Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, San Antonio

This is the first San Antonio location for Pappadeaux, a Houston-based chain of Cajun and Creole seafood restaurants. The rustically decorated building is huge and always crowded during serving hours, so expect a wait. The ambiance is bustling and lively, however, and the food is served in generous portions. The kitchen serves a wide variety of fresh shrimp, crawfish, oysters, crab and other seafood, which they will prepare fried, blackened or grilled. Cajun dirty rice and red beans and rice are only two of the many side dishes; there are also four varieties of gumbo as well as etouffee and bisques. Desseerts include simple Southern favorites such as key lime pie, chocolate praline cheesecake and a banana crepe ice cream sundae.