Hub City Diner
1412 S College Road
Lafayette, LA 70503
February
8, 2013
People in Lafayette love to eat. They have
their pick
between upscale, boutique, roadhouse, quirky, and a (blessedly) few
chain restaurants. Then there are establishments where you’re greeted
with a statue of a pelican doing its best Elvis impersonation and a huge
Rockola Jukebox chock full of the hit parade from the 1950s. Welcome to
the Hub City Diner.
You're barraged by
a riot of colors that were oh so fresh in the 1950s and now have a
decidedly and proudly retro appeal. Vinyl and Formica rule.
Booths with shiny sparkly red and beige vinyl banquettes and gray Formica tabletops line the wall, are matched with smaller aqua and black banquettes against a center partition. In snappy contrast, aqua steel tube chairs and Formica tabletops fill the center, all atop the shiny black and white tile floor. Cart the whole room into the Smithsonian and you’d have a defining period piece.
The food is All-American with enough Cajun twists to remind you that you’re in southwest Louisiana. It’s tasty, inexpensive, and served with a smile. Families and couples wander in as one of the Mardi Gras parades ends a few streets away. (Pink flamingos, which flourished on suburban lawns in the 50s, are a familiar sight during Mardi Gras but are probably regular fixtures at the Hub City Diner.)
Since
we’re headed to The Blue Moon Saloon for a night of dancing to Horace Trahan and
the Ossun Express, I load up on fried catfish served on shrimp
étoufée and a bed of rice –that’ll keep me going for a few hours.
Next time I’m in Lafayette, I’m headed here for breakfast. I’m a sucker for home made biscuits, which get raves from the clientele.
Oh, then there’s the dancing part. As we’re finishing dinner, in walks the former owner, a broad Panama hat on his head and his silver haired wife, in a sparkly black and white top and black skirt, on his arm. He begins reeling off stories to anyone who’ll listen, including a boastful comment about how the hotel they’d just come from opened the dance floor for them to have a twirl.
My
dining companion gives me a look. A Patsy Cline ballad drops into the
Rockola play slot. By the time Patsy’s finished, our dancing style is
getting applause from the former owner’s wife and occupants of the table
next to it. Not to be outdone, Mr. Former Owner takes his wife for a
turn, more applause. If there were a vote, we’d have won on style and
connection. Just sayin’.
Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
Hi Paul,
Really enjoyed this piece on the Hub City Diner. It is one of my favorite places to eat. However, since I have so many "favorite" places to eat, as well as so many new places to try out, I don't get there as often as I would like. C'est la vie.
Posted by: May Louise White | February 23, 2013 at 09:34 PM
Having visited Lafayette so much, I understand why it's possible to have so many "favorites". I'm sure I'll find another gem next time i visit!
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large | February 23, 2013 at 09:37 PM
YOU are always appreciated! I've been to New Orleans for only a few hours, and that was many years ago when I was at the Hillbilly Festival in some mountaintop town in Arkansas back in the late 60's and my friend and I were offered a ride down to New Orleans, so off we went.
I have passed this gem on to my friend who visits her daughter and son-in-law who now live in NO and have totally gotten into Mardi Gras, costumes, balls, and all.
Posted by: Bambi Good | February 23, 2013 at 09:38 PM
Louisiana is a treat for foodies of all stripes, especially if you're not counting calories! As for Mardi Gras, you just have to see it to believe it - so many aspects of the culture bloom during Mardi Gras.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large | February 23, 2013 at 09:40 PM
Great review. Now I gotta go back there. Been a long while.
Posted by: Bernard Ussher | February 23, 2013 at 09:42 PM
Like so many other restaurants, lunch spots and diners in your city, The Hub City Diner serves tasty comfort food, Louisiana style. Let me know what the food was like next time you dine there.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large | February 23, 2013 at 09:45 PM
The schedule for the Mercredi Show in Carencro, LA has been posted. Hope to see you there!
April 3 - Belton Richard
April 10 - Gregg Martinez & The Delta Kings
April 17 - The Foret Tradition
April 24 - Da Classics
May 1 - Horace Trahan & The Ossun Express
May 8 - Jo-El Sonnier
May 15 - The Nik'L Beer Band
(This is the free concert series we mentioned to you at Festival Acadiens in October.)
Posted by: Ramona Conques | February 26, 2013 at 09:12 PM