126398 Sat Jan 18 16:40:45 -0800 2003 15 9 New Orleans 0 685846 We're going to be in LA the end of Feb, beginning of March. We expect to spend 1 night in Baton Rouge before going to an Elderhostel in Lafayette. We'll have 3 days on the road from Lafayette back to New Orleans and hope to see the cajun country. Would appreciate recommendations for restaurants in Baton Rouge, Breaux Bridge and the road back from Lafayette to New Orleans. Also, any special special favorites in New Orleans. Thanks Sat Jan 18 16:40:45 -0800 2003 0 Beulah Saideman 1 685849 While visiting my cousin in Baton Rouge, we went to a Cajun restaurant in called Boutin's (formerly Mulates). In Lafayette we were at Prejean's one night. Both are hardly secrets, but they do have pretty good food and great Cajun music. Bring an appetite or take home leftovers! Boutin's 8322 Bluebonnet Blvd Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810 Phone: 225-819-9862 Prejean's 3480 I-49 North Lafayette, Louisiana 70507 Phone:(337) 896-3247 Link: http://www.prejeans.com/ Sat Jan 18 23:13:36 -0800 2003 685846 0 mikeb 2 685932 Also if you are near Eunice check out the liberty center they have a live cajun radio show saturday nights and other good shows Sat Jan 25 18:23:20 -0800 2003 685849 0 graham 1 685851 A friend and I just came back from a 2 day trip to that area. If you like raw oysters, go over to Abbeville where there are a lot of oyster bars. It must be very close to the source. We ate at a place called Black's and the oysters were indeed great, big and plump. I suspect the other places are equally good. The gumbo there was disappointing, a little thin and tasteless, but the shrimp poboy was different and good. We spent the afternoon there talking with the friendly people who work there. Also, if you are in the area on Saturday morning, and like a good time, do yourself a favor and go to the Zydeco breakfast at Cafe Des Amis in Breauxbridge. It starts at 8 am and goes til noon. Its really not about food, to me breakfast is breakfast. Its a 4 hour dance, the likes of which is not seen just anywhere. We saw Roy Carrier and his band, and if the band there is half as good, you are in for a time. Sun Jan 19 12:24:58 -0800 2003 685846 0 Andy Anderson 1 685857 The best place for lunch in Baton Rouge is the Silver Spoon. The atmosphere is quite lovely and the food delicious. For dinner you absolutely can't beat Jubans, one of Baton Rouge's most famous restaurants. Also, for the best bar food in Baton Rouge, go to George's. A gem in my opinion but a total dive. I have seen a few old postings about Cajun food in Acadiana, so check those out. Of course, the ones previously mentioned; Blacks, Prejeans, and Cafe des Amis are wonderful. You may want to consider the Blue Dog Cafe in Lafayette and for the hot and happening scene in downtown Lafayette, try Tsunami for sushi. Great prices with great fish. Mon Jan 20 17:35:33 -0800 2003 685846 0 Baton Rouge dining 2 685871 Do you mean the "Silver Moon?" The one by the RR track off of Nicholson (HWY 30)? If so, I agree that it is good "country cookin' " Jubans was only satisfactory on my last lunch there--the oyster dishes were criminal. Parrain's--just down Perkins Road from Juban's--is making a run to be THE seafood place and sometimes it hits the mark dead on. Never bad. Their raw oysters are often supreme. Tue Jan 21 11:35:51 -0800 2003 685857 0 Hazelhurst 1 685861 I'm a typical Japanese tourist, but I can suggest any good place in Cajun country. Black's - Abbeville (Oyster and stew) Savoy Music Center - Eunice (Saturday morning jam session) Yellow Bowl - Jeanerette (Crawfish dish) Please visit my web site, displayed my Louisianna memories. Link: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~tod/ Mon Jan 20 21:13:48 -0800 2003 685846 0 Kyoji 2 685864 A Japanese tourist? You have a handle on the best local restaurants. Must have had a great tour guide or you sure did your homework. I would only add for Abbeville, since the poster will be there in crawfish season, to try Cajun Claws or Richard's for boiled crawfish. Mon Jan 20 22:58:13 -0800 2003 685861 0 Beau Noppatee 1 685862 Lafayette: There is a great po-boy place adjacent to the Univ. of Louisiana campus. I think it's called Old Time (grocery?). On St. Mary St. one block west of Johnston. Sorry that I can't remember the exact name. Wonderful oyster po-boys and shrimp po-boys. Great college/local atmosphere. Scott (on I-10, right outside of Lafayette): Best Stop (sort of a convenience store. Wonderful boudin. The best I've had (though my wife, and both sons diagree. They prefer Rays in Opelousas). Opelousas: Palace Cafe--Very local, very good, basic, down home cajun dishes. Grand Coteau (between Lafayette and Opelousas: Catahoula's--Interesting, creative southwest Louisiana food. Bit upscale. Consider driving the River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans (actually, several roads, with old plantation homes, sugar cane fields, and chemical plants). Look for Hymels Restaurant in Convent. Very casual, wonderful turtle soup and seafood gumbo. Good crawfish in season. Donaldsonville: Upscale dining at Lafitte's. Wonderfully decadent. A night to remember. Mon Jan 20 22:21:11 -0800 2003 685846 0 rlc 2 685863 That's it except that it's spelled Old Tyme. Best poorboys in Lafayette, by far. Mon Jan 20 22:54:53 -0800 2003 685862 0 Beau Noppatee 3 685866 What other places would you recommend in Lafayette--from upscale to down and dirty? We get down to Louisiana at least once a year, and always pass through Lafayette. Thanks. Mon Jan 20 23:07:31 -0800 2003 685863 0 rlc 4 685867 The old standby is Don's, which has another location at Don's Seafood Hut. I love the crawfish bisque and fresh flounder at the original Don's. Their seafood gumbo and seafood dinners are also good. I'm trying to think ... may have to get back to you. I think Cafe Vermilionville is very pretty but the food is overrated. I was there with someone just recently who had the thickest corn and crab bisque that I have ever seen. If I served it in my own kitchen, it would have been an embarassment. My friend should have sent it back. I had a baby green salad with grilled quail in a chipolte reduction that was delish. Unfortunately, they are one of the local restaurants that pairs andouille with seafood. Big mistake in my opinion, unless you like the delicacy of shrimp and crab overpowered with the loud flavor of smoked meat. Oh, I always recommend Randal's because they serve boiled crawfish as well as seafood dishes. Antoni's in the oil center has a good spinache salad and their soups are very good as well as some of the pasta dishes. I'm going to need some time on the down and dirty ones. Tue Jan 21 09:19:56 -0800 2003 685866 0 Beau 5 685868 Thanks much for the fast response. I'll look forward to any down and dirty rec's. In the old days I use to travel on business. I always tried to find one innovative (perhaps upscale but not stuffy) restaurant, and one local dive/neighborhood bar/cafe/ whatever with outstanding food. When in Louisiana I automatically think Cajun, but other types are always an option. Thanks again. Tue Jan 21 09:39:42 -0800 2003 685867 0 rlc 6 685927 We traveled in the cajun area xmas thru new years. My wife's favorite meal cafe des amis Breaux Bridge. Atchafalaya swamp tour was great we went with Coerte Voorhies jr. 337-233-7816. We really loved the saturday morning (9am) jamb session at Marc Savoys Music center in Eunice about 30 local musicians gathered and played cajun tunes and snacked on boudin and crakalins 318-457-9563.We had "Cajun country guide" printed by pelican a very good book on the area. Great oysters at Dupuy's in Abbeville. Also in Abbeville Blacks was packed with a 1 hour wait on saturday night it looked interesting.Mulates in Breaux Bridge had good food with live music and locals dancing it has a cozy roadhouse feeling. We enjoyed it so much we tried to recreate it at Randol's which was also good.Rosedown plantation in St, Francisville is a beautiful house and grounds Sat Jan 25 14:32:05 -0800 2003 685868 0 graham 5 685870 I support the general views here but caution that the Don's Empire is erratic. However, the Lafayette Don's has been more than decent in its classic offerings (the one in the Great Capital of the Sovereign State of Louisiana has been pathetic but, then, most people there do not know how to eat) Cafe Vermillionville does have a very good turtle soup but I agree about other offerings. The plates all have that same frou-frou look of the Culinary Institute of America's alumni or their own spawn. The "interesting combinations" are almost always on a bed of lettuce or pasta--there's a mark-up for you! But the soup is good and a nice lunch can be made up there. The Hynel's suggestion id dead on. River Road south of the Sunshine Bridge. Look for the grain elevator and Hymel's is just past there on the left. Try Le Rosier (uspcale) in New Iberia; always excellent soups and sometimes really inspired entrees. Have not been to cafe des Amis (Breaux Bridge) since the fire but cannot imagine that they would have declined in quailty. In New Orleans, well, other postings on this board will give you the speed of things. I am a Galatoire's man myself. I recommend wearing a suit and tie (and ladies' equivalent) even if you go at a time when it is not, perforce, required. It is fun to go at about 3:00 and linger over the meal. Also Clancy's (the "Uptown Galatoire's" as it is sometimes known) is always fun. I need to check some newer offerings in the next few weeks. Tue Jan 21 11:11:08 -0800 2003 685867 0 Hazelhurst 4 685881 On the lowscale side although maybe not down and dirty, I would suggest Boiling Point which is a little trek down Hwy 90 towards New Iberia for boiled crab. Lastly, for poorboys that are good and made better because they are on good french bread, try Olde Tyme Grocery which was suggested recently by someone else. Also you can get some good eats at Paul's Pirogue in Carencro for boiled seafood and fried seafood but's it's a little more touristy and, of the three,should be your last choice if looking for a blue jeans and blue collar local eatery. Tue Jan 21 21:34:01 -0800 2003 685866 0 Beau