It was excellent - the food and service.If you love blacken Cajun seafood along with other selections you should come here.

Well I have not been to Ragin Cajun since it was first opened many moons ago..Unfortunately for the establishment the menu and restaurant was almost exactly the same.. The over/the top ( and I don't mean it in a good way) Cajun spice seemed leftover from that decade. Oh no !!! The menu was saturated and our table runneth over with the overwhelming amount of THAT SPICE COMBO .I was with a group of ladies I had not seen in sometime so retuning a meal would not have been appropriate I struggled through a few shrimp and some VERY drippy lite tomato sauce that lacked in any flavor except for that spice AGAIN. The menu (little to very little )imagination and anything else for that matter I am not quite sure how the establishment remains open With so many other great food choices in the Marina area I would try somewhere else I will suggest to the current owners to tap into what can be changed in the menu and try to save it from certain death..Being in the restaurant business is a privilege and the menu needs to be consistent and creative Remember when you first opened? I suggest you try to capture that spirit again and Please listen up on that Cajun or you will find your customers Ragin for the exit Sooner than later.. Overall a very disappointing meal Yikes!!! It's that spice again I can conjure the smell with just a thought of it ! read more

Lack taste Service good Wish it was more flavorful and less saturated with blk paper read more

Just as I remember it from 20 years ago. So many times I've driven by and overlooked this gem. The food is absolutely amazing. Brings you to a whole different part of the world right in the middle of Belmar. The flavor, freshness, and the atmosphere can't be beat. Definitely my favorite date night with my wife. read more

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The fries are awesome!!! I grabbed them just as a snack, wish I knew about this place before.

Very nice venue and most dishes are flavorful and good. All dishes we had with red beans and rice were great. Scallop and shrimp pasta is perfect. Jambalaya was disappointing as it was too spicy and the spice was simplistic, and mono phasic with immature depth and overly spicy prompting the question of what it's hiding. read more

BYOB... awesome place great food. Many options and good for groups and dates... yummy read more

Ragin Cajun - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

I read some reviews before giving it a try, i must say the groupon tempted me more than the reviews. A previous review from another yelper stated this place was not creole yet simply Spicy Italian food, and i certainly have to second that. Overall, i thought it was a bit overpriced for crooked seating (yes our table leaned significantly towards my husband so that our sauces pooled over the edge of our plates) and a loud, obnoxious view of speeding cars along rt 35 in Belmar. It surely isn't a place i would tell people to flock to. The service was here and there, multiple waitresses who seemed disorganized and weeded. Fellow yelpers rave about the bread and roasted garlic, however we felt it was dry and bland. My husband had alligator as an app - he said it was dry and nothing to write home about. The lobster bisque tasted like flour, cream and clove....with no buttery seafood flavor to find. One dish on the menu stated "got this from my italian friend" - um....aren't we supposed to be eating creole? My husband actually got that dish which was blackened shrimp and scallops with PASTA in RED SAUCE. yup....very very authentic creole. My dish was probably the highlight of the night and it wasn't all that special and definitely did not taste like Etouffee, which is how it was supposed to be prepared. We won't be back, i could probably make more authentic creole from following a recipe from the internet. read more

Ate here tonight for the first time. A few friends said it was good and recommend Ragin Cajun. The food was ok. Not a must return but I would go back. For an appetizer my wife and I had the Cajun shrimp. It was ok. The warm bread, butter, and roasted garlic was very good. For main course I had blackened cat fish and broccoli. It was good. My wife had French onion soup. She said it was good. We took our son. Home the swamp daddy pasta. He said it was delicious. I'd go back after 7 to hear the live band. BYOB is always a plus. The service was very good. read more

Ragin Cajun - Cajun shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

I believe our server might have been the owner or at least the exec. chef. He was great, friendly, and certainly knew his food. The meal itself, however, left room for improvement. My jambalaya wasn't spicy (and my server admitted as much), my rice was overcooked & mushy, and the sauce for my husband's pasta dish was VERY oily. However, this place consistently gets rave reviews, which tells me that we either went there on an off night or Jersey Shore people have absolutely no clue what good Cajun cooking tastes like. read more

Having lived in the South most of my life, I have to say that this "hack" restaurant isn't the least bit Cajun. I can't say that the food was bad, it was simply spicy italian food and not in the least bit something anyone from New Orleans would recognize. Sadly, they don't even have a decent web site for customers to comment on. read more

The food was traditional cajun and creole food; dare I say better than I had in New Orleans. They bring out a bulb of roasted garlic and bread which is simplicity at its best. For an entree I had the Shrimp Creole, which was so tasty, I wish the portion was larger! It came with beans and rice. Lastly, for dessert, we had a type of tuxedo pastry (I don't know if you would call it a pastry or cake) with a pudding like cream - AMAZING! The space is very tight, so, you may have to wait for a seat, but it is worth it. They only take reservations for over 6 people, I think. They had a band, Los Gringos, when we were there - pretty cool. read more

I was pumped about going to this place but in the end I found myself a bit disjointed. The restaurant is an adorable little house that has been turned into a restaurant with a porch and a bit of outdoor seating. It is unfortunately located on a busy road making sitting outside a bit noisy but still nice. The service was great, and the waitress very attentive constantly bringing us water. I ordered up the jambalaya after I heard that it was the spiciest dish on the menu and my friend ordered up the blacken chicken. Before the entrees came out however we got our bread which was tasty and ordered up alligator sausage which I had been dying to try. The alligator sausage was fabulous and the aoili sauce it is paired with was so tasty. I could have stopped after that, it was so good. Then our entrees came out and I must say the blackened chicken with the beans and veggies was quite good. I however was disappointed in my jambalaya. It was not spicy at all and upon asking for some spice my waitress did take back the dish to fry it up again and add more spice. This was highly appreciated although still not as spicy as I had longed for. Overall the portion sizes were out of control and the food decent but nothing that would make me come back again now that I have officially checked alligator off of my list. read more

I can't even begin to describe my amazing and wonderful (beyond wonderful) experience at Ragin Cajun! My server Brenna was extraordinary!!!!! (hi Brenna!!!! ) we love you!!!! She recommended the paella, lobster bisque, swamp daddy, sirloin tips!! Died and went to heaven!!! Holy moly!!!! One of our new favorite spots!!! If you aren't eating here right now, you should be jelly!!!! read more

Ragin Cajun - paella - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

As we pulled into the driveway of what used to be a house we were advised that that was for employees only. However, they do "provide" parking around the corner....ON THE STREET...if you can find a spot. although the area was PACKED due to the St Patrick's day parade the restaurant was totally empty. Also note... they do not have a liquor license. The rolls were HOT and fresh and were served with roasted garlic.... delicious. The entres; Sirloin tips.... a small portion of steak (8 bite sized pieces) served with a large amount of rice n beans. The steak was VERY CHEWY, so CHEWY that my jaw got tired. (No joke) I could only eat about 4 pieces before I gave up. Shrimp and steak... 4 shrimp with slivers of steak and vegetables served on a large bed of rice. So if you love white rice..... this is the spot. If you're a meat or shrimp lover... go elsewhere. So to sum it up.... - no parking - no liquor license - small portions of meat/seafood - large portions of white rice read more

Ragin Cajun - While the dishes presented well, they didn't offer much in the way of substance - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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We ordered takeout a few days ago and overall everything was good! The only complaints that I have are the prices!! Golly, for ONE dinner and 3 appetizers it was $85! I don't believe that it was worth that amount, however that does not mean the food is not good. The garlic shrimp Angel hair was very good, very filling. The lobster Mac n cheese though was only ok, it sat in a pool of grease and wasn't cheesy like I had expected. To justify the greasiness, it could have been because our order was to go and may have sat for a little. Overall good, will return! :) read more

A lot of hype about the Cajun flavor of the food here but it has been seriously disappointing. One of the big positives is that (mellow music) bands play here regularly which is why I go, to support the ones I know/follow. Otherwise their food is very ordinary. The 'spiciest' dish they proudly tout is the jambalaya but it is only spiced with just one spice/flavor : an overdose of black pepper :( There is no Cajun authenticity in any of their other dishes either. It's a BYOB, which is nice and has a homely setting since it's a restaurant run in a house. Some have complained about parking, but there is a lot a block away behind the restaurant. I do not see any difference in the food they serve and what you can get at a regular franchise - except that you pay more here! Service is good, mostly young ladies, space is tight as they have tried to fit in the tables in the available space that they have in the house/restaurant. read more

Ragin Cajun - Entrance Sign - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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First time at the restaurant & really enjoyed it. Food was great although very spicy and plentiful. I think we have dinner for another 2 nights. We sat outside and saw a beautiful setting sun. The traffic is very close but with good company it didn't prove distracting read more

Went tonight with My wife on the recommendation of my daughter So glad she did We started with the Lobster mac and cheese and the blackened tuna bites. Then I ordered the seafood jambalaya My wife ordered the swamp daddy pasta and my daughter ordered the blackened catfish. WOW the food was amazing mine was nice and spicy we had enough food that we will have lunch with the leftovers yes they give you that much. So the prices are in line with other seafood places and it is well worth it. Yes this is going to be a return place to eat. read more

Great place! A must-go. Reasonable, delicious, and great and friendly staff. Their spicy scale from 1-10 is very helpful. So far everything I've tried is fresh and tasty. read more

Ragin Cajun - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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Loved the Ragin Cajun! My fist time there with my wife and two kids. I had a cup of chicken gumbo and the stepped Seafood Jambalaya (you get to pick how spicy you want it on a scale of 1-10. I had 10). The food came out nice and piping hot, which was great. It also made me sweat spicy heat wise! It is byo, we forgot the wine but they have a store close by in which they give us the phone number to and a wine list to order from . They arrive in like 15 minutes which was great. They are however a little tight inside with table space. Also have a decent kids menu. We would definitely go back. Can't wait. read more

Ragin Cajun - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

We all watch restaurants come and go and you world expect that an owner operated restaurant which has passed the test of time even though it is surrounded by a seemingly countless number of competitors to be exceptional. Rajin Cajun is an owner run small business that continues to satisfy its customers in a sea of competition. Rajin Cajun is exactly what you would expect. The place has good food and character. If you enjoy Cajun food, don't leave Belmar without giving it a try. read more

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this isn't Cajun at all. Tabasco sauce is not cajun. Plus this place is overpriced, not to mention the entire restaurant is in an old house that seriously needs cleaning. It has fresh seafood, but if you want the flavors of LA, this ain't it. I think of mexican food when i ate here. Keep trying, grab a creole/cajun book and check the ingredients...trust me you won't see tabasco at all. read more

One of my favorite places Love the atmosphere , the band and the food ! Shrimp daddy pasta with alligator sausage and anything blackened from steaks, chops, n fish are my favorites You will not be disappointed Its also a byob and Very reasonably priced read more

The "etoufee" is pas bon, unless it is meant to be some sort of "vegetarian fusion etoufee". Giant chunks of broccoli, squash, zucchini, and carrots in a watery roux? I'm from Louisiana and I have never seen that in any etoufee I grew up with. Why is there half of a lime in here? Maybe I expect too much. I certainly was charged too much: $23.99 for this? No decent Cajun or Creole restaurant would ever think to charge that. At least you made me nostalgic for the real thing. read more

The place is excellent on all fronts. The staff helpful courteous and fun. We started with the blackened scallops. I would recommend them highly! We had the seafood jambalaya and swamp Dady pasta. We were both very happy very large potions so come hungry.. They will spice a dish to taste. Great outdoor sitting area with live music. We will be back often! read more

This restaurant is one of our favorites. We love New Orleans and this is as close as you are going to get in New Jersey. Wonderful waitstaff and delicious food!! BYOB I highly recommend The Ragin Cajun!!! read more

Went to this establishment today to have dinner with a Groupon and to my pleasant surprise I would go back with or without a coupon. The service was so fast that we sat down and within minutes the server was at the table opened my wine bottle (this is a byob) then warm bread with soft butter and a roasted bulb of garlic flavored in Cajun spice. Once we ordered our main dish it was out on the table in 10 minutes! My wife had the Cajun shrimp with red beans over white rice and stemmed head of fresh broccoli, I had the Swamp Daddy which is shrimp, alligator sausage,artichoke hearts ,mushrooms in a pink sauce over bow tie pasta but I requested it over rice which was easily accommodated. Both dishes were very flavorful and we'll prepared. We had coffee and desert and all was good in the world. Also had live music from about 7pm on most nights to round off a wonderful experience. read more

I've always passed this place on the highway on a somewhat regular basis and have heard far more bad than good things about this restaurant. Decided to give it a shot. Me and a few friends went in we found the interior to be what we expected... very small, older and the décor kind of cheesy. The service was at least average throughout the night at least. Me and my group decided we would go family style and try a bunch of items on the menu. We got the garlic shrimp, blackened chicken, jambalaya rice and of course the alligator sausage. All of this food tasted like any appetizer I have ever had in TGI Fridays or Applebee's. Most disappointing was the alligator sausage. I've had alligator many times from my travels to Texas and Florida. This was by far the worst I've had. Very chewy, very little flavor. And the dipping sauces, although pretty good, in my mind and anybody who enjoys eating- are not there to cover the taste of bland food. These round of appetizers were as bad or average as any restaurant USA that I have had. The app round unfortunately was a sign of what was to come. For dinner we all shared the following: chicken jambalaya, etouffee with shrimp and scallops and the creole with chicken. I have to tell you, there was nothing even average about any of these dishes. Very bland. Very average. The proteins were cooked well but the dishes lacked anything that really made them stand out or any different from a dish I have had anywhere else. Each of had a few bites of all the dishes and agreed that we had tasted / seen enough. Most disappointing I guess is through my travels and my experience of eating "Cajun" food, this place really missed the mark, by a lot. Wasted my time and my appetite here. read more

I want to like this restaurant more because, let's face it, if you've eaten in New Orleans you know how great it would be to have something similar locally. Also the owner is a local so there is a degree of loyalty there, but there is room for improvement. On our most recent visit we sat outside and the nice weather, the great sunset and live music offset the rt 35 traffic, the dirty plastic table and unweeded landscape. But who knows, maybe that's supposed to be part of the experience. Anyway, the scallops and gumbo appetizers were great. So far pretty good. However the entrees, seafood jambalaya and steak & lobster creole, both specials, were average. The jambalaya just wasn't what I expected and steak in the creole was too tough. And while the servers could have been a little friendlier the food came out quickly. I would never tell anyone not to go to Ragin Cajun but maybe next time I'll stick with the appetizers and hope for a nice sunset. read more

Best restaurant at the shore, great food and nice atmosphere. Quaint, good music and great owners. Eating outside awesome in summer and inside is cozy in winter. Food off the charts, try the Rajin jumbo shrimp. read more

We stopped in as people new to the area adhering to a recommendation from a coworker. We left with doggy bags and a leisurely affect. The food was very well prepared. This was my first time having Cajun/Creole food and so I have nothing to which I can really compare this experience. However, the jambalaya was flavorful and the blackened chicken was superb. The bread with garlic at the onset of the meal was great as well. We neglected dessert though we may make an attempt at it on our next visit. On the Thursday evening that we visited we were one of only three couples in the restaurant and there was a live band. Creative, calming, and artful music was performed in a style that was influenced by jazz and rock music. It was an awesome addition to the ambiance of the low-key restaurant. The parking situation requires walking around the corner and (our mistake) we didn't know it was a BYOB until we didn't get a drink menu. Otherwise it was a really stellar joint to hear jazz and relax while enjoying delectable food.... read more

So delicious!!! Love the laid back atmosphere...fresh salt air, good music BYOB. The food is superb. My favorite is the Swamp Daddy and I trade pit pasta for rice. To die for. Probably the best restaurant in Belmar. Yummmm read more

Consistently excellent food! Wonderful service, our server Jessica was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and just lovely. The Snapper with mustard sauce was out of this world. It's definitely a repeat order. Don't even get me started about the delicious clams, and the swamp daddy pasta which you can get as an appetizer portion if you so desire. read more

Probably our favorite seafood restaurant in town! Meal starts off with fresh roasted garlic & bread...delicious. The mustard red snapper, chicken étouffée, shrimp n grits, & jambalaya can't be beat. For dessert the peanut butter pie will not disappoint. When family & friends come from out of town, this is our first place to take them. No one has been disappointed yet. Plus we love the atmosphere & when there is live music. Popular place, especially during the summer, so show up early. read more

I had dinner here my first time on Friday night. It's very rare that I go to a restaurant and have such a hard time narrowing down what I want but wow this menu was awesome. I wanted to order 4 different entrees and about all of the apps. I decided on the chicken Diane and my girlfriend got the steak and shrimp dish. It's also very rare that I finish my whole dish but I also did that too. Such a cozy warm environment and the staff was prompt and very pleasant. I will definitely be back! read more

Local gem , repeat customer many times . Never disappointed with authentic cuisine prepared to order .

The place was delicious! Great atmosphere and great band playing. Got the sirloin tips, blackened scallops and swamp daddy as an entree. And the prices were great! Well def be back! read more

Me and my wife drove 45 minutes to eat here, we recently came back from New Orleans 3 days prior and absolutely loved the food there. Sad to say the food here was very disappointing, not even close to New Orleans food. It was not bad but definitely not NOLA food and not spicy. The service was great though and the chicory flavored coffee and rolls with roasted garlic was good. read more

The jambalaya appetizer was spot on! The wait staff knew the menu and their recommendations were on point. I had the shrimp & scallop etouffée, my wife had the swamp daddy pasta& my friend had black Cajun shrimp. Each was better than the other. If you closed your eyes and thought about NOLA, you would be there. The band was a bonus, brought me right to Frenchmans Street. I would highly recomend this place and look forward to coming back to sample the rest of the menu. read more