It's hard to keep up with which restaurants have opened where in Acadiana.It's even harder to find the time, money and calories to taste try them all!
I came across about 30 restaurants that opened in 2015 while compiling this story.
Some have since closed, not even making it a year in the competitive Acadiana restaurant scene.Othersare reincarnations of restaurants, likethe former Acme Taco and Acme Burger moving and merging into Acme Taco & Burger. Or second locations, like Bon Temps Grill opening an express location in the Oil Center. Or huge franchises that most people know about, like Panera Bread Company opening at the corner of North College Road and Johnston Street.
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This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the restaurants that opened in 2015.But nevertheless, there are many new, interesting places that opened this yearthat you may not have had the opportunity to taste yet.
Here are a few:
1. Blu Basil
This Vietnamese restaurant opened in February as a second location of Saigon Noodles.Located in the Time Plaza Shopping Center, this restaurant has a cool vibe with blue lighting and a large bar.
Start with a small plate to share,Theduck sliders ($4 for one, $7.50 for two) orspring rolls ($5.50) are good options. Or you can skip the small plates altogether. The entree portions are generous, and you'll probably have leftovers.
Pho, aVietnamesenoodle soup with herbs, vegetables and meat, is the go-to choice($6.50-$12.50), but don't miss out on the rice plates, especially the pineapple shrimp fried rice ($16), which is actually served in a hollowed pineapple half.
If you're looking for a real treat, look no further than the chef's specials, such as the Blu lamb ($24), or the hot pot menu, the Vietnamese version of fondue, whichallows two guests to cookmeat, veggies and noodles in a simmering metal pot filled with broth ($26-45).
Blu Basil is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 5451 Johnston St.Learn more about Blu Basil by visiting blubasilwineandgrill.comor by calling 337-456-1120.
Dragon and lion dance at Blu Basil grand opening
2. Bombo Jerk
This Jamaican food truck started servingAcadiana in September. While the service isn't always speedy, the food is always hot and fresh.
Your first visit to Bombo Jerk should include the jerkplate ($8.50), which comes with 24-hour, jerk-marinated choice of chicken or pork, coconut milk-infused rice 'n' peas, festival bread and Rasta salad.
Once you've tried the Jamaican equivalent to a plate lunch, you'll want to try the coco-jerk burger ($8.50). The burger isn't made from beef but instead from the customer'schoice of chicken, pork or fish. It is served on homemade bun withtoppings of great white jerk sauce, grilled pineapple, sauteed bell peppers, jerk sauce, American or Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce and roma tomatoes.
You'll also find wraps, salads, sweet potato fries and sweet potato pudding on the menu.
Bombo Jerk's hours and days of operation vary by location and weather.Learn more by visiting "Bombo Jerk" on Facebook or by calling 337-445-9530.
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3. Fusion Seafood
This Asian-Cajun fusion restaurant opened in July. Located in the South College Shopping Center, this small restaurant is a great one for lunch.
Start with the restaurant's signature side dish, tornado potatoes ($1.99 for one, $4.99 for three).
Try a fusion catfish and shrimp combo platter (three pieces of catfish and two shrimp for $5.99, five pieces of catfish and five shrimp for $7.99), which comes with a choice of fried rice lomein or fries and a side salad or bread.
The menu is large and is made from Chinese, Vietnamese and Cajun favorites.Fried seafood, fried rice, lomein, egg rolls and spring rolls dominate the menu.
But you shouldn't miss Fusion's pho, whichis made from a beef broth with rice noodles, eye-round steak, flank steak, meatballs, bean sprouts, mint, basil and pickled onions.
Fusion Seafood is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 2829 Johnston St. Learn more by visiting "FusionSeafood" on Facebook or by calling 337-504-4666.
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4. Grand Coteau Bistro
This downtown Grand Coteau brunchand dinner restaurant opened in September. Owned by a champion of the competitive Food Network show "Chopped," Grand Coteau Bistro serves modern interpretations Louisiana cuisine.
For brunch, try the eggs Atchafalaya ($18), served withpoached eggs, fried green tomatoes, crab hollandaise, brunch potatoes and fruit. Alsotaste the salmon omelet ($14), an omelet madewith house-cured salmon, caramelized onions, smoked Gouda and house potatoes.
For dinner, try the grilled lamb loin with mint-caramelized onion chimichurri ($28) or theblack drum over ginger carrot puree with roasted mushrooms, tobacco onions and truffle essence ($24).
Offerings change with the seasons, so you can expect to find an ever-updated menu.
Grand Coteau Bistro is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at 234 Martin Luther King Jr. Drivein Grand Coteau. Learn more by visiting grandcoteaubistro.com or by calling 337-662-4033.
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5. Ichiban
This small Asian restaurant opened in October. Located at the intersection of Johnston Street and WestBroussard Road, you'll find a plethora of sushi and Chinese offerings at reasonable prices at Ichiban.
The unadorned, simple interior makes this spot a popular one for takeout.
If you're into sushi, be sure to check out the sushispecials that allow you to sample a few rolls without breaking the bank. The maki F combo ($14) comes with a tempura shrimp, eel avocado and Boston roll. If you want something fancier, opt for the star mango roll ($7.99), which has crabstick, tempura and cucumber wrapped in soy paper and is topped with fresh mango and spicy mayo.
If you're a fan of Chinese fare, try the kung pao chicken ($8.75) or shrimp lo mein ($5.75 or $8.95).
The menu has more than 250 combos, so you might want to go in with a game plan.
Ichiban is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday at 6772 Johnston St., suite 900. Learn more by visiting ichibanasiancuisine.com or by calling 337-456-5704.
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6. Live Action Deli
This funky food trailer opened in October. Opened by former Jefferson Street Pub and Jolie's Louisiana Bistro chefs, Live Action Deli is all about experimenting with fun flavors.
Menus changefrequently to make roomfor the chefs' latest creations.
The latest menu item is the Kimdog ($6), a beef hotdog with cabbage slaw, cilantro, pickled red onions and kimchi mayo.
Staple menu items include the sushibeauritto ($8), a huge sushi roll with spicy krab mix, fruit and vegetables and the jerk ($6), three jerk pork tacos with cabbage carrot slaw and jerk mayo.
Don't miss out on the homemade Creole chips ($2) with your meal.
Live Action Deli's hours and days of operation vary based on location and weather. Learn more by visiting "Live Action Deli" on Facebook or by calling 337-501-5008.
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7. La Creperie Bistro
This crepe cafe opened in November in Parc Lafayette. In addition to savory and sweet crepes, you'll also find paninis, soups, salads and gelato in this European-inspired bistro.
Begin with a savory crepe, such as the night in Madrid ($13.99) with manchego cheese, Spanish chorizo and a drizzle of olive oil or the Alaska ($11.99) with smoked salmon, asparagus and cream cheese.
Be sure to save room for a sweet crepe, such as the crepe Suzette ($6.99) with orange jam, walnuts and whipped cream or the creme brulee ($9.49) with creme brulee, caramelized apples, walnuts and cinnamon.
Or, if you're into the idea ofa savory-sweet mashup, check out the Parisien ($9.99) with goat cheese, French fig jam, walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
La Creperie Bistro is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 1921 Kaliste Saloom Road, suite 116. Learn more by visiting lacreperiebistro.com or by calling 337-484-1010.
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8. Papa T’s Cafe
This plate lunch spot opened in March at the intersection of Verot School and Pinhook roads. Although there is plenty of seating inside, the restaurant has a large to-go business.
Know just one thing before visiting Papa T's: you will have leftovers. While most plate lunches offer generous portions, Papa T's takes it to a new level.
Papa T's offers a variety of daily specials. Visit Monday for the crawfish enchiladas ($9.99),Tuesday for the meatball stew ($8.99) or Wednesday for shrimp and grits ($10.99).
And while side dishes are so often an afterthought, you'll find a large selection of homemade sides, such as macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, corn macque choux,sweet potato casserole and rolls.
Papa T's Cafe is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2800 W. Pinhook Road. Learn more by visiting papatscafe.com or by calling 337-210-5969.
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9. Patacon Latin Cuisine
This cozy Latin restaurant opened in January on Bertrand Drive. Perfect for lunch or a casual dinner, Patacon is known for "unpretentiously delicious" food.
Begin with an order of tequenos ($4.50), deep-fried pastry filled with salty queso blanco. Think of these asthe Latin version of mozzarella sticks.
Next, try a patacone ($3-6), a green plantain sandwich made withchoice of shredded beef, chicken, cheese or pork and lettuce, tomatoes, avocados and special sauce.
If you still have room, check out a pabellon empanada($3) with black beans, beef and sweet plantain or a chicken arepas ($6), a flat bread made from white cornmeal, chicken, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and avocados.
Patacon Latin Cuisine is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 308 Bertrand Drive. Learn more by visiting "Patacon LLC" on Facebook or by calling 337-265-2509.
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10. Pho’tastic
This downtown Vietnamese restaurant opened in November. Pho'tastic serves as a second location of Vietnamese restaurant Pho Saigon.
Pho'tastic's menu includes pho, rice dishes, vermicelli salads, dumplings, egg rolls and spring rolls.
Begin your meal with the shrimp and vegetable pan-fried dumplings ($4.95) or the winter roll ($2 for one, $4.95 for two) with bean sprouts, lettuce, cilantro, fried tofu and vermicelli wrapped in rice paper, served with peanut sauce.
Then, belly up for the lamb pho ($7.95 for a small, $8.95 for a large), an original by the chef-owner that can't be found anywhere else. If lamb or pho isn't your thing, try the grilled lemon grass beef and egg vegetable fried rice plate ($10.95).
Pho'tastic is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday at 431 Jefferson St. Learn more by visiting "Pho'tastic" on Facebook or by calling 337-706-8560.
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11. Pop’s Poboys
This fun po'boy spot opened downtown in April. Open only for lunch, Pop's is known for creative takes on the classic Louisiana sandwich.
Begin the meal with an order of hush puppies with pickled okra tartar sauce or cane butter ($5) or Mimi mac and cheese ($5).
Next, pick your po'boy.
Great options includethe Jack special ($8 for half, $11 for a whole) with turkey, ham, debris-style roast beef, smoked gouda, tomato, lettuce and Blue Plate mayo; the red bean falafel ($5.50 for half, $8 for whole) with fritters made from red beans and chickpeas, cayenne tzatiki, tahini, lettuce and tomato; or the crawfish boil sausage ($6.50 for half, $9 for whole) with crawfish boiled Rabideaux's smoked sausage, pepper jack cheese, crawfish dip, lettuce and tomato.
Pop's Poboys is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 740 Jefferson St. Learn more by visiting popspoyboys.com or by calling 337-534-0621.
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12. Rodizio Grill
This Brazilian steakhouse restaurant franchise opened in July. Located in the shopping center anchored by Whole Foods, this all-you-can-eat meat buffet is the first of its kind in Lafayette.
You don't have to do much deciding up front at this restaurant. You're either ordering the full Rodizio($32.99) or the salad only option ($19.99), which includes the salad bar's veggies, charcuterie, soups, pasta and more.
But just because you don't have to do much deciding when it comes to ordering doesn't mean you shouldn't give your meal some thought. It's easy to fill up on the salad bar and first few meats you see only to miss out on something else you might enjoy.
Don't miss out on the chicken hearts, the grilled pineapple or the pao de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread made with yucca flour and cheese.
Rodizio Grill is open from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 4213 Ambassador Caffery Parkway. Learn more by visiting rodiziogrill.com or by calling 337-988-7700.
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13. Smashburger
This fast-casual restaurant franchise opened in November. Located in the shopping center anchored by Whole Foods, this is the first location of Smashburger in Acadiana.
Check out the Louisiana burger ($6.29 for a regular, $7.29 for a big), which comes with Cajun grilled onions, American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, remoulade sauce, lettuce and tomato on an egg bun with an order of Smashfries ($1.99 for a regular, $2.99 for a large), shoestring fries tossed in olive oil, rosemary and garlic.
While known for its smashed, juicy burgers, Smashburger also offers other sandwiches and salads. Not-to-be missed is the spicy jalapeno baja crispy chicken sandwich ($7.29) with guacamole, pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle mayo on a spicy chipotle bun or the avocado ranch black bean burger ($5.99) with pepper jack, lettuce, tomato and ranch on a multi-grain bun.
Smashburger is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday at 4231 Ambassador Caffery Parkway. Learn more by visiting smashburger.com or by calling 337-989-9466.
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14. Spotted Horse Tavern and Dining Parlor
Thisrestaurant opened in September in Opelousas. Located inside of the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, the Spotted Horse is known for its huge hot sauce selection.
Start the meal with a small plate, such as the citrus pork belly and prawns ($14), braised citrus glazed pork belly served with large prawns sauteed in coconut sugar and citrus rind or the French onion soup ($7), sweet Vidalia onions slow simmered in beef broth topped with a fresh baked crouton and encased in melted Gruyere cheese.
Next, try the Louisiana crab cake dinner ($18) or the 24-ounce bone-in ribeye ($56).
Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try the beer can chicken for two ($32), a heavily seasoned, baked whole chicken cooked with a special, beer-infused technique with sides of Yukon gold mashed potatoes and natural gravy.
The Spotted Horse Tavern & Dining Parlor is open 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at 2235 Creswell Lane Extension in Opelousas. Learn more by visiting thespottedhorse.com or by calling 337-594-3023.
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15. Mortar & Pestle
This new healthy restaurantlaunched in November. An evolution of Bibi's Patisserie, Mortar & Pestle is not the bakery that Bibi's was but is instead a full-service restaurant for those with dietary restrictions.
Everything on the menu is gluten-free and diabetic friendly, and many menu items have vegan options as well.
Check out theegg, remoulade and brown-gravy biscuit with cheesy grits($8) or the beignets with powdered "sugar" and salted caramel or butter rum sauce ($5.75) for breakfast.
For lunch, try the pizzafection ($9), aflatbread pizza topped with chevre, proscuitto, candied pecan and fig sauce or the fried green tomatoes sandwich ($8.50) with fried green tomatoes, spicy remoulade and pickled turnips with a side of curry sweet potato fries.
Mortar & Pestleis open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 1321 W. Pinhook Road. Learn more by visiting mortarandpestlelaf.comor by calling 337-534-0173.
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