Located at 3480 NE Evangeline Thruway, Prejean’s is a well-known Cajun/Creole restaurant in Lafayette, known for its Louisiana flavors, live music and relaxing atmosphere. For decades, both locals and visitors have gathered at this restaurant to enjoy classic Acadiana dishes such as gumbo, crawfish étouffée and fried seafood platters. Prejean’s has built a reputation as one of Lafayette’s go-to destinations for authentic Cajun cuisine and Southern hospitality.
Their menu offers a wide selection of classic Louisiana dishes, including gumbo, bisques, salads, seafood platters, po-boys, flatbreads, desserts, as well as many entrees and side dishes. Some of their most popular entrees include Shrimp and Grits, Catfish Atchafalaya, Pasta Camellia, Eggplant Pirogue and Crawfish Enchiladas. Their sides include Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Corn Maque Choux, Rice Dressing, Hush Puppies, Sweet Potato Fries and Potato Salad.
The restaurant also serves some premium sides which include the Twice Baked Potato, “Dirty” Grits, Grilled Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts and Fried Okra.
Prejean’s was founded in 1980. From the beginning, the restaurant was designed to celebrate Cajun traditions — not just through its menu, but also through live zydeco and Cajun music performances. Over the years, Prejean’s has remained a well-known landmark in Lafayette, welcoming thousands of guests who want to experience both the flavor and spirit of Acadiana.
After years under the Guilbeau family, the restaurant was sold to Tim Metcalf, Greg Metcalf, and Ken Boudreaux in November 2020. After some remodeling, the restaurant reopened at the beginning of 2021 under new ownership. The Metcalfs and Boudreaux made significant renovations and modernizations — adding features like a boil room for crawfish and shrimp and updating kitchen facilities — with a focus on keeping Prejean’s known for its classic dishes while enhancing quality and consistency.
The restaurant’s atmosphere immediately sets the tone for the experience the moment you walk in. The rustic look of the establishment reminded me of the charm of a classic Louisiana bayou, complete with warm wooden accents and decor that reflects the culture of Acadiana. There is also a live-music area at the front of the dining room, where local musicians perform.
My colleague and I had the pleasure of visiting this well-known Lafayette restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 19. As we walked in, we were greeted by the hostess and promptly seated at our table. Shortly after sitting down, our waiter introduced himself, and we looked over the menu. Having been here before, I knew it would be a challenge to choose anything from the menu, since it was filled with so many enticing options.
After a few minutes’ deliberation, we chose our meals. For our appetizer, we chose the Crawfish Potato Cakes, and for our entrees, I chose the Crawfish Enchiladas while my colleague opted for the Blackened Ahi Tuna Steak.
Our appetizer arrived first, and it was beautifully presented. The potato cakes were perfectly golden brown, with a crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior. I can confidently say that this was one of the best dishes I have tasted, especially since it was recently added back to the menu and I had never tried it before.
After we finished our appetizer, our entrees arrived. The Crawfish Enchiladas were a nice twist on traditional Louisiana flavors, showcasing perfectly cooked crawfish stuffed into enchiladas, topped with a creamy, cheesy sauce, with sides of Corn Maque Choux and Rice Dressing. The blend of spices made each bite fill my mouth with flavor, leaving me wanting a lot more.
My colleague’s Blackened Ahi Tuna Steak was equally as impressive. According to her, the blackening seasoning gave the tuna a smoky flavor that complemented its natural sweetness. The meal was cooked to perfection, served with Grilled Asparagus and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. We both began to appreciate how well-prepared our meals were; the presentation alone was amazing.
As we were finishing our meals, we both decided to order a crème brûlée for dessert. This dessert was just the right amount of sweetness that I needed after my meal. The top was perfectly browned, adding a nice crispiness to the flavorful cream.
I decided to interview our waiter, Brennan Bodin, after finishing our dessert. “I have been working here for over eight years. My overall experience here has been great. It’s a restaurant, so it’s a lot of ups and downs. You know, good days, bad days, kind of with anything, but overall this job has afforded me a lot…worked here through high school, college, and now carrying it as a full-time job…it’s definitely gotten me a lot in terms of freedom, not only financial, but just in working here and the people that I work with are obviously a huge part of that.”
“I have met some employees along the way that have become my lifetime friends…so it’s been a good experience for sure, and it kind of gets better over time. My favorite aspect of working here is the people and my coworkers.”
When asked about the history of the place, he stated, “Prejean’s was originally opened on April 15, 1980. The original owner was not actually a part of the Prejean family. It was the original owner’s grandfather who owned the property. And the building was actually just an old barn. It was the barn for everything here in 1980 and then they just decided to convert it into a restaurant. They have been in business ever since.”
Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Prejean’s. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was even more astonishing. I loved the fun, musical environment and the genuine southern hospitality that made for a memorable visit. If you would like to visit Prejean’s Restaurant, they are open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.