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    Roux Dat

    4.3 (707 reviews)
    ModerateCajun/Creole

    Order Roux Dat Takeout or Delivery

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    ROUX DAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Fried Cajun Plate
    Shayla T.

    Was craving some good Cajun food and am so lucky to have stumbled upon Roux Dat! There is not too many staff but our food was brought out fresh and quickly. CATFISH & FRIES PLATE: Crispy and flavorful. Paired well with the aioli and slaw CRAWFISH MAQUE CHOUX: Each bite had the perfect amount of veggies to protein to stew to rice. Nice slice if garlic toast on the side BEIGNETS: Despite some reviews mentioning the hollowness of the beignets, I actually enjoyed them! There is no filling in the beignets but the interior is so hot and fluffy that I don't think it even needs filling. Plus they give a milky vanilla dipping sauce on the side which you can scoop in as filling if you'd like. Good amount of open tables (went at 5:30pm, but it did get busier as we ate). Staff were all very nice!

    Crawfish stew , smallest of the 3 sizes but your can sample all the other stews per cashier
    Aman S.

    6/9/25 I stumbled upon a Cajun Creole place in Capitola it was so random. Instead of key word searching yelp sometimes I drive around city and towns strip shopping enters and just by choice I try a spot that sounds good. I am a fan of Cajun food so Roux Dat it was. Not busy at all, I was immediately greeted and welcomed by an enthusiastic young man. He gave me some rice after I asked and he said to try a stew. I ended up ordering a shrimp Po' boy as it was lunch time. This is located next door to Wing Stop and Trader Joe's so it's in a popular prime spot but easily to drive past as the signage is not that large . The stew I chose was crawfish and sausage the tiniest size and it was good and large enough surprisingly. The team of employees were 2 very young individuals. They were respectful answers all questions and were very polite. It looks like a family run spot so I was happy I dined in . The place is very clean lots of tables with various hot sauces .Lots of young people as summer time now and GameStop also next door. Outdoor umbrella tables and the inside didn't have A/C in at a comfortable level . Service with a smile by the young lady working you feel valued here. The price with drink came to around $21 less than Bay Area prices suffice to say. Noticed the lifestyle and vibe around Santa Cruz and Capitola and beach cities is super chill. Traffic around town can get annoying because the lack of lanes and too many vehicles is substantial. The Po boy shrimp was very satisfying they fried their shrimp with good Cajun seasoning not too spicy. The shrimps are medium sized. The bread is not too hard just right and soft to medium crunch. Free refills on soft drinks. While eating I noticed some young people coming in to drop off resumes for employment so it looks like they could use a hand .They accepted her resume . I never thought I would find a Cajun/creole place so easily in the Capitola area . Having the sea and wharf nearby you can count on fresh seafood used I didnt ask them but I am confident they are utilizing the best ingredients as the freshness of the food did give the impressions . The high ratings for this place are legit and speak for themselves. Capitola is lucky to have this cuisine in town.

    Shrimp & Corn Etouffee mbo and Chicken, Sausage, Okra & Gumbo and Cajun Spiced Corn Bread
    Andrea E.

    Food was soo flavorful ,well seasoned. I like to eat the shrimp and corn etouffe WITH the corn bread . I like to dip it. it's soooo good !! Ordering over the phone was so easy . When picking up the cashier was super nice . He make sure there was napkins and utensils in my bag! Shrimp &corn etouffee 10/10 Corn bread 10/10 Gumbo 9.5 /10 Customer service10/10 Food presentation 10/10

    Fried Catfish plate
    Lidiya M.

    This was truly a letdown after our friends hyped this place up to us. I was really hoping for some honest southern soul from this meal. It's in a strip mall, so I already tempered my expectations about the ambiance, which was pretty average. We got the shrimp and corn etouffee, and I can't for the life of me figure out why they use the cheap frozen little shrimp instead of 5-6 large ones. The whole thing was overly salty and I wasn't satisfied with this at all. Sadly, I think Popeye's has a more flavorful etouffee. We also got the fried catfish plate with the fries and coleslaw. The coleslaw was off. I'm 99% sure of it. I had a bite and pushed it aside. The fries were okay, but again, over-seasoned and salty. And the catfish... was a disservice to catfish. It looked a lot better than it tasted. The folks working there were pretty friendly and a little stoned, which was totally fine. You order at the counter and it's self service. There's not a whole ton of seating but we were able to get a nice table outside and that was good enough for our group. 2 stars because everyone was nice and the meal was quick to come out, but the food was just not memorable at all. Not sure it's worth a retry.

    Michele B.

    We have been eyeing this place for a while. I had a medical procedure in Santa Cruz. That was very close to this restaurant and my wonderful hubby saw that it was close to my procedure and we decided we would go eat there after everything was said and done. When we arrived, there was two other tables sitting in the restaurant. The service was OK kind of awkward however there was a young gentleman with long black hair that was very kind. He offered me a sample to see if I would like some thing before I bought it, which I did feel was extremely kind . Now to the food. Let me start off by saying when we traveled to New Orleans it was one of our favorite places ever we made so many wonderful memories and ate so much delicious food. That's why this place was so high on our radar. The food was definitely delicious. I had a shrimp Poboy , the breading was slightly salty but definitely crunchy and delicious. My love had the fried oyster Poboy. He said it was pretty dang good. For his side dish, he chose the jambalaya. It was absolutely delicious. Like phenomenal out of this world and I was jealous I didn't order one for myself lol it was packed with chickenand the flavor... bomb! We like to try a little bit of everything so we also ordered the mac & cheese fried pickles and hush puppies. The only thing I didn't really care for in our whole meal was the macaroni and cheese. It wasn't what we were used to and maybe because of it being one of our favorites, we have a very high expectation for the mac & cheese lol the fried pickles were good. It was the first time having them so we didn't know what to expect. Or nothing to compare them to, but that's OK because they did taste pretty good. The hush puppies were actually bomb. Very moist in the middle flavorful and the perfect size. I had got Cajun french fries on the side for my sandwich. They were good nothing super crazy special but definitely had good flavor. I enjoyed them. We definitely want to come back. There are other things we would love to try and I would definitely like to bring my mom here to check it out as well again I wish the service was a little bit more enthusiastic. We had a lot of questions about the menu and , the younger kids didn't seem too interested. The young man with the black hair did seem like he really wanted to let us know what he could just maybe be a little shy. I appreciate him for trying.. he was sweet just a little quiet.

    Fried Green Tomatoes were yum
    Marlene T.

    Food was fresh. Quality was good. Reminded me of Nola. Pickles were a bit too salty and the fish were small pieces fried. I would have preferred a large fillet vs smaller pieces. It was a tad soggy. The gumbo and jambalaya were great. If you like beignets, this is the spot.

    Fried Green Tomatoes
    Halley H.

    Way too good. Amazed at how good the prices are here considering good creole food is usually super pricey. Roux Dat is really reasonable in price but WOW, food is so good. We got enough food for 2 meals for 2 people, for $40. The fried green tomatoes though...we almost cried. It's almost impossible to find good FGT in California but these ones are above & beyond. Even without the sauce they're super flavorful, and the sauce is bomb. Considering going back tomorrow just because it was so good.

    Hush Puppies, Fried Green Tomatoes, and a large stew with the Smoked Andouille, Shrimp & Chicken Jambalaya and Crawfish Maque Choux
    Angelina S.

    Great casual spot with outdoor seating for a quick dinner! We got the hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and the large stew option with the shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken jambalaya and the crawfish maque choux. It was my first time trying maque choux and it might be my new favorite Cajun dish!

    Fried Catfish Po Boy
    Paulette D.

    We went near to closing time and there was some people ordering food. You order at the county and the service was super fast. We got the fried green tomatoes, the crawfish and sausage maque choux, and the fried catfish sandwich. The fried green tomatoes were ssoo hot temperature wise. We ate them fast because we took a bite and they were still warm. They were so crispy and good once we let them cool off. The sauce was amazing too. We could not get enough of the crawfish choux!! we wish we had more of it since we only got the small. The Cajun bread was delicious and a good pairing. The catfish sandwich was pretty average, just wish there was more catfish in the sandwich

    Business hours dec 2022
    Diana B.

    Came in here first thing on a Saturday morning with hubby. It was a a really wet day. We're out of towners visiting for the weekend. Came in and was greeted right away and he also wanted to give us him and use as well but I told him it was okay. I asked for a few suggestions, and he gave me what their best sellers were. Hubby at the ordering hush puppies, a side of fried chicken and a beer. I ordered a large plate where I was able to split the gumbo and the jambalaya with white rice and Cajun bread. The food did not take that long to come out about 10 minutes tops. Hush puppies were good and so were the fried chicken it was very tender. Jambalaya does have a little kick to it if you don't like spicy. Jambalaya was all right but the gumbo was the better pick For me. For what the price is you get a decent amount of food. We will definitely be back again to try other things if we're back in town. there is only one bathroom there and it's gender neutral. and a decent amount of seating inside and some outside.

    Shrimp po boy
    Olivia M.

    If you like cajun food you have to come here. This place is truly a hidden gem, hidden in between a bunch of businesses. It was fairly quiet when we walked in and all tables were open. We were greeted and were able to order at the counter. I cannot say enough fantastic things about their po'boys. I got a shrimp one and it was fully dressed. The shrimp itself was well breaded and cooked/seasoned. The baguette was so so soft and fresh. The vegetables and sauce inside were also chefs kiss. You also have a choice of a side between fries, coleslaw or stew. I wish I would have been hungrier, I'd likely give the jambalaya a shot.

    Karen r.

    Day trip in Capitola, wanted good food, came here and was not disappointed! I wanted Cajun food because I'm going to New Orleans in a few weeks. The hardest part was deciding what to order, everything on the menu sounded amazing. Food was delicious, cute decor, and really nice service. Also, easy parking. This place is definitely worth a visit.

    Étouffée, gumbo, jumbalaya, maque choux, hush puppies, beignets

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    2 years ago

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    Chad G.

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    3 years ago

    I've only had to go food from this place, and it's been very good I especially love the beignets

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    2 years ago

    The food was great! I loved the maque choux, and the po' boys were great! Service was quick.

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    6 years ago

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    They were short handed the evening we went, but still managed to crank out delicious food without too long a wait.

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    I love the cuisine and this place is probably as close as you're going to get in California.

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    Page 2 of 18

    Roux Dat Reviews in Other Languages

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    Cafe Cruz

    Cafe Cruz

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    We visited with family, a group of eight, and had a reservation. Even though the restaurant was…read morepacked and lively, it never felt overly loud, making it easy to enjoy conversation. The exterior doesn't do the restaurant justice. Inside, the dining room and patios are beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. There's plenty of space for both small and mid-sized groups. The food was fabulous! We started with the calamari, which was honestly some of the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We also ordered the seasonal Caprese (tomato stack) salad, which was incredibly fresh with a wonderful combination of flavors. Even the complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar stood out. The balsamic was so good I forgot to ask what brand they use so I could buy some for home! Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful. When I ordered the fettuccine with steak, she thoughtfully confirmed whether I wanted the Gorgonzola Alfredo or the traditional Alfredo sauce. I chose the traditional Alfredo, and it was absolutely perfect. I shared it with my daughter, so the photo shows about half of the original portion. Everyone at our table loved their meals. The rotisserie chicken received rave reviews as well, although I forgot to take a photo. If the weather is nice, don't miss the outdoor patios. There's a table for six near the fireplace that looked especially inviting. I wanted to take a picture, but I couldn't get the angle without including other diners in the frame. I also tried the watermelon martini, which was refreshing and delicious, and the wine pours were generous. If you're in Aptos, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

    Never judge a book by it's cover. The front looks old and is windowless, but it's a totally…read moredifferent scene once you step inside. It's huge with a lot of seating. It looks like it would be a great place for large groups. We have never been here before and were confused as to where to park. The front area has 2 or 3 spots but I don't know if they're for customers. We found a drive way that led to the back of the restaurant that is shared by several businesses. The service was great. Everyone was very friendly and our server gave us really good feedback on the dishes we asked about. Someone was always walking around filling water glasses. We sat in the back patio. It's very spacious with a lot of umbrellas to keep guests in the shade. My husband had the meatloaf sandwich. He said it was ok, but a little dry. I really enjoyed the roasted mushroom and avocado melt, but it was hard to eat. Every time I took a bit, all the other ingredients would spill out. Lol I took out some of the greens to make it more manageable. The calamari was well seasoned and the Rock Fish Ceviche was our favorite. We'll come back to try their dinner service when we're in the area.

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    Patio view
    Johnny's Harborside

    Johnny's Harborside

    3.6
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Wheelchair accessible

    I will give this great place a 5 star rating is because the food is amazing! I stopped in to get…read moresome great food. I asked for a burger (they are amazing) and a side of fries. I asked to get a small portion of fries and salad like I usually do (they would split the portion so it's smaller for each) and the chef/manager denied it. I spoke to him mentioning how this has not been an issue over the past year I have been coming here. The guy asked me to sit down at a table with him to explain portion sizes and the guy had slurred speech and an extremely strong smear of liquor radiating from him. I asked if he is on the clock and he said I will be in a few minutes. Doesn't seem like a good idea to be wasted at work. This guy has created some very good tasting foods (hence why I like to return) and the prices are reasonable. The owner is a super sweet gal and you can tell she's pouring her heart and soul into this spot. It has a perfect view of the harbor while you enjoy some good eats. Even though this guy was wasted today, it won't detour me from returning for the 5 star food flavors! He later came to my table as I am indulging in a burger that explodes with flavor and apologized for being brash. I shook his hand and told him there are no hard feelings. I complimented him on his menu, flavors of the foods, and told him we will still be coming in. Do come check this place out as you'll will leave impressed by the food if you know what good food tastes like.

    We had a staycation in Scotts Valley, found this place and made my trip fantastic! We ordered 6…read moreoysters, Pan-roasted halibut, and Dungeness Crab Bucatini. All are above expectations. Price is affordable and it's the best value with great service and food. Ambiance is great it's playing World Cup and my dog enjoys seeing other dogs, they allow interior seating with dog too! If I have to pick one, I highly recommend Dungeness Crab Bucatini, they are generous with the crab meat. I'll definitely come again when I'm in the area :)

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    Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges
    Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges
    Fresh Oysters
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    Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

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    Zelda's

    Zelda's

    2.7
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This overall rating is really low. This is not a 5-star choice but it's definitely better than the…read morerating you see when you pull it up. There's a lot of table right on the beach, super cool vibe and a great view while you eat. We sat inside since there was no wait for indoor lunch and we still had a great view of the pier and the beach while we ate. The food was good, definitely better than the rating would imply. It wasn't anything Michelin star worthy but for the price, it was what I expected. I ordered a burger which was juicy and flavorful, bacon was a little soft for my liking but the few crunchy pieces were very good. The fries were really good, crispy and salty, just the way I like. Our server was excellent. She was attentive, friendly, and professional. Kept our drinks full but wasn't hovering. Great service!!

    This used to be the go to spot for lunch in Capitola. Now it's a mess! I've never had clam chowder…read moreso tasteless and bland. Medium rare burger was medium at best and the service was non existent. Our server was always away from us and hard to flag down for refills or anything else we needed. Just a completely awful experience. Also fish + chips should have come with cocktail sauce, apparently they just left that out. Highly disappointed, won't be coming back. Also, the table was still dirty from previous customers when they sat us down. I remember this place being much better in terms of service and food.

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    Seating area
    Seating area
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    Billionaire Margarita double shot baby!

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    Crow's Nest Restaurant

    Crow's Nest Restaurant

    3.4
    (2.7k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    My boyfriend and I planned a little overnight getaway to Santa Cruz and stumbled upon this cozy…read morehidden gem. The atmosphere was classy, relaxing, and the view was absolutely beautiful. The service was outstanding! I wish I could remember our server's name--she had shoulder-length dark hair and such a bubbly personality. We were there on Thursday evening (7/23/26). I think her name may have been Kaylie. She truly made our experience even better. The food was delicious! We both had the prime rib, and it was cooked perfectly. I'd rate it a 4.8 out 5 (only because a little too much fat)--very flavorful and definitely something I'd order again. Parking was a bit challenging, but that's honestly the only minor downside. If you're planning to visit, I highly recommend requesting a table on the patio. We didn't this time, but after seeing the view, we'll definitely do that on our next visit. Overall, it was a wonderful 5-star experience from start to finish. Thank you for a memorable evening--we'll definitely be back!

    Santa Cruz has many great places to eat a nice dinner. Consider them all then eat at the Crow's…read moreNest, our harbor goto for over 30 years. My partner, J does something similar with her entree selection. The steaks look good, our waitress suggests the Halibut with the Chardonnay Cream sauce served over polenta but after due consideration she orders the Sand Dabs. Again. As she always does. I enjoyed the Halibut and J the sand dabs but we ended up swapping plates to get both of us a bite of each entree. We brought in a Bargetto 2024 Viognier from an earlier in the day tasting which complemented both dishes and finished with a rich Ollaliebery pie slice ala mode. Pro tip: Get a window seat a couple of hours before dusk on a midsummer night and watch the boats entering the harbor at sunset. Who needs variety when the standards are served so well!

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    The upstairs bar and restaurant
    The upstairs bar and restaurant
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    Paradise Beach Grille

    Paradise Beach Grille

    3.6
    (994 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This place is very dog friendly and such a cute little patio in the back! We saw the sunset here…read moreafter a full day at the beach with our two doggies. There's a lot of parking in the area but I'm a busy day it would be difficult to find a spot. The service was a little slow but nothing extreme, they only had one waiter for the whole patio. We would come back here but would try other spots first!

    My family and I stopped by Paradise Beach Grille during our trip and, unfortunately, left a bit…read moredisappointed. The best part of the experience was easily the location. We sat outside and had an incredible view of Capitola Beach. The service was slow throughout the meal, and one thing that stood out was that I never received a water refill the entire time we were there. It wasn't terrible service, but it definitely felt inattentive. I ordered the Seafood Fettuccine because I wanted something a little more filling. In hindsight, that's partly on me since seafood fettuccine isn't exactly a dish I usually expect to be exceptional anywhere. The Alfredo sauce was bland and needed a lot of pepper to bring some life to it. Most of the seafood was overcooked and chewy, particularly the fish. The clams were probably the best part of the dish and were cooked reasonably well. Overall, the view was fantastic, but beyond that, the meal didn't do much for me. Between the slow service and underwhelming food, this ended up being one of the worst meals I had on my trip.

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    Paradise Beach Grille
    Cesar Salad
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    Aj's Market

    Aj's Market

    4.1
    (218 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    A real Italian deli in Boca! authentic all the way, and so many delicious dishes to choose from…read moreI will be back and try many different items on the menu Expertly done and a true treasure

    If you ever imagined what a friendly urban NY do-it-all local market with deli, butcher, coffee…read morestation, and ethnic selection would look like, then AJ's Market at the Chevron gas station in Soquel will completely change how you think about convenience stores. Yes, they have gas and a car wash, but that is just the beginning. Inside, there is a gourmet kitchen serving up locally harvested seafood and Harris Ranch meats. The burger here is hands down one of the best in the county. It is technically fast food, but nothing like what you would expect from that term. AJ's goes way beyond typical gas station fare. You will find organic produce and treats from around the world like English biscuits, real maple syrup, and a Southeast Asian spice rack. They also offer an impressive selection of local wines, baked goods, ice creams, and coffees. Owner Akhtar Javed, originally from Pakistan, opened the market in 1987 after falling in love with Santa Cruz. He became a local legend after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake when he let customers take what they needed and pay later during the power outage. AJ's Market is a true gem and worth the stop whether you need gas or not. P.S. AJ also carries dried cuttlefish so you don't have to travel to San Jose or find a Ranch 99. P.P.S. In addition to the coffee station, they also had a full cooler of Marianne's Ice Cream!

    Photos
    Zz Plant
    Zz Plant
    Aj's Market
    Outside of AJ's Market

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    Outside of AJ's Market

    Roux Dat - cajun - Updated August 2026

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