Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Lafayette

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Lafayette? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cafe Sydnie Mae

5.0

5 (865)

$30 and under

Steak

Breaux Bridge

About the restaurant

Cafe Sydnie Mae is your destination for great food, drinks and entertainment with LIVE. local music. Follow us on Facebook for events as well as food and drink specials. Cafe Sydnie Mae, proudly supporting our beautiful community in the heart of Acadiana. Just a few minutes from Interstate 10!

Top review

JulieH

Dined 7 days ago

We experienced great service & delicious food as always!!!! Love the Christmas Music by Pine Leaf Boys along with yummy specialty drinks. Truly Our Favorite Place to Go!!!

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Charley G's Seafood Grill

4.9

4.9 (1229)

$30 and under

American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Charley G's is a Lafayette favorite known for grilling aged beef & fresh Louisiana seafood over southern hardwoods. The food at Charley G's is driven by Southern inspiration and the menu changes seasonally with local seafood & produce. The casual yet upscale atmosphere has a bar area with live piano music 7 days a week. Charley G's also offers a wide assortment of specialty liquors, liqueurs & wines. Once a month Charley G's hosts a wine dinner that features wines from various regions and uniquely paired cuisine.

Top review

Tracey

Dined on Nov 28, 2024

The tuna was AMAZING Highly recommend Fast & friendly service-always

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4.9

4.9 (234)

$30 and under

American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Park Bistro is in the Saint Streets area of Lafayette Louisiana and was founded by Chef Peter Cooke. Coming from New York City, Peter is excited to bring his elevated cuisine to the area. Park Bistro has indoor, outdoor and bar seating with a full beer, wine and cocktail program for you and your friends to enjoy.

Top review

AnneVIP

Dined 1 day ago

One of if not my favorite place in town. The food and service is impeccable.

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Lafayette

4.8

4.8 (1401)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Now Open: We look forward to serving you soon.

Ruth's Chris Steak House in Lafayette, LA serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.

Top review

Mia

Dined 3 days ago

Had a wonderful time. They always make us feel special on our anniversary

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Popular dish

T-Bone

Popular dish

Bone-In New York Strip

Experience

Holiday Lunch

Don's Seafood - Lafayette

4.8

4.8 (344)

$30 and under

Seafood

Lafayette

About the restaurant

The truth is, you don't become a Louisiana favorite just by putting the word "authentic" on your sign. When you've served Cajun meals as long as we have, you learn the difference between real food and a bland imitation, and our guests know it too. Grilled, fried or on ice-there's time cooked into every dish and time spent on every home cooked recipe, so that every aroma, every bite, every sip and every gathering is memorable. We've spent more than 80 years creating a recipe for something much greater than a place for a lunch break or night out. It's a place to share (or keep the whole plate to yourself), a place where you always have a seat ready at the table and a place where you're always part of the family.

Top review

Chuck

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

Food was great and our waitress, Kelly was awesome!

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Popular dish

FRIED OYSTERS

Social Southern Table and Bar

4.8

4.8 (830)

$30 and under

Southern

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Be real. Eat good. It is all about being true to who you are: sharing with friends and family and enjoying each other's company over a good meal. The ingredients are always fresh and that is the cornerstone of our farm-to-table approach. It's talking about dinner when you're having lunch. Have you got some positive energy to share? Or maybe your grandmother's recipe for cobbler?
Leave here and create some more good in your world. We're all a part of it.

Top review

Yvette

Dined 1 day ago

Everyone was wonderful. We celebrated our daughter’s college graduation. Thanks for making it special.

Vestal Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (696)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Vestal, a live fire restaurant concept in the heart of downtown Lafayette. We provide a dining experience with a focus in providing excellent customer service, while creating a welcoming upbeat environment for people to gather and enjoy thoughtful, delicious food and beverage. At Vestal, we honor both tradition and innovation. We believe that food taste better when sourced from local vendors and artisans, is prepared by hand in house, and cooked over hot hard wood coals. We better serve our community by sourcing responsibly and implementing sustainable practices. Our bar program is built around flavor with little regard paid to name and branding of the spirit used. Please visit our website at www.vestalrestaurant.com for more details and to further explore our offerings and policies.

Top review

Amy

Dined 3 days ago

Drinks, food & service were all 5 star. Raw oysters, beef tartar and tuna were all exceptional. Warmed wedge salad is a show stopper. Don’t miss it. Steaks were delicious and cooked properly. Second time here and was just as memorable as the first. Best restaurant experience in Louisiana.

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Poor Boy's Riverside Inn

4.6

4.6 (318)

$30 and under

Cajun

Broussard

About the restaurant

Starting with a snowball stand in 1932 until today, Richard & Lori Hurst are carrying on the family tradition. From St. John Street to on the River, to nestled in the woods, now with two full service restaurants, Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn’s and Little River Inn’s seafood and steaks have remained consistently delicious for over 80 years. Richard and Lori and their loyal staff hope you taste not only delicious Cajun food, but the pride that goes into every dish! The oldest restaurant in Acadiana with a great wine and dessert selection, kid friendly and great atmosphere with a third generation husband and wife team ready to serve and where you'll always find the locals.

Top review

Debra

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious food in a friendly atmosphere. A real treat to eat here

Midcity Restaurant + Bar

4.6

4.6 (21)

$30 and under

American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

We are 75+ year old home converted to an elevated restaurant + bar featuring smoked meats, steaks, seafood, killer salads, and a variety of sides. Our food is paired with a robust specialty cocktail menu, twelve craft beers on tap, 30+ whiskeys, and a full wine list.

Our bar & lounge area is very unique, while seating in what used to be the living room is quaint. Our deck behind the house under the oak trees & string lights is comfortable and our new gazebo outfitted with lounging furniture and a fire place is cozy.

We are proudly locally owned and have a great staff culture - we'd love for you to dine with us!

[We always leave tables available for walk-ins, so please call or just come in if reservations are shown as full.]

Top review

edith

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

The food was phenomenal! Highly recommend sliced brisket, chicken, mac and cheese and their cornbread! Their barbecue sauce that they bring out with your meal is delicious!

Prejean's Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (225)

$30 and under

Cajun

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Prejean's Restaurant is a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Conveniently located on I49 North, just 2 miles north of I-10 in Lafayette, LA awaits Big Al, our 14-foot stuffed gator to welcome you to our warm, friendly, and casual atmosphere. Mouth watering Char-Grilled Oysters served up with a bowl of one of our Signature Gumbos or maybe a perfectly cooked juicy Steak are just some of our menu offerings that are sure to delight.

After 40 years of ownership under the Guilbeau Family, Prejean’s started a new chapter in November 2020! New owners Tim Metcalf, Greg Metcalf, & Ken Boudreaux bring a combined 75+ years of restaurant experience & a new attitude to the iconic Prejean’s Restaurant.

Our Mission is simple …
Buy the best food we can & cook it as Cajuns do.
Simply Cajun!

Top review

Robert

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

We have stopped by Prejean’s a few times over the years of traveling past Lafayette, and we will be back again. We enjoyed our food, especially the gumbo and etouffe. Our waiter today was very attentive and pleasant. Glad we had time for lunch!

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