My dad ate here years ago and raved about the gumbo. Passing through Lafayette, my mom and I decided to surprise my dad by picking up some to-go. We ordered a gallon which came vacuum sealed and frozen in two bags with the shrimp and crab (I guess it was crab? Maybe fish?) sealed separately. It also came with a 9x13 pan of rice and a loaf of french bread. Five hours later we prepared and served it and it was delicious! The roux is just divine! My dad thought it was a little too peppery, but I loved it. Makes me want to learn how to make a roux. Will stop by again if I ever have opportunity.
Still the best. Great seafood and steaks and they really know how to do the originals au gratin étouffée fried shrimp. Worth the trip downtown.
Always delicious. Generous portions. Attentive waitstaff. Sunday lunch always good choice. Of course their gumbos are best in town!
Good place.. Such a good place. The cocktails are classic and so is the cajun and south Louisiana food. Last night the special was a giant seafood platter for $12.95. More than enough for three meals. In the heart of downtown Lafayette, the restaurant is over 75 years old. The service is 5 star and the staff is so honest. Dropped our credit cards on the way out and didn't even know it until they called this morning to say they had it. Go soon. Go often.
A Lafayette Institution. Don's Downtown is a Lafayette institution and there is a reason why...the food is consistently good. They have basically the same food as Don's Seafood Hut and strangely the same problem with their bisque so my review is the same as for the Hut. A recommended stop for visitors in Lafayette!
Just thinking about the crawfish bisque at Don's makes my mouth water, it is just SO GOOD!! They still serve the stuffed crawfish heads with it and while they are messy the stuffing is just delicious! The only thing I don't like is that about half the time the bisque is served just over lukewarm instead of hot which is disappointing. Not sure why this happens but I wish they'd fix it.
Their seafood salad is also fantastic! Sauteed crawfish, shrimp and crab set over a salad, wish they used a better variety of greens and veggies in the salad but it is still very good. All in all Don's is definately worth trying.
A Classic!. Don's in downtown Lafayette is consistently good. Today I had the seafood gumbo and crawfish half-and-half. Both were delicious. Service was great. As our meal ended, our waitress warned us of a sudden downpour and suggested we wait it out at our table.
The crowd in here is totally geriatric, especially at lunch. Today two cute old men (70+) were sitting at the table next to us downing martinis with their lunch. Awesome!
If you love seafood, Cajun food, and old people, you can;t go wrong at Don's!
We had dinner here on Sunday. It was our first time in Lafayette and experiencing Louisiana cuisine. We were seated quickly by a friendly host. Our server was Cari. She was knowledgeable about the menu and answered questions we had about our choices. She was prompt with our drinks and dinners. We ordered the seafood platter and the Crab dinner. Both were excellent and delicious. The Crab gumbo was very nice and had a depth of flavors. Louisiana and Don's have their cuisine DOWN! We look forward to coming back if we ever find ourselves in Lafayette again. PS: The leftovers were as good as remembered the next day.
The service was excellent. The server was helpful and polite. He was a very nice young man. The gumbo was the best I've eaten. The bread pudding with rum sauce was amazing! We were seated immediately. Our food came very quickly. We will go again.
Courteous, accommodating service. Great beverages. Good fare. Friendly, homey atmosphere. Relaxed ambience. Adequate parking areas. After viewing some of the reviews I wonder if all went to the same place. If circumstances were as dire as described, why did the individual(s) not complain at the time. Guess it is easier to type out a message then it is to talk to someone.
This place is like home for the heart of Cajun cuisine. Me and my group meet here every Wednesday and food is always hot, fresh, and the service is exceptional. The prices are about what I would expect from a similar business. It has a convenient place to park, and my recommendation for anyone is to go at lunch time so that you can get a good parking place. It's located in a good place downtown, so if your close stop by the staff is pleasant.
My first visit was very pleasant & rewarding. I had the Seafood Gumbo which I thought was pretty good, featuring a bowl with plethora meat, making it well worth the relative cheap price ($10.95). I also had a cup of potato salad but it wasn't anything to rave about. I also was impressed with the service I was given by the bartender; prompt & friendly. Will come back!
Parking lot completely full and had to wait to get a place to park, but once inside was seated right away so place pretty spacious. Grilled oysters were awesome as appetizers. Crab étouffée with mash and green beans were amazingly tasty. Finished off meal with some of the best bread pudding and stout coffee I’ve ever had. Perfect meal! Thanks
Could be better if not with a large group. Not sure if lunch rush (though went around 1230 pm), or something else, but service was very poor. The waitress did not introduce herself, but also seemed to be preoccupied with other tables and customers. We had a group of 9, and waited until everyone was seated to order (food took about 40 mins). The waitress did try and get people's drink orders while we all made our way in.
The food is always great, but definitely on the expensive side. They have some lunch specials, M-F 12-4 pm. However, you save about $2/meal by getting the lunch option. Seems like they would just offer a free drink with purchase of meal during lunch, and it would be a much better deal. Parking and location are always fine.
Would recommend if you're looking for a long meal, and have time to sit. Great if you're trying to catch up with friends or coworkers, but not ideal if you're just looking for a nice place for an hour lunch break, unless you are alone.
I have not been there in awhile. But the food was good. To me it could have been a little more spicy. They have always had excellent gumbo. It a great place to go for older people who have to watch their diet. It was clean, great service and ample parking.
Ordered the seafood platter and states " clear the table" it was actually pretty small for the price but fresh and flavorful. Wait staff was wonderful with clearing our table, helping us order and dealing with refills. Beautiful interior.
Very good customer service. Was there last for Mother's Day. Food was very good. It's one of the oldest restaurants in Lafayette. I'm in my 50s and have eaten there since my teenage years. I've always had a good experience.
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