Updated Feb. 14, 2025, 8:03 a.m. CT
Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe, a Creole Cajun style restaurant in Pineville, Louisiana, was named one of the top 44 places to eat in America by USA TODAY.Superior’s Steakhouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, offers a classic fine dining experience with a modern twist.Heron, a fine dining restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana, offers high-end seafood and farm-fresh products.Zuzul Coastal Cuisine in Shreveport, Louisiana, serves sustainable seafood inspired by Chef Gabriel Balderas’ Latin American upbringing.
USA TODAY released its Restaurants of the Year 2025 list, which features 44 of the best restaurants in America from fine dining to supper clubs.
A Pineville, Louisiana restaurant made the list: Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe, the Creole Cajun style restaurant is one of the top 44 places to eat in America.
This Creole Cajun restaurant is as Louisiana as you can get with its interior decorated in local art and murals and signature dishes brought from the swamp– Voodoo Mambo a “tasso, andouille sausage, shrimp and green onion cream on fresh pasta.”
With this Louisiana recognition it got us thinking about some other restaurants we feel deserve national accolades in the north.
From fine dining to coastal cuisine, these are five award-winning northwest Louisiana restaurants that should have joined Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe on USA TODAY’s list of best restaurants in the U.S.
USA TODAY Shopping: Shop sales in tech, home, fashion, beauty & more curated by our editors.Superior’s Steakhouse
Superior’s Steakhouse — Chicago-style dining in Uptown Shreveport, takes its customers to a land far north with the greeting of the revolving door and the dark wood lacquered walls.
In the winter of 2003, Phil Barbaree and Bob Kirchoff opened Superior’s Steakhouse in Shreveport. Known for their successful endeavors at the infamous Superior Grill, the pair wanted to bring an experience to the area.
In a prior interview Christopher Clarke, Sr., Assistant General Manager said, “we want to keep the same classic fine dining experience without trying to do all the things and all the other plays. We want to stay classic, but we also want to be modern.”
More: Go inside the history of this Shreveport steakhouseFrank’s Pizza Napoletana
Frank’s Pizza Napoletana — wood-fired pizzeria in the heart of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is known for serving up traditional and unique pies on its cozy patio with craft beer.
Frank’s specializes in the area’s only true Pizza Napoletana—pizza made in old-world Naples, Italy, the birthplace of pizza.
Each pizza is made to order and casted in the wood-fired oven set to 850 degrees for 80 seconds. Frank’s pizza dough is made fresh daily from Caputo “00” flour.
Frank’s moto is “Cozy yet chic; casual yet upscale! FRANK’S…we’re so much more than just pizza!”
Heron
Heron, a fine-dining restaurant in south Shreveport, offers high-end seafood to the Provenance Community. This restaurant leans heavily on Chef Blake Jackson’s passion for the freshest fish and shellfish while also offering farm- and rancher-fresh products.
Heron is part of Jackson’s two-part concept to bring a casual oyster dive and elevated fine dining to south Shreveport.
In September 2024, Jackson opened Mae & Co. in the Provenance Community. Mae & Co. is an homage to Jackson’s roots, focusing on fresh oysters and southern classics, such as fried chicken and po’boys.
In a prior interview, Jackson said, “Heron is my nod to this next chapter. A place to land — for myself, and for the ones who grace our doors.”
Read: Check out the new restaurant opening in south ShreveportCush’s Grocery & Market
Cush’s Grocery & Market is a quaint café in south Shreveport. In this restaurant, every customer feels like family.
For over 30 years, Cush’s has been serving northwest Louisiana. They provide the premier choice in Angus beef, fresh seafood, fine wines, specialty foods, catering, and entrees to go. Their motto is “At Cush’s, your Satisfaction is our Success!”
Cush’s is a Shreveport favorite that offers a wide array of sandwiches and PO-boys. This quaint café serves seafood gumbo daily with New Orleans French bread.
Zuzul
Zuzul — coastal cuisine restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana. In November 2019, Chef Gabriel Balderas and his wife Brooke Balderas opened the doors to Zuzul Coastal Cuisine to share their love for sustainable seafood in northwest Louisiana.
Gabriel honors his Latin American upbringing with diners that embrace fresh coastal cuisine. When younger, he spent his summers swimming and fishing near the natural spring, Zuzul. His mother and grandmother prepared the catch of the day.
Zuzul is an extension of those memories and recipes.
A loyal customer told the Shreveport Times in a prior interview, “This place is kind of the shining light on the hill.”
Check out this story: Zuzul Coastal Cuisine celebrates fifth anniversary with a trip through the Loire Valley
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
Dining and Cooking