Can anyone recommend a good restaurant or two in Baton Rouge? It can be casual or fancy and any type of food. Just looking for good food and atmosphere. Thanks!

We were in BR last weekend and had a great meal at Boutin's on Bluebonnet Blvd. (www.boutins.com) Down to earth atmosphere and Cajun music. Mike Anderson's Seafood on W lee Rd is another winner.

Tsunami, if you like sushi - Just opened in the downtown area which is being revived so it might be fun. I have not been to this one yet, but eat at the one in Lafayette at least 3x a month! If you aren't into sushi - or even if you are - they have a WONDERFUL sea bass entree. And my sushi loving BF is now a die-hard fan of their HUGE t-bone.

Chimes - Old favorite on LSU campus on Highland. You can get some of everything - seafood, steaks, salads, etc. Great for brunch on weekends, too. Seems this is where we almost always end up so my restaurant experience in BR is limited!

Serrano's Salsa Co - Mexican. Next to Chimes. Nice outdoor patio.

Ruffino's - haven't been, but have heard good things. Steaks & seafood.

Jubans - on Perkins. www.jubans.com for creole.

And the always good - Ruth's Chris for steaks!

The previously mentioned restaurants are great, but don't overlook Parrain's and Louisiana Lagniappe. Both are excellent seafood restaurants here in Baton Rouge. Parrain's is our favorite at the moment - casual, great prices and always good. As neworleanslady noted, Tsunami is the new hot spot, located on top of the newly-opened Shaw Center Art Museum in downtown. This restaurant provides gorgeous views of the Mississippi River and an unbelieveable outdoor bar area. Reservations are tough to come by but if you go early by 5:30 p.m., you should get it. Enjoy your visit to south Louisiana. If you have time for a swamp tour, check out Alligator Bayou Swamp Tour. Just took friends from England there on Sunday afternoon. It is very entertaining and educational with beautiful views of the bayous. Be sure to bring a camera - you may get to hold an alligator! For $25, it's a bargain!

DownSouth-

Thanks for the tips. Like I said, I usually end up at Chimes - seems I'm mostly in town for football games!

Glad to know a couple of new places to try on our next visit! I can't wait to see the Shaw Center & Tsunami there - sounds better than ours here in Lafayette!

Thanks everyone for the responses. We'll only be there for a day so I have plenty to choose from.

I am staying at the Hilton for business. Will be dining alone friday night, march 16. Would like someplace within walking distance, if safe. Any suggestions?

Also, are gulf oysters in season? crayfish?

I'm assuming you'll be staying downtown at our newly renovated Capitol Center Hotel. If so, I would try the Capital City Grill or Tsunami but you'll need reservations for Tsunami unless you go early. Tsunami also has a sushi bar that is fun and I would think could easily accommodate you even without a reservation. We were there Friday night at 5:30 to have a drink on the adjacent roof top terrace overlooking the Mighty Mississippi (gorgeous - be sure to go up there even if you're not eating at the restaurant.) It is located on top of the Shaw Center Art Museum. Both restaurants are located within a block of your hotel so you really could easily check out both menus and see which one you prefer. I would feel comfortable eating at either by myself and both are reaonsably priced. Springtime is the perfect time for crawfish and oysters in south Louisiana. Enjoy!

Thanks for your response! Yes, I'm staying at the Hilton, and had hoped to dine at the Kingfish but have been reading that it is having a tough time getting off the ground. I would like a splurge (our group is split between Boutin's and Louisiana Lagnaippe for Thursday night) but would also like to stick with local cuisine. Tsunami Sushi sounds classy -since I'm not a fan of sushi and one of the two things I'm allegic to is ginger (how sad is that!) I'll probably pass on this place except perhaps for a well-deserved cocktail.

Definitely skip the Kingfish.....not impressive. I think the group really should go to Boutin's, especially if you're not from the South. It's fun to hear the cajun bands, dance, and eat some boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn. While Louisiana Lagniappe is very good and right around the corner from Boutin's, we really prefer Parrain's or Mike Anderson's for seafood. Note that none of these restaurants are in the downtown area so you'll need to allow 20 minutes or so to get there.

I think you'll enjoy Capital City Grill on Friday night after your well-deserved cocktail on the roof terrace. I saw several single people up there the other night. Enjoy your trip. I would like to hear your impression of Baton Rouge when you return home.

I'm back home! Sunburned, as I went from two feet of snow and 28 degrees in Minnesota to 70 sunny degrees and beautiful flowers in Baton Rouge! Had a great time. Ate at Juban's on Thursday night. Charming place - best bread pudding ever - don't let the strip mall location behind the Walmart fool you! Went to Poor Boy Floyds Friday - had six college boys (one my nephew) who were mooching off me - couldn't afford to take them all to one of the nicer places! this place was fun, though - for fried food - great seafood platter - and we really liked the fried pickles! Went to the Red Stick Farmers Market Saturday morning before I left. Pretty quiet, as the Patty Day Parade was going on. I picked up some lovely tomatoes - we won't see any of those in my neck of the woods for several more months. I'm going now to slice some up.... Thanks for the dining tips - I'll keep the other suggestions in mind for my next trip down.