These Lafayette mom-and-pop restaurants serve up comfort food, deep roots in community

Acadiana is a vibrant mixture of Creole, Cajun, and French flavors that satisfies any appetite.

Many of the eateries in Lafayette have been around for decades and have served generations of families. These mom-and-pop restaurants serve up comfort food and deep roots. Learn more about the history of these restaurants, and check out some of their popular food items.

Olde Tyme Grocery

With the slogan "Making po'boys famous since 1982," Olde Tyme Grocery operates as a counter-service style restaurant that operates at a very high volume with a open kitchen concept. The restaurant features outside and inside sitting or to-go orders.

The menu offers a variety of deli items. It features the Olde Tyme special, which is a po'boy that consist of roast beef, ham, turkey, gravy and swiss cheese. The restaurant is known for its fried shrimp po-boy.

"We've consistently been voted the best restaurant in the state by travel sites," said Russ Murphee, the owner's son. "We also got second in a USA poll for best po'boys in Louisiana."

This well-known restaurant began when Glenn Murphree, Russ's dad, purchased Olde Tyme Grocery. Coming to Lafayette in the 1970s for school, he bought the store in 1982 when it was a neighborhood grocery. Murphree operated Olde Tyme as a grocery store and would often sell deli sandwiches. Originally from Chalmette, a 20-minute commute from and to New Orleans, Glenn loved a good po'boy. Olde Tyme Grocery has become a favorite establishment for many locals and a great find for tourists.

"We're not fancy, but the quality of sandwiches we offer matters," Russ said. "It helps that we have the charm of a 100-year-old grocery store, which offers a unique nostalgia factor inside."

The restaurant is at 218 W. Saint Mary Blvd. in Lafayette. It is closed on all major holidays, but will be open limited hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Dwyer's Cafe

A native of the Breaux Bridge-Parks area, Stanley Dwyer opened his place in 1965.

For two decades prior to that he worked for the Stinson family as a cook at a series of downtown Lafayette diners. When he bought and renamed the restaurant, which he ran alongside his wife, Yuline, Dwyer’s soon became known for its plate lunches. Manager Taylor Bergeron said there isn't one specific dish that is better than any other.

Stanley Dwyer died in 2001. His son, Mike, bought the restaurant form his father in 1975. Photos of Stanley and Mike hang in the restaurant, alongside photos of longtime employees and Mike’s sons, Brett and Craig, who now run the restaurant.

The lunch specials range from smothered chicken to pork chops and steak. Friday's seafood course shrimp stew, shrimp étouffée and fried catfish.

"Nothing has changed, and being that the restaurant is family-owned, these recipes are never changing," Bergeron said. "When you first walk in, the restaurant automatically gives you this feeling of home and creates such a heartwarming environment for both the customers and workers."

This Thanksgiving, the restaurant will offer ham, turkey, dressing, yams and other sides for dine-in or to-go. Located at 323 Jefferson St. in Lafayette, Dwyers Cafe is closed on Thanksgiving day. The restaurant will be open 6 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch Wednesday.

Be sure to check out the stained-glass window inside and the mural on Garfield Street.

T-Coon's

Founder and head of the kitchen David Billeaud is a sixth-generation Billeaud from Broussard. His Acadian family is of French ancestry, all the way from France to Cajun Country.

"If I am not a Cajun, who is?," Billeaud said. "Prior to opening my first location in 1993, I had no restaurant experience at all. I grew up cooking in the kitchen with my parents, who were excellent cooks, and six siblings."

David opened up T-Coon’s in 1993, taking his father’s childhood nickname. In addition to the standard breakfast of eggs, bacon and grits, the menu includes omelets stuffed with pork roast, beef brisket and homemade Louisiana smoked sausage.

"Even though I am a Cajun, you will notice that the word 'Cajun' is not used in any of our advertising," he said. "This is because we see the word being misused all around the country. I have chosen the term 'Zydeco' instead, as it better represents the flavor of T-Coon's."

The most popular breakfast item on the menu is the Tony special, which consist of grilled shrimp, onions, broccoli, carrots and heavy cream sauce on top, according to Nikki Sterling, manager of T-Coon's.

"Our smothered rabbit is something that is different, which is surprising a pretty popular for dinner," Sterling said.

The plate-lunch special changes daily: smothered rabbit on Monday, short rib fricassee on Tuesday, Wednesday’s stuffed pork chops and smothered chicken and okra, Thursday’s smothered turkey wings, and catfish to end the work week.

T-Coon's is at 1900 W. Pinhook Rd. It is closed Thanksgiving but is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Judice Inn

Judice Inn has been known for its hamburgers with a secret sauce and special seasoning since the 1940s.

“Our menu is simple and has not changed over the 70 years of business,” said Gerald Judice, Marc Judice’s youngest son, who operates the business today. “Our primary menu item is, of course, our burgers, especially our double cheeseburgers.”

“The Inn" was opened April 5, 1947, by two brothers, Alcide and Marc Judice, who were part of a family of 17. After serving in different branches of military service during WWII, Al and Marc built the original building themselves. According to the website, word of the "best hamburgers in town" quickly spread throughout Acadiana, and the restaurant was soon known to all of Acadiana. The primary product is a hamburger with a unique recipe seasoned to the tastes of South Louisianans that has a "secret sauce" to enhance the flavor.

The restaurant has earned numerous “best burger” recognitions in local contests, and has been recognized by USA TODAY, Southern Living, Yelp and books with such accolades as “Eat Where the Locals Eat” and “Home Town Favorites.”

The restaurant is at 134 Johnston St. in Lafayette. It is closed Thanksgiving but open 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette mom-and-pop restaurants that have been around for decades