We had an absolutely incredible experience at The Bayou Kitchen. If you’re looking for authentic flavors and generous portions, this is the spot.
What we ordered:
Chicken Wings: Fried to perfection—super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Lobster Mac n Cheese: This was the star of the show. It was incredibly creamy and loaded with generous chunks of lobster and shrimp.
Bourbon Street Fried Rice: Packed with flavor and had just the right amount of spicy kick to keep things interesting.
The Highlights:
Presentation: Every dish was elegantly plated; you can tell the kitchen takes real pride in their work.
Portion Sizes: Huge! You definitely get your money's worth here.
Vibe: Great atmosphere that matches the quality of the food.
We loved every bite and will definitely be back for more soon. Highly recommended!
Derese
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February 19, 2026
When we first sat down, I wasn’t too sure about our server and bartender Terrence— he seemed a bit perturbed at first and only took our water order. But then I realized he was managing the bar area, greeting guests at the door, and handling multiple tables at once. Thankfully, someone came to assist him, and once things settled, the service flowed much more smoothly.
My friend and I have met in Sanford a few times but had never tried The Bayou before — I’m so glad we finally did! Since it’s Mardi Gras season, I couldn’t resist ordering a classic Hurricane, and it did not disappoint. For my meal, I had the red beans and rice and the chicken with rice — both were perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. My friend ordered the brisket sandwich, and we also took to-go orders of the jumbo shrimp and shrimp and grits. I can’t wait to hear what they thought of those dishes!
Overall, everything I had was delicious and tasted authentic. I’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of their Mardi Gras-inspired menu!
Daniel Fuqua
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November 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A TRUE NEW ORLEANS EXPERIENCE — FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY
We had an absolutely amazing experience at The Bayou Kitchen & Lounge! Everything from the service to the food presentation to the incredible flavors made this a standout dining experience.
We started with the Voodoo Balls, NOLA Baby Oysters, and Down South Oysters — and each one was unbelievable. The oysters were fresh, buttery, and seasoned perfectly, and the Voodoo Balls had the perfect mix of spice and flavor with that signature Who Dat sauce. Easily some of the best appetizers we’ve ever had.
For entrées, I ordered the Bourbon Street Fried Rice, and it was phenomenal — packed with flavor, loaded with meat and seafood, and cooked to perfection. My wife had the Lake Pontchartrain with Salmon, and it was rich, savory, and absolutely delicious. The seasoning, the sauce, the portion size… everything was spot-on.
To finish the meal, the beignets were the perfect sweet ending — warm, fluffy, and covered in powdered sugar like true New Orleans tradition.
I believe they recently opened, so the restaurant isn’t yet saturated with New Orleans-themed décor — but honestly, who cares? The music playing through the speakers fit the vibe perfectly, the service was great, and the FOOD pushed our rating over 5 stars!
Highly recommend — we’ll definitely be back!
Cassandra
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December 31, 2025
Anyone who loves nola/ southern food has to come here. The patrons were friendly, the staff was spectacular. T was an amazing bartender who always had a smile on his face. The decor here is simple but lovely.
We ended up getting the shrimp and grits blackened and the shrimp po boy, also blackened. The first thing we shared was the gumbo and by god, it was as delicious as my grandmothers. The po boy was fully dressed and absolutely scrumptious, 10/10. Same for shrimp and grits. Delicious from start to finish. Thanks for the wonderful dinner!
Marco Solano II
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January 21, 2026
It’s been long over due for me to come here. I’m disappointed it took so long but I’m happy I got to eat the food today. Everything was amazing! All the pictures are labeled correct. Our server was T.Hill who was very welcoming. This place is 10 times better than Tibby’s. No offense to Tibby’s. If you like Cajun food then I highly recommend to come here and try it. Open 7 days a week. The prices for drinks are at a good price compared to other places here in Sanford.
We had an absolutely incredible experience at The Bayou Kitchen. If you’re looking for authentic flavors and generous portions, this is the spot. What we ordered: Chicken Wings: Fried to perfection—super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Lobster Mac n Cheese: This was the star of the show. It was incredibly creamy and loaded with generous chunks of lobster and shrimp. Bourbon Street Fried Rice: Packed with flavor and had just the right amount of spicy kick to keep things interesting. The Highlights: Presentation: Every dish was elegantly plated; you can tell the kitchen takes real pride in their work. Portion Sizes: Huge! You definitely get your money's worth here. Vibe: Great atmosphere that matches the quality of the food. We loved every bite and will definitely be back for more soon. Highly recommended!
When we first sat down, I wasn’t too sure about our server and bartender Terrence— he seemed a bit perturbed at first and only took our water order. But then I realized he was managing the bar area, greeting guests at the door, and handling multiple tables at once. Thankfully, someone came to assist him, and once things settled, the service flowed much more smoothly. My friend and I have met in Sanford a few times but had never tried The Bayou before — I’m so glad we finally did! Since it’s Mardi Gras season, I couldn’t resist ordering a classic Hurricane, and it did not disappoint. For my meal, I had the red beans and rice and the chicken with rice — both were perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. My friend ordered the brisket sandwich, and we also took to-go orders of the jumbo shrimp and shrimp and grits. I can’t wait to hear what they thought of those dishes! Overall, everything I had was delicious and tasted authentic. I’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of their Mardi Gras-inspired menu!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A TRUE NEW ORLEANS EXPERIENCE — FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY We had an absolutely amazing experience at The Bayou Kitchen & Lounge! Everything from the service to the food presentation to the incredible flavors made this a standout dining experience. We started with the Voodoo Balls, NOLA Baby Oysters, and Down South Oysters — and each one was unbelievable. The oysters were fresh, buttery, and seasoned perfectly, and the Voodoo Balls had the perfect mix of spice and flavor with that signature Who Dat sauce. Easily some of the best appetizers we’ve ever had. For entrées, I ordered the Bourbon Street Fried Rice, and it was phenomenal — packed with flavor, loaded with meat and seafood, and cooked to perfection. My wife had the Lake Pontchartrain with Salmon, and it was rich, savory, and absolutely delicious. The seasoning, the sauce, the portion size… everything was spot-on. To finish the meal, the beignets were the perfect sweet ending — warm, fluffy, and covered in powdered sugar like true New Orleans tradition. I believe they recently opened, so the restaurant isn’t yet saturated with New Orleans-themed décor — but honestly, who cares? The music playing through the speakers fit the vibe perfectly, the service was great, and the FOOD pushed our rating over 5 stars! Highly recommend — we’ll definitely be back!
Anyone who loves nola/ southern food has to come here. The patrons were friendly, the staff was spectacular. T was an amazing bartender who always had a smile on his face. The decor here is simple but lovely. We ended up getting the shrimp and grits blackened and the shrimp po boy, also blackened. The first thing we shared was the gumbo and by god, it was as delicious as my grandmothers. The po boy was fully dressed and absolutely scrumptious, 10/10. Same for shrimp and grits. Delicious from start to finish. Thanks for the wonderful dinner!
It’s been long over due for me to come here. I’m disappointed it took so long but I’m happy I got to eat the food today. Everything was amazing! All the pictures are labeled correct. Our server was T.Hill who was very welcoming. This place is 10 times better than Tibby’s. No offense to Tibby’s. If you like Cajun food then I highly recommend to come here and try it. Open 7 days a week. The prices for drinks are at a good price compared to other places here in Sanford.