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    Swampwater Grill

    4.2 (491 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Swampwater Grill Photos

    SWAMPWATER GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Swampwater Grill

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    Elaine F.

    Went in specifically for the chargrilled oysters and left throughly satisfied. The oysters were perfectly grilled and had a balanced flavor of sea salt and were topped with a Parmesan sauce. Also had a bowl of the crawfish etouffee which was also good. We had a little wait time but the restaurant is cleverly attached to a antique flea market that we walked through while waiting. Service was good and food was great.

    Friends are big fans of crawfish season
    Dale Marie P.

    I love Swampwater Grill! My BFF is an enormous crawfish fan, so we definitely always make it there for a couple of dinners during the spring season but it's a year-round destination for us. I'm not a crawfish person (too much work) so I usually get the Louisiana BBQ shrimp (which is NOT BBQ sauce - it's like butter and herbs and it's spicy but in a cumin way, not a Tabasco way). This time I got the wings that come with the same sauce and they are 10/10. Ranch dressing is housemade and the real deal. The char-grilled oysters are not to be missed. Happy hour has deals on both food and drink (as all good happy hours should) and includes oysters. Overall, prices are super fair because the portions are huge and most things come with a side or two. The jambalaya is worth bringing home if you don't have room and the cornbread is moist even the next day. And it's weird but I like the side salads, they aren't just white iceberg lettuce and two cherry tomatoes. Service has always been great. You can't get seated until at least half of your party is there but that's fair. We accidentally got a table for six and had eight show up and they just let us pull up a couple chairs and get in their way but acted like it was no big deal. Get there early because it fills up quick, including the parking lot. It's an old-school restaurant and the decor fits. It's got corny signs, tables made out of wine barrels and a fireplace in the corner. There is outside seating that I haven't sat at (I mean it overlooks a parking lot and there is usually someone smoking but at least it's there). There is a grumpy but capable bartender and young people working the host/ess stand who greet you cheerily and always say goodbye on the way out. Swampwater is right next to the Riverside Antique Mall, so make it a day and do some shopping beforehand. Both are more than worth the visit.

    Pulled chicken Sandwich
    Connie H.

    Wait time: 35 minutes Atmosphere: always reminds me of a restaurant on the beach, fun at the Service: service is always good and they really keep busy Food: food is great, large portions, comes out timely. I tried something new this time which was the grilled chicken sandwich with pimento cheese. I would probably get again Price: $$$ Cleanliness: 7/10

    Old Fashioned
    Michelle D.

    Great service! Good food. I haven't been here in several years. I liked it when I had it and had tried to stop in a few times after the pandemic, only to find it closed when it was supposed to be opened. After it happened several times I just forgot about the place. We were happy to find it open when we stopped by this past weekend. I stopped in for dinner on Sunday night with my daughter and her boyfriend. We ordered drinks - a beer for the boyfriend, coke with grenadine (their work around for a cherry coke) and an Old Fashioned for me. It was one of the worst old fashioneds I have ever had. Ever. I'd respect a bartender more if they just said that they did not know how to make the classic and well known cocktail and that they were too lazy to look it up rather than the mess that I was served. The bartender had muddled cheap maraschino cheeries into to the glass, lots of them. Then either poured the juice in or used grenadine in place of the simple syrup. Drinking proved very difficult as the mushed cherry pieces kept coming up. And forget a straw! I tried the stirrers and my water straw and they were promptly clogged by the muddled cherries. The appetizer of Gator Bites was delicious! We finished those off without trouble. The entrees were: Southern Fried Chicken sandwich with Fries. Swamp Pasta with White Mac side. And the Oyster Platter with Side Salad and Red Bean & Rice. The chicken was very over cooked in the chicken sandwich. My daughter said that it tasted great but that it was so over cooked that it was stringy. Her boyfriend really liked the swamp pasta. My fried oysters were perfectly done. I enjoyed them. The side salad was fine. The red beans & rice was like soup and I didn't eat them. Overall, it was pretty good and we will return.

    Grilled Chicken Platter with Seafood Alfredo & Fried Catfish Platter
    Sammi M.

    My boyfriend and I have been frequenting Swampwater grill a LOT recently. It's always been very good. Some visits better than others. I always get the grilled chicken entree that comes with shrimp and swamp sauce on top. I've tried a few of the sides. My favorite has been the Mac and cheese and the house salad with ranch. The chicken is usually VERY good. The last time I went it was a little too thin and got pretty dried out. Other than that we always love it at Swampwater Grill. Fun place to mix up the routine places you go.

    Susan V.

    Best creole and smoked food we have had in the area. We sat at the bar because there was a 45 minute wait. We had the jambalaya, jalapeño poppers, shrimp po'boy, and swamp pasta. I loved the pasta and jambalaya. My husband loved it all. The jambalaya had a nice Smokey flavor. The pasta was amazing and creamy. I brought home a ton of leftovers. Share, unless you want leftovers!

    Tammi W.

    Might be a bit of a wait but it's worth it. Had gator bites, swamp pasta and bahama mama. The drinks are not watered down. Food is delicious. Service is great. The decor is very cool and I highly recommend you try this place!

    Half rack of ribs
    Chad P.

    My family and I have been here a few times. On the weekends it can get pretty full and you might have to wait a while for a table. Also keep in mind that they don't have open hours on a couple of the weekdays. The food is usually awesome! Everything I've ever had is always been so good. I did have a seafood pasta recently and it wasn't the best. Could just be considered maybe one dimensional. I've had it before so maybe this was just an off night for their cook. The ambience of the place is very Cajun and country and overall just good for the most part. Definitely a winner for good Cajun food! Recommend this place all the time for everything so far.

    Cesar with blackened chicken also
    Stu F.

    Wow! Sat at the bar and great atmosphere. I started with a bowl of gumbo. Really nice! Caesar with blackened chicken also a good selection. I will definitely be back

    Catfish Po'Boy with Jambalaya

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    1 year ago

    Great food. Love the fried oysters and the best jalapeño poppers I've ever had. Generous portions.

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    2 years ago

    Everything was disgusting from the cleanliness to the service to the food dirty poor lighting scarce attending service

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    2 years ago

    Great place would recommend food was great very reasonable. Handled a large party well

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    Page 2 of 13

    Ask the Community - Swampwater Grill

    Is there music?

    They don't have live bands but they do play an excellent mix of rock bands.

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    Laveau - Ruby Slipper

    Laveau

    4.1(53 reviews)
    4.0 miDowntown

    Wow!! Can't believe this place has been here 2 yrs and we had not tried it or even knew it was…read morethere. Great Cajun/creole food and atmosphere! Service was friendly, quick, polite and helpful with menu and drink selections! Drinks- hurricane, grenade, ruby slipper and square (their take on an old fashion). Drinks were strong and great flavor. Appetizer- crawfish boudin balls were outstanding. Plenty to share. Entrees- blackened catfish and the Cajun pasta (both suggested by server). Large portions and superb!! Definitely will be back!!

    We stopped here before a show a Taft Theatre. Laveau offers a New Orleans dining experience and we…read moredecided to give it a try. I'm glad we did. We were here on a Tuesday and the restaurant was not hopping. Here's hoping it hops other days of the week. The place is cute and our booth was very cozy. Our waiter, Scott, was helpful and pleasant. I ordered a Iberville Hand Grenade to start. It was slightly sweet and strong. It was a nice start for our dining experience. We started with Fried Green Tomatoes. Scott explained there was currently a shortage of asparagus, so no asparagus on this appetizer, but I didn't miss them. We both thought flavor of this dish was completely satisfying. I ordered Pasta Laveau with Shrimp, which was delicious. Mark had the Gumbo, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I'm glad this place is close enough to stop in before a show. I think I'd bring friends back to give it a try. Overall, a good experience and a good meal.

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    Laveau - Cocktails

    Cocktails

    Laveau - Menu

    Menu

    Laveau - Entry

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    Entry

    Knotty Pine On the Bayou - Alligator Bites. Yum!

    Knotty Pine On the Bayou

    4.0(297 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    We visited Knotty Pine On the Bayou on a Thursday. The restaurant is pretty good size. I didn't…read morerealize this until it was time for a restroom break. It was a long walk. The wicker chairs in the section to the left of the bar as you face the bar were unusually deep and low. Over time I think we all adjusted, but sitting in them definitely felt unusual. There are other chairs throughout the restaurant. I recommend finding a table with different chairs. Our waiter was knowledgeable and very efficient. We hadn't checked on the website, but found out Thursday is oyster day, with $1 oysters and fried oysters and $1.50 for Oyster Bienville. The fried oysters were delicious. The raw oysters were good, though I had one that was gritty. We are going again in two weeks and will try the Oyster Bienville along with other assorted oysters. Two of us had the special Pan Seared Sea Bass. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The crisp on the top was delicious and the fish itself was delicate and moist. It did indeed melt in my mouth. The potatoes were very good, though I didn't finish all of them. The greens were good. Mark had a ribeye and is still raving about it today. He ordered the preparation version made with just salt and pepper. He also had a cup of gumbo. He said it had an amazing depth of flavor. We wrapped up with dessert. Three folks had Key Lime Pie. I opted for Karma's Opera Crème Cake. Oh my goodness, it was huge, sweet and delicious. I tried a bit of key lime and it just didn't compare. That said, those who had the Key Lime Pie loved it. Not only would we return, but we have the date already scheduled. I'm looking forward to trying something different.

    So first of the ambiance is kinda confusing, like it feels like they want to be a fine dining…read morerestaurant, while also kinda being a sports bar. Not to mention the fact that you HAVE TO HAVE A RESERVATION, was mind boggling for the place. Like the server was very nice and all, that is a plus. Though sadly the food, we had the gumbo and etu fay, it was honestly pretty sad. Like it's up there with the top 5 most sad restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food was pretty bland, and lacked any form of spice. Not to mention it was hard to tell what was actually in it, like a lot of the ingredients tasted over cooked. So yeah it's going to be a no for me.

    Photos
    Knotty Pine On the Bayou - Inside

    Inside

    Knotty Pine On the Bayou - Catfish Filet with Rice and Gravy and Collard Greens

    Catfish Filet with Rice and Gravy and Collard Greens

    Knotty Pine On the Bayou - The place is gorgeous rustic!

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    The place is gorgeous rustic!

    Nolia - Peach skillet cobbler

    Nolia

    4.6(165 reviews)
    4.0 miOver-the-Rhine

    This visit was such a treat! I made a reservation and got a front row seat of the kitchen by…read moresitting at the bar. Both my server and manager were so engaging and friendly, it didn't feel like I was dining alone. The space itself definitely doesn't make it feel like you're in Cincy- very warm and inviting. I settled on the cornbread, which is a menu staple. The butter on top felt so decadent and the cornbread itself was very savory. For my entree, I chose the jollof and the veggie selection for the evening which was grilled okra with a banana gastrique. That alone felt so cool, I had to order it. The jollof was so good, so filling, perfectly spiced and Chef actually broke it down for me all the spices he used to capture that flavor. I wish I had room for dessert, but I didn't want to go too crazy! Between the service (which they make it a point to open the door for everyone), the open kitchen, the food and then since I was a tourist they gave me recs for so many places to go in the city, I'm happy to rate this place 5 stars.

    Have been to Nolia at least a dozen times. Chef Jeff always has an interesting menu that changes…read morequarterly. Through all of our visits, we've had some truly wonderful meals, but this one may have been the top! We were immediately greeted at the door by Kristen who welcomed us back and showed is to our preferred table. Shortly after, Henry introduced himself as our server. Having already previewed the just dropped summer menu, we had a pretty good idea what we wanted. Henry shared some specials and we got to to ordering. The tuna appetizer was a great start. Three different cuts of tuna with a peach and oil sauce. The fish was amazing with the slight peach flavor amping it up a notch. Great start. Next we had the pork belly skewer. The pork belly was grilled with a drizzle of Alabama bbq. The pork belly was so tender and flavorful. Again, plenty of smiles to go around. For the main course, we shared the fish and iberico mains. The fish this night was swordfish which was so flavorful and moist. The iberico was tender and, for me, the corn maque choux made the dish. I could have eaten a big bowl of that goodness! Though we dont normally order desert, we did get to peach skillet cobbler. A perfect light tasty finish to the meal. Throughout the evening, Henry was the perfect server, happy to share his observations and always with a smile. Love when we get a minute with Chef Jeff as well. So glad we got to experience this menu so early. We well for sure be back before the next seasonal switch.

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    Nolia - Interior

    Interior

    Nolia - Oysters

    Oysters

    Nolia - Interior

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    Interior

    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

    3.9(981 reviews)
    12.9 mi
    $$$

    When I came to Pappadeaux in Ohio, our service started off a little rocky. However, the manager,…read moreStacy, came over and completely turned our experience around! Stacy was absolutely amazing. She offered us so many options, was attentive, personable, and had such an incredible energy. Her positive attitude and willingness to make sure we were taken care of truly stood out. She was so delightful and made us feel valued as guests. After that, we had Pat as our server, and he was amazing as well! The service, attention, and overall experience completely changed for the better. Thank you, Pappadeaux, for such a great experience. We will definitely be back! Stacy, you truly made our visit so delightful. Thank you for going above and beyond! You deserve to be recognized for the wonderful job you're doing.

    Ever since my middle son (youngest at the time) wanted Pappadeaux as his reward for winning Silver…read moreGloves state championship, I've been loving them. My first impression was wonderful, because my eldest son has a fish allergy. I inquired with our server whether they use separate oil to fry shrimp (he can eat shellfish). The kitchen manager comes to our table and assured us they do, but to be safe, they would drain the vat, clean it and pour fresh oil. I was in love after that. My most recent visit was for a corporate function and once again they did not disappoint. There was a colleague who stated she felt they'd gone downhill, but I could not cosign her opinion. We were sat in a separate room, had our designated servers, who didn't miss a beat. The food was phenomenal; I filled up and more to take home and comfort eat, lol. I'm a bathroom snob, so I had to snap a Pic. Theirs were clean and smelled good. Zero complaints!

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    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

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    Louis Cajun Seafood - Fried Fish (Catfish) Basket with Fries.  Extremely Tasty!

    Louis Cajun Seafood

    4.3(7 reviews)
    9.5 miWestwood

    Tried LCS for the first time ever tonight and a boil for myself for the fist time ever, my…read moregirlfriend got the fried Cod with fries and 10pc hush puppy. Oh my lanta! We were worried that we put the order in a bit after 9 and they close at 9:30 and would that affect the quality, oh but let me tell you, NO IT DID NOT! Everything we ordered was so good, so flavorful it was unreal. They even converted my girlfriend to a snow crab lover at the age of 48 lol. You have made fans out of us and any friends and family looking for recommendations! Well done guys and thank you fo making us believers in the unknown cuisine!

    I was in the mood for fried catfish and decided to try Louis Cajun Seafood…read more I can honestly say, I wasn't expecting much. However, I was happily surprised. Louis' Cajun Seafood offers seafood boils, fried fish (Whiting, Catfish and Tilapia), fried chicken and sides. I ordered the Fried Fish Basket with 3 Pieces of Catfish and a side of fries. When I got my food, it was hot and fresh. The catfish was fried and had just the right amount of crunch. The fries were crispy and everything was well-seasoned. The flavor, the portions, the entire meal instantly made me a fan. The only problem I had was the sauce I had ordered on the side was placed on top of the food...making the sauce hot. I highly recommend Louis Cajun Seafood to anyone who loves perfectly cooked fish.

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    Louis Cajun Seafood - Fried Fish (Catfish) Basket and Fries.  I highly recommend getting this!

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    Fried Fish (Catfish) Basket and Fries. I highly recommend getting this!

    Swampwater Grill - cajun - Updated September 2026

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