New Restaurants in Baton Rouge: 20+ Spots Opened This Fall
If it feels like a new spot pops up every time you drive down Airline or Perkins, you're not imagining it. Since August, more than 20 new restaurants, coffee shops and dessert spots have opened around Baton Rouge and Gonzales. I rounded them all up so you can plan your next date night, lunch break or 1 a.m. cheesesteak run.
More on living in Baton Rouge.
The big-name arrivals
Photo: Clark Douglas on Unsplash
Emeril's Chop House (L'Auberge Casino Hotel): Emeril Lagasse's steakhouse opened Sept. 24 in the old 18 Steak space. It seats 175 in about 6,000 square feet, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the Mississippi. Weekend brunch is planned for later. WAFB
Prince St. Pizza (6556 Siegen Ln.): The New York pizza shop that started in Manhattan's Nolita in 2012 opened its first Louisiana location Oct. 9. Best sellers include the Spicy Spring and the Naughty Pie (spicy vodka sauce, pepperoni, whipped ricotta and hot honey). Open until 11 p.m. most nights and midnight on Friday and Saturday. 225 Magazine
Swig (14631 Village Market St., off Airline Hwy.): The Utah-born "dirty soda" chain, with more than 150 locations, soft opened Oct. 23 and held its grand opening in early November. Think Dr Pepper, Coke or Sprite with syrups, purees and cream, plus pretzel bites and cookies. LSU Reveille
Big Chicken (410 Tower Dr., LSU campus): Shaquille O'Neal's chicken chain opened Aug. 17 in the lobby of the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building. The Advocate
New on Perkins, Siegen and Highland
Photo: Pooja Chaudhary on Unsplash
The Historic – Highland Road Grill (8635 Highland Rd.): The family behind Willie's Restaurant opened in the former Sammy's Grill on Oct. 15. They kept Sammy's glass-block bar wall and rehired some of its staff. Dinner is Thursday through Sunday. WAFB
Mudan Modern Asian Cuisine (9460 Perkins Rd.): Dim sum and Cantonese in the old Southern Pearl Oyster House, soft opened Oct. 6. More than 50 dim sum dishes are served all day, plus Peking duck and family meals for up to 10 people. The Advocate
Vivi Bubble Tea (8342 Perkins Rd., Ste. C): A new Baton Rouge location, opened in October.
Creole Cakes Bakery (9065 Perkins Rd.): Cakes, cupcakes and homemade desserts in its first storefront.
Tsaocaa (3627 Perkins Rd.): Bubble tea, bubble waffles and Korean fried chicken in the former Jabby's Pizza spot. It has soft opened.
Mid City, downtown and around LSU
Photo: Geoff Oliver on Unsplash
PJ's Coffee and Wingstop (3384 Government St.): Both opened in the redeveloped former CVS in Mid City.
House Brew (278 North St.): The coffee pop-up opened its first brick-and-mortar downtown.
Dearman's South (Brickyard South patio, 174 South Blvd.): A grab-and-go food truck from Dearman's Diner, with burgers, hot dogs and meat pies.
Twistella Cafe (630 Arlington Creek Center Blvd.): Japanese matcha, coffee, crepes, taiyaki and 12 ice cream flavors near LSU.
Parish Biscuit Co. (220 W. Lee Dr.): The Lafayette brunch favorite's first Baton Rouge spot. Yes, there are biscuit boudin balls.
Sources for this section: 225 Magazine (October openings) and 225 Magazine (September openings).
Corporate Blvd., Florida Blvd. and Airline Hwy.
Photo: Shoeib Abolhassani on Unsplash
Dumpling Hour (7474 Corporate Blvd., Ste. 307): The award-winning Lafayette dumpling spot opened its third location, and first in Baton Rouge, in September. Soup dumplings, bao and noodles.
Joelle's Soul & Savour (3015 Westfork Dr.): Caribbean and Creole, from oxtails and jerk lamb chops to seafood gumbo.
Chick O' Fish (8121 Florida Blvd.): The Louisiana fried fish, shrimp and chicken chain soft opened Sept. 23 with a drive-thru. The Advocate
Flayva (7941 Airline Hwy.): The Baton Rouge-based cheesesteak chain opened its second local spot with a soft opening Nov. 10. It's open seven days a week until 3 a.m. WBRZ
Iverstine Butcher (United Centre on Essen Ln.): A new cafeteria-style space for sandwiches and burgers, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 225 Magazine
Gonzales gets in on it too
Bonjour (14601 Airline Hwy., Ste. 105): Chocolate-covered crepes and desserts, opened in October.
Chatagnier Community Market (14210 Airline Hwy.): A local grocery with prepared foods and about 60 local vendors, opened in August.
Coming soon
Umami Japanese Bistro's second location in the former Tsunami space on Highland Road.
Waffle House's first Prairieville location, on Commerce Centre Drive (permits filed).
A seventh Meltdown Snoballs, in Prairieville, with a double-lane drive-thru.
The Peach Cobbler Factory and a CC's Coffee drive-thru at Heritage Crossing in Gonzales.
Walk-On's smaller "next-gen" restaurant on Perkins Road, debuting in 2027.
Why new restaurants matter if you own (or want to own) a home here
New restaurants go where the people and traffic are. Airline Highway from Prairieville to Gonzales, Perkins and Siegen, and Government Street in Mid City all picked up new spots this fall, and nearby amenities are one of the things buyers ask me about most. When an empty storefront like the old CVS on Government or the old Sammy's on Highland gets a new tenant, that's a good sign for the whole corridor.
Which one are you trying first?
I'm heading to Swig and Prince St. Pizza soon to give you my honest take, so follow along on Instagram at @brianmackeyrealtor. Want a quick roundup like this every week? Comment "Report" on any of my videos or reach out, and I'll add you to the Red Stick Report, my weekly Baton Rouge newsletter.
Thinking about buying or selling in Baton Rouge, Gonzales or Prairieville? Call or text me at 225-337-6363.
Brian Mackey, REALTOR®, The Method Group at Pivot Realty. Restaurant details come from the linked local news reports. Hours and openings change, so check with each restaurant before you go.
