Photo by Kim Ashford

“The very first time I went there, my husband and I were living in the New Orleans area and were just visiting,” said Marsha Engelbrecht, communication coordinator at Louisiana Folk Roots in Lafayette.  “There was all this music and dancers and it was packed; we didn’t even know about that part.

“We just went to have breakfast because we’d heard it was a very good place to eat.  When we went in to give our names for the table, the very nice lady there said ‘I’m, sorry, we don’t have a table right now, but you are welcome to come and dance while you wait.’ That was just typical, and we were flabbergasted that it was such a happening place, and it sure made the wait for a table a lot of fun.”

The venerable café in Breaux Bridge is famous for its early morning zydeco breakfasts, maybe the only breakfast place in the region where customers receive a nightclub style bracelet as they walk in. The zydeco bands have the dancefloor going full-tilt; the kitchen is as busy as the bar by 8:30 a.m.

“You have to get there very early,” Engelbrecht said. “The zydeco breakfast starts around 8:30 and there are already people lined up for tables by seven. It’s that popular. You’ve got to be ready to rock when you get there.“

Engelbrecht saids that Café Des Amis is more than a Saturday morning dance spot. ”It’s also one of the premier places to eat in Acadiana. Their food always receives good ratings. You can go there for just a great meal; you don’t have to dance.

“They have very nice musical offerings on Wednesday evenings. They also promote the local artistic scene, so any time you go, you’ll see artwork from many of the local artists there at the café. It’s just a cool place to go. It’s an old building with a lot of history.”

The building dates from the 1890s, when it was a general store, and has served as a casket factory, a dress shop and, in 1992, a coffee shop/art studio when Dickie Breaux, a former Louisiana state representative, bought the place. He started serving catfish, but over time the menu grew into one of the most celebrated in the region. One’s Saturday morning Blood Mary can be procured from the ornate bar salvaged from the old Evangeline Hotel in Lafayette. In 1998, Breaux added the zydeco brunch to his repertoire.

“You’ll see many locals there; it’s a ritual for a lot of people,” Engelbrecht said. “I have many friends that go there religiously every Saturday morning. There’s always a healthy mix of locals and visitors from out-of-town. Saturday, when I was there last, you could tell these teenagers were from out-of-town because they were all clustered against the window on the couch while I’m sure their parents were having the times of their lives out on the dance floor.“

Café Des Amis
140 East Bridge Street
Breaux Bridge, LA
(337) 332-5273
cafedesamis.com

More about Louisiana Folk Roots at lafolkroots.org.

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