Posts Tagged ‘Dining’

A few months ago I posted an article about recommended restaurants nears LSU. This is a great guide for anyone coming to LSU for a short stay—particularly things like orientation, which is currently happening. One of those restaurants I recommended was Roul’s on the positive, unrelenting suggestions of other people. Today was my first experience with Roul and his famous hamburgers, but I doubt it’ll be the last.

Menu and Food

Roul’s is, pretty obviously, a hole in the wall. It’s a really tiny place—there’s only room for a dozen or so people inside and a handful outside. But what it lacks in square footage it makes up in taste. The thing about Roul is that he’s basically good at one thing: hamburgers. Therefore, you only go to Roul’s for these hamburgers. Sure, there are other things on the menu, but this is, ostensibly, the best burger in Baton Rouge—get the burger. It’s huge, well seasoned, with peppers at its core, and just so scrumptious. I just can’t believe it took me this long to get to this place.

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Overall Review

I really can’t say much more about Roul’s. There’s not much there in terms of a traditional restaurant to review. I’d like to comment on the atmosphere or service or something else, but really there’s just not enough of an establishment to review. But the burgers—they just make up for that. I highly recommend trying Roul’s.

I have yet to taste a better burger than this in Baton Rouge, so until some other restaurant comes around to dethrone Roul, this is our pick for best burger in Baton Rouge.

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Tomorrow night, June 3, is Free Float Night at Sonic Drive-ins. Tomorrow only go to any area Sonic sometime between 8pm and midnight for a complimentary 10oz Root Beer Float. (It’s completely free; no strings attached. Literally just show up and they’ll bring out a float.)

Last year, I participated in this event (several times, but don’t tell anyone) and it was really awesome. Root Beer Floats (especially at Sonic) are always good, but even more so when they’re free.

Baton Rouge is home to many cool people who are doing exciting things within and outside of our great city. We like to showcase these Baton Rougeans, so we have an ongoing series where we interview these local rockstars. Our past interviews have featured businessmen, entrepreneurs and web developers. This week, we interviewed Chef William Wells of Culinary Productions. I first met Chef Wells over Twitter when he followed us. This is the first time I’ve interviewed a chef and it was interesting to learn a little bit more about the culinary arts.

How long have you been in the Baton Rouge community?
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, 43 years.

What about Baton Rouge incited the entrepreneurial spirit within you?
The festive spirit of our citizens and their need for creative gastronomy.

How does the culture of Louisiana contribute to your business?
Louisianians never need a reason to throw a party or enjoy our indigenous flavors.

Does the culture of Louisiana and, more specifically, Baton Rouge influence your cooking?
As a chef, I am very lucky to have been immersed in the creole cooking of our area. Baton Rougeans have very distinguished taste and expect the freshest local product available.

What inspired you to be a chef?
As a child, my family was always entertaining. Our home was the hub of family and friends. I noticed early the joy a meal could bring to a group, and the satisfaction my mother received from that joy. To be a truly great chef you must desire to nurture the soul.

What special training or education did you undergo to become a chef?
I gained my certification through the American Culinary Federation (Certified Executive Chef). The organization is the national authority of professional chefs and have very stringent guidelines to acquire certification. I apprenticed under Chef John Folse for several years and traveled the Southeast with him on a national cookbook tour.

What sort of family background or recipes influence your cooking?
Sunday dinner was a big occasion in our home as a child. The pots simmered all day, lending to the anticipation of the meal to come. One of my fondest memories is the family rolling hot tamales and my father manning the grill during backyard BBQs. Every meal was larger than life and an occasion to be celebrated.

What is your favorite dish to prepare or eat and your most popular?
Everything I cook is cooked with love. I have no favorite dish to prepare. I just truly love what I do. One of our most popular items is the Cajun Smoked Salmon. We get the salmon in fresh, cure it for 48 hours and cold smoke it. Not many establishments cure & smoke their own salmon, and the difference is evident. I must admit, one of my favorite meals is a jalapeno bacon cheeseburger, hot off the grill, with a thick slice of creole tomato and homemade french fries. I am a big fan of comfort food.

Is your cooking more tailored to a metropolitan climate or the cultural atmosphere of Louisiana?
We specialize in Contemporary Creole Cuisine. It is the best of both worlds, taking an identifiable, indigenous food and putting a modern spin on it and serving it in a modern, unexpected manner. The eyes always eat first!

[Thanks again to Chef Wells for granting us this interview. You can contact him via Twitter or find out more about his company at their web site.]

Yesterday, I was playing Halo with Chase, David, Cameron, and Ethan while eating dinner: a delicious pizza brought home from Whole Foods. I told the guys that it was the most delicious pizza ever (obviously exaggerating, but only a little) and Chase emphatically agreed (as he most often does things). Then, Cameron disagreed, saying that not only didn’t he like Whole Foods’ pizza, but that his favorite was Godfather’s. Needless to say, I was stunned (but not enough to keep us from tearing up the competition).

This got me thinking: what is the best pizza in Baton Rouge? I’ve been to many of the parlors here in Baton Rouge, but it’s hard to clearly discern the best. Mellow, Reginelli’s, Whole Foods, Schlitz’, Fleur—they’re all so delicious. So tell me, what do you think is the best? Democracy might be the only way to solve this perennial dilemma.

I met up with my family on a cool and breezy Thursday afternoon for an early evening dinner at Di Giulio Brothers Italian Restaurant on Perkins Road near College at Acadian. I had heard many great things about this quaint place, but had never actually been. They offer a variety of your standard Italian fare as well as some Cajun-infused po-boys. However, they are known for their pizza, which I hear is quite delectable. We had a pleasant experience and I would patronize them again.

Menu and Food

Overall, the food was very good. It’s something you’d expect from a typical Italian restaurant. The menu was large enough for anyone to find something to eat. Their signature is their pizzas. I tried the chicken parmesan po-boy. The other members of my party had their house salad garnished with sauteed shrimp and the meatball po-boy. Everything we eat was very good and prepared with the utmost of culinary quality. I was very full after the meal with no room for dessert (which is good considering they didn’t have cheesecake, which is my favorite dessert). My po-boy was an interesting Cajun-influenced version of a typical Italian dish. I was considering getting the chicken parmesan until I saw it as a po-boy. I recommend getting this dish or their meatball po-boy, which was incredible. The meatballs were so delicious. For their menu selection we give them a 4/5 because, despite the po-boys, there aren’t many original dishes.

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Atmosphere

We sat outside at Di Giulio’s, which is a fantastic setting on such a day as when we visited. I imagine it would be nice for any family or general party. In fact, there were a couple of other parties outside enjoying the breeze and an after-work meet up. Inside, the restaurant is slightly more intimate and I imagine that it’d be a great place to take a date. Italian is always a great choice so I give it romantic points. I recommend this as your next date spot. I know it’ll be mine. (Speaking of which, do I have any single lady readers?)

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Overall Review

My overall experience at Di Giulio’s was good. It wasn’t fantastic like my experience at Dingo’s was, but then again not every restaurant has a Patrick Muller. Regardless, we recommend Di Giulio’s as a good Italian pick in Baton Rouge.

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We received a tip via Twitter that CC’s is running a new promotion for their 90th birthday. They have some new Mochassippi flavors that were created by their coffeehouses in different districts. One of these new flavors will become a permanent menu item and you can cast your vote simply by purchasing your favorite of the new flavors. The most popular drink will become the new Mochassippi flavor. The Baton Rouge district’s flavor is the Dutch Nut. Samplings will occur semi-frequently at your neighborhood CC’s, so head down there today!

Recently, a friend of a friend asked me for suggestions of great restaurants for a two-night stay near LSU. This list is based on the recommendations I gave to him. These are all great restaurants for anyone traveling to Baton Rouge—say for orientation or an academic conference—and are local favorites, so it’s great to get a little taste of Baton Rouge. All of these are right off the gates of LSU—literally within walking distance.

Quick lunches

1. Louie’s
   Louie’s has been around since basically the beginning. As LSU’s 24-hour diner, Louie’s is a great stop for anyone at anytime. The coffee is good, too.
2. Roul’s
   It’s a hole in the wall, but it’s got the best burgers ever—guaranteed. I’ve actually used these burgers as a “bribe” to get registered in a class. But don’t tell anyone that.
3. Cane’s
   Cane’s was started at LSU and now is a rapidly growing chain. You should try it just because Baton Rouge is the home. Make sure you eat the sauce and try their lemonade or sweet tea.

Sit-down lunches

1. The Chimes
   The Chimes is a local favorite for it’s great tasting Cajun cuisine. It’s an LSU classic that serves delectable seafood.
2. Reginelli’s
   Reginelli’s is a great pizza parlor. It’s a New Orleans-based pizzeria, so it has some semblance of being local. I recommend getting the alfredo sauce-based pizzas. It’s different, but really good.
3. Walk-On’s
   Another local restaurant, Walk-On’s caters to the sports guy in every LSU Tiger. It also serves crawfish during season, which is a must for any visitor to Cajun land.

Coffee

1. Highland Coffee
   Highland Coffee is a great local place that roasts their own beans. It’s located right near the gates, so it’s a convinent location.
2. CC’s Coffee
   CC’s is a national brand with roots in Baton Rouge. The coffee is good, and as Ashton pointed out, it’s been around a long time. There is a CC’s located inside the Middleton Library on campus.
3. Coffee Call
   While Coffee Call isn’t located on campus, it’s not too far and the beignets are worth the trip.

   Fancy Dinner

   Tsunami’s
   It’s a sushi restaurant downtown and it’s super nice. It sits atop the Shaw Fine Arts building and overlooks the river with an outdoor terrace. It’s only a few miles down the road from LSU.
   Copeland’s or Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro
   These aren’t as close as Tsunami’s, but they’re both very good and a bit of Louisiana flavor. See Ashton’s remark for more details.

When I walked into Dingo’s on Coursey with my family for lunch late Thursday afternoon, I expected two things: decent, maybe good, food and quick meal. What I didn’t expect was for owner and native Australian Patrick Muller to stop by—and entertain us for a good half-hour.

But as I reflect on our experience at Dingo’s more and more, it becomes clear that this classifies the establishment. It’s as exciting, eclectic, interesting and captivating as Muller was. He told us wonderful tales of his days as a youth traveling the world as an Aussie football player and the unlikely string of events that first brought him to Louisiana—and the love that kept him here. I won’t even begin to recant his evocative tale, mostly because I couldn’t begin to bring it justice, but also because this is a review about the food. (But seriously, when you go—and you certainly should—look for the bald guy running around and ask him to tell you the story behind Dingo’s. It’s well worth the time.)

Menu and Food

The first thing that struck me once I sat in my booth (which, oddly, still had an Italian design from it’s former tenant, Semolina’s) was that Dingo’s menu is only one page. And at that, there are only a few food types to choose from: burgers, paninis, a few entrees and that’s about it. However slim, there’s plenty to chose from and all should be able to eat well. I tried the Dingo’s Bacon Burger, which is a savory patty served with thick, smoked applewood bacon, cheddar and all the trimmings. It was delicious, but not unlike any good burger. However, the Dingo burgers are served on ciabatta bread, which really adds an interesting flavor to it. The same goes with the chicken sandwich: the wheat bun added a sweet flavor to the patty. Both are recommended. Another in my party tried the salmon burger, which they reported was also good (I’m not one for seafood, so I stayed clear). Oddly, it’s topped with coleslaw, which Muller told us was because his mother used to slap a heap of coleslaw onto everything. For dessert, we tried the chocolate toffee cake, which was absolutely incredible—I highly recommend this.

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Atmosphere

Inside and out, Dingo’s does it best to give it the feel of an Australian restaurant. I give them accolades for turning the former Italian restaurant around, because besides the tables, you can’t really tell. And even down to the serving they do a great job: they don’t take up your plates until after everyone is eating. Our waiter had to assure us he wasn’t just being lazy. Muller told us it’s part tradition, part subliminal messaging to your dinner partners to hurry up! And as I said, we had a wonderful time talking with Muller—he is filled with great stories and trivia!

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Overall Review

Overall, we recommend Dingo’s. It’s a good restaurant with a lot of great atmosphere. We had a great time dining there and Muller was such a great host. We’re excited to see another restaurant move into the vacated building and wish the best of luck to Muller and crew. We hope this bodes well for the blossoming restaurant scene around that area.

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Albasha is a Baton Rouge-based restaurant that specializes in Greek and Lebanese cuisine. They have three locations in Baton Rouge and offer conventional American fare—e.g. hamburgers and french fries—which is great for kids and traditional eaters. They take credit cards, offer take-out and are great for groups. You can find out more by visiting their web site.

Menu and Food

When you walk into Albasha, you’re immediately greeted with the incredible smells of foods from afar. When you peruse the menu, each dish has a melliferous name. It’s so entrancing, it’s difficult to know where to begin. But it’s OK—in fact, that’s a good thing. It means that you’ll be coming back again and again to try different dishes. I recommend the friend cheese as an appetizer, which is goat cheese sauteed in olive oil and garlic—delicious! I also recommend the chicken shawarma sandwich. It’s their well-seasoned chicken shawarma wrapped in pita topped with Grecian sauce (which is a homemade yogurt-based condiment). It’s quite delectable and was a welcomed dish even for the newcomers that were with me. I also recommend getting the Lebanese iced tea. It’s part lemonade, part tea and garnished with pine nuts. It’s a wonderful compliment to the cuisine. Of course, their hummus is also fantastic. You’ll always find something incredible to try and it’s always served hot and fresh.

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Waitstaff and wait service

One of the hallmarks of Albasha is their waitstaff. They are a courteous and efficient. When you walk in, you are quickly seated, given menus and the opportunity to order. If you’re unsure of what to order (Mediterranean is quite different from other cuisines), they are helpful and patient. The kitchen is quick, too. I have never gone in hungry and stayed that way for long. On a typical lunch date, I’ve been served my full meal in under 20 minutes; appetizers in less than 5. Thereafter, my drinks and pita baskets have never been lacking. They’re really on top of refilling. I’ve never had a bad experience with the staff and even after all these years I’m still quite impressed with their service.

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Overall Review

Overall, Albasha is a great quality restaurant. The food is good, cheap and fairly healthy, especially when compared to the typical American diet. There are a few restaurants, so location is convenient and the waitstaff is always great and, importantly, fast—which means it’s always a great place for lunch. We highly recommend Albasha, so it yields a great overall rating.

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