Le Creole

18135 E. Petroleum Dr. (off Highland Rd.)
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225.752.7135
www.lecreolebr.com

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4.5 plates

Le Creole's tagline includes two important words that set up very high expectations for a dining experience there. The two words are in fact the name of a city - a city whose name invokes an instant menagerie of thoughts filled with colors, sights, smells, sounds and most of all flavors. Those two words: New Orleans. And so that's where the bar was set, right there at "New Orleans" considering their website proudly announces "Where the Gulf of Mexico meets New Orleans."

Upon entering, we were greeted by the hostess and an incredible bouquet of aromas, which was indeed promising. The most overwhelming fragrance was that of fresh seafood, so, as far as we could smell at least, they were delivering on their promise of bringing the delights of the Gulf to your plate. The ambiance in the tastefully decorated dining room was wonderful. The lighting is dim and romantic, yet the overall feel is not too stuffy and a large family wouldn’t feel out of place. In fact, a family with children dined next to us. I was particularly delighted to see a piano player skillfully playing jazz and standards on a tremendous grand piano in one corner of the restaurant. Live music is always a wonderful addition to a dining experience, as long as it's not too loud or distracting. This was perfect. And again - it hearkened back to that "New Orleans" feeling I was expecting.

The waitstaff was polished and attentive, as well as and very enthusiastic about the food, which is always a great sign. Our server answered our questions accurately and was knowledgeable regarding the wine list and nightly specials.

We chose two appetizers - one that appears on the regular menu, the crawfish and warm goat cheese crepe, and a special, the crab cake.

The crawfish and warm goat cheese crepe is served with fresh herbs in a nantua sauce, which I'd never heard of. It was absolutely amazing. The flavors were very good - a hint of bell pepper, a bit of spice all rolled into in a creamy sauce that tickled the palate. The crawfish were fresh, plump and tender. The crepe was lovely and perfectly crisped. It was an amazing dish packed with flavor.

The crab cake was made completely of jumbo lump crab, no fillers to speak of, and broiled, not fried. It rested in two distinct sauces, a remoulade and another creme sauce - the name escapes me. The crab had a good fresh, sweet flavor and the sauces were delicious. However, my fourth or fifth bite in left me with a bit of shell in my mouth, which caused me to stop eating it completely. I know that it happens, and I didn't make a fuss. But once I come across anything like that in a dish - a bone, a shell, etc, I can't continue eating it because I'm immediately paranoid after each bite taken. They were very small pieces of the shell but just enough to make the dish unpleasant.

We also ordered a soup and salad - the crispy iceberg wedge and the turtle soup - just to try them out. While we waited for our second course, we were presented with a surprise from the kitchen - the chef had send out a specialty to our table - Roasted pork belly on a bed of stone ground cheese grits in a chipotle pepper sauce with a fried egg perched atop.

Wow!

Neither of us have had the pleasure of trying pork belly. We know that it's offered in several restaurants in New Orleans (there's that city again), but we've never heard of it being served here in Baton Rouge.

In a word: sumptuous.

The dish was very rich and flavorful - full of bold flavors, like the sweet heat in the chipotle pepper sauce and the sharp cheesy goodness of the grits. The egg, pork belly, grits and sauce all paired together was a real treat. Quite an interesting and delicious combo.

Our entrees arrived next. We'd almost forgotten that we'd ordered soup and salad, but were so nearly stuffed from the chef's gift to our table that we shrugged our shoulders and said "Next time. Next time we'll try them."

I chose the crispy fried chicken and sweet potato waffle. The dish is accompanied by a creole coleslaw and Jack Daniel's and Steen's Cane Syrup sauce for drizzling. So, so wonderful. It was comforting. It was complex, flavor-wise. It was just plain good. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the waffles were fluffy, yet crisp with that hint of sweet potato coming through. Although I'm not a big coleslaw fan, I did take a few bites and it was quite good.

Our other entrée was the fish special, and of the two fish offered, he chose the red snapper. You can then choose one of two methods of preparation, which basically can be described as southern and northern. The northern version features the fish roasted on a cedar plank and served with grilled asparagus, herbed potatoes, and a tomato buerre blanc. He chose the southern preparation, entitled the “Pointe Coupee”; where the fish is crusted in Bergeron pecans and fried, topped with jumbo lump crab, set atop a bed of sautéed spinach and surrounded by a sweet corn sauce. The fish was cooked perfectly and there was no greasiness to it. The crab was fresh and tasty, and the sauce had a good rich flavor. All in all it’s a very good dish, but nothing extraordinary.

Although we were near popping, we knew we had to try at least one of their signature desserts, and what screams New Orleans louder than Bananas Foster? A simple, yet incredibly delicious offering consisting of two scoops of vanilla bean ice cream and a small cast iron skillet filled with fresh chopped banana and that gooey caramel, bourbon and cinnamon combo. The chef lit our skillet and we oohed and aahed a bit before blowing it out and serving up the steaming sauce onto our ice cream. It was delicious - and the bits of burnt crunchy sugar were an added treat.

So, to sum it all up - it was a great finer dining experience with all the charm, flavor and sophistication of New Orleans plus the casual friendliness of the staff. I felt at home and pampered while in the midst of a beautiful and elegant setting eating luxurious cuisine. It's a great new addition to the Baton Rouge restaurant game and definitely a place that would serve as a great destination for a special occasion or a family evening out.

Le Creole is located on Highland Road past Blue Bayou on the right and directly across from Ruffino's.

Pimanyoli's Sidewalk Cafe

14214 Airline Highway
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
225.751.7590
http://www.pimanyolis.com/

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

As the temperatures rise outside, so does the appetite for good BBQ. While Baton Rouge isn’t known for being a big BBQ town like Memphis or Kansas City, there are a few places that serve up some good stuff. Recently I have found a new spot that is doing an excellent job on the pit.

Pimanyoli’s is definitely a unique name, and is the result of combining the nicknames of the two owners. “Piman” is Creole for pepper, and he’s the pit master, producing some excellent BBQ. “Yoli” is short for Yolanda, who has been working as a professional caterer for over 30 years. Both come from families that have been in the food industry for a long time.

Keeping with our melting pot of Louisiana culture, Pimanyoli’s combines the best of the country’s various BBQ techniques to create some great food. The brisket is cooked up San Antonio style, the pulled pork on bun topped with coleslaw is straight out of Memphis, and the sauce is Carolina style, vinegary and tasty, featuring 21 different ingredients.

My first visit was for a quick lunch. It was obvious upon entering the place that lunchtime is big here, as I lucked out to get an open table immediately. I saw quite a few things on the menu that I wanted to check out, but chose the brisket sandwich. Deemed the “Brisket Meltdown”, it features smoked brisket topped with grilled onions and Monterey Jack cheese. A couple of technical things about the sandwich stood out to me, one being that there is no sauce on it. Given the fact that sauce is available on the table, this is a good idea, providing the diner with the option of adding it. Also, the sandwich is toasted, which is nice so that when you do pile on the sauce you won’t end up with a soggy mess. Of course the real deal here is the meat, and it was tender with a great smoky flavor, the kind you don’t get from quickly churning out meat like some more commercial type establishments.

On my next visit, I did a more thorough BBQ analysis, trying the pulled pork, St. Louis style ribs, and chicken. The pork was great, tender and smoky with a good texture. Often I find that pulled pork can be kinda ‘stringy’ and dry, but this was done right. The chicken was also well done, and although not my favorite type of ribs, the St. Louis style served here are very good, extremely tender and juicy. Several of the sides were tasted, the potato salad was a little too “pickle-y” for my tastes, and the sweet potato was nothing out of the ordinary. The ones that stood out were the macaroni and cheese and the baked beans. Pimanyoli’s resists the urge to take the easy path and serve up the quick boxed mac and cheese variety, and rather makes theirs daily from scratch using an old school recipe handed down from the owner’s mother. It’s one of the best examples I’ve tasted in the area. The beans were very good, not too thick and not too soupy, with a nice amount of sweetness and the bonus addition of little pieces of brisket added in.

St. Louis Ribs


Three Meat Platter

Also sampled were the tamales. These are delta style tamales hailing from the Newellton area of North Louisiana, just south of Vicksburg. They are from an over eighty year old recipe and are quite tasty. Desserts are fairly straightforward, fudge brownie with ice cream, and bread pudding with rum sauce, but the standout is the “Cobbler of the Day”. This homemade offering features a rotating variety of fruit (blackberry, blueberry, apple or peach) and like everything else I sampled is truly authentic.

Of course there are many other options on the menu, including other sandwiches, burgers, fried seafood and what is definitely on my list for my next visit – Buffalo style frog legs. If you’re looking for some real delicious down home southern staples, this is a place you should visit.

Brandon's Cajun Cafe

Update: Brandon's Cajun Cafe went out of business in 2010.  We were sorry to see it go.


4215 S. Sherwood Forest
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
225-292-6262

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

By: Chad

Whenever I learn about a new restaurant in town, I get excited. This is especially the case when it’s a locally owned establishment, and one that offers something different or unique. When I learned of Brandon’s Cajun Café my excitement over the newness was quickly extinguished by the word ‘Cajun’. Another Cajun restaurant in Baton Rouge isn’t what we need I thought. There are already a laundry list of places where one can get Cajun food, and as most of us know, none are as good as own grandmothers.

However I was quite pleasantly surprised by the new and interesting items on the menu. They take some standard Cajun staples and really rework them in innovative and interesting ways. For starters, the appetizer of Couyon Sushi is as tasty as it is unique. They take nori (the traditional flavorless seaweed wrap used for sushi), put boudin stuffing, crabmeat and avocado inside, then roll it up and slice it,top it with remoulade sauce, and dust it with cayenne pepper. It’s something that even people who aren’t fans of traditional sushi will enjoy.

Another great item on the menu is the boudin burger. Boudin is mixed with pepperjack cheese, formed into a pattie and grilled, then placed on a bun and topped with bacon and remoulade sauce. Very tasty. The rest of the menu is fairly straightforward Cajun eats, with items you would expect to see like fried seafood and etoufee. I sampled the etoufee and it was not that great, the gravy had a strange consistency, almost gelatinous. The flavor was good, but the rice was also a bit undercooked for my liking.

For dessert, they once again offer a little something different in the form of their red velvet bread pudding. Yep, red velvet cake is given the classic bread pudding treatment, resulting in a rather unattractive yet tasty glob of red goo, topped with vanilla ice cream. This dessert is definitely sweet and has great flavor, but could use some texture, perhaps in the form of nuts.

All in all, this restaurant impresses me with its innovative approach to Cajun cuisine. I think that with a few refinements this place can really stand out and make a name for itself. I look forward to seeing more innovative items on its menu.


Couyon Sushi



Red Velvet Bread Pudding

Pinetta's European Restaurant

3056 Perkins Rd.
225.387.9174
no website

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

by: Chad

As exciting and impressive as some new BR restaurants are, sometimes you just want to find a nice, quiet, cozy place where you can enjoy a simple meal. That’s what Pinetta’s is all about. Opened in 1962 by the Bubola family from Eastern Europe, this tiny inconspicuous bistro has been a favorite of many locals for many years.

From the moment you walk through the door, you get the impression that nothing has been touched since that opening day some 47 years ago. The atmosphere creates the feeling of another time and place, with old artwork adorning the walls, and a variety of beer steins and empty Chianti bottles hanging from the ceilings. To say this place is romantic would be an understatement. It has the classic “romantic Italian restaurant” theme down pat, complete with red checked tablecloths and candles on every table. It’s definitely has the appeal of a date night spot but is also suitable for families and groups of friends.

The menu is an interesting one, featuring a mixture of dishes from Italy, Turkey, and Germany. The majority of the items are Italian, and all the dishes are very simple and rustic. The menu features two Turkish dishes which we did not sample, Musaca potatoes and the Shish-Ka-Bob. The German selections are four; Sauerbraten, Thuringen Bratwurst, Schnitzel Holstein, and Weiner Schnitzel. Despite this being a very small selection, it’s the only German food you’ll find anywhere in this area.

We did order the Weiner Schnitzel, and it was okay. The breaded veal was tender but dry, and not very flavorful. The riced potatoes served as a side were over-seasoned and could not be finished. However, on a positive note, the apples in the sauerkraut were an interesting touch, and added a good flavor and texture. We tasted several of the Italian dishes, starting with the polenta appetizer. This was a bit different than polenta I have had before, it being in a more solid form, cut into slices and served with their signature red sauce. The entrée I sampled was the lasagna, also served with the same red sauce. The sauce shares the same old world, rustic quality that the whole restaurant showcases. It tastes like something your grandmother would make, very rich and hearty, with chunks of vegetables and a great flavor.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the meal was the dessert. The chocolate tiramisu was not only the best tiramisu dish that I have had, but overall one of the best desserts period. The portion was large, easily enough to share with at least two people, and the flavor and texture of it was just perfect. Not overly sweet, and with a great chocolate taste that wasn’t overly bitter or chalky.

I would highly recommend Pinetta’s to someone looking for a romantic, quiet, intimate setting for a meal. You won’t have the vast menu options of a larger restaurant, but you also won’t have the noise and chaos that often goes with it. In fact, I’ll go a step further and say that unless you are looking for a nice, relaxed meal, you shouldn’t go there. The service isn’t the fastest, and some would even say it borders on bad, but it’s part of the experience. The idea here is that you are taking your time, and I think a waiter that is running back and forth from the kitchen would take away from the atmosphere and the experience.


Polenta

Chocolate Tiramisu

Another Broken Egg

Update: Another Broken Egg was shut down in early 2011 due to legal issues.  However, we've heard it's coming back sometime this year.  So we'll keep you posted.


7655 Old Hammond Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225-663-6468
Open Daily for Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
http://www.anotherbrokenegg.com/index.php

Cuisine Rouge Rating: 

4 plates

by: Ginger

On a lazy Saturday morning, Chad and I decided that we'd do brunch at Another Broken Egg, a cafe specializing in a multitude of breakfast items as well as standard brunch and lunch fare. Upon arrival, we immediately noticed that the place was bustling with activity and the parking lot was practically full. We luckily found a spot in an add-on gravel lot in the back of the restaurant. The restaurant itself gives off the air of a quaint country French inn. It's roomy inside and yet gives the visitor that "cozy" feeling. The interior is very unique for a Baton Rouge restaurant and I loved it. Our wait was a short ten minutes and then we were seated upstairs in a cozy loft-like area that looked down on the restaurant. I immediately imagined our tray of food being dropped as it was carried upstairs, but my fears were alleviated as I watched full tray after full tray being sturdily carted upstairs with little difficulty.

Our waitress came to the table promptly to take our drink orders and we ordered two cups of coffee which arrived quickly in very cute earthenware mugs with the restaurant logo on them (which I recently learned you can purchase on their website). The waitress also set a full pitcher of water with lemon on the table which she left there. I looked around and noticed that every table had it's own pitcher of water and thought that it was a really nice touch. Another cheery addition was the small vase of fresh flowers as our table centerpiece.

The menu is definitely a big one and there are an overwhelming myriad of breakfast and brunch choices including an extensive list of omelette creations that feature everything from seafood to chicken to garden fresh veggies. Although an omelette seemed like a great brunch choice, I was intrigued by the pancakes (being an enthusiastic pancake lover and always in search of the best pancakes in Baton Rouge) and decided I would order their stack of three. The single pancake is listed as "plate size" and then underneath "stack of three pancakes" is listed. I assumed they would be the standard six or so inches in diameter. I also chose to add an order of scrambled eggs and bacon because I didn't want to eat at Another Broken Egg without trying their namesake. I saw that the restaurant offered a specialty item of blackberry grits which also sounded quite interesting, so I ordered those as well. Chad ordered the Crabcakes Cavallo which the menu described as freshly made crabcakes, benedict style with two poached eggs and smothered in a hollandaise sauce that is infused with andouille sausage and a hint of scallion served with country potatoes on the side.

I don't think ten minutes had even passed before we saw a waiter ascending the staircase with our food. I was stunned at how quickly we received our food. And then came my second "stun" of the morning. A platter of three pancakes, each one larger than my head, were placed before me. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull at the sight of them. My initial thought was "What is this? Man Vs. Food? (or should I say 'Woman Vs. Food?')" I was absolutely shocked at the size of these pancakes. I was also presented with my scrambled eggs and bacon, a nice-sized portion, and my blackberry grits which consisted of a bowl of plain grits with a small ramekin of blackberries in their natural juices on the side. Chad's plate was made up of two little towers of english muffin halves, topped with crabcake, poached egg and hollandaise. The dish was garnished with diced red bellpeppers and scallions. The cakes were served in a dish that resembled a ceramic skillet that was atop a larger dish. The skillet was surrounded by their country potatoes which were cube-style hashbrowns. It was a very beautiful presentation.

I ate my salty items first. The eggs were superbly cooked, quite fluffy and flavorful. The two slices of bacon were both crisp and juicy - not overcooked and shriveled. I assumed I was supposed to stir the blackberries into the grits and did so. The blackberry grits had a very interesting flavor, although I did add a little sugar to my dish to enhance the sweetness of the berries. Finally I tackled the pancakes. I must say that I think I may have found the city's best pancakes by far. Somehow, and I don't know how they did it, the pancakes managed to have a slight "donut" flavor to them. I know it sounds wacky, but I asked Chad to taste a piece and he thought the same. They were fluffy with a great texture and absolutely delicious served with warm maple syrup. My initial complaint was that the syrup was a bit on the thin side, but then I saw how well it soaked into the pancake (which meant a less likelihood of drips onto my shirt) and I liked that aspect of it. I could barely finish one of the pancakes. They were scrumptious and I was definitely taking home a to-go box to enjoy them for Sunday morning breakfast.

Chad absolutely loved the crabcakes cavallo and announced that he is adding it to his list of the best dishes in Baton Rouge. He said it had a distinctive cajun flavor to it with a good bit of spice provided by the andouille. He also noted that there was a generous amount of crab in the crabcake (since crabcakes can often be overshadowed by a lot of "filler").

Overall, we were immensely pleased with our entire experience at Another Broken Egg. The portions were generous, the service was excellent and prompt and the atmosphere was quaint, cozy and charming. And before you think that Another Broken Egg equals "another broken diet" I did note that there were several healthy choices on the menu including Dr. Maley's Coffee, which I've been told is a very generous platter of fresh fruit served with coffee and an english muffin.

I strongly suggest that you surrender your palate to Another Broken Egg. You won't be disappointed.


Pancakes


Crab Cakes Cavallo

TJ Ribs

2324 South Acadian Thruway
225.383.7427

6330 Siegen Lane
225.291.8100

http://www.tjribs.com

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

by:  Chad
Since the late 1980’s it has been nearly impossible to be in Baton Rouge and think of ribs without thinking of those two letters – TJ.  Thomas “T.J.” Moran, isn’t a Baton Rouge native, but adopted the city as his own, and quickly became one of its most hardcore LSU fans.  When he first decided to venture into a restaurant specializing in ribs, spare ribs were the typical offering.  However, TJ decided upon babyback ribs which were considered something of a novelty at that time.  Today of course, this is their most well known and best selling dish.

Walking into the original location on Acadian Thruway is like stepping into an LSU museum.  Tons of LSU memorabilia are displayed, the highlight of which is Billy Cannon’s 1959 Heisman trophy, a must see for any true LSU fan.  I visited the new location on Siegen Lane with my family, which based on the constant flow of non-stop business at the original site, seemed to be a long time coming.

We arrived right at prime time on a Saturday night, but were seated immediately, thanks to the spaciousness of this venue.  I was surprised to learn from our server that they offer a selection of thirty beers on tap.  Call me crazy, but you can’t have barbecue without beer.  It’s like Christmas without Santa.

Speaking of barbecue, you will get some hardcore purists that will tell you this is not true barbecue.  Sure, it isn’t completely cooked over a wood fired pit for hours and hours, but you have to consider how much volume these guys do.  Their cooking method is multi-dimensional using dry rubs, marinades, roasting, and then finishing by grilling.

They offer your typical fare of appetizers, spinach dip, chicken wings, stuffed mushrooms, nachos, etc.  We opted for their take on chimichangas, where they fill flour tortillas with chopped barbecued beef and deep fry them.  Served with their own barbecue sauce, these are tasty and a nice intro to the items to follow.

The menu offers a fairly diverse selection from which to choose.  If you aren’t into pork or barbecue, there are burgers, pastas, salads, and several seafood choices including king crab legs, my choice if I ever develop an allergy to red meat or pork.

I ordered the babyback ribs with a baked potato, my wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the little guy got his standard, mac and cheese.  The ribs were good as always, cooked perfectly and very tender, with meat coming easily off the bone.  They lack a strong smoky flavor which some enjoy, but I found them to be tasty.  As simple as the baked potato is, I have found some places will either not bake it long enough, or they only give you enough toppings for a few bites.  This wasn’t the case here, as the potato was spot on, cooked thoroughly and loaded up with all the standard toppings.  My wife enjoyed the sandwich, but said it could have used more sauce, given the dryness of the meat.  Since you are provided with sauce on the table, this is a non-issue.  It’s much easier to add sauce than to remove it, so the sandwich as served seemed logical to me.

The mac and cheese my son had was obviously straight out of the box, served with some smiley faced fries.  Not necessarily a bad thing, since he seemed to like it just fine.  The only way I would consider this offensive would have been if they offered the same food as a side on the standard menu.

There was no room for dessert, although the selections were tempting.   All are fairly straightforward items, nothing exotic or unusual, but solid choices, including crème brulee, bread pudding, a brownie ice cream sandwich, cheesecake, and more.

Service was good, as I would expect, given the fact that the staff likely all got trained at the original location, where things are non-stop busy at all times.  In conclusion, this is a good place to get ribs, and a great place to take an out of town friend who loves LSU sports.  I wouldn’t go as far as to call it the best barbecue in town, and I dare say you can find ribs just as good at a few other spots.  But if you’re craving ribs and don’t want to take chances, rely upon this Baton Rouge institution.

Zea’s – American Fusion at Its Best

By: Mark

http://www.zearestaurants.com

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

Cuisine Rouge made a promise to not focus or promote chains, but this local chain (started in Harahan, LA) deserves to be mentioned. Zea’s combines Asian and Mediterranean flavors into classic American foods. The outcome is a tasty fusion of big flavors. Zea’s rotisserie meats are some of the best around. Each day, a new slow roasted meat is featured (veal, lamb, pork, and beef are some) and their famous chicken is offered all the time.

I arrived at Zea’s on a Sunday night. I was celebrating my birthday with friends and concluded that Sunday would be the best night to entertain a table of ten. I walked in and noticed plenty of tables available. I asked the hostess for a table for ten and she looked at me as if she didn’t understand. “A table for ten, please.” I said again. She told me they would set me up a table, but I couldn’t sit there until 75% of my party had arrived. I glanced around the restaurant (which was approximately 75% empty) and said, “Fine.” I must admit, when a hostess cannot use good judgment it absolutely annoys me. I understand if a restaurant is full or near capacity, but I should be able to sit in a nearly empty restaurant. When 5 of my guest arrived (only 70%), we were able to sit.

The waitress was warm and friendly. She readily took our drink orders and brought us our drinks promptly (non-alcoholic). Shortly the remainder of my party arrived. Several of us ordered alcoholic beverages. Zea’s offers a variety of mojitos so I ordered the ginger mojito. It was delicious. The spicy ginger mixed well with the cool mint and the burn of the rum was pleasant. Several others ordered different mojitos and another guest ordered a cucumber martini; which she loved. In all, six of us ordered a mixed drink and another a beer and still the drinks took a long time to come out. This is excusable when a restaurant is full, but not when it is nearly empty. I wonder how long the drinks sat at the bar before being served.

We went light on the appetizers; with one couple ordering the Mediterranean hummus. This hummus is some of the best around. A large serving of creamy hummus is crowned with feta cheese, strips of julienned basil, sun dried tomatoes, olives, roasted garlic, and olive oil, Served with warm pita bread, this is a delicious way to start the meal. Other excellent appetizers are the Asian almond shrimp and the duck empanadas. Also, Zea’s signature spinach salad with pepper jelly vinaigrette is a must.

For entrees, Zea’s offers a wide range of roasted meats, seafood dishes, sandwiches, and local favorites. For my meal, I split the Thai ribs with my girlfriend, who ordered the twice cooked duck. The Thai ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and were very juicy. The ribs were glazed in a sweet and spicy Thai sauce and adorned with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro. The twice cooked duck, (which three people ordered) was perfect as always. Two large leg quarters were slow roasted till juicy and then flash fried to make the skin crisp. The spicy honey soy sauce was a perfect sauce to bring out the duck’s natural flavors. Another diner ordered the rotisserie ribeye steak, which he enjoyed. Two diners sampled the rotisserie chicken; one opting for lemon and rosemary flavor and the other opting for a sweet chili glaze. Both were very pleased with their meals. Two diners also ordered the rotisserie meat of the day, which was the beef with  mushroom sauce. Both were very pleased with the flavor of the meat, but wished more mushrooms could have been present in the sauce. The side dishes of Zea’s were also delicious. Creamy roasted corn grits, spicy braised cabbage, tangy Thai snap beans, and sugary mashed sweet potatoes were some of the sides enjoyed by all.

A complaint, and this shows the wait staff of a college town, was about ten minutes after we ordered the waitress came back saying there was a twenty minute wait on the chicken. She wanted to know if the rest of the table wanted their entrees. Why would I go out to dinner with friends if I wanted a twenty minute head start in my meal? I politetly told her we would wait. The meals were all brought out together and all were pleased.

For dessert, one diner ordered a homemade chocolate brownie and another ordered the bread pudding. The brownie was hot and gooey with chocolate and served with ice cream. The bread pudding was unique in that it was served like a wedge of cake. It was huge and the women (and Wesley) were very happy.

Zea’s is the kind of restaurant I enjoy eating at. Its mix of familiar foods with an exciting twist that certainly makes for an interesting meal. Its heavy Asian and Mediterranean influences can also serve as a stepping stone for new diners to try other ethnic dishes. Zea’s has become one of my “go-to” restaurants due to its diverse menu and big flavors. Zea’s is sure to please any person in search of a good meal.

Johnny D's Italian Restaurant and New York Pizza

Update: Johnny D's closed it's doors as of 2010.  I still dream of that pasta with artichokes they served on their buffet from time to time.  We miss you, Johnny D's!

13214 Coursey Boulevard

225-756-5552

http://www.boddabing.com

Cuisine Rouge Rating:

4 plates

By: Wesley

There are restaurants with character, and there are characters who own restaurants. Johnny D’s Italian Restaurant & New York Pizza is an interesting mix of both. Mr. Johnny DeAngelo is one person you must meet, even if you never taste his food. He may be a Yankee, but he’s got the heart and friendly demeanor of a southern good-ol-boy. Ok, so I like the guy, so what? Faggetaboutit! Is the food good? Ya better believe it!

The new location is near the Stumberg and Coursey intersection, across from the Benny’s Carwash. The place is decked out in warm terra cotta and brown colors, and fun paintings and fixtures abound. Johnny has overhauled and simplified his menu for his new location, which is a good thing, but I was devastated to learn that my favorite, the White Muffaletta Pizza (#19 in the Top 25), is no longer on the menu. However, that DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T ORDER IT! Just tell Johnny you want one, and you’ll have one!

I started lunch today with a classic New York treat, Buffalo Wings. I had the original HOT, and some BBQ. These aren’t the little dry wings you get at some “wing establishments”; these were made with quality pieces of chicken. They are deep fried and then grilled to give them a delicious crunch and flavorful char. Both flavor wings were bathed in sauce; the HOT was the traditional vinegar flavor, and the BBQ was sweet and spicy. After tasting these wings, I will no longer be satisfied with the dedicated wing emporiums in Baton Rouge.

Now on to the pie! I wanted to try something a little different, so I got the craziest thing I could find, the “Tough Guy.” It’s the “sweep the kitchen” option, with all the meat toppings (except anchovies) and all the veggies, (except jalapeños). Of course, I added the jalapeños, because I actually am a tough guy. I ordered a large (14” $17.99). The pizza featured a delicious crust, not too thin, not too thick and had a delicious contrast of crispy and chewy. I prefer to have more toppings and less dough in my pie, and this was perfect. On the pizza I saw peppers, sausage, chicken, fresh tomatoes, and everything else you can imagine.

So how’d it taste already? It was so good and filling! Each bite was full of flavor, and every topping got fair representation. I only ate two slices, I was just too full from the wings, and this pizza was more than a meal itself. I will have a great breakfast to look forward to tomorrow. I was offered the daily dessert special of spumoni cheesecake, which sounded tasty (I’m a big spumoni fan) but I just couldn’t fit it in. I’ll try to save some room next time.

In conclusion, you must try this place! They have a lunch buffet Sunday through Friday and the owner is a great guy. Check it out, and you won’t be disappointed. It’s probably the best pizza you’ll find in the city, and you won’t leave hungry. Ciao!