I’ve been a loyal customer of Boudreaux’s for many years, and this is honestly the first time I’ve ever had a negative experience. I understand Sundays are busy because of the church crowd, and I also noticed there was a large party ahead of me. I completely understand that delays can happen.
On July 31 at approximately 7:17 PM, I placed a to-go order for fried shrimp with red beans and rice. After waiting about 30 minutes, the young lady who took my order came back and asked me what I had ordered, which immediately made me wonder if my order had somehow been overlooked.
As I continued waiting, I noticed two customers who ordered after me receive their food and leave before I did. At that point, I walked to the counter to ask that my order simply be canceled and refunded. As soon as I approached, I heard the guy who was packaging food and grabbing it from the kitchen window, tell the kitchen they needed my shrimp and red beans and rice. It gave me the impression that my order had not been prepared until I walked up to the counter.
Instead of apologizing for the delay, the employee became defensive and repeatedly told me, “It’s coming right now.” He also stated that everyone had been told there would be a 40-minute wait. That is simply not true in my case. The cashier never informed me of a 40-minute wait when I placed my order. Had I known it would take that long, I would have happily gone somewhere else instead of waiting.
What disappointed me the most wasn’t even the wait—it was the customer service. Mistakes happen, and restaurants get busy. However, a sincere apology and a respectful attitude go a long way. Instead, I felt like I was treated as though I was the problem for asking about an order that had clearly been delayed.
To make matters worse, when I finally got home and ate the meal, the red beans and rice had a noticeable pickle-like taste, almost as if pickle juice was poured into the dish. It wasn’t the flavor I expected from Boudreaux’s. First time eating voyaging balls and noticed it was the size of hush puppies.
I usually order the stuffed catfish or the grilled catfish with vegetables and a topping, and those meals have always been enjoyable. This was my first time trying the fried shrimp with the red beans and rice, and unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed. Between the long wait, the lack of communication, the employee’s attitude, and the disappointing flavor of the side dish, this visit fell well below the standard I’ve come to expect.
I truly hope this was just an off day because I’ve supported Boudreaux’s for years and have always recommended it to others. I hope management takes this feedback seriously by improving communication with customers, addressing service issues, and ensuring the quality of every meal matches the restaurant’s reputation.