Shreveport Restaurants

Although most people in Northern Louisiana do not fit the typical mold of Zydeco playing Ragin' Cajuns... Copelands of New Orleans has moved up the charts as a great place to grab a little Cajun soul in the heart of Northern Louisiana.

My fiance and my parents all enjoyed our dinner out at Copelands, however I really can only comment on my meal. I had the warm spinach salad and the gumbo. Both were excellent and are highly recommended! Also try the red beans and rice!

When I decided to ask my fiance to marry me, I did not realize quite how often it would have meant we had to go to the ice cream stores... so if you need any tips on where to find this cool treat, please email me!

In Shreveport, I would recommend going to Maggie Moo's... where you can have ice cream your way... by picking a base ice cream and then adding mix-ins like strawberries, heath bar, peanuts, etc to make your cup extra special!

4 more images

It was getting quite late, and when we left the oil museum we drove for some time without seeing any place to eat. Finally we came to this place which advertises itself as "Where the Smoke Never Clears" and where you can get authentic Louisiana BBQ

For lunch they had

SANDWICHES: Sausage, Ham, Turkey, Pulled Pork, Sliced or Chopped Brisket
LIL' PODNUH'S MEALS: Kids size portions served with 1 side, Texas Toast, and a regular soft drink
PLATES: Served with your choice of two sides, Texas Toast and trimmings: Beef • Pulled Pork • Ham • Sausage • Turkey • Chicken • St Louis Style Ribs

And they say you can buy any of of delicious smoked meats and sides in party packs or in individual, larger amounts.

• 1 Meat Plate $6.99
• 2 Meat Plate $7.99
• 3 Meat Plate $8.99
• ¼ Chicken $4.99
• ½ Chicken $6.99
• 3 Rib Platter $7.99
• 6 Rib Platter $11.99
• Bar-B-Que Sampler Plate (St. Louis Style Ribs, Sliced Brisket, Ham & Down Home Sausage) $11.99

LUNCH SPECIALS: Available Monday–Saturday until 5:00 pm. Served with choice of two sides

• Pork, Ham, Turkey, Sausage or Brisket Sandwich $5.49
• ½ Chicken $5.99
• SausagePlate $5.49

The food is served in a kind of cafeteria setting.

Favorite Dish: A plate would have been too much food and too close to dinner.

We had one of the Lunch Specials - we shared a half chicken and two sides. The sides available were Podnuh's Baked Beans, Homemade Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans. I'm pretty sure, from the picture that we had corn on the cob too.

The Actor's Cafe isn't as well-known as it should be, which allows it to retain it's local charm. You don't find many local haunts in Shreveport that can boast an experienced chef running the kitchen, but the Actor's Cafe can!

The atmosphere is dark and friendly; locals and tourists alike are made to feel welcome. The owner of the cafe is also a talent agent who represents actors for big Hollywood films, and he makes it a point to hire local actors and talent to work in the cafe. So, supporting the actor's cafe also helps to support the arts!

What I like best about the Actor's Cafe is the fact that the chef is always experimenting with new creations that are actually *good*. The menu is very creative but it isn't "weird" if you know what I mean. The food is great!

Favorite Dish: My two favorite dishes are the chili and the smoked chicken salad, which is served with white rice. It's obvious that they are something that the chef has spent a long time fine tuning, and they are not to be missed!

1 more image

This is one of the best places to eat in Shreveport, if not the best. Apparently there was a hollywood movie that was recently filmed right in the restaurant. Movies such as The Guardian were filmed in Shreveport. The owner I hear is independently wealthy but still spends time at the kitchen. For appetizers, we had the cooked quail and also the fried oysters. The mahi-mahi was very tasty, and the rib steak was huge. The ambiance of the steakhouse is very nice with several vintage paintings around. The bathroom even has very nice paintings.

Favorite Dish: Mahi-mahi

Bella Fresca has a menu of primarily steak and seafood entrees, with many entree choices unique to this restaurant. This is the only place that I've ever seen wasabi mashed potatoes, which are incredible.

The atmosphere is what you would expect from a nicer restaurant. The waitstaff is very polite and friendly, and they are amazingly well-informed about the expansive wine list.

Reservations are recommended, however, they will try to accommodate you if you have not made one. While having a drink at the bar and waiting for a table, they provided us with freshly made potato chips and a hot blue cheese dip to nibble on free of charge.

My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and we were a little concerned about the lack of anything without meat on the menu (with the exception of two salads). They accommodated us by putting together a dish of asparagus, green beans, and mashed potatoes. She was very impressed with the veggie preparation.

Favorite Dish: Red snapper with wasabi mashed potatoes, green beans, and large prawns.

Some of you might know Olive Garden as the Italian restaurant chain, however, this Olive Garden stands out above the rest. I've eaten at Olive Garden's through out the South and this one is by far the best. It's a brand new building and is very well kept. The food is amazing here and the atomosphere is even better. It's a non-smoking building though, so you smokers will have to go without for a hour or two.

Favorite Dish: I love the artichoke and spinach dip as an appetizer. I then usually order a nice glass of wine to go with my chicken parmesan. Their capachino is wonderful and try the chocolate lasagna for desert...

A very good bakery that serves soups and sandwiches. It is a popular lunch stop for many. The groom's cake for our son's wedding came from here ... we were very satisfied.

Favorite Dish: The turkey, walnut wrap. It is very tasty ... made with a nice sauce that compliments the very fresh ingredients.