So what if it’s in the suburbs? Big deal. Pappadeaux happens to be one of the best Cajun cooking spots this side of the Mississippi. Remember Baja Beach Club? Think the size of Baja times four. This Creole clubhouse seats 700 in multiple levels displaying crazy knickknacks, nautical paraphernalia and huge tanks full of live lobsters.

The menu features some serious Cajun specialties like deep fried frog legs, alligator fritters, dirty rice, crab fingers and crawfish. Entrees, made with "the freshest fillet of fish available," include blackened Opelousas with oysters, shrimp and crabmeat with dirty rice, a pontchartrain fillet pan-broiled with crabmeat and shrimp in a brown butter wine sauce and spicy catfish fillets charbroiled and served with dirty rice. Don’t forget about dessert! Try the bread pudding with bourbon sauce or my favorite, sweet potato pecan pie.