EXCELLENT! I did not expect to find something like this in a small small town. We were on our way…read moreto college station and wanted to get something to eat as we got closer to our destination. We checked Yelp for something other than Mexican food and this place had really great reviews. As soon as we walked it we knew it was going to be good. The menu isn't too large, which to me meant that they have spent a lot of time perfecting the things that are on the menu. The service was really good and as soon as we sat down, we ordered a couple of sodas and the Boudin balls. We took a couple minutes to look at the menu and everything looked really good, but the spicy chicken sandwich was really calling out to both of us. So we ordered those one with potato salad and one with rice. The Boudin balls were delicious. They were pretty large in size and the sauce that it came with had a little bit of a kick to it. My favorite thing was that it was mostly meat on the inside and the flavor was incredible. Same with the chicken sandwich. It also had a kick and by the time I was done my mouth was pretty warm. I thought the potato salad was a great way to help cool it off, and it was just as good as the sandwich. I loved the batter on the chicken, and I thought the bun was toasted perfectly. This would be a place I would go to regularly if I lived in the area. Parking was pretty tight and most of the spots were taken up so we did park in a spot we weren't supposed to, but luckily we didn't get towed!

Whew! I'm a Mississippi native so Louisiana is like our great aunt and New Orleans is our first…read morecousin. I knew when we pulled up the food was going to be good. When I tell you the spirit of Louisiana and NOLA was in the place! So you will miss the place if you aren't paying attention. The sign is small and the building looks like it used to be a church fellowship hall. It's not fancy and it's small, however, don't discount it. Don't judge a book by its cover and great things come in small packages. It's a family owned and run business. By the looks of it, it can probably seat 40 people and I'm pushing it with the number. However from the time you walk in until the time you leave, you feel like you're at your great aunt's house. It was five of us and when you walk in, it's seat yourself and first come, first serve. The food came out piping hot and cooked fresh. My husband and brother-in-law got the catfish platter with red beans and rice (no pork) and Mac-n-cheese. My sister and I got the Nawlins boil that had a crab cluster, shrimp, corn, potato, boiled egg and a sausage link. My nephew got a shrimp po-boy with fries. The food was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The fish and fries were crispy. The Mac-n-cheese isn't creamy but it isn't dry. Perfect amount of cheese and flavor. The red beans and rice had the perfect balance of flavor. The boil...my goodness the boil. They have the amount of the boil down to a science to make it a full meal. At first glance, I didn't think it would be seasoned well because the season looked like a dry rub. It wasn't saucy or juicy - until I took my first bite. I almost walked to the kitchen to kiss the cook. They are not skimpy on any of the food either. Even the po-boy had an overload of shrimp. When we were there, it was a packed house. There was also a large party who was rather disgruntled - not because of the service or food but because they were impatient. Remember this is a family owned business with 2 servers and maybe 3 cooks that cook to order. So if you're looking for quick food, this isn't the place. If you have time to sit, enjoy some great food with great company in a casual home style restaurant...this is your place.

Been awhile since I've last been here when they first opened up but food is still top notch. They…read morenow have dessert and alcohol. Oysters were fresh and BIG. Cajun Wings were flavorful and MEATY, crispy and hot. And seafood was extremely flavorful and fresh. Will always be back

I went here with my coworkers last week. I do NOT like the food here. I ordered the fish and shrimp…read morebasket. Yech! The coating on the fish and shrimp was gigantic and nasty and I peeled it off the shrimp and just ate them plain. The fries were ok. My coworkers like the seafood boils but I don't like working for my food. Plus its too messy. Also I don't eat sausage, but I dont want to fight with crawfish, crab and shrimp to get a tiny lil piece of seafood meat. Yea this place just isn't my thing.

Came here for the first time with my family. Ordered the mozzarella sticks and artichoke spinach…read moredip for appetizers. The dip was ok, but the mozzarella sticks were crunchy and delicious. For our entree, we ordered the Tad's Bowl (bland), Fried Catfish Entree (delicious fried pieces of fish), Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Chicken Strips were ok. Overall, decent price for large portions, but the quality of the food was ok other than the fried catfish and the mozzarella sticks. Staff are friendly. Lots of tables to dine at. They have a sports bar type setup on the other side of the restaurant. Lots of parking. The men's restroom is filthy. There was a yellow puddle of liquid on the floor. The sink looks corroded. The napkin and soap dispensers are broken. They need to do a better job cleaning this restroom.

Our server, Makenna was attentive and friendly. She recommended alcoholic drinks that she was…read morehoping to get on the menu. One was a blueberry lemonade and the other was a strawberry watermelon lemonade. Let me just say that they both were off the charts wicked good!! We ordered food which came out in a prompt manner and it, too, was just fantastic. This place had been hit or miss for a while now. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come! Hey corporate people, listen to Makenna and get her drinks on the menu!

My list of places to try in Austin is a never-ending backlog. About a year ago, I had a friend…read morerecommend Lil' Easy for dinner. Since it was this new and poppin' restaurant on East Cesar Chavez from the team behind De Nada, we had over an hour wait that we didn't take up. Its vibe intrigued me, and I think Cajun food is top five like Tatum with a cut. I decided to prepare only slightly this time. While getting dinner with a friend, we were discussing places when I suggested Lil' Easy. I threw a reservation down for an hour later at one of their numerous dining options. Upon arrival, parking at that little strip of restaurants on East Cesar Chavez is a bit treacherous. If you're not afraid of getting your steps in at 6 pm on a Friday, don't sweat it. Anyone else, good luck. There are a lot of different seating arrangements at Lil' Easy: the true outdoor patio with fans and umbrellas, the climate-controlled outdoor space that still brings the sun while still pumping A/C, and the traditional indoor space. Plenty of seating. The entire place was decorated with Mardi Gras beads and colors. Off the rip, we had to set the tone: I ordered a Pimm's Cup while my friend got some secret frozen swirl. We had to throw down an order of the Crawfish Queso as well. The food and drinks were served so quickly, we questioned if it was ours. The queso was De Nada's signature queso with Crawfish Étouffée mixed in. There are no tortilla chips on the side, but instead toasted bread. It's kinda like a DIY Crostini. The crawfish's flavor is a unique and savory balance to the cheesiness of the queso. Very delightful. We crushed it. My friend wanted to go wild. Another appetizer?? Their Shrimp Cocktail was thrown down immediately after ordering. The shrimp was great, but those house pickles were sneakily one of the best things they served us. Living the high life. Speaking of that, I ordered a High Life Pony as we made our main orders: a Fried Catfish Po'Boy and Fried Oyster Po'Boy. Both cut down the middle so we could have a little this, a little that. I think the bread, the catfish and the oysters, and the fries served alongside it were all incredible. My only issue was that the catfish po'boy had horseradish in it. That is a me issue, and I don't know why I can't stand horseradish. I don't know if it was hiding in their coleslaw or their rémoulade, but something was horseradish-y! I'd get the oyster po'boy again and again though! We closed the night with me being fun as I ordered their Frozen Espresso Martini with sprinkles and whipped cream because some other lady sitting nearby had that, and I WANTED TO BE FUN TOO. My friend got herself the seasonal nonalcoholic Arnold Palmer that was spiked with some Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka. Hers was great, but mine was basically a milkshake. I looked like a joyous kid with my drink. I was so very happy. They do give you lids for your drinks if you want to take them with you, but I planned to finish mine then and there. The gimme cups are also a nice touch and have their cute alligator mascot on them. Throughout the night, we could not believe how fast the service was at getting our meals and our drinks to us. Our waitress was absolutely on point the entire time we were there, constantly checking in on us and being extremely friendly and helpful in making sure we chose the right things and had a good meal ahead of us. Lil' Easy is casual, fun, and absolutely delicious. They have some of the best frozens in Austin, and their food is some of the best seafood and Cajun food I've had in Austin, hands down. Get over here. RIYL: crawfish and cocktails

Lil' Easy makes you feel like you woke up in NOLA (New Orleans, LA). All of the restaurant points…read moreto NOLA...food, decor and design styling. The restaurant, located in East Austin on César Chavez street, was chosen by Angela (first visit and friend meetup for Angela, Alyssa and me). The restaurant is divided into three sections - outside patio, inside patio and the restaurant. Our server, Courtney, pointed us to menu favorites and explained happy hour selections. She was a new server and new to Lil' Easy. We decided to try a variety of items including fried shrimp, French fries, sausage and chicken gumbo, garlic and parmesan oysters and hush puppies. The food was as good as the food you will find in NOLA. The standouts for me was the gumbo, oysters and hush puppies. The gumbo was flavorful and well-seasoned...I savored every bite. I do not like anything slimy including oysters. Given that these oysters were cooked, I took the oyster plunge. They came out steaming hot almost burning my fingers...so delightful to eat. The hush puppies were delicious...crisp but not overly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Definitely returning...

My husband ordered the shrimp po'boy which was delicious. However, the beignets were the star of…read morethe show. They were layered, doughy, and easily the best beignets I've ever had. The owner was also super kind and attentive. We'll be back!

The food at the Big Easy is amazing! My girlfriend has been looking for some authentic New Orleans…read morefood for a few months now and we were so happy to find the Big Easy! The hot sausage was so good and the shrimp po boy was amazing! The owner Mr. Gordon is so sweet! We will be back for sure!

I enjoyed my dinner at Razzoo's very much! It was an early…read moredinner so there were not many other customers there so service was fast and attentive. They have a variety of Cajun dishes on the menu. I was looking to try a jambalaya or something similar, but they didn't have it. Instead they have jambalaya pasta! That's new to me. So I ordered it. It was great. It had a lot of sausage, small shrimp and fish. Generous amount of cheese. Creamy and savory. I also thought the decor was so much fun here and beautiful. I would love to go back and try Ettouffee next time! Great place.

They are closed and locked out their staff with no prior notice. This is completely unacceptable by…read moremanagement and ownership.

This restaurant was pretty good and the food came out in less than 10 min! The service was good and…read moreI liked how he was very efficient. The restaurant has lots of seating and it has a very chill vibe. There are plenty of TVs to watch sports games and there is a bar as well. Calamari: The calamari was very crispy and a good portion. The flavor was also very neutral and there was not any weird tastes. However, I wish the calami came out warmer as it was a bit lukewarm when it arrived to the table. Shell Shocker: This boil was really good! The portion is good and the prices are standard. I got the Hook & Reel special blend and it was extremely flavorful and yummy. Next time, I am going to get the spicy because the mild had ZERO spice. This boil came with corn, two potatoes, crab, and shrimp.

My past interactions with seafood broils have not been positive so I had given up. The first was…read morewith a party and was meh but I'm finding out it was the stuff others picked out as well as the flavor( "butter") . The second time was at Joes crab Shack and the crab there was empty and they mixed up the flavors with the incredibly spicy one. Like the saying goes third times the charm. Came here with my fiancé over the weekend. First and foremost the service was great. Our server was very friendly and helpful. She also informed us that they had an all day happy hour so we ordered a pitcher of margarita. Everything came out fast, the flavors were great, and for the price the amount in the bag was great. Will definitely be coming back.

Been there several times and all I can say is they never disappoint. The food is is so good and…read moretasty. The shrimp diablos are one of my favorite.

FM 812 is turning into an interesting place to eat…read more Seven hundred thousand million billion people are moving to Southeast Travis County and Southwest Bastrop County. A very large proportion of them are Mexican or Central American. That usually leads to a lot of food trucks, many of them excellent. North Lamar has an outstanding collection of food trucks. The economic driver is the nearby population of Honduran immigrants. Now FM 812 is getting its turn. Ten years ago there was virtually no place to eat on 812. Now there are regular clusterings of interesting trucks - along with some new brick and mortar places and some excellent Mexican grocery stores. Okay, the brick and mortar places are often plywood and concrete slab places. But that still means lots of customers and a potentially good kitchen. Nearly all of the new establishments serve traditional Mexican food. * * * Except Catarino's. Catarino's is run by a former manager of Captain Benny's seafood-in-a-boat restaurant on I-35. Captain Benny's was and is a first rate seafood restaurant - with a heavily Mexican and Central American clientele. They are known for their grilled and fried seafood and a superlative shrimp diablo that is worth dying for. What does a former manager of a good grilled and fried seafood and shrimp diablo place do when he opens up a food truck? Serves good grilled and fried seafood along with shrimp diablo. Catarino's calls itself Creole/Cajun to set itself off from the twenty five other taco trucks and Mexican home cooking trucks located elsewhere on 812. They justify the Creole/Cajun label by serving po-boys .... And technically Louisiana food does involve a lot of fried seafood. But this is basically Captain Benny's II - with chicken tenders and a cheeseburger added to the menu for variety. * * * How is it? Outstanding. My male partner in crime (this time a carnivorous male and not the usual pescatarian female) went nuts over the grilled tilapia. I am not a tilapia fan and avoid tilapia whenever I can. But management says the tilapia is the house specialty. Even stubborn me has to admit this is very very good tilapia. The cajun rice that comes with it is knock your socks off. We both went with shrimp diablo. The shrimp diablos are just as good here as they are at Captain Benny's. I could eat about thirty or forty of these babies happily. (And so could my partner in crime.) I went with a fried chicken tenders with french fries and a country gravy dipping sauce. The house offers Valentina's hot sauce to pour on the chicken tenders. TAKE THEM UP ON IT. The tenders dipped in gravy are nice enough. But add Valentina's hot sauce on top of the tenders for the combo and you get die-and-go-to-heaven good eating. For the record - There are a lot of places that serve awful chicken tenders. (Top Notch Diner - I'm talking to YOU, baby!) So a good tender is a good thing. * * * If you live anywhere near this part of the world, You want to definitely check Catarino's out. But then you probably want to go up and down 812 Eating up a storm. There is a lot of good stuff here. Someday, those food trucks won't be food trucks, And those establishments will be famous. You can say you ate there just when they were getting started.