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If you’re looking for some amazing Louisiana eats, then Lafayette is the place to be! This charming town and the surrounding area are home to some of the best restaurants in the state. From Cajun cuisine to seafood, there’s something for everyone here. Today, we’ll share our favorite places to eat in the Lafayette area. So put on your stretchy pants and get ready to indulge!
The Holy Trinity
Classic Louisiana cooking pretty much starts with the perfect blend of bell pepper, onions, and celery. It is used as a base for jambalaya, gumbo, dirty rice, and various other Cajun dishes.
Now, here is the thing: I am allergic to bell peppers.
(sigh)
It is one of those strange allergies I grew into as I got older, and actually have to carry an EPI-Pen around as my throat actually starts to close.
Eek!
I LOVE bell peppers and going to Lafayette just killed me knowing I would be pretty much limited to benights and white rice…
I was never so happy to be wrong, LOL! Let me share the 7 Louisiana Eats You’ll Love as much as I did.
1) Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant
I love repurposed buildings and reclaimed gems. This 1939 gas station, turned James Beard winner for Restaurant Design, was a delightful surprise. From Craft Cocktails to classic shareables that had their own unique spin, this place was a treat.
The glass garage door that still opens and the beautiful patio helped them survive the COVID era, along with the staff turning into delivery drivers – they staged their reopening to keep their staff both healthy and happy.
Part owner, Chef Jeremy, is resourceful and innovative as inflation hits – they like to cap prices at around $25 for their customers, and they locally source as much as they can. Just think of all that great seafood: shrimp, Gulf tuna, and more!
My favorite thing? They have postcards that you fill out, and they mail them out for you! I may or may not have told my husband back home, “I ate here. Be jealous. Very Jealous,” on my postcard, which earned a snicker from the other owner, Stephen.
What I tried:
Awesome Rolls ($10): Ginger Gulf shrimp and shredded mojo pork with pickled vegetables in crispy spring rolls served with Awesome Sauce. These were amazing…and crispy to perfection. That sauce is what really takes them over the top.
Loaded Fries ($12) Shredded mojo pork, melty cheddar, pico de gallo, avocado crema, and red dragon sauce over house-cut fries. Think nachos but better. This was a finger-licking treat, and I think I am now addicted to avocado crema.
Artichoke Dip ($9): Roasted Garlic, Brie, and Artichoke Dip. Baked and served with spicy ranch crackers. I have never had Brie in my artichoke dip before, and it was a subtle difference. I am now unsure if I liked it better than my recipe or not, but I do think the crackers were a little too “much” for going along with it. They overpowered the dip.
Crab Quesadilla ($14): Flour tortilla packed with Louisiana blue crab claw meat, herbs, and a creamy blend of cheeses, served with roasted tomato sour cream. Holy heaven, was this amazing. It was decadently rich with well-balanced flavors.
This is the perfect place for getting together with friends for drinks on the patio and appetizers…I may have quality control tested a few cocktails for you…
900 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, LA – (337) 534-0585
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2) Acadian Superette
I have come across people of all backgrounds when eating my way through restaurants, but this was my first foray into a place that was owned by a doctor who thinks about food 24/7. He went to college there and wanted to own a smokehouse in his own neighborhood.
This unassuming, concrete-floored treasure uses a blend of aged oak and pecan wood to create some of the tastiest BBQ that I have wrapped my lips around. They expertly helped me navigate what sides I could or could not have with my allergy.
What I tried:
I settled on a smoked sausage plate with coleslaw, sweet potatoes, and Texas toast. ($12) The heat of each bite that slowly creeps up on the back of your throat is countered by the sweet potatoes and toasted Texas toast…it was amazing and more than I could eat.
One of our friends was a vegetarian and got a grilled vegetable platter. Lucky for us, she shared – they were amazing!
600 Lamar St, Lafayette, LA – (337) 534-4406
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3) Bordens Ice Cream Shoppe
What kind of a Wisconsinite would I be if I had never heard of Borden’s? I was surprised to find out that there was actually a Borden Ice Cream Shoppe still in existence!
Since 2009, the Lerille family has run this location that originally opened in 1940.
Multiple flavors. Multiple combinations. Multiple reasons to return.
What I tried:
A banana and pineapple sundae over chocolate ice cream. It was huge and I couldn’t finish it, but it was drool-worthy.
1103 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA – 337-235-9291
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4) Ruffino’s on the River
This one is a fancy find where you want to dress up a bit, but it is beyond worth it! With a staff that works like a well-oiled machine, you are in for an incredible dining experience. Your sommelier can create craft cocktails or mocktails on the fly or pair your nibbles with the most amazing beverage. Your server smoothly glides you through the selection of chicken or beef, helping you really figure out what you are hungry for that night – even if they tempt you with mouthwateringly described specials.
What I tried:
We went for an appetizer variety to start off with –
Crabmeat Cheesecake (16) Blue crabmeat, Italian cheeses, Creole meunière sauce, hollandaise. This was the star of the show – it was presented like its sweet counterparts and something we almost battled over. They mastered this recipe to perfection. Creamy, flavorful, and simply elegant. I rolled my eyes back up into my head.
Braised Pork Cheeks (14) 48-hr. braised pork cheeks, Benton’s bacon jam, pork jus, butternut squash purée. These were good. I really think the bacon jam and butternut squash purée took this to the level of amazing.
BBQ Shrimp (16) Jumbo Gulf shrimp, garlic, black pepper, rosemary, creamy butter sauce, creamy polenta. This was my second favorite – the polenta needed to be scooped up with each bite to really get the perfection of the flavor blending for this. I would eat this as an entree easily!
Duck Fingers (15) Crispy fried duck fingers with roasted garlic cream sauce. Skip these. There are simply so many other better choices than glorified chicken fingers that are slightly dry.
For the entree, I went with a Classic 8 oz fillet (41), cut in-house, herb butter, and mashed potatoes. Beautifully cooked and nicely presented, it was a simple choice after the decadent appetizer selection.
For desserts, we went after a selection to share – tiramisu and their bread pudding…but they brought out blue cotton candy with the check. It apparently is their signature schtick, and the 5-year-old in me was delighted.
Honestly? I would skip on dessert, double up on appetizers, and have a second cocktail if I were you. I loved my drink – it was one of their Halloween concoctions called Haunted Orchard ($10) and had Bayou spiced rum, lemon juice, apple juice, and brown sugar simple syrup.
921 Camellia Blvd, Lafayette, LA – (337) 706-7333
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5) DDees Cafe
Have you ever walked into a place and instantly felt like you were a guest in someone’s house? Upon entering, I was greeted with a hearty “welcome” from Momma and immersed in a cozy luxury that was created with an eclectic mix of elegance. From family to religion gracing the walls, you get a feel for DDee’s personality as you sit under a crystal chandelier and wrap your hands around a cup of incredible coffee.
Normally, they are open only for lunch and have a selection of plate lunch specials, but we were treated to a private breakfast.
Details – it is all in the details at DDee’s, down to the lace doilies on the chargers. We had a fresh fruit salad topped with granola for a dichotomy of textures, fresh boudin, and an egg bake.
–> Here is the funny thing… There was a pan of croissants and sausage gravy for a fancy twist on biscuits and gravy. My companions were commenting on how creamy her grits were and what a unique flavor they had. I know I’m not really a southern gal, but I know biscuit gravy when I see it, down to its slightly peppery kick.
😉
Come to DDee’s as a customer, leave as a friend.
207 Landry Street, Sunset, LA – (337) 347-2161
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6) The Little Big Cup
Just picture yourself in a little area of heaven, and you are in the correct place. Seriously, request the outdoor seating on the lower deck if at all possible. I could hear the slight hum of the six ceiling fans attached to the lattice roof, which was dotted with fresh greenery as we sat next to the slowly meandering river. The sun kissed us gently through the few spaces that the leaves allowed, and we were surrounded by the smell of YUM.
What I tried:
Praline Chicken Appetizer ($8) Fried Chicken bites tossed in a Praline Sauce with Toasted Pecans. If you get nothing else here but this, you will die happy. The secret is in the sauce, but this was an eye-roller up in your head moment.
Pork Cracklin’ Dusted Mac n Cheese Balls ($9) served with a Spicy Ranch. the heat of the mac and cheese balls surprised me, but that spicy bite was countered beautifully by the sauce.
Cracklin Dusted Mac N Cheese Burger ($17) Deep Fried Mac n Cheese buns dusted in fried Hog Cracklins with 100% Beef, flame-grilled Burger patty, Garlic Mayo, Green Leaf Lettuce, Tomatoes & Bacon served with Onion Fries.
–>This just floored me. I didn’t expect the buns to be basically larger versions of the Mac n Cheese balls, despite the menu description. There was no way to pick this up and eat it; it was totally a fork-and-knife task. Seriously, this was huge and something you could share with a friend.
Pro Tip: They are pet-friendly and allow your furry friend on the outdoor patio.
149 Fuselier Road, Arnaudville, LA – (337) 754-7147
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7) Acadiana Kitchen and Grill
Yes, I am talking about the restaurant at the Lafayette airport. It isn’t difficult to find, as it is the only one. Don’t be distracted by the cold case in front of the counter, but actually ask for a menu to order off of.
What I tried:
Shrimp and Grit Bowl ($15): Cheesy yellow corn grits, topped with BBQ Gulf shrimp and garnished with bacon crumbles and scallions. I could have lived without the scallions, but this was so amazing that I had to try to recreate a version of it at home – my version of an Instant Pot Shrimp and Grits will soon be featured along with my other recipes on GoRVing.com
Lafayette Regional Airport, 200 Terminal Drive, Lafayette, LA – (337) 232-0520
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Honorable Mention: Cupid’s Daiquiris
OK – this wasn’t food but a drive-through daiquiri place. Shut. The. Front. Door. !!!!!
You order your beverage of choice as simply as going through a McDonald’s drive-through and picking up your styrofoam cup of chosen concoction after you pay.
Pro Tip: Skip the large, a medium is more than enough.
109 Louisiana Ave, Lafayette, LA – Phone: (337) 706-8976
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Final Thoughts:
Yes, I have a food allergy, but the possibilities were almost endless. The area of Lafayette, Louisiana, has some of the best eats I have had in a long time, and I am so glad that I got to experience it. From family-owned restaurants to airport grills, there is no lack of amazing places with incredible dishes. Add these seven spots to your must-try list when you visit Lafayette, and you won’t be disappointed. Bon Appetit!
