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captherp

Joined 5 years ago

Finally a restaurant that reminds me of New Orleans. We've had visitors visiting from England every year for the past 8 years. For their final meal before they went home, they've traditionally taken us to a "Cajun" restaurant near the freeway (I-17) north of town. I've always considered that restaurant, Pappadeaux, to be just one of a chain, noisy, overpriced, and crowded, but nothing special. It sure didn't remind me of eating down on Bourbon Street. This year we suggested a place closer to home, which would be a first time for us too -- Baby Kay's. The following is a summary of what I just sent to them via their own website:

The meal we just had last night, my wife and I agree, was the one of the best meals we've had since we've been eating food. We had a chance to sample various things, since everyone ordered different things. The Cajun Combination I had was the best. Loved the chicken gumbo, crawfish etouffee and the jambalaya, all included. Wife had the red beans and rice with Andouille sausage -- and the sausage, which I got a generous portion of, was excellent. Even the desserts were great; I love good bread pudding, and the sauce they put it in made it one of the best I've ever had. My wife and daughter sucked down their chocolate cake, and even the Brits, normally pretty reserved, were thrilled with the meal and all thoughts of Pappadeaux were apparently banished from their memory. The waiter/waitresses were top-notch, polite, and attentive.

In short, everything was as close to perfection as we could have found, and, for our family at least, company or no company, we're going to make visits to Baby Kay's a family tradition. I hesitate to write a review like this, because if word gets out, the place will be packed all the time, but I can't lie, so there we are...I'd love to shake hands with everyone in the place for giving me a restaurant to be excited about for the first time since I moved to Phoenix in 1989. And when I go there again next week maybe I'll do just that!

Doesn't Recommend

gourmetchef

Joined 5 years ago

The worst ever. Well, the food did taste good...

But we we're ignored the entire night by the waitstaff. The Hostess actually did the service for us.

We did see a waitress once, she said she'd be taking over; then we never saw her again. It took us over three hours to complete our meal. I could have flown to New Orleans quicker....

All the Hostess said at the end was, "thanks for your patience" and here's the bill.

I'll never go there again.

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girlaka

Joined 6 years ago

Outstanding. This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants... anywhere. I eat and cook and travel a lot and I know food... I also know Cajun and New Orleans. I lived in Phoenix for 10 years, but have been away for 6. Whenever I venture back to the valley, it is the first place on my list. For dinner, you must get the fried catfish with crawfish sauce. I have dreams about the olive coleslaw. Seriously. Try it even if you don't like green olives. Just trust me on this one! Their remoulade sauce is the best I've have anywhere. I just can't say enough about this place. I go over and over again. Heading there in just under a week in fact and I'm already salivating.

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pinkston

Joined 7 years ago

Only for Cajun's. The food was ok, the wait staff was ok and the drinks were good. They had a one man band when we went and he wasn't half bad but overall it was just any other place that you try once and never go back to. It wasn't that anything was bad it just wasn't for us. Worth a try to see if its up your ally. So give it a try!!

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starlightjulian

Joined 8 years ago

Disappointing. Was excited to finally get to try the food there after a couple of years of planning. Ordered the Baby Kay's combo (red beans and rice, chicken jambalaya, and olive salad). They should change it, as I do not think it special enough to have the name attached to it. My friend's combo, which came with the excellent etouffee, was much better. Bread pudding was very good, albeit too expensive for its small size. Don't think I'll be going back.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Patrons come from near and far for the melt-your-molars Cajun food.. In Short
When Baby Kay Romero opened her first restaurant in Scottsdale, it seated no more than about 15 people. The bar, which served Blackened VooDoo and a handful of other Louisiana beers, took up about half the restaurant's space, sending one message loud and clear: Here was a great place to laissez le bon temps rouler. This larger venue in Phoenix still offers weekend entertainment as well as Baby Kay's famous gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish etouffee.

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azcudz

Joined 10 years ago

Ragin' Cajun. The Seafood Gumbo was the best I've had in a long time. The atmosphere was great. Even for lunch, they had good live entertainment. The price was right and the service extremely friendly.