Rachael's Cafe — Restaurant in Lafayette

11/12/22 This eatery is still consistent! I absolutely love their shrimp and okra gumbo!!! Rachel's son is AWESOME!!! This is one of my favorite AUTHENTIC CAJUN/CREOLE SPOTS TO DINE AT!

6/21/21 I came for the first time around 5:20 and had the best service and best food! Ross was our waiter according to the name ticket at our table; however, the other waiters and waitresses would pick-up the slack for their counterparts to make sure the customers were good at all times (with drinks/ordering of more food, etc...): this was neat and a Very Good move by management! 5/5 Stars for that great hospitality strategy among the staff members.

The food was the best, ever, too. Homemade quality! The restaurant has a real chill ambiance about it, too.

I ordered: A cup of shrimp and okra gumbo: came out warm, and it was certainly VERY good! The Seafood jambalaya tates exactly how I do mine!!!! Now I know where to get the foods I enjoy when I don't feel like cooking! Lol The potato salad was a basic salad like what maw-maw would make: straight up just the potatoes and eggs with mayo/mustard mix. Not too much mustard, though. More simple and bland--just like maw-maw would make it because she didn't want it over-powering the other great food she made. The side order of okra is a 10/10!!!!! Who is cooking this food??????!!!!! They are the best!!!!! Grilled bell peppers with crab stuffing and some tartar sauce made it just right!

Ordered 3 desserts: German Chocolate cake, carrot cake, and pineapple upside down cake: they came out bundt style. The pineapple upside down bunt dessert was the best out of the 2.

I can't believe this place has been in Lafayette this long and I never knew about it. This place doesn't even show up on Google for places opened to dine at.

Anyway, IF YOU WANT AUTHENTIC FOOD THAT MAW-MAW WOULD COOK IN HER KITCHEN, THIS IS THE...

Rachael's feels like more of an accurate representation of Cajun food and culture than Prejean's, but I never hear anyone talking about it. It has that down home, comfort food feel to it, but you can get a pretty healthy meal there, too, so just know that both sides of the spectrum can enjoy themselves at Rachael's Café.

On the healthier/"Fit" side of their menu: their Red Snapper, Tilapia, & Grouper entrees are a good size. Adding the optional sauteed mushrooms & onions ups the taste even more. The Oven Roasted Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Coconut Sweet Potatoes, Baked Sweet Potato, Okra, Asparagus & Cauliflower "Rice" are all good side dishes. Considering the portion size, as well as the quality of the oil used to prepare my food, I'm satisfied with their menu prices.

On the more indulgent side of their menu: the Crabmeat Au Gratin and the Fried Chicken are lovely. I also think that the size of their Crab Patty Burger is perfect and left me happily full.

I adore this little hole in the wall & hope they continue thriving for...

Not very welcoming, lunch plate we had was mediocre and service extremely terrible👎. Wife and I both had the hamburger steak plate. After an abnormally long wait for which was their special for the day. I beamed my eyes outside with hunger🤤 and notice other customers getting their plates before us. Who arrived after us and had the same special. Panning across the room, i noticed the majority who arrived after us was already eating🤯. Finally, heard a lady's voice over the crowd asking about our table. And the food proceeded to come out there after. Wife's plate didn't even have gravy on her steak. Who does that🤔, so i had to ask for a cup. With no apology about the wait⌛, actually that was the only time she showed up since taking our order. She was not attentive🤷‍♀️ at all. Not even a thank you from them for our business. I would've left zero on the tip, but wifey is too kind. In conclusion, i give the "place" ⭐⭐. Only pleasant thing was...