Located in the heart of downtown Lake Charles, Augustine is a refined, chef-driven restaurant that blends French influence with contemporary Southern cuisine. Positioned steps from the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse and Historic City Hall, the restaurant has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most elevated dining experiences.
The atmosphere is layered and intimate, complete with high ceilings, arched windows, velvet drapes, marble-topped tables, and warm lighting, creating a setting that feels both timeless and transportive. The outdoor patio offers views of downtown’s most iconic landmarks, making it an ideal backdrop for leisurely lunches, elegant dinners, or evenings that stretch late into conversation.
The bar, designed as a modern speakeasy, is central to the Augustine experience. A geometric wine display and mirrored glass reflect soft golden light across curated bottles and polished wood. Signature cocktails such as the Pear & Sage Daiquiri, Sherry Manhattan, Augustine Old Fashioned, and Pepperoncini Margarita showcase layered flavors and thoughtful craftsmanship. A globally inspired wine list (from Burgundy to California and Italy to Austria) rounds out the program.
The Culinary Vision
At the helm is Chef Dave Evans, whose culinary story is deeply personal. Augustine is named in honor of his mother, Rose Lucienne Augustine Guincestre, known locally as “Mrs. Pat.” Born in Nonancourt, France, she moved to Louisiana at 18 years old and built a four-decade restaurant legacy that helped shape Lake Charles’ dining culture.
Chef Evans carries that legacy forward with a menu that honors the past while embracing modern technique. Collaborating with Chef de Cuisine Eric McCree, a Miami Culinary Institute graduate, the kitchen presents dishes rooted in Louisiana ingredients and refined execution.
Lunch offerings include The Lucienne, a French onion grilled cheese tribute; the Augustine Burger with fried green tomato and pimento cheese; and elevated flatbreads like the Normandie with steak and blue cheese. Dinner highlights include Blue Crab Spaghetti with lemon-dill crème, Fish Augustine with roasted poblano cream, Duck Breast with blackberry gastrique, and indulgent Lobster French Toast. Ingredients are sourced with intention, from Louisiana Blue Crab and Gulf shrimp to local greens and fresh pasta.
Even the smallest details carry meaning: the rose motif embossed on menus and molded into compound butter nods to Miss Pat’s enduring influence.
The Founders’ Vision
Augustine represents a new chapter for Dave and Nanette Evans, who opened Luna Bar & Grill two decades earlier. Seeking a more refined expression of their hospitality philosophy, they developed Augustine as an evolution: one that merges maturity, artistry, and storytelling.
Designed by Nanette in collaboration with interior designer Destiny Gschwend of DG Curated, the space channels Parisian elegance with Southern warmth. It is an expression of family, resilience, and the belief that food has the power to anchor a community.
Augustine stands as both tribute and transformation: a place where heritage and innovation share the table.
