Poor Boy's Riverside Inn — Restaurant in Lafayette

100% our favorite restaurant near Lafayette, Louisiana is the one and only Poor Boy's Riverside Inn in Broussard.

We had the pleasure of dining with the owners Richard and Lori Watkins Hurst at their family owned seafood restaurant that was opened 92 years ago. One of the very best meals from start to finish that we have had in a very long time.

We started with the Alligator Tidbits - Deep fried or grilled, this bite-sized Louisiana gator is easy to tame and tasty to boot. We got them grilled and fried. Some of the best Alligator I have had anywhere.

Cajun Crab fingers - Crab Fingers marinated in Fr. Coco's famous dressing, or fried golden brown. Yep, we got them both ways. Zac absolutely loved these.

I started with Richard’s Famous Tequila Martini - 1800 Tequila, Cointreau and little else — Do you know what rhymes with Friday? Martini! Richard and Lori had the same. What a perfectly balanced and smooth cocktail. I see why it's named “Richard’s Famous Tequila Martini “. The menu states about their specialty martinis: “Lori’s Glass is Always Half Empty & Richard’s Glass is Always Half Full – But We Can Always Refill Yours!”

Zac got the award winning Crawfish Dinner - A special sampling of many fine crawfish dishes including: Crawfish salad, crawfish and corn soup, crawfish pie, crawfish etouffee over rice, crawfish boulettes, crawfish au gratin and fried crawfish tails. Sooo...good!

My dinner was amazing! Seriously, one of my now all time favorite seafood dishes of all time. The Redfish Extravaganza - Filet of Redfish (also available with tilapia, flounder or catfish) stuffed with crab meat stuffing then topped with crawfish, more crab meat and mushrooms sauteed in sweet cream butter. A favorite meant to impress! Y’all this was a dish that makes you smile with every bite, and had no business being so dang good. My second cocktail was the Kim’s Margarita - Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila, Cointreau, lemon-lime

Richard had the Crab Cake dinner - One large crab cake stuffed with jumbo lump crab meat in a creamy cheese filling, fried or broiled, and served with a Creole honey mustard glaze and a taster of friend crab fingers. He chose the stuffed potato for his side.

Lori had the Crab Cake Imperial - Originated by Mrs. "Poor Boy" Landry. Jumbo lump crab meat, mushrooms and pimientos, gently cooked in a rich cream sauce and baked to a golden brown. She choose grilled veggies as her side.

We all split a dish of Lump Crab Meat - Our simplest dish and a favorite with our guests. It's what puts us on the Acadiana Dining Map!

Dessert was so special was their famous Sweet Potato Beignets - Chef Cleve's cinnamon-spiced sweet potato "beignets" with an orange-hazelnut sauce. Sounds weird right? OMG! These were freaking excellent! Do not skip this if you ever go to Poorboys Riverside Inn.

To pair with our dessert, we had Riverside’s Traditional Old Fashioned (Smoked with Pecan wood) - Woodford Reserve, simple syrup, muddled cherry and orange, bitters — I like water, specially when it’s frozen into cubes and...

Poor Boys' Riverside Inn is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Lafayette, and it undoubtedly stands out as a culinary haven for seafood enthusiasts. From the moment you step through the door, the warm and welcoming ambiance sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

What truly sets Poor Boys' Riverside Inn apart is their commitment to serving the freshest and most delectable seafood in Lafayette. Each dish is a masterpiece of flavors, showcasing the culinary expertise of the chefs. The menu boasts an impressive array of seafood options, from succulent shrimp to perfectly grilled fish. The seafood is so fresh that it practically transports you to the coastal waters with every bite.

The Crab Cakes are a must-try, offering a perfect balance of crispy exterior and moist, flavorful interior. The Cajun Seafood Pasta is a culinary symphony, blending bold spices with a medley of seafood that dances on your taste buds. The menu also caters to various preferences, with options for those who prefer their seafood grilled, fried, or blackened.

The service at Poor Boys' Riverside Inn deserves commendation. The staff is attentive, friendly, and well-versed in the menu, ready to provide recommendations or answer any questions. The cozy atmosphere and charming decor add to the overall dining pleasure, making it an ideal spot for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings.

In addition to the exceptional food and service, the restaurant's location along the riverside enhances the dining experience. The picturesque views create a serene backdrop, elevating the overall ambiance. Whether you're a seafood aficionado or just looking for a memorable dining experience in Lafayette, Poor Boys' Riverside Inn is a culinary haven that exceeds expectations. Prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey that celebrates the richness of seafood in every...

I had not been in this restaurant in close to12 years when they had really terrific food and it was one of the premiere restaurants in Lafayette. I was bringing my new bride because she had never been there and I wanted to share this "unique and awesome" restaurant with her. Boy was that ever a big mistake. I have no idea what happened to the quality of food there but it wasn't even a shadow if it's former self - it wasn't even a skeleton of it's former self. She ordered a fried seafood platter that was so salty that it had to have just been pulled from the dead sea. They graciously offered to redo it and grill it instead but much to our dismay it came back butter was so peppered that the second platter could not be eaten either. I ordered grilled redfish with lump crabmeat and was again disappointed. The fish was over cooked to the point of being dry and tasteless but there were a few small lumps of crabmeat that decorated the top of the fish. There were several redeeming things about the restaurant though - we had an awesome waitress who fought tooth and nail for us and the manager graciously came over and apologised for our bad experience. The onion rings are to die for- fresh and home made. ( But so are onion rings from many other establishments). I guess my final ending to this rambling is only to ask "what happened to the quality restaurants that seemingly have disappeared from Lafayette. I know there are still many good ones but I miss the quality that the older ones had - Dons Downtown, Riverside, Stroud's, Blacks in Abbevile - only to name a few. Don't waste your money or time to go to Riverside unless you want sub quality food. At least I learned where not to go again for decent food. So...