Date Night: Blue Dog Cafe
Hello & Welcome! Those who have stumbled here and may not know me- I am Liz and currently live in Lafayette, La.
Lafayette is the heart of cajun country & is known for its delicious food. I constantly get asked for recommendations for restaurants in town, so I decided to showcase some of my favorites here on the blog.
Up first: Blue Dog Cafe
Atmosphere:
I feel like most people know artist George Rodrigue for his paintings featuring the blue dog, but I love his work of cajun scenes such as the Aioli Dinner Supper Club. From the second you walk into the door at the Blue Dog Cafe you are greeted by walls of Rodrigue’s creations. It’s a beautiful sight! The bar area is pretty large with bar and table seating- they also have live music some nights!
Cocktails:
I was boring and had a glass of Cabernet, because that’s what I like. Emily ordered a cosmo, Luke a Sazerac, and Petey an Abita Amber. All great choices.
Appetizers:
Cast-Iron Heirloom Cornbread- fresh milled blue corn & Steen’s cane syrup butter. OMG best thing we had all night- it is a must order!
Boudin Balls with canebrake mustard aioli & pickle herb relish. These were great- not your typical texture of a boudin ball, a lot smoother- think a crabcake.
Main Course:
Blue Crab Spaghetti- fresh lump crab, linguine, chili garlic butter, citrus herb gremolata, shaved cured egg yolk, and parmesan. A delicious bowl of pasta on the spicier side. If you have any sensitivity to heat, this may not be the best choice for you. I loved it though!
Crawfish Enchiladas- cumin mornay, chili braised purple hulls, cilantro, & creme fraiche. An all time favorite that has made its way to the new menu. In the past this dish was served with dirty rice and corn maque choux. Now it comes with smothered peas which were fantastic, but I wish they would bring the corn back!
10 oz Sirloin- served with sauteed green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, & mushroom demi. This is a great option for the non seafood lovers. The mashed potatoes were so rich and creamy!
Sides:
Mac & Cheese- ehhhh not our favorite. I’d opt for something else.
Seasonal Grilled Vegetables- this was a mix of brussel sprouts, parsnips, and cauliflower. It was a good healthy choice for a side.
We skipped out on dessert, but a plate a beignets passed the table and looked pretty delicious!
I hope you enjoyed this write up/ review! The Blue Dog Cafe is a Lafayette staple and I love what Chef Ryan Trahan has done to the menu. I can’t wait to share with you our other favorite date night spots in town! Until then, follow along on Instagram @thevintagefork ! Happy Eating- Liz
