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BAYOU BISTRO
1801 W. Pinhook Road, in Hotel Acadiana, Lafayette (Map) - 233-8120
Daily: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Settle into the intimate dining room at Bayou Bistro. Nibble on the crisp eggplant fries for a starter, followed by a New Orleans-style grilled shrimp. For dessert, choose among a chocolate molten cake, pecan pie, cheesecake and strawberry shortcake.
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CAFÉ VERMILIONVILLE
www.cafev.com
1304 W. Pinhook Road, Lafayette (Map) - 237-0100
Monday-Friday: Lunch and Dinner; Saturday: Dinner
One of Lafayette’s oldest buildings, a 19th-century inn, houses one of Lafayette’s finest restaurants. Its premier kitchen staff changes the menu seasonally to offer the freshest options. Every Wednesday evening in the spring and fall, enjoy the Courtyard Series where specialty small plates, appetizers and cocktails are offered. The tiny bar is intimate and superb and leads out to a wonderful back patio to sit and dine or simply have a scotch.
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CHARLEY G’S SEAFOOD GRILL
www.charleygs.com
3809 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette (Map) - 981-0108
Monday-Friday: Lunch and Dinner; Saturday: Dinner
Charley G’s menu evolves with the seasons. The crab cakes are delectable. The smoked duck and andouille gumbo has been on Charley G’s menu since the restaurant opened in 1985, with good reason. Try the famous white chocolate bread pudding, which melts in your mouth. Make sure to ask about the monthly specialty dinners this place throws that require special reservations — they are themed and usually partner with a wine or spirits merchant in town for a roundedly epicurean experience.
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FRENCH PRESS
www.thefrenchpresslafayette.com
214 E. Vermilion St., Lafayette (Map) - 233-9449
Tuesday-Sunday: Breakfast and Lunch; Friday and Saturday: Dinner
Breakfast when you really need it, about 11 a.m., is one calling card of the French Press. The daytime menu is filled with rich options, including the Sweet Baby Breesus, which sandwiches bacon and boudin balls in buttermilk biscuits, or opt for the French toast, which sandwiches banana cream cheese and is topped with berry-champagne compote — and ice cream, if you’d like. Be prepared to wait awhile for a table on weekend mornings, but a mimosa in hand makes that a little easier. Weekend nights, the white tablecloths come out and chef/owner Justin Girouard pulls out all the stops with some of the most innovative cooking in town. Check the restaurant’s website for the weekend dinner menu, which two-time James Beard Award nominee Girouard plans his meals around what’s freshest from the farms and waters of Louisiana.
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iMONELLI RESTAURANT
4017 Johnston St., Lafayette (Map) - 989-9291
Tuesday-Friday: Lunch; Dinner Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
iMonelli’s menu changes depending on what’s freshest. Fried soft shell crabs are a local fave. Go for the poached halibut in a garlic and herb butter sauce topped with lump crabmeat. IMonelli is the spot for Italian classics such as osso bucco, or deeply warming dishes like beef tenderloin that can come unstuffed or stuffed with Italian cheese and seafood stuffing finished in a veal reduction cognac cream sauce. Friday nights, bluesman Walter Jr. entertains in the back room; it’s a great place for an intimate supper — what Walter would call rhythm and roux.
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JOLIE’S LOUISIANA BISTRO
www.jolieslouisianabistro.com
507 W. Pinhook Road, Lafayette (Map) - 504-2382
Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch and Dinner; Sunday: Brunch
This bistro’s devotion to procuring locally sourced goods, from honey to fish to chicken to eggs, cannot be denied: the menu has two sides, one with what foods are offered and the flip side has every local purveyor listed so you can know not just how your food is prepared when you choose it, but where it comes from. The Zapp’s Crawtator-crusted drum is a sure bet, but if you’re feeling a little adventurous, go for the roasted bone marrow that comes out still in the bone. The pork chop is legendary, and it comes with the sweet potato and andouille hash, which is to die for.
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MAZEN’S RESTAURANT
www.mazens.com
5818 Johnston St., Lafayette (Map) - 769-4440
Monday-Saturday: Dinner
Continental cuisine meets Mediterranean specialties. French stars such as a delicate crepe filled with creamy lump crabmeat, herb crusted seared tuna and fried asparagus, and Lebanese nibbles hummus and kibbe all are offered as starters. On any given day, one fresh fish will stand in for every treatment on the menu — sautéed, grilled or toasted, and then offered with a variety of sauces. Mazen’s steaks follow the same principle; sauce choices are wine reductions or hollandaise along with a generous topping of lump crabmeat. Steak Fenstermaker is a 14 oz. bone-in filet grilled and served with their homemade seasoning with a fresh squeeze of lemon. Don’t skip the hot dessert soufflés, pistachio, chocolate or Grand Marnier, made to order, (don’t forget to ask for them when you order your entree).
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MR. LESTER’S STEAKHOUSE
www.cypressbayou.com
832 Martin Luther King Road, Charenton (Map) - 923-7408
Wednesday-Saturday: Dinner
It’s a testament to the intimate environment, excellent service, lavish portions, fresh-baked artisan breads and an extensive wine list, as well as the prime beef, that has folks driving more than an hour down to Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton to eat at Mr. Lester’s. Aged prime rib Fridays and Saturdays, filets, porterhouse steaks and a chateaubriand for two can be pepper-crusted and all are grilled to temperature, ensuring the proper degree of doneness for each steak. The wine list is equally exacting.
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NASH’S RESTAURANT
www.nashsrestaurant.com
101 E. Second St., Broussard (Map) - 839-9333
Monday-Friday: Lunch and Dinner; Saturday: Dinner
Nash’s is a step back in time: The restaurant is located in a 19th-century mansion in Broussard, and the dishes are flashbacks of old-style Italian cooking. The veal and spinach cannelloni is a local fave as is the signature Veal Orleans, baby veal topped by jumbo lump crabmeat in a cream sauce. Don’t miss the unctuous shrimp and spinach lasagne. Nash’s stands by its steaks; a house recommendation is the Pepper Steak, a New York strip, grilled and served with a demi glace.
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PAMPLONA TAPAS BAR
www.pamplonatapas.com
631 Jefferson St., Lafayette (Map) - 232-0070
Tuesday-Friday: Lunch and Dinner; Saturday: Dinner
Hemingway, bullfights and flamenco dancing. Stepping through the door at Pamplona is like crossing a magic portal transporting you to Spain. The food is served tapas style, on small plates that give a diner the opportunity to taste many dishes. The beef carpaccio salad is not to be missed, nor is the award-winning paella — or the duck fat fries, for that matter. There is a $9.95 lunch special during the week, which changes daily. A terrific range of Spanish wines dominates the vino offerings, and innovative cocktails, including an Absinthe collection, are house specialities. And for heaven’s sake, try the sangria.
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RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE
www.ruthschris.com
620 W. Pinhook Road, Lafayette (Map) - 237-6123
Daily: Dinner; Friday: Lunch
The bar is discretely dark and has comfy armchairs, best for deep conversations and icy martinis. Start with another kind of martini — lump Crabtini in an up glass, or the Asian seared ahi tuna. Its steaks are like butta, of course, served sizzling hot straight from the broiler and begging for a big California cab from Ruth’s Chris’ superb wine list. Sides include creamy potatoes au gratin, asparagus with hollandaise, and creamed spinach. Desserts are just as classic, like the creme brulée or white chocolate bread pudding. Ruth’s Chris has also changed to a seasonal menu to better reflect what is freshest in Louisiana. Stop by for happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday with select cocktails and appetizers for $7.
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STEAMBOAT WAREHOUSE
www.steamboatwarehouse.com
525 N. Main St., Washington (Map) - 826-7227
Tuesday-Saturday: Dinner; Sunday: Lunch
The town of Washington, settled in 1720, is a quick and pleasant drive from the Hub City. The restaurant has been around since 1977 after being restored from the riverboat warehouse it once was and overlooks Bayou Courtableau. Chef and owner Jason Huguet has a traditional menu with lots of flair and flavor. The setting is gorgeous with the restaurant opening up to a large patio that spills toward the river. There are cottages to rent nearby, making it ideal for receptions.
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VILLAGE CAFÉ
www.villagecafelafayette.com
1 DeGaulle Square, Lafayette (Map) - 981-8085
Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch and Dinner, Sunday: Brunch
Lunch appeals to all types of people, from those looking for a quick lunch before going back to work, to those looking to chat over a glass of wine. Enjoy options from an eclectic menu such as the housemade bacon-topped meatloaf to the delicious Reuben. On the dinner menu, look for appetizers like pan-seared foie gras or the crowd favorite barbecue shrimp. Entrées change seasonally, so look for fresh local fish dishes, and beautiful steaks like an 8 oz. filet or newly added Lamb Ribeye. The walls are lined with bottles of wine, an indicator of Village Café’s Premier Standing with the largest wine list in Lafayette. Be sure to try a wine paired by Sommelier Ben Leger to go with your delicious food from Chef Jeremy Conner.
