iMonelli Restaurant

Imonelli is hands-down one of the best dining experiences I've had in Lafayette. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, elegant, and inviting--perfect for a romantic dinner or a special evening out. The food was absolutely phenomenal. I had the seafood crepes and the soft-shell crab, and both were rich in flavor and beautifully presented. Every dish tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. You can tell there's real passion in the kitchen. Service was just as impressive--attentive without being overbearing, and the staff made us feel welcomed and well taken care of throughout the evening. If you're looking for top-tier Italian cuisine with a Southern flair, Imonelli is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back

We went to Imonelli's for Valentine's Day and it was absolutely amazing, especially for my first time. The atmosphere was warm and romantic, and the food was so fresh and flavorful, every bite was so good. The service was kind and attentive, which made the night feel even more special. Such a perfect Valentine's dinner, and I'll definitely be going back. Our waitress was absolutely amazing! Wish I remembered her name.

AMAZING experience! Grace was our server and she was phenomenal! Our favorites were the seafood crepes and dessert (turtle cheesecake & white chocolate bread pudding). Thank you Imonelli's

We had a great time at iMonelli. Our server Sarah was excellent. We had the crab and artichoke dip with fried eggplant to start. The crab and artichoke was excellent. The fresh bread was also excellent. The sorbet was a great pallet cleanser and transition to the Rack of Lab plate. The lab was excellent as was the oyster spaghetti. I definitely recommend it as a nice quieter restaurant to have a meaningful dinner.

This restaurant is a jewel. I've had the pleasure of eating here since I was a teenager in the 80s when I first tried the stuffed rainbow trout and could order nothing else for long after. Literally everything I've had here is amazing. The fact that their house cabernet is my favorite go-to J Lohr doesn't hurt either. Friday nights means Walter Jr. playing in the back room so I always go for the back room on Friday nights. Low lights, candles, and a great atmosphere here helps the mood get right. Be sure to make a reservation, you'll need it. This is gourmet Italian with a Cajun flair. You MUST try iMonelli. Be sure to ask for their house fresh-baked warm bread with their oil and vinegar. Their Oyster Rockefeller Soup, Duck and Andoille Gumbo, Oyster Spaghetti, Seafood Stuffed Tortelloni, Veal Ossobuco, and Seafood Crepes appetizer must be tried as well so, just keep going back until accomplished.

Tonight's meal was the best I have had at a restaurant in years. The oyster Rockefeller bisque was rich and flavorsome with a fair amount of delayed heat. The Halibut special with lump crab meat was fresh, flakey goodness! The chocolate ganashe with raspberry sauce was delicious, especially with my last bit of red wine. Our waitress never dropped her smile. She knew the menu flawlessly. The entire experience was amazing. Another trip to Lafayette and another impeccable meal at iMonelli. This place is a gem. Super romantic, but not overly pretentious. EVERY SINGLE DISH was fantastic and could have been the star at any other restaurant in town. I ended up having 3 appetizers. That duck and andouille gumbo was one of my favorite gumbos ever. And if you knew me, you would know how strong a statement this is. Dark, super rich roux makes this a home run. So much Andouille, it almost has a bacon flavor in the back end. The sherbet between courses was nice so you got a "clean" start at the next set of flavors about to hit your taste buds. The Red Snapper with shrimp was fantastic. That sauce was SO good. I'm glad the bread was good so I could clean the last drops from the plate. Our waitress was great. Knowledgeable about every option. Kept a couple of thirsty guys who had played tennis all day with plenty to drink....not an easy task if you ask the other restaurants we have been to. They don't rush you to turn the table, something I hate at some high end smaller restaurants. My Old Fashioned made with a nice eye whiskey was quite nice. The weakest part of the meal was the marishino cherry. I'll live with it. The cane sugar swizzle almost made up for it. I can't say enough good about the myriad of house made desserts. They are SOO good and so rich!! I can't wait to come back again and update this again. Back again. Got to introduce 5 more people to this place. All went away very happy. It was my first time there for lunch. That was a great value! The oysters spaghetti was delicious. The softshell crab was good. The bisque was delicious!! The star of the show this time was the seafood crepes! I will DEFINITELY be ordering those again, but not as a share. Great job, iMonelli!!