In a seafood mood? Then look no further. At Pappadeaux's outlet in Arlington Heights (not far from Ikea’s Schaumburg location, hungry shoppers!) you can watch your fish or your lobster being cooked, fried, battered — everything short of pulled from the ocean. The kitchen is an island in the middle of the restaurant, surrounded by dining rooms and a couple sportsmen's taverns that are decked out with deer antlers and framed black & white pictures of prized catches.

Your seafood is flown in fresh from the Gulf Coast on the same day you eat it. Start off with a dozen pieces of shrimp cocktail for $10, or dive right into the oysters for $12. Feel like eating a reptile? The crispy fried alligator in Creole dipping sauce is yours for $12.45. Or chop down on the pan-seared frog legs cooked in spicy garlic butter, tomato and herbs for $9. If it's still chilly outside, order a bowl of the gumbo (shrimp, seafood, sausage, crawfish or lobster) for $9.

For your main course, the fried seafood dishes (shrimp, oysters, crab, chicken, crawfish or catfish) run between $15 and $20 for a large portion. And the Cajun menu goes on and on. Laissez les bon temps rouler! Or if you'd rather dine down under, combine the filet mignon & Australian lobster tail for $50.

Average cost: $21-$30

Centerstage Reviewer: Jacob Wheeler