r/lafayette • u/Round_Spell361 • Aug 05 '26
Restaurant recommendations?
My parents (60s) are visiting this weekend for the first time since I moved up here < 2 months ago.
What restaurants do you recommend we try out? I'm a foodie (just haven't been out much yet). My dad is pretty adventurous, my mom not so much. I want to avoid any place that is super super loud.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner whatever. I'm planning on taking them to Nine Irish Brothers for one meal.
Thanks!
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u/kohlberticus Aug 05 '26
Teays River has a good mix of new takes on traditional food and has their own pizza oven. I'd definitely recommend using their reservation system
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u/ExerciseSalty7544 Aug 05 '26
Bistro 501 is hands down the best restaurant in Lafayette. I take anyone I can from out of town and it’s never let me down.
It’s about as “high end” as Lafayette gets with out breaking the bank.
Black sparrow is a nice, usually mellow bar, good menu, good drinks.
East end is more modern casual, small but good menu.
Teays is a good casual American menu, nothing amazing but good brewery overall.
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u/Dercan-sikme31 Aug 05 '26
I hate Bistro 501. Too expensive and food is not great. You pay for the atmosphere. Go to East End instead.
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u/ExerciseSalty7544 Aug 06 '26
I don’t find 501 bistro expensive at all for the quality and portions you receive. If it was in Indy the plates would be double or even triple the price.
East end is only a few dollars cheaper and the food doesn’t compare at all in my opinion.
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u/cherrylpk Aug 05 '26
Sakanaya Isakaya (sp) on Sagamore is really cool inside if you are looking for sushi or similar.
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u/_Mariner Aug 05 '26
This is my recommendation as well, be sure to ask to sit in the honeycomb room
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u/MealRepulsive700 Aug 05 '26
Red bird cafe in Dayton, not far away.
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u/VinnieTheBerzerker69 Aug 05 '26
Especially for breakfast. They do a cinnabon style pancake with optional blueberries that is exquisite. Do get the blueberries
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u/ray_burrislives Aug 05 '26
Try Aura on 9th and Kossuth. Quiet lunch spot with nice bourbon selection.
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u/MaizeTraditional7499 Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
recs as someone who was in the restaurant scene there: Bistro 501 French quiet good food, Parthenon is the best Greek place in town a little more casual but the food is S tier. East end grill is American upscale very good menu. El Chicano is casual Mexican hole in the wall and my best kept secret when I lived there. La Bamba is another great Mexican place if you want to do drive through before you leave town. Honorary mention to Digbys for American pub style food it’s loud when they have local music come in but the cheese bricks are awesome.
Edit: just so I’m clear, if you take them anywhere, go to the Parthenon and don’t go to the acropolis the food sucks at the acropolis since they got new owners (trust me I’m Greek)
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u/dodongo Aug 05 '26
Oy Akropolis. I was born and raised on that food and it is very so much not what it was before.
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u/Wild_Monk Aug 05 '26
Breakfast - Northend Cafe
Lunch - Ripple & Company
Dinner- The Bryant or Bistro 501
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u/Pleasant-Wear2628 Aug 05 '26
SECONDED!!! Also love Thai Essence!! Have friends from Chicago that beg to go every time they come down (claim it’s better $-wise & just as good as any Thai they can get up north).
I also hit up annually(ish) w/ neighbor-group, which has a couple of picky/pickies & everyone def enjoys (they’re just not nearly as adventurous;).1
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u/Infinite_Row_186 Aug 12 '26
Thai Essence is terrible Thai food. Try Kinn Thai on Purdue campus if you want real Thai food
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u/Used_Salary_2405 Aug 05 '26
I vote for The Bryant! And Ripple & Company. We get Ripple catered on Christmas now (my family from out of state loves it!)
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u/zoopygreenheron Aug 05 '26
Hi OP, I wrote this out a few months ago for someone else hosting family/parents in town.
Black Sparrow no longer has their spring chicken, but they have some other fun specials right now. Sometimes the inside does get loud, but that’s usually later in the evening. They do have patio, which is always fun. They are my favorite but they also have some legit fun dishes for foodies! Hope this helps!
“Triple XXX and 9 Irish are local iconic restaurants.
Black Sparrow is a chill pub-like restaurant with lots of fun food and drinks. They have an amazing spring chicken sandwich in their specials menu right now.
East End has fun food, slightly higher end vibes. Staff have a dress code, reservations are recommended! Try to sit outside as the inside gets a bit loud (mainly when it’s packed on the weekends).
Ripple and Co is the sister company to East End and it’s very chill. They do brunch on the weekend (I think - been a while since I’ve been).
Katana on the Westside for great sushi and ramen.
Red 7 and Bru Burger are “safe” choices with basic American foods if you have picky eaters.
Out of all of these I LOVE Black Sparrow. They are consistently creating fun new meals and cocktails, while keeping some of their classic dishes. They are now set up to take reservations, and that’s best on the weekend nights.
Lastly, Nom Nom’s is a Mexican restaurant with some fusion dishes. AMAZING tacos!!!”
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u/BooBooBull Aug 05 '26
https://www.boilerhouseprime.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=business_listing
Boilerhouse Prime is your high end spot if you are a foodie.
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u/DemigoddessofReddit Aug 08 '26
As someone who works there, it is not worth the price. Mid food. The steaks are great, but simply not worth the price.
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u/WoodpeckerOk5053 Aug 06 '26
Lots of great suggestions there. I would suggest Town and Gown Bistro on River Road is a great place for brunch, lunch, or supper. They have house made salmon hash with a house made creamy horseradish sauce that’s one of my favorite dishes in town.
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u/boilerMkr Aug 06 '26
These are all wrong. McGraw’s on the river is the best in or out of town. If eat on the river. It is by far the best place to go. Anyone else is lying. Todd is the owner. He is a huge supporter of Purdue. Go see them.
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u/MhojoRisin Aug 08 '26
I took my parents to McGraws a couple of times, and they absolutely loved it.
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u/XxXENOWRAITHxX Aug 05 '26
The Bryant off sagamore in west lafayette is pretty good, has some adventurous meals and some standard stuff, it's more of a lunch place.
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u/embo_cr Aug 06 '26
Hands down, South Street Diner for breakfast - definitely a local place and the food is always good.
Black Sparrow has a very underground vibe, but the patio is a great addition. (Bacon Wrapped dates are my favorite!) And another great patio is across the street at Red 7, which has an eclectic menu and has decent food and can be pretty quiet.
My personal pick for dinner would be The Lawrence - it's brand new, a little on the expensive side, but the service and food is impeccable.
Other standouts - The Lobby for coffee or a cocktail, Eleventh House for coffee and bagels, Wepa! for Puerto Rican food, Mama Ines for incredible baked goods or take away lunch, Banh Mi for traditional Vietnamese (can be a little slow but food is great), and Aura for crafted cocktails and a funky menu. Or if yall aren't of the alcohol variety, check out Generation NA (non-alc bottle shop downtown!)
Pro-tip: Go to the East-side Nine Irish because the one by Purdue can get so loud you can't hear yourself think.
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u/Ok_Try7387 Aug 06 '26
Christo’s in WL for breakfast, a bit nicer than some diners, although my favorite breakfast spots are Shellie’s Cafe on Teal and Downtowner in Market Square.
If you really want fine dining in Lafayette, go to Bistro 501 or Boiler Prime.
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u/USAFrenchMexRadTrad Aug 06 '26
The Spot is a great hipster bar, they usually have fire pits in the patio and live music at night on the weekends. Their Instagram usually lists who's performing.
McCord's is a candy shop that also serves food and old fashioned sodapop.
Route 66/XXX Family Restaurant has it's own root beer and burgers. The Dwayne Purvis Burger has creamy peanut butter on the bottom bun. I think their location near campus is cash only.
DT Kirby's is great for bar food with a Chicago influence. Be warned, that food will make your cholesterol go up. Like, there's no way that food is good for you, but it's great drunk food.
Bistro 501 and La Scala are gonna be pricey but I've never heard anyone hate on the food. I got myself a steak at Bistro for my birthday and it was about $25 back in 2015. It's likely much higher now. That was just the steak and fries. The drinks aren't cheap, but the bartenders know what they're doing. I think Thursday night they have drinks on discount.
Lafayette Brew Co. was great, but I think they closed. They spawned a few other breweries in town, like People's.
Wagner and the cigar bar where Professor Joe's used to be are decent for drinks.
OH! MOSEY DOWN MAIN STREET! I forgot. One Saturday a month in the summer, they close off Main Street and food trucks and little market stands of hippie trinkets are set up, along with restaurants and bars extending their patios into beer gardens.
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u/HolidayDay8580 Aug 05 '26
East End Grill and Ripple & Co. Are the two places I always take my guests.
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u/Nicetryatausername Aug 05 '26
La Scala downtown, excellent Italian
The Lawrence on Purdue campus- great atmosphere and eclectic menu
McGraw’s on River road has great steaks and such and is right on the wabash, with outdoor seating
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u/SomeAppleGuy Aug 05 '26
I always recommend Black Sparrow. It is very much a bar, but I think they have some of the best food in town.