Don's, in Lafayette, Louisiana

Don's Seafood & Steak House

For a long time, Don and I have wanted to stop in, for a bite at Don's. 

For over 20 years, we've seen the    billboard ads, along on I-10, on drives to New Orleans and Florida.

I always remind Don that it's his restaurant and we need to stop. If they had a restaurant named Beth's, I wouldn't wait 20 years to check it out.

The Cookbook
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We've also been eager to have a Don's experience, because the fine eatery is featured in our vintage cookbook.

Many of the restaurants spotlighted in the cookbook are long gone.

When we find places that have managed to survive, we always remind ourselves,

​"We have to visit, before it's too late!"

​The cookbook only has a few recipes from the state of Louisiana and only one for Lafayette.  

Last March, Don and I spent a night in Lafayette, in the heart of Cajun Country. We decided to give Don's a try!

Change?

It was Ash Wednesday, when we arrived in Lafayette.  The night before, the small city had celebrated with big Mardi Gras festivities.  

The corner restaurant was just a 2-minute drive from our inn, so we drove over to check it out in the afternoon. It was quiet and deserted, with a few barricades, left over from the parades. I cracked open the cookbook to compare the illustration of Don's. I could see the corner entrance and some of the old glass block. Lots had been covered with shutters. Funny... the watercolor image showed a Mardi Gras parade!

Lamps and Neon

The old building looked a little weary in the bright sunshine, but I could see that things would be glowing in a few hours.

There were lots of "gas lights" and a few unlit neon messages. One said "Since 1934". I believe the French-Acadian restaurant opened as Don's Beer Parlor, in 1934

I spotted a few beads, left over from the Mardi Gras festivities. I spotted a sign, that mentioned the Landry brothers, Don, Ashby and Willie. At one time all 3 had a part in this business, which was combined with  Willie's grocery store.

Interior

Don and I arrived for dinner at about 7. It was actually fairly busy at that time, so I waited till later to snap some photos.

I was a little unclear, which part was original in 1934. There had obviously been some expansion and a bit of remodeling.

Spirits

The main dining area, was filling up steadily.

We guessed that the nearest Catholic Church had just finished an evening Ash Wednesday service.

Most of the diners seated and entering (including a priest) wore an ash cross, on the forehead.

Don and I took a peek at the rather snazzy looking "Spirits" bar and thought we might be more appropriately dressed, for that crowd.

But the bar had a loud TV and the wrong ambience. We headed back towards the arched entrance, into the oddly bright and quiet, dining room.

Brick and Photos

The dining room had a retro Super Club feel to it, with white table cloths and black napkins. There had been a little updating, with enlarged photos, mounted on the brick walls. 

I love a restaurant that spotlights their history. I'm sure all the photos had good stories, but I just guessed at them. Our server was very busy. I only asked about the man in the suit and glasses. 

Frenchy

​Frenchy was a well-loved employee of Don's for over 45 years. Her rode his bike to work, into his late seventies. ​

One of the restaurant's refurbished rooms is named for Frenchy. I love stories like that!

Menu Studies

Don and I were seated beneath a few fishing photos, then we dug into our menus.

The menu cover had black and white photo, of Don's. I'm guessing in the 1960's.

We opened to a colorful page, with cocktail suggestions. Our Cajun fiddler, at the B & B had recommended the very powerful, Don's Old Fashion. The drinks that came in Don's glasses, looked mighty inviting!

​Don with Don's Old Fashion

I of course had to get a photo of Don with his glass. I'm afraid I failed to capture his cocktail very well. There was a lot going on in that drink! I enjoyed the sugar-stick-stir-er!

I usually only like a Bloody Mary at a brunch, but I went all out. It came with pickled okra, a green bean and olives on a pink sword! That was a meal in itself. Both drinks were powerful and packed with flavor. I couldn't finish... but that's just me.

My Feast

I went for the Cajun Casserole, which was a combo of shrimp and crabmeat dressing and eggplant. My baked potato was the size of small animal! All good!

Don worked on his Crawfish Half & Half, with fried and Etouffee. Both meals were huge and filling and tasty.

​We watched the tables empty and finally we were the only ones left.

Gina and the Cookbook

Things were finally relaxed enough to chat with Gina, our super upbeat server.

Usually, when we take the cookbook on a dining adventure, we try to order the featured recipe. 

This can be pretty fun, if you have a server who's old enough to appreciate a little history. 

But we waited until later, since Gina had been racing around earlier.

When Gina came to check on us after we finished, I told her I had something to show her.

I pulled out the book, with the Crawfish Etouffee recipe. She leaned in and gave the page a good look, before she reared back with a laugh. "Where did you get this?"

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Sharing and Posing

Gina rewarded us with the perfect reaction. She asked if she could borrow the book to show others in the kitchen. That's always a good sign.

She disappeared for a bit, then returned, grinning with the book. We chatted a while, before Gina and Don did a little posing for my camera.  

A Good Night at Don's

The staff couldn't have been sweeter. We had slowed things down with our cookbook and a couple of purchases...  Don's cocktail glasses were for sale, at $5. each.  

As we headed towards the doors, some lingering staff wished us well and thanked us for coming. I'm pretty sure we were the only non-locals on Ash Wednesday. We certainly were the only diners who brought a show-and-tell item.

A fun little Dining and Cookbook Adventure, for sure!