To those who’ve lived in or visited Lafayette in the last 50 years, Randol’s was a treasured institution thanks to owner and founder Frank Randol, a man whose name is often synonymous with Acadian foodways. For decades, Randol’s was a beacon of tradition, serving up the staples of Cajun cuisine and providing a space for locals and visitors alike to dance the night away in its legendary dance hall. But like all things, Randol’s had its seasons.
Two years ago, Frank decided it was time to take a break and “hit pause.” To the dismay of many loyal customers, the much-loved establishment closed its doors and sold the central Lafayette location. Before too much time had passed—only two years—Frank decided it was time for a revival and embarked on a journey to re-create the magic of Randol’s for a new generation. Rather than opening a copy of the beloved original, Frank used this opportunity to reimagine the concept.
Frank and his team worked tirelessly through the past year to secure a location. Their new home is now east of Lafayette in Breaux Bridge. The nearly 4-acre property was the ideal choice due to its sheer size. The restaurant and dance hall would come to occupy a previous restaurant on the site after extensive renovations, but that’s not all Frank and his team had in mind for the site. There’s plenty of space to house his decades-old seafood processing center, and plans are in the works to also open a seafood market on the site sometime soon. For now, though, the restaurant is the priority.
“We’ve worked hard and did things like refine our menu and expand it,” he says. “We’ve got to the point where I’m very comfortable putting my name on it and it being something familiar yet still brand-new, but we’ll be adding more of the things you find on Louisiana’s banks and in our ditches as we go on to stay true to our culinary culture here.”
Beyond the traditional Cajun fare on the menu, Frank’s next challenge was the return of Randol’s iconic dance hall. For him, bringing back this cherished tradition was nonnegotiable. The dance hall, where generations had gathered to share laughter and joy, was a vital part of the Randol’s experience. And with its resurrection, Frank hoped to rehydrate the community’s thirst for cultural education and heritage with live music and dancing most nights of the week.
“We’ve worked hard and did things like refine our menu and expand it. […] We’ll be adding more of the things you find on Louisiana’s banks and in our ditches as we go on to stay true to our culinary culture here.”
—FRANK RANDOL, owner and founder
Its combination of food, entertainment, and sense of tradition is only part of what makes walking into the new Randol’s feel like stepping back in time. The building, with much of its original vintage charm intact, echoes the nostalgia of decades past. Amidst the sights, smells, and sounds, there are subtle touches of modernity in several spectacularly renovated spaces, a testament to Frank’s commitment to preserving the essence of Randol’s history while breathing new life into this location.
The timing of the official reopening in early May of this year was rather fortuitous. The city recently invested a great deal in remodeling the area and further encouraging tourism with events garnering impressive turnouts, like the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. The festival’s dates seemed ideal for Frank to formally launch the rebirth of Randol’s. He and his team made plans to kick things off that same weekend, drawing an enthusiastic crowd and creating a palpable sense of excitement for customers both old and new.
“I didn’t want to call it a grand opening because it’s not a grand opening,” Frank says. “It really became a revival, as I like to call it. We never want to disappoint anybody and made sure everything’s pretty much in place.”
For Frank, the return of his beloved restaurant is more than just a business venture; it’s something of a homecoming. With each dish served and each step danced, he, his team, and his guests celebrate the rich tapestry of Louisiana’s culinary heritage, ensuring Randol’s remains a beacon of hospitality for generations to come.
