The Bayou

I always love to grab something to eat here. Amazing Cajun food. The gumbo and jambalaya (or gumbolaya) are excellent choices. Lots of options on what to drink. And make sure you finish off your meal with the amazing deep fried Twinkies. Note that they do. Lose a little earlier than some restaurants.

The waitress was great. I had the blackened catfish. Not much flavor. Don't know where they got the recipe for gumbolaya, but the sausage was like cut up hot dogs and chicken. More like a Pinto broth with chicken and cut up hot dogs. The appetizers were good

we had such a nice date night here! It was Sunday night, so things were a little bit slower and no live music, although I’m sure if there had been, that would’ve put it over the top for the fun factor. We sat down ordered a round of drinks and the fried crawfish appetizer. The crawfish appetizer was good, but I would’ve liked it a little bit crisper. Adding the lemon wedges was a great touch, and the tomato sauce was just spicy enough to add a little interest to the app. They gave us plenty of time to look at the menu and munch on our appetizer. There was no rush. We ordered a sandwich and the shrimp étouffée over the catfish blackened fillet. The entrées were excellent, incredibly flavorful, and huge portions. We couldn’t finish everything even if we wanted to. We did a second round of drinks, a gin and tonic, and a glass of Merlot. The Merlot had good body and was a little light but not as stringent. We also had ordered one of the many beers on top. If you are a beer aficionado, you will love this place. I also got the highball lemonade; it wasn’t my favorite drink in the world, but it tasted very fresh. I wish we had had room for dessert, but clearly we didn’t. We spent a lovely 90 minutes here, lounging and enjoying the atmosphere, the extremely competent and friendly waitress, and the delicious food. For an app, 4 drinks and 2 entrees it was around $100!

This was a nice gem to find in SLC having tried food in New Orleans two years ago! Relaxed, great vibes and warm service. We had the Bayou fish plate, gumbo fries and jambalaya. My only criticism is that we were expecting fries topped with gumbo when it is actually gumbo with very soft fries and cheese in it. All in all, I would highly recommend Bayou for a hearty southern meal!

I was told i couldnt sit down because I didn't have my license so I took it to go instead. The food came out quick and the employees were nice about it. The food is close to being as good as it is in New Orleans! The gumbo was so yummy, fries were perfect.

Each item was prepared beautifully and delivered hot! Highly recommend the Gumbo and the Cajun Game Hen. We also loved the fried catfish and the Cajun Alfredo pasta. All in all.... 10/10. Will be returning! PS- go early and you'll have an easier time finding parking + quicker service.

Wow!! A perfect jewel hidden in Salt Lake. Everybite was perfect! Natasha was outstanding, she knew menu, made several suggestions and just right amount of convo! Get here soon! No disappointments!

I'm so glad I decided to try this place out before ending my SLC trip. I had the crawfish éttouffée, it was amazing! I wish I could have tried more items from the menu. Next time I'm in SLC, I will definitely be back for more. I also enjoyed one of their many many beers and a Mormon mule. The Mormon mule was outstanding.

Wow! To think that it's been 10 years since I was last here. I hope I don't wait another 10. The Bayou HAS TO BE ON YOUR LIST of places to dine when in SLC. Last time I was here, I mentioned the bread. Well this time, I had a higher appreciation of the bread and no complaints.... the parking though.... is still the parking. Lol On this visit I went full tourist and fat kid. Started with the gumbo and the Da La Louisiane cocktail. The DLL by itself was 5 stars and worth the visit. I was soooooo tempted to have a VC afterwards just based on how good the DLL was, but the DLL was such a perfect supper. The gumbo was great, but the stars of the show was the Cajun Burrito and the catfish filet. Gonna give you a heads up. The portions are HUGE, I could not make it half way through the Burrito but it was great cold the next day. There was great flavor and the etouffe smothering the burrito is really nice. The catfish was perfectly fried, well seasoned and added great texture to the meal. The ambiance for a Friday night makes it both a great bar to socialize or have a great date night. The servers are great and friendly and the "liquid menu" is robust and has a lot of variety. Oh, I forgot to mention the 50/50 fries. Half regular and half sweet potato fries, but 100% good. I highly recommend and once again 5*. The Bayou sits in my Top 3 Cajun/Creole restaurants outside of the LA/MI area. LD

A quick check-in...my special lady friend and I were coming up to SLC to get lunch (at a different spot), and our car battery died down the road from The Bayou. Long story short, I needed to change a $20 and went to a couple of different businesses (including a credit union) in an attempt to accomplish that lofty goal and was turned away. When I dropped into The Bayou, I was greeted by the staff who immediately agreed to change my $20, were incredibly courteous, and wished me well with my minor automotive setback. Now I've eaten at The Bayou many times in the past, and know their food to be authentic, tasty and consistent. But, I just wanted to call them out for something that doesn't get enough attention these days. That is, the role of private establishments as places that are, on occasion, asked to help stranded motorists. Let me just say, there is no obligation to help. Certainly, in this case, at least two other places chose not to help. But, it is frankly no surprise that the folks that did finally do me a solid were the staff at The Bayou. This restaurant has never let me down in the past, and didn't today. Thank you to their kind FOH staff. Highest of recommends.

Had such a lovely dinner here. The staff makes you feel like family, the food is delicious, and the vibes are high. Give them a try.

This is my husband favorite place and he raved about his jambalaya. The other dishes were okay the po boy buns were very plain. The butter on the ravioli was okay but not super flavorful. The 50/590 fries and sauce were not to be missed but the portion is less than half of the last time I ordered it. We will come back.

This food came out hot and fresh, the flavors hit and the beer selection here is great. My only issue was with the chowder-it was very thin and low on seasoning but honestly overall a delicious meal and the portion sizes were fantastic, can't wait to have the leftovers

Great prices and quality! The best Cajun food in Utah! Also the best pasta I've had in forever!!

Don't get much Cajun food in my town. I had to hit this place up with some friends while at a trade show in downtown. Pleanty of food on the menu. Had some Cajun seafood ball those were on point and the the gumbo. Was a good portion. Must have been the time we were there on a weekday but we were 1 of maybe 4 tables there. We had our waitress all to ourselves. Overall good vibe and good food.

Went around 7:30pm on a Thursday. All the parking spots were occupied. Street parking is 3.5 dollars per hour. The closest streets parking machine did not work, so I had to walk to a farther machine to pay. Good environment and lots of options for drinks. But it's too much to pay for the parking

As person that will devour some Cajun food, I am not sure that I've stumbled upon a place that made Gumbolaya the way this restaurant did. Now, I've been to NOLA and even I have a Gumbolaya recipe that will sit some down, but my version is Gumbo/Jambalaya sauce over WHITE rice. Here, it's an actual full cooked Jambalaya topped with Gumbo and it was so good. I added crawfish and shrimp and was in heaven! The serving was huge, and now I want to replicate THIS recipe at home--I can't wait. The hostess and my server were nice, and my meal came out quickly. A little pricey (~$25), but it's downtown (ish) SLC and well, I know they don't have easy access to crawfish and other seafood like we do in the South, so all good. I'd return for sure!

Dang, this place was killer. The burrito was sooooo good. My wife got the gumbolaya and it was really good as well. If anyone is having any reservations about this place, experience it for yourself, it's worth it. Our guests also got some of their drinks and said they were very good so if you're into beers, this place is good for that as well. Don't forget to bring your IDs to get in btw! The ambiance is warm and inviting.

Walked across here for a quick bite and drink after a show at The State Room. We didn't try their signature dishes, just ordered apps: sweet potato fries, chips /salsa, and chicken casadilla. The food was good. I feel our waitress was pushy. She cleared our food off before we were finished and without asking. I get it tho, the place was closing down and she was probably eager to get home. But the staff was still there and she had already closed us out and got her tip. Wish she would have asked us if we wanted to box it up. Glad we checked it out. No complaints otherwise, but probably a one and done for me.

Enjoy the ambiance of Bayou when we visit. The food was alright, but not very memorable. The service was good - can't complain!

This place is still one of our go to for dinner night out. They make things that my husband can't/doesn't make at home, which is the perfect recipe for a good night out. Our go to is the blackened Cornish hen. We've been here several times over the past several years and it stays consistent. Not dry, but moist and crisp on the outside from the seasoning and so tasty! I usually order the gumbolaya. Nice balance of heat and flavors. Prices are very good considering quality and likely time put in to making the dishes. They also have an awesome selection of drinks, we love the dirty hoe. If you're there on a Friday or Saturday evening, you might even get some live music.

This place awesome!!!! Just another brick building on the outside but once you enter, WOW! Great atmosphere, food and service! Did I mention that they boast having a beer list of over 400 beers? Visit this place, you won't be disappointed!

My husband is from the South and he was so excited for some Cajun food. We were disappointed in the food. The food had no seasoning. I also received a couple hairs in my salad the first time. So that's why I have two pictures of different soups because they remade it. The Gumbo had no Cajun flavoring and tasted burnt. The red pepper soup was good. It needs more salt and pepper. The crawfish was okay but missing spices as well. We probably won't be coming back. The restaurant has a cute vibe and has a huge beer selection. Service was good, but they did not offer an apology for the hair or give us a discount on the meal. Not saying we need it but some hospitality would have helped the situation.

Dang, I haven't been here in quite some time. This place did not disappoint. The food is so so good. The blackened catfish was fire. The alligator cheese cake was fantastic. Lots of local beer on tap. This place was the jam. Great music playing as well.

Great food, friendly service and a great background music (80' alternative: REM, U2, Violent Femmes, New Order).

Gumbo here is good! You can get the standard gumbo or add crawfish or shrimp for a little extra. This place also knows how to mix it up, and has jambalaya gumbo (has jambalaya rice in the bowl), or cheesy fries with gumbo. I opted for the standard gumbo and cheesy fries on the side. Flavor was quite bold and overall impressed by how flavorful the rue is this far from Louisiana. The gumbo fillings felt a little more homestyle, and so much of it. There's a lot more on the menu, and that's probably a review for next time. Ample parking, friendly service. Overall chill ambiance.

I'm visiting SLC, I was surprised to find a creole spot here. I have roots in the south so I'm a harsh critic of cajun/creole restaurants as I've had some of the best in Louisiana. I usually don't expect much, especially in cities like SLC that are not known for southern cuisine. First I absolutely loved the interior, really cheerful and charming, felt like I was in New Orleans. I ordered my food to go, got the Bayou Fish Plate with fried catfish. I was a bit concerned when the side was mixed vegetables, not something I usually see paired with fried catfish. I also ordered a small gumbo and added shrimp. Finally I decided on the bread pudding. The catfish and the gumbo were exactly the same.....just ok, could have been great but neither had enough flavor. I've been to some places where I couldn't even finish the food, that was not the case here. They are so close as everything was prepared right, just a bit bland, which is what I expected in Utah. Still, it was not a horrible meal, however I'm probably not returning before I leave town, but who knows. Now, the bread pudding, that was horrible. It tasted like bread mixed with milk and cooked, not sweet at all, didn't taste any cinnamon, vanilla or nutmeg. I may be a bit biased because I'm used to cajun/creole food in New Orleans. If you haven't been there or don't go often, I can understand how you would think the catfish and gumbo at Bayou are great.

Had a great dinner here. We were lucky to be seated right away on a Saturday evening. So many awesome things on the menu, we got three items and all were delicious. Especially the savory cheesecake appetizer with crawfish and the gumbo. Cocktails are completely on point. Service was excellent-excellent. I like the offbeat atmosphere, too!

We've come to this place many times over the years. The gumbo and gumbalaya are really good. I wish they served dif bread w it though, it's thin sliced sourdough, I feel like it needs a roll or thicker sliced bread. We've tried a lot of dif dishes over the yrs and most are done well. The drink selection is extensive and the bartenders do a great job. It's comfortable and a place you can relax w friends over drinks.

This restaurant was so fun! We had some family in town who love NOLA and it was so fun to go to this restaurant with them so they could have some of their favorite dishes. It is not like any other restaurant I'd been to in SLC and I am glad that we can have diverse restaurants. There was live music as well. The food was great and servers were kind.

The food was delicious!!! The staff was very attentive and prompt. I had my dish within 10 minutes. I had the smothered Eu Tuffe topped with fried catfish. Sooo sooo good!

The Bayou serves delicious Cajun food that will satisfy your tastebuds and soul. The paprika shrimp is out of this world! Everything on the menu is packed with flavor and is served hot. They also have the best ranch I've tasted. They have unique drinks that have a Cajun spin, but they also have drinks with Utah-brewed beers and spirits. The service is fast and laid back. The atmosphere is fun and inviting with live music on certain days. This place is great for dates or large parties!

Had a great experience! Great food,drinks and amazing service. We will definitely be back when we visit Salt Lake City.

Catfish was amazing.... But it stops there. The Cajun fettuccine was stuck to the plate and extremely dry. Appeared it was plated beforehand and just nuked to be ready for what a Patton would order. Veggies were bland and just full of water. They placed a packet of butter on the plate which is " diner" style and not what I expected from the reviews that brought me to this place. Fries were definitely not hand cut but frozen and salad was.... Just salad. No onions, tomatoes , carrots, cheese, croutons etc. Give this place a 2 because the catfish was great but portion was small.

Not sure if cajun is what i was served... Impressive beer list Nice ambiance Good service

Amazing food, and a great gf selection. Service is occasionally slow but it's worth the wait. Owner is super friendly and all the staff is really knowledgeable about gluten but also just able to help you find something that hits the spot. We frequent them several times a year and love it every single time.

Love coming to this place! I used to come all the time but it's been awhile since I've been here! 21+ ONLY- if you don't have your ID or passport don't expect to get in. For bigger parties they will do reservations ahead of time. They have a really big alcohol selection mostly beers. Their beer election changed a little from what I remember but still a very big selection! Love love love their spinach artichoke dip it is AMAZING! It used to come with like pita bread or chips but now it's like a thicker type of chip. Still delicious! I usually get their bayou pasta- which is like a Cajun fettuccine Alfredo. I used to remember it having more of a kick but this time for me it didn't. Still good but not as good as I remember it! You can add chicken or shrimp to this dish! They have amazing fries that you can mix between sweet potato and regular. They are delicious as well! Service was a little slower this time but it was also busy! Overall they have great service and this is a great spot for a get together with friends if you want delicious food and drinks. Only down side is the parking, they do have some spots in their small parking lot and a few spots next to it. But expect to be parking on the street or around the block.

This #ThankYouThursday I want to update my review and just express how much I love and appreciate everyone at The Bayou for always bringing me a taste of home and making me feel like family. On good days or bad days you all are always on your game and make my day better than when I walked in. I love you guys!

This place has the best jambalaya and fried catfish I've had since I've moved out of the South. In fact, I find myself choosing this place any time I can. The explosion of flavors are one of the best things about eating here. Spices such as cayenne pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika, rice, beans, and mixes of minced onions, peppers, and celery are key to Deep South Cajun and Creole food. They come together to create the savory backdrop for the star of each dish, and set the stage to transport you straight to Louisiana and Mississippi. And the dishes' stars shine brightly! There aren't many places nearby where you can get crawfish (try it- they taste like lobster!), catfish (so mild and juicy!), and alligator or andouille sausage. The flourishes include regional favorites such as pine nuts, okra, black eyed peas, and Tabasco. (Did you know Tabasco has been made in Avery Island, Louisiana since the 1880s?) The atmosphere and service are enthusiastic and conversational. The historic brick industrial-style building with wood floors add to the ambience. Sometimes it gets a little loud during dinner. Go during lunch for smaller crowds and a quieter tone. Also importantly, as this place repeatedly trumpets on its doors, menus, and website- this is a "bar!" Don't call it a "restaurant" or you will make them mad. Apparently, the government doesn't have as strict of regulations on bars? Because of this, the bar is open to the restaurant area. Don't bring the kids. But seriously, don't miss this place. Amazing food.

This was our second time at the Bayou. The first time was fabulous. Our second time was a little underwhelming. There may have been a slight difference in the cooking. Nonetheless, the staff were very attentive and respectful. Don't forget your ID.

Let's get straight to the point. The beer selection is outstanding and the food is certainly good enough to complement. I'd make this a destination for the beer. Period. Enjoy!

Went with a large group for dinner on a weekday and had a good overall experience: large portion sizes and a vast selection of beers, cocktails, and mocktails. Our server seemed a bit annoyed with having to deal with a large table, but we didn't have any special requests, and she got the job done; she was just abrupt. Regarding the food, it wasn't anything spectacular, but it was nice. Side salads were basic, but the actual salads were quite elaborate. If you add shrimp, they certainly do not skimp on the portions!

I hate having to do this but what I had was just not tasty. They make it known that this establishment is a bar not a restaurant. Everyone has to show their ID in order to be seated. The Cajun wings had absolutely no flavor. The dry rub wasn't even good. And the roux for the gumbo was burnt. I had chicken skin from the wings or fried chicken in my gumbo. It was mostly sausage. I paid extra for crayfish and shrimp. I got three pieces of shrimp and a few pieces of crayfish fish. I ordered to go. It just tasted like burnt gravy. Maybe other things on the menu is better. But this is definitely a miss.

Was in Salt Lake to have dinner with some friends and they recommended The Bayou. First time eating there and the meals were solid. I was a bit concerned as the menu was huge but they delivered quality food. They are known for their beer selection with 100's and 100's of beers to choose from. They also have a full bar. Please note that the place is actually a "bar" under Utah's bizarre liquor laws so no one under twenty one is allowed. Parking can be tough as their lot is small. They also share a lot with an ice cream store just south of theirs. Street parking is another option. Now the food. We started with an order of the 50/50 fries - regular and sweet potato. Well cooked and seasoned and delivered hot to the table. I went with the Hoppin John which is a classic southern dish consisting of ham, sausage and 'the trinity' of onion, celery and green bell peppers served over rice and black eyed peas. Well cooked and you get an enormous serving. Ended up being lunch the next day. My wife went with the catfish Po Boy while another friend did the crawfish version. Both were cooked correctly and the bread was excellent. Came with a side salad so you walked away full after eating those dishes. Final dish was their take on Jambalaya. Again, another solid dish. Service was a bit inconsistent but the staff was very friendly. They also had no issues with splitting the check. Four stars as it is a solid restaurant delivering good, not great cajun classics. If you are going there for the beers then it is five stars all the way.

This is a tough review, because, first off, the service really was top notch. Our waitress was so attentive and knowledgeable. She really did a great job. I guess where my 3 stars really comes from is the food itself. While it wasn't horrible (at all), it also wasn't the best Cajun food I've had. In fact, it wasn't close. If I'm just comparing it to what I consider true Cajun food, this lands somewhere in the middle (thus, the 3-star review). Would I go back? Maybe. I also realize that ordering gumbo fries (instead of a bowl of gumbo, or a plate of jambalaya) isn't necessarily true Cajun. So, I'll take the blame for my food choice. But, overall, it was decent. The place has a cool vibe, and as stated above, the service was fantastic.

I'm liking it. Greeted and sat immediately. The waitstaff is extremely friendly. They offered suggestions, replacements, alternatives. Just great. The menu is creative please take note of the aligátor cheese cake. Also has sausage in it. I'm not that brave. But I bet it's good if you like gator and sausage. And please read the description for gumbolaya. To ensure the full cardiac arrest. LMAO. At least they're honest. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Fresh. Reasonable prices. The place is tastefully decorated. Who could ask for more?

We had fantastic service from Ryann! The beer is always great here and we sampled a variety of Stouts and ales. The crawfish and shrimp dishes including gumbo and etouffee are always fantastic as well.

You have to go here. The southern food is off the charts crawfish étouffée is on point. The Cajun burrito you have got to have that one of the amazing excellent staff. Excellent choice of beers excellent food

This is one of our favorite restaurants. Love that we can get such tasty Cajun food in Salt Lake.

I had a work trip to Salt Lake recently and my team and I decided to try The Bayou based on reviews. We were not disappointed. The outside looks nondiscript. Just a basic, red brick looking building. There is parking for The Bayou customers on the side, but there isn't a lot of it. The lot also doesn't have an exit around the back side, so you have to pull some Austin Powers-esque maneuvers with your car to go forward and backward to get yourself back to the street (or back out into the downtown street). Inside is completely different than the outside. It looks clean and tight, with a large bartop on the left, booths on the rightx and tables in the back half of the restaurant. My team and I were sat quickly and the waiter was very knowledgeable about the product selection. They serve Coke products, so water for me. Some of my teams had beers and was told they tasted a little watered, but were otherwise fine. We had lots of questions about the menu and the waiter was helpful with answers to help with our selections. I got the Bayou burger and subbed gumbo for the fries. The menu didn't mention that it had cheese (that I recall), but it was easy to scrape the cheese off. It is a garlic burger with aoili that was very tasty. I've never had gumbo before and it was decent. I can't compare it to any other, but I did eat most of it as it was still good. I was interested in the jumbalaya, but I don't like ham. Fortunately, a couple people with me got it so I could try it. It was okay, but I've had better. The taste is strongly of the spanish rice rather than the other flavors it should have. We also got appetizers -- seafood balls, which has a nice seasoning, and the spinach dip, which I didn't try, but my team scraped all of that out of the bowl, so it must have been pretty good. The restaurant plays a lot of blues music, so I could say it is a blues bar that serves cajun food. The unassuming outside may lead you to be skeptical about the restaurant, but it is great on the inside. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the food is pretty darn good. Pricing was reasonable, too. I've never been to Salt Lake City before, but I would definitely eat at The Bayou again if I visit the city again.

The Bayou is a fantastic Cajun restaurant with one of the most expansive beer selections I've come across. I swung by a weekday and place was fairly busy but easy to get seating. They have dozens of beer on draft and a very long list of beers on their website or app that you can get from a can. The bartender was super knowledgeable and helpful. I went with the Cajun burrito for food and it was delightful and hits the spot on a cool night. It's a wet burrito on a layer of thick sauce that's savory and delicious. The burrito is filled with rice and sausages and the sauce has a good amount of little shrimp. The cheesecake here is pretty good as well and glad their strawberry sauce wasn't too sweet. Staff is top tier. Would come back!

My wife and I went here. She really liked it, I liked it a bit less. Their food is quite spicy. If that's your thing, go with utter confidence. If it's not, but be aware and clear in your ordering. Excellent beer list.

We met up with a few friends for drinks. The services great, the ambiance was very brewery vibes. We tried the fried balls and they were okay. The artichoke dip was yummy. Of course , I had to try their Hefeweizen on tab and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed the bayou pasta with shrimp. The sauce was saucy and noodles al dente. The Cajun flavor combined with Alfredo sooo great! I think this is a good place to have a a drink catch up with a friend.

Food was good. Had the gumbolaya and the garage cheesecake. Also had the Hoppin John with crawfish. Portions were outstanding. Lovely restaurant. When visiting Utah again I will definitely come back. Especially, for the gator cheese cake! Forgot to take photos but, make sure you try it!

They used to have Cask Conditioned Ales, but sadly, no more. I guess they now cater to those that don't understand beer too well.

Service was good. I love the anticipation of what the customer needs just would wait until the customer actually say they want that second beer. My husband was actually going to change his drink choice but before he could the waitress brought already another beer so he felt obligated to drink it. Food was good.

Food was great portions were great and the price was great. athe service was top tier food didn't take long to come out. The staff was friendly. The restaurant was nice and clean.