Cafe Desoto

I wanted a soul food lunch and came here. I was not disappointed. The dining room is spacious so…read moregreat for large groups and work lunches. I got the special of the day which was baked chicken with rice and gravy and two sides. They guy serving was super sweet to explain to me the ordering process and I had a great conversation with the woman in line before me who comes every week for the Wednesday special. For my sides, I chose the greens and mashed potatoes. Even though I got two starches, it was worth it because the mashed potatoes and gravy were worth having as a main dish! I loved the greens, too, especially since they had all the hot sauce and peppers and vinegar choices you could want. The chicken was fork tender and I left nothing on the plate. I love that they provide each guest a little wrapped package of cornbread and iced cake of the day, too. I will definitely be stopping at Pamela's any time I'm in town.

FOOD: There was very little selection to choose from. Based on our experience, we could tell the…read morefood didn't seem very fresh and may have been sitting out all day. We both felt really heavy afterward, and my mom even felt sick after eating there. It was just basic diner food and a bit overpriced for something you can get almost anywhere else. However, the cake that comes with the cornbread was my favorite part. SERVICE: The service was fine. It had more of a cafeteria-style vibe, so there isn't much to say about it. AMBIANCE: The inside felt very run down. The bar wasn't even finished and didn't look like it was ever used. Overall, it had a very hole-in-the-wall feel.

Potatoes and gravy, baked chicken, sweet potatoes, stewed okra, cornbread and cake

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The Wednesday Special

Rosie Jo's

4.0(277 reviews)

3.2 mi

I came looking for a simple dining experience within walking distance from my hotel- and that's…read morewhat I got. I was greeted warmly and my food/drink came quickly. This is a local spot- no frills. Though, I can imagine it being lively on a busy night. Overall, the meal was good. I tried catfish atchafalaya for the first time based on other diners' reviews and the waitresses recommendation. It was a bit salty for my taste, but not terrible. If you have a sensitivity to salt, I wouldn't recommend. My drink, the Electric Alligator, was delicious and well priced! There are daily specials, including AYCE Fish on Sunday for $20.

Every time I get gumbo from there it is nothing but juice no meat. A child wouldn't get full on…read morethat meal

Lil Jon

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Word Of Mouth

4.8(175 reviews)

Nice old place and nice owners…read more Food was good. Tried the pork plate. That was just ok. Mashed potatoes had a little spice which was nice. The tuna salad was great. The teriyaki sauce was flavorful just needed more. The turkey and chicken salad sandwich were basic sandwiches but bread was decent. The bread pudding was dry for me. I like a sauce with mine. The blueberry was ok and the almond was too sweet. The cherry pie was delicious though. I liked the thick crust and tart cherries.

Thankful to have found this place while taking a class in Alexandria. Tons to choose from and a…read morefamily business. Very friendly and good food that I will be back to try more of. Two decent sized rooms to sit inside and two four-top spots right out front.

Pulled pork

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Menu

Three Potato More

4.2(30 reviews)

3.0 mi

Drive thru service was great and very fast! The menu offered a lot to choose from. I tried the…read morechicken pasta salad a lemonade. The chicken wasn't really shredded well and had huge chunks that had a lot of gristle in it. No seasoning on the chicken either. Came with some broccoli and cheese and tomato with one packet of dressing of your choice for around 13 dollars. Definitely enough for 2. The lemonade was delicious and they were all really sweet. I've heard great things about the potatoes so can't wait to try that next.

The Baby Beast at Three Potato More is absolutely incredible! This giant loaded potato is piled…read morehigh with rich butter, creamy sour cream, tender brisket, smoky barbecue sauce, melted cheese, fresh green onions, and just the right kick from the jalapeños. Every bite is packed with flavor, and the portions are huge. If you're looking for comfort food/BBQ done right, the Baby Beast is a must-try. Hands down the best loaded potatoes I've ever had!

Shrimp, Brisket, BBQ Sauce, Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream, Salsa, Peppers in a baked potatoe!

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The Bentley Room

4.0(111 reviews)

I heard about this place from a friend. I had to go see it for myself. This place was way more…read moreinteresting than i thought it was going to be. I went to the restaurant, looking for something local. There it was. Red beans and rice with a side of Blackened Chicken. The place is ancient. If those walls could talk. I was in a little corner table away from everyone. Under the stairs. Very cool little spot. VERY private. The meal arrived and the smell was amazing. The flavor was as expected. You don't come to Louisiana and not get some real Cajun food. The service was great. The food was good. The restaurant and hotel was very interesting. Great place and a must see. I recommend

Food was great and love the old hotel feel. Would rather see the old hotel pick on the way but they…read morehave some new age decor that doesn't really go with the feel of the hotel. Our server was awesome. Love the Gouda risotto!

Interior

Beignets and Crème brûlée. Fantastic!

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The Cottage Restaurant

4.2(85 reviews)

2.7 mi

Oh goodness Mrs Sherry and Dana are always a delight and the food is amazing…read more Absolutely one of our Kansas City family's favorite places and always on their MUST visit when they are in town

I ordered a sandwich to go. The menu said it came with chips. I did not get chips. The gumbo was…read morenot good. The rice in it was overcooked. Everything tasted bland.

Cream of Shrimp Soup

Almond Tea

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Grilled Chicken Breast potatoes Spinach Salad

Spirits Food & Friends

3.7(226 reviews)

2.2 mi

Good visit here meeting general expectation. Lively spot definitely local which adds charm. Cajun,…read moreburgers, steaks, seafood, fried kind of joint. Very casual atmosphere with hustling servers and kitchen. The muffuletta was good, thinner on the filling than some I've had but enjoyable on a large roll as required! They have on N/A in the stable, so appreciate that.

This place use to have great burgers, but something has changed…read more They were very dry the buns were cold and hard. The buns before were heated and soft. For my side I had the cheese grits, they were like left over from breakfast, cold and not much flavor. I didn't eat all of it. The only time we saw our waiter was when he took our order.

Inside kitchen view

The Classic Muffaletta

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Burger and fries

The Mirror Room

4.8(19 reviews)

Very great bar tender very friendly staff and service was the best. Got some fries that was great…read more The drinks was top notch. Very lively atmosphere.

Mellow and fun! Great drinks and a nice vibe. Food was great. Seating was comfortable.read more

Outdoor signage

Ranch water

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Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux - Alexandria Restaurant

3.2(163 reviews)

3.1 mi

Overall as expected. A lively spurts bar with a good menu and decent beer selection, though no N/A…read moreofferings as far as I can tell. Alligator bites and wings were tops. The red fish tacos also, better than expected. This place had a couple big parties going in and the service was still really good.

I have been here several times and never received bad service like I did the other night. Felicity…read morewas rude and I felt like she was unhappy to Service us. We ordered drinks from her and she pretty much slammed it on the counter. After that, she never came around to check on us to see if we wanted to order food. We wait for at least 10 to 15 minutes and had to get the attention of the hostess for us to order food. I saw her and Alexis other side of the bar chitchatting. She was standing there playing with her hair, brushing it out with her fingers which I think is inappropriate, especially in the food service area. Then another customer came in and sat next to us. when Felicity approached her, She introduced herself and the other server and was very polite to her. I really did not want to leave a tip, but the only reason why I did is because Alexis was very consistent polite and nice to us. She always came over to check on us to see if we needed anything.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux - Alexandria Restaurant

Cheese logs

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Sentry Grill

4.4(22 reviews)

Diner inside of a drug store with a celebrity photo wall. Food was good and came out quick. One…read morewaitress for the diner so be patient and enjoy the food.

It's been awhile since I've been here. Whenever I want a really good burger, this place is it. So I…read moregot the cheese burger and had them add an over easy egg. If they had beef bacon I would ask them to add that too. It's was really good. I also decided to try their peach cobbler. Glad I did too, because it was very good, plenty of crust, just like I prefer it. I usually get it to go but stayed today. I don't know that they have ever changed the decor but it's giving 1960's segregation vibes. Even the waitresses give that vibe as well. They are professional and have never said anything out of the way.

The diner!

Chicken tenders, sides of fries and toast.

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Desoto C.

0

1

0

5 months ago

The food was awesome the people are very nice the atmosphere is very good and the food was some of the best I've ever had 10000% recommend for anyone I am definitely coming back here read more

Natalie S.

0

3

0

7 years ago

It is an amazing restaurant with good food good service and does not take long at all it is my favorite restaurant to go to on the weekdays

Andrew B.

279

1

0

8 years ago

This is my favorite lunch in Alexandria. I have tried most of the menu and everything is great. Always looking forward to go back

Deyka V.

66

1

0

8 years ago

Delicious Fish Tacos! Definitely going back! My new favorite place when visiting downtown. read more

Cafe Desoto - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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Pamela's Bayou In A Bowl

4.7

(368 reviews)

I wanted a soul food lunch and came here. I was not disappointed. The dining room is spacious so…read moregreat for large groups and work lunches. I got the special of the day which was baked chicken with rice and gravy and two sides. They guy serving was super sweet to explain to me the ordering process and I had a great conversation with the woman in line before me who comes every week for the Wednesday special. For my sides, I chose the greens and mashed potatoes. Even though I got two starches, it was worth it because the mashed potatoes and gravy were worth having as a main dish! I loved the greens, too, especially since they had all the hot sauce and peppers and vinegar choices you could want. The chicken was fork tender and I left nothing on the plate. I love that they provide each guest a little wrapped package of cornbread and iced cake of the day, too. I will definitely be stopping at Pamela's any time I'm in town.

FOOD: There was very little selection to choose from. Based on our experience, we could tell the…read morefood didn't seem very fresh and may have been sitting out all day. We both felt really heavy afterward, and my mom even felt sick after eating there. It was just basic diner food and a bit overpriced for something you can get almost anywhere else. However, the cake that comes with the cornbread was my favorite part. SERVICE: The service was fine. It had more of a cafeteria-style vibe, so there isn't much to say about it. AMBIANCE: The inside felt very run down. The bar wasn't even finished and didn't look like it was ever used. Overall, it had a very hole-in-the-wall feel.

Spirits Food & Friends

3.7

(226 reviews)

Good visit here meeting general expectation. Lively spot definitely local which adds charm. Cajun,…read moreburgers, steaks, seafood, fried kind of joint. Very casual atmosphere with hustling servers and kitchen. The muffuletta was good, thinner on the filling than some I've had but enjoyable on a large roll as required! They have on N/A in the stable, so appreciate that.

This place use to have great burgers, but something has changed…read more They were very dry the buns were cold and hard. The buns before were heated and soft. For my side I had the cheese grits, they were like left over from breakfast, cold and not much flavor. I didn't eat all of it. The only time we saw our waiter was when he took our order.

The Bentley Room

4.0

(111 reviews)

I heard about this place from a friend. I had to go see it for myself. This place was way more…read moreinteresting than i thought it was going to be. I went to the restaurant, looking for something local. There it was. Red beans and rice with a side of Blackened Chicken. The place is ancient. If those walls could talk. I was in a little corner table away from everyone. Under the stairs. Very cool little spot. VERY private. The meal arrived and the smell was amazing. The flavor was as expected. You don't come to Louisiana and not get some real Cajun food. The service was great. The food was good. The restaurant and hotel was very interesting. Great place and a must see. I recommend

Food was great and love the old hotel feel. Would rather see the old hotel pick on the way but they…read morehave some new age decor that doesn't really go with the feel of the hotel. Our server was awesome. Love the Gouda risotto!

Rosie Jo's

4.0

(277 reviews)

I came looking for a simple dining experience within walking distance from my hotel- and that's…read morewhat I got. I was greeted warmly and my food/drink came quickly. This is a local spot- no frills. Though, I can imagine it being lively on a busy night. Overall, the meal was good. I tried catfish atchafalaya for the first time based on other diners' reviews and the waitresses recommendation. It was a bit salty for my taste, but not terrible. If you have a sensitivity to salt, I wouldn't recommend. My drink, the Electric Alligator, was delicious and well priced! There are daily specials, including AYCE Fish on Sunday for $20.

Every time I get gumbo from there it is nothing but juice no meat. A child wouldn't get full on…read morethat meal

Critics Choice Uptown

3.8

(10 reviews)

This restaurant is definitely a hidden gem, if you're not local to Alexandria, LA. Critic's Choice…read moreis located in Uptown Alexandria and close to numerous hotels in the area. At first, the strange smell upon walking in the building threw me off a bit and I almost walked out just based on the essence of mothballs, but chose to stay. Glad I did! Come to find out, the owners are originally from Philadelphia and their menu is loaded with sandwiches found on the east coast, like the Philly Cheesesteak, grinders and hoagies. I decided on the turkey grinder and holy $#%*, that sandwich was phenomenal! Warm Italian roll, oil/vinegar/herb mix, and the fresh deli meat were perfect! Oh, and the pepperoncini's were an added bonus! One thing that made this place special is the original owner, a lady named Alice, sat and had a full on conversation with me about when they came to Louisiana, when her and her husband opened the restaurant, about her kids, as well as when her family came over to the US via Ellis Island! This lady is an absolutely wonderful human being! I'm pretty sure all the locals know about this restaurant so some of you traveling to Alexandria should know about it as well. Make it a point to stop by this place and have a meal, I promise you won't leave hungry or disappointed. Two thumbs-two toes and a high-five for Critics Choice Uptown. Happy eating, my foodies

Great sandwiches, period. Friendly, charming spot, short hours though. If they were open later, I'd…read morelove to try out the bar.

Sissy's Restaurant

4.9

(11 reviews)

Just Passing thru... we're always drawn to cool old country type places like this to eat and glad…read morewe stopped! Biggest chicken fried steak I ever had! Creamy mash potatoes with white gravy like eating at grandmas house. Hubby had fried steak fingers. We both enjoyed it all down to the warm hospitality of the staff! Will be back! Thank yall

Great home cooking food! Highly recommend if you're in the area! Staff was kind and courteous.read more

Darrell's Restaurant

3.3

(16 reviews)

Love LOVE OUR DARRELLS RESTAURANT!!! We order our food an usually pick it up within 20 minutes !!!…read more Awesome!!!

Everything always good hometown food in my town chicken strips and nuggets are good and the sauce…read morehomemade.

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I love the burgers and Dubai chocolate cups. This is my favorite place to get food from.read more

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