Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
I've loved a good buffet my whole life. There's just something about an endlessly replenishing platter of biscuits, or enough fried chicken to feed the multitudes, that fills me with the comfort of abundance — particularly when it's fresh, perfectly seasoned and lovingly prepared. Such is the case for these buffets, which are some of my favorite picks for a casual breakfast, lunch or dinner in Acadiana, especially when feeding a large group. These options cover everything from authentic Cajun cuisine to well-prepared Asian dishes. One of the state's last remaining Shoney's, in Morgan City, is still putting out a star of a breakfast buffet, with options that include French toast sticks and an amazing, peppery white gravy — and Rascal's Cajun Restaurant in Duson has a rice dressing on their buffet line that's equivalent to a grandma's rice dressing. Try these buffets for a laid-back but quality dining experience in Acadiana, across a range of cuisines — and let me know if you have a favorite buffet in the area. King Buffet 541 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette Consistently ranked as one of the top choices among Asian buffets in Lafayette, King Buffet near Cajun Field at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has something for everyone. The buffet features what seems like acres of serving lines, offering everything from steaming platters of egg rolls to a fully manned Mongolian grill. King Buffet is always bright, well-kept and busy — meaning food never lingers too long in the chafing dish, and it's always fresh and delicious. King Buffet is also open for service on days like Thanksgiving, Christmas and other major holidays. Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Richard's Seafood Patio 1516 S. Henry St., Abbeville Open since 1957, Richard's Seafood Patio hides its bounty of fresh Louisiana seafood inside an old, unassuming building down a country highway in Vermilion Parish. Everything is in season and prepared on site, such as local crawfish, shrimp and crab — boiled, fried, stuffed and served to an always-busy dining room full of locals. Richard's also serves an array of traditional Cajun dishes on the serving board, including one of the best, country-style dark roux seafood gumbos I've ever had. Open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Shoney's 1011 Greenwood St., Morgan City A good old-fashioned breakfast buffet never disappoints. One of the last remaining Shoney's restaurants in Louisiana still offers its classic breakfast buffet with mounds of fluffy eggs, piles of biscuits, every type of breakfast protein and stacks of crispy French toast sticks with warm syrup on the side. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The breakfast buffet is not available all day. Rascal's Cajun Restaurant 133 Frontage Road, Duson Situated inside a ShopRite travel complex attached to an interstate casino, Rascal's offers one of the best Cajun buffet experiences the area has to offer. The space serves several old-time customers, some who eat there several times a week, and scores of families that go for the popular Sunday fried chicken buffet or Friday night seafood buffet. Rascal's consistently puts out some of the tastiest examples of Cajun cooking. The fried chicken buffet is out on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and the seafood buffet is on Friday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday buffets feature chicken stew, fried pork chops and meatball stew. Buffet hours also differ from regular restaurant hours, with the buffet open for lunch on Sundays, lunch and dinner only from Monday to Friday, and dinner hours on Saturday. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call ahead to confirm the buffet hours and menu. Destination India 5503 Johnston St., Lafayette Lovers of Indian food can enjoy a Lafayette buffet that features chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani and an array of classic Indian vegetable and meat dishes with authentic levels of spice — so know your comfort level before you go.
