Vestal has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the Lafayette. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, and even the simplest ingredients ended up being memorable. The grilled octopus was the best I've ever had. It was incredibly tender with a perfect char, and the sauce had an amazing balance of rich umami flavor and acidity. Surprisingly, one of the highlights of the meal was the charred green onion. I never expected an onion to stand out, but it was packed with smoky, sweet flavor. The pork porterhouse was cooked perfectly and had excellent flavor. My only minor critique was that the mint on the zucchini was a little stronger than my personal preference. Overall, it's not quite a 5-star experience for me because a few menu items don't quite justify their price. Even so, the attention to detail in both the food and service really stood out. Vestal is a beautiful restaurant, and it's one we'll happily return to whenever we're in the Lafayette area. read more

See all

Took my dad here for Father's Day. Food was amazing!!!! My favorite was the bone marrow so delicious. Our server was great, very hospitable, kind, and knowledgeable. Perfect for date nights, solo dates, and outings with friends. Not so loud where you cannot hear yourself think. Parking is a little bit tricky being downtown esp on a weekend night. I highly recommend read more

Vestal Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

----------UPDATE---------- Went for the 2nd time this past weekend and it was even better than the first time. My Wife ordered a Cosmo which was arguably the best flavored Cosmo we have ever had. I ordered a Pineapple Mochi beer, it was delicious and paired well with all of our food. The drinks are a 10/10 easy. We started with a Caesar Salad, Crawfish Bisque and Chargrilled Oysters. The salad was really good but the bisque was better imo. It was very flavorful and the thinly sliced jalapeños and lobster oil really added to the depth of flavor. The bisque also contained crawfish tails. Unfortunately, the oysters were not that great. Small in size and lacked flavor and needed a sauce or more cheese and herbs. Caesar Salad - 8.5 Bisque - 9.2 Oysters - 7.5 For mains we got a Filet, 16oz. Ribeye and Mac N Cheese. The filet was better than our first visit. The temperature, tenderness and flavor was better. The Ribeye was tender and had great flavor although, it also had a good bit of fat which needed to be cut off. Which is what sets apart the top tier steak restaurants. When you order steak there isn't much far or gristle. The Mac N Cheese is also up there with some of the best Mac N Cheese we have ever had. The cheeses that are used, the bubbly cheesy crust and flavor are perfect. Filet - 9.4 Ribeye - 8.9 Mac N Cheese - 9.6 We ended the meal with a Mousse Cake. It contained a brownie bottom with chocolate, vanilla and raspberry mousse on top. It was served alongside a scoop of coffee gelato. Mousse Cake - 9.1 The service and atmosphere were great, just like the first time. Not a bad seat and the waitress was really nice and helpful. read more

See all

I came here twice within 4 days to spend with two very special people in my life. This place does not disappoint. 10/18/25 Joseph was very hospitable, friendly and accommodating. Had great suggestions of the menu. 10/21/25 Daniel was very hospitable, friendly and accommodating. Had great suggestions of the menu. Both were awesome waiters. Kitchen staff executed every dish to perfection. The restaurant was very clean! Bravo Vestal. Looking forward to coming back. Recommend 5 out 5 stars. read more

See all

We popped in for a drink while watching Carnelian band during Artwalk downtown and so glad we did! The skinny margarita was good and after 3 I was ready to dance We had the ribeye steak which is HUGE! Definitely enough to share! The crabmeat spaghetti was delicious! The service is consistently friendly, fast & excellent! Love the ambiance with cool background music! Yes I recommend this place! read more

See all

Hands down one of the best meals I have ever had. I still compare the food here to other places and have yet to find a meal this good. First of all the restaurant itself is just beautiful. When you walk in you feel like you are being transported to Italy! Trust me when I tell you to get the marinated olives!! They will change your life. The lamb was so tender and flavorful probably my favorite dish along with the side of squash. Every single bite of food was packed with so much freshness and flavor. The crab spaghetti was devine. We have already made to trip to eat here a 2nd time and plan to visit again in the future. If you are in Lafayette this is the place to eat a good meal that will have you saying WOWWWW after each bite. read more

See all

An excellent dining experience. Great service. Food was great. Perfect vibe. Pricey but we will definitely be back.

This place came highly rated on our trip to Lafayette and was my favorite meal of the trip (which is saying a lot considering how good the food was overall). We started with cocktails - my fiance got the shoulder lean which was bourbon with lots of peach - I am usually not a dark liquor drinker but even I enjoyed my sip. Due to my occupation and love of tequila I got a seasonal drink, 'your therapist' which was maybe one of my favorite cocktails ever. It was light but also tart and tequila forward. We started with the roasted oysters and focaccia. The focaccia was not bad but the oysters stole the show. My fiance had steak and I had half shell red fish, and then we split the duck fat potatoes and green beans. I loved the spice and sauce on the fish, and the potatoes and green beans were great compliments to them. My fiance reported his steak was a little salty but he still inhaled it all! We didn't think we had room for dessert but with urging from a local friend we got the donut bread pudding which was paired with a delicious ice cream. With such heavy delicious food we were full but the dessert was a smaller size which was perfect. The place is busy as it clearly is a staple in Lafayette food culture, but it is clean and sleek. Our server was attentive and sweet. read more

See all

Loved! From the moment you walk in it's amazing. We were seated immediately. Staff were nice and attentive. We ordered drinks and they were so good. Then we started with the bone marrow. So delicious! Also added in a Cesar salad and it was crunchy and fresh. Entree was the crab spaghetti! I could eat that everyday! So rich and full of flavor! Ended with dessert and my Friday night outing was everything! read more

See all

Absolute gas!!!!!! So perfect, amazing service, amazing drinks, all the food we got was fantastic. Mmmm mmmm mmmm! Got the crudo, spinach artichoke dip, a filet and the potatoes and asparagus. Perfect. Great ambiance too, we had a fantastic time! Xoxoxoxo Bob B. read more

Really great restaurant. Good atmosphere during weeknight visit. Have tried different things on multiple and still have other recipes to try. read more

My boyfriend and I went for our anniversary dinner. I put that it was our anniversary in the reservation details but the restaurant didn't mention it (why is it an option to include special occasions in reservations if restaurants don't acknowledge?). We started with drinks. The drinks were definitely the best part of the meal. The oxford comma was one of the tastiest cocktails I've had recently. The food was just ok and I thought it was small for the price. The half shell redfish was maybe the size of my palm and I think it was like $40-50. The tomato and confit peaches was ok though I thought the almonds in it were weird and gave it a strange texture. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous though and the service was good! I just would go back for drinks and not food. read more

See all

What an incredible experience. The restaurant is beautifully designed, with a warm ambience and perfect lighting. The staff was exceptionally accommodating and provided detailed explanations of their dishes. I ordered the PEI oysters, which were absolutely phenomenal--especially with the wasabi dressing. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and my filet arrived cooked to perfection, seasoned just right, and exactly rare at 125°F. The chefs clearly take pride in getting every detail right. I truly appreciate their attention to quality and customer service. I will definitely be back. read more

This was our second time here. Unfortunately the food was not as good the second time. The half chicken and lasagna were good and hot but the sides weren't that good. The Brussels sprouts weren't cook long enough and were very hard. The sauce on them was also not very good. The sides served with my chicken, were not very hot and the beans were sweet. My biggest disappointment was that no one acknowledged our special event which we indicated on our reservation ( a birthday). Why put it on your reservation form if it will not be acknowledged? We ended up going to Borden's to get a birthday treat! That was very disappointing! read more

This restaurant definitely looked like it was from another country. It was so well done we had a great business dinner. The drinks were excellent food was great too. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Bone marrow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

Best place I have been to in years. I am super picky and kinda snobby with food but this place was worth every cent. Best steak tartar I have ever had. Hard part is going to be trying to duplicate it at home. read more

Amazing as always. Probably the best steak in town in terms of execution, melt in your mouth. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Spinach & Artichoke - Boursin, Fennel, Onion, Miso, and Butter Cream. Delicious. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

My friend and I went for drinks and appetizers and we both really enjoyed our food. I got the Thai coconut curry mussels with rice. It was delicious! I could've drank the sauce. My friend got the oysters and they were great! Loved the whole atmosphere of the restaurant. Servers were very kind. It is on the pricier side but nice for a special occasion, date night, or girls night. Overall I'd come back. I do recommend making a reservation. We didn't and sat at the bar. read more

See all

Had an incredible meal last night. Tried so many appetizers. Kale salad and crab spaghetti were next level. Maybe the best espresso martini I've ever had. Our server was friendly and everything arrived timely. It's not a cheap restaurant but you absolutely get your money's worth. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

Stumbled upon this restaurant after trying to get reservations at another spot with no luck. Everything we ordered was delicious (food & cocktails). The inside is stunning and wasn't what I would expect for downtown Lafayette. I would recommend this place and honestly can't wait to come back. read more

This was our favorite restaurant in Lafayette. They have the BEST crawfish bisque I ever had. The ribeye was cook to perfection with bone marrow butter. The place was cozy and staff was friendly. read more

See all

Amazing vibe and service! The chicken was absolutely amazing! Crab spaghetti needs more seasoning but good. We will definitely visit again! read more

See all

I wanted to give this place 5 stars instead of 4, but there was one thing that I really couldn't get past. We made a reservation weeks ago for an early dinner at 5:30 on Saturday, Dec 30. We had never dined here and was really looking forward to it. The front of the restaurant had an adorable waiting area, the bar was just magnificent, and the white tables with little square tiles were so trendy. The pendant lighting around the back bar and the wood burning fire pit as you watched the kitchen staff was all so beautiful. The hoestes greeted us and seated us right away. As we waited for our waiter/waitress, the hostess came back to tell us, "Just to let yall know, there is a 2 hour limit to dine here." I was a little taken back, first thing I could think was to respond with a joke, so I sort shock laughed and told her umm we will try to calm the party level down to not surpass the two hour limit. After she left, we all looked at each other and was like, that was weird, right? I can only think that maybe the manager must have told her to remind guests that it's 2 hours (even though that is an unwritten rule at almost all restaurants) since it was going to be a busy night. Either way, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Anyway, after the odd hostess incident, the worlds sweetest waitress with the warmest smile came by to welcome us. We placed our drink orders and apps. She had recommended some really good dishes. We ended up ordering the crudo, which was amazing! And I had the clockwork orange cocktail. That drink was so good! I haven't had a drink that had carrot in it, such unique and refreshing flavors! I also ordered the chicken for my meal, trying to be somewhat healthy, and it was ok. My husband ordered the mac and cheese, and my goodness, the crunchy crust on that mac n cheese was delicious! It was almost like a mac n cheese pie, crusty, crunchy crust and moist, cheesy filling. I was full, but I just kept eating that mac n cheese. The manager came and checked on us to make sure all was ok half way through the meal and I didn't want to make my friends uncomfortable by bringing up the hostess thing, as much as I wanted to tell him, but I did say that I loved the cocktail and the mac n cheese. Wanted to keep the evening positive. I am not sure if I will be back. But it is a beautiful restaurant with great ambiance, cocktails, and in the heart of downtown. read more

See all

Another outstanding dining experience, the server was great, and recommended the beet hummus which is a must have. The pickled shrimp was a new flavor experience which worked out very well and balanced, the sweet potato with the jalapeño on top gave a nice spice to the sweetness. Now on to the pork chop which was thick and juicy, and very flavorful, the butter nut squash beneath was seasoned perfectly, now the crab spaghetti was spectacular, creamy with the al dente noodles yum!!!! Every bite was delicious. Great food great service, louder but lively. read more

See all

Everything was amazing! Ambiance was great for date night, service was exceptional, everyone was so friendly and the food and drink were phenomenal. We ordered the oysters and bone marrow as an appetizer and finished off with the wagyu which was super tender. Would definitely come back again! read more

See all

We've been anxiously anticipating the opening of Vestal as huge fans of Ryan Trahan going back to the Dark Roux days. We were blown away by the remodel of the former Antler's building. The ambience and decor are unlike anything else in Lafayette with a clean, modern aesthetic. It's evident that every detail was considered and the result is a gorgeous restaurant. The front of the house staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. In a time when many businesses are struggling to find employees, it was good to see such competent staff in place. We were delighted to recognize some faces from Dark Roux. The menu is extensive and, again, different from anything else currently available in the Lafayette market. We had a hard time deciding what to try, so we sipped cocktails for awhile. The cocktail list is creative and well executed. We tried the Sonnet 45 and the Random Task. Both were balanced and delicious. We eventually made food selections and of course ordered too much. We tried the crudo, tartare, carrots, U10 shrimp, and zabuton. We finished with the mousse. The crudo, carrots, zabuton, and mousse were over the top delicious. The crudo was of course fresh, and the ponzu sauce was a lovely complement to the fish. I convinced my protein loving husband that we should order the carrots, and even he agreed that they were outstanding. The yogurt sauce paired beautifully with the earthy roasted carrots. The zabuton was a cut of steak we've not encountered before. It was incredibly tender and beefy, cooked exactly as ordered. The mousse was rich, creamy, and decadent, and it came with the most delicious miso ice cream and candied hazelnuts. The tartare and shrimp were fine, but not quite the show stoppers that the rest of the items were. The tartare was quite tasty, but the meat could have been trimmed a bit better and I had a few bites that were chewy as a result. This would not stop me from trying it again, as I love tartare and it's practically never available locally. The shrimp were perfectly adequate, I just wasn't as excited about them as the rest of our selections. We can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Vestal is a wonderful addition to the Lafayette restaurant scene and to downtown. read more

See all

Wow. How many good things will Yelp allow me to say. This place is a fusion of down south hospitality and out of the world culinary creativity. From New York to Houston you will be hard pressed to find an establishment like this that checks all the boxes. I had a talk with the manager and head chef and these guys have a passion for what they do. They know exactly what it means when you say medium rare. Congratulations on a job well done. I can't wait to come back! read more

Vestal Restaurant - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

We had a large group eat dinner here and the service was phenomenal. The atmosphere is beautiful and romantic. The sea food was delicious but I felt that my steak wasn't seasoned although the quality of the meat tasted amazing and so was the chimichurri. Some people in the group ordered the French onion soup and it was almost inedible.. super thick and weird tasting. I'll remember their snapper forever, it tasted unreal, so fresh and perfect. The employees were also so incredible and patient with our table, I'd return again just for the wedge salad and service. A very good restaurant but a little over priced in my opinion. read more

See all

I finally had a Saturday off to visit Vestal and I'm so glad I did. Service was great and the food was even better. We started with focaccia & ceviche. The bread was delicious on its own, but the whipped feta butter really brought it to the next level; especially with the tomatoes that are baked into it. Our ceviche was top notch also. The salted strawberry aspect it had was really nice and the herbs & lime made it very refreshing. For entrees we had the gulf catch (skin-on snapper) & pork shank. My fish was cooked perfectly and the pork was rich, super tender, and not dry in the slightest. The chocolate mousse was our choice for dessert and it was a fantastic end to our meal. The slight bitterness from the chocolate, paired with the ice cream and candied hazelnuts was quite literally the perfect bite. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I'm happy to see a restaurant of this caliber in Lafayette. read more

See all

This is one of the best things in Lafayette eight now. Everything on the menu is delicious, great ambiance and ingenious palatable drinks! I suggest you order a little bit everything and share with the whole table; specially the roasted veggies. This is a pricey restaurant but worth every penny, and there is a little bit of everything for everyone. Definitely a new favorite! read more

Came here for a birthday dinner, and it did not disappoint! Everything was perfect! From the service, to the ambience and the food! Make sure to make reservations! It gets pack fast and get booked up pretty quick too! We sat counter (which had an awesome view of the chefs cooking) Oysters - (Beau Soleil) Crudo - tuna, ponzu, fennel, oregano, smoked chili, szechuan Tartare - wagyu, wasabi, oyster mayo, capers, shallots, sourdough Spaghetti - blue crab, katsuo cream, basil, chili, salmon roe Wagyu Steak - (if they have in stock) Whole Fish - (Loupe De Mer) capers, olives, herbs, soy glazed Potatoes - smashed, duck fat, tallegio, chives Cauliflower - charred, yuzu koshu salsa verde, toasted hazelnuts Tart - blueberry, szechuan, vanilla, almond Everything was so good, definitely no complaints at all! Cannot go wrong with any of these choices! Check @eatinglafayette on Instagram and Facebook for more Lafayette food things! read more

See all

1. Crudo: Tuna, ponzu, fennel, oregano, smoked chilli, szechuan. $17. 2. Chargrilled oysters: torgarashi garlic butter, pecorino, furikake. $15 3. 16 oz Ribeye from southern farms $40. 4. Potatoes in garlic fat, tallegio, chive. $8. 5. Lasagna: smoked beef cheek bolognese, ricotta, egg yolk. $22. 6. Satsuma cake with strawberry, citrus curd, semifreddo. $8 Was it worth it? Yes, yes it was. Perfect date night or extravagant chill spot to eat and chill with friends. The experience was extraordinary. I would come back. read more

See all

Oysters are fantastic, chefs counter was proper. Service was attentive but not annoying. One of the best restaurants in Lafayette.

I'm taking a class in Lafayette this weekend so I checked out Yelp for a restaurant. Vestal Restaurant popped up and got my taste buds excited!! It surely didn't disappoint. What you see is the Wagyu Tartare and Chargrilled oysters. I had a Tart for dessert but the boomarang wouldn't post.. BUT Wow! Excellent choices! The oysters were a little in between raw and chargrilled for me to love but the flavor was there. I'm a little spoiled from Nola's chargrilled. Besides that, kudos to these chefs! The menu is incredible..I had to look up a few things up including the Niboshi..Great job on concept and ambiance! read more

Vestal Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

Atmosphere is 10/10. I lovedddd the oysters. Would go back for that any day. Drinks were great! read more

Vestal Restaurant - Oyster/lemons drop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

Bar staff was great ! If you're in Lafayette you have to make time for this amazing restaurant. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Watermelon salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

See all

Amazing. Drove in from Austin and as usual did a search for whole fish, expecting the usual fried fare and likely farm raised catfish. Was delighted to find out when I call d that wild caught Pompano was the offering so we made a reservation for 2 at the kitchen counter and off we went. What a delight. The atmosphere is perfect and the food was amazing. When I say the fish was cooked perfectly, it was as close to eating at home as possible which is the highest praise possible. The service was superb, with Kameron offering the perfect balance of service and privacy. The kitchen counter was a treat as the professional staff operated lie a tremendous machine, which was entertaining in itself. Next time back in Lafayette, we will return with friends. Can't happen soon enough! read more

See all

All the food we got was great, including the short rib, Mac and cheese, fish, charred okra, and Brussels sprouts. Server was knowledgeable and very helpful with menu. Wonderful vibe, and the layout of restaurant was very appeasing. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Tuna Crudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

We had a great dinner! Cocktails were good, the bone marrow was excellent. Highly recommend

Place is clean, excellent service. Sat at bar area and all the servers worked harmoniously. Food was excellent, well prepared and tasty. I am a Nola native and a restaurant snob.. well deserved, this place was doing great until the manager asked me not to feed my service pup a steak.. this will be the last time I dine here. I've eaten far nicer places and never an issue my pup is 8, well trained and a clean and federally licensed service animal, cleaner and mannered more so than most people. I spend my money and dine how I choose I frequent many much nicer restaurants and never told anything, this place is cute but let's be real. read more

Vestal Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana