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| - Several years ago, when business travel to Houston was regular, I became a big fan of the Pappas family restaurants-- Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in particular. As we drove north from Phoenix airport to Sedona I noticed a sign for Pappadeaux, and knew that this would be a lunch stop when the final portion of our vacation brought us back to Phoenix.
The restaurant is large, attractively appointed and comfortable, with an encyclopedic menu of fish and seafood offerings. Although best known for their Cajun preparations, there are abundant choices for everyone who enjoys well-prepared fish and seafood.
Our server, Nicholaus, effortlessly navigated a crowded lunchtime dining room with our order. Although a bit distant, he was a consummate professional.
Brought first to the table was a large platter of crispy fried alligator nuggets, served with a full-bodied spicy sauce. I ordered a platter of fried oysters, one of my favorites, while my family selected po boy sandwiches of shrimp or alligator. We each had a cup of their Andouille, Crab, and Shrimp Gumbo. The sandwiches were bountiful, and from what I was told, absolutely delicious. The same could be said for the fried oysters. A tartar sauce whose consistency was a bit less obvious as a packaged commercial product is all that separated this lunch from greatness. The seafood was all fried just to the point of presenting a crispy coating surrounding tender, moist and flavorful protein.
Hardly an inexpensive lunch, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen is in that class of restaurant that I would seek out wherever they operate.
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