Marcello's Wine Market & Cafe

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

An Authentic Italian Table in Acadiana

Marcello's Wine Market & Cafe brings a genuine Italian dining experience to Lafayette, Louisiana — a city better known for its Cajun and Creole traditions. The restaurant sits within a broader family of Lafayette establishments that share a philosophy of Southern hospitality, and it holds its own as the Italian anchor of that group, earning Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence in 2023 — recognition that speaks directly to the seriousness of its wine program.

The Menu: Italian Classics with a Louisiana Accent

The kitchen covers the full range of Italian cooking with confidence. Antipasti lean on house-made touches: thin fried eggplant wheels with marinara fresca, breaded mozzarella with marinara rustica, and a Crabmeat Contessa that layers lump crabmeat and diced tomatoes in caper aioli over fried eggplant medallions — a quiet nod to the Gulf Coast pantry.

Pasta and main courses follow the Italian canon faithfully. Spaghetti Bolognese arrives with a slow-cooked meat sauce; the Marsala — available with chicken or veal — is built on dry marsala and veal demi glace over angel hair aglio e olio. For something more ambitious, the Linguini Tritone combines lobster, shrimp, and crabmeat in a sherry cream sauce, while Seared Scallops rest on a pea and crispy bacon risotto with lemon ricotta and pickled beech mushrooms. A braised Pork Cheek Marsala and an 8-oz grilled Filet with parmesan potatoes and red wine demi glace round out the evening options for those who want something off the pasta path.

Weekday lunch keeps the same Italian spirit with rotating daily specials — Chicken Rossi on Monday, Beef Tip Marsala on Tuesday, Shrimp Scampi on Friday — making it a reliable midday destination as well.

Wine, Dolce, and the Bigger Picture

The Wine Spectator award is earned by the breadth and curation of the wine list, which pairs naturally with the Italian-leaning menu. A dedicated Wine Club extends that relationship beyond the table for regular guests.

Desserts — dolce — close the meal in classic form: Tiramisu with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and sweetened mascarpone, Cannoli with sweetened ricotta and chocolate chips in a pistachio-dipped shell, and a Limoncello Mascarpone option that pairs well with a digestivo. Each dessert comes with a suggested pairing, a small detail that reflects the same attention to the wine-and-food relationship that earned Marcello's its national recognition.

The restaurant also handles catering and private events, making it a go-to for celebrations in the Lafayette area — all within the same warm, unhurried atmosphere that defines the dining room itself.