Janohn’s restaurant, in Boyce, Louisiana, has earned a reputation as one of the best places to eat in Rapides Parish. Housed in a repurposed cotton gin and unapologetically on the wrong side of the tracks, Janohn’s is the project of Chef Aaron Atchison.
While training in the upscale world of nouvelle cuisine, Atchison realized that although people would dine at and enjoy white-linen restaurants, when they got hungry afterward, they’d just as soon hit the hot dog stand. This led him to create what he calls good, simple, approachable food—not art. For Atchison, the food is the focus; in an era of celebrity chefs, he’s not worried about building a persona. Janohn’s avoids trends—you can’t get house-made pickles there—in favor of building an original, authentic experience. Atchison takes seriously the adage “You are what you eat” and believes that food affects the soul as well as the body; so you won’t find any pretension here, just a mouthwatering selection of lovingly prepared local fare.
Combining the chef’s love of fresh and interesting ingredients with the cook’s desire to see everyone at his table go home sated, Janohn’s menu tempts diners with an array of fish dishes, steaks, duck, and a lot more. All of the great ingredients Louisiana diners have come to cherish—and that chefs have begun to celebrate even more in recent years—appear on the menu. In the classic tradition of family-friendly restaurants, kids 12 and younger always eat free; so not only do you get to enjoy a wonderful supper yourself, you can also do your part to raise the next generation of enthusiastic, yet discerning, Louisiana eaters.
Salivate over the menu at janohns.com. Janohn’s is open for dinner Wednesday & Thursday 5 pm–10 pm, and Friday & Saturday 5 pm–11 pm.
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