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| Located in the heart of French Louisiana, Prejean's Restaurant captures the hearts of all who visit. A delight to all “six” senses, Prejean’s Restaurant satisfies diners with some of the best cuisine available in the south. In a culture famous for delicious flavors, Prejean’s leads the way. |
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| The staff serves up, not only the fine hospitality expected in the south, but also serves up the succulent seafood dishes which have made Prejean's so famous. Juicy steaks, wild game dishes and world famous gumbos twist from the ordinary into memorable. |
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Traditional music fills the air with the sounds of live Cajun bands entertaining nightly. Prejean’s showcases the rich culture of our Cajun French heritage. Antique relics grace the walls and rafters. |
| "Big Al," the fourteen foot alligator once a native of the Louisiana’s Grand Chenier swamp, sits in the middle of the dining room guarding the culinary medals, earned by Prejean's chefs in various culinary competitions held locally, nationally and internationally. |
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In 1980, Robert Guilbeau (“Bob” to some, “Biker-Bob” to others) and his friends built Prejean’s Restaurant on farmland passed down to him from his grandparents, Walter and Inez Prejean. The idea for what would become the world’s first Cajun-themed restaurant began back when Bob was working in the steam fields of California. A much younger Bob Guilbeau visited several Mexican Restaurants where more than just Mexican food was served. These establishments had captured the wonders of their culture with a magical combination of food, traditional live music and dancing, and, of course, lots of laughter.
With a dream in his heart and a longing for the traditions of his own homeland, Guilbeau returned to Lafayette with a vision for a way to combine the joie de vivre of south Louisiana with the comforts of his grandparents’ kitchen. Long before “Cajun” would become a household word, Prejean’s was serving those delicious boiled shellfish, gumbos, ettouffees and sauce piquante’s the world would come to know and love.
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| For almost 30 years now, people from around Acadiana and around the world have been stopping in to sample the savory dishes created by Prejean's talented team of culinary experts. Taking the world by storm since their first visit to a culinary competition some 20 years ago, Prejean’s now holds the record for the most medals captured by any culinary team in the South. |
| Prejean's is proud to have served such dignitaries as diplomats from NATO, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, State Supreme Court Judges and various Governors. Also on the list are Congressional members, military Colonels and Generals, noted actors, writers and musicians. |
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| Prejean’s Restaurant has received accolades in numerous magazine and newspaper articles from around the world. Described as “an incredible dining experience,” and a “fun-fill time not to be missed when visiting Lafayette,” Prejean's has become a Lafayette landmark, loved by visiting and local diners alike. |
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| Prejean’s “signature” stained glass piece stands proudly behind the bandstand. Designed by local artisan, John Pourcio, it would be only one of many works of art John would design for Prejean’s over the next 3 decades. With the help of glass artist Tritos Thurman, the mural became a reality even before Prejean’s opened its doors in 1980. The glistening blue wonder was originally hung in the bar. |
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Two years after opening, Prejean’s owner Bob Guilbeau purchased a shrimp boat discovered sunken and resting at the bottom of the Delcambre Canal in Delcambre, Louisiana. The Telegram, built in 1937 in St. Augustine Florida, was the incarnation of the boat featured in Pourcio and Thurman’s stained glass masterpiece. |
| Resurrected and restored, The Telegram was renamed the Walter Inez and stood proudly beside Prejean’s Restaurant from 1982 until the mid 1990s. During its rein, The Walter Inez became the subject of several paintings and a barn-side mural. Today, the Walter Inez continues its spiritual journey in our photographs and memories. |
| Images of the old shrimp boat depict the heart and soul of Prejean’s Restaurant. The ink may be new, but the vision remains the same. |
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