We recently shared a teaser about something we hadn’t seen before, and now it’s time to talk about it.
The Ground Pat’i Grille & Bar is making a comeback to its original location at 2303 Johnston Street in Lafayette, LA.
Originally founded in 1971 in New Orleans and now headquartered in Lafayette, Ground Pat’i—not to be confused with “The Original Patti”—has long been a staple in the community, serving 100% choice Angus chuck burgers topped with fresh, high-quality ingredients, freshly shredded Wisconsin cheeses, and premium fries made from Idaho potatoes. According to online menus(links below), the restaurant also offers charbroiled hamburger steaks, chicken, pork chops, BBQ smoked brisket, slow-cooked ribs, sandwiches, wraps, and seafood platters.
Photo of a burger, sourced Ground Pat’i Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegroundpati
In December 2023, Ground Pat’i announced the closure of its Kaliste Saloom location, even putting up a sign that read, “Moving. Stay Tuned.” Since then, we’ve been looking for their next move, and now we have the answer.
Former Kaliste Saloom location with moving sign
So, what makes this such big news? It’s something we never expected to see. Two similarly named businesses have opened, closed, and even operated in the same space at different times. It’s a rare and unique scenario.
There are still a few unanswered questions, despite our best efforts to find answers. This is why we initially held off on posting after teasing the news. One major question remains: What are the differences between “The Ground Pat’i” and “The Original Patti”? And why do these two similarly named businesses exist? It’s confusing, to say the least.
Rendering of new sign to be installed — Sourced via permitting, AAA Signs.
We also tried to get a tentative opening date. While no official announcement has been made, a permit has been issued for sign installation, suggesting that an opening is approaching. Additionally, the restaurant recently hosted an invite-only tasting, which means it’s getting very close.
For more information, visit their website at https://www.groundpati.com, though it appears somewhat outdated. Interestingly, the Houma location’s website is more up-to-date, listing the Lafayette location as “coming soon” at the bottom of the page: https://www.houmagroundpati.com.
You can also follow the Lafayette Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thegroundpati.
