Lafayette’s restaurant scene continues to evolve

La Carreta

    This spring, several new restaurants have opened or announced openings, expanding the city’s already vibrant and award-winning culinary scene.
    Social Southern Table & Bar opened at 3901 Johnston St., “a chef-driven bar” that combines a sophisticated menu along with specialty cocktails and upscale beers and wines.
    La Carreta now serves up Mexican dishes and margaritas, among other drink specialties, at 400 Jefferson St. in the heart of downtown Lafayette.
     Brick & Spoon unveiled the first of what will be its five restaurants in three states with its Lafayette flagship eatery in the Grand Pointe Village shopping center of Lafayette. The restaurant offers a breakfast, brunch and lunch menu featuring fresh ingredients, local farm produce and the most elaborate Bloody Marys on earth.

Deviled on the Bayou at Brick & Spoon

    Coming up on May 20, the Lafayette version of Ruffino’s opens in River Ranch, a popular Baton Rouge restaurant specializing in steak, seafood and Italian fare. Titled Ruffino’s on the River, the restaurant’s regional specialties will include a shrimp corndog appetizer and Louisiana crawfish ravioli. Ruffino’s is helmed by Chef Peter Sclafani, named “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Louisiana Restaurant Association for two consecutive years (2010, 2011), Baton Rouge’s Chef of the Year in 2004 and the city’s Marketer of the Year in 2011.
     Lafayette was named the town “Best for Food” in America in the 2011 Best of the Road Rally by Rand McNally and the “Tastiest Town” in 2012 by Southern Living magazine.
    For information on Lafayette’s restaurants, food tours, Boudin Trail, recipes and more, visit http://www.lafayettetravel.com/eat.