Rama - Big Taste in a Small Place

2919 Perkins Rd.
225-387-5943

by: Chad

Thai food is one cuisine that is still yet to take on a strong foothold in the Baton Rouge area. However, it is very tasty and provides a great alternative to the typical Chinese and Japanese restaurants. In talking to several fellow foodies around town, we were told that the place for Thai was Rama. Having been frequent fans of other Thai establishments, the Cuisine Rouge team had to pay it a visit.

Rama is located in the artsy area of the Perkins Rd overpass. A great spot for experiencing some of the best entertainment the city has to offer. Describing the restaurant as small is almost an understatement. This place is so small in fact that they employ an element often seen in mobile homes to make them look larger, mirrored walls. Despite this cozy interior, once you get past the funhouse atmosphere, you get to really enjoy some great Thai flavors.

We started out with some appetizers, the golden burgers, cold spring rolls, and fried wontons. The golden burgers come in two varieties, the beef and the shrimp. We opted for the shrimp, and quickly learned that this exotic sounding item was a Thai take on the Chinese shrimp toast. That being said, they were good, and better than the often greasy Chinese equivalents. The cold spring rolls were not a very big hit, as they had a strange texture and were rather bland. The fried wontons were standard fare, tasty, but not anything special.

For entrees, we sampled the Pad Thai, Rama Duck, and the Panang Pork. All were very good. The Pad Thai was good, with lots of peanut flavor, and the typical sauce, which had good flavor but was rather light in comparison to others we have tried. While we found this dish to be well done, it didn’t stand out over the other Thai restaurants in town. The Rama Duck was the highlight of our meal, cooked perfectly, and well seasoned; this was a great dish and the first to disappear from its serving platter. The Panang Pork was tasty, with pieces of pork, mushrooms, and green beans swimming in a delicious coconut milk-curry sauce made with fresh chili peppers and basil. Unfortunately, the green beans were clearly frozen, making for a disappointment in an otherwise great dish.

The menu at Rama is large and this is a small sampling of the fare they offer. Friends who have visited have raved about some of the fish dishes, which we weren’t able to try on this visit. If you are a fan of Japanese and Chinese flavors, check out Rama. It’s a great little restaurant that will provide you with an interesting change of pace.


Pad Thai (top) and Panang Pork (bottom)


Rama Duck

The Baton Rouge Buffet Scene

By: Mark

The buffet. The feeding trough of America. Does anything conjure up images of patriotism and freedom like the ability to eat yourself sick for one set price? The buffet has been cast in a negative light, as places like Golden Corral, Ryan’s, and about twenty Chinese buffets dominate the scene. No wonder why, when someone mentions buffet, the images of pushy people sneezing into the food, as their kids run around, pops into your mind. Not exactly appetizing. However there is hope. Baton Rouge harbors several buffets where you can not only eat till you pop, but the quality of food is top notch.

Ronnie’s Ribs – www.ronniesribs.com

Made famous by her ribs, Ronnie’s offers a sensational buffet. Offerings of jerk pork and chicken are paired with sensational sides, like her homemade mac and cheese and yams. The buffet also features other dishes like brown chicken stew, chicken curry, fresh veggies, house made soups, and many other offerings. You get a true taste of Jamaica for a great price.



Nagoya – www.nagoyabuffet.com

For the sushi lover, this place is a must. While it is in no way the best Baton Rouge has to offer, the fish is fresh and tasty and the sushi choices are incredible. Start with a choice of six different salads (such as seaweed, squid, and octopus), then make your way to a long stretch of hot offerings (such as baked fish, pineapple rice, baked salmon rolls, and numerous Chinese and Japanese dishes). Then comes the sushi where you have a choice of about twenty rolls, sashimi, and nigiri style sushi. I recommend going around 7:00 when the place is hopping and the rolls are being turned out at a quick rate, ensuring freshly made sushi. The hibachi grill is last for fans of food that has been cooked. There is also a full dessert bar with an ice cream bar featuring about 13 flavors. The buffet is pricey ($17.95 for dinner) but the lunch buffet is very reasonable.



Johnny D’s – www.boddabing.com

Johnny D offers an incredible Italian feast at a reasonable price. The buffet offers several of his top notch pizzas, different pasta offerings, and sometime mini muffalettas and stuffed bell peppers. The buffet can change because Johnny will only use the freshest ingredients.  If you love Italian food this buffet is a must, and you will never go to Sicily’s or CC’s Pizza again.



Thai Pepper  – (no site available)

This little Thai joint on Florida Blvd. offers a phenomenal lunch buffet. Fresh made soups, curries, and other authentic Thai dishes are well represented on a buffet that offers plenty of choices. Their incredible pad thai is also present as well as their special Thai omelet. A lover of authentic Thai food will be in heaven.



Bay Leaf - www.bayleafbr.com

Indian cuisine has a healthy home in Baton Rouge at Bay Leaf. Their lunch buffet is quite a treat. Tandoori chicken, fresh curries, spicy lamb dishes, and other authentic Indian fare are offered at a low price. Their food is made fresh daily and the buffet will vary from day-to-day. If you are a regular of Indian food, or looking to start on this underrated cuisine, the Bay Leaf buffet will delight you.



Oriental Pearl – (no site available)

Baton Rouge has many Chinese buffets and all range from average to just awful. The Oriental Pearl on Government St. may be the saving grace of the Chinese buffet. The buffet has maybe half the offerings as the bigger guys, but it more than makes up for it in flavor and freshness. Dishes such as the salt and pepper prawns, coconut shrimp, crab rangoon, egg fu yon, and garlic shrimp are delicious. This is the top Chinese buffet in Baton Rouge.



Texas de Brazil – www.texasdebrazil.com

This might be the king of the buffets (in food and price alone). This Brazilian churrascaria (steak house) offers top quality meats such as filet mignon, sirloin, leg of lamb, and many top cuts. Their “salad bar” offers fresh cheeses, sides, and sauces. It also has a great lobster bisque and smoked salmon. But don’t fill up on the salad bar, save room for the meat. Servers continuously pass by with fresh, flame grilled meat and you will eat your fill. This buffet is expensive (around $42 a person) but you will eat plenty of quality meats. Also, sign up for their newsletter, as coupons are posted continuously.