Highlights
- Foodies of Lafayette announced seven nominees for the 2026 Culinary Excellence Award
- Nominees include Mr. Lester’s Steakhouse, Empanada Guy, Cafe Sydnie Mae, Five Mile Eatery, Baba Kebab, Cafe Josephine, and Jane’s French Cuisine
- A new panel of judges will visit restaurants multiple times through September 2026 before selecting a winner
- The awards recognize quality food, service, and passion, regardless of restaurant atmosphere or price point
- Winners join previous recipients Antoni’s Italian Café (2024), Dumpling Hour (2025), and Fuji Sushi (2023)
Foodies of Lafayette Reveals 2026 Culinary Excellence Award Nominees
Seven Lafayette-area restaurants earn recognition from 100,000+ member foodie community in annual awards program celebrating local dining excellence
LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) — Two of the biggest forces behind the Foodies of Lafayette—founder Heidi McDonald and moderator Jason Stoner—revealed seven restaurants vying for the organization’s 2026 Culinary Excellence Award during their weekly Friday visit to Acadiana’s Morning News.
The nominees span everything from upscale steakhouses to casual lunch spots – a deliberate choice that shows Foodies of Lafayette judges restaurants on food quality and service, not price tags or fancy decor.
The 2026 Nominees
Seven restaurants made the cut for 2026, covering cuisines from French fine dining to Turkish kebabs:…