Louisiana Cafe Makes USA Today’s Top Restaurants List

Here in Louisiana, we have a name for restaurants that don't serve good food. We call them "closed". Fortunately from New Orleans to Shreveport and all the smaller towns in between you can find good food in almost every Louisiana town. Whether it's pies in Lecompte, tamales in Zwolle, or those wonderful Turkey Wings from James Beard nominated Laura's II in Lafayette, the food is good, the service great, the prices fair, and the people friendly.

I guess that's why I was taken aback just a bit by a recent USA Today article. USA Today, the "vanilla of newspapers" has selected 44 different eateries from around the country to be a part of their 2025 Restaurants of the Year. It's a great list but it has one problem. There is only one Louisiana location on that list.

I do appreciate the fact that the writers for USA Today who put the list together didn't "stick to the guide books". They apparently went out and found places that they not only enjoyed once but wanted to go back to. And to me, that's the sign of a great place to eat, when you can't wait to go back.

Okay, if you will allow my "south of I-10" bias to show just a bit. I am also a bit dismayed that the USA Today choice for Best Restaurant in Louisiana is a Cajun Cafe which is located in Pineville. If you're not familiar with the "socio-geography of Louisiana" Pineville is not in Cajun Country.

Pineville is where "the Baptists meet the Catholics" at the Red River. Generally south of the Red River is where you find more of the Catholic and Cajun joie de vivre. North of the Red River is a more traditional Southern Baptist culture. Both cultures are amazing but most of us in South Louisiana have a rule, "never eat a Cajun Restaurant that's not in South Louisiana".

But for the sake of argument and because I have never experienced Quebedeaux's Cajun Cafe, let's give them their "props". First, the name Quebedeaux is a good sign. The fact that Chef John Valenzuela worked with the Prudhomme Family is an even better sign. The big alligator sticking out of the building and the neon Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns sign are good too.

The fact that Quebedeaux's is true to Cajun traditions in cooking and uses traditional Cajun ingredients is more than enough reason for me to suggest to you that even though it's Pineville, you might want to give these folks a try. They look like a fun bunch.

If you'd like to learn more about them, here is a link to their website. Here is a link to their Facebook Page. Based on what I have read and researched, I think these folks might be worth the drive to Pineville. Congratulations Chef Valenzuela and to your staff. I look forward to doing some personal research and thank you for upholding the Cajun tradition of great food, even if you're cooking in CENLA.