CreoLa Bistro 344 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070

"Southern comfort food. Buttery fresh corn muffin. Fluffy and airy beignets. Fried chicken was flavorful, and blackened chicken was made with the right amount of spices."

"Love this place! My friend picked the place, but it turned out this place was just exceptional. Beautiful decoration, great fresh ready foods, and excellent services. Dog friendly! Even got served fresh with ice for my dog. I should come back again on another occasion."

"In the realm of Cajun delights, this place reigns, A chic eatery with a spicy charm. Their Chicken Jambalaya, like a fire, Ignites the palate with each vibrant bite. The hush puppies, divine with golden hue, Crunchy on the outside, tender within. Their taste, a dance of flavors, rich and bold, A symphony that makes the senses sing. And lo, the Fried Chicken, a true delight, Crackling crust encasing tender meat. Juices release, a burst of savory bliss, This culinary masterpiece complete. The ambiance, an elegant affair, With rustic touches, warm and inviting. A haven where Cajun spirits take flight, Creating memories truly exciting. So, if you seek Cajun wonders untamed, This restaurant is where you ought to be. Indulge in jambalaya, hush puppies too, And savor fried chicken, a jubilee."

"The restaurant is calm and pretty. The music invites you to stay a while, and there is a lot of pleasant sunlight in the early evening. I did the restaurant week menu, which had four courses with nice variety and generous portions. The corn hush puppies were crispy on the outside and slightly sweet with a mayonnaise-based sauce - they were a little too dense compared to light and fluffy fritters I have had in the past. It almost felt wrong to be eating them with a fork and knife on a nice plate because they’re typically served in such casual settings. The pear salad was refreshing but fell short for a few reasons. It’s always a pleasure to have butter lettuce, but this was cut quite largely so it was hard to eat. The lavender vinaigrette was not at all floral and I couldn’t find any lavender. But the toppings are what I found most disappointing. The pecans seemed like they had be in the fridge a long time - chewy and kind of wet - not toasted as described. And the pears were cold, which was kind of sad because roasted pears are so delightful when they are warm. Their thyme flavor was very strong, so it almost tasted like anise. The fried chicken was lovely and great with their hot sauce (definitely ask for it!) It was hot, crispy, and tender, perfectly cooked. The green beans were flavorful and not overdone like many southern places, with a healthy amount of garlic. And the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy. The cornbread was a little bland - serving it with butter and spiced honey would have been awesome. I did not really like the bread pudding because it was so eggy it was like a sweet quiche. It didn’t really let the bread shine, and lacked the spices and buttery richness that good bread puddings have. The white chocolate sauce was very one dimensional - none of the delicious toffee, brandy or chocolate flavors that typically pair so well with a warm, rich pudding. I wish I had stuck with my gut for the beignets - part of me wanted to ask for the salted caramel sauce from the doughnuts to try on the pudding to add some complexity. Parking was confusing - out front is limited to an hour, and the lot surrounding the restaurant is all reserved for the place next door with intimidating tow away signs. I sat at the bar, which I do not really recommend - there isn’t a lot of room, the kitchen isn’t much to look at, the staff talk loudly, and the order receipt printers in the kitchen are noisy which disrupted the smooth jazz vibe. The waiter was attentive but seemed a little bored, and had no helpful context or guidance when I asked him about the food - for example, he said the catfish and the chicken are both good, but the catfish is seafood and that the chicken is chicken. I would go back to try some of the other Southern classics - it can be hard to find an oyster po boy around here - or if I wanted really satisfying food in a pleasant atmosphere with friends."

"Such a warm and welcoming place to dine with friends or family. The interior has a very cozy feel especially during the holidays because you can find Christmas trees decorated and placed at different parts of the intimate dining area. We enjoyed our experience so much that we chatted away until we were the last ones left in the restaurant! Everything we ordered in the menu was delicious including the French 75 champagne cocktail. My personal favorite was the Shrimp Creola entree and the oyster’s appetizer *chef’s kiss*. The hosts were very kind and funny too, thank you for making our dinner a very memorable one!"