The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge

I recently visited The Free Man in Deep Ellum for a friend’s birthday celebration. While I’ve lived in the Dallas suburbs for over two years, this was one of my first ventures into the heart of the city for nightlife and, unsurprisingly, parking was a challenge. Be prepared to spend 15–30 minutes circling the area in search of a spot, especially on the weekend. There’s a $10 cover charge on Sundays. I brought a gift for the birthday girl, only to have it thoroughly inspected by the doorman for “alcoholic beverages” a slightly awkward but mildly amusing moment. The venue itself has a spacious, split-layout design and caters heavily to live music lovers. While I appreciate the energy of a good band, the sound system was overwhelming up front. I’d recommend opting for a seat farther back if you actually want to enjoy the performance without shouting over it. On a positive note, the fried oysters were outstanding-crispy, flavorful, and cooked just right. We also enjoyed a mix of shots and cocktails, which were solid. All in all, while The Free Man has its charms, particularly for those who thrive on a high-energy music scene, it’s not somewhere I’d return to on a weekend. Between the parking headache and the overcrowded vibe, it felt more like a hassle than a hangout.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!!!!! In town viaiting family and we had reservations, was told with the arm band we can go in and out. And out table would be available. Two sides to this venue, and a patio area. We moved to the bar side came back our table was gone. Food: Cajun wings were salty (babe food) Kids meal, shrimp and fries (my food) everything was hot, but it was more breading than shrimp THE DRINKS: Wine (babe) Lemon Drop (me) No complaints that lemon drop was perfect Live band for entertainment, reason we were here. It was a good show on both sides. 3-Stars for my drink and entertainment had the food been better it would have been rated higher.....our waitress was good

The Free Man in Deep Ellum is an absolute gem for Cajun food and live music lovers. We had an amazing experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was electric—laid-back, fun, and full of energy. The live band, featuring Don Diego, was phenomenal. His jazz performance set the perfect tone for the night and added a vibrant, soulful layer to the evening. The food? Fantastic, awesome, and everything you want from Cajun cuisine. We kicked things off with boudin balls and alligator tail as appetizers—both were full of flavor and had that perfect Southern kick. The alligator tail was tender and crispy, and the boudin balls were rich and satisfying. For entrees, we tried the jambalaya, the Hot Chick, and the Cajun brisket. Every single dish was bursting with bold, authentic flavors. The jambalaya was perfectly spiced, the Hot Chick delivered heat and crunch in all the right ways, and the Cajun brisket was juicy, and downright crave-worthy. Our waitress Bree was an absolute rock star—attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. If you’re looking for incredible Cajun food, amazing music, and outstanding service, The Free Man is the place to be. We’ll be back soon!

I went to celebrate my birthday with about 40 others (friends and family). The AC wasn't up to par and we were seated very close together. The drinks were good. The band decent. The food was horrible, literally everyone complained. The fish had people stomach upset,there was vinegar in the red beans and rice. Nothing was Cajun and the food left a lot to be desired. Plus we had to pay for entry and 20%gratuity and it wasn't worth it at all .......

My food was delicious and hot. My favorite dish is the blackened shrimp over dirty rice and comes wit some good cornbread. The customer service was great. I been here a few times just to grab food and go. But atmosphere is a good vibe as well.

My first time here with my husband on a Thursday date night. Loved the overall vibe. The food was ok. I actually loved the chicken strips more than the fried fish. Only negative is that the last band was supposed to be up at 10 (per the advertisement) and it was well after 10 and they were still setting up. We ended up leaving because it was a work night. We may revisit on a nonwork night. Overall despite the reviews, our experience was good.

This was an amazing experience! The food and the entertainment were top notch. You never know who you will see in the audience, there were a couple of celebrities there, no craziness just absolute adult fun!

Definitely had a great time there! The bands were good and the food was delicious!

Whenever I'm downtown this always the #1 spot to eat good food, listen to some Spoken Word, Music, dancing, and overall great vibes. Mary was our server and she was the sweetest, also had some nice vocals on her as well. She got up on stage and shared some musical flows with us (the crowd) and customers. There's a $10 cover charge so please be aware. Always a vibe and big radiant energy when I'm here. Lastly, our Cajun wings (can't order all flats) but I did ask for extra crispy and they were succulent wings. We loved them...our fries were nice and crispy too. I've never had a bad food order or dining experience here. Glad this spot was introduced to me almost four years ago today. Still one of my Favs. 10/10

If you love music, you will love this spot. They always have great jazz. It never fails. Every time we come we discover something new. The food is traditional creole. The gumbo is amazing. The drinks are pretty classic bar drinks. Nothing too fancy here, but always really good. The staff is nice and helpful. You come for the music, and stay for the food.

My wife and I visited The Free Man Cajun Bar and Lounge today, and we were blown away by the delicious food and welcoming atmosphere. We started with the Boudin Balls, which were sausage with rice, breaded, and fried to perfection. At $14.95, it was a great deal for such a tasty appetizer. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Hot Chick, a spicy fried chicken breast served with gravy over rice. It came with a side, so she opted for a salad. The dish was priced at $18.95 and was worth every penny. I tried the Crawfish Pasta, which featured crawdads in a rich, creamy sauce over pasta, topped with grilled or blackened chicken. At $28.95, it was a bit pricey, but the flavors were so amazing that I didn't mind. To drink, my wife had a sweet tea that was very southern-like, with a hint of lemon and a surprising berry taste. It was a refreshing complement to our meal. One thing to note is that a 20% gratuity is added to your bill, so be aware of that when dining here. Despite this, we highly recommend The Free Man for anyone looking for delicious Cajun food in a lively atmosphere.

What a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Free Man listening to Devon and band during my visit to Dallas for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated 71st Boule. Great job band and the Blue Bayou is delish.

I am sooooo in love with the vibe of this place!! The food is AMAZING and sooo well seasoned. If you do not want to be near the band, I suggest sitting in the back where it is much quieter. I will definitely be returning to try other entrees.

After arriving in Dallas, we stopped at The Free Man for drinks, food, and listen to a live band. It was cool but what I ordered wasn't anything to talk about, or post. It has outside seating which could be seen from the street/sidewalk; a nice place to hang out when the weather is nice and warm. The area reminds me of the way Bourbon Street in New Orleans has establishments where you can walk in and out to hear live music.

I always get grilled catfish over rice with cornbread. Perfect late night comfort meal. I've always door dashed so I don't know much about the in person service or ambiance. I did go outside my usual a few weeks ago and got a brisket grilled cheese that I wouldn't recommend ordering cause the meat was really tough, but catfish is always perfection.

I've visited here 3-4 times. During my previous Wednesday & Thursday evening visits, the music, food, and service have always been great. Unfortunately, my most recent visit (Wednesday @ 8pm) not so much. I sat at the bar, ordered drinks & food. The drinks were strong but not good. I ordered the catfish basket & it was really bad (oil they used tasted old & burnt, and absolutely no flavor/seasoning). I couldn't even eat the catfish but the fries were good, as usual. Based on my previous experiences, I'd still recommend. I'm giving 4 stars based on my previous visits.

This place was recommended to us by a local friend. The bar standers TNT (T and T) were super nice and you can tell they like working there. We ordered the hurricane and their version of the grenade and for $10/$11 we left buzzed!! The cornbread was highly recommended and I thought it was a little dry but the Luis I ordered and added shrimp was on point! It was delicious and left overs today hit the spot as well! We will be back in the future especially when they have some live music.

Crawfish Pasta is delicious! Creamy texture, ample sauce with each bite of crawfish & chicken. Cornbread was bomb! Shrimp platter was ok. G

Three of us went there for Father's Day jazz brunch from 1-4pm. It was so fun!! The music was great; the food was good; and enjoyed the friendly/lively atmosphere of the restaurant!! When we got there they were short handed on servers but service we received was great and attentive to our requests! It was our first time at The Free Man and we definitely plan to go back again soon!

Girl! This HOT CRAB DIP was a 10! Even asked for some to go! Our waitress recommended pink volcano and blue bayou drinks and they smacked!!

I had the chance to visit The Free Man recently and it was quite a unique experience. They had Beat Street poetry performing with dancing, spoken word, and instruments. It can get a little loud but it's quite a lively show. The service was just 'okay', and the food equally fell flat for me. Between my date and I, we ordered the catfish sweet potato fries and a drink. The food tasted a little burnt, but was still edible. I would not return for the food or service, but I may recommend going for Beat Street Poetry (please note, it's $10 admission) if you have never experienced their live performances before. It's quite a sight to see.

Great adult crowd amazing performers and musicians. The drinks hit! The menu had good options not food ordered but it smelled good.

The Louis is very good with noodles. Chicken fried chicken great! Pasta with the chicken and crawfish was okay. Fried gator amazing. Crab dip Bussin! Service changes every time you go in there. Sometimes it's freezing in there so bring your jacket.

Omg!!! EAT HERE!!! So we were visiting Dallas and got back to the hotel after a concert I was and soooo hungry! I was afraid there wouldn't be anywhere that would deliver but The Free Man came in *so* clutch. It was like midnight when I ordered and the food was here no later than 12:30. Thank god because I was H A N G R Y. My husband and I both got the shrimp po'boy with fries and it was delicious across both our servings. Love that they use pickles. All sandwiches are better off with pickles! Thank you!!!! Not only was the food sooo good but the delivery guy was quick and efficient! Hand off was easy and my husband and I had a delicious late night meal-what more can you ask for?!

You HAVE to eat here and ask for Diamond. The food was absolutely amazing - flavorful and huge portions. The drinks are full sized, fully loaded drinks, which is more than I can say for other Dallas restaurants. Diamond's service was friendly, and she made sure we had everything we needed. Seriously, we never wanted for anything! Thr live music added to a fun evening!

The vibes at Free Man are reminiscent of New Orleans- offbeat, unusual, soulful, loud and proud. The Jazz band was top notch, and the talent was legit. No rest breaks needed, they jammed for an hour straight. Pure lightning. The poetry slam was different as well. Really loved the energy and passion from each feisty, courageous , amateur poet to go up on stage. We didn't order food but the Cajun food being served around us looked legit. The bar itself had a limited local beer selection. The Tom Collins I ordered was also a little flavourless.

Listen‼‼‼‼ it's a VIBEEEEEE If you haven't been you've been missing out! The food, the music, and everything about this place is a VIBE!! Go see Tim Starling & the Experience (band) if you're interested in dancing & turning up . Get some of that tasty Cajun food guys it's so bomb

We went to this place for Valentines Day, and I did not enjoy it. The food was just spicy but not seasoned. The gumbo tasted like they just poured hot sauce in it, and the red beans and rice were similarly just spicy but not actually flavorful. The ambiance was just loud. The music sounded fine but it was SO loud that it took away from our ability to both enjoy the music, have conversation and enjoy our food. It was so loud I couldn't hear my thoughts. I definitely would not go back but I will say that the people in there definitely seemed like regulars and seemed to enjoy it.

I order fried stuffed crab jalapeños, they were massive, filled with cream cheese, little to no crab, jalapeño's were mild, no flavor just crunchy and creamy. Then the counter began to move, nope, it was roaches moving on the brownish colored countertop. The staff actually reached across the bar to capture them and still charged me for my meal. I will not be back, live bands or not.

I love this place. Food, service, music, it's all wonderful. They've got two sides. I always go to the smaller, older side. The newer side on the corner has outdoor dining and bigger music events.

The food was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. The staff was attentive and very friendly. Wanted to find live music, and I hit the jackpot.

I experienced this spot on a Saturday early evening (around 4pm) . They were pretty empty, and music was just being played through a speaker (live band scheduled to play 7pm). They only had one server, but that is fine with the amount of people in the establishment: Food: I thought the food was delicious! I started off with the crab stuffed jalapeños peppers and baby they were spicy, but ohhh so good. They were nicely sized and filled to capacity. The crunch on the outside was perfect, and I liked that it was served with a ranch for dipping. I would get those again for sure! For my entree I went with the classic shrimp po' boy and initially I thought the 4 shrimp was skimpy, but the sandwich did end up filling me up after eating only half of it! I will say the fries were great as well. Environment: Not the cleanest place by any means, but the space fit their vibe. The bathroom wasn't horrible and I appreciated that. Service: My table personally did not have an issue, but a couple of people did get up in leave around us... not sure what it was about. They do have some auto gratuity's, but it is mentioned on the menu.

Love this place. Some of the best music in dallas (jazz, R&B,) with two stages. I prefer the small stage as it is more intimate. The Creole food is excellent and the owner is a cool dude.

Live music in dallas with GREAT food is hard to come by. the Freeman they have the best Jazz music on Thursday's. We went to the smaller side and had the best time with the best service. The best drink to get is the Landmine. It is $11 and worth ever penny. We got the hot crab dip for an appetizer and it smelled very fishy but the taste was amazing! The two best entrees in my opinion are the Cajun wings with fries and the blackened Shrimp plate. I hate cornbread but they make the best one I have ever had. This place will always be a go to for me. Honestly a Dallas Staple!

Be aware that they put 20% "minimum" auto gratuity on the bill, even though you only have a party of two for a light lunch. Also, the server just verbally told me the bill amount without showing the breakdown of the bill. She only showed me the card tap screen. (Yes I was caught off guard though it would make no difference). The breading on the fried food was thick and hard.

Tried this place on Friday night! I had the crab stuffed jalapeños they were good some of them could have had more crab. The shrimp étouffée was off the hook! The portion was a good size. I took some home and the next morning it was still bomb! The environment was so much fun. The drinks were very good as well. I suggest arriving early so you can get a table. The customer service was good as well.

Took my sister for her birthday and the vibe was everything. The music was great. The only thing was the food was super spicy and the drinks were super sweet. The service was good, over all I will try again.

I'm not sure what this place is good for besides misleading people. I spent $20 on a shrimp poboy and red beans with rice. Something anyone from LA would appreciate. I kid you not, a shrimp poboy came with three pieces of shrimp. Did they run out and decided to just give me what they had left? Did they decide to just give me an old order that the staff had been picking at? Because no business with the name Cajun in the name is going to insult me by telling me $18 for a shrimp poboy with three pieces of shrimp is the norm or acceptable. And the red beans was smaller than a break room cup of coffee. How do i know? They literally package it in a styrofoam coffee cup. This is not Cajun, this doesn't represent LA. Louisianans are fun loving people that try to make everyone laugh and make everyone feel welcome and part of the family. This feels like a business that will cut corners every chance they get.i understand the point of a business is to make a profit, but at what cost? Red beans had no flavor, and by no flavor i mean you can tell there's no seasoning. I'm not sure how you're supposed to distribute 3 pieces of shrimp across po boy bread. Do yourself a favor and skip this place.

I ordered ubereats. And when the food was delivered it was still piping hot. Let me start with the red beans and rice. I personally wasn't a big fan there really wasn't any flavor to them at all. The catfish was nice and crispy and the sauce that came with it was pretty good. The gumbo came kinda weird. The soup was packed separately and the rice came with cornbread on top. The gumbo was alright wasn't the best I've ever had. I did add some hot sauce to all the items for a kick and it def did the gumbo and catfish justice. I couldn't even get the red beans down. I will def give this another try and try the pasta they have

I went on a Thursday at 2. There was 3 other people there. It took 15 minutes for a server to come to us. The drinks were strong but disgusting. Crab stuffed jalapeños were delicious but way too much cream cheese for my liking. The jalapeños were hot and the fried shell was delicious. The fried pickles were good. Standard. The Cajun wings were different but good. Fries were bland. The Louis pasta. Absolutely not. Just a greasy mess. The cornbread felt like it was 3 days old. The music was bumping through.

Always good food and great service. I don't like that there is a cover charge Fridays and Saturdays and I think Sundays. Music is always great as well.

Good music and Bad Food. Occasionally the food is good but then obviously that talent leaves and it goes back to being bad again. Owner always hated Bucky''s for moving in. But the truth is we had been listed as a Deep Ellum Restaurant since 2004. Always wished there would be a mutual respect between competing businesses but it never was so. Se La Vie. I'm off to see the Wizard good luck to you JJ and all of Deep Ellum. Peace and love.

Pretty tasty food and portion sizes, although I think the prices are a tad much by $1-2 (food and drinks). Service was pleasant. The live band is all the reason to keep going back again and again! I appreciate the signage that let's customers know that the is 20% auto-gratuity for all tabs immediately upon entering. While I tend to stay away from establishments that have that rule, I will be back enjoy the bands in such relaxing atmosphere. Pro Tip: bring cash to tip the bands. I dislike the digital menu only option. Enjoy!

Daaaaayum if you love food, you need to come here. Home cooked creole, spicy, fresh seafood, just incredible. I had the pleasure of being invited to this place - i had no idea this was here! What a gem! I had the Louie- with dirty rice, def need to try it. Drinks are good, service is good, they have live music too! Get down here! We came on a Monday too, it was poppin!! Will be back. I could tell why there are lines outside.

My experience at The Free Man was exceptional! My friend me out on a Tuesday night to see the performer; Taylor Morgan. Who was amazing by the way. The crowd was well mixed in ages and faces and the atmosphere was very social and chill. The both of the bar tenders were very friendly and even made us a Green Tea with Jameson (10/10). For food we ordered the fried boudin (10/10) and the Catfish and fries (7/10) overall the experience was something I would definitely do again and recommended to anyone looking for a spot to hit up in Deep Ellum. *entry fee was $10 I believe

The uber driver recommended we check out the Deep Ellum neighborhood, asserting it was lively yet unpretentious. Two guys sitting near the door of Free Man informed us of a $10 cover charge to enter because the venue was hosting a jazz band. My friend was drunk and gave one of the doormen $20 extra dollars by mistake. I confronted him about it but he laughed and said "I don't know what you're talking about." My friend begged me to forget about it as we were celebrating birthdays and only on vacation for a short period of time. Fast forward 1.5 hours, we were still waiting on the food, my friend was crying because she encountered a disrespectful and aggressive guest, and most unfortunately, the drinks were weak. BEWARE of this place. Not only does the customer service suck, but the venue attracts shady clientele.

The bartender Simone was amazing!! She makes the best margaritas. I ordered the blackened shrimp platter it has pork in it so don't get that if you don't eat pork. The live band was a vibe. I will definitely be back!!

My husband and I came here for lunch when it was nice and quiet lol. We had been trying to visit to so long but this place is always packed with live bands. I have always hear great things! My husband is from Louisiana so he real picky when it comes to Cajun food me too being his wife lol. I ordered the Cajun wings and a small cup of gumbo and it was soooo good! We left full and satisfied! Gumbo had just the right amount of spice! Hubby ordered the catfish PoBoy with a side of red beans and finished his plate before I finished then helped me finish mine lol. Service was great! We live down commerce and this was our first time. No complaints here at all! We will definitely be back here!

Cool spot in Deep Ellum! After paying $10 cover fee, and the incorrect (or incomplete?) signage of the band playing, i hung around for the 1st set and ordered food to-go when they took a break. After about 30 minutes, food showed up. I should've checked it, but i didn't. Missing the substitute Red Beans and Rice. This was after i was told by the gentleman i couldn't sub dirty rice, but could order it as a side separately. (I kinda gave up fries a few years ago.) The funny thing was, after he suggested RB&R, it was all i wanted! . I had just come back from NOLA, with a bad experience, and now I'm missing food? The Universe is telling me to eat healthier, i know it! Anyway, that's the minus 2*. 3 appetizers, plus door, plus tip: $65 The food was good! It seemed pricey for the ala carte appetizers i had: Alligator fritters, Boudain balls, and stuffed jalapeno crawfish; but not overly pricey. I support Live Music, and recommend it. The door fee did catch me off guard for a Monday night, but i hadn't hung out in Deep Ellum in YEARS. Check this place out, if you're in the area!

Great Live music and delicious food in a hip Dallas neighborhood! Definitely worth a visit!

Well, We (party of 6) went here to celebrate my sister's 52nd birthday. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to taste the food because we were asked to leave because we had an issue with the horrible manager on duty. we arrived at 5:30 and a band was performing at 7:00. Our plans were to leave just before 7:00. So, All we desired was an explanation as to why we had to pay an additional $10 to listen to a band that we were not going to hear. Any way, the unprofessional manager couldn't give a reasonable explanation and out of frustration he liter told us "Y'all can go. Hit that door"! WHAAAAT? Well, to say the least, it was an easy exit for us. The furniture was raggedy and broken, tables were wobbly, and the floors were dusty and greasy... likely a direct reflection to what's in the kitchen area. No Thanks. We will not go back and will surely tell our family and friends about this TERRIBLE experience.

The atmosphere is so relaxing. I feel like I'm at home, but I'm not. The service is personal even though it's busy. The food is tasty.

We tried four different items today from the best selling menu but unfortunately was disappointed after every bite. The service was very rare and they mostly stood around the whole time without helping anyone. The area has potential to be great but the food all has way to much vinegar and a lack of flavor or connection with customers.

Love the live music line ups and poetry on Sunday! But why is the gumbo so thick and the service so subpar? Friday we had to hunt them down. My friend had to order at the KITCHEN COUNTER. They were chatting with off duty workers. Cool that the off duty workers want to come there while not on the clock--guess they really love their job, but why monopolize staff on duty? (I know this bc I asked during their huddle session while looking for a waiter) Anywho, I like the food at Bucky Moonshine way better. But keep up the great entertainment!

amazing food, and great vibe. Be far one of the best spots in Dallas. And the service was top notch, everything we as mis Phoenix for she delivered

I couldn't ask for better service than I received from Greg. The best of the best... and that's that. Dare if you wish..... you won't be disappointed...

Love the vibe food very good. My waiter (guy with the dreads) was awesome made an out of towner feel very welcomed . Drinks very strong, too strong to enjoy.

Great food, great atmosphere with 2 sides to choose from. Live bands on both sides. $10 entry on most nights tho