When you visit Lake Charles, Louisiana you can be guaranteed of two things. You are going to eat well and you are going to have a great time!
I’m sharing the restaurants and distilleries that you will want to add to your list the next time that you visit.
Seafood Palace
2218 Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA
Enjoy fresh cajun seafood at a favorite of Lake Charles locals. If you visit during crawfish season, you’ll be in for a treat!
Palace is in the name, but you will feel comfortable coming in just as you are.
No need to dress fancy, especially if you plan on eating crawfish that evening.
A few menu item musts are the boudin balls, shrimp gumbo, duck tenders, and of course the crawfish. Order a side of potato salad to combine with your gumbo and you will be eating like a local.
Use the lemon slices on the table to help clean your hands when you are finished with your crawfish.
The Charleston Bistro
900 Ryan St, Lake Charles, LA
The perfect spot for drinks or dessert…or drinks that could also double as dessert.
The Charleston Bistro is perfect for a date night or evening out with friends with a wonderful selection of wine and dessert cocktails surrounded by the beautiful ambiance and great music inside the historic Charleston Hotel.
The Cajun fusion restaurant deserves two visits, one during regular hours and also for brunch featuring live music, popular dishes, and bottomless mimosas.
Make sure that you also try the seasonal favorite, Corn and Crab Bisque. Trust me, Louisiana crabmeat combined with a creamy, sweet & spicy corn bisque, need I say more?
Favorites Southern Kitchen
Located in: L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles
777 Ave L’Auberge, Lake Charles, LA
Offering lots of comfort food options with a southern twist. The Cajun Benedict was recommended to me during a visit and I have to agree that it’s a must, especially if you enjoy fresh seafood….which is normally not my typical breakfast choice.
The Cajun Benedict is made with Andouille sausage, avocado, crawfish tails, fried green tomato, southern style cornbread, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce.
Brunch at The Chart House at Golden Nugget
2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601
Enjoy brunch with scenic views of the golf course at The Chart House at Golden Nugget.
Drago’s inside L’Auberge Casino Resort
777 Ave L’Auberge, Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, Louisiana is the sixth location of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant.
After you try Drago’s Original charbroiled oysters you’ll understand why!…and you might not want to share.
The flavor combinations of the charbroiled oysters with butter, garlic and Parmesan will have you soaking up any extra in your bread.
Locals Love Luna Bar & Grill
719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA
This music inspired restaurant has great ambiance and fantastic food! It’s also a local favorite and after you visit, you’ll understand why.
Need some menu recommendations?
Our table shared the following delicious menu items:
- Luna Tuna – yellowfin tuna steak, lemon butter cream sauce house temperature – medium rare
- Orion Salmon – Atlantic salmon, sweet & spicy pecan glaze
- Redfish Apollo – Redfish, crabmeat au gratin sauce, fried shrimp, avocado
- Nannette – Hangar steak with Louisiana crawfish, Apollo cream sauce, red wine sauce
- Creamed spinach
- Garlic Cheddar Mash
- Grilled Mixed Vegetables
- Sweet Potato Fries
Breakfast at Coffee: 30
127 W College Street, Lake Charles, LA
Start your morning right with great coffee and an assortment of sweet and savory breakfast menu items at Coffee : 30.
Make sure that you try the beignets and the Sundial breakfast sandwich that is the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Bodega Wine Dive
3505 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles, LA
This is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine over dinner.
LeBleu’s Landing/ Sausage Link
Boudin (pronounced bü-dan) is a Cajun rice sausage that is very popular in Southern Louisiana. Boudin is made with ground pork, liver, rice, parsley, onions, salt, black pepper, red pepper, and other seasonings that vary from cook to cook.
The sausage can be steamed or smoked and there is even a Southwest Boudin Trail so that you can sample the variations in the area.
At the Sausage Link, you can watch Boudin being made through the window and then you can enjoy a great meal next door at LeBleu’s Landing located a short drive from Adventure Point. If you want to sample a little bit of everything, I suggest opting for the buffet.
You can also order straight from the menu and I highly recommend trying two unique appetizers while you are there.
The Boudin Ball (signature boudin coated with special seasoned breading that is fried crispy) and the Crawfish Pistolette (French roll lightly fried and stuffed with creamy crawfish cheese sauce) are flavors you need to experience!
Insane Sausages
2255 LA-109, Vinton, LA
(30 minutes from Lake Charles)
Insane Sausages takes both boudin and specialty sausage to the next level with both traditional and creative twists. This one is worth the drive!
Insane Sausages owner, Derek Gaspard, comes up with combinations that you have most likely never tried before.
BOOMBOX Frozen Pops and Ice Cream (Formerly Pops and Rockets)
2825 Country Club Rd Suite B, Lake Charles, LA
A sweet treat without the guilt.
Pops & Rockets is a nearby downtown shop that not only makes amazing handmade gourmet pops and ice cream, but they also have clever flavor names inspired by 80’s songs and band names.
You will also notice a few classic arcade games that will make adults and kids happy.
I recommend trying a few samples if you are unsure of what to order. I ended up with the “Pulling Peanuts”(from a shell) Thai Peanut flavor that was unique and delicious.
With names like Raz DMC, Rock The Casabanana, Blister In The Sun, Pop You Like A Hurricane, and Sweet Child-O-Lime, the struggle is whether you will choose your selection based on the clever name or the interesting flavors.
Crying Eagle Brewing Co.
1165 E McNeese St, Lake Charles, LA
First, let’s get this out of the way. What’s the story behind the name?
Crying Eagle is a rough translation of the Atakapa Indian word Quelqueshue, the name of a legendary chief with a unique battle cry. Later, it was the name given to the mighty river that feeds the parish.
I live in a beer city…but I don’t like beer. Every brewery has tried to convert me and I’m always willing to sample…but the outcome is usually still the same….I don’t like beer…BUT Crying Eagle Brewing Co. found a beer for me that went from a tasting to a request for glass.
That is big for me to say. “Ready to Mingle” is my recommendation for those of you with similar preferences. If you enjoy beer you will have plenty of craft brew options that will put a smile on your face.
On top of the great beer, they also serve fantastic wood fire pizzas. I highly recommend ordering a few so that you get to sample a little bit of everything.
The House pizza, “Crying Eagle” was definitely my favorite made with Bacon, Shredded Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Fuji Apple, Local Honey, & Fresh Rosemary. Unique combo of ingredients but trust me, it comes together beautifully!
Bayou Rum Distillery and Event Center
20909 Frontage Rd, Lacassine, LA
Another stop you will want to make is at Louisiana Spirits. It’s the largest private rum distillery in the United States and about a 25-minute drive from Lake Charles…but close enough. The facility offers free tours and tastings.
Bayou Rum uses 100% natural unrefined Louisiana cane sugar and molasses and the results are delicious. Once you discover your favorite flavor, you can find lots of options in the gift shop.
I will warn you that once you visit these local favorites you will be dreaming of when you can make your next visit to Lake Charles….but that’s definitely not a bad thing.
You can find more ideas of things to do for the whole family here.
Thanks again to Visit Lake Charles for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own.
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Heba - otlaat travel
interesting post with delicious photos