On a Saturday morning in Breaux Bridge, rarely will you find residents sleeping in. Rather than snooze the alarm, locals and visitors alike rise early to secure a spot in line outside the old Domingue’s Motors building at 100 Berard Street. The crowds turn out in droves for Buck & Johnny’s World Famous Zydeco Breakfast, said co-owner Coatney Raymond. The restaurant hosts about 200 people each breakfast, she said. Raymond would know—she mans the door, and greets each guest like family. “You really want to make people feel like they’re the most important person in the world,” said Raymond.
Buck & Johnny’s Zydeco Breakfast feels like a fitting start to Saturday in Cajun Country. The Zydeco Breakfast is first-come, first-serve, and admission is $5. Once you’re inside, it’s close quarters, but it’s easy to see why. Couples take to the dance floor to shimmy, swing, and sway while zydeco musicians play traditional instruments like the washboard and accordion. All that dancing makes for a hungry stomach, so gorge yourself on a boudin-stuffed omelet, grilled boudin, or crawfish étouffée grits.
The Zydeco Breakfast attracts tourists across the globe to the Crawfish Capital, Raymond said. And the tradition has only grown in popularity since it was moved to Buck & Johnny’s from Café des Amis nearly three years ago. “It’s ensuring that our culture is still here, and it put us on the map,” said Raymond. “It’s changed our lives forever,” added Rhonda Branch, Raymond’s daughter-in-law, who manages the eatery.
Nestled in the heart of Breaux Bridge’s historic downtown district, the beloved Cajun-Italian hotspot also features live music in the evenings Thursday through Saturday. Don’t pass up the chance to walk off all that food at the upcoming Courir de Pont Breaux Dance Away 5K on September 14. Buck & Johnny’s will be ready for you at the finish line, with a spicy Bloody Mary (for runners of legal age) and a good old Zydeco time.
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