Listed in alphabetical order, here are nine of the best places to get something to eat in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Thank you to Travel Lafayette for hosting many of these meals; I also purchased others on my own.
Table of Contents
Acadian Superette
As the oak and pecan-fired smoke swirls around Don Green, he attends to cooking the brisket in the custom-built brick smoker out back, off the patio. As the pitmaster at Acadian Superette, he relies solely on sight and feel, without the aid of thermometers, while tending the meat during the eight- to 10-hour process. Trusting the process and believing that it will all work out is key to some of the best barbecue in Lafayette.
Located in the Freetown neighborhood, a local neighborhood eatery offers smoked meats and boudin made on the premises. I had a hard time deciding what to order, and ended up ordering the shrimp po’boy because I still hadn’t had one this trip, and after all, I was in Louisiana. I ordered it with fresh, hand-cut fries and corn maque choux, with bits of house-smoked bacon. Choosing was difficult. While I wasn’t disappointed, a dining companion was raving about the brisket sandwich, so I was a bit envious. Everything on the menu here was good, but if you are visiting Lafayette and not a local, choose something from the smoker. Locals will have more opportunities for return visits.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Since they’re only open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, consider buying some meat by the pound to take home and enjoy it for dinner.
Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe
After a lunch of smoked meat, ice cream is the perfect foil. Whether in a cone, shake, or sundae, the creamy treat is ideal after a trip to the Acadian Superette. You’ll find the last retail Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe operating in the world, just down the street. The shop opened in 1940, with the slogan, “If it’s Borden’s, it’s got to be good!” Stand in line, which may be quite long on a summer’s evening, order, then sit and enjoy your treat at the counter or one of the booths. With tin ceilings and tiled floors, this reminds me of the “good old days.”
Piper’s Pro Planning: If you’re coming to Borden’s and haven’t eaten lunch or dinner first, you can order a simple meal of hot dogs, a bowl of chili, or nachos before getting to what you really came for – the ice cream.
If you’re traveling in southern Louisiana, you may want to plan a special dinner at Maison Madeleine in Breaux Bridge.
Don’s Seafood
Don’s Seafood has a laser-sharp focus on the seafood, of course. However, they’re also renowned for their specialty craft cocktails and exceptional bar environment. The family-friendly atmosphere, with its exposed brick, is slightly upscale, yet casual.
As an appetizer, I shared the Zydeco shrimp, which were breaded deep-fried shrimp coated in a pepper jelly glaze and served over cabbage slaw. Then, if that wasn’t enough, I went for the grilled shrimp tacos. In this dish, each flour tortilla contained a half-dozen grilled shrimp, avocado ranch slaw, onions, and cilantro. The tacos came with Cajun chargrilled corn.
A local favorite is the Gulf oysters on the half shell, charbroiled with garlic butter and Romano cheese. They also serve a hearty portion of broiled shrimp.
While you won’t find crawfish pie on the menu, it is a good time to try the crawfish étouffée.
Piper’s Pro Planning: If gathering the entire family is difficult, Family Boxes are available for curbside pickup. Also, if you need to serve a crowd, consider one of their party trays as a catering option.
Dwyer’s Café
Dwyer’s Café is a classic downtown Lafayette “plate lunch” institution known for its old-school, homestyle Cajun-Southern cooking. It’s less about being trendy and more about being the downtown spot where locals have gathered for affordable, hearty meals since 1927. The classic plate lunch included meat and two sides served at the counter, where you could choose whatever looked good. The five to six entrees and almost a dozen sides rotate daily, with Friday’s leaning more toward seafood. Check their Facebook page for their daily plate lunch menu.
Our group met here for breakfast, where we ordered hearty American breakfasts with a Cajun twist, like crab Benedict, a shrimp or boudin omelet, or shrimp and grits. I ordered sweet potato pancakes with bacon and a side of fruit. The sweet potatoes took typical pancakes to a whole new level.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.
Laura’s II Café
Lafayette’s soul-food scene revolves around Madonna Broussard’s kitchen, a third-generation chef and owner of Laura’s II Café. Her grandmother, Laura Williams Broussard, opened the original restaurant in 1968, serving hearty portions of rice, gravy, and love. Madonna, a James Beard semifinalist for the Best Chef in the South, continues this tradition, one stuffed turkey wing at a time. She seasons, stirs, and tastes with passion, making this one of the best restaurants in Lafayette.
The casual café, located on the University corridor near downtown, features an exposed-brick interior. It’s only open for lunch, serving Creole Soul food, in plate lunches, served on divided Styrofoam plates. You can also get your plate lunch to go.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Closed on Mondays. Check their Facebook page for daily specials.
Marcello’s, One of the Best Places to Eat in Lafayette, Louisiana
This Italian fine dining establishment offers delicious food and great service. After ordering, you won’t need to ask for anything, as the server will know you want fresh cutlery or that your drink needs refilling. I couldn’t decide which wine would pair well with my meal, so several at our table left it to the server, and we weren’t disappointed.
At Marcello’s, I chose grilled shrimp over a creamy pasta dish, along with a side of risotto, because I couldn’t choose between the two dishes. I know, two starches in one meal, but I wanted to sample both. I can tell you from experience, you can’t go wrong with either choice.
Don’t reserve this restaurant just for special occasions; dining there is an exceptional experience.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Closed Sundays. Make a reservation, especially for dinner and on weekends.
Park Bistro
The atmosphere at Park Bistro is reminiscent of dining in someone’s home. In fact, the building, in the Saints Street area of Lafayette, was once most likely someone’s home.
As an appetizer, we shared the black-eyed pea toast, which starts with a slice of artisan bread, topped with black-eyed pea hummus and charred jalapeño relish. I dined there twice, and my favorite dish was roasted salmon, accompanied by corn risotto, sautéed spinach, and pickled Fresno peppers, served with a pool of chive-and-tarragon oil. They also offer a layered tiramisu that hits all the notes of a classic tiramisu, yet is layered taller and thicker than the typical offering.
Piper’s Pro Planning: In addition to dinners, Park Bistro is open for lunch on Fridays and closed on Mondays.
Social Southern Table & Bar
Social Southern Table & Bar is a modern Southern restaurant located on Johnston Street in Lafayette, just south of downtown. The atmosphere is contemporary, rustic, and lively, with an airy dining room and a bustling bar. It has a relaxed yet upscale feel, suited to date nights, groups, and brunch. They offer a strong program of handcrafted cocktails and weekend brunch. Their wide selection of bourbon makes a special happy hour offering.
Specialties include inventive takes on Southern comfort food. You’ll find smoked fried chicken, shrimp and grits, pork belly or shredded pork sliders, steak frites, and wood-fired options.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Make reservations to avoid waiting.
Vestal
Stacks of split wood stand at the rear of the restaurant, ready to feed the star of Vestal’s exhibition kitchen, a wood-fired grill and oven. At around 2:00 p.m., the aromas from the fire begin to permeate the block. In fact, the kitchen has no gas at all, only one or two induction burners used to make stock. But make no mistake, this isn’t a barbecue joint. The upscale Vestal, appropriately named for the Roman goddess of the hearth, offers a fine-dining experience complemented by expertly crafted cocktails, exceptional food, and friendly service.
My meal began with roasted butternut squash soup garnished with crème fraîche, smoked paprika, and a sprinkling of pepitas. Then, a compressed watermelon and heirloom tomato salad followed, which included arugula, harissa, walnuts, white balsamic, and feta. The entrée was a braised short rib served atop creamy polenta, accompanied by beef demi-glacé and chermoula. And no meal is complete without a sweet ending. This meal concluded with a lemon tart, featuring lemon and yuzu curd, topped with blueberry gelee, Marshmallow Fluff, and lemon zest.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Closed on Mondays. While walk-ins are welcome, this is a small 75-seat, reservation-driven restaurant.
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While Piper is a lifelong Michigander, she’s had adventures worldwide. Bomb-sniffing dogs chased her in the middle of the night in Bogota (working late), gate agents refused her boarding to Paraguay (wrong visa), and US Marshals announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect (she’d traded seats). It’s always an adventure! She even finds exciting activities in her home state of Michigan, where she lives in Lansing with her husband, Ross Dingman, her daughter, Alexis, and two granddaughters.
What a mouthwatering guide! Lafayette has been on my radar for a while, and posts like this make it climb even higher. I love how you highlighted the mix of smoked meats, classic Cajun dishes, and that old-school ice cream charm at Borden’s. The shrimp po’boy and brisket both sound amazing, and now I feel like I need to plan a foodie road trip through Cajun Country. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’d love to try a stuffed turkey wing from Laura’s II Café!
The seafood sounds amazing, especially Don’s Seafood. I’m always a fan of fresh seafood!