I have had chances to come here before, but missed out. I was invited by my friend Mike Knaub and was glad I accepted. Not only did I enjoy the best catfish I ever tasted, but I also had some really tasty sauteed alligator tail. This place is what I imagine the family type places in New Orleans provide - great food and good atmospher with a well stocked bar and pretty decent taplist. I enjoyed Samuel Adams Noble Pils and also had Harpoon IPA to compliment the blackended catfish bites and garlic, mushroom and pepper accompaniment to the alligator which I would compare to lobster or some quality crabmeat. The band played and did so with a level of skill few bar bands I have seen in the area, playing plenty of southern and blues rock classics note for note. I will be sure to come back for happy hour when the beer is a buck cheaper until 7pm.
(5)
petranna j.
A mixed bag. Really good hush puppies. The crab ring was just ok. Liked the fried clams--the fried mushrooms in the app sampler were particularly good. The catfish prudhomme was really bad--they used old fish. I took a few bites, but it was pretty inedible. I told the waitress, and she really should have taken it off the check. My friend got the seafood sampler, and that catfish was very fresh. The peanut butter pie was absolutely delish. The had a nice singer. The nabe is a little sketchy, but the building is very cool. The rib special was also super yummy. Might go back, but then again might not.
(2)
James S.
First time here and I was disappointed. Ordered the Swampie with shrimp and it showed up with 4 shrimp and 3 slivers of sausage. For close to $20, I expected a bit more than a bowl of rice. The food was good, and my girlfriend shrimp trio was well prepared. Drop the price to something a little more reasonable and we may be back.
(3)
Martin C.
I will stick to business that don't discriminate
(1)
Tina Z.
We were a group of 8 from a meetup, Many of us were quite excited after hearing good things about this place. It took a bit till our apps came, sauteed gator had great flavor but is really chewy, The oysters with crab was tasty, cajun whoopie pie was good, it was a corn muffin with creamy crab, the corn muffin was really good and was the best part of my meal. The shrimp Sunny is in a tomato sauce that was so bland, like watered down tomatoes, not even salt. The Crabby Pork had creamy crab like the whoppie pie, had a dry pork loin and was served with mashed potaoes, weird. The Rice and Beans had ham and sausage and was tasty, nice flavors The jambalaya was cold, bland and dry The Seafood Gumbo had no seafood that I could see or okra, olny onion and celery and was tastless except for a little hot spice. I cant tell you about the crab louis, it took so long the woman who ordered had to leave and took it to go. Between the Apps and Entree it took over an hour. They bought us a round of drinks while we waited. IF the food is really good you can overlook alot of other faults but this scored low all around. You should skip it, really.
(2)
Bee D.
Never before last night have I thrown away an expensive restaurant meal ever, usually I can take it home and rework it, but not this dish! Not knowing what to expect with Cajun food I ordered something I felt was "safe", founder stuffed with crab meat over rice with a veggie. Not only did the fish have an very strong fish odor, there wasn't hardly any fish in the dish, the crabmeat was smothered with chopped peppers which I don't like and wasn't mentioned on the menu, the rice was undercooked, and the veggie was fried green tomotoes. I expected brocculi or something average and not being a fan of tomtoes was disappointed. The dish smelled bad, tasted worse, and the overall appearance was colorless. Thank God I came bearing a gift card because I would have never paid for that. The waitress offered me a few choices in exchange for the tomotoes - applesauce, cole slaw, but made no other offerings when I told her I disliked the meal. In fact she never came back and we had to go up to the bar to ask for our bill. For a $17 meal, both the food and service were disappointing.
(1)
Stacey L.
We've been here twice now and had similar experiences. The service is very fast and kind. The employees are nice, the owners personable. 5 stars for the servers. The food is hit and miss: We had a 1/2 bucket of crawfish. It looked good and those that were good really were great! However, there were 3 rancid crawfish in our 1/2 bucket. That is to say, these 3 fellas were dead long before they were cooked, had gone all grey inside and straight-tailed outside, and probably could have made a person very sick. (Though that person would have had to have no sense of smell or taste, and hence actually eaten the gross little things.) It should be standard practice to remove bad crawfish before serving. Though it can be hard to look into a huge vat of live crawfish and see which ones aren't moving anymore, it really isn't hard to see which ones have straight tails after cooking, and it seems odd to serve it to the customer and let them sort them out. I stress, however, that the other crawfish in the bucket were wonderful. I wouldn't have hesitated to order another 1/2 bucket and picked through them myself if need be. The sauteed alligator was a shame, as alligator is a delicious and delicate meat that has to be cooked gently to be enjoyed. What we discovered is that all the different sizes of meat strips were put in the pan at the same time. If you've ever cooked meat, you're probably wincing right now, because you know that in order for the larger pieces to have been cooked properly, the tiny pieces had to be overcooked into little rubber balls we could have bounced down the hallway. That's exactly what happened: The few large pieces were cooked to perfection and delicious. But most of it was small pieces, and they were like chewing rubber. The vegetables were cooked well, however, and mostly the dish WAS vegetables, so we ate around the chewy bits. It was just a shame to have to waste half of the meat in the dish. Crab chowder was the daily soup when we were in, and we expected a classic creamy soup, possibly with corn. But instead, we received a soup that appeared to be made with a beef broth. Apparently it was actually Manhattan crab chowder (though it wasn't presented that way). This by itself is not a problem, just unexpected, but the soup also seemed to have some kind of pumpkin spice in it--a nutmeg perhaps, or ground ginger? It was a very strange addition to the soup. It was tasty otherwise, but what an odd note to put in a crab chowder! I was able to eat just under 1/3 of mine before the strange taste turned me off completely, but my dining partner wasn't bothered so much and ate all of his. When it came to the main course, there were a few lovely things: The hushpuppies are absolutely amazing! They are perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, incredibly buttery, very lightly spiced, and absolutely wonderful. Also, the coleslaw is very tasty: Not too vinegary, not too creamy, and all the pieces nice and small, so you don't pull up a sudden unexpected slab of cabbage. I could make a meal out of just the hushpuppies and the coleslaw. When it came to my actual dinner, I wished I had. The fish tasted cooked right from frozen, mushy as porridge. The rice was bland and overcooked, and the sauce tasted as if from a can--not even a jar, but a tin can. There were tiny crawfish tails in the sauce, and these were overcooked to a rubbery consistency as well, and also tasted cooked from frozen. I ordered the dish spicy, but it wasn't at all. Further, the food was barely lukewarm when it arrived at the table. No steam, and growing dull and dry on top. Not that I think being hot would have saved it, it's just that food meant to be served hot shouldn't arrive to the customer lukewarm. It must have been sitting on the hot plate for 20 minutes. I took one bite of the dinner portion. When my plate was gathered later, there was no concern about that. It should be concerning when a customer barely touches their dinner. Finally, there was dessert. The pecan pie looks lovely on the menu. To my utter dismay, before bringing it to me, they apparently microwaved it to death. It arrived unreasonably hot and melting all over the plate. I tried a bite anyway, and it was just inedible. It had been microwaved past the point of solvency and became a gelatinous mass spreading across the plate. Very unfortunate. My dining partner's bread pudding was made of little chopped squares, which seemed odd. The first time we were there, the entertainment was excellent and drew us into the bar until late in the evening. The second time, it was terrible, with the singer out of key and off beat the entire time we were there. So the entertainment is hit and miss too, it seems. We will probably go back when the entertainment we enjoyed comes back again. There are some interesting drinks on the menu. Hushpuppies & coleslaw for dinner, anyone?
very greasey and poor quality. i would NOT recommend this place. the service was mixed but overall i did not feel like welcomed. considering the prices, one would expect more than bland, cheap food.
(1)
Warren C.
Was there early ... 1130 for lunch. When my son wanted a second bowl of corn and bacon chowder and they were all out. Can u say leftovers from last nite???? Fried alligator was very well cooked. The wings were over cooked.
(2)
Ashley Z.
went here yesterday for valentine's day and must say that we will definitely be going back. service was good (great, really, considering there were only 2 servers in the place and it was valentine's day). their onion rings are amazing! i could only eat one because it was so big but it was delicious! partner had cheese fries and they were good too. they have a decent wine list and interesting beers. i got the king louis supreme entree for dinner - blackened catfish with lump claw meat underneath it surrounded by chunky, slighlty spicy, tomato sauce. it was delicious!! partner had the swampi - garlicy rice stir fry with mushrooms, onions, peppers, andouille, shrimp, and gator. he loved it! prices were a bit expensive for our budget but it was great for a special treat. and considering we only live about 3 blocks from here we'll be back for their happy hour and bar specials...mondays are buy one get one 1/2 off apps, wednesday wings 4.25/dz... lostcajunkitchen.com/spe…
(4)
George T.
My wife and I were passing through Columbia, Pa and saw Prudhomme's in TripAdvisor. We went there on a busy Saturday evening and had a fabulous meal. The restaurant is Cajun and it features shrimp, alligator, catfish, etc. The place has a shabby cool atmosphere. How can I put it? No need to dress up. My wife ordered a shrimp platter that featured three kinds of shrimp. She gave me a taste and it was excellent. There was also a nicely spiced rice, pepper and tomato side that was a great compliment. There were also excellent hush puppies and Cole slaw. My own platter was similar but instead of shrimp, I ordered catfish. It was richly seasoned (very Cajun) and the fish was fresh. Being a Saturday night there was entertainment, a singer (really good) who did rhythm and blues and some easily recognizable popular tunes. I ordered a pint of Yuengling and my wife had a scotch. Our bill was an extremely reasonable $47+. With tip we walked out $57 dollar lighter but with a very rich dining experience. The desserts looked sinfully good (Cajun/New Orleans style pies) but our better angels recommended that we abstain in order to fit into our clothes. I really wanted to give it 4 1/2 stars but there are no halfs. Lots of locals.
(4)
Bryan R.
Visited with my wife and another couple. We reserved one bucket of crawfish with our reservation, and we ended up getting 2 more (the last of which was the last bucket in the place). We had never eaten fresh crawfish before, so don't have much to compare against, however, these were incredible. Between the 4 of us, we also got the jambalaya (fantastic), gumbo (very good), hushpuppies (best I've ever had), and peanut butter pie (also fantastic). Will definitely come back. I believe they get crawfish flown in on Fridays (when in season), and based on our visit, they can sell out of them by 8PM.
(5)
Bryan P.
Very good service and the food was excellent. I hadn't been here for about 10 years and it has stayed consistently good. I recommend this place for its quaint atmosphere, good food and change of pace from your normal central PA offerings.
(4)
Andrew R.
Had the crab on onion appetizer (good, deep fried) and the gator (piece of tail, not good at all) and a few beers. The rest of my party would've rated the establishment around 3 stars, my food was sub par. Wanted to like the place but probably won't come back.
(2)
Piratemon W.
Went out to play some music there last Thursday and before i was up to play, I decided to get dinner there and will have to say from the staff to the atmosphere to the quality of food and authentic taste that I received I was very impressed. I have been there in the past and say that i have fond memories of past experiences there, but this time blew me away. The owners are not like other owners that i have encountered, they are right there in the mix of things making sure that every detail is taking care of for their customers which you can tell they treasure. Do yourself a favor and GO!!!!
(5)
Lloyd S.
Absolutely poor all the way around. I've been a couple times hoping for a better experience and meal and totally dissatisfied. The last time was comical. No air conditioner and steak that Denny's puts to shame. Is that cat fish farmed raised?
(1)
Joe C.
Walking in it seemed dated and disorganized. Looks we're deceiving. Cajun whoopee pie was awesome. The cornbread was sweet and soft. The seafood and sauce a great pairing. My bride and I had the catfish prudhomme which was beautiful. Offspring had the shrimp fae do do and it was certainly a street dance of flavor. First of what promises to be many visits. Sat night they had a lady singer performing standards and doing great! Service was prompt and friendly.
(5)
Debra C D.
Open mic changed to Thursday nights 7-10 pm, alternates between acoustic and bands weekly.
(4)
Alicia D.
Was very excited to have some cajun food having lived in the south for years! I liked the environment, even though it was small, server was excellent but the food was subpar. 3 out of 4 of the meals we got were very bland, the Crawfish were awful, everything on the fried sampler platter tasted like unseasoned thick batter. We got a variety of dishes and the only thing I can recommend is the blackened catfish and cheap drinks.
(2)
Ronald W.
I was looking for something light and filling. Well I hit app menu for lunch and got the Fish Taco in a soft shell... Oh boy or hit the spot and chased down with a Goose IPA. Damn what a yummy lunch! You need to stop by for lunch off the beaten path!
I usually reserve 5-stars for the posh locations I love to haunt in Orange County, CA, but Prudhomme's is getting that rating for a whole other set of reasons. You walk in and the bar is to your left and dinning seating to your right. You immediately notice that every nook and cranny is covered with Mardi Gras and jazz parphenallia. Sharon (who I hope to god either runs and/or owns the joint because she is awesome) greeted us. We decided to sit at the bar and she followed us over to take our drink order (now mind you, there were at least two other bartenders working and there wasn't an empty table to be found). She informed us of their cool app that offered us free hushpuppies when we downloaded it, tracks your appetizer orders as part of their loyalty program, and gives you the month's entertainment calendar. So we ended up ordering their hushpuppies (done to perfection and quite a large order), corn bread (soft and delicious), and blackened-chicken quesadilla (tasty and satisfying). The band, On Stride, was great playing 70's covers and Sharon even got out to sing "House of The Rising Sun", which is just perfect for a cajun joint. Sharon hugged us on our way out and I really couldn't ask for a better creole food in the North or a better welcome! So glad my friend dragged me here and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Greg F.
Poor all the way around. Why you ask... Caesar salad with beef looked like they used Steak Umm as opposed to sliced beef. Looks as unappetizing as it sounds. Tenderloin Tips on toast came out and were so over cooked the tips are dry. Despite the fact they are swimming in a sauce. Well, if you can called a watered down A1 favored soup, sauce. Smokehouse burger... Overcooked. Chicken and Shrimp, not bad. But guess what, the chicken... Overcooked. Sauce, sickly sweet and reminiscent of something that came out of a bottle and not made "in-house." Service fair. Toilets (men's) is disgusting. Smells like a what I can only imagine a port-o-potty in Bombay would smell like in the middle of August. Didn't dare ask the ladies dining with me to relate their experiences in the woman's toilet. One or two things from the above and I'd dismiss it as an "off day." But all together... Keep driving and give this place a wide berth.
(1)
Hannah B.
Had very high hopes for this place given its positive reviews and recommendations for friends. Boy were we mistaken. The food was, in a word, terrible! The appetizers (crab dip and crap ring) weren't bad, I will say that, but our entrees were awful. To start out, they brought us rolls that were so burnt and chewy I couldn't bit them, then my husband's jambalaya was disgusting with its rock hard rice and barely there sausage pieces. I got a pesto salmon and scallops dish that came with two tiny almost raw scallops and a watered down, flavorless piece of fish. And it just got worse from there ... Will NEVER EVER go here again. In theory the place sounds good, but I cannot stress enough that it is NOT.
(1)
Josh D.
The good: The fried foods were good and the plum pudding was spot on The bad: I felt like i needed a gas mask and goggles to stay in the place for any extended period of time. The oil had clearly not been changed in a little while and their exhaust fans were not strong enough, because it was hazy with oil, which actually made my eyes water because it was so bad. Fix your ventilation system, and i might be back.
(2)
Jay R.
We try to get down here every couple of months because, as far as I know, it's the only legit Cajun restaurant within shouting distance. We think it's very good. Even if it's in Columbia. (Sorry, Columbia. Honesty is rough.) Street parking, and it can be a b*tch. I wouldn't really want to park two blocks away at night. The Cajun Whoopee Pie may be one of the ultimate appetizers in my recent memory. It's crabmeat and creamy mushroom sauce atop cornbread, and it is mouth-watering. Red beans and rice is super-spicy and delicious. You don't find Rocky Mountain oysters much around here (understand if the concept doesn't appeal), but their texture and taste are outstanding. Their entrees include just about anything you've ever heard of from Cajun restaurants. Etoufee. Shrimp Fais Do Do. A LOT of crawfish options. Big disappointment, though: no shrimp and grits. That should be remedied. My favorite is David's Classic Pasta. It has andouille to begin with, and I add crawfish to it. It's all tossed with mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes and a Cajun cream sauce. You may stuff yourself on this dish, because you just don't want to quit when you get full. It's a cool little decadent dive with a smallish bar. They do have "entertainment" at night, and they can be a little pushy when all you want to do is sit down and have a nice dinner.
(4)
Jim T.
It was as if they were running out of supplies and put half the product on top of the rice and try to make up for it with extra tomatoes spread on top of the rice and you should ask for it to be milder if you don't like extra heat cause it would be considered hot or extra hot. I've had better food of this type at a average family steakhouse. I agree with the other reviewers who say that it's gone downhill. I noticed some of the better reviews for far California place for example 1 - had about four cups of rice and two nuggets / strips of Gator and nothing else. Example number to a crayfish item had one piece a crayfish tail in a large cup of rice
(1)
Theresa M.
I wanted to try crawfish and got things confused I ordered catfish instead. I never had either before. It was an awesome mistake! i ordered catfish platter that was the bomb and had homemade hush puppies, which were really good as well. To top things off, i got a 15% coupon when I checked in! Tried the seafood gumbo- never had gumbo. Could of had a more flavor. I added hot sauce it helped a lot!!! I would not order it again.
(4)
Alison H.
No. Just no. This place is gross, it's in a gross part of town. Is gross inside, and has disappointing food. Would rather be taken to McDonald's on a first date then here. It sucks. Don't go Don't do it. No.
(1)
Rebecca G.
If this restaurant is authentic Cajun, I am very surprised. I would have expected Cajun food to be spicy and flavorful but this was not. I came here for my anniversary dinner and we ordered the Creole Moon pie, which was great, the Gumbo (WEAK! BLAND! WHAT???? Isn't gumbo supposed to be the classic Cajun dish to try?) and the BBQ Shrimp (delicious but very run of the mill) for apps. I ordered the 23$ Alligator Tail for my entree. It was ok. Fatty with the texture of something between a scallop and chicken breast. The rice and beans it sat on top of were extremely bland! Zatarans instant rice has more Cajun flavoring than this entire meal. They had a very good selection of beers to drink, so that helped keep the spirits up for the evening. Staff was extremely nice and the place was cute, quaint and clean. I really enjoy trying new things, so I did have a great time, but I am disappointed in the lack of flavor in almost every dish I tried. Go for the drinking and fun times, not for the food.
(2)
Erin B.
I was most recently at this joint on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. It was my first time with a larger group... there were six of us in total. I have been here twice previously and been satisfied with the experience. The features of this place are the friendly owners who make their restaurant hospitable to all, getting decked out in Mardi Gras beads provided by the restaurant staff, and the authentic Cajun/Creole cuisine. As long as you don't mind a laid-back atmosphere in a less than desirable part of town, this place is for you! The one downside of my experience here most recently was the waitress. Unfortunately, it was her first night, and this was very evident. On several occasions, we were left waiting for drinks, condiments, and she even came back to take a late arrival's order even though she already had approximately 15 minutes prior. In my opinion, the night of Mardi Gras is a poor choice to start a waitress at a Cajun/Creole restaurant. All in all, however, a very fun night with a great group of people and Mardi Gras is the perfect excuse to enjoy a few drinks mid-week!
(3)
Leo M.
Worth the trip - lots of fun and it's the best Cajun in central PA! Recently, my extended family of 6 met up in Columbia to try Prudhomme's. We ordered a bunch of different dishes and drinks and came away happy. The waitstaff is friendly, the decor/atmosphere is fun, and the food was....good enough. Seriously, what were you expecting? Some of the dishes were great, one or two were awful, but most were perfectly fine (with the help of a bottle of hot sauce). Yes, it is probably the worst Cajun I've ever had...but so what?!? It was worth the drive from Gettysburg (approx 1 hr) and it is probably the best Cajun north/west of DC or NYC. In short, if you are anywhere nearby (or even close to nearby) it is worth the trip. Just don't think the Prudhomme name means you are eating in NOLA.
(4)
Aaron D.
Has become a Father's Day tradition. Being a Foodie I love classic Cajun and am glad to have this place near. When Mudbuggs are in season this is the only place North of the Mason Dixon to get them fresh. Nice balance between heat and flavor (Cajun is only truly hot if you want it to be). Service is always good. Love going on a weekday when they are not as busy. Service is better and you tend to talk to the owners as they move from dinning room to kitchen. The only place (other then home) that my wife will eat catfish. Note: if you want it hot just ask them to kick it up....trust me....they will. Would eat the hushpuppies and sweet butter everyday if I could......
(4)
Steve V.
This was really good! Not sure of anything else quite like it in Pennsyltucky. The HOT poppers are a tasty appetizer. One of the owners told us they are changing the menu around a bit (soon) and adding lots of small plates so people can share. I had hoped the seafood gumbo to be spicier ... but a little hot sauce would fix it. If you check in on Yelp ... 15% off check (one check discounted per table).
(4)
J J.
Ordered take out. Food was pretty good. My first experience was great but the second time around it was only okay. Reasonably priced as well. Love the hush puppies!!!
(4)
Sharrod P.
My wife and I have lived in the area for a many years, but had never dined here so we took a chance. We specifically told the waitress it was out first time and expected recommendations...we got none. The waitress was nice but did not try to "sell" us anything. They had one drink special and she could not recommend anything else...... besides some bottle beers from Louisiana. I thought maybe they would have a few themed drinks. Nope. My food was all fried and looked like it was from a box:( -I did have seafood gumbo which was fair to good. - Fried Green Tomato were good as well. My wife had the catfish which was good ! I think this place is best if you do the catfish, gator or crayfish. I will go back for lunch ( lower prices) and get one of those items. I will not bring out of town guest here for dinner.
(2)
Heidi R.
I just had the tips and toast and it was the best I ever had. I recommend this place to everyone. You have to come and eat here. The staff is so friendly and very professional.
(5)
Dale G.
Being new to the area (recently moved in), we discovered Prudhomme's thru the region's Half-Price deals program, but we don't worry about that anymore. We've been back many times. I'd be back more, but we are still trying out various other venues (how else to you find your "favorites"?). But we keep returning here, it's VERY high on our list - and we bring our friends! Interesting, cosy place. VERY interesting history (buzzers from the speakeasy days!), lots of fun decorations, and if you get there on nights with entertainment, expect GOOD entertainment! Vegas-quality Sinatra impersonator, awesome bluegrass, one-man bands, a Senior American Idol winner - get the idea? Varied and always good (we got serenaded one night!). If you talk to the owners (always there in my experience), you get great stories. Food - hands down the BEST hushpuppies I've ever had! I could just sit and eat those all night.... but then I'd miss dinner! I've had several dishes (gator isn't always on the menu - depends on prices, but mine was very good when I had it), but I can strongly recommend the Swampi! If you like spicy (and I do), tell the waitress and they'll kick it up as much as you want. Delicious!!! Otherwise they just have it reasonably spiced (which suits some of my friends just fine) - it's a farming region. Shrimp is excellent, so is the catfish (they'll kick it up if you ask), the pasta is al dente (I hate mushy pasta). The Prudhomme family created cajun - if you want it spicy, you can get it as spicy as you want.... (but remember to ask if you want it way up there). For fun, sit in the bar area (especially when their entertainment is there!), for nicer dining sit in the dining room. The speakeasy buzzers don't work - bummer - but they are cool conversation pieces, along with the other decorations. When they have party nights (Mardi Gras?), expect fun (goofy hat competitions, etc).... We took a teen-age grandson there (his idea of good food was anyplace that served chicken fingers and fries)... he was dubious but ordered the catfish/crawfish special with only some minor arm-twisting... tasted it, then SCARFED it, then had some of my Swampi (I keep going back to that), and some of his Nonie's grilled fish... we had to laugh. He went home and Facebooked "BEST.... FOOD.... EVER...." (what an eyeopener for him!). He's been back with us a couple times - always ready to go back with us. Friendly - VERY! We stopped in for a meal and cold beer after a long, hot Harley ride, and I had a sleeveless shirt on. The owner saw me at the door, told me I couldn't be seated as they don't allow sleeveless shirts - but immediately offered me a shirt to wear so I could stay. I had a regular t-shirt in my saddlebag, so I didn't take her up on it - but how many places will go that extra step? So, in summary - looking for fun night out with very good food, friendly service and what I consider very reasonable prices? Give Prudhommes a try!
(5)
Nate R.
In town for my best friend's wedding I took my parents and brother out to eat at Prudhommes. Frequent patrons of this establishment my family and I expected yummy meals, which was usually the case. On this particular night (Friday 09-sept-2011) the Columbia area was issued a Water Boil Alert. This meant that we had to eat off of paper plates, use plastic utensils, and solo cups. Ok, not a problem I can deal with this. My brother ordered the King Louis Supreme and making his way three quarters through his meal noticed a foreign object that didn't quite taste right. After spitting out the object we identified it be a zip-tie. SERIOUSLY?! Quite outraged at the situation I took a picture of the foreign object before the bus boy cleared our table and carried away our paper plates. I informed the bus boy about the object, but he said nothing as a shocked look crossed his face. When our waitress returned to see how we were doing I also informed her of our discovery only to be ignored. I even had the picture, which I attached for everyone to appreciate, but she would not look at it. Not wanting to engage (scream, yell, cops being called, etc.) the staff in my irate state I paid the bill and my family left. After this experience I will never return to this establishment. If finding a zip-tie in your food isn't bad enough. A staff that doesn't take the situation seriously or at least apologize is outrageous. Especially considering this object could have potentially caused my brother to choke.
(1)
Diane T.
I've been to Prudomme's about a dozen times over the past 3-years and I really feel the quality has dropped. The rolls were reheated hockey pucks, the french onion soup was a salty disaster, the duck was overcooked. I once loved the dirty rice so much I'd ask for a side order to bring home for lunch the next day. Last couple times I got it, I swear it was rice-a-roni. I haven't been there for about 6-months now and I have no desire to go back. Maybe they had some major turn-over in the kitchen, I don't know, but it really affected the quality of the food. That said, the servers are always awesome and the bar can be a fun place to hang out and listen to music.
(2)
Cyn M.
Grossed out by our dinner. Microwaved shrimp creole with cold rice and HOT shrimp. Waiter diappeared for LONG periods of time (to bathroom we discovered--he apparently was ill). Owner chatted us up and wouldn't leave us alone to eat... until we needed her assistance, and she'd vanished into thin air. Thick layer of greasy dust everywhere.... can only imagine how horrible the kitchen must be. Once there--never again!
(1)
Linda B.
Stopped here on my way home from the airport and everything was very delicious. I definitely would stop here again given the opportunity.
(4)
Arianna M.
Super cozy with the most caring staff around. Family owned and operated by the most caring Cajuns I've ever met. What to Eat: Hushpuppies (lots of them), alligator, or, if it's Monday, the AYCE fish fry. Mmmmmm. What to Drink: Eeny, meany, miney, mo. Any of the microbrews on tap or in bottles. Be risky. You never know what you're gonna love!
(5)
Jon H.
I have visited Prudhommes several times over the past year and I have never been disappointed with the food. Their Blackened Catfish is amazing, and buckets of Crawfish are great when in season. Draft beer selection is average at best, though I have to give a big plus for serving the large jug-bottles of Mississippi Mud Black & Tan. It's the service that knocks them down a star or two for me. Each visit our orders were marred with errors & things were forgotten, one time the table was pretty much forgotten for a 15 minute span due to a smoke break (waitress was nice enough to tell us when she got back) Things like that can't happen in a nice establishment. Ownership needs to crack the whip on the servers. Hands down a 4 to 4 & 1/2 star establishment with better quality service.
(3)
John B.
This is a small Cajun restaurant located along the main street in Columbia. As I understand it, the owner is the nephew of the famous chef Paul Prudhomme, which makes this sort of the Central PA version of a celebrity chef restaurant. I've never really had a Cajun meal before, and was looking forward to giving this place a try. I had the 'Heart of the Bayou Platter' which is Blackened catfish, buttery garlic shrimp & Crawfish, seafood gumbo, fried clam strips, hush pups, slaw, frizzles onions & house dips (I uploaded a picture of it to Yelp.) It wasn't overly hot, and I quite liked it. Service was good. It's not exactly fine dining, but if you like something a little spicy, this place is definitely worth a try.
(3)
R M.
Excellent blackened catfish, amazing fried green tomatoes, loved the hush puppies too. have to get the crab ring appetizer next time. Prices are great!
(4)
MATTHEW E.
For the area, this is a 5 star establishment. Delicious blackened catfish, perfectly fried hush puppies, and hearty gumbo made for a great lunch. A bit more heat may have helped, but other than that, for $10, it was about as good as you can get.
(5)
Lou L.
I was excited to try this place out, so I finally went for lunch. I had a beer, the blackened catfish poboy, and some hush puppies. The bread seemed fresh, but the fish itself had a "fishy" taste to it. It was not terrible, but it might not have been as fresh as I would have liked it. The hush puppies were delicious, but a bit on the greasy side. Overall not a bad place, but I was hoping for better. I would give it another shot.
(3)
Fred B.
Do yourself a favor and don't even try this restaurant. We heard about this restaurant before and have always wanted to try it. The perfect way to try it was a Groupon for half off for a four course meal for two. Great, my wife and i decided. Not so great. We made a reservation for 7 PM on Sunday night. The Groupon said reservation required. The website said there was a private parking lot. Didn't see anything but street parking when we got there. All indications pointed to business casual as the dress code (multiple web sources), and we get into the restaurant and people were wearing jeans and the waitresses were wearing high cut jean shorts. The restaurant wasn't busy because of the time and day. There were only 3 other tables besides ours. We sat down and told the waitress we had a Groupon and were given the Groupon menu. The waitress was nice enough but didn't seem like she even knew the Groupon menu or the procedures for redeeming a Groupon. On the menu you could choose one appetizer to share, each person received one soup, one entree and one dessert. The appetizer, Cajun Whoopie Pie was good, but the waitress didn't give us plates to share it. We had to keep passing the plate back and forth and take turns eating it. The soup was forgotten, we got our main entree first. They gave my wife the wrong entree and had to take it back and make the right dish. They brought the soup out after we asked about it. My wife's ham and bean soup was good, but my gumbo tasted watered down. There was supposed to be either a salad or slaw with the entree, we both ordered slaw, we both didn't get slaw. We got dessert, and the menu was laid out to look like we both got a cup of coffee with each of our desserts. We didn't even get offered coffee. I really wanted to like this place, because the food, with the exception of the gumbo, wasn't that bad. It wasn't the best but it was something different and had a good flavor. I won't go back now, not because of the food, but the slow service. You would think that the restaurant would want to give the best service to Groupon customers so that they would come back again. Apparently not, because this was some of the slowest service I have ever had.
(2)
Keith E.
Bland, frozen food that I could make at home for 1/10th the price. Rice that was like little rubber pellets. Did I mention bland? How does a Cajun place get away with making bland food??
(2)
Blue M.
Thought I would check this place out since I haven't found any other Cajun places in the area after I moved here and my mom was up visiting. Being that both my mom and I have spent a lot of time in the French Quarter in the "Noo Awyuns" (New Orleans) we were really looking forward to dinning here. Apparently, Prudhommes is located in what use to be a speakeasy at one time. So when you walk in take notice of all the "doorbells" on the wall at every table. They were used by the patrons during prohibition. If a patron saw a cop walking up to the place they would ring the buzzer and everyone would hide their hooch. Also, this place is still a working hotel on the upper floors. Prudhommes is small inside but it has a lot of character. I loved the look of this place. Once you walk in to the left is the bar area and to the right is the dinning area. We went around 6pm and it wasn't crowded at all, which was nice. The service was a little below average because I had to ask for a refill and we waited an exceptionally long time for our food. The rolls that the waitress brought us were burnt and my alligator appetizer was bland and overcooked. My mom had the King Louis (I think that what it was called) platter. Blackened catfish over lump crab meat with fried green tomatoes. She said it was good, but the tomatoes had way too much batter on them and were bland. Fried green tomatoes are suppose to be lightly battered and have a slight tangy taste. I had the fried catfish platter with fried green tomatoes. Same thing with my tomatoes. The hush puppies were great. As far as this being a Cajun restaurant there wasn't much variety on the menu besides catfish, or much flavor in the food. So I have to give this place an average.
(3)
Dan S.
Blackened catfish. If you get here you have to have to try it. Can't say much about the rest of the menu, other than the onion rings. The onion rings can only be described as an experience. They are huge.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Matt N.
I have had chances to come here before, but missed out. I was invited by my friend Mike Knaub and was glad I accepted. Not only did I enjoy the best catfish I ever tasted, but I also had some really tasty sauteed alligator tail. This place is what I imagine the family type places in New Orleans provide - great food and good atmospher with a well stocked bar and pretty decent taplist. I enjoyed Samuel Adams Noble Pils and also had Harpoon IPA to compliment the blackended catfish bites and garlic, mushroom and pepper accompaniment to the alligator which I would compare to lobster or some quality crabmeat. The band played and did so with a level of skill few bar bands I have seen in the area, playing plenty of southern and blues rock classics note for note. I will be sure to come back for happy hour when the beer is a buck cheaper until 7pm.
(5)petranna j.
A mixed bag. Really good hush puppies. The crab ring was just ok. Liked the fried clams--the fried mushrooms in the app sampler were particularly good. The catfish prudhomme was really bad--they used old fish. I took a few bites, but it was pretty inedible. I told the waitress, and she really should have taken it off the check. My friend got the seafood sampler, and that catfish was very fresh. The peanut butter pie was absolutely delish. The had a nice singer. The nabe is a little sketchy, but the building is very cool. The rib special was also super yummy. Might go back, but then again might not.
(2)James S.
First time here and I was disappointed. Ordered the Swampie with shrimp and it showed up with 4 shrimp and 3 slivers of sausage. For close to $20, I expected a bit more than a bowl of rice. The food was good, and my girlfriend shrimp trio was well prepared. Drop the price to something a little more reasonable and we may be back.
(3)Martin C.
I will stick to business that don't discriminate
(1)Tina Z.
We were a group of 8 from a meetup, Many of us were quite excited after hearing good things about this place. It took a bit till our apps came, sauteed gator had great flavor but is really chewy, The oysters with crab was tasty, cajun whoopie pie was good, it was a corn muffin with creamy crab, the corn muffin was really good and was the best part of my meal. The shrimp Sunny is in a tomato sauce that was so bland, like watered down tomatoes, not even salt. The Crabby Pork had creamy crab like the whoppie pie, had a dry pork loin and was served with mashed potaoes, weird. The Rice and Beans had ham and sausage and was tasty, nice flavors The jambalaya was cold, bland and dry The Seafood Gumbo had no seafood that I could see or okra, olny onion and celery and was tastless except for a little hot spice. I cant tell you about the crab louis, it took so long the woman who ordered had to leave and took it to go. Between the Apps and Entree it took over an hour. They bought us a round of drinks while we waited. IF the food is really good you can overlook alot of other faults but this scored low all around. You should skip it, really.
(2)Bee D.
Never before last night have I thrown away an expensive restaurant meal ever, usually I can take it home and rework it, but not this dish! Not knowing what to expect with Cajun food I ordered something I felt was "safe", founder stuffed with crab meat over rice with a veggie. Not only did the fish have an very strong fish odor, there wasn't hardly any fish in the dish, the crabmeat was smothered with chopped peppers which I don't like and wasn't mentioned on the menu, the rice was undercooked, and the veggie was fried green tomotoes. I expected brocculi or something average and not being a fan of tomtoes was disappointed. The dish smelled bad, tasted worse, and the overall appearance was colorless. Thank God I came bearing a gift card because I would have never paid for that. The waitress offered me a few choices in exchange for the tomotoes - applesauce, cole slaw, but made no other offerings when I told her I disliked the meal. In fact she never came back and we had to go up to the bar to ask for our bill. For a $17 meal, both the food and service were disappointing.
(1)Stacey L.
We've been here twice now and had similar experiences. The service is very fast and kind. The employees are nice, the owners personable. 5 stars for the servers. The food is hit and miss: We had a 1/2 bucket of crawfish. It looked good and those that were good really were great! However, there were 3 rancid crawfish in our 1/2 bucket. That is to say, these 3 fellas were dead long before they were cooked, had gone all grey inside and straight-tailed outside, and probably could have made a person very sick. (Though that person would have had to have no sense of smell or taste, and hence actually eaten the gross little things.) It should be standard practice to remove bad crawfish before serving. Though it can be hard to look into a huge vat of live crawfish and see which ones aren't moving anymore, it really isn't hard to see which ones have straight tails after cooking, and it seems odd to serve it to the customer and let them sort them out. I stress, however, that the other crawfish in the bucket were wonderful. I wouldn't have hesitated to order another 1/2 bucket and picked through them myself if need be. The sauteed alligator was a shame, as alligator is a delicious and delicate meat that has to be cooked gently to be enjoyed. What we discovered is that all the different sizes of meat strips were put in the pan at the same time. If you've ever cooked meat, you're probably wincing right now, because you know that in order for the larger pieces to have been cooked properly, the tiny pieces had to be overcooked into little rubber balls we could have bounced down the hallway. That's exactly what happened: The few large pieces were cooked to perfection and delicious. But most of it was small pieces, and they were like chewing rubber. The vegetables were cooked well, however, and mostly the dish WAS vegetables, so we ate around the chewy bits. It was just a shame to have to waste half of the meat in the dish. Crab chowder was the daily soup when we were in, and we expected a classic creamy soup, possibly with corn. But instead, we received a soup that appeared to be made with a beef broth. Apparently it was actually Manhattan crab chowder (though it wasn't presented that way). This by itself is not a problem, just unexpected, but the soup also seemed to have some kind of pumpkin spice in it--a nutmeg perhaps, or ground ginger? It was a very strange addition to the soup. It was tasty otherwise, but what an odd note to put in a crab chowder! I was able to eat just under 1/3 of mine before the strange taste turned me off completely, but my dining partner wasn't bothered so much and ate all of his. When it came to the main course, there were a few lovely things: The hushpuppies are absolutely amazing! They are perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, incredibly buttery, very lightly spiced, and absolutely wonderful. Also, the coleslaw is very tasty: Not too vinegary, not too creamy, and all the pieces nice and small, so you don't pull up a sudden unexpected slab of cabbage. I could make a meal out of just the hushpuppies and the coleslaw. When it came to my actual dinner, I wished I had. The fish tasted cooked right from frozen, mushy as porridge. The rice was bland and overcooked, and the sauce tasted as if from a can--not even a jar, but a tin can. There were tiny crawfish tails in the sauce, and these were overcooked to a rubbery consistency as well, and also tasted cooked from frozen. I ordered the dish spicy, but it wasn't at all. Further, the food was barely lukewarm when it arrived at the table. No steam, and growing dull and dry on top. Not that I think being hot would have saved it, it's just that food meant to be served hot shouldn't arrive to the customer lukewarm. It must have been sitting on the hot plate for 20 minutes. I took one bite of the dinner portion. When my plate was gathered later, there was no concern about that. It should be concerning when a customer barely touches their dinner. Finally, there was dessert. The pecan pie looks lovely on the menu. To my utter dismay, before bringing it to me, they apparently microwaved it to death. It arrived unreasonably hot and melting all over the plate. I tried a bite anyway, and it was just inedible. It had been microwaved past the point of solvency and became a gelatinous mass spreading across the plate. Very unfortunate. My dining partner's bread pudding was made of little chopped squares, which seemed odd. The first time we were there, the entertainment was excellent and drew us into the bar until late in the evening. The second time, it was terrible, with the singer out of key and off beat the entire time we were there. So the entertainment is hit and miss too, it seems. We will probably go back when the entertainment we enjoyed comes back again. There are some interesting drinks on the menu. Hushpuppies & coleslaw for dinner, anyone?
(3)David M.
Fun spot. Went with my wife last evening. There was a live "Motown" singer who had a good voice, great presence and was very entertaining! We only expected to go for dinner, so that was a surprising bonus. We had an awesome buffalo chicken/mashed potato/onion straw appetizer. Some good beers (Kona Firestone, Abita TurboDog) before our dinner. I had Prudhomme Catfish--blackened catfish over crawfish étouffée. Most delicious and filling. I recommend trying this restaurant when you are near Columbia.
(4)Tika B.
very greasey and poor quality. i would NOT recommend this place. the service was mixed but overall i did not feel like welcomed. considering the prices, one would expect more than bland, cheap food.
(1)Warren C.
Was there early ... 1130 for lunch. When my son wanted a second bowl of corn and bacon chowder and they were all out. Can u say leftovers from last nite???? Fried alligator was very well cooked. The wings were over cooked.
(2)Ashley Z.
went here yesterday for valentine's day and must say that we will definitely be going back. service was good (great, really, considering there were only 2 servers in the place and it was valentine's day). their onion rings are amazing! i could only eat one because it was so big but it was delicious! partner had cheese fries and they were good too. they have a decent wine list and interesting beers. i got the king louis supreme entree for dinner - blackened catfish with lump claw meat underneath it surrounded by chunky, slighlty spicy, tomato sauce. it was delicious!! partner had the swampi - garlicy rice stir fry with mushrooms, onions, peppers, andouille, shrimp, and gator. he loved it! prices were a bit expensive for our budget but it was great for a special treat. and considering we only live about 3 blocks from here we'll be back for their happy hour and bar specials...mondays are buy one get one 1/2 off apps, wednesday wings 4.25/dz... lostcajunkitchen.com/spe…
(4)George T.
My wife and I were passing through Columbia, Pa and saw Prudhomme's in TripAdvisor. We went there on a busy Saturday evening and had a fabulous meal. The restaurant is Cajun and it features shrimp, alligator, catfish, etc. The place has a shabby cool atmosphere. How can I put it? No need to dress up. My wife ordered a shrimp platter that featured three kinds of shrimp. She gave me a taste and it was excellent. There was also a nicely spiced rice, pepper and tomato side that was a great compliment. There were also excellent hush puppies and Cole slaw. My own platter was similar but instead of shrimp, I ordered catfish. It was richly seasoned (very Cajun) and the fish was fresh. Being a Saturday night there was entertainment, a singer (really good) who did rhythm and blues and some easily recognizable popular tunes. I ordered a pint of Yuengling and my wife had a scotch. Our bill was an extremely reasonable $47+. With tip we walked out $57 dollar lighter but with a very rich dining experience. The desserts looked sinfully good (Cajun/New Orleans style pies) but our better angels recommended that we abstain in order to fit into our clothes. I really wanted to give it 4 1/2 stars but there are no halfs. Lots of locals.
(4)Bryan R.
Visited with my wife and another couple. We reserved one bucket of crawfish with our reservation, and we ended up getting 2 more (the last of which was the last bucket in the place). We had never eaten fresh crawfish before, so don't have much to compare against, however, these were incredible. Between the 4 of us, we also got the jambalaya (fantastic), gumbo (very good), hushpuppies (best I've ever had), and peanut butter pie (also fantastic). Will definitely come back. I believe they get crawfish flown in on Fridays (when in season), and based on our visit, they can sell out of them by 8PM.
(5)Bryan P.
Very good service and the food was excellent. I hadn't been here for about 10 years and it has stayed consistently good. I recommend this place for its quaint atmosphere, good food and change of pace from your normal central PA offerings.
(4)Andrew R.
Had the crab on onion appetizer (good, deep fried) and the gator (piece of tail, not good at all) and a few beers. The rest of my party would've rated the establishment around 3 stars, my food was sub par. Wanted to like the place but probably won't come back.
(2)Piratemon W.
Went out to play some music there last Thursday and before i was up to play, I decided to get dinner there and will have to say from the staff to the atmosphere to the quality of food and authentic taste that I received I was very impressed. I have been there in the past and say that i have fond memories of past experiences there, but this time blew me away. The owners are not like other owners that i have encountered, they are right there in the mix of things making sure that every detail is taking care of for their customers which you can tell they treasure. Do yourself a favor and GO!!!!
(5)Lloyd S.
Absolutely poor all the way around. I've been a couple times hoping for a better experience and meal and totally dissatisfied. The last time was comical. No air conditioner and steak that Denny's puts to shame. Is that cat fish farmed raised?
(1)Joe C.
Walking in it seemed dated and disorganized. Looks we're deceiving. Cajun whoopee pie was awesome. The cornbread was sweet and soft. The seafood and sauce a great pairing. My bride and I had the catfish prudhomme which was beautiful. Offspring had the shrimp fae do do and it was certainly a street dance of flavor. First of what promises to be many visits. Sat night they had a lady singer performing standards and doing great! Service was prompt and friendly.
(5)Debra C D.
Open mic changed to Thursday nights 7-10 pm, alternates between acoustic and bands weekly.
(4)Alicia D.
Was very excited to have some cajun food having lived in the south for years! I liked the environment, even though it was small, server was excellent but the food was subpar. 3 out of 4 of the meals we got were very bland, the Crawfish were awful, everything on the fried sampler platter tasted like unseasoned thick batter. We got a variety of dishes and the only thing I can recommend is the blackened catfish and cheap drinks.
(2)Ronald W.
I was looking for something light and filling. Well I hit app menu for lunch and got the Fish Taco in a soft shell... Oh boy or hit the spot and chased down with a Goose IPA. Damn what a yummy lunch! You need to stop by for lunch off the beaten path!
(5)Suzanne H.
I was here earlier last week with my boss for lunch and I rated the food 4-stars. I decided to bring my fiancé here because of it being somewhere new and exciting to experience. We ordered the Hush Puppies which were good. He got the David's Classic Pasta. He writes: Flavors in this dish make for a savory filling dish with the right amounts of kick to warm your belly and tingle your lips. I got the Big Bubba's Combo. Simply put, what am amazing tasting seafood pasta dish. There is A LOT of garlic in it, but with the flavors in the rest of the dish, it wasn't over powering and complimented the other parts well. Sal B. was the live band tonight and we enjoyed the music very much. Overall, I'd give this experience a 4.5-stars. Make sure to download the business app so you can get the Hush Puppies for free just for downloading it and for rewards at later visits.
(5)Elizabeth O.
I usually reserve 5-stars for the posh locations I love to haunt in Orange County, CA, but Prudhomme's is getting that rating for a whole other set of reasons. You walk in and the bar is to your left and dinning seating to your right. You immediately notice that every nook and cranny is covered with Mardi Gras and jazz parphenallia. Sharon (who I hope to god either runs and/or owns the joint because she is awesome) greeted us. We decided to sit at the bar and she followed us over to take our drink order (now mind you, there were at least two other bartenders working and there wasn't an empty table to be found). She informed us of their cool app that offered us free hushpuppies when we downloaded it, tracks your appetizer orders as part of their loyalty program, and gives you the month's entertainment calendar. So we ended up ordering their hushpuppies (done to perfection and quite a large order), corn bread (soft and delicious), and blackened-chicken quesadilla (tasty and satisfying). The band, On Stride, was great playing 70's covers and Sharon even got out to sing "House of The Rising Sun", which is just perfect for a cajun joint. Sharon hugged us on our way out and I really couldn't ask for a better creole food in the North or a better welcome! So glad my friend dragged me here and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Greg F.
Poor all the way around. Why you ask... Caesar salad with beef looked like they used Steak Umm as opposed to sliced beef. Looks as unappetizing as it sounds. Tenderloin Tips on toast came out and were so over cooked the tips are dry. Despite the fact they are swimming in a sauce. Well, if you can called a watered down A1 favored soup, sauce. Smokehouse burger... Overcooked. Chicken and Shrimp, not bad. But guess what, the chicken... Overcooked. Sauce, sickly sweet and reminiscent of something that came out of a bottle and not made "in-house." Service fair. Toilets (men's) is disgusting. Smells like a what I can only imagine a port-o-potty in Bombay would smell like in the middle of August. Didn't dare ask the ladies dining with me to relate their experiences in the woman's toilet. One or two things from the above and I'd dismiss it as an "off day." But all together... Keep driving and give this place a wide berth.
(1)Hannah B.
Had very high hopes for this place given its positive reviews and recommendations for friends. Boy were we mistaken. The food was, in a word, terrible! The appetizers (crab dip and crap ring) weren't bad, I will say that, but our entrees were awful. To start out, they brought us rolls that were so burnt and chewy I couldn't bit them, then my husband's jambalaya was disgusting with its rock hard rice and barely there sausage pieces. I got a pesto salmon and scallops dish that came with two tiny almost raw scallops and a watered down, flavorless piece of fish. And it just got worse from there ... Will NEVER EVER go here again. In theory the place sounds good, but I cannot stress enough that it is NOT.
(1)Josh D.
The good: The fried foods were good and the plum pudding was spot on The bad: I felt like i needed a gas mask and goggles to stay in the place for any extended period of time. The oil had clearly not been changed in a little while and their exhaust fans were not strong enough, because it was hazy with oil, which actually made my eyes water because it was so bad. Fix your ventilation system, and i might be back.
(2)Jay R.
We try to get down here every couple of months because, as far as I know, it's the only legit Cajun restaurant within shouting distance. We think it's very good. Even if it's in Columbia. (Sorry, Columbia. Honesty is rough.) Street parking, and it can be a b*tch. I wouldn't really want to park two blocks away at night. The Cajun Whoopee Pie may be one of the ultimate appetizers in my recent memory. It's crabmeat and creamy mushroom sauce atop cornbread, and it is mouth-watering. Red beans and rice is super-spicy and delicious. You don't find Rocky Mountain oysters much around here (understand if the concept doesn't appeal), but their texture and taste are outstanding. Their entrees include just about anything you've ever heard of from Cajun restaurants. Etoufee. Shrimp Fais Do Do. A LOT of crawfish options. Big disappointment, though: no shrimp and grits. That should be remedied. My favorite is David's Classic Pasta. It has andouille to begin with, and I add crawfish to it. It's all tossed with mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes and a Cajun cream sauce. You may stuff yourself on this dish, because you just don't want to quit when you get full. It's a cool little decadent dive with a smallish bar. They do have "entertainment" at night, and they can be a little pushy when all you want to do is sit down and have a nice dinner.
(4)Jim T.
It was as if they were running out of supplies and put half the product on top of the rice and try to make up for it with extra tomatoes spread on top of the rice and you should ask for it to be milder if you don't like extra heat cause it would be considered hot or extra hot. I've had better food of this type at a average family steakhouse. I agree with the other reviewers who say that it's gone downhill. I noticed some of the better reviews for far California place for example 1 - had about four cups of rice and two nuggets / strips of Gator and nothing else. Example number to a crayfish item had one piece a crayfish tail in a large cup of rice
(1)Theresa M.
I wanted to try crawfish and got things confused I ordered catfish instead. I never had either before. It was an awesome mistake! i ordered catfish platter that was the bomb and had homemade hush puppies, which were really good as well. To top things off, i got a 15% coupon when I checked in! Tried the seafood gumbo- never had gumbo. Could of had a more flavor. I added hot sauce it helped a lot!!! I would not order it again.
(4)Alison H.
No. Just no. This place is gross, it's in a gross part of town. Is gross inside, and has disappointing food. Would rather be taken to McDonald's on a first date then here. It sucks. Don't go Don't do it. No.
(1)Rebecca G.
If this restaurant is authentic Cajun, I am very surprised. I would have expected Cajun food to be spicy and flavorful but this was not. I came here for my anniversary dinner and we ordered the Creole Moon pie, which was great, the Gumbo (WEAK! BLAND! WHAT???? Isn't gumbo supposed to be the classic Cajun dish to try?) and the BBQ Shrimp (delicious but very run of the mill) for apps. I ordered the 23$ Alligator Tail for my entree. It was ok. Fatty with the texture of something between a scallop and chicken breast. The rice and beans it sat on top of were extremely bland! Zatarans instant rice has more Cajun flavoring than this entire meal. They had a very good selection of beers to drink, so that helped keep the spirits up for the evening. Staff was extremely nice and the place was cute, quaint and clean. I really enjoy trying new things, so I did have a great time, but I am disappointed in the lack of flavor in almost every dish I tried. Go for the drinking and fun times, not for the food.
(2)Erin B.
I was most recently at this joint on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. It was my first time with a larger group... there were six of us in total. I have been here twice previously and been satisfied with the experience. The features of this place are the friendly owners who make their restaurant hospitable to all, getting decked out in Mardi Gras beads provided by the restaurant staff, and the authentic Cajun/Creole cuisine. As long as you don't mind a laid-back atmosphere in a less than desirable part of town, this place is for you! The one downside of my experience here most recently was the waitress. Unfortunately, it was her first night, and this was very evident. On several occasions, we were left waiting for drinks, condiments, and she even came back to take a late arrival's order even though she already had approximately 15 minutes prior. In my opinion, the night of Mardi Gras is a poor choice to start a waitress at a Cajun/Creole restaurant. All in all, however, a very fun night with a great group of people and Mardi Gras is the perfect excuse to enjoy a few drinks mid-week!
(3)Leo M.
Worth the trip - lots of fun and it's the best Cajun in central PA! Recently, my extended family of 6 met up in Columbia to try Prudhomme's. We ordered a bunch of different dishes and drinks and came away happy. The waitstaff is friendly, the decor/atmosphere is fun, and the food was....good enough. Seriously, what were you expecting? Some of the dishes were great, one or two were awful, but most were perfectly fine (with the help of a bottle of hot sauce). Yes, it is probably the worst Cajun I've ever had...but so what?!? It was worth the drive from Gettysburg (approx 1 hr) and it is probably the best Cajun north/west of DC or NYC. In short, if you are anywhere nearby (or even close to nearby) it is worth the trip. Just don't think the Prudhomme name means you are eating in NOLA.
(4)Aaron D.
Has become a Father's Day tradition. Being a Foodie I love classic Cajun and am glad to have this place near. When Mudbuggs are in season this is the only place North of the Mason Dixon to get them fresh. Nice balance between heat and flavor (Cajun is only truly hot if you want it to be). Service is always good. Love going on a weekday when they are not as busy. Service is better and you tend to talk to the owners as they move from dinning room to kitchen. The only place (other then home) that my wife will eat catfish. Note: if you want it hot just ask them to kick it up....trust me....they will. Would eat the hushpuppies and sweet butter everyday if I could......
(4)Steve V.
This was really good! Not sure of anything else quite like it in Pennsyltucky. The HOT poppers are a tasty appetizer. One of the owners told us they are changing the menu around a bit (soon) and adding lots of small plates so people can share. I had hoped the seafood gumbo to be spicier ... but a little hot sauce would fix it. If you check in on Yelp ... 15% off check (one check discounted per table).
(4)J J.
Ordered take out. Food was pretty good. My first experience was great but the second time around it was only okay. Reasonably priced as well. Love the hush puppies!!!
(4)Sharrod P.
My wife and I have lived in the area for a many years, but had never dined here so we took a chance. We specifically told the waitress it was out first time and expected recommendations...we got none. The waitress was nice but did not try to "sell" us anything. They had one drink special and she could not recommend anything else...... besides some bottle beers from Louisiana. I thought maybe they would have a few themed drinks. Nope. My food was all fried and looked like it was from a box:( -I did have seafood gumbo which was fair to good. - Fried Green Tomato were good as well. My wife had the catfish which was good ! I think this place is best if you do the catfish, gator or crayfish. I will go back for lunch ( lower prices) and get one of those items. I will not bring out of town guest here for dinner.
(2)Heidi R.
I just had the tips and toast and it was the best I ever had. I recommend this place to everyone. You have to come and eat here. The staff is so friendly and very professional.
(5)Dale G.
Being new to the area (recently moved in), we discovered Prudhomme's thru the region's Half-Price deals program, but we don't worry about that anymore. We've been back many times. I'd be back more, but we are still trying out various other venues (how else to you find your "favorites"?). But we keep returning here, it's VERY high on our list - and we bring our friends! Interesting, cosy place. VERY interesting history (buzzers from the speakeasy days!), lots of fun decorations, and if you get there on nights with entertainment, expect GOOD entertainment! Vegas-quality Sinatra impersonator, awesome bluegrass, one-man bands, a Senior American Idol winner - get the idea? Varied and always good (we got serenaded one night!). If you talk to the owners (always there in my experience), you get great stories. Food - hands down the BEST hushpuppies I've ever had! I could just sit and eat those all night.... but then I'd miss dinner! I've had several dishes (gator isn't always on the menu - depends on prices, but mine was very good when I had it), but I can strongly recommend the Swampi! If you like spicy (and I do), tell the waitress and they'll kick it up as much as you want. Delicious!!! Otherwise they just have it reasonably spiced (which suits some of my friends just fine) - it's a farming region. Shrimp is excellent, so is the catfish (they'll kick it up if you ask), the pasta is al dente (I hate mushy pasta). The Prudhomme family created cajun - if you want it spicy, you can get it as spicy as you want.... (but remember to ask if you want it way up there). For fun, sit in the bar area (especially when their entertainment is there!), for nicer dining sit in the dining room. The speakeasy buzzers don't work - bummer - but they are cool conversation pieces, along with the other decorations. When they have party nights (Mardi Gras?), expect fun (goofy hat competitions, etc).... We took a teen-age grandson there (his idea of good food was anyplace that served chicken fingers and fries)... he was dubious but ordered the catfish/crawfish special with only some minor arm-twisting... tasted it, then SCARFED it, then had some of my Swampi (I keep going back to that), and some of his Nonie's grilled fish... we had to laugh. He went home and Facebooked "BEST.... FOOD.... EVER...." (what an eyeopener for him!). He's been back with us a couple times - always ready to go back with us. Friendly - VERY! We stopped in for a meal and cold beer after a long, hot Harley ride, and I had a sleeveless shirt on. The owner saw me at the door, told me I couldn't be seated as they don't allow sleeveless shirts - but immediately offered me a shirt to wear so I could stay. I had a regular t-shirt in my saddlebag, so I didn't take her up on it - but how many places will go that extra step? So, in summary - looking for fun night out with very good food, friendly service and what I consider very reasonable prices? Give Prudhommes a try!
(5)Nate R.
In town for my best friend's wedding I took my parents and brother out to eat at Prudhommes. Frequent patrons of this establishment my family and I expected yummy meals, which was usually the case. On this particular night (Friday 09-sept-2011) the Columbia area was issued a Water Boil Alert. This meant that we had to eat off of paper plates, use plastic utensils, and solo cups. Ok, not a problem I can deal with this. My brother ordered the King Louis Supreme and making his way three quarters through his meal noticed a foreign object that didn't quite taste right. After spitting out the object we identified it be a zip-tie. SERIOUSLY?! Quite outraged at the situation I took a picture of the foreign object before the bus boy cleared our table and carried away our paper plates. I informed the bus boy about the object, but he said nothing as a shocked look crossed his face. When our waitress returned to see how we were doing I also informed her of our discovery only to be ignored. I even had the picture, which I attached for everyone to appreciate, but she would not look at it. Not wanting to engage (scream, yell, cops being called, etc.) the staff in my irate state I paid the bill and my family left. After this experience I will never return to this establishment. If finding a zip-tie in your food isn't bad enough. A staff that doesn't take the situation seriously or at least apologize is outrageous. Especially considering this object could have potentially caused my brother to choke.
(1)Diane T.
I've been to Prudomme's about a dozen times over the past 3-years and I really feel the quality has dropped. The rolls were reheated hockey pucks, the french onion soup was a salty disaster, the duck was overcooked. I once loved the dirty rice so much I'd ask for a side order to bring home for lunch the next day. Last couple times I got it, I swear it was rice-a-roni. I haven't been there for about 6-months now and I have no desire to go back. Maybe they had some major turn-over in the kitchen, I don't know, but it really affected the quality of the food. That said, the servers are always awesome and the bar can be a fun place to hang out and listen to music.
(2)Cyn M.
Grossed out by our dinner. Microwaved shrimp creole with cold rice and HOT shrimp. Waiter diappeared for LONG periods of time (to bathroom we discovered--he apparently was ill). Owner chatted us up and wouldn't leave us alone to eat... until we needed her assistance, and she'd vanished into thin air. Thick layer of greasy dust everywhere.... can only imagine how horrible the kitchen must be. Once there--never again!
(1)Linda B.
Stopped here on my way home from the airport and everything was very delicious. I definitely would stop here again given the opportunity.
(4)Arianna M.
Super cozy with the most caring staff around. Family owned and operated by the most caring Cajuns I've ever met. What to Eat: Hushpuppies (lots of them), alligator, or, if it's Monday, the AYCE fish fry. Mmmmmm. What to Drink: Eeny, meany, miney, mo. Any of the microbrews on tap or in bottles. Be risky. You never know what you're gonna love!
(5)Jon H.
I have visited Prudhommes several times over the past year and I have never been disappointed with the food. Their Blackened Catfish is amazing, and buckets of Crawfish are great when in season. Draft beer selection is average at best, though I have to give a big plus for serving the large jug-bottles of Mississippi Mud Black & Tan. It's the service that knocks them down a star or two for me. Each visit our orders were marred with errors & things were forgotten, one time the table was pretty much forgotten for a 15 minute span due to a smoke break (waitress was nice enough to tell us when she got back) Things like that can't happen in a nice establishment. Ownership needs to crack the whip on the servers. Hands down a 4 to 4 & 1/2 star establishment with better quality service.
(3)John B.
This is a small Cajun restaurant located along the main street in Columbia. As I understand it, the owner is the nephew of the famous chef Paul Prudhomme, which makes this sort of the Central PA version of a celebrity chef restaurant. I've never really had a Cajun meal before, and was looking forward to giving this place a try. I had the 'Heart of the Bayou Platter' which is Blackened catfish, buttery garlic shrimp & Crawfish, seafood gumbo, fried clam strips, hush pups, slaw, frizzles onions & house dips (I uploaded a picture of it to Yelp.) It wasn't overly hot, and I quite liked it. Service was good. It's not exactly fine dining, but if you like something a little spicy, this place is definitely worth a try.
(3)R M.
Excellent blackened catfish, amazing fried green tomatoes, loved the hush puppies too. have to get the crab ring appetizer next time. Prices are great!
(4)MATTHEW E.
For the area, this is a 5 star establishment. Delicious blackened catfish, perfectly fried hush puppies, and hearty gumbo made for a great lunch. A bit more heat may have helped, but other than that, for $10, it was about as good as you can get.
(5)Lou L.
I was excited to try this place out, so I finally went for lunch. I had a beer, the blackened catfish poboy, and some hush puppies. The bread seemed fresh, but the fish itself had a "fishy" taste to it. It was not terrible, but it might not have been as fresh as I would have liked it. The hush puppies were delicious, but a bit on the greasy side. Overall not a bad place, but I was hoping for better. I would give it another shot.
(3)Fred B.
Do yourself a favor and don't even try this restaurant. We heard about this restaurant before and have always wanted to try it. The perfect way to try it was a Groupon for half off for a four course meal for two. Great, my wife and i decided. Not so great. We made a reservation for 7 PM on Sunday night. The Groupon said reservation required. The website said there was a private parking lot. Didn't see anything but street parking when we got there. All indications pointed to business casual as the dress code (multiple web sources), and we get into the restaurant and people were wearing jeans and the waitresses were wearing high cut jean shorts. The restaurant wasn't busy because of the time and day. There were only 3 other tables besides ours. We sat down and told the waitress we had a Groupon and were given the Groupon menu. The waitress was nice enough but didn't seem like she even knew the Groupon menu or the procedures for redeeming a Groupon. On the menu you could choose one appetizer to share, each person received one soup, one entree and one dessert. The appetizer, Cajun Whoopie Pie was good, but the waitress didn't give us plates to share it. We had to keep passing the plate back and forth and take turns eating it. The soup was forgotten, we got our main entree first. They gave my wife the wrong entree and had to take it back and make the right dish. They brought the soup out after we asked about it. My wife's ham and bean soup was good, but my gumbo tasted watered down. There was supposed to be either a salad or slaw with the entree, we both ordered slaw, we both didn't get slaw. We got dessert, and the menu was laid out to look like we both got a cup of coffee with each of our desserts. We didn't even get offered coffee. I really wanted to like this place, because the food, with the exception of the gumbo, wasn't that bad. It wasn't the best but it was something different and had a good flavor. I won't go back now, not because of the food, but the slow service. You would think that the restaurant would want to give the best service to Groupon customers so that they would come back again. Apparently not, because this was some of the slowest service I have ever had.
(2)Keith E.
Bland, frozen food that I could make at home for 1/10th the price. Rice that was like little rubber pellets. Did I mention bland? How does a Cajun place get away with making bland food??
(2)Blue M.
Thought I would check this place out since I haven't found any other Cajun places in the area after I moved here and my mom was up visiting. Being that both my mom and I have spent a lot of time in the French Quarter in the "Noo Awyuns" (New Orleans) we were really looking forward to dinning here. Apparently, Prudhommes is located in what use to be a speakeasy at one time. So when you walk in take notice of all the "doorbells" on the wall at every table. They were used by the patrons during prohibition. If a patron saw a cop walking up to the place they would ring the buzzer and everyone would hide their hooch. Also, this place is still a working hotel on the upper floors. Prudhommes is small inside but it has a lot of character. I loved the look of this place. Once you walk in to the left is the bar area and to the right is the dinning area. We went around 6pm and it wasn't crowded at all, which was nice. The service was a little below average because I had to ask for a refill and we waited an exceptionally long time for our food. The rolls that the waitress brought us were burnt and my alligator appetizer was bland and overcooked. My mom had the King Louis (I think that what it was called) platter. Blackened catfish over lump crab meat with fried green tomatoes. She said it was good, but the tomatoes had way too much batter on them and were bland. Fried green tomatoes are suppose to be lightly battered and have a slight tangy taste. I had the fried catfish platter with fried green tomatoes. Same thing with my tomatoes. The hush puppies were great. As far as this being a Cajun restaurant there wasn't much variety on the menu besides catfish, or much flavor in the food. So I have to give this place an average.
(3)Dan S.
Blackened catfish. If you get here you have to have to try it. Can't say much about the rest of the menu, other than the onion rings. The onion rings can only be described as an experience. They are huge.
(5)