Joseph Gonzales
Google
This review is specifically for Papadeaux’s To-Go service, and the photos speak louder than words about the shocking difference in quality between dining in versus ordering takeout.
Today I ordered the Shrimp & Crab Cobb salad for $30.95 through their to-go service, and what I received was frankly insulting compared to what they serve in the restaurant. Having dined at Papadeaux before, I know exactly what their Shrimp Cobb salad should look like - the in-restaurant version (see photo) is beautifully plated with generous portions of perfectly cooked shrimp, fresh mixed greens, vibrant vegetables, creamy hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, and everything artfully arranged on a proper plate.
What arrived in my to-go container today looked like someone’s leftover lunch that had been carelessly tossed together. The most glaring issue? They completely forgot the crab on a $30.95 Shrimp & CRAB Cobb salad. When you’re paying premium prices for a seafood dish, the least you can expect is to actually receive the seafood that’s literally in the name and prominently featured in the price.
But the missing crab is just the beginning of the problems:
- The presentation was sloppy and haphazard
- The lettuce appeared wilted and poorly arranged, just a iceberg lettuce wedge rather than the mixed greens served in-house
- The overall portion and quality looked significantly diminished compared to the dine-in experience
- For nearly $31, this looked more like a $12 Flying J truck stop salad
The visual comparison between what they serve to dine-in customers versus takeout customers is stark and unacceptable. It’s clear there are completely different standards being applied, which raises serious questions about their commitment to quality control and customer service equity.
I understand that working in food service can be challenging, and packaging for takeout presents different logistics than plating for dine-in service. However, when a customer is paying premium prices - especially $31 for a salad - they deserve the same quality, attention to detail, and complete order regardless of how they’re receiving their food. Professional standards and basic order accuracy shouldn’t disappear just because the food is going in a to-go container.
This experience suggests either inadequate training for to-go staff, lack of quality control oversight, or simply not caring about takeout customers. None of these explanations are acceptable for a restaurant of Papadeaux’s reputation and price point.
Papadeaux has built its reputation on quality seafood and dining experiences, but this kind of disparity in service standards damages that reputation and makes customers question whether they’re being taken advantage of when ordering takeout.
I cannot recommend the to-go service based on this experience. If you want to receive what you actually ordered and paid for - and want it to look anything like what’s advertised - stick to dining in. The difference is night and day, and for these prices, that’s completely unacceptable.