To fuel your horseback-riding, your museum-hopping, and your cemetery wandering—Central Louisiana’s chefs have got you covered. Here you’ll find restaurants imbued with history, keeping things fresh, local, and family-owned right here in the heart of Louisiana.
The interior of the Diamond Grill—a former jewelry store in downtown Alexandria
For Date Night—Diamond Grill
Called the “Jewel of Alexandria,” this circa-1865 former jewelry store is all about ambiance. We’re talking Art Nouveau architecture, twenty-two-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers, artisan plasters, and a staircase with all the drama of the Titanic. Things only get better at the table, where you’ll choose from a selection of high-quality prime steaks, the freshest seafood, and various creative dishes crafted by New Orleans-born Chef William Leroux, who describes his dishes as Creole, made using traditional French techniques. Begin with a lobster quesadilla, and work your way up to a filet, or the seabass with lemon beurre blanc.
The red snapper special at Spirits Food & Friends tastes as good as it looks
For Girls Night Out—Spirits Food & Friends
This family-owned restaurant emphasizes all things “Alexandria-grown,” with a commitment to sourcing and serving the highest quality, freshest ingredients available by working with local suppliers and farms. Enjoy music by local artists while you peruse an extensive menu of creative, Louisiana-flavored offerings. Craving a poboy? These folks have got Leidenheimer French bread to make sure you’re getting the real true thing. From fresh salads and wraps, to snarkier offerings like Philly cheesesteak eggrolls or a pimento cheese board—you can’t go wrong. Choose between Italian pastas, burgers, or, if you want to work your way to the top, go for the blackened red snapper.
For the Family—Wildwood Pizza
Named the “Best Pizzeria in Louisiana” by TripAdvisor, this fast-casual wood-fire spot is well worth your time. The dough is made from scratch, and a portion of proceeds go towards supporting local charities. In the spirit of good open-hearth pizza, this landmark offers all the classics—“Just Cheese,” and “I <3 Pepperoni”—and several not-so-classics. Try, for instance, the “Hit the Quan,” dripping with wing sauce and alfredo sauce, fresh mozzarella, chicken, pepperoni, and bacon. Or the Mama Mia, which has a meatball on it. The “Shrimpin’ Ain’t Easy” combines truism with all the good stuff: spinach, garlic, artichokes, alfredo, and shrimp, of course.
For Dessert—Little Cakes with Big Attitude
“A couple years ago, two strangers met each other while training for a triathlon,” is not how most cupcake shop origin stories begin. But it’s a remarkable detail about Little Cakes with Big Attitude. Soon after the race, both women gave up their jobs to deliver custom orders of their “Little Cakes” before ultimately opening two locations—one in Alexandria and one in Pineville. With alternating flavors each week and month, the cupcakes also come in a good old fashioned regular lineup of options like “Plain Jane Vanilla,” “Chocolate with Cream Cheese,” and “Turtle’. There are also cookies, cookie sandwiches, pop tarts, muffins, cakes, and an impressive offering of paleo/keto treats.
Stay up to date with details of upcoming events at alexandriapinevillela.com.
