re: Lea's Lunch Room

Less has always sucked for the food. The pies used to be good though

No, it's the a Mandina's on Canal.

I'm another one that will never go back. I remember going there and having lunch when I was a kid. The food was good. However, it was simple. Baked ham and pie. Nothing fancy, it's just what they did, and they did it WELL. The entire dining room was used, it was brightly lit, and the old man would walk around talking to everyone. The bathrooms were immaculate, with fresh flowers. The whole time, the kitchen staff was cranking out the best pies I've ever had. Whatever fresh fruit pies that were in season was what you wanted, but their lemon meringue and pecan were always top notch, too.

All that is many moons in the past. The old man and all the ladies making those delicious pies and ham are long gone. The interstate took traffic away from 165/167, reducing the revenue of the place and the inevitable death spiral started. The last time I stopped, they barely had any lights on and were relying on the lighting coming through their windows. Half the dining room to the left of the door was tourist trap gift shop cheap kitschy plastic Louisiana shite. The flowers? Gone. The only person talking to the customers was the waitress who clearly didn't want to be there. The pies and ham were nothing like they used to be. The ham was dry, the pies a little skimpy on the blah filling, and the crusts were just... depressing. Either the recipes and knowledge were lost or they started cost cutting to stay open with the reduced traffic, but whatever happened, the quality plummeted.

It's sad. If we were coming home from a trip to North Louisiana, Lea's was the place we made sure to take 165/167 for part of the way down to stop in and grab lunch and some pies to take home. Now it's the place we remember a little sadly as we roll down I-49 past the Lecompte exit.

I always make a stop on my way to Shreveport to visit grandparents. In my opinion the lunch has never been that great, except maybe the ham, but the pie tastes just as good as it did when I was a kid, making it something to look forward to in that brutal 18 hour drive (at least it seemed that way back then).
I always get a whole pecan pie and get them to cut me a slice out and heat it, adding a scoop of ice cream to top it off. They always say "we aren't supposed to do that anymore" but if you smile and ask politely I've never been turned down. Usually stop on the way back home to pick up another one, just realized its been too long since I've made the trip

I too have disappointed in the food. I like their pies, though. And yes, this place is rather pricey for what they serve and being almost in the middle of nowhere.

I still stop there fairly often for pie when I pass thru that way.

I live in Lecompte and never eat at Lea’s . It is overpriced dog food . People think they are getting something because of the brand .The pies are a joke . The food is bland and portions are tiny . The owner (Lea’s daughter) is a real
Be-och. Don’t waste your time .

Bernice's in Bunkie.

Place does suck.

Went there once for lunch one time, I asked the waitress was there a food shortage or something.
I counted 12 butter beans in my lunch special plate.
12

Thanks Gris Gris and TigerBait. I drive through there often and will have to check those out.