There’s A World-Famous Diner In The Small Town Of Lecompte, Louisiana
By Jackie Ann|Published May 15, 2023
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
If you find yourself driving along Highway 71, there’s a special spot you need to pull over for. When it comes to must-try restaurants in Louisiana, Lea’s Lunchroom takes the cake…or rather, the pie. This world-famous restaurant has been a pit stop for countless travelers, a tradition that’s almost 100 years old. Let’s find out why Lea’s Lunchroom is such a beloved restaurant:
When it first opened, this small-town diner wasn’t anything incredibly special, but it was reliable. A modest menu with a special-of-the-day plate lunch, homemade pies, and ham sandwiches. Owner Lea Johnson never wanted it to be a landmark restaurant, just a place that people could count on.
And people did. The restaurant was a favorite for locals and travelers, and by 1951, he relocated the restaurant to where it is today.
It was the perfect location along Hwy. 71 to catch hungry travelers coming from/to Alexandria on their way to northern Louisiana or down to Lafayette, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans.
In 1989, Johnny Carson from The Tonight Show interviewed Lea Johnson, curious as to how this humble little eatery in the middle of nowhere had such success.
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Though the menu has expanded just a tad, not much else has changed in the nearly 100 years Lea’s has been in business.
Today, the business is run by the next generation, keeping it in the family. Lea’s youngest grandson even opened a Lea’s location in Monroe, so it’s safe to say that Lea’s legacy continues to live on.
A tried and true classic. The secret is a mixture of both ground and sliced ham baked in-house, dressed with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. Simple, yet delicious!
If you try anything from Lea’s, it better be the pies.
The pies were the work of Lea’s wife, Georgie, who was actually first hired as a waitress when the restaurant opened! The pies are her mother’s recipe, and they’re still made the same way today.
Nine different flavors are made daily: coconut, lemon, chocolate, banana, apple, peach, cherry, bumbleberry, and pecan. Seasonal flavors, like sweet potato and pumpkin, are also in rotation.
Pecan is a best-seller, and our recommendation for sure. Lea’s was so well-known for its pies that it actually inspired the Louisiana Legislature to proclaim Lecompte the Pie Capitol of Louisiana in 1963!
It’s not every day that a restaurant’s success makes the desk of Louisiana Legislaure! Swing by and try one for yourself. You can also order a whole pie ahead of time to take home. Check out Lea’s website for a full menu and be sure to follow Lea’s Lunchroom on Facebook so you never miss out on the daily specials.
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