For Acadianians, food is like, art, a hobby and — for some — practically a sport. Each year, with that visceral and deep connection to sustenance and where we get it, we set out to discern the best restaurants, dishes, types of atmosphere and more throughout the region. Here’s our 2023 lineup. We think you’ll come away from this hungry and ready to explore the Best of Dining in Acadiana.

BEST RESTAURANT

The James 710

Lake Charles Chef/restaurateur Ben Herrera is one of a tight-knit group of Lake Charles food pros enhancing the city’s culinary scene.

Herrera has three restaurants operating in the Lake City: 121 Artisan Bistro, Restaurant Calla and The James 710.

Each eatery represents a concept Herrera conceived of and then executed with talented front and back of the house staff.

Yet, it is The James 710 where a mix of cool yet nuanced restaurant atmosphere gells with Southern/Latin-esque menu items. Diners leave the restaurant feel revived, refreshed and rejuvenated.

“Our mission is to provide an authentic, informative dining experience; with globally inspired cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, Southern flair and a team dedicated to presentation, creativity and knowledge,” states the restaurant’s website (thejames710.com).

In real taste time — the meaning of those words is conveyed via a mélange of produce, meats and spices fused to create delicious and unique-flavored dishes.

The appetizer menu alone is quick entry into an international palate adventure with offerings like Guac and Trash (corn tortilla chips, chorizo hash with coconut rice, pico de gallo, roasted salsa, cilantro and lime) kimchi fries (braised brisket, Cotija cheese and a dark roux hoisin) or the Caribbean rice (pineapple, butter, lemon vinaigrette, cilantro, crispy garlic and lime).

But the around-the-world trip in this Lake City restaurant gets amped up with main dishes like carnitas confit (duroc pork shank, poblano crema, avocado, cortido, Tajín-spiced fruit and flour tortillas); red curry lamb shank (braised lamb shank, curry sauce, caramelized fennel, mushroom, Caribbean rice and naan); and the 1855 short rib (braised short ribs, coconut glaze, cauliflower purée, smashed heirloom tomato-cucumber salad and gremolata).

The menu also includes a lighter section featuring lentil soup (pico de gallo, crumbled bacon, queso fresco and poblano crema); sesame tuna salad (Bibb lettuce, Asian pear, black grapes, Asiago, toasted almonds, and coconut ranch) and a smoked salmon salad (avocado, radish, cucumber, pickled red onion, everything bagel seasoning, cured egg yolk and lemon vinaigrette).

Top shelf cocktails, an airy and comfortable restaurant ambiance, finger food and curry-based dishes are what keep crowds lining up for more from owner Ben Herrera and Chef Renda Ruiz. The Strawberry Fields cocktail is vibrant in flavor and pleasing to the eyes. Meanwhile, a favorite of longtime customers is the red curry lamb shank which oozes exotic flavors.

“Our food has a modern theme with strong Latin influences, Herrera said. “Executive Chef Renda Ruiz is from Puerto Rico and brings a lot of talent and understanding with all our dishes and flavors.”

For Herrera it is important to have created a restaurant where culinary enthusiasts see and taste intentional passion.

“Not to mention, we are upscale casual,”  he said. “People come in with shirts and ties or flip flops and shorts. This is the kind of place I really wanted to make happen for Lake Charles.”

Three Dishes to Try

Huevos Rancheros
A Saturday brunch offering consisting of flour tortillas, eggs, guajillo chile sauce, black bean chorizo hash, pico de gallo, avocado crema, Cotija cheese and and James potatoes with the option of adding brisket or shredded chicken.

Yellowfin Tuna Tacos
Take the plunge and enjoy delicious handheld food with Bibb lettuce shell, sesame seed jicama-citrus slaw, radish, mint and sriracha mayo.

1855 Hanger Steak (Cuban Style)
Ancho crust, salsa verde, sweet plantains and Caribbean rice. Casino (a style of Cuban salsa dancing), rum and delicious dreams await after this dinner.

BEST DISH

Redfish Lagniappe at Atchafalaya Cafe

Johnny and Bella Miller moved to Morgan City from New Orleans and opened the Atchafalaya Cafe more than 17 years ago. As Bella recalls, Johnny likes to tinker with recipes. Some kind of way, the guy concocted the seafood sauce that is spread over a piece of redfish and served with a crab cake, shrimp and asparagus. If you really want to know how good this sauce is, let us just say this — the ingredients, flavor and consistency will elicit pure lust in foodies. “It is my husband’s recipe. You could put this sauce over a boot and make it taste good,” Bella Miller said. “It is definitely one of our top five sellers on the menu here.”
atchafalayacafe.com

Crab cake
Atchafalaya Cafe regulars will love this gift of scrumptiousness as an appetizer. The Millers added it to the Redfish Lagniappe and the mix of white and brown crab meat melds wonderfully with the sauce.

Redfish
When the Millers initially put this dish on the menu, catfish was used. Redfish was substituted to elevate the concept.

Seafood cream sauce
It is a secret. All the Millers will give up is that cream sauce is one of the ingredients. You must visit, order Redfish Lagniappe and eat this gift from culinary heaven to figure out the rest.

BEST FAMILY SPOT

RiverFront: A Louisiana Grill

The spirit and taste of Abbeville  is celebrated at this restaurant nestled along the southern end of the Vermilion River. RiverFront serves all your Louisiana favorites, while also offering new innovative items with tuna, alligator, filet mignon and fresh-caught Gulf fish on the menu. Breaking bread here with family makes for a strong, shared culinary experience.
riverfrontla.com

BEST FOR DATE NIGHT

Mazen’s

Restaurateur Mazen Hijazi has a slogan about his Lake Charles eatery. “Memories are made at Mazen’s.” A night of romance can be had at this restaurant featuring classic white tablecloths, top-notch front of the house staff and a kitchen crafting sensuous entrées using duck, quail, beef and trout,  along with wonderful finger food like grape leaves and hummus, plus desserts, including bananas Foster.

From the moment you walk through the front entrance at Mazen’s, every detail that dials up feelings of comfort and intimacy is intentional accomplished by the restaurant staff. Deftly crafted cocktails, vibrant white table linens and soft music enhance the senses during a dinner at Mazen’s. Owner Mazen Hijazi understands what it takes to make sure memories are made. At Mazen’s, longtime customers joyfully return to the eatery in order to relish flavor and a sensual atmosphere.
mazengrill.com

BEST LATE NIGHT EATS

Shakebacks

First, the place is open Tuesday to Sunday (with the team off on Mondays) from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. in Lafayette. Second, the menu will satisfy the evening, late evening, early morning and breakfast crowds. Pro-tip: Get the Eggs Fonteneaux (Gulf shrimp or catfish fried or grilled, served over two open-faced biscuits and two eggs with Cajun queso).
linktr.ee/shakebacks

BEST WINE SELECTION

Wild Child Wines

Intimate places to shop for and sip wine should figure prominently when locals are celebrating quality of life amenities. Wild Child Wines in Lafayette is such a place. The owners meticulously curate a selection of small production wines and conservas, (artisan-made tinned seafood). Visitors will appreciate the atmosphere and focus on special, quality goods.

Whether a person wants to buy a bottle, indulge in delicious snacks with their friends or share the latest news of the day, the center of attention at Wild Child is the wine. The staff is skilled at pairing wine with discriminating palates. Perhaps even more impressive is the menu of snacks from tinned fish to baked good. The staff at Wild Child work diligently to make sure fans of the vine have an unforgettable experience.
wildchildwines.com

BEST TAKEOUT

BJ’s Po’Boys and Plate Lunches

A tasty and home-cooked meal is a birthright in Acadiana, especially during lunch. BJ’s in Broussard offers two get-it-and-go options — po’ boys and plate lunches. The Old Tyme Special Poor Boy on its own is enough to make the body do a two-step (ham, turkey, roast beef and Swiss). A good example of a plate lunch can include round steak with rice, gravy, corn, and white beans.
bjsinbroussard.com

BEST PATIO

Rikenjaks

Owner Jay Ecker is a stickler for Lake Charles having a place for locals and visitors to enjoy food, drinks and music. He hit a home run designing the outdoor patio surrounded by stately trees. Live entertainment, games and craft beer are featured at Rikenjaks.
rikenjaks.com

BEST HOMESTYLE COOK

Veronica Alexander

When matters of music, film and food are discussed there are certain examples of artistic expression that supercede the space-time continuum.

In this installment of Acadiana Profile’s Best of Dining, Chef Veronica Alexander has the spotlight on her — deservedly so — as being a modern-day standard bearer in the regional culinary scene. She has honed her kitchen skills to fill up time and space with flavor and love.

Bite into a morsel of stuffed pork roast prepared by Alexander and then ask yourself if you have ever eaten anything better prepared in a restaurant.

Alexander, 58, is the owner of Veronica’s Cafe in Carencro.

The woman earned her kitchen credibility cooking for her family after paying close attention and learning from one of her grandmothers and her father while growing up in the Breaux Bridge area.

Alexander got married, had children and moved around the country with her husband who worked as a grocery store manager.

They came back to Acadiana and Alexander found herself cooking for her church family which led to her cooking at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Lafayette.

In 2010, Alexander decided to open the café.

As she tells it, the eatery has run out of food every day.

What is her secret?

“First, I love what I do. I know I can cook well. But it all starts with love. I cook to make my customers feel like they are part of my family,” Alexander said.

BEST COCKTAIL PROGRAM

Palmyre

The team here wants visitors to “feel transported without leaving Lafayette.” Classic handmade cocktails, French and American wines and delicious food are featured. Yet the lounge’s interior will compel anyone to visit, sit, relax and imbibe. Try a Port of Call, Paper Plane or Penicillin to get the cool vibes going.

Décor, décor, décor … did we mention the décor? Palmyre is equally known for its cocktails and interior décor by Nashville-based interior designer Lindsay Rhodes and famed stylist Lindsey Dupuis Bledsoe. This place is a true gem in Acadiana. Eating and drinking is not just something to do here, it is an inspired action. At Palmyre, European flair is paired with Southern hospitality to much applause.

BEST BRUNCH

The Max

Located at the National Golf Course in Westlake, The Max has developed a loyal following for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include: eggs Benedict topped with soft shell crab, oysters or a crab cake, and the Louisiana omelet (three eggs, crawfish, tasso, onion and pepper).
themax-restaurant.com