Lafayette, La., has some of the best restaurants outside of New Orleans.
Lafayette, located in the heart of southern Louisiana Cajun country, offers gastronomic delights in a rural, laid-back atmosphere. If you want to sample crawfish etouffee, jambalaya and other authentic Cajun food without the hustle and high prices of the French Quarter, explore the best restaurants in Lafayette. Remember to save room for pecan pie, key lime pie and other Southern desserts.
Prejean's Restaurant
Prejean's Restaurant has achieved legendary status in French Louisiana. Its award-winning Cajun cuisine, enjoyed by congressmen, dignitaries, famous musicians, actors and other out-of-towners as well as locals. Opened in 1980 by Robert Gullibeau, Prejean's offers the complete Creole experience. There's live Cajun music to enhance your dining experience, and an alligator in the lobby to greet you. Don't worry, he's not real. The restaurant opens for breakfast at 7 a.m., offering shrimp and grits, the Big Bayou omelet with crawfish, of course, and deep fried beignets. Enjoy a po' boy, which is the Cajun version of a sub sandwich, for lunch. Choose from pork tenderloin, catfish, crawfish, oyster or shrimp nestled on French bread. There's a full entr e menu, with blackened shrimp, jambalaya, crab cakes and several salads. For dinner, there's gumbo, bisque and specialty salads like asparagus and shrimp remoulade. The more adventurous diner can sample venison, duckling or fried alligator. Before you leave, pick up some Prejean's hot sauce or seasoning blend from the gift shop to recreate a little bit of Creole at home. Prejean's ships gumbo via regular or overnight delivery to the lower 48 states.
Prejean's Restaurant
3480 NE Evangeline Trwy (I-49)
Lafayette, LA 70507
337-896-3247
prejeans.com
Blue Dog Cafe
The Blue Dog Caf has the ambiance of a laid-back French Quarter bar with fine authentic-and reduced fat- Cajun cuisine. The Blue Dog's menu offers low-carb and light fare in addition to their award-winning entrees. The caf 's crawfish etouffee, Louisiana seafood gumbo and grilled Delcambre shrimp salad have received kudos from patrons and food critics alike. Even the Blue Dog's cheesecake made on premises and bread pudding with pecan praline sauce earned culinary awards. Sunday brunch goodies run the gamut from prime rib and smoked salmon to Louisiana faves fried catfish and cheese grits. The price of brunch includes mimosas.
Blue Dog Cafe
1211 W. Pinhook Road
Lafayette, LA 70503
337-237-0005
bluedogcafe.com
Randol's
Randol's, a homey local restaurant, serves dinner six nights a week. They're closed on Sundays and major holidays. Their extensive offerings include a selection of gumbos and bisques, barbecued shrimp, blackened catfish, flame grilled steaks and a make your own seafood platter option. There's zydeco and Cajun music every night, and Randol's takes part in the Seafood Boil, the The Boucherie-Cochon de Lait, which is a Cajun version of the Hawaiian luau, and other local events.
Randol's
2320 Kaliste Saloom Road
Lafayette, LA 70508
337-981-7080
randols.com
Tags: Prejean Restaurant, best restaurants, Blue Cafe, Cajun cuisine, Cajun music, Cajun version
