The gumbo trail will lead you all the way from New Orleans to Lafayette and all points in between. Here, our favorite places to eat and stay in South Louisiana.
WHERE TO EAT
Bread & Circus Provisions
258 Bendel Road, Lafayette (337-408-3930; bandcprovisions.com)
The hen and andouille gumbo served by chef Manny Augello is among the most rustic and delicious versions you'll find in Cajun country. Enjoy it with a side of his fried chicken skins.
Café Vermilionville
1304 W Pinhook Road, Lafayette (337-237-0100; cafev.com)
At this elegant, button-down restaurant, chef C.J. Panthier (pictured right) and his team cook up excellent smoked turkey gumbo and seafood gumbo, along with a classic turtle soup.
Commander's Palace
1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans (504-899-8221; commanderspalace.com)
Chef Tory McPhail offers a luxurious smoked goose and foie gras gumbo at this New Orleans institution, located in the city's Garden District.
701 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504-524-4114; herbsaint.com)
Chef de cuisine Rebecca Wilcomb serves a "gumbo of the day" that might include shrimp and crab or fried chicken and andouille at this Donald Link—owned restaurant
Jolie's Louisiana Bistro
507 W. Pinhook Road, Lafayette (337-504-2382; jolieslouisianabistro.com)
A lard and flour roux is the base for chef Gregory Doucet's seasonal gumbos. Also try Doucet's Louisiana drum fish crusted with local Zapp's Crawtator potato chips.
25020 U.S. 190, Lacombe (985-626-7662; laprovencerestaurant.com)
At John Besh's cozy restaurant on New Orleans' North Shore, chef de cuisine Erick Loos serves an elegant quail gumbo, with many ingredients sourced from a farm right out back.
Li'l Dizzy's Café
1500 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans (504-569-8997)
Located in New Orleans' historic Treme neighborhood, Dizzy's serves its Creole filé gumbo buffet-style, along with classics such as red beans and rice.
Prejean's
3480 NE Evangeline Thruway, Lafayette (337-896-3247; prejeans.com)
The dining room of this Acadian Disneyworld features Spanish moss-draped cypress trees and live Cajun music. But the main draws are the smoked duck and andouille gumbo and a seafood gumbo swimming with crawfish and crab.
WHERE TO STAY
Hilton Lafayette
1521 W. Pinhook Road, Lafayette (337-235-6111; hilton.com)
The rooms are nice, the lounge is open late, and the location on West Pinhook Road makes this an ideal home base for sampling Lafayette's best gumbo restaurants.
Roosevelt Hotel
130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans (504-648-1200; therooseveltneworleans.com)
This restored historic hotel features stately rooms and the Fountain Lounge, where chef Mark Marjorie serves a smoked chicken gumbo with andouille and tasso in a lost-in-time dining room.
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