02/15/2023
02/14/23
Tim and I’s Valentine’s was one that started simply with one of our favorites - Cajun cuisine. Due to the many rave reviews Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen has received in the San Antonio community, Tim and I put it on the top of our “hot list” of places to try next. As could be expected, the dining room was packed full of reservations (even at lunch!) The hosting team, despite us not having a reservation, acted as a well oiled machine and got us seated immediately. The inside was spacious, comfortable, and elegant. In hind sight, we wish we would have requested to sit outside only because of how nice of a day it was.
As soon as we were seated our waiter was attentive in asking if we had ever dined before. After offering us some recommendations, we opted to order a water (lemon, no ice) and coke as we perused the menu. We were impressed by the response time given how chaotic the afternoon was; however, our water had come back with ice and no lemon.
We placed our orders at this time and ordered the boudin to share as well as lunch entrees of andouille sausage with grilled shrimp and Costa Rican mahi with lump crab. Getting the attention of our waiter after this was difficult - as soon as he dropped off a loaf of bread with whipped butter we asked if we could have a lemon for our water (again). Though saying yes once more, this lemon never came. Our water was frequently refilled with more water and ice despite us trying to pick it out.
While seemingly a losing game, our waiter was very friendly and seemed to be stretched thin given the amount of tables he was in charge of. Our boudin had come at an appropriate time and was VERY well seasoned and tender. Tim has an allergy to mustard that keeps him from enjoying most condiments served with our dishes, however, I was able to confirm that this too was well seasoned.
Our entrees were no different. The andouille sausage dish had come with a full link, eight shrimp, and enough rice and beans to feed a small family. The sausage had the perfect “bite” while still being tender on the inside, the shrimp surprisingly smoky, the beans well seasoned, and the rice offering a cleansing-of-the-palate. Tim is not a fan of saucy dishes (my favorite!) and wished the beans were drier. He had hoped for some sort of boil or jambalaya but settled with this as his closest option.
The Costa Rican mahi was delicious as well. While perfectly flaky and blackened, I will say what put it over the top was the lump crab and lemon butter sauce it was served with. Genuinely unbelievable. The cheese and sweet corn grits were an interesting pairing, however, the corn flavor was entirely over-powering. I believe a more simple, creamy grit would have paired nicely in its place to let the mahi and its sauce shine.
All in all, considering the quantity, quality, and cost of our meals, we can say that Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen is easily one of our favorite seafood restaurants in San Antonio. We look forward to visiting on a less busy day and getting to try more of their menu (to include their cocktails!)
