Orlandeauxs Café, 5301 S Lakeshore Dr, Shreveport, LA 71109, US

Fifty-one Shreveport/Bossier City restaurants are participating in this year’s 318 Restaurant Week. The food, atmosphere, and staff truly captured the essence of a Cajun restaurant. The greens were perfectly seasoned, but the stuffed shrimp stole the show. We had mustard greens, gumbo and the stuffed shrimp plate. “Orlandeaux’s Café is an African-American family-owned eatery that has been a pillar of the community.

Shreveport-Bossier residents enjoy last day of Mardi Gras celebrations

At the time, the black-owned cafe was one of a small handful where black people could dine. Chris Jay explained to me that the gargantuan shrimp (an oxymoron for sure) dish dates back to the long gone Freeman and Harris Café, established in 1923 in the 1000 block of Texas Avenue. Shrimp Buster is a platter of large deep-fried Gulf specimens that have been deveined, butterflied, pounded flat and served with a magic potion/sauce atop buttered toasted bread with a side of fries.

They source as much of their ingredient list as possible from local farms and serve many organic and non-GMO food options. Their menu features traditional Louisiana dishes like fried catfish (pictured above), red beans & rice, and their famous Cajun fried corn. Located on the main downtown thoroughfare, Texas Street, Blind Tiger is another must try restaurant in Shreveport. Their menu features steaks, Italian, Cajun and Creole dishes. This restaurant is an upscale eatery that has been a staple in Shreveport since 1948.

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Herby-K’s restaurant is an American bar and seafood restaurant located in an old, cozy, abandoned warehouse. Enjoy delicious hot, spicy crawfish (in season), as well as Cajun dishes, salads, PO-boys, hamburgers, seafood, and ribeye steaks. Taking pride in its most delicious seafood and Cajun dishes, it’s the best alternative to Athena Greek & Lebanese and Strawn’s Eat Shop. Athena’s Greek and Lebanese Grill is a beautiful family-owned Mediterranean restaurant that opened in 2002.

Must Try Foods / Drinks in Shreveport-Bossier City

In addition to numerous Black-owned entertainment venues, a Black-owned newspaper, The Shreveport Sun, made its headquarters on the Avenue. Along the Avenue, which stretched for five large city blocks, Shreveport’s marginalized populations could patronize doctors, lawyers, grocers, and barbers by day and could dance, drink, and dine by night. The first home of Freeman & Harris Café was a tiny stall on “the Avenue,” a bustling district of minority-owned businesses on the western edge of downtown Shreveport. Both men moved from the rural community of Campti, Louisiana, to the then-booming city of Shreveport, seventy miles to the north, sometime between 1910 and 1920. After an egg wash and a dunk in the deep fryer, they emerge looking more like corn dogs than fried shrimp. One of the first things Chapeaux did after purchasing the sprawling lakefront restaurant in 2021 was to hang an oversized portrait of Brother, who passed away in 2003, in the restaurant’s foyer.

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When he needs to deal with a disorderly or combative guest in the restaurant’s bar, he summons the spirit of the man he called “Paw-Paw Scrap,” who was given his nickname due to a raw talent for brawling. When he received the news, Chapeaux was a twenty-four-year-old oilfield engineer who had not yet learned the ropes of the family business. Maybe Chapeaux thought back to that horrible day—Tuesday, September 24, 2013—when he suddenly became the sole steward of the family business. Every move he makes at the restaurant is public, and even his most insignificant choices are likely to attract commentary.

Don’t get me wrong it was good and well seasoned but all of the fried food… I do think the food was over hyped. Experience the rich history and flavors of Creole, soul food, and Southern cuisines at Orlandeaux’s Café. A dash of Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce add depth and a subtle kick, while the fresh lemon juice brightens the overall profile, creating a zesty and refreshing finish.

• It has a very family friendly atmosphere.
• Stimming from 1921, but undergoing a few name changes, (Freeman & Harris Café, Pete Harris Café, Brother’s Seafood), Orlandeaux’s Café is recognized as the continued legacy of the Oldest Continuously Operating African-American Family Owned restaurant in the United States!
• Brother’s Seafood is a locally owned and operated casual seafood restaurant that offers lunch and dinner.
• This family event also highlights the impact of Eddie Hughes, the creator of the stuffed shrimp, who brought his community together through compassion, dedication and deliciously-rolled seafood.

Start your day the delicious way with southern-style biscuit beignets, gourmet omelets, a variety of unique eggs benedicts, and more. From pancakes to omelets, this restaurant has the perfect blend of sweet and savory and is one of the ideal casual spots to eat. Another Broken Egg Cafe is a contemporary American cafe serving southern-inspired breakfast, brunch, and lunch. It’s the town’s pride for a reason, with the delicious sweet sauce drizzled on top.

At the age of 16 while working at Freeman & Harris Cafe, Hughes created the infamous original recipe of the Shreveport style stuffed shrimp and it’s on the menu. The restaurants are listed in alphabetical order and a price key is at the end. Here is a list of 15 restaurants in Shreveport and Bossier City that we have loved for 40 years or more.

His passion for our culture and commitment to our city is evident in every aspect of his work, and we are thrilled to see him representing us at such a prestigious event. The city says Johnson has used her talents on many of the state’s floats over the years. The owner of the beloved Shreveport-Bossier restaurant, Orlandeaux’s Cross Lake Café, will represent the area on the national stage at the 2025 Rose Parade. Once perfectly crispy, visitors traditionally dip their Shreveport-Style Stuffed Shrimp in the classic Creole Tartar sauce. Besides its rich history with the Shreveport-Bossier area, Orlandeaux’s continues to be known for its authentic, mouthwatering Creole and Southern dishes.

Orlandeaux’s Cafe is a family-owned restaurant that first opened in 1921 and has been a local favorite for seafood since. The must-try dishes here include their stuffed shrimp, seafood gumbo, and sugar coated beignets for dessert! Founded by Eddie Hughes in 1978, Eddie’s Seafood & Soulfood began as one of the Black-owned cafés, diners and plate lunch houses in Shreveport offering the local delicacy of stuffed shrimp.

Elizabeth Beard Deal’s nod to 15 Shreveport, Bossier restaurants that stand the test of time

The Mabry House promises to impress with its dedicated service and delightful food. This restaurant combines history, charm, and incredible flavors to create a memorable meal every time.David The Mabry House louisiana longhorn cafe offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience with a warm, intimate setting that perfectly complements its exceptional dishes. Shreveport, LA, is like the secret menu of the restaurant world—full of hidden gems that are way better than the mainstream spots. You can learn more about 318 Restaurant Week by clicking here, on Facebook and on Instagram @318restaurantweek_. “Well, I’m excited about food week.