New Chicken Chasers at Where Y’at
“With chicken wings being $100 more a case, we found an alternative,” said Courtney Lumpkin, one of the managers at Where Y’at.
Each Chicken Chaser is brined for 48 hours before being dusted in flour and deep-fried. The thighs are served with either Where Y’at White Sauce or Red Pepper Sauce, the restaurant’s twist on Buffalo sauce made with tomatoes and poblano peppers.
Where Y’at Seafood Market is where you can find authentic New Orleans cooking and flavor at its best without going to Louisiana. With cuisine ranging from beignets to Boudin balls, the family-owned market and restaurant is at 4233 Highway 87, five and a half miles north of Navarre Parkway on the west side.
Where Y’at now has a bar inside the restaurant, where you can get beer and wine. Another addition is the large covered outdoor area that can be used for parties and live music. If you are interested in having a party, event or wedding rehearsal dinner at the new event space, call 833-332-8328 and press option 4 for catering. Stay tuned to the restaurant’s Facebook for their upcoming events and live music.
The Hampton family was visiting Navarre last week from Illinois and made sure they stopped at Where Y’at. It wasn’t their first time and won’t be their last.
“This place is awesome, so awesome that we look for it every time we visit,” said Phil Hampton.
Cassandra Hampton said they try to get their shrimp boil to taste like Where Y’at back home, but they just can’t replicate it.
“It’s our favorite place in Navarre,” she said.
Crawfish season is over, but Where Y’at is still serving crawfish hot and ready, imported straight from Louisiana. They are one of the only places on the Gulf Coast that is still serving crawfish.
Originally from New Orleans, owner T-Paul Ruiz is a 26-year veteran of the United States Air Force who retired as a Chief Master Sergeant. He values both military personnel and Cajun food.
Ruiz noted that he offers a free meal to anyone coming back from a deployment and will throw a party for a group coming back from a deployment.
He grew up in New Orleans, where he learned to cook at an early age.
It is definitely a family affair, says Ruiz. His stepsons, Courtney and Will Lumpkin, handle the day-to-day operations of the business, which features a seafood market and a restaurant with an outside covered eating area.
Plenty of fresh seafood items are available in the market including snapper and grouper as well as other popular fish caught locally in the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll also find lobster and shrimp in the market.
“As the weather starts to cool down, we will start smoking mullet on Saturdays in the fall,” Ruiz said.
In addition, Where Y’at offers catering for anyone in need of some delicious Cajun cuisine in bulk for crawfish or shrimp boils.
“Catering is really taking off,” Ruiz added. “We’ve been catering weddings, birthday parties and retirements, too.”
Ruiz plans to expand his hours to 9 p.m. on the weekend.
Where Y’at is hiring and always looking for hard-working employees who are motivated and energetic. It’s the place to be for the best in New Orleans style cooking right here in Navarre.
Where Y’at Seafood Market & Restaurant
4233 Highway 87, Navarre, FL 32566
(833) 332-8328
www.whereyatseafood.com
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Monday and Tuesday