Chez Lafayette Creole Brasserie

My fiancé and I came here to quietly celebrate the anniversary of the night we first met. We made the intentional choice not to tell the staff it was a special night because we wanted to see how the restaurant treats guests without any expectations. What stood out immediately is that the service, hospitality, pacing, and overall experience were exceptional without anyone knowing anything about our occasion. That says everything. We arrived at 5:54 PM and left at 7:30 PM, and from the moment we stepped inside, it felt like time slowed down in the best way. We were greeted immediately by Collin, whose warmth felt genuine, not rehearsed. He carried himself with confidence and pride in his work, and he set the tone for the entire evening. Delaney, who also assisted throughout the night, matched that same level of attentiveness and grace. Nothing about their service felt forced or manufactured, it was natural, consistent, and deeply appreciated. The ambiance was stunning. The moment we walked in, it felt like stepping into a New Orleans inspired brasserie with so much intentional charm. Warm peach-colored walls, soft lighting, vintage and rustic touches, patterned wallpaper, a beautifully styled bar, fresh flowers on each table, it all flowed together effortlessly. Even the restroom was thoughtfully decorated with a carved vanity, candlelight, woven baskets, and a live plant. When a restaurant cares that much about the smallest spaces, it tells you their standards run deep. For drinks, I mentioned to Collin that nothing on the cocktail list immediately called to me and told him what my usual easy go-to drink is. He simply asked, “Can I make something for you? Do you trust me?” I said yes, and I’m glad I did. The custom drink he made was balanced, vibrant, and crafted with genuine intention, down to the clear square ice and fresh mint. My fiancés drink was just as polished and refreshing. The appetizers were exceptional. The Oysters Rockefeller were bubbling, herbaceous, perfectly charred, some of the best I’ve ever had. The Drunken Clams in their delicate wine broth with andouille and fennel were refined and full of layered flavor. The Fried Oysters were crisp and tender with a dipping sauce that tied everything together beautifully. And the Crawfish Hush Puppies were a standout of the entire night, perfectly fried, deeply flavorful, comforting, and rich enough that I could have eaten them alone and been satisfied. The entrées continued the same level of excellence. The Fried Chicken & Gumbo plate was phenomenal. The gumbo carried real heat but stayed balanced and soulful. The fried chicken was unbelievably moist, crisp on the outside, seasoned perfectly, truly the best fried chicken I’ve ever been served. The Pasta Chez LA was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, and while it felt like one small element was missing to push it into absolute perfection, it was still delicious and worth ordering again. The seasoned rice was buttery, aromatic, and cooked flawlessly. The Cajun slaw was so fresh and well-seasoned that I ordered more to take home. We finished with all three desserts. The Rhum Pecan Bread Pudding was warm, dense, and nostalgic. The beignets were golden, airy, and generously dusted with powdered sugar. The panna cotta was silky and refreshing with sliced fruit on top. Each dessert had its own personality and was impressive in its own way. When we walked outside, I looked at my fiancé and said, “Now this is what dining is supposed to feel like.” No announcements, no hints, no expectations, just real service, real flavor, and real hospitality. On a night that already meant something to us, this restaurant added a memory we didn’t even know we needed. Chez Lafayette didn’t just impress us, they earned a place in our story. Five stars could never say enough. But I’ll say this: we’ll be back. And next time, we might actually tell them it’s a special night.

Very good experience here, came on a Saturday for lunch. Very good quality ingredients and we enjoyed the meal very much. The beignets were a nice way to end the meal! The food took a little to arrive, but was very fresh & hot, so made it worth the wait.

We found this spot while we were driving from the airport and starving. The ambience of the restaurant is so comforting and casual. First time eating creole food and it was amazing. All the dishes we had were delicious and filling. The BBQ shrimp and grits and fried chicken definitely hit the spot. If you're in the area, definitely plan a visit!

My group had dinner at Chez Lafayette on a Friday night no reservation. We were seated within 5 minutes. Quickly noticed there was only one server as it took a little while for him to greet our table and come back with drinks but he was still very kind and brought us everything we needed. Drinks were pretty good- I enjoyed my mojito. Three of us got the fried chicken gumbo and we all agree it had a sour/tangy flavor to it but I could still taste the seasoning. I did have Terrible gas that night and so did my husband and my other friend. The food was served hot. Last person got the BBQ shrimp and grits and he said it was good but did not taste any BBQ flavor. Pricey in the end but I would go back to try other things.maybe.

Had an excellent lunch experience at Chez Lafayette today. The atmosphere reminds me of small cafes and restaurants in NYC and New Orleans. Unpretentious but very comfortable. The menu is quite varied with many selections that appealed to us. We plan on trying most over the next few months. We had Oysters Rockefelle, Panzellna, and a Shrimp Roll. We can’t praise them enough. Place is eay to find with lots of street parking. Overall a very good find.

Food was pretty good, tasty and seasoned well. We had the chicken and gumbo and shrimp and grits (didn’t try the meat sauce). Cocktails were really tasty. Atmosphere is great, you can still hear each other even though the space is small. Staff was kind. The only downside is the speed of service. It was Saturday evening and full so take it for what it’s worth. 10-15 mins to be greeted after sitting down, drinks, another 20-30, food another 1hr, about 30 mins for dessert. 3 hr dinner for table of two and the type of food is a little much. Take your patience as it’s still worth the visit.

Came here on my latest visit back to Tacoma and the vibes were on point. We got seated at the best table in the place, it over looked a good part of the downtown area all the way to the water. The servers were pleasant, and attentive. The food was OK. I was disappointed with my choice because it didn't live up to expectation, and I knew that as soon as it was placed in front of me. I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. There was absolutely NOTHING jerk happening on that plate. It was looked, smelled and tasted like curry. Not even a Caribbean curry at that, it reminded me of those Japanese or Korean mixes. As a Caribbean person who lives in Brooklyn NY, it was a bit offensive. I actually did research to see if a different type of jerk flavour profile existed, but found nothing to account for this dish missing the mark. The curry chicken was actually flavourful, and should be marketed as such and served with rice. There was a generous amount of mustard seed aioli on this sandwich as well. I feel neutral about that. Didn't seem that it should go with the curry so I scraped most off, but it didn't particularly ruin the experience of the curry. The fries were great and so was the corn bread. It was a bit crumbly like cake, with a hint of sweetness. Highly recommend 👌 I had a mojito that was very good as well. My mom ordered the fried catfish and had no complaints. The person we meet there is the one who highly recommended this spot. She raved about how accommodating they were, and that was immediately proven by her ability to get an appetizer that was previously on the menu but not on offer that day. Fried oysters. She ordered a steak well done for her main and it looked great and was cooked to perfection. Unfortunately they had sprinkled some course salt on the stake. Due to her health issues she could not eat it that way so she asked for another without salt. She'd had the same dish previously without issues, so she didn't think to say anything about salt while placing her order. This is where our outing took a turn. The server came with a plate and removed the stake from her plate. It then took about 20mins and over 6 forgetful check ups to our table before a stake was brought back out. It was very clearly the same piece of meat from before that was most likely left under a heating lamp then had the cut end seared off. The meat was now tough and greyish on the inside. They served the sauce on the side but had added a sweetener to it. All of that cast such a dour mood to the get together.

Excellent food. We had seafood Jambalaya, fried catfish, and beignets. I certainly recommend the jambalaya if this is your first visit. I tried their Manhattan and Vieux Carré, both fine, and their coffee, which was very good. Service is friendly but felt disorganized. Water was left empty, not supper attentive, and multiple times, I needed to get the attention of a server. Our original server took our order but did not check on our table after that. That said, I would give this place another chance. The food was great and the people were friendly.

I have been to Chez Lafayette several times in the last few months, and it has yet to disappoint! The vibe is lively but familiar, in the sense that the staff and management do a great job of making me feel like part of their family when I visit. My favorite aspect of the place is definitely the warm, happening vibe and location right in the heart of Tacoma downtown. You'll always see a wide variety of different people enjoying Chez Lafayette, which I consider a bonus. It feels very cosmopolitan to me. My favorite dish there is the shrimp and grits. If you love the dish, of course, it's hard to go wrong with shrimp and grits anywhere-- and that's true at Chez Lafayette as well. If it ain't broke don't fix it! So I pretty much always get the shrimp and grits... so delicious and satisfying and rich -- I can make a dish of Chez Lafayette's shrimp and grits last me 2-3 meals. I also love the jambalaya, the beignets, and ... oh, too many other dishes to say. The cocktails are also very good. I will say that I have gotten a couple items that I didn't love, but I think they were seasonal items and aren't on the menu anymore. I would say, stick to the classics if you're not sure. A Caesar Wedge, some croquettes, a Little Hurricane, shrimp n grits plus some good friends? You're bound to have a good time, yall! Laissez les Bontemps rouler toujours!

We live in Puyallup, and my husband loves the catfish from their sister restaurant, Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen. I wanted a change of scenery, so we decided to try Chez Lafayette. It was surprising that the catfish didn't come with any sides--fries at the very least--but even so, the catfish itself was delicious. The gumbo, however, was a completely different story. The fried chicken in it was cooked perfectly, but the gumbo base was a miss. As someone who cooks often and makes gumbo myself, I could immediately tell the roux had been burnt. After trying it again to be sure, the burnt flavor was unmistakable. Coincidentally, another couple walking out noticed my reaction and the woman said, "Yep, it tastes burnt, doesn't it!?" When I shared this with the waiter, he apologized but said that was the batch for the entire day. It was disappointing to see it still being served to other tables even after the issue was mentioned. Ideally, someone in the kitchen should should be testing something made in such a big batch like this, also if you burn a roux you know it and should start over before wasting the rest of the ingredients. The service overall was also lacking. It took a long time to get someone's attention even though there were plenty of people working and few customers, and even longer to receive our final bill. Staff passed our table repeatedly with minimal eye contact, making it difficult to signal for help. I had high hopes for this place, and while the catfish was great, the gumbo and the service made the experience fall short.

Chez Lafayette is a sweet little restaurant in downtown Tacoma. We came for dinner before a show at the Pantages and had a lovely dinner. The vibe is clean and airy, and though open and filled with natural light it still felt intimate and romantic. Staff is friendly and attentive. Service was fairly quick--I think we came in right before the rush because the restaurant filled up pretty quickly as we were eating. The food was tasty. I am fairly spoiled by home-cooked cajun/creole food, and while nothing really compares to homemade, this came close.

At the corner of Tacoma and 11th, a cute little Creole bistro with live jazz playing. With the ambiance of NOLA. Service was polite and professional. Daughter had the French onion soup. It was excellent. I had the rigatoni with shrimp and andouille sausage.it was amazing!!!! i highly recommend this for lunch or a date night!

I love the quaint charm this place offers. It's definitely an intimate ambiance. I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings, as we happened upon this place after coffee up the road. Service was friendly, well timed, and wet were seated promptly. I'd recommend it. I definitely want to come back to try more.

My friend and I went here for dinner, and it was so cute and the staff was extremely friendly! We both got Po Boys, and shared an app and the bread pudding (not pictured). Everything was great, the food was quick and fresh. Would definitely go back!

Unfortunately very expensive for mediocre food. The ambiance is nice though. We got the deviled eggs they were fine but not great. Then we had the gumbo with fried chicken. I will say the fried chicken was VERY good but the gumbo was off, like the rue was overcooked. Eatable but not enjoyable. Then we got beignets and they were very lame.

Had dinner with a group of five at Chez Lafayette. The atmosphere was charming and evoked a sense of being somewhere far away -- definitely an international flair. This is a Cajun-style restaurant, and the food delivered both in flavor and presentation. We ordered Lafayette Salad, Stuffed Peppers (beautifully spiced rice stuffed in bell peppers -- flavorful and comforting), Gnocchi Andouille (rich, smoky, and perfectly cooked with a nice texture), Mussels & Crawfish Scampi, Petrale Sole (light, delicate, and well-prepared). And for dessert: Beignets (crispy outside, fluffy inside -- a perfect finish) The only downside was the loud group sitting nearby. Their voices and laughter echoed throughout the restaurant, making it hard for us to hold a conversation at times. Aside from that, the service was attentive and the overall experience delightful. Would definitely come back!

Very cute restaurant that would be great for a date night. We came in for an early dinner so there was ample street parking. Due to that, we basically had the restaurant to ourselves and were seated quickly. The service was attentive but not overboard where they check on you too much so you can't enjoy the meal. I got the honey butter fried catfish. Under the fried catfish, there were greens and grits. It was all seasoned very well. I wished there were more greens as it was good. The beignets were messy to eat due to all the powdered sugar which is a given when ordering beignets. The beignets were different than every beignet I've ever had before. When you take a bite there was no pillowy dough in the middle. Rather there was a big air pocket. It was different. It still tasted alright but the texture was not familiar to me.

The atmosphere here is sooooo cool. It has a great vibe with good service and very tasty food. I was highly impressed. The food really did remind me of the kind of food I was getting when I was in New Orleans. Great seasonings and flavor profiles all around. Beignets did leave something to be desired though. They weren't fluffy at all, just very flat.

Immediately on walking in, I noticed the decor of the restaurant. The salmon colored walls, the booths, the wall sconces and all the other small pieces of decor make the restaurant a super cute and welcoming environment. The window seats have a nice view of the city and rainier. It's a very aesthetic little restaurant. We ordered the fried oysters, the shrimp & mussel scampi and the jambalaya. I wouldn't say service is quick but the servers are very friendly. The oysters were first to come out. The outside was perfectly battered, crispy but not too thick and the inside was plump and juicy as you would want your oyster to be. The perfectly fried oyster w the sauce made this dish super enjoyable. This was my favorite dish. The crawfish and mussel scampi was full of both. I liked the crawfish and the seasoning but I felt that the mussels were not very good. Can't tell if they weren't fresh or they didn't go well with the seasoning. The jambalaya was bursting w flavor. But I had the same thought about the mussels in this one. The mussels were not very good. The shrimp and rice and sausages within this dish however were all very flavorful and enjoyable.

I was finally able to try this spot out after the multiple times we drove by it. Located downtown Tacoma, if you're dining early evening, parking is decent. Make sure to make reservations as space is limited. It's a quaint spot. It seemed short staffed. We sat in the bar area. We ordered food and it took a while to come out. Nobody checked on us for a long while, which was disappointing. I was really hoping to give a better review but it could've been the night. They were busy with limited staffing. Food was good but I can't say I would rave about it. If you're looking for Creole, stop in. As the evening went, the bar got busy which meant it was gonna take longer to get our check and boxes. Staff was kind though. That was the takeaway. we may give it another chance on a different night and see how things go. I really wanted to like it.

Our second visit to Chez was nothing short of mediocre. While there was no wait to be seated, the service was disappointingly slow. We noticed other tables that arrived after us receiving their entrées first, while ours took much longer. When our food finally arrived, my friend's dish was delayed and undercooked--she ordered the fried chicken and gumbo, but the rice was not fully cooked. To top it off, our appetizer didn't even come out until after we had already received our entrées. I really hope that this was just a fluke cause I do want to come back again.

Service was wonderful and attentive! The food was phenomenal, loved all the flavors, and the soul feel of the location. Great spot for a date night!

I was excited to try this place since I heard about and it was owned by the Bourbon St family in Puyallup. So had lunch with my partner who works closeby, and we went there as they opened at Noon. We sat in the back near the windows and back door, and the place had a nice French feel but not necessarily New Orleans. I have been to New Orleans a few times and am a huge fan of Creole and Cajun foods. My faves are shrimp and grits, jambalaya, gumbo, etc so seeing the menu made my mouth water. Unfortunately, there was only one waiter/server and he seemed overwhelmed this day. We received our water and drinks fairly late after we had asked. But we tried to be patient since we can see they were understaffed. The food finally came but it was all SO HOT in temperature; we have never had food that hot before. So hot we took bites and I scalded my mouth. Due to the wait, I was already hangry, but tried to wait and blow off the heat to cool it all down. This was a bit disappointing. But as you can see, the food was visually beautiful and enticing! And despite the temperature the food was a solid 4. Gumbo and collard greens needed to be cooked longer (I have had my fair share of Southern food) but the fried chicken, catfish and grits were great. We also had jo jos and they were OK. The bill came to be $80 so $40 per person for lunch. Overall, good but I won't come again any time soon unless compelled to.

Excellent service, food was great highly recommended for a great casual lunch or dinner date

Oh man I went with coworkers and as soon as you walk in I felt like princess Tiana I loved that you feel transported and you no longer feel like you're in Tacoma. The dining area was so cute and cozy. The staff was very friendly and the food was amazing. I'm a southern girl and the food was definitely comforting they no longer have the catfish with the greens and grits so I ordered the grits and catfish separately really great food here I will be back.

Im so sad to have to write this. I've dined here with my wife a lot and they just changed the menu. Before the fried chicken and catfish were my favorite dishes! Now they changed the cut of meat for the chicken and they now batter it. The taste of the batter was atrocious. My coworker got the catfish and they're now filets and they don't come with collard greens. I'm not sure if they have new management but I come back for the collard greens...they were so good! I probably won't be back now since they've changed the menu. Who wants beer battered tasting chicken? It was so soggy. Update: so the collards are seasonal....so sad. Don't know what was going on with the chicken though.

I am a Louisiana native and I have to say, this place checks all the boxes for creole/cajun cuisine! The wife and I came out for my big brother's 40th birthday and I was super impressed. The dining room reminds me of home so much! The French architecture was spot on! The service was super friendly and prompt and very had no complaints whatsoever! Needless to say, I would most definitely recommend this place to friends and family! As the Cajuns say: Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!!!!!

Food authentic and flavorful. Service, impeccable. Thank you Sierra for making this a pleasant meal. Ambiance, sweet and calm.

So I'm gonna give this restaurant a 4 star because don't get me wrong the food is good, it's just very interesting. It's not what I expect gumbo or shrimp and grits to taste like. The gumbo was a veryyyy dark roux I've never tasted gumbo like that but it was decent, could have used some meat other than just sausage though. The shrimp and grits were good but the thing throwing me off was the use of capers in the sauce?? It made the dish taste acidic and briny so I mean it was good but I would not want to eat it again. It was cute on the inside I liked the aesthetic and the waiter was very nice. I think next time I would just stop by for a drink at the bar and maybe try the dessert next time.

This place was a disappointment in so many ways. We were told the wait would be 20-30 minutes, but it was more like 45 and it seemed like they just forgot about us. My husband ordered a beer as soon as we were sat and it took a VERY long time for our server to arrive. We ordered food and still no drinks. Two out of three dishes arrived - before the drinks. Then our last dish. Then spoons, knives, and napkins. Then drinks. Then forks. This is the wrong order. The food was not very good. We ordered hush puppies, catfish, and gumbo with chicken. The chicken was incredibly salty. The hush puppies were fine. The catfish was fine. I ordered beignets and they were crunchy, not pillowy-soft like they should be. The server seemed very busy, so he probably tried his best. The best thing I can say about this place is that the small bar area was very cute and cozy. We might return for the bar, but we will never eat here again.

Top ten in Tacoma in my opinion. Chez Lafayette is a cute restaurant in downtown Tacoma. You walk in- instant New Orleans vibes- but tastefully. I visited with some friends- between the three of us, we had the Panzanella and Burrata: the acidity mixed with the creamy burrata- delicious, the jambalaya: my friend loved it, presented beautifully, the fried chicken and gumbo: this was the only dish I didn't care for, flavors were great, meat on the bone I struggle to eat- but flavors were fantastic, lastly the stuffed peppers- THOSE STOLE THE SHOW- fantastic explosion of the flavors, spice level- perfect. We topped it off sharing the rum bread pudding. Service was great for a busy Friday night. One of my new favorite places! I'm dreaming nightly of the stuffed peppers.....

Second visit to this very appealing and comfortable restaurant.Place was busier than before and we were asked if we had reservations,which we didn't.....so I would call ahead next time.There was room for the two of us and the wait staff were on top with their service.Went for the chicken and gumbo.Other dish chosen was shrimp and grits.The chicken had a lovely crunch to it,the meat very tender.Delicious.My wife enjoyed the quality of the shrimp and grits but felt short changed on the quantity.Very pleasant dining experience.There's a small bar area if you just want to hang out.Plenty of parking on a Saturday afternoon.On leaving,the owner thanked us for coming and I complimented him on the meal and said we'd be back.

Bang! Spot on for a perfect blackened steak. Served med rare with a perfect char on the outside and a warm red on the inside, 10 oz's . Each day the type of cut changes, so if you have a personal preference, call ahead. The prices match the quality and it reflects the taste of New Orleans. Always remember to check out our local business so they can stay in Tacoma for us all to enjoy.

Nice ambiance with seating for about 40 inside. Food overall took a long time to cook and come out and some of the food was so salty that I ended up drinking almost 5 glasses of water throughout the meal. Shrimp po boy: 4/5. This was well done with good sized shrimp and the breading was well done. Jambalaya: 4/5. Decent amount of seafood in it, tasted slightly bland though. Blackened steak: 1/5. this was the first thing on the menu. Ordered medium rare and it came out well done. This was so salty I couldn't eat more than 1 piece. Fried oysters: 4/5. Good sized oysters, might have had too much breading on it though. House salad: 3/5. Nothing unique about this. You can skip it. Overall cost of the meal was $160 including tip - not sure I'll be returning here from what I experienced at this price point.

Cute atmosphere with big windows and a New Orleans-inspired vibe. The décor and smells had me excited for Cajun/Creole flavors, but the wait for food and food itself didn't quite deliver. Truffle fries were crispy and good, burrata salad was fresh and delicious. Paella was fine but lacked bold Creole flavor, the rice was overcooked, and the clams weren't hot. The honey catfish was bland -- only the top piece had honey, which felt misleading. Gumbo had nice spice but was thin, and the beignets tasted more like hollow donuts than real beignets. For $155 and a two hour long meal, I was not impressed. Staff was super friendly and the space is charming, but overall I left disappointed. I think I was expecting a true New Orleans experience and instead got a Tacoma version. Three starts for staff and attempt.

The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely tentative, helpful with the menu and friendly. The food was good, the gumbo and chicken were super tasty, but I felt just were needing a bit more salt. The tea was amazing and the mushroom tapenade (as recommended by our server) was a pleasant shock. I can't wait to visit next time and try more of the dishes, I love the feeling of this restaurant . The ambiance makes it feels like you're eating in Louisiana.

Phenomenal. Such a cute place, and the food is to die for. The shrimp and grits, shrimp po boy, roasted beef po boy and fried chicken & gumbo was so delish!! Order the mushroom tapenade as your starter and you won't be disappointed.

Food, service, and ambience were on point! Will return with friends and family. A bit on the spendy side, though, but worth it for the dining experience.

The atmosphere at Chez Lafayette is very nice. We came here for a girls night and loved the ambiance of the restaurant. I had their pasta that originally came with seafood. I was thankful that they were able to switch the seafood to chicken for me and it was delicious. It was very flavorful and the chicken was juicy. The only downside to our experience was how long the service took. Our starter came after all of our meals and one meal from the table showed up 15 minutes later after everyone else had gotten their meals. Communication would have been appreciated because it did put a damper on girls night as we tried to wait for one meal not knowing how long it would take and our meals starting to get cold.

11/10. Definitely recommend. Chez Lafayette was a delightful experience, and quite possibly one of the best meals I've had in Tacoma. Although there was a bit of a wait to get in, it was entirely worth it. The staff is so friendly (especially Nicole!), the ambiance is warm and inviting, and the food is top quality. We started with fried oysters, which were cooked wonderfully and the sauce on the side was a great touch. I had the shrimp and grits and my husband ordered the blackened steak then we got some of Mike's chippies on the side. Both plates were incredible, flavorful, and generous portions with the shrimp and steak each cooked to perfection. The chips were a great accompaniment, crispy and well seasoned. The grits were cheesy without being too much and the tomatoes in my dish were scrumptious and my favorite part. By the end I was begging my husband not to lick his plate in a public restaurant because he just dgaf, it was that good (he still did). There is clearly a lot of thought that went into this place and we can't wait to go back.

Service was great and fast. Food had lots of flavor and portion size was decent for the price. I did not make a reservation and was able to get seated right away. Adequate amount of street parking available. Nothing negative about my experience!

Food is flavorful and delicious!! The cocktails are amazing you got to try the Rum Punch!

The perfect day date spot! We had excellent service & a 10/10 experience. Everything on the menu looked amazing and I can't wait to try some more!

It was empty when we went. Service was good, other foods were good..except the pork chop. I know some places does pork medium because the quality they get is really high and controlled really well by the seller. Im not sure if that's the case for this restaurant. The pork rib chop was definitely undercooked..it was medium rare (': the server was nice but she didn't admit that it was undercooked...I asked her if this is how it normally comes..at first she didn't answer my question but eventually she said it does come medium or medium rare..which I'm confused. I understand medium but medium rare is pulling it for the pork unless the pork chop is the highest grade they can get. I feel bit iffy now that I have consumed medium rare pork chop. The rest they cooked it more for us but we did eat half of it before..........sigh

What a gem and a good place to eat and have a good time with your spouse or family got to try it at least once so check them out !! I think you will enjoy like I enjoyed

What a great find! A taste of New Orleans in downtown Tacoma. The atmosphere feels just like you're in a small, hole in the wall restaurant in New Orleans. My boyfriend had the fried chicken and gumbo and he said it was super delicious and flavorful. I really loved the mushroom tapenade appetizer and the cocktails! They seemed a little short staffed when we went, so I don't really have a note on the service, wasn't bad but also wasn't great, however no complaints here we will def be back for the food!

Chez Lafayette completely exceeded my expectations! From the cozy ambiance to the rich flavors, this place is truly a gem for anyone craving authentic Southern food in Washington. We started with the mushroom tapenade, and wow it was delicious. My friend usually hates mushrooms, but she was obsessed with it. We both just wished there was a little more bread to scoop up every last bit! For my entrée, I had the honey buttered catfish and I have to say it was easily one of the best catfish dishes I've had in the state. Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and that honey butter glaze was everything. My friend ordered the Cajun fried chicken with gumbo, and she loved every bite. The gumbo had deep, comforting flavor and the fried chicken was seasoned to perfection. I also took home a shrimp po' boy for my husband (he's from Alabama and VERY picky about his po' boys). He devoured it and said it was one of the best he's had since moving to Washington which is saying a lot! The service was kind and attentive, and everything came out fresh and hot. Chez Lafayette is officially on my favorites list, and I'll definitely be back soon!

We had an absolutely wonderful dinner at Chez Lafayette yesterday. The food was a perfect 10/10, and the warm hospitality from the owners, Mike and Mikey, made the experience even more special. We started with the Hush Puppy appetizer and Caesar salad, followed by the shrimp and grits, rigatoni, blackened fish, and chicken. Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. We'll definitely be back!

I was excited to see a New Orleans style restaurant open in Tacoma and happy to also know that they own the Bourbon House in Puyallup, I knew things were probably going to be tasty. First off, you feel like you are walking into a French bistro when you enter. Then the food, the arancini balls were the best I have had, the jambalaya was great (I asked for extra heat) and the fried catfish was tasty. Service was excellent too! Overall an excellent experience and I am definitely looking forward to going back!

I've spent a loooot of time in Louisiana and this food definitely tastes authentic! The roux was cooked to perfection- anyone who knows Cajun knows that's the heart of the kitchen! I would say that if you're there for lunch (like us) just spend the few extra dollars for a bigger menu item and take to go. Decor and colors seemed a bit eclectic. We loved the food and would go back for sure to try more of their menu items.

First off.... The place has no heat and it's like a freezer in there. Most everyone was wearing their jackets and coats. Now let's talk about their service or should I saw lack of. It too for ever before the waiter to come around and take our order. Worst yet, it took even longer before they brought out the drinks. I understand the concept of small place-small kitchen where you have to wait a little for a freshly prepared meal. Once again we had to wait. Everyone in the place was getting mad and very hungry from waiting around. At least service some bread in the meantime. Which they do not offer. However, at the end of the meal they promptly brought out the check and took your payment! I had the blackened steak with the Cajun shrimp add on. The steak was tiny and tough. The sauce they covered the steak with was a bit salty. Worst yet, the string beans were cold. As for the shrimp I was like WTF? This was the first time I ever got board eating shrimp due to lack of flavor. They were so bland and over cooked that I used the sauce from the steak to flavor the shrimp. Please note! Looking around, people were leaving their food when they left. We will NOT be going back to this place.

I'm shocked by the amount of 5 stars as this was NOT consistent with my experience at all. First off, the fried chicken is has that thin shattery type of breading and was nearing the burnt side of the crispy scale. The meat itself was juicy but quite bland. Definitely lacking the soul food spices and flavor I wanted. Gumbo was decent, mostly a strong celery flavor. Jamabalya was decent besides the cold mussels. Beignets were flat, and tasted like a flour tortilla that was fried. We ordered 3 servings of the chicken and gumbo but were told there was only 2 servings left. Asked what the beans of the day were, they were also unavailable. Waiter made some odd remarks and then mocked us for being disappointed by multiple items being unavailable. Pretty weird behavior for food service. Restaurant itself and plating is very aesthetically pleasing! Running out of multiple items, and the waiter being a weirdo though was definitely a vibe killer.

Absolutely amazing, Authentic food was delicious. Service was amazing and the ambiance was just perfect.

Pretty delicious creole food! Enjoyed a meal with friends and tried gumbo, red beans and rice, jambalaya and a few other dishes. They were all fantastic! Beautiful restaurant and service was outstanding. Give this place a try! You won't be disappointed.

Food and service was good! Only thing to keep in mind is that this restaurant is not kid friendly. No high chairs/booster seats, and no cups/plastic cups for kids, so definitely bring your own stuff.

Really great New Orleans style food in Tacoma! The restaurant is Custer and cozy, pretty small so I would definitely make a reservation l, especially if you are a group larger than 2. We stopped in on a Saturday around 12:30 for lunch and shared a few items. Oysters Rockefeller, stuffed peppers and seafood jambalaya. Everything was super fresh with the perfect amount of spice. Washed it down with a glass of white wine. I would love to come back and save room for the beignets.

Cute restaurant service was good but the food not so much. We ordered fried chicken and gumbo. Gumbo was flavorless and chicken was not crispy just so much breading. The other dish was shrimp and grits. The grits was lumpy like it came from a box. The sauce was runny and not the flavors of creole. The fried oysters were meh. We ordered the beignets but it was just fried dough with tons of powdered sugar on it. Just dumped on it not sprinkled. Horrible.