re: Lafayette dinner options

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Good to hear. The food is decent there, but the main dining room has the worst Feng-shui in all of Lafayette restaurants. It's like a school cafeteria.

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We sat on the newly enclosed porch. Usually we try to get a booth in the bar if we go. I agree about the main dining. Don’t like it. But the enclosed porch was nice

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Didn’t try the dinner menu.

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They change it up seasonally. They used to do a Nashville style tofu that was pretty cool. Their burger is top-notch.

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Haven’t been to Mazen in about 4-5 years…is it still decent?

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I think I’m the only person in Lafayette that doesn’t like Mazen’s. Definitely the only one in my friend group. They keep convincing me to go back and I keep leaving disappointed

They stopped offering the bone marrow at Friday lunch (the only day they do lunch, maybe), but the owner or chef overheard my friend’s disappointment that it wasn’t an option, and made one for us! Scored big points with us.

Imonelli’s

Don's Seafood Hut and get the Crabmeat Au Gratin with green beans and stuffed potato with a salad

Imonelli for quiet and romantic

Out of the way-Either of the below

1. Pat's in Henderson, and get the Crab Cakes and camp style Etouffee
2. Cafe Josephine and get chargrilled oysters and whatever looks like Cajun sushi
3. Steamboat in Washington and get the stuffed softshell crab

Mazen is my favorite in Laff

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I’ve said this before on this board, but Lafayette needs more dining options. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Nola and have been spoiled with the plethora of restaurants, but we find ourselves rotating the same 4-5 restaurants, and it becomes stale.

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Grew up in Metairie/NOLA and moved to Lafayette in 1988. Have family that still lives in NO as I go back 5-6 times a year to eat good groceries and listen to live music. Lafayette is just different. The people love their culture, food, and family traditions. They tend to support local businesses big time, and are very reserved about trying new eateries, especially the one's owned by people not from here. You can find boudin and cracklin being sold on every other corner by 1,000+ businesses. Unfortunately, there are only 2-4 restaurants that sell quality Indian, Vietnamese, and/or Thai food.

Chef James Graham (RIP) was ahead of his time and arguably had the best high-end dining experience restaurant in Lafayette. Graham left Prejean's and opened The Fish & Game Grill around 1991. Fish entrée's were comparable to GW Fins. Wild game such as antelope, bison, and elk meat were flown in from Montana for other menu options. Unfortunately, it only lasted a few years as I think it was to high scale for Lafayette since only a handful of people could appreciate it. James ending up leaving town to accept a Head Chef job in Florida. He was tragically killed in a bicycle accident - 45 yrs young.

Ponder these food facts: Lafayette didn't have a true sushi restaurant until the mid 1990's when Tam started serving sushi from a small bar inside Chung King (Blu Basil now). Tsunami opened downtown a few years later in 1999. Lafayette's first coffee house (as we know them today) opened in 1991. Cappuccino Cafe and was located a few doors down from Chung King in the same Time Plaza Shopping Center.

I agree CC, Lafayette has good quality food. But you're limited to maybe a dozen places in all of Lafayette area which is only a few square miles. The same dining locations do get old.

Nola is a pretty high bar to measure up to.

All good when you buying and want to get set back 200-400 if you want wine and a call brand cocktail. I can offer my friends that plus an equally good meal and less noise and fine bathrooms. I get what you are saying and wish Lafayette was more like NOLA with pop up holes in the wall. To think that Lafayette can’t cook a good steak for a reasonable price???! Crazy. Some of us remember Strouds. Incredible steaks and a NOLA wine list but never over $100 for 2.