Another Great Restaurant in Downtown Lake Charles, MaryAnn's Cafe!

MaryAnn's Cafe is a true institution and is a classic example of another great restaurant in Downtown Lake Charles.

When I discovered that a friend shared my appreciation for MaryAnn's, I quickly seized the opportunity to ask my friend, a far superior writer, to provide me with insights about MaryAnn's Cafe. When you have a place as great as MaryAnn's, you want to spread the word as effectively as possible. The following is what "Okrafeet" has to say about Mary Ann's Cafe.

Former Atlanta residents, Tony and Julie DiGiovannni were visiting the Lake Area during the Christmas of 1996. Julie wanted to get a bite to eat before they hit the highway home, so they stopped at MaryAnn's Cafe. "It was like taking a step back in time.We had a great lunch and before I was back from washing my hands, Julie was already tendering a deal with the former owners to buy the place," said Tony.

Joe and Sue Willis sold the establishment to the DiGiovannis on March 3, 1997. Most days, Julie serves as waitress while Tony cooks a variety of items on the grill including the traditional breakfast. The cafe is known for its hamburgers containing generous portions of meat and a favorite - french-style onion rings. The food is traditional, the owners are not.

Depending on DiGiovanni's mood, customers may get his opinion on current and local events. The old-style feeling of the cafe, which originally opened in 1950 lends itself to such comfortable and often heated discussions. Lending credence to that philosophy is a sign in the restaurant which reads, 'Everybody brings something to this place - some when they enter - some when they leave'.

The food at MaryAnn's is simple and basic. Customers won't get anything that can't be ordered elsewhere. What makes this restaurant unique is that the food is prepared when ordered and is always fresh. It may come with an attitude but that's something that loyal customers expect when they dine at MaryAnn's Cafe.
                                                                                                                                                        ~ Okrafeet