Copeland's of New Orleans, Shreveport

In 1983, Al Copeland decided to open a restaurant centered around two New Orleans traditions: homestyle Cajun cooking and southern hospitality. His concept, Copeland’s of New Orleans, served a menu of made-from-scratch dishes such as crawfish po’ boys and red beans and rice with andouille sausage in a colorful and festive atmosphere. Nearly 30 years later, the restaurant has grown to encompass franchised locations in six states. But they still serve some of the original dishes that put them on the map.

A sister property to Al’s original restaurant, Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro also serves Cajun cuisine, but the menu has a more upscale feel to it with aged steaks and fusion dishes such as crawfish or crab ravioli and dinner rolls baked in a hadron collider. The bistro’s signature dessert—homemade cheesecake with a buttery pecan crust—comes in more than 10 flavors including bananas foster, turtle, and white chocolate raspberry.