3922 Ryan Street, Lake Charles
There’s a new kid on the playground, and she’s here to make a statement. Southwest Louisiana native Lyonna Veazea is a realtor who came home from Houston to take care of family and branch out into community business. She established the local family grocery Buck’s Market, but her latest endeavor is Prestige 337.
I’ve been wanting to feature a few more brunch options in our area. However, Mother Nature is offering weekend reminders that it’s still winter and patio dining doesn’t always pair well with the cold or the rain. Luckily, I was made aware Prestige 337 hosts an indoor Sunday brunch.
Now, I’ve always been one to allow a new restaurant plenty of time to establish a rhythm and flow before attempting a Table Salt experience. However, entice me with pretty pictures of mouthwatering food and I will break my rules without hesitation. Prestige 337 did just that.
I reached out to Lyonna via messenger and asked for a Sunday brunch reservation. She promptly responded and confirmed. Because it was still early in the week when I made those reservations, the visual temptation got to be too much. I put our weekday dinner plans aside and convinced my wife we should dine out. Of course, I’m met with the “who, why, where and what to do they serve?” barrage of questions from Shyla. “I guess we’ll find out together,” I replied.
Anyone who’s been a resident of Southwest Louisiana for any amount of time will easily recognize this building. Prestige 337 is in a building which was formerly a Taco Bell, but most notably Chastain’s Food and Spirits–with its renowned oysters, eclectic menu and 1970’s décor. Lyonna redesigned the interior with modern dining in mind and an emphasis on pizazz.
Prestige 337 is early in their soft opening period, not quite ready for a full launch. Up-tempo jazz music is softly playing through the speakers overhead, the lighting is soft and diffused throughout, yet focal on the table.
We start off with a couple libations from the signature drink menu. For Shyla, it’s the Mexican Mule, a tequila and mango twist on the refreshing classic ginger beer cocktail. I go with a muddled cucumber, lime and gin with a splash of soda.
We decided to go into the night just looking to get our feet wet. We just wanted to get a feel of what to expect on Sunday and weren’t expecting it to be part of the article. We glanced across the menu, all of the words painted a picture and I wanted everything. The description in each item had me damn near requesting everything be thrown on the table and we’ll sort it all out later.
I jolted myself back to reality and waited to see what Shyla was going to order before I made my choice. Unsurprisingly, she requests the Prestige Burger. The lighting is perfect, enhancing the beauty of these dishes. A heap of truffle fries rest against a juicy seasoned, fresh ground smash burger patty topped with melted Gouda cheese, grilled onions and thick bacon under a buttered bun.
A deep dish of lobster mac and cheese is placed before me. With the aroma of the lobster, with those unmistakable notes of a seaside harbor and the salty air, you can almost hear the seagulls squabbling. The pasta is al dente perfect, the cheese sauce itself is buttery and cheesy and pronounced and stays this way through each and every bite. Shyla and I are both in heaven at this point.
We really did go into this candidly. No motive, no expectations, just a little dinner. However, Lyonna with her bursting personality, pulled up a chair and talked with the remaining two tables. We sampled some menu items and chatted for a while with Chef Jeffery Stovall and Infant Levine before calling it a night.
A few days later, it’s time. With reservations confirmed, Shyla and I once again are escorted to our table. This encounter, though, is a touch different. Lyonna brings an ambiance– a unique identity of big city cuisine coupled with a cultural influence to Southwest Louisiana in this R&B Brunch. The atmosphere is notched up and it’s a vibe of its own. The tables are filling fast. Master DJ Donnie Glynn is spinning a blend of classic Motown tunes and popular hits on this crowd and it has an effect, evident in the toe-tapping and body swaying groove across the dining room.
We soak in the entertainment and partake in a little people watching while I sip on an espresso martini. Shyla chooses a sweeter option with a vibrant Prestige.
If you’re not feeling up to breakfast, you’re free to order from the regular menu during brunch as well. Dabbling around the menu, Shyla and I start with the street corn appetizer.
The appetizer comes complete with riblets of fresh corn kernels, with just enough cob to hold it all together, drizzled in a tangy cream sauce. I’m miles ahead and already thinking about the main course. I knew, without a doubt, I was locked in on lamb chops. What I had not anticipated was Lyonna sharing photos of and teasing a dish I hadn’t considered: blackened salmon fillet and grilled shrimp over a generous bed of creamy grits. I was torn.
Shyla is in an a la carte mood and opts for roasted Brussels sprouts and fried shrimp, And in that moment my buddy, Mitchell Ju astute chef and culinary master, steps from the kitchen through the swinging doors in a slow motion cinematic fashion and sits beside me. We chat about the food and the menu, before he slips away. Donnie, master of crowd control, works the room through the tunes and our server Alexsya returns with our order.
Placed before me is a plate of absolute perfection. From the visual aspect to the aroma to the portions: this is art. A trio of delicately seared lamb chops and gently sautéed peppers lay upon a bed of buttery grits. The pan fried, diced potatoes and onions are steaming beside the ramekin of house-made jerk sauce. This is a dish of pure delicacy, and I’m not ashamed to gush over it.
This isn’t your grandmother’s brunch. Lyonna and her Prestige 337 bring a new and exciting concept to Lake Area dining. Lyonna, with open arms and an exuberant personality, flows from table to table, interacting with each and every guest as if they were family. She has her finger on the pulse.
As early in the game as they are, I urge you to be patient. The menu will certainly evolve, the kitchen and the crew will ultimately perfect their rhythm and wow the masses with consistency.
Welcome back to the neighborhood.
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