3 High-End Restaurants in Lafayette That Are Perfect for Foodies

Lafayette offers a number of high-end restaurants that are perfect for serious foodies. The next time you want to create the perfect date night or simply savor the best dishes our city has to offer, be sure to check out these great establishments.

Ruffino’s on the River

A buzzy upscale restaurant located on Camellia Boulevard, Ruffino’s on the River is a culinary celebration. The restaurant combines the talents of New Orleans-born Italian chef Peter Sclafani and a former LSU lineman Ruffin Rodrigue, resulting in the area’s only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant. Nowhere else in town can you find shrimp corn dogs, sweet tea duck breast, Black Angus beef with a wild mushroom bread pudding, or truffle beef with handmade pasta.

Ruffino’s uses only the best local ingredients, from the fresh Louisiana seafood to the family-grown creole tomatoes. The eatery has also earned several awards, including three Fleur de Lis Culinary Award Gold Medals, the Best Restaurant Herbie Award, an Open Table Fine Dining Award, and UrbanSpoon’s Top Fine Dining Establishment. Guests are also welcome to arrange special events at Ruffino’s, so whether you’re hosting a cocktail party or wedding reception, this prized eatery should be at the top of your venue list.

Marcello’s Wine Market Café

If romance is on your list of must-haves, make a reservation at Marcello’s Wine Market Café. This upscale restaurant features classic Sicilian cuisine with an extensive wine selection. Guests are even encouraged to browse the wine racks before making their selections. The establishment has earned the Restaurant Concept of the Year Award from New Orleans Magazine, OpenTable’s Diner’s Choice Top 100 Wine List in America, and the 2014 Best New Restaurants in New Orleans Award.

Enjoy everything from authentic Italian family favorites from Parmigiana and fettuccine Alfredo to pork cheek Marsala and hearty lamb ragu for dinner. Marcello’s lunch menu also features classic dishes like pasta Bolognese, but also adds soups, muffuletta, and other types of paninis. No matter when you choose to dine, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Lafayette’s best wine bar!

Café Vermilionville

A well-established eatery in a pre-Civil War structure, the award-winning Café Vermilionville is an idyllic setting for enjoying fine Louisiana cuisine. Reservations are recommended and the dress code is business casual.

For lunch, start your meal with crawfish beignets served with a spicy creole mustard aioli and fried dill pickles. Move on to a savory bowl of seafood gumbo or turtle soup before the entrée arrives, which includes such selections as Deep South pork chops, oysters herbsaint, steak frites, lamb sliders, and chicken Madeira. The dinner menu only adds to the experience with foie gras PB&J appetizers, stuffed filet mignon, macadamia-crusted scallops, and coconut red snapper.

Given the historic nature of Café Vermilionville’s setting, special events are welcome. From intimate garden parties and business luncheons to weddings, it’s the perfect backdrop for your special day.

The next time you crave an elevated dining experience in Lafayette, look no further than these award-winning restaurants. Trust us, it won’t be the last time you visit.