozen at one point in its life. that is not a reason not to eat it. it simply wont have the flavor of fresh. but they do a pretty good job. the staff is super friendly, the drinks are stiff and the food is pretty good. don't hate because its not SF or some haute place in LA. there getting going. the market may simply not sustain wide spread high end cuisine....yet. but its getting there. with all the farming around and lets face it Mexicans, this place will evolve over time. i have high hopes for this Little town down in the valley. they will overshadow their rougher, scarier neighbors to the north, Fresno.
(3)
Brent A.
I must admit I've only been once. I'm from the south so I love Cajun and creole food. This just did not satisfy. The food was ok, but just not there in terms of spice and portion. I ordered the fried catfish and only got one fillet. Catfish is so cheap and at the price they charged I felt ripped off that I didn't get at least two. The food was ok quality, just not better and felt overpriced.
(2)
Denise F.
Food, Service, however, customers after 9pm until close have basically made it a forgettable experience because of the fights and dangerous environment on the weekends
(3)
Vivian S.
Shrimp appetizer was good, but everything else was just alright. Crab cakes were nothing to write home about.
(2)
JennyO C.
Fantastic food, dynamic service & what am incredible band!! My husband says skip the black pepper ribye & I say must try the blackened salmon with lemon hitter sauce! What a great way to celebrate our independence
My husband and I really enjoyed ourselves here on a Friday night. There was a short wait for a downstairs table, so we went upstairs and had a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere upstairs was more reserved and elegant. There was a musician, but it wasn't too loud and seemed very appropriate for the intended ambiance. Downstairs had a totally different vibe: loud fun, and more of a bar scene. Luckily we got our meals ordered before the band started, because once they did, you couldn't hear anything. The band was great, and again, totally appropriate for the vibe they were going for. I'd give them 5 stars for both service and atmosphere. Normally though, when I go to a restaurant, it is for the food. While it wasn't bad, it just wasn't what you'd expect for the fine dining type high prices they charge. It was slightly better than what I would expect from a chain like Applebee's or Chilis. Luckily I had a Groupon, and one if our dinners was free, so I wasn't terribly disappointed. I'd go back more for the service and entertainment value than the food, maybe stick with drinks and appetizers.
(3)
Christine D.
I like this place more than Tommy's. My boyfriend and I came here on a whim one night and I'm glad we did. The reviews were mixed, and as much as I rely on Yelp for helping me pick and choose a place to eat, I thought I'd make up my own mind. Everything was great...the service, the food, the ambiance (sat upstairs), everything.....They didn't even look twice when we showed up on the bike and my bf was dressed in his full motorcycle club gear. We were worried that they would be uncomfortable, but nope...they seated us and didn't treat us (him) any differently than they did the people who were dressed in suits. We'll be back!
(5)
Sam C.
This was our first time here and it seem like a pretty chill place to have a drink at the bar or dine in. My wife and I were actually please with our food, the portions were great and the service was excellent We will definitely try this place again.
(5)
Judy M.
Sat down and had very bad street glare till they closed the doors - Why they seat you in the bar area, I have no idea while Happy Hour is going on, I thought they had a regular dining area upstairs. Tortilla Soup without chicken - is just vegetable soup w/little tortilla chips and cheese thrown in. Soup actually had a good taste for vegetable soup. We didn't even get bread or crackers with our soup and salad until after our meals were served and we had to ask for it (they weren't busy - there were only 3 tables being served at our time). Rack of Ribs at $20 were boiled and tasteless (except for the bbq sauce) - when you bit into them even the bone fell apart into your mouth. Husband's $18 jambalya was good he said. This was all in the early evening around 5:30 to 6:00 - no band yet, which I'm glad cause we were seated right there next to it. At least we can say we tried it.
(2)
Lilyana H.
Didn't try the food when we went, but the music was great. We really liked it! Its a great little spot to have a beer and do some dancing.
(5)
Chris S.
The environment is great, waiters are nice, wife and I ate there on a Friday night. downstairs is more of a bar area, 2nd floor is calmer more like a regular restaurant. I had the cordon bleu when I was there.The food is a little overpriced for the quality, but still pretty tasty. I would recommend going here for the whole new orleans feel here in the central valley.
(4)
Cache C.
The food was okay but I wasn't impressed at all. It took quite awhile before we even got water. I also expected to have more dishes with crayfish in them and found it odd there is teriyaki chicken on the menu. I thought the place was supposed to have a creole New Orleans feel to it, especially pertaining to the food. I gave two stars because I enjoyed the band performing that night. I won't be returning.
(2)
Joy C.
Crawdaddy's has so much potential: the location, the ambiance and the entertainment are all there, but the food is lacking. To start I had a beer and my friend had a glass of the pinot grigio. My beer was in a perfectly cold glass, just the way I like it. Unfortunately my friend did not enjoy her wine. We ordered the boudine balls, clam chowder, crab cake dinner and the gumbo. The boudine balls were okay, but the mozzarella cheese was still cold in the middle, I expected it to be melted since the balls were on the darker brown side of the fried food spectrum. I guess the oil they were fried in was just too hot. This appetizer was also supposed to have andouille sausage, but neither of us could tell it had any in it. My crab cakes dinner came with the clam chowder. The clam chowder was good and full of black pepper, it's a good thing I love black pepper! The only downside was the temperature of the soup, it came out lukewarm instead of piping hot. Shortly after the soup came, the entrees and the bread came out. The breadsticks were definitely fresh from the oven and went really well with the soup. The entrees however left much to be desired. My friend's gumbo had shrimp, crayfish and sausage. I don't know where Crawdaddy's sources their crayfish come from, but wherever they lived had to have been really muddy really really muddy because their meat tasted murky. They should check out Kelly's Crayfish which come out of the San Joaquin Delta...those taste delicious. On to my crab cakes. It came with three and I struggled to get through one because the kitchen did not clean the crab properly and I was biting down on crab shell :( The dish came with some sort of slaw. I enjoyed the tang of what it was dressed in, but the vegetables that it came with (no cabbage in this slaw...) were all different sizes, when I think of slaw I think of uniformly cut vegetables. The carrots, red onion and the green vegetable (either celery or green bell pepper, I wouldn't know I didn't taste it since I'm not a fan of either) were varying sizes and extremely sour/bitter, it almost tasted pickled. Sadly, we left hungry and ended up getting margaritas and mexican food elsewhere.
(2)
Bill T.
Went there on 5/16/13 because of the gumbo reviews. Service was great, waiter very friendly, but the down stairs needs a cleaning (smelled of stale beer). The wife had the Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo which was a large portion with lots of shrimp and very tasty. I had the Lg Gumbo which also a good portion, but lacked flavor whatsoever. For the price, I don't think we'll be back.
(3)
Mrs. S.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because when the band plays its so loud you can't even hear yourself think. However, I LOVE their Mac N Cheese made extra spicy. Also good is their spaghetti and meatballs, catfish, and bread sticks, which taste fresh and yeasty! We go hear at least once a month. Don't really recommend this place as a hot spot for clubbing if you're any race other than Hispanic.
(4)
Ruby K.
Had a wonderful lunch of basa fish & calamari. Love Dora & Ramon, if you want great service ask for them. The food is excellent!
(5)
Dan R.
I won't go back. I have heard mixed opinions of this place, most feeling like I do, just not worth a second trip. My pasta was OK, tasty, soup was good, ambiance sucks on the first floor, an OK place to drink and have some appetizers but a sit down dinner, forget it. Overpriced. Service, just OK. Cafe food, restaurant prices. Waiters need to learn to treat their customers better,, not like an imposition, as were others I saw in the place. My wife ordered ribs, I fed them to the dog after rinsing the BBQ sauce off them, overcooked, no flavor. It's too bad, this has the potential of being a nice place to go to, the owner needs to take the reins and do a makeover. I place this place on my don't go back to list, Tahoe Joes is also on this list.
(2)
Chavo Q.
The food has gotten better, along with the new wait staff. The management on the other hand is garbage!! Good luck on talking to the manager, he's always playing in the band.
(2)
Lauren H.
I'm gonna saw 2.5 stars to be exact... The live music here is probably the best part, followed by the food, and then the service. This last Saturday night, the band was pretty decent, but it was super loud. So loud that conversation was difficult. We had a blast watching this 60 year old lady on the dance floor, trying so hard to draw attention to herself by sucking on a penis-shaped straw...pathetic, but I guess it sure got our attention! Ha! The food was pretty good...I had the burger which was nice and juicy and the veges were fresh, pretty and ripe...something you don't always get on a burger! Wish I would have tried the sweet potato fries, but I forgot to ask for them when ordering. Husband got the chicken fried steak...pretty meh looking...and tasting...why the hell can't anyone make a decent chicken fried steak?!? We ordered appetizers...Sampler platter..not much to speak of really. Nothing seems freshly made..like they just pull it out of the freezer, fry and serve. That sucks 'cause real Cajun food is damn good and impossible to find around here. And onto the service. The bar service that we had prior to seating was excellent. The (ahem...handsome) bartender busted out a fresh bottle of wine for me, which I certainly appreciate. Our waitress was another story. She was fairly MIA for most of the meal, only coming to take our order and drop off the food. We soooo would have had more drinks if she would have been around a little more. Pretty disappointing really. Had to flag her down to ask for mustard, and again for drinks, and again for the check.....gees. I wouldn't go back here unless invited along by someone else, and then, would prefer to just go for drinks and then go somewhere else to eat.
(3)
Ed V.
This review is for upstairs dining, not the downstairs "bar/music" area. The service my wife and I received was superb. Timing was excellent, from drinks and apps to entrees and desserts. The servers that waited on our table were there when we needed them. The food was very delicious. I ordered the prawns with a jalapeno cream cheese sauce, which was wonderful (albeit not spicy for it being a "jalapeno" sauce). My wife's steak was cooked to perfection. Crab cakes for appetizer and chocolate dessert were flavorful as well. All told, the meal cost about $80 for the two of us, so this is a place just for special occasions for us, but is a place we will return to.
(5)
Tricia D.
My coworker and I wanted to dine on something different, something besides the traditional American fare tonight in downtown Visalia, so he suggested Crawdaddy's, a Cajun place. There was live entertainment tonight, which was a nice touch, although it was kind of difficult to talk over the music, and you know it's loud when you can barely hear the waitress. Legendary R&B songwriter JJ Jackson was there though and sung his biggest hit "But It's Alright". I was in the presence of a legend! On to the food: it was so-so. The fried calamari came in the form of sticks that looked like bent fingers. Yes, a little disturbing. I ordered the chicken gumbo. It had a kick to it. Kind of ordinary overall though. The buttery garlic breadsticks were piping hot and tasty, and for that, I forgive the waitress for bringing them out 15 minutes after the appetizer.
(3)
Kyndal K.
Great food and great staff. I remember hearing negative comments about the food years ago but looks like they've changed it up because everything I've ordered has been delicious and the staff is always welcoming and friendly.
(5)
Trish M.
This review is for the 1st floor dining area. My husband and I stopped by for dinner last night. We ordered the shrimp gumbo, turkey avocado sandwich, and shrimp fettuccini. Everything was tasty, except for the gumbo. It was a little too fishy tasting for me. Everything else was pretty darn good! The service, ambiance, and drinks were great too. The best part was the live band that started playing about 8:00 p.m. They were absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed. I would have given it a 5 star review, but as I mentioned the gumbo was fishy tasting. Darn it...I haven't had a good gumbo since visiting Nawlins.
(4)
may m.
I have come here over the years, both for the restaurant portion and for the nightclub portion. I have to say that there are some good and bad about this place. The only bad I have came across was when a friend and I were having drinks at the bar, the "bartender" not only took forever to serve us, but when I paid for our drinks, she cut me short 4 dollars. Now a couple of dollars isnt a big deal to me, plus I only noticed when I went back to my wallet when I went to the other bar down the street later that night, so I couldnt do anything about it . But really though, that made me feel like not only was she not paying attention, but she didnt even care. My experience with the second floor, the nightclub section, has been good so far everytime I frequent it. The music is loud and the dj plays top hits. There are lots of young guys and girls dancing and having a drink. I know in the past there has been some brawls outside, but I have never seen any the times I have been there. I have seen security throughout and it made me feel pretty safe! The food is good. Although I think some of the prices are a little crazy. I say this because the service, like I said earlier, is pretty hit or miss. The staff is either really helpful and attentive, or careless and slow. I actually had one of the waiters a few years ago complain to one of the people I was with to tip him more because it was a busy night for him and all we ordered was dessert. Like we were wasting his time or something. I hope the waiters and staff get some customer service training.
(3)
Alexis T.
I don't know if the service is different downstairs, but NEVER EAT UPSTAIRS! My co-workers and I took one of our friends out to eat here to say good-bye to him since he was moving to Texas. I've never eaten here, but we decided to eat here since we all worked down the street and it would be easy. THE WORST SERVICE OF MY LIFE. I've been a server before, and I have never treated someone like their waiter Ramon treated us. He never checked on us, everyone but him brought us our drinks, refills and our appetizers. When he took our appetizer order, and my manager told him we were going to order dinner also, he cut her off and said, "I'm only doing appetizers right now" and waived his hand in her face to shut her up. After we all FINISHED our appetizers, he NEVER came back to take our order. After sitting there for over 20 minutes with no one waiting on us, my manager had to ask another server passing by if we could order dinner. By then I was fuming and refused to order dinner. Out of a table of 15, only 2 people ordered dinner because we were tired of waiting. Our guest of honor had to leave after just having an appetizer, so he could finish packing for his move, and we were all hungry! Mind you, while we sat wondering when someone would get to us, our server checked on at least 4 other tables of 2 people all around us THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. He then had the nerve to try and charge us for the bread we ate, even though he originally told us it was complimentary. He later changed that and said it was only complimentary if we ordered a meal, I argued back telling him I would have order more than an appetizer and drinks had someone come and taken my order. He took the bread off, and gave me my bill. For one Appetizer, two alcoholic drinks and an ice tea, my ticket came to $32.27. I'm not proud of this, but I left no tip. As a former waitress, I always appreciate a good server, and NEVER not leave a tip when I eat out at a restaurant, this is the first, and only time. When I checked my recent history tonight for my American Express card, I glanced at the charge from Crawdaddy's and saw it had cleared for 56.58. I wasn't sure how much we actually paid off of the top of my head, but when I found my receipt and looked at the detailed history for my AMEX statement, I saw that Ramon had left himself a $24.31 tip, even though I specifically remember leaving him nothing for his horrid service. That's roughly a 75% tip! I am LIVID and am going to warn all of my friends at work to check their statements, and you better believe I will have some choice words for either the manager or owner of Crawdaddy's tomorrow.
(1)
Linda K.
Went for dinner last night with friends. Service and kitchen are slow. My red beans and rice were great but my husband's NY steak was like shoe leather. He did mention something to the waiter and he in turn said something to the cook and that was that. No sorry, let us take something off the bill, nothing. So if you're in the mood for red beans and rice I would go. Don't order steak and don't think you can have a conversation while eating. The music was too loud for dinner.
(2)
Steve J.
Heard about this place for years, but just never bothered to make the long drive. Met a business associate on a Thursday night at his suggestion. 4 stars for having a great wine (Justin Cab); 2 stars for inattentive service; 1 star for food. Had jambalaya pasta; tasted like bell pepper and the pasta wasn't close to being cooked. Needed another 3-4 minutes to al dente. Wife said the fish was ok, but she didn't eat much. Band was great!
(2)
Lora N.
The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. We called ahead and made a reservation, so we didn't have to wait. The band was great, but they were really loud and it was really hard to hear the servers, and each other. That is really our only complaint.
(4)
Lisa L.
Very rude waiter and gross food! This place is such a waste of money! For the price of the entree you really should.be getting much better quality food! There wasn't live music only a couple of other men having beer. I had the crabcakes and they were so disgusting. $17.95 for 2 crabcakes and a side of funky smelling salad and boxed rice.pilaf. the waiters obviously has no idea about the menu because he kept on asking around on why I only received two crabcakes when the menu stated 3! Such a waste of my time!
(1)
Ty N.
Food is ok, but a little overpriced considering the quality and quantity. Setting was nice. It's also nice at night when the downstairs area is turned into a bar/nightclub.
(3)
Robert M.
Showed up for the jazz concert held on Thursday 04/12/2012 featuring Francisco Torres. The atmosphere was spectacular (First time ever being at Crawdaddy's) the lighting was just right and wasn't at all loud (I'm hard of hearing) Usually when I go out I am flooded with the crowd noise and can't hear people sitting 3ft away from me. The service was.... so so. I wish the waiters and waitresses were more into customer service (that's seems to have fallen out of all businesses though) I honestly have to say that the "water boy" did a better job. (mind you I'm a food critique by nature) As for the food.... well lets just say I was actually blown away. I orders the Scallops which were cooked perfectly and the mushroom lemon butter sauce hit the spot. My brother and his wife ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu... my taste test I had of that made my mouth water. The only thing that got to me was the side salad which for the price was not worth it. it was mainly iceberg lettuce and some red cabbage. I didn't like the fact that I had about a 2' piece of the core to eat on. :/ but overall the experience was great. I remember a time when I had looked at a menu for them sometime back and noticed a "not so southern" menu. But after my first visit... it is actually very southern with a "american/Italian" kick to it. Great concept! I will be going back in the future. There are more dishes that I need to try. Bon Appetit!!!
(4)
Patty P.
I had my birthday here and quite enjoyed the music, which is the best part. The ambiance was nice, low lighting, New Orleans theme, and a huge bar. We were seated right away and our waiter was fairly nice. I ordered the fried catfish and the waiter brought me grilled catfish. My friend ordered a Scarface (which was DELICIOUS!) and the waiter brought her a po boy sandwich but he was nice enough to bring out her right order. Two of my guest ordered steaks and it wasn't good...it looked boiled and almost rubber. Like I said, the best part is the music. Some of the dishes were really tasty...just not the steaks.
(3)
Adrian M.
Fantastic food & atmosphere Went for dinner with a group. Amazing upstairs seating with a huge bar. Ordered the calamari, seviche and green mussels. Musseels and seviche. Calamari was hands down the best i have ever had. This is pan fried and served with a lemon butter sauce which is out of this world. I ordered the crawfish etoufffee. Fantastic and fresh.
(5)
Susie F.
This was our second time at Crawdaddy's. Came here for a childless dinner as we had sitters for the night. I ordered the Chicken Cordon Blue and the hubby had a seafood pasta. Both dishes were Ah-maze-ing!! Friendly service and relaxing ambiance. (We ate upstairs.)
(5)
Marisela A.
My boyfriend and I have dined here on two occasions, once for a date night for the two of us and another with a group of couples. Both times I've been impressed with the meals we both ordered. The first time we sat on the first floor and we immediately were impressed by the atmosphere. It's a great place for a romantic dinner for two. That night they had a jazz band perform which was a great addition to a perfect meal. My boyfriend and I both ordered the rib eye steak. I always order my steaks medium and I often find that my steaks come overcooked at most places but I was pleased when my steak came exactly how I ordered it. It was the best steak I've had in a while, along with the grilled onions that topped it and the delicious mashed potatoes. The service was great as well! The second time, we dined on the 2nd floor. It had a nice setup and was more mellow than the first floor. The service was a little slow, given that we were the only group in the room. The waiter skipped our drink order so we stuck with water. My boyfriend and I both ordered the chicken breast with a lemon butter sauce and a side of vegetables. I also had mashed potatoes and my boyfriend had the rice pilaf. I was very satisfied with the meal. The chicken was juicy and very flavorful! The food without question doesn't cease to amaze me. Overall a great place to dine in Visalia. We will deffinitley be returning to try the pork marsala!
(5)
Golda R.
Expensive dinner prices for sub par food. My $18 shrimp gumbo tasted like something store bought. What saved this review is the awesome waitstaff and our window seat view.
If I could I would give them negative stars. First off this place is way over priced for what you get. There are far better places down the street like Lunch Box and Sequoia Brewing company. Save your money for those places. Next I ordered 5 cheese macaroni with chicken and was brought chicken Alfredo. Then I waited while the rest of the table got their food for 15 min for my meal. When it was brought to me it was so hot it burned my mouth and I burned my hand on the plate. I was able to eat about three bites since I had to wait till it was cool off then the rest of my party was ready to go. So I took the rest to go. Worst Meal I Have Had In A Long Time. To top it off I didn't get a discount for the screw up and had to pay $24 for the worst mac and cheese of my life. My Mac and cheese at home is much better with bacon and only costs $2. Please never eat here it is awful.
(1)
Ana B.
It fun to people watch here along with meet new people and hang out with friends!! There house wine was yummy to me...
(4)
Noemi H.
Came here for 4th of July weekend and had an amazing experience here. After being treated unfairly by another place down the street ( Brewbakers), Craw daddy's happily accepted my family and I, and made accommodations for our large party. Everything we tried was delicious: the sampler platter, clam chowder, mac and cheese, seafood pasta, and the steak. They generously split our plates and they were not stingy with the alcohol in the mixed drinks. Our server was a sweet heart. We passed by again at night, and the night life there was great. Good music and good people.
(5)
R R.
Even though the name promises something akin to good ol' Louisiana Cajun Food, it's really just watered down gumbo and traditional pasta dishes with creole names that you can find pretty much anywhere. If you're looking for a place to drink though, this definitely seemed like one of the most "happening" places in Visalia on a Saturday night. Three friends and I shared 3 dishes and an appetizer: - Breadsticks (complimentary, but must be requested): freezer/toaster-oven quality. - Boudin balls = tasty, not plentiful though. Def leave you wanting more. - Grilled AND fried calamari (yes, both): somehow tender and tasty with the cheese sauce. Not crazy about it though. - blackened-salmon: home run! This one was great and I don't usually enjoy cooked salmon. - seafood gumbo: tasty, but disappointing nonetheless. Not enough bang for your buck with the amount of seafood you'd expect for a $19+ dish and certainly not spicy enough. The service was nice, but sometimes took too long. The live music was cool, but go upstairs if you want to converse with the people you're dinning with.
...at least the waiter was good. For the price the food was not worth it. Dinner for two for just under 100.00 The fresh fish was undercooked and the table next to us complained that their lobster was overcooked. The crabcakes were good. Probably won't return.
(2)
Josie C.
Heard good things about this place. Walked into a nice bar like setting and headed upstairs to the quieter, more dinner like decor. Food did not disappoint. For the appetizers, I tried the ceviche under recommendation by the waiter, escargot and the calamari. Everything was excellent. Ceviche was made to perfection. Up to par with one of the best I've had. Chunks & chunks of avocado, tomatoes and fish. Expect fine dining service speed... Meaning we sat for over an hr already and barely just got the appetizers. The poached salmon, which was under recommendation, was alright. Nicely flavored. I also tried the chicken pesto fettuccine and shrimp pasta. Chicken pesto was standard. Tasted like it should but the shrimp pasta was too bland. Overall, it was a nice surprise to find this place in Visalia. The appetizers were 2 thumbs up but the entrees were average. But I do see myself coming back to try more things on the menu.
(3)
David A.
Solid 5 Stars Upstairs!!! You can eat here for $15-$45 per head depending on what you order. I have never eaten downstairs. I have always eaten upstairs because we love the old "Depot Rest" food. We eat here 6-8 times a year. Ray & Dora are a great pair of true restaurateurs. They brought the best food in Visalia back after the Depot Restaurant turned into the Vintage Press #2. Ray & Dora will make you feel appreciated, give you great service and meet you every dining need. You can choose your own meal from the menu or just tell them what you are feeling like and they can choose for you. They won't miss... The black pepper steak ala Giatana is pepper hot but probably the the best steak you will have for around $30 anywhere. Thanks Troy for trusting them to keep the old Depot spirit live on the 2nd floor of Crawdaddy's. People... Forget Mooney Blvd. Go downtown to eat!!!
(5)
Ness S.
Brought my little cousin here for her birthday dinner, she just turned 21 and wanted a chance to use that I.D haha. I've been to this restaurant a few times ate at the 1st level which was always cool can't complain, customer service is always good and food decent but pricey, honestly I don't think it's worth what you pay. Overall the place is a good vibe and a good for a date or group function. Note; live music starts around 8ish. Last night I ate on the 2nd floor for the first time I really enjoyed it very nice ambiance/decor and would be a great place for a date, there were candle lit tables, balcony to step outside on or eat during the day. I had the blackened cat fish, rice, fresh veggies with a side of Zin I'll give them a 3 out of 5 stars A for effort, lacked flavor in the fish. Again service was great manager came and greeted us personally and let us know the specials, very cool hospitable even boxed our left overs for us. The prices for items were on the high side dinner was literally $20-30 a plate appetizers were $9 up, salad $11 up, as I said earlier they should come down a bit it's nice but the food quality is not worth the pretty penny. Note: 10 of clock the club crowd comes plus a Dj. I stayed a bit had some drinks had a few dances it was cool, mixed crowd.
(3)
Kirk D.
If you're lucky enough to be offered the lasagna special get it it's the best in Visalia. Dora and Ramon impeccable service, Anthony nice job bartending, try Anthony's cucumber margarita he kills it. thank you
(4)
Roger H.
I would recommend this place. The salads are great and the chicken cordon bleu wasn't too bad either. This is an excellent place to get food BUT stay for the live entertainment. The music and cocktails are OUTSTANDING! It's good to see a vibrant downtown in Visalia and why this establishment is part of it. Thanks Crawdaddy's for the excellent evenings out!
(5)
Jennifer B.
My husband and I were in Visalia for work and decided to try Crawdaddy's and we were not disappointed. The service was awesome and the food was so fresh and very tasty!! I had the Stuffed avocado salad and my husband had the stuffed bell pepper. Both were great! If you are in Visalia or live here you should try Crawdaddy's. They have a downstairs area with a bar and an upstairs for a more intimate dinning experience. We came in for lunch and sat at the bar area which was fun! There seemed to be a lot of local customers that frequent the restaurant and the owner was walking around greeting people which was great to see! I will be back to visit soon!
(5)
Bre W.
I can't comment on the quality of their food because we never got that far. My friend and I went in for dinner on a weekday, they weren't terribly busy. We waited at the door for someone to seat us and no one ever came up to us, so we figured maybe we just seat ourselves. We sat down at a table for two. There were two waiters walking around, one of which looked like he had absolutely nothing to do. Neither waiter looked our way, brought us menus, or even told us they'd be right with us. We sat for 20 minutes being completely ignored then finally got up and left to eat somewhere else. Terrible service.
(1)
Ron Q.
My hosts recommended Crawdaddy's so we headed over after work. They have live music which was a real plus. I didn't catch the name of the band, but they'll be there for the next few months on Thursday nights. It was late, so we didn't have appetizers, just dove straight into dinner. I was stuck between the seafood gumbo and the blackened catfish. The waiter recommended the blackened catfish, so thats what i went with. It came with a side of rice pilaf and veggies. The catfish was flavored well, but was a bit too salty for my taste overall. My friends ordered the Mac n cheese and the chicken gumbo. Both looked good and were given a thumbs up by those who ordered the dishes. Unfortunately it was late and we were full so we didn't partake in dessert. Overall a good first visit to Crawdaddy's and I will return to try the gumbo!
(4)
Casey R.
I always get the butter and garlic calamari. It is to die for. Melt in your mouth. They also have great jambalaya, bosa fish, artichocke hearts, aw hell everything is great. My favorite spot in downtown. ALSO the service is fantasic, Dora, eddie, raMon, the bartenders are A+ service.
(5)
Chad N.
Excellent all the way around! The best chicken enchiladas ever! The lunchtime staff is top of the line and the prices are fair for this quality of an experience.
(5)
Diane F.
We went to this restaurant yesterday for the first time and I wasn't very impressed with the food. I ordered the ribeye extra rare and when it came out, it was medium and very salty. Maybe the meat was starting to turn and they couldn't serve it rarer than medium and had to over salt it to mask the rot taste? The mashed potatoes were decently seasoned. The vegetables were also adequate. All in all I didn't get food poisoning, so that's a good thing, right?
(2)
Sirena H.
So we walked in had no idea it was a split level dinning. Hubby and I decided to go up stairs for dinner. It was a Good choice bc it was so quiet and romantic. And expensive. I had the chicken salad with vinaigrette dressing it was so good! Husband had the chicken cor don blue he liked it but didn't love it. If we go back next time we will sit down stairs and get the live band and more casual affect! Looking forward to it. Over all good.
(4)
Rae S.
We went in for a BD dinner! The place was extremely noisy, but folks were having fun. The Lobster dinner was listed as Market Price so I asked an employee what the price was and he opined $39.95, but he'd check to make sure. A good while later, the waiter took our orders and I ordered the lobster. Turned out the guess on the price was $30 low! The dinner was OK, but certainly not worth $70! The band was entertaining. If you're looking for a party atmosphere, then Crawdaddy's is fine, but if you want a good dinner there are a lot of better choices!
(2)
VeeVee N.
This review is for the food (1st floor). My family and I had stopped in here the other day after purchasing a Groupon. I had some reservations about eating here, since the last few Groupons I have purchased ended up being total dives. I am so glad that we did though... Before coming here I decided to check out the online menu. It is a little confusing at first when you see the 1st floor and then 2nd floor menu. I assumed it was all one restaurant that had the same food regardless of what floor you ate on. We walked in and I do have to say that for the time of day (lunch) that this place was like a ghost town, and that had me a little scared. We stood around for a minute waiting to be seated, the bartender didnt seem to care that we were there... We were then seated by a friendly lady who ended up being our waitress. I am not a big seafood fan by any stretch of the imagination, but some members of my family are. So it is crazy that everyone ended up getting a hamburger etc and I had a Shrimp Po' Boy. The Po' Boy came out and it had quite a few fried baby shrimp on it, as well as tomatoes, lettuce and a yummy tabasco mayo. The shrimp were fried in a buttermilk batter which was freaking awesome!!! At one point I started to fill up, with the bread on the sandwhich and all, so I started picking off the shrimp and eating them solo as they were to good to be let go to waste. I did ask for more tabasco mayo on the side, as I am a big time sauce person no matter what I eat. Other members in my party ordered a Blue Bayou Burger, Value Burger and 2 kids meals- one spaghetti and meatball (yes only one, but big) and macaroni and cheese. I took a little sample of everyone's and they were delish too. The kids macaroni and cheese was out of this world, and I would even consider ordering it for myself next time just cause its so good (dont know if theyd let me do that though, lol). It is not your typical boxed Kraft, it is real big noodles and REAL cheese!!! The only bummer is that they are closed on Mondays (hubby's day off). I cannot wait to go back here, they will def have a repeat customer w/ me if my next visit was as good as this one. And the prices are reasonable...my family that had 3 adults and 2 kids ate for $58 and that included our soft drinks.
(5)
Gregory K.
Haiku bar review: Street vibes of N'awlins // Live music, raw energy // Beer and whiskey fueled You won't find a happier crowd than Crawdaddys on a Saturday night. The downstairs hosts a live band, while the upstairs DJs various EDM genres. The upstairs patios are excellent for people watching! The vibe is surprisingly similar to an actual joint on Bourbon Street. One Sazerac please!
(4)
Lori M.
NOLA this is not, but it's a solid try. Crawdaddy's is located at the end of Main Street, on a corner, and looks like it was imported straight from Bourbon Street. With the brick facade and black wrought iron railings, you can imagine someone dropping beads down to you. We sat in the bar area since the upstairs was closed for lunch. Service was friendly and our beverages arrived promptly. We asked for 12 wings, Cajun popcorn shrimp, and a full rack of ribs. Ask and you shall receive. The wings were good. The popcorn shrimp was a bit overly breaded but tasty enough. The ribs were juicy and tasty. All was a-okay. Stella was served nice and cold. So was the Barrelhouse pint. Our meal was fine. I can think of other places in Visalia where I would rather eat. However, I imagine that this place lights up at night since the bar is set up for a live band. If I had a live band playing, then I tend to be less picky about my food. Stop here for a cold brew and a hot band. Bring your own beads. Laissez les bon temps rouler.
(3)
Andrea G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this restaurant. My husband and I brought our sister here and all 3 of us loved everything about this place. We had a late dinner, around 8. We wanted to sit downstairs because there was live music. We got our food fairly fast, salad about 5 minutes and dinner about 15 minutes after ordering. I ordered the Cajun chicken/shrimp/sausage pasta... Delish! I loved it! My husband and sister ordered the lobster tail. All 3 of us enjoyed our meals without a complaint. Our waiter was on top of our drinks too, which is a major plus for me. My water glass needs to always be full! The band that played was amazing. They played everything from Elvis to Ramon Ayala to Stevie Wonder to Sublime. After dinner we danced with a bunch of drunkards. Everyone was super nice and fun! I can't think of anything negative to say about this restaurant. Loved everything about it.
(5)
Cristina A.
This place is beyond incredible. The vibe the bartender everything about it was good. My husband and I had a great experience. We went twice a day. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a place to chill, drink, and just enjoy a night.
(5)
Colleen M.
Came here on a Saturday night and it was great! They had a live band performing and they were really good, except they played a little too much Beatles for my taste. This place has a New Orleans theme. I got the seafood gumbo small bowl, which was huge! I could only imagine how big the large is. It was good, NOLA of course is better. I also got a hurricane but that really didn't taste like a NOLA hurricane. I also had a grey goose soda and my bf had an old fashion and they were soo strong, well worth the price. Overall, great time.
(4)
Joel A.
Ate there this afternoon and a great meal it was. A delicious calamari with a creamy sauce and a pastrami sandwich to follow. Stacy got a stuffed avocado salad and bread was served on the table. Can't complain about the service at all, he was very attentive and was constantly refilling the beverages. Great visit I recommend for lunch and dinner.
(4)
Jimmy U.
Went there twice for a dinner upstairs. Both times this was wonderful experiences. Food is very high quality, portions are larges, staff is friendly and atmosphere is great (don't worry even if they have music downstairs, this is quiet upstairs). I highly recommend this place! Prices are in the high range, but totally worth it imho.
(5)
Deby M.
Stopped in for lunch, food, service, and ambiance was great. Next time I'll come back to enjoy the band.
(4)
DJ Sal C.
Caprice salad : Excellent! Fresh mozzarella, basil, fresh tomato slice, olive oil... Quintana Burger: frickin amazing! Freshly ground steak rolled in ground peppercorn served on fresh baked bun.
(5)
Michael C.
Been here for dinner probably 3-4 times now and the quality of the food keeps getting worse, while the prices keep going up. Went on a weeknight and they had a live band going. I could not have a conversation with the person I went with because the band was so loud. Even the waiter had to get right up next to us to take our orders. Let me tell you, for as much as they charge for a steak dinner I expected a good tasting steak, it didn't happen. I've had better tasting steaks for half the price at Sizzler. Before, when I went I ordered their Catfish, and it was okay, but you only get one small filet with your dinner, barely enough and not filling at all (unless you're a child). I don't think I'd recommend this place for dinner. Maybe if you want to go in and have a beer while listening to loud country music it would be okay, but stay away from the over priced menu.
(1)
Karina G.
We came here with another couple. It was our first time here. Loved the first impression. It was nicely lit, looked very formal yet felt casual which is perfect for me. I loved the mural and the waiters all looked like they like working here. They had a live band, the music was lively and the singer was amazing! Now to the food. We tried the Acadia shrimp appetizer as recommended by our waitress. It was to die for! It tasted like food we had in Miami! I wish they had a dinner entree of just that! I had the Cajun shrimp pasta and the clam chowder soup. The soup was as good as the award winning chowder in Monterrey. I know where to go next time I want that and can't drive all the way to The bay. Also, huge portion! It was pretty stuffed after that. Even my husband thought it was a lot. The pasta was amazing, I loved it! It was thick and creamy and also a ridiculous portion. The good thing...we had enough for 2 for lunch the next day! So worth it the money and the drive. I would definitely recommend this place especially when there is live music. Side note: my husband had the pasta jambalaya and thought my pasta was better but our couple friend thought the other way around. Either way, no way you can go wrong here.
(5)
AC G.
My family & I had lunch here on Sunday, August 25. The server was the only waitress. Although she was nice, service was a little slow. Food was good, not great. Loved the dipping sauce served w/ the sweet potato fries, but the fries themselves weren't crispy & were all tangled together. Our table had the shrimp poboy, steak poboy & blackened catfish. All ok. Nice change, but won't be a favorite of ours.
(3)
M M.
Stopped here for St. Patty's Day. Wife and I had drinks and appetizers. There isn't much N'awlins food here. Just food drowned in Tabasco... We tried the Boudin Balls. Which is supposed to be Crispy rice balls stuffed with Andouille sausage and Mozzarella. But it wasn't crispy, and the rice was over cooked and you couldn't taste the sausage. We also had Brushetta. Which was grilled sourdough with tomato,garlic and basil. But, it came out on soggy bread( should have used french bread) and had no flavor. The bread should be rubbed in olive oil before grilling. It was plain... Popcorn shrimp tasted frozen. Its a shame, because if they actually made fresh food from N'awlins, it would be awesome.
(2)
Jay O.
Pros: Chicken Gumbo was good Large Portion Service was good, but it was kinda dead, so it should be good service. Cons: It's in Visalia! LOL
(4)
Jen D.
A group of 10 of us went to Crawdaddy's last night to celebrate my friends birthday. Another person and I decided to share a meal. While ordering, we stated we were going to "share" a meal. We ordered the Chicken Parmigiano. It was a little pricier then we had expected to spend but it was cooked well and tasted good. When our bill arrived, we noticed a $5.00 charge for them to put our meal on two plates instead of one. I have never heard or seen such a thing and I share a meal with my young daughter all the time. I questioned our waiter about it. I said he never mentioned the additional charge when we ordered. He told me that it's a standard charge and everybody does it. If I had known of this ridiculous charge, I would've just asked for a second fork (but that would probably be an additional $2.50!). We did enjoy the rest of our evening. The band was good and so was the DJ. I just felt that this ridiculous charge was worth writing about! I would definitely go back... but only for the entertainment!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Steven V.
Excellent food, drink & service. Downtown Visalia rocks, accommodates groups, fair price.
(4)Gabriel M.
Feel like a VIP almost anytime I go here. The owner actually goes out of his way to meet my friends and I at the door if he sees us coming and seats us! can you believe that? Fun friendly night spot during the week, and lines out the door on the weekend. YOU MUST get the fried catfish, BEWARE they will try to upsell with the grilled, ignore the suggestion and get the fried, AMAAZING.
(4)Devin B.
We have recently relocated to visalia for my husbands job and while staying in our holtel, decided to try crawdaddy's! I'm so happy we did! We started by ordering a half dozen oyster shooters, and the kids meals ( pizza & macaroni and cheese), the food came out really quickly, and the oysters we so fresh and the kids food looked so good! We then ordered our meals, my husband got the shrimp Po'boy and I got the pasta Jambalaya!!! We both were so pleased with our food! We even ordered another half dozen oyster shooters! I couldn't even finish all my food, the plate was so big and full of yumminess! The price was pretty good for as much food as we got! I think I found my favorite place here!!! The staff was awesome, the man I assume was the manager gave my daughter a little toy and everyone checked on us frequently!!! Awesome food! Awesome atmosphere! Awesome staff!!!! Love it!!!!
(5)Sara G.
We visited at 5pm on a Friday and the place was empty. Food was decent but not really traditional Cajun or Creole. More of a Cajun/Creole/American fusion. Service was ok. I'd expect it to be superb considering we were the only customers. I also thought they were a little pricey. Overall a disappointment.
(2)Yung H.
We went to this restaurant at the recommendation of the front desk clerk at the hotel we were staying at. The 1st floor was pretty lively, and we could hear the music playing. The band was pretty good. We ate on the 2nd floor balcony, and people watched as they passed by downstairs on the street. For Visalia, the location is pretty good. However, the food was pretty bad in general. I asked the waitresses if the oysters in the oyster shooters were fresh, and where they were from, and she didn't know the answers. She said no one had ever asked those questions before. I ordered the seafood gumbo. It tasted like gumbo ingredients boiled in a tomato broth. My wife's pasta jambalaya was pretty tasteless. I should note that we ordered dishes from the downstairs menu, because we felt like having Cajun food. The 2nd floor menu is traditional fair, like steaks and the like. If I ever pass through VIsalia again, I am definitely skipping this place.
(2)Erin And David L.
The nightlife at this newer establishment is much better than the food. This is a three story building the first story is a restaurant/bar and the second is a lounge/bar... I don't really know what is on the third story to be honest. I heard a rumor once that the third story is haunted. Fun for friends and family!
(3)Esther G.
great service and great food! Our hostess Dora was simply great and beautiful. Very nice customer service and very considerate. Great music upstairs. I was in visalia for my boyfriends birthday weekend and his was one of our first restaurants in visalia and we loved it! Dora was awesome!
(5)Bradley S.
We ate upstairs in the fancy formal dining area. They had some live music playing which was nice. The servers were good about getting to us and brought out our food pretty quickly, although there was only 2 other people upstairs with us. The food wasn't bad, but for what they charged it wasn't worth it. We could have gotten the same thing at Mimi's for half the price... At least we got our appetizer half price using our movie ticket.
(3)Andrew A.
I went to this place which I heard was great and it was a sure let down.. I arrived and with open tables still waited about 10 mins before anyone attempted to sit me down, then waited another 10 to get a menu...A band was supposed to play at 9 but noithing happned till about 945 still not eating. A younger band showed up but was told it was old slow boring band day and that is what happened. Finally a waitress came to take my order and no crawdads...what the H... what kind of place says New Orleans and no crawdads..what a joke...I ordered chicken fried steak which was ok but took a while...empty glass sat for awhile so I got up went to the bar for a refill and the guy tried to charge me for another soda....NEVER GO if your hungry...a sad day in Visalia, CA
(1)Jessica L.
Great spot for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, hanging with a large group of friends. They have karaoke during the week, and on the weekends at night it turns into a club. Great steak with pasta Alfredo. I wouldn't come eat here all the time, but for special occasions it is alright. Make sure that you take cash because they do charge a cover to get in during the weekend - Chavo is the best bartender and Lou is great too. Sal the DJ is the best DJ, so if he is downstairs, stay downstairs, if he is upstairs, then go upstairs!
(4)Shari R.
I absolutely love this place, fabulous food and music. The staff and owner/manager were incredibly gracious and attentive. We tried 3 different items, the popcorn crawfish was excellent and the Etouffee was my favorite entree, but the gumbo was delicious also. Will definitely be returning as soon as possible!
(5)Celly G.
i guess for being in the middle of no where it does its job. always super crowded though, its impossible to be on the dancefloor most of the time... they make some decent drinks.
(2)Maureen M.
This place should be in L.A. because it Rocks!!!! We walked in and were instantly transported to the French Quarter in New Orleans! The food was fantastic, the music was smokin' and the service was 5 star all the way! There is also two floors of Dancing on the weekends so don't miss it!!! I will be coming back for more!!!!!
(5)Reuben D.
I have now discovered another place down Main Street that is a club and serves cocktails: Blitz. So i take back my previous statement that Crawdaddies is the only real "club" in Visalia. Everything else is still the same, though. That is all.
(3)Marijojo S.
The ambiance was not so great. People dinning there would just stare. That was very disappointing. We dined upstairs. I was hoping for a more compassionate crowd, since we weren't from there. The food tasted okay. I was shocked with the portion of what they served; we did pay quite a good amount. I ordered the chicken marsala. I would not go back there again.
(2)Jorge E.
upon visiting the family my better half and i decided to venture away from the back yard pool and see what this little town had to offer other than skin cancer and slow breathing. seriously, i love this town. its got its rough edges, the heat, the smog, but its a small down vibe that's cool and family friendly. hey, i am not reviewing Visalia. so for Crawdaddys. i wont compare it to the cuisine of my beloved SF or its surrounding areas, that would be unfair. the food. ok, i am sure the food has been frozen at one point in its life. that is not a reason not to eat it. it simply wont have the flavor of fresh. but they do a pretty good job. the staff is super friendly, the drinks are stiff and the food is pretty good. don't hate because its not SF or some haute place in LA. there getting going. the market may simply not sustain wide spread high end cuisine....yet. but its getting there. with all the farming around and lets face it Mexicans, this place will evolve over time. i have high hopes for this Little town down in the valley. they will overshadow their rougher, scarier neighbors to the north, Fresno.
(3)Brent A.
I must admit I've only been once. I'm from the south so I love Cajun and creole food. This just did not satisfy. The food was ok, but just not there in terms of spice and portion. I ordered the fried catfish and only got one fillet. Catfish is so cheap and at the price they charged I felt ripped off that I didn't get at least two. The food was ok quality, just not better and felt overpriced.
(2)Denise F.
Food, Service, however, customers after 9pm until close have basically made it a forgettable experience because of the fights and dangerous environment on the weekends
(3)Vivian S.
Shrimp appetizer was good, but everything else was just alright. Crab cakes were nothing to write home about.
(2)JennyO C.
Fantastic food, dynamic service & what am incredible band!! My husband says skip the black pepper ribye & I say must try the blackened salmon with lemon hitter sauce! What a great way to celebrate our independence
(4)Dan O.
The food was quite good and the service was great; however, upon receiving the bill we discovered we were charged for two additional entrées (one of which was the most expensive on the menu). Luckily, we were smart enough to check the itemized bill and get it corrected. Given that we never discussed ordering those items it was very suspicious how they ended up on our tab. The verdict: worth a visit just make sure you carefully inspect the bill before paying.
(2)Brooke S.
My husband and I really enjoyed ourselves here on a Friday night. There was a short wait for a downstairs table, so we went upstairs and had a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere upstairs was more reserved and elegant. There was a musician, but it wasn't too loud and seemed very appropriate for the intended ambiance. Downstairs had a totally different vibe: loud fun, and more of a bar scene. Luckily we got our meals ordered before the band started, because once they did, you couldn't hear anything. The band was great, and again, totally appropriate for the vibe they were going for. I'd give them 5 stars for both service and atmosphere. Normally though, when I go to a restaurant, it is for the food. While it wasn't bad, it just wasn't what you'd expect for the fine dining type high prices they charge. It was slightly better than what I would expect from a chain like Applebee's or Chilis. Luckily I had a Groupon, and one if our dinners was free, so I wasn't terribly disappointed. I'd go back more for the service and entertainment value than the food, maybe stick with drinks and appetizers.
(3)Christine D.
I like this place more than Tommy's. My boyfriend and I came here on a whim one night and I'm glad we did. The reviews were mixed, and as much as I rely on Yelp for helping me pick and choose a place to eat, I thought I'd make up my own mind. Everything was great...the service, the food, the ambiance (sat upstairs), everything.....They didn't even look twice when we showed up on the bike and my bf was dressed in his full motorcycle club gear. We were worried that they would be uncomfortable, but nope...they seated us and didn't treat us (him) any differently than they did the people who were dressed in suits. We'll be back!
(5)Sam C.
This was our first time here and it seem like a pretty chill place to have a drink at the bar or dine in. My wife and I were actually please with our food, the portions were great and the service was excellent We will definitely try this place again.
(5)Judy M.
Sat down and had very bad street glare till they closed the doors - Why they seat you in the bar area, I have no idea while Happy Hour is going on, I thought they had a regular dining area upstairs. Tortilla Soup without chicken - is just vegetable soup w/little tortilla chips and cheese thrown in. Soup actually had a good taste for vegetable soup. We didn't even get bread or crackers with our soup and salad until after our meals were served and we had to ask for it (they weren't busy - there were only 3 tables being served at our time). Rack of Ribs at $20 were boiled and tasteless (except for the bbq sauce) - when you bit into them even the bone fell apart into your mouth. Husband's $18 jambalya was good he said. This was all in the early evening around 5:30 to 6:00 - no band yet, which I'm glad cause we were seated right there next to it. At least we can say we tried it.
(2)Lilyana H.
Didn't try the food when we went, but the music was great. We really liked it! Its a great little spot to have a beer and do some dancing.
(5)Chris S.
The environment is great, waiters are nice, wife and I ate there on a Friday night. downstairs is more of a bar area, 2nd floor is calmer more like a regular restaurant. I had the cordon bleu when I was there.The food is a little overpriced for the quality, but still pretty tasty. I would recommend going here for the whole new orleans feel here in the central valley.
(4)Cache C.
The food was okay but I wasn't impressed at all. It took quite awhile before we even got water. I also expected to have more dishes with crayfish in them and found it odd there is teriyaki chicken on the menu. I thought the place was supposed to have a creole New Orleans feel to it, especially pertaining to the food. I gave two stars because I enjoyed the band performing that night. I won't be returning.
(2)Joy C.
Crawdaddy's has so much potential: the location, the ambiance and the entertainment are all there, but the food is lacking. To start I had a beer and my friend had a glass of the pinot grigio. My beer was in a perfectly cold glass, just the way I like it. Unfortunately my friend did not enjoy her wine. We ordered the boudine balls, clam chowder, crab cake dinner and the gumbo. The boudine balls were okay, but the mozzarella cheese was still cold in the middle, I expected it to be melted since the balls were on the darker brown side of the fried food spectrum. I guess the oil they were fried in was just too hot. This appetizer was also supposed to have andouille sausage, but neither of us could tell it had any in it. My crab cakes dinner came with the clam chowder. The clam chowder was good and full of black pepper, it's a good thing I love black pepper! The only downside was the temperature of the soup, it came out lukewarm instead of piping hot. Shortly after the soup came, the entrees and the bread came out. The breadsticks were definitely fresh from the oven and went really well with the soup. The entrees however left much to be desired. My friend's gumbo had shrimp, crayfish and sausage. I don't know where Crawdaddy's sources their crayfish come from, but wherever they lived had to have been really muddy really really muddy because their meat tasted murky. They should check out Kelly's Crayfish which come out of the San Joaquin Delta...those taste delicious. On to my crab cakes. It came with three and I struggled to get through one because the kitchen did not clean the crab properly and I was biting down on crab shell :( The dish came with some sort of slaw. I enjoyed the tang of what it was dressed in, but the vegetables that it came with (no cabbage in this slaw...) were all different sizes, when I think of slaw I think of uniformly cut vegetables. The carrots, red onion and the green vegetable (either celery or green bell pepper, I wouldn't know I didn't taste it since I'm not a fan of either) were varying sizes and extremely sour/bitter, it almost tasted pickled. Sadly, we left hungry and ended up getting margaritas and mexican food elsewhere.
(2)Bill T.
Went there on 5/16/13 because of the gumbo reviews. Service was great, waiter very friendly, but the down stairs needs a cleaning (smelled of stale beer). The wife had the Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo which was a large portion with lots of shrimp and very tasty. I had the Lg Gumbo which also a good portion, but lacked flavor whatsoever. For the price, I don't think we'll be back.
(3)Mrs. S.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because when the band plays its so loud you can't even hear yourself think. However, I LOVE their Mac N Cheese made extra spicy. Also good is their spaghetti and meatballs, catfish, and bread sticks, which taste fresh and yeasty! We go hear at least once a month. Don't really recommend this place as a hot spot for clubbing if you're any race other than Hispanic.
(4)Ruby K.
Had a wonderful lunch of basa fish & calamari. Love Dora & Ramon, if you want great service ask for them. The food is excellent!
(5)Dan R.
I won't go back. I have heard mixed opinions of this place, most feeling like I do, just not worth a second trip. My pasta was OK, tasty, soup was good, ambiance sucks on the first floor, an OK place to drink and have some appetizers but a sit down dinner, forget it. Overpriced. Service, just OK. Cafe food, restaurant prices. Waiters need to learn to treat their customers better,, not like an imposition, as were others I saw in the place. My wife ordered ribs, I fed them to the dog after rinsing the BBQ sauce off them, overcooked, no flavor. It's too bad, this has the potential of being a nice place to go to, the owner needs to take the reins and do a makeover. I place this place on my don't go back to list, Tahoe Joes is also on this list.
(2)Chavo Q.
The food has gotten better, along with the new wait staff. The management on the other hand is garbage!! Good luck on talking to the manager, he's always playing in the band.
(2)Lauren H.
I'm gonna saw 2.5 stars to be exact... The live music here is probably the best part, followed by the food, and then the service. This last Saturday night, the band was pretty decent, but it was super loud. So loud that conversation was difficult. We had a blast watching this 60 year old lady on the dance floor, trying so hard to draw attention to herself by sucking on a penis-shaped straw...pathetic, but I guess it sure got our attention! Ha! The food was pretty good...I had the burger which was nice and juicy and the veges were fresh, pretty and ripe...something you don't always get on a burger! Wish I would have tried the sweet potato fries, but I forgot to ask for them when ordering. Husband got the chicken fried steak...pretty meh looking...and tasting...why the hell can't anyone make a decent chicken fried steak?!? We ordered appetizers...Sampler platter..not much to speak of really. Nothing seems freshly made..like they just pull it out of the freezer, fry and serve. That sucks 'cause real Cajun food is damn good and impossible to find around here. And onto the service. The bar service that we had prior to seating was excellent. The (ahem...handsome) bartender busted out a fresh bottle of wine for me, which I certainly appreciate. Our waitress was another story. She was fairly MIA for most of the meal, only coming to take our order and drop off the food. We soooo would have had more drinks if she would have been around a little more. Pretty disappointing really. Had to flag her down to ask for mustard, and again for drinks, and again for the check.....gees. I wouldn't go back here unless invited along by someone else, and then, would prefer to just go for drinks and then go somewhere else to eat.
(3)Ed V.
This review is for upstairs dining, not the downstairs "bar/music" area. The service my wife and I received was superb. Timing was excellent, from drinks and apps to entrees and desserts. The servers that waited on our table were there when we needed them. The food was very delicious. I ordered the prawns with a jalapeno cream cheese sauce, which was wonderful (albeit not spicy for it being a "jalapeno" sauce). My wife's steak was cooked to perfection. Crab cakes for appetizer and chocolate dessert were flavorful as well. All told, the meal cost about $80 for the two of us, so this is a place just for special occasions for us, but is a place we will return to.
(5)Tricia D.
My coworker and I wanted to dine on something different, something besides the traditional American fare tonight in downtown Visalia, so he suggested Crawdaddy's, a Cajun place. There was live entertainment tonight, which was a nice touch, although it was kind of difficult to talk over the music, and you know it's loud when you can barely hear the waitress. Legendary R&B songwriter JJ Jackson was there though and sung his biggest hit "But It's Alright". I was in the presence of a legend! On to the food: it was so-so. The fried calamari came in the form of sticks that looked like bent fingers. Yes, a little disturbing. I ordered the chicken gumbo. It had a kick to it. Kind of ordinary overall though. The buttery garlic breadsticks were piping hot and tasty, and for that, I forgive the waitress for bringing them out 15 minutes after the appetizer.
(3)Kyndal K.
Great food and great staff. I remember hearing negative comments about the food years ago but looks like they've changed it up because everything I've ordered has been delicious and the staff is always welcoming and friendly.
(5)Trish M.
This review is for the 1st floor dining area. My husband and I stopped by for dinner last night. We ordered the shrimp gumbo, turkey avocado sandwich, and shrimp fettuccini. Everything was tasty, except for the gumbo. It was a little too fishy tasting for me. Everything else was pretty darn good! The service, ambiance, and drinks were great too. The best part was the live band that started playing about 8:00 p.m. They were absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed. I would have given it a 5 star review, but as I mentioned the gumbo was fishy tasting. Darn it...I haven't had a good gumbo since visiting Nawlins.
(4)may m.
I have come here over the years, both for the restaurant portion and for the nightclub portion. I have to say that there are some good and bad about this place. The only bad I have came across was when a friend and I were having drinks at the bar, the "bartender" not only took forever to serve us, but when I paid for our drinks, she cut me short 4 dollars. Now a couple of dollars isnt a big deal to me, plus I only noticed when I went back to my wallet when I went to the other bar down the street later that night, so I couldnt do anything about it . But really though, that made me feel like not only was she not paying attention, but she didnt even care. My experience with the second floor, the nightclub section, has been good so far everytime I frequent it. The music is loud and the dj plays top hits. There are lots of young guys and girls dancing and having a drink. I know in the past there has been some brawls outside, but I have never seen any the times I have been there. I have seen security throughout and it made me feel pretty safe! The food is good. Although I think some of the prices are a little crazy. I say this because the service, like I said earlier, is pretty hit or miss. The staff is either really helpful and attentive, or careless and slow. I actually had one of the waiters a few years ago complain to one of the people I was with to tip him more because it was a busy night for him and all we ordered was dessert. Like we were wasting his time or something. I hope the waiters and staff get some customer service training.
(3)Alexis T.
I don't know if the service is different downstairs, but NEVER EAT UPSTAIRS! My co-workers and I took one of our friends out to eat here to say good-bye to him since he was moving to Texas. I've never eaten here, but we decided to eat here since we all worked down the street and it would be easy. THE WORST SERVICE OF MY LIFE. I've been a server before, and I have never treated someone like their waiter Ramon treated us. He never checked on us, everyone but him brought us our drinks, refills and our appetizers. When he took our appetizer order, and my manager told him we were going to order dinner also, he cut her off and said, "I'm only doing appetizers right now" and waived his hand in her face to shut her up. After we all FINISHED our appetizers, he NEVER came back to take our order. After sitting there for over 20 minutes with no one waiting on us, my manager had to ask another server passing by if we could order dinner. By then I was fuming and refused to order dinner. Out of a table of 15, only 2 people ordered dinner because we were tired of waiting. Our guest of honor had to leave after just having an appetizer, so he could finish packing for his move, and we were all hungry! Mind you, while we sat wondering when someone would get to us, our server checked on at least 4 other tables of 2 people all around us THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. He then had the nerve to try and charge us for the bread we ate, even though he originally told us it was complimentary. He later changed that and said it was only complimentary if we ordered a meal, I argued back telling him I would have order more than an appetizer and drinks had someone come and taken my order. He took the bread off, and gave me my bill. For one Appetizer, two alcoholic drinks and an ice tea, my ticket came to $32.27. I'm not proud of this, but I left no tip. As a former waitress, I always appreciate a good server, and NEVER not leave a tip when I eat out at a restaurant, this is the first, and only time. When I checked my recent history tonight for my American Express card, I glanced at the charge from Crawdaddy's and saw it had cleared for 56.58. I wasn't sure how much we actually paid off of the top of my head, but when I found my receipt and looked at the detailed history for my AMEX statement, I saw that Ramon had left himself a $24.31 tip, even though I specifically remember leaving him nothing for his horrid service. That's roughly a 75% tip! I am LIVID and am going to warn all of my friends at work to check their statements, and you better believe I will have some choice words for either the manager or owner of Crawdaddy's tomorrow.
(1)Linda K.
Went for dinner last night with friends. Service and kitchen are slow. My red beans and rice were great but my husband's NY steak was like shoe leather. He did mention something to the waiter and he in turn said something to the cook and that was that. No sorry, let us take something off the bill, nothing. So if you're in the mood for red beans and rice I would go. Don't order steak and don't think you can have a conversation while eating. The music was too loud for dinner.
(2)Steve J.
Heard about this place for years, but just never bothered to make the long drive. Met a business associate on a Thursday night at his suggestion. 4 stars for having a great wine (Justin Cab); 2 stars for inattentive service; 1 star for food. Had jambalaya pasta; tasted like bell pepper and the pasta wasn't close to being cooked. Needed another 3-4 minutes to al dente. Wife said the fish was ok, but she didn't eat much. Band was great!
(2)Lora N.
The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. We called ahead and made a reservation, so we didn't have to wait. The band was great, but they were really loud and it was really hard to hear the servers, and each other. That is really our only complaint.
(4)Lisa L.
Very rude waiter and gross food! This place is such a waste of money! For the price of the entree you really should.be getting much better quality food! There wasn't live music only a couple of other men having beer. I had the crabcakes and they were so disgusting. $17.95 for 2 crabcakes and a side of funky smelling salad and boxed rice.pilaf. the waiters obviously has no idea about the menu because he kept on asking around on why I only received two crabcakes when the menu stated 3! Such a waste of my time!
(1)Ty N.
Food is ok, but a little overpriced considering the quality and quantity. Setting was nice. It's also nice at night when the downstairs area is turned into a bar/nightclub.
(3)Robert M.
Showed up for the jazz concert held on Thursday 04/12/2012 featuring Francisco Torres. The atmosphere was spectacular (First time ever being at Crawdaddy's) the lighting was just right and wasn't at all loud (I'm hard of hearing) Usually when I go out I am flooded with the crowd noise and can't hear people sitting 3ft away from me. The service was.... so so. I wish the waiters and waitresses were more into customer service (that's seems to have fallen out of all businesses though) I honestly have to say that the "water boy" did a better job. (mind you I'm a food critique by nature) As for the food.... well lets just say I was actually blown away. I orders the Scallops which were cooked perfectly and the mushroom lemon butter sauce hit the spot. My brother and his wife ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu... my taste test I had of that made my mouth water. The only thing that got to me was the side salad which for the price was not worth it. it was mainly iceberg lettuce and some red cabbage. I didn't like the fact that I had about a 2' piece of the core to eat on. :/ but overall the experience was great. I remember a time when I had looked at a menu for them sometime back and noticed a "not so southern" menu. But after my first visit... it is actually very southern with a "american/Italian" kick to it. Great concept! I will be going back in the future. There are more dishes that I need to try. Bon Appetit!!!
(4)Patty P.
I had my birthday here and quite enjoyed the music, which is the best part. The ambiance was nice, low lighting, New Orleans theme, and a huge bar. We were seated right away and our waiter was fairly nice. I ordered the fried catfish and the waiter brought me grilled catfish. My friend ordered a Scarface (which was DELICIOUS!) and the waiter brought her a po boy sandwich but he was nice enough to bring out her right order. Two of my guest ordered steaks and it wasn't good...it looked boiled and almost rubber. Like I said, the best part is the music. Some of the dishes were really tasty...just not the steaks.
(3)Adrian M.
Fantastic food & atmosphere Went for dinner with a group. Amazing upstairs seating with a huge bar. Ordered the calamari, seviche and green mussels. Musseels and seviche. Calamari was hands down the best i have ever had. This is pan fried and served with a lemon butter sauce which is out of this world. I ordered the crawfish etoufffee. Fantastic and fresh.
(5)Susie F.
This was our second time at Crawdaddy's. Came here for a childless dinner as we had sitters for the night. I ordered the Chicken Cordon Blue and the hubby had a seafood pasta. Both dishes were Ah-maze-ing!! Friendly service and relaxing ambiance. (We ate upstairs.)
(5)Marisela A.
My boyfriend and I have dined here on two occasions, once for a date night for the two of us and another with a group of couples. Both times I've been impressed with the meals we both ordered. The first time we sat on the first floor and we immediately were impressed by the atmosphere. It's a great place for a romantic dinner for two. That night they had a jazz band perform which was a great addition to a perfect meal. My boyfriend and I both ordered the rib eye steak. I always order my steaks medium and I often find that my steaks come overcooked at most places but I was pleased when my steak came exactly how I ordered it. It was the best steak I've had in a while, along with the grilled onions that topped it and the delicious mashed potatoes. The service was great as well! The second time, we dined on the 2nd floor. It had a nice setup and was more mellow than the first floor. The service was a little slow, given that we were the only group in the room. The waiter skipped our drink order so we stuck with water. My boyfriend and I both ordered the chicken breast with a lemon butter sauce and a side of vegetables. I also had mashed potatoes and my boyfriend had the rice pilaf. I was very satisfied with the meal. The chicken was juicy and very flavorful! The food without question doesn't cease to amaze me. Overall a great place to dine in Visalia. We will deffinitley be returning to try the pork marsala!
(5)Golda R.
Expensive dinner prices for sub par food. My $18 shrimp gumbo tasted like something store bought. What saved this review is the awesome waitstaff and our window seat view.
(3)Nikki A.
Came in excited, left confused. Came here for lunch. You can order off the menu or partake in their lunch buffet of salad and pasta, or chili relleno or enchiladas. That's where I was confused. Their theme conveyed a New Orlean's vibe, but I was offered an enchiladas option. Hmmm. Their menu seemed to be all over the place. Yes, there's Étouffée (which was the only dish that offered crawfish), Gumbo, Po'Boys, and Jambalaya. But there's also pasta, chicken wings, and burgers. Our server said "Our chili relleno and burgers are the best". Hmm not your "New Orleans" dishes? I ordered their Mac and Cheese. Yummy. But overall, the prices were a little much for what was being offered and the service provided. Friendly service but slow. Everyone in my party said the food was average. The food cannot justify the prices, especially if its for lunch.
(2)April B.
If I could I would give them negative stars. First off this place is way over priced for what you get. There are far better places down the street like Lunch Box and Sequoia Brewing company. Save your money for those places. Next I ordered 5 cheese macaroni with chicken and was brought chicken Alfredo. Then I waited while the rest of the table got their food for 15 min for my meal. When it was brought to me it was so hot it burned my mouth and I burned my hand on the plate. I was able to eat about three bites since I had to wait till it was cool off then the rest of my party was ready to go. So I took the rest to go. Worst Meal I Have Had In A Long Time. To top it off I didn't get a discount for the screw up and had to pay $24 for the worst mac and cheese of my life. My Mac and cheese at home is much better with bacon and only costs $2. Please never eat here it is awful.
(1)Ana B.
It fun to people watch here along with meet new people and hang out with friends!! There house wine was yummy to me...
(4)Noemi H.
Came here for 4th of July weekend and had an amazing experience here. After being treated unfairly by another place down the street ( Brewbakers), Craw daddy's happily accepted my family and I, and made accommodations for our large party. Everything we tried was delicious: the sampler platter, clam chowder, mac and cheese, seafood pasta, and the steak. They generously split our plates and they were not stingy with the alcohol in the mixed drinks. Our server was a sweet heart. We passed by again at night, and the night life there was great. Good music and good people.
(5)R R.
Even though the name promises something akin to good ol' Louisiana Cajun Food, it's really just watered down gumbo and traditional pasta dishes with creole names that you can find pretty much anywhere. If you're looking for a place to drink though, this definitely seemed like one of the most "happening" places in Visalia on a Saturday night. Three friends and I shared 3 dishes and an appetizer: - Breadsticks (complimentary, but must be requested): freezer/toaster-oven quality. - Boudin balls = tasty, not plentiful though. Def leave you wanting more. - Grilled AND fried calamari (yes, both): somehow tender and tasty with the cheese sauce. Not crazy about it though. - blackened-salmon: home run! This one was great and I don't usually enjoy cooked salmon. - seafood gumbo: tasty, but disappointing nonetheless. Not enough bang for your buck with the amount of seafood you'd expect for a $19+ dish and certainly not spicy enough. The service was nice, but sometimes took too long. The live music was cool, but go upstairs if you want to converse with the people you're dinning with.
(3)Donna B.
My boyfriend and I had a great evening upstairs Wednesdat night We sat at the bar for apetizers and drinks. Our bartender/server Anthony was awesome and the whole evening was a lot of fun. Food: Dinner Salad, Sautéed Mushrooms and Crab Cakes were all delicious. Drinks: Basil Lemon Drop, Blueberry Long Island were amazing! Ambiance: Romantic, fun, laid back. Service: Fast, accurate and friendly. An all around 5Star night! Thank you!
(5)Kerry S.
...at least the waiter was good. For the price the food was not worth it. Dinner for two for just under 100.00 The fresh fish was undercooked and the table next to us complained that their lobster was overcooked. The crabcakes were good. Probably won't return.
(2)Josie C.
Heard good things about this place. Walked into a nice bar like setting and headed upstairs to the quieter, more dinner like decor. Food did not disappoint. For the appetizers, I tried the ceviche under recommendation by the waiter, escargot and the calamari. Everything was excellent. Ceviche was made to perfection. Up to par with one of the best I've had. Chunks & chunks of avocado, tomatoes and fish. Expect fine dining service speed... Meaning we sat for over an hr already and barely just got the appetizers. The poached salmon, which was under recommendation, was alright. Nicely flavored. I also tried the chicken pesto fettuccine and shrimp pasta. Chicken pesto was standard. Tasted like it should but the shrimp pasta was too bland. Overall, it was a nice surprise to find this place in Visalia. The appetizers were 2 thumbs up but the entrees were average. But I do see myself coming back to try more things on the menu.
(3)David A.
Solid 5 Stars Upstairs!!! You can eat here for $15-$45 per head depending on what you order. I have never eaten downstairs. I have always eaten upstairs because we love the old "Depot Rest" food. We eat here 6-8 times a year. Ray & Dora are a great pair of true restaurateurs. They brought the best food in Visalia back after the Depot Restaurant turned into the Vintage Press #2. Ray & Dora will make you feel appreciated, give you great service and meet you every dining need. You can choose your own meal from the menu or just tell them what you are feeling like and they can choose for you. They won't miss... The black pepper steak ala Giatana is pepper hot but probably the the best steak you will have for around $30 anywhere. Thanks Troy for trusting them to keep the old Depot spirit live on the 2nd floor of Crawdaddy's. People... Forget Mooney Blvd. Go downtown to eat!!!
(5)Ness S.
Brought my little cousin here for her birthday dinner, she just turned 21 and wanted a chance to use that I.D haha. I've been to this restaurant a few times ate at the 1st level which was always cool can't complain, customer service is always good and food decent but pricey, honestly I don't think it's worth what you pay. Overall the place is a good vibe and a good for a date or group function. Note; live music starts around 8ish. Last night I ate on the 2nd floor for the first time I really enjoyed it very nice ambiance/decor and would be a great place for a date, there were candle lit tables, balcony to step outside on or eat during the day. I had the blackened cat fish, rice, fresh veggies with a side of Zin I'll give them a 3 out of 5 stars A for effort, lacked flavor in the fish. Again service was great manager came and greeted us personally and let us know the specials, very cool hospitable even boxed our left overs for us. The prices for items were on the high side dinner was literally $20-30 a plate appetizers were $9 up, salad $11 up, as I said earlier they should come down a bit it's nice but the food quality is not worth the pretty penny. Note: 10 of clock the club crowd comes plus a Dj. I stayed a bit had some drinks had a few dances it was cool, mixed crowd.
(3)Kirk D.
If you're lucky enough to be offered the lasagna special get it it's the best in Visalia. Dora and Ramon impeccable service, Anthony nice job bartending, try Anthony's cucumber margarita he kills it. thank you
(4)Roger H.
I would recommend this place. The salads are great and the chicken cordon bleu wasn't too bad either. This is an excellent place to get food BUT stay for the live entertainment. The music and cocktails are OUTSTANDING! It's good to see a vibrant downtown in Visalia and why this establishment is part of it. Thanks Crawdaddy's for the excellent evenings out!
(5)Jennifer B.
My husband and I were in Visalia for work and decided to try Crawdaddy's and we were not disappointed. The service was awesome and the food was so fresh and very tasty!! I had the Stuffed avocado salad and my husband had the stuffed bell pepper. Both were great! If you are in Visalia or live here you should try Crawdaddy's. They have a downstairs area with a bar and an upstairs for a more intimate dinning experience. We came in for lunch and sat at the bar area which was fun! There seemed to be a lot of local customers that frequent the restaurant and the owner was walking around greeting people which was great to see! I will be back to visit soon!
(5)Bre W.
I can't comment on the quality of their food because we never got that far. My friend and I went in for dinner on a weekday, they weren't terribly busy. We waited at the door for someone to seat us and no one ever came up to us, so we figured maybe we just seat ourselves. We sat down at a table for two. There were two waiters walking around, one of which looked like he had absolutely nothing to do. Neither waiter looked our way, brought us menus, or even told us they'd be right with us. We sat for 20 minutes being completely ignored then finally got up and left to eat somewhere else. Terrible service.
(1)Ron Q.
My hosts recommended Crawdaddy's so we headed over after work. They have live music which was a real plus. I didn't catch the name of the band, but they'll be there for the next few months on Thursday nights. It was late, so we didn't have appetizers, just dove straight into dinner. I was stuck between the seafood gumbo and the blackened catfish. The waiter recommended the blackened catfish, so thats what i went with. It came with a side of rice pilaf and veggies. The catfish was flavored well, but was a bit too salty for my taste overall. My friends ordered the Mac n cheese and the chicken gumbo. Both looked good and were given a thumbs up by those who ordered the dishes. Unfortunately it was late and we were full so we didn't partake in dessert. Overall a good first visit to Crawdaddy's and I will return to try the gumbo!
(4)Casey R.
I always get the butter and garlic calamari. It is to die for. Melt in your mouth. They also have great jambalaya, bosa fish, artichocke hearts, aw hell everything is great. My favorite spot in downtown. ALSO the service is fantasic, Dora, eddie, raMon, the bartenders are A+ service.
(5)Chad N.
Excellent all the way around! The best chicken enchiladas ever! The lunchtime staff is top of the line and the prices are fair for this quality of an experience.
(5)Diane F.
We went to this restaurant yesterday for the first time and I wasn't very impressed with the food. I ordered the ribeye extra rare and when it came out, it was medium and very salty. Maybe the meat was starting to turn and they couldn't serve it rarer than medium and had to over salt it to mask the rot taste? The mashed potatoes were decently seasoned. The vegetables were also adequate. All in all I didn't get food poisoning, so that's a good thing, right?
(2)Sirena H.
So we walked in had no idea it was a split level dinning. Hubby and I decided to go up stairs for dinner. It was a Good choice bc it was so quiet and romantic. And expensive. I had the chicken salad with vinaigrette dressing it was so good! Husband had the chicken cor don blue he liked it but didn't love it. If we go back next time we will sit down stairs and get the live band and more casual affect! Looking forward to it. Over all good.
(4)Rae S.
We went in for a BD dinner! The place was extremely noisy, but folks were having fun. The Lobster dinner was listed as Market Price so I asked an employee what the price was and he opined $39.95, but he'd check to make sure. A good while later, the waiter took our orders and I ordered the lobster. Turned out the guess on the price was $30 low! The dinner was OK, but certainly not worth $70! The band was entertaining. If you're looking for a party atmosphere, then Crawdaddy's is fine, but if you want a good dinner there are a lot of better choices!
(2)VeeVee N.
This review is for the food (1st floor). My family and I had stopped in here the other day after purchasing a Groupon. I had some reservations about eating here, since the last few Groupons I have purchased ended up being total dives. I am so glad that we did though... Before coming here I decided to check out the online menu. It is a little confusing at first when you see the 1st floor and then 2nd floor menu. I assumed it was all one restaurant that had the same food regardless of what floor you ate on. We walked in and I do have to say that for the time of day (lunch) that this place was like a ghost town, and that had me a little scared. We stood around for a minute waiting to be seated, the bartender didnt seem to care that we were there... We were then seated by a friendly lady who ended up being our waitress. I am not a big seafood fan by any stretch of the imagination, but some members of my family are. So it is crazy that everyone ended up getting a hamburger etc and I had a Shrimp Po' Boy. The Po' Boy came out and it had quite a few fried baby shrimp on it, as well as tomatoes, lettuce and a yummy tabasco mayo. The shrimp were fried in a buttermilk batter which was freaking awesome!!! At one point I started to fill up, with the bread on the sandwhich and all, so I started picking off the shrimp and eating them solo as they were to good to be let go to waste. I did ask for more tabasco mayo on the side, as I am a big time sauce person no matter what I eat. Other members in my party ordered a Blue Bayou Burger, Value Burger and 2 kids meals- one spaghetti and meatball (yes only one, but big) and macaroni and cheese. I took a little sample of everyone's and they were delish too. The kids macaroni and cheese was out of this world, and I would even consider ordering it for myself next time just cause its so good (dont know if theyd let me do that though, lol). It is not your typical boxed Kraft, it is real big noodles and REAL cheese!!! The only bummer is that they are closed on Mondays (hubby's day off). I cannot wait to go back here, they will def have a repeat customer w/ me if my next visit was as good as this one. And the prices are reasonable...my family that had 3 adults and 2 kids ate for $58 and that included our soft drinks.
(5)Gregory K.
Haiku bar review: Street vibes of N'awlins // Live music, raw energy // Beer and whiskey fueled You won't find a happier crowd than Crawdaddys on a Saturday night. The downstairs hosts a live band, while the upstairs DJs various EDM genres. The upstairs patios are excellent for people watching! The vibe is surprisingly similar to an actual joint on Bourbon Street. One Sazerac please!
(4)Lori M.
NOLA this is not, but it's a solid try. Crawdaddy's is located at the end of Main Street, on a corner, and looks like it was imported straight from Bourbon Street. With the brick facade and black wrought iron railings, you can imagine someone dropping beads down to you. We sat in the bar area since the upstairs was closed for lunch. Service was friendly and our beverages arrived promptly. We asked for 12 wings, Cajun popcorn shrimp, and a full rack of ribs. Ask and you shall receive. The wings were good. The popcorn shrimp was a bit overly breaded but tasty enough. The ribs were juicy and tasty. All was a-okay. Stella was served nice and cold. So was the Barrelhouse pint. Our meal was fine. I can think of other places in Visalia where I would rather eat. However, I imagine that this place lights up at night since the bar is set up for a live band. If I had a live band playing, then I tend to be less picky about my food. Stop here for a cold brew and a hot band. Bring your own beads. Laissez les bon temps rouler.
(3)Andrea G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this restaurant. My husband and I brought our sister here and all 3 of us loved everything about this place. We had a late dinner, around 8. We wanted to sit downstairs because there was live music. We got our food fairly fast, salad about 5 minutes and dinner about 15 minutes after ordering. I ordered the Cajun chicken/shrimp/sausage pasta... Delish! I loved it! My husband and sister ordered the lobster tail. All 3 of us enjoyed our meals without a complaint. Our waiter was on top of our drinks too, which is a major plus for me. My water glass needs to always be full! The band that played was amazing. They played everything from Elvis to Ramon Ayala to Stevie Wonder to Sublime. After dinner we danced with a bunch of drunkards. Everyone was super nice and fun! I can't think of anything negative to say about this restaurant. Loved everything about it.
(5)Cristina A.
This place is beyond incredible. The vibe the bartender everything about it was good. My husband and I had a great experience. We went twice a day. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a place to chill, drink, and just enjoy a night.
(5)Colleen M.
Came here on a Saturday night and it was great! They had a live band performing and they were really good, except they played a little too much Beatles for my taste. This place has a New Orleans theme. I got the seafood gumbo small bowl, which was huge! I could only imagine how big the large is. It was good, NOLA of course is better. I also got a hurricane but that really didn't taste like a NOLA hurricane. I also had a grey goose soda and my bf had an old fashion and they were soo strong, well worth the price. Overall, great time.
(4)Joel A.
Ate there this afternoon and a great meal it was. A delicious calamari with a creamy sauce and a pastrami sandwich to follow. Stacy got a stuffed avocado salad and bread was served on the table. Can't complain about the service at all, he was very attentive and was constantly refilling the beverages. Great visit I recommend for lunch and dinner.
(4)Jimmy U.
Went there twice for a dinner upstairs. Both times this was wonderful experiences. Food is very high quality, portions are larges, staff is friendly and atmosphere is great (don't worry even if they have music downstairs, this is quiet upstairs). I highly recommend this place! Prices are in the high range, but totally worth it imho.
(5)Deby M.
Stopped in for lunch, food, service, and ambiance was great. Next time I'll come back to enjoy the band.
(4)DJ Sal C.
Caprice salad : Excellent! Fresh mozzarella, basil, fresh tomato slice, olive oil... Quintana Burger: frickin amazing! Freshly ground steak rolled in ground peppercorn served on fresh baked bun.
(5)Michael C.
Been here for dinner probably 3-4 times now and the quality of the food keeps getting worse, while the prices keep going up. Went on a weeknight and they had a live band going. I could not have a conversation with the person I went with because the band was so loud. Even the waiter had to get right up next to us to take our orders. Let me tell you, for as much as they charge for a steak dinner I expected a good tasting steak, it didn't happen. I've had better tasting steaks for half the price at Sizzler. Before, when I went I ordered their Catfish, and it was okay, but you only get one small filet with your dinner, barely enough and not filling at all (unless you're a child). I don't think I'd recommend this place for dinner. Maybe if you want to go in and have a beer while listening to loud country music it would be okay, but stay away from the over priced menu.
(1)Karina G.
We came here with another couple. It was our first time here. Loved the first impression. It was nicely lit, looked very formal yet felt casual which is perfect for me. I loved the mural and the waiters all looked like they like working here. They had a live band, the music was lively and the singer was amazing! Now to the food. We tried the Acadia shrimp appetizer as recommended by our waitress. It was to die for! It tasted like food we had in Miami! I wish they had a dinner entree of just that! I had the Cajun shrimp pasta and the clam chowder soup. The soup was as good as the award winning chowder in Monterrey. I know where to go next time I want that and can't drive all the way to The bay. Also, huge portion! It was pretty stuffed after that. Even my husband thought it was a lot. The pasta was amazing, I loved it! It was thick and creamy and also a ridiculous portion. The good thing...we had enough for 2 for lunch the next day! So worth it the money and the drive. I would definitely recommend this place especially when there is live music. Side note: my husband had the pasta jambalaya and thought my pasta was better but our couple friend thought the other way around. Either way, no way you can go wrong here.
(5)AC G.
My family & I had lunch here on Sunday, August 25. The server was the only waitress. Although she was nice, service was a little slow. Food was good, not great. Loved the dipping sauce served w/ the sweet potato fries, but the fries themselves weren't crispy & were all tangled together. Our table had the shrimp poboy, steak poboy & blackened catfish. All ok. Nice change, but won't be a favorite of ours.
(3)M M.
Stopped here for St. Patty's Day. Wife and I had drinks and appetizers. There isn't much N'awlins food here. Just food drowned in Tabasco... We tried the Boudin Balls. Which is supposed to be Crispy rice balls stuffed with Andouille sausage and Mozzarella. But it wasn't crispy, and the rice was over cooked and you couldn't taste the sausage. We also had Brushetta. Which was grilled sourdough with tomato,garlic and basil. But, it came out on soggy bread( should have used french bread) and had no flavor. The bread should be rubbed in olive oil before grilling. It was plain... Popcorn shrimp tasted frozen. Its a shame, because if they actually made fresh food from N'awlins, it would be awesome.
(2)Jay O.
Pros: Chicken Gumbo was good Large Portion Service was good, but it was kinda dead, so it should be good service. Cons: It's in Visalia! LOL
(4)Jen D.
A group of 10 of us went to Crawdaddy's last night to celebrate my friends birthday. Another person and I decided to share a meal. While ordering, we stated we were going to "share" a meal. We ordered the Chicken Parmigiano. It was a little pricier then we had expected to spend but it was cooked well and tasted good. When our bill arrived, we noticed a $5.00 charge for them to put our meal on two plates instead of one. I have never heard or seen such a thing and I share a meal with my young daughter all the time. I questioned our waiter about it. I said he never mentioned the additional charge when we ordered. He told me that it's a standard charge and everybody does it. If I had known of this ridiculous charge, I would've just asked for a second fork (but that would probably be an additional $2.50!). We did enjoy the rest of our evening. The band was good and so was the DJ. I just felt that this ridiculous charge was worth writing about! I would definitely go back... but only for the entertainment!
(4)