First time visitor to Lafayette

[DoubleDawg]

Hey guys,
Looking forward to visiting your fair city this weekend. Hoping I can find some tickets but looking to have a good time regardless.
First off, I want to apologize for some of my Bulldog peers on the whole ticket thing, some of them have really been ____s about it. I think it just took us aback as the places we've traveled in the past have generally had plenty of bleacher or standing room tickets.

Looking for some advice. What are the "can't miss" restaurants, bars, etc? We'll probably look for some place to hang out and watch the ULL-JSU game after our game Friday. Maybe have a couple of drinks. Other than that, just looking for the best food and to experience Lafayette.

Is there a particular neighborhood with decent hotels and things in walking distance? Or am I better off just planning to drive everywhere?

Speaking of driving, how is the parking situation on campus. Is it mostly free, pass-only, or pay-when-you-park? I've seen a lot of people mention tailgating, can you give me the scoop on that? Is there one common tailgating area or is it mostly spread out?

You guys seem like a hospitable bunch and I know your town has a lot to offer. Looking forward to coming down and watching some good baseball.

[ulforlife]

Welcome in advance to Cajun country. Let me help you out here.

HEY GUYS, THIS IS A FOOD THREAD

RaginPagin loves food threads

--

Restaurants:

Olde Tyme Grocery (Poboys) right near campus
Deano's (Pizza) right near the baseball field
Zea (Tai ribs and corn grits, also their fried red beans and rice is stupid good) close to baseball field, near Corner Bar
Blue Dog Cafe (anything)

Bars:

Corner Bar (not far from the baseball field)
Tap Room (large selection of beer on tap, including local brews)
Many bars and restaurants downtown, Legends, Marley's, City Bar (nightlife)

Not a lot of hotels walking distance unfortunately but parking isn't too difficult most places. You'll be driving around mostly but not very far distances. The downtown area or River Ranch has some areas where you can park and walk around.

Athletic campus parking situation isn't bad. Athletic facilities are off separate from the Academic campus. Parking is free and people will most likely be tailgating anywhere as close to the baseball stadium as they can get.

I'll add more as I think about it. Good luck you should enjoy your time here, only issue will be the weather!

[Scuttlebutt6]

If you want good food and a place to watch the Cajuns Baseball game while drinking 2 for 1 draft beergo to "Fat Pat's".I can recommend the Peanut Butter Bacon Burger or the Three Little Pigs Sandwich

[Scuttlebutt6]

Lafayette also loves them some breakfast places. you should have Saturday and Sunday morning to try one of the following: T-Coons, The French Press, Another Broken Egg, Blue Dog Cafe Brunch, Edie's Biscuits

[BayouRichard]

Lafayette also loves them some breakfast places. you should have Saturday and Sunday morning to try one of the following: T-Coons, The French Press, Another Broken Egg, Blue Dog Cafe Brunch, Edie's Biscuits

Excellent choices! Ole time Grocery for awesome lunch PO-boys and Prejeans for dinner if you have room from lunch

[Bandwagon King]

There's only like 300 restaurants & 150 bars on this town. Be ready to drive because the city is spread out. There are plenty of hotels. The best places are right off I-10. The parking is the best of any college venue you'll ever see. Although the fans here are so spoiled if they have to walk more than 50' they threaten to get legal council. Just kidding guys. But the parking is easy. And most importantly, when you come be prepared to go home defeated. Because this team is good. they're not Sunbelt good they're the best in college baseball good. And don't look for them to have a letdown this weekend, because it ain't gonna happen. Just giving you fair warning to send to your brethren. SEC or no SEC, you come over here you're leaving disappointed. Have a good weekend.

[HelmutVII]

For seafood (Crawfish) - Dons downtown for Crawfish Bisque never disappoints. (Hurry crawfish season is almost over)
For a somewhat eclectic menu go to the French Press across the street from Dons downtown.
For sushi Tsunami downtown
For Mexican - LaPaqua on Johnston or Aztecas on Ambassador Caffery (Avoid LaFondas no matter what anybody says)
For Italian - I Monelli or Alesi's both on Johston street.
For smoked meats Johnstons Boucaniere (you will not be disappointed) If you really want to get down with cajun go to Poches north of Breaux Bridge.

For a somewhat more elegant setting Cafe Vermilionville on Pinhook or Jollies also on Pinhook.

For Tapas - Pamplona Tapas on Jefferson.

[RedBug58]

If you want good food and a place to watch the Cajuns Baseball game while drinking 2 for 1 draft beergo to "Fat Pat's".I can recommend the Peanut Butter Bacon Burger or the Three Little Pigs Sandwich

A good Cajun experience is Prejean's with Cajun food, a Cajun band at night, and a 16ft alligator. My favorite, Old Time Grocery; the shrimp po boy is awesome. Deano's is one of the top pizza places in the US, try the Jacque Boudreaux pizza; you won't find something like this anywhere else.

[Cajun90]

Food threadhere we geaux.

You will have plenty of options. This may sound crazy and I mention it because others will cover the basic "Cajun" fare but will probably leave this one off the list. If you want incredible Sushi visit Tsunami's downtown. My wife doesn't like sushi and loves going here.

For Pizza try Deano's not far from the park. Named one of the top five pizza restaurants in the U.S. Legends bar next door is a small hangout for UL fans and probably a good spot to catch the JSU vs. UL game. You could also go to WalkOn's which was voted one of the top five sports bars in the U.S. but is probably a fifteen minute drive from the stadium.

UpscaleRuffino's on the River.

Tailgating will be in the parking lot adjacent to the ball park. There is a fair at the Cajundome which will take up some parking on the far side of the football stadium but should not interfere with baseball. Parking is free for baseball but not for the fair. So if they try to charge you then you know you are at the wrong entrance. Enter the athletic facility off Bertrand drive and you should be good.

Only one hotel that is really within walking distance so you will need to plan on driving.

[burdman]

I heard there's nothing to do in Lafayette.

So good luck.

[IHateLaState]

According to espn women softball commentators there is nothing to do in Lafayette hence we just pack our softball and baseball stadiums. Truth is you will not find any better food in the country. There are a number of places where you can go have great cajun food AND live cajun music. Maybe even shake a leg with some locals. Out on I 49 you will fin Prejeans that fits that description and I forget the name of the place on the Breaux Bridge Hwy that a lot of tour buses go to. I'm sure my friends on here can provide the name. Of course since there is nothing to do and all we offer is a motel 6 I guess you can find a Burger King and hope the tv is working. Joking of course. You will love your stay. Stop by a tailgating spot You WILL be welcomed. This is NOT Baton Rouge

[TuffGuy84]

Hey guys,
Looking forward to visiting your fair city this weekend. Hoping I can find some tickets but looking to have a good time regardless.
First off, I want to apologize for some of my Bulldog peers on the whole ticket thing, some of them have really been ____s about it. I think it just took us aback as the places we've traveled in the past have generally had plenty of bleacher or standing room tickets.

Looking for some advice. What are the "can't miss" restaurants, bars, etc? We'll probably look for some place to hang out and watch the ULL-JSU game after our game Friday. Maybe have a couple of drinks. Other than that, just looking for the best food and to experience Lafayette.

Is there a particular neighborhood with decent hotels and things in walking distance? Or am I better off just planning to drive everywhere?

Speaking of driving, how is the parking situation on campus. Is it mostly free, pass-only, or pay-when-you-park? I've seen a lot of people mention tailgating, can you give me the scoop on that? Is there one common tailgating area or is it mostly spread out?

You guys seem like a hospitable bunch and I know your town has a lot to offer. Looking forward to coming down and watching some good baseball.

Some of your fans are frankly unbearable and acting very arrogant (which apparently can get people banned for saying that). Anyway, you'll enjoy Lafayette a lot. If you want some good seafood go to Dons Seafood on Johnson Street, if you want a great poboy, go down to Olde Tyme Grocery, I just moved away and I miss their poboys tremendously. Legends is a great bar to go to that is a cajun flair, or you can go down to the strip which is full of bars and clubs and most people can find something they'll enjoy. My personal favorite bar was Bisbanos, it's a pizza place upstairs and in the "cellar" they have a bar and usually have bands playing on the weekends. If you can get a room at the Hilton Garden Inn, that is your best bet for hotel, it is walking distance to the ballpark.

All in all, I hope your trip to Lafayette is nice. Like I said, I've been disappointed with some of the MSU fans because of the fact I myself have an Grandfather, Aunt, Uncle, and 3 cousins who are State alum, and the way some have portrayed themselves online is vastly different than the State fans I know in person and it's incredibly disheartening.

[DocCajun]

A good Cajun experience is Prejean's with Cajun food, a Cajun band at night, and a 16ft alligator. My favorite, Old Time Grocery; the shrimp po boy is awesome. Deano's is one of the top pizza places in the US, try the Jacque Boudreaux pizza; you won't find something like this anywhere else.

Yes Deano's is very close to the ball park and has excellent pizza and good beer selection. Would be a great post Friday game spot.

Prejean's is good but in my opinion, the best seafood is just west of Lafayette (10 - 15 minute drive on i-10 - Fezzo's in Scott and the best restaurant I have ever been to period - Chef Roy's in Rayne.

Safe travels in

[BayouRichard]

Dwyers Cafe in Jefferson st is good for any meal. Jefferson St has lot of bars. Other than Dwyers, eat at the other suggested places.

[CajunAmos]

I had posted this when we were hosting the softball regionals/super-regionals, so I'll just cut/paste without worrying about duplicates maybe listed above.

We love our food in Lafayette Louisiana (as our waistlines can attest). I'll cover just the places in Lafayette rather than the whole surrounding area which would be too large a list to provide. I tried to stay with places fairly close to the park. I also try to avoid chain type places as you can eat there at home.

Breakfast -Dwyer's (old style diner downtown) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dwyer.15495858476468
-The French Press (Breakfast/Brunch downtown) http://www.thefrenchpresslafayette.com/
-Meche's Donut King (have great unique donuts as well
as King Cakes, 402 Guilbeau Road location is closest)
-Another Broken Egg (chain) River Ranch area of town

Poboy's -Old Tyme Grocery (short drive from the park) http://www.oldetymegrocery.com/
-Johnson's Boucaniere (plate lunches/sandwiches) http://www.johnsonsboucaniere.com/

Burger's -Judice Inn (hamburgers – try the fried egg on top) http://www.judiceinn.com/
-Fat Pat's (two locations in town) http://www.fatpatsbarandgrill.com/
-There's a Five Guys for those who don't have one

Pizza -Deano's (short drive from park) http://www.deanospizza.com/index.php?id=120

Sushi -Tsunami Sushi (downtown) http://www.servingsushi.com/
-Fuji Sushi https://www.facebook.com/FujiSushiHouse

Thai -Bangkok Thai https://www.facebook.com/BangkokThaiLafayette

Mexican Agave Grill (one near park, one downtown) http://agavelafayette.com/

Taco's -Taco Sisters (close to park – limited hours) http://tacosisters.com/

Tapas -Pamplona Tapas Bar (downtown) http://www.pamplonatapas.com/

Cuban Café Hanana City (Bertrand Dr. close to park) no website available

Cajun -Blue Dog Café http://www.bluedogcafe.com/
-Café Vermilionville http://www.cafev.com/

Cajun (A couple of spots with a little drive involved)
-Prejean's (Cajun music with food, nice for tourists, http://prejeans.com/
some very good food (duck/Andouille gumbo, pepper
jack shrimp, catfish enchiladas & Catahoula)
-Poboy's Riverside Inn http://www.poorboysriversideinn.com/
-Charley-G's http://charleygs.com

Boiled Crawfish
-Dwight's http://www.dwights.us/

Ice Cream -Borden's Ice Cream (old time parlor – it's worth the stop)\
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Borde.59213304093786