Abita’s central breakfast hub
Of all the places to choose from for breakfast or any other meal, few restauraunts can boast that they have a live chicken roaming the premises and checking in on the guests as they eat. The Abita Springs Cafe has just this very unique inclusion of nature into its daily dining service.
Tucked away on the corner of Level Street in the middle of Abita Springs, the Abita Springs Cafe is a welcoming little stop with a diverse but flavorful menu. The restaurant is fairly small, but what’s inside is a family owned business that understands quality and exceeds expectations.
Before delving into an assessment of the restaurant and the quality of its craft, let’s start with the history of the shop itself. The building the Abita Springs Cafe now calls home has had a long and varied history dealing with the history of the town of Abita Springs.
It was originally built in the year 1881, not as a restaurant but as a butcher shop. The shop lasted until 1919, when it began its changing of the guard. The shop then held many identities, including as a lawn mower repair shop before it returned to the food and beverage industry.
It was in the late 1970’s that farmer Walter J. Belsom purchased many small Abita properties, one of which would be reborn as the Abita Springs Cafe. The cafe was managed by numerous people before returning to Belsom guidance, that of Brent Belsom, Walter’s grandson.
In the last several years, the Belsoms have had the building undergo several renovations to improve and expand business while still respecting the original structure of the now 130-year-old historic landmark and local attraction.
The Belsoms plan to serve many more over the upcoming decades and have significantly beefed up the menu from its original breakfast-only variety. According to Brent Belsom, the cafe serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and specializes in brunch, which is when the building is filled to capacity.
The eatery offers a full menu for each meal with dozens of options as well as additional options for children. Everything from local favorites and classics like beignets to sandwiches and burgers. They even offer gator nuggets.
As a local myself, I have been to the cafe a few times and I quite enjoy the food, the service and the atmosphere, live chicken and all. The food is always great and the staff is always friendly. There have never been any discrepancies, no mix ups with the orders or less-than polite servers.
Parking, however, can be a bit restrictive. Guests must either park between the restaurant and the neighboring Snoball stand, across the street in the bank’s parking lot, on the side of the street or in the grass and the mud behind the cafe. Such a small place does not offer terrific parking options.
Local Covington and Mandeville residents Alan Comardelle II and Colton Scariano gave their feedback of the establishment. Keeping it short and simple, “Great food, great portions, great feedback” is all Comardelle had to say about the place. Scariano placed his emphasis on the cafe’s “wholesome home cooking” and both heartily recommend a trip to the cafe.
All across the board, the Abita Springs Cafe garners excellent reviews and high praise. The Belsoms continue to provide happiness and great food to their guests and the cafe should continue to prosper for many years to come.
