First Financial of Baton Rouge owner Ameen Walker has brought something truly fresh to Baton Rouge: Philadelphia.
Stepping inside Walker’s new restaurant Everything Philly, you’ll see bright blue and green walls and murals of some of your favorite icons associated with the City of Brotherly Love, from Rocky to the Liberty Bell.
The restaurant, which has its grand opening April 2, is accented with black tables and chairs, nicely contrasting the brightly colored walls. The staff members wear smiles as genuine as the food itself. Authenticity is something owner Walker prides the restaurant on.
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As a businessman from Philadelphia, Walker calls Everything Philly his “heart” and a passion project he’s wanted to get off the ground for years. After living in Louisiana for more than a decade, Walker wanted to bring an authentic taste of his hometown to his new home. He teamed up with Baton Rouge native and professional basketball player Tyrus Thomas to open the restaurant near LSU’s north gates.
When thinking of Philadelphia cuisine, cheesesteaks come to mind, so naturally they’re first out of the kitchen. Everything Philly has plenty of combinations for the staple, including a classic beef cheesesteak with melted cheese and grilled onions. Stuffed with tender, thin-sliced steak cooked to perfection and grilled onions marinating the thick bread, it’s rich enough to make Rocky Balboa proud. The crispy, thick-cut waffle fries make for a great side.
The menu is more than just cheesesteaks, though. It also features pizza, stromboli and hot dogs. The dessert menu includes 10 flavors of water ice, a Philadelphia specialty resembling Italian ice or snowballs.
Next out of the kitchen are the medium-sized pepperoni and cheese pizzas. The cheese pizza, with black pepper baked in for a zesty taste, proves to be a winner on the menu. If all Philadelphia pizza tastes like this, it might be time to pack a few bags and take a trip there. It’s seasoned extraordinarily well, and the cheese melts in your mouth. There’s a little something special about it, too.
“It’s made with a special cheese blend, and all the dough and sauce is made in-house every day,” Elise Patterson, head of marketing, says. “I don’t know what’s in it, but it’s special. It’s a secret for the owner.”
For dessert, the kitchen staff bring out cotton candy-flavored water ice, a curious concoction that most Southerners have probably never experienced. It looks like a snowball, but has a sorbet-like texture. The water ice’s smooth, soft texture and tasty flavoring will surely provide a nice refreshment from the Louisiana heat.
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With Everything Philly, Walker invites Baton Rougeans to get a taste of his beloved hometown. If the food is any indication, it’s worth the trip.
Everything Philly is at 3260 Highland Road, Suite 6 and open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m.
