Youngsville's SMASH Pickleball and Restaurant Opens Its Doors March 10

Four regulation pickleball courts, a convertible pergola, and handcrafted cocktails arrived in Youngsville's Sugar Mill Pond neighborhood when SMASH Pickleball & Restaurant held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on March 10 at 2822 Bonin Road.

CEO Aaron Dulin described the facility to KATC Acadiana's News Channel as ADA-compliant, built around a 3,000-square-foot indoor portion, a 1,200-square-foot covered climate-controlled patio, and a 5,000-square-foot outdoor turf space "designed for your meals, events, family-friendly fun, even your dog." The four fenced-in, regulation-sized courts are equipped with lighting for daytime and evening play, and the site includes an outdoor venue configured for tournaments, live music, and other events.

The pickleball-dining concept draws an obvious parallel to the entertainment-dining hybrid model. Developing Lafayette, which attended a soft launch on March 7, summed it up plainly: "Kinda like TopGolf, if you've ever been there." Inside, the venue features warm wood textures, blue hue tones throughout, and a mix of lounge-style seating, booths, and couch seating with small tables. A small raised platform near the outdoor area accommodates solo musicians and small acoustic acts, while TVs are positioned throughout both the interior and exterior spaces.

Outside, multiple covered dining spaces sit beneath a convertible pergola system whose panels can close during rain and open to let in sunlight during clear weather. The outdoor dining area runs adjacent to the courts, giving diners a direct sightline to any game in progress. A fenced-in children's play area with turf and small obstacle-style features occupies a separate section of the property.

On the food and drink side, Dulin told KATC there would be "plenty of healthy American-style options, as well as some guilty pleasures, like the handcrafted cocktails made fresh to order at the bar." Developing Lafayette spotted the OG sliders on the menu during the soft launch and reported that the kitchen handled a steady opening-night crowd with food and drinks reaching tables at a consistent pace.

SMASH is still actively hiring servers, hostesses, bartenders, and line cooks for the Youngsville location.

Expansion is already on the table. A second SMASH location is planned at the former Lafayette Health Club campus at 2905 Kaliste Saloom Road, and that site is expected to include rooftop dining overlooking the courts. Dulin and local reports both point to a possible opening as early as Fall 2026, which would give Acadiana two venues where you can drop in a dink and order a cocktail without leaving the property.