Frommer’s Guide – Abbeville Eatery ‘Best Off the Eaten Path’
In places like Abbeville, Louisiana they know where to find the best food off "the beaten path". Travel experts from the respected Frommer's Travel Guide know a thing or two about finding those kinds of places too. The only difference is the folks in Abbeville didn't need a book to find out where they wanted to go for seafood and great Cajun cooking, all they had to do was follow their noses or listen to more than 50 years of stellar reviews by home folks to find the kind of food they crave.
If you're not familiar with Frommer's Travel Guides, I can tell you they are a "Bible" of where to go, what to do, who to see, and what to eat among the road warriors of this world. In my personal travels, I have used Frommer's Guides to find French Cuisine in Tahiti, local pasta in Rome, and even a darn good place to get barbeque in Starkville Mississippi.
So I can vouch for the fact that if Frommer's says it's worth it, it probably is. And in the case of Southern Restaurants Off the Eaten Path, the subject of an article written by author Morgan Murphy, I say they nailed the choice for Louisiana's "Best Off the Eaten Path" eatery. Because their choice is a choice that South Louisiana seafood lovers have been making for more than 50 years.
When asked where they'd like to go for an "off the beaten path meal" the brain trusts at Frommer's chose Richard's Seafood Patio. Chances are if you've lived in South Louisiana for more than 15 minutes someone has suggested the Abbeville eatery as a great place for boiled, fried, and grilled seafood at its Cajun best. I didn't come up with that line, it's right there on the sign at Richard's.
Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself, here's what they posted on their Facebook page yesterday.
Personally, I find it to be quite validating when national and international travel writers zero in on our traditional Louisiana favorites and the restaurants that are doing those favorites right.
And Richard's Seafood Patio isn't the only Acadiana-based restaurant to receive these kinds of accolades from around the country and the globe. You might recall a Lafayette restaurant that was chosen as Best for Barbeque by the Food Network not that long ago. Again, part of the charm of that eatery is the fact that so much of the food is done in traditional ways. I guess that's why it tastes so good all the time.
Oh, and if you're from out of town, don't let appearances fool you, while Richard's Seafood Patio might not look like the fanciest place from the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts. And what's on the inside is some great South Louisiana cooking. So, congrats to the crew at Richard's Seafood Patio in Abbeville, they've been doing it right for five decades plus and it's great to see that even those who weren't fortunate enough to grow up here, still know how to find food that's good here.
For a complete look at the Frommer's Guide for Southern Restaurant's "Off the Eaten Path," you can find the article here. Oh, and if you're heading for Orange Beach Alabama anytime soon, make sure you check out the choice for L.A. (Lower Alabama) you're gonna like that one too.
10 Commandments of Gumbo