Twenty bucks can take you pretty far at Baton Rouge restaurants, whether your preference is “filling” or “fancy.” It’s enough to cover more luxe items like sushi at a glam rooftop restaurant and artfully plated octopus garnished with saffron-laced potatoes, as well as hearty bowls of ramen and loaded seafood plates. Here are a few valuable finds for when you want to indulge in finer fare while getting a solid bang for your buck.
Pizza Burger at Our Mom’s Restaurant & Bar, $12.99
There are over 20 burgers to choose from at this Lee Drive spot, with mind-bending toppings like cookie butter and mac and cheese. But the Pizza Burger is what landed it on the Cooking Channel: a glorious 8-ounce patty stacked with pepperoni, marinara and melty mozzarella on sourdough. ourmomsrestaurant.com
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Giant Spicy Turkey Sub at Faye’s Subs & Salads, $15.38
This supersized sandwich at downtown’s longtime sub shop is more than enough to share with a lunch partner. It comes dressed with crisp lettuce, tomato and onion, and a dressing of oil, vinegar and oregano. (You can also get the regular size for under $8.) Find it on Facebook
Crawfish Mazeman at Boru Ramen, $15.50
The menu at this Electric Depot eatery is loaded with hearty, steaming bowls of ramen. But this brothless bowl is a little different, and packs a Louisiana punch. Thick noodles are topped with crispy fried crawfish tails and garlic chips, yellow corn, shredded seaweed, mala spice mix and negi oil. boruramenbr.com
Salmon Flatbread, $15, and Grilled Portuguese Octopus, $18, at Kalurah Street Grill
Enjoy a contemporary take on comfort food under the Perkins Road Overpass. Relish in smoked salmon and whipped feta flatbread doused in chili oil, capers, red onion, spinach and fresh dill. Or try octopus, with romesco glacé, crab fat aioli and roasted saffron potato coins. kalurahstreetgrill.com
Big Easy roll at Tsunami, $16
Date night at this rooftop favorite doesn’t have to be expensive. This panko fried roll is filled with crawfish, snow crab, krab stick, black tiger shrimp and scallion—topped with crunchies, cilantro and sauces. batonrouge.servingsushi.com
Brisket Sandwich at City Pork, $16.50
Known for slow-roasted meats and Louisiana staples, this brasserie has something for everyone. The Brisket Sandwich is piled high with 14-hour smoked brisket complemented by horseradish cream, sweet pickles and pickled red onions on a brioche bun. citypork.com
Indian Fenugreek Curry at Cocha, $18
This farm-to-table downtown restaurant knows how to combine international flavors with locally sourced ingredients. The Indian Fenugreek Curry is a medley of veggies including sweet potato and kale paired with coconut rice. cochabr.com
Ahi Tuna Steak Salad at Mason’s Grill, $18
While known for its Sunday brunch, Mason’s shows its versatility with dinner. Medium-rare ahi tuna is served on a bed of baby greens or spinach with avocado, red onions, shredded carrots, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese. masonsgrill.com
Shrimp and Grits at Zea Rotisserie & Bar, $18.25
The Towne Center staple is known for flavorful dishes made with fresh ingredients. Its take on this Louisiana classic includes roasted corn grits topped with sautéed shrimp, andouille sausage and étouffée sauce. zearestaurants.com
Fried Seafood Half and Half at The Chimes, $19
This plate is loaded with your choice of two seafoods (shrimp, oysters, catfish or stuffed shrimp) paired with a tossed salad, hush puppies and french fries—perfect to share with a partner or bring home for leftovers night. thechimes.com
The Boiler at Boil & Roux, $20
Enter the “Boilin’ Room” at this Coursey Boulevard crawfish and oyster bar. This plate dishes a whole pound of shrimp, plus sausage, corn and potatoes. boilandroux.com
READER SUGGESTIONS
Happy hour
Elsie’s Plate & Pie
3-6 p.m., Monday to Friday
Half off signature cocktails; $1 off beer; $2 off select wines
—Suggested by @trinas_bookshelf_chronicles_
The Overpass Merchant
3-6 p.m., Monday to Friday
$5 snacks; $1 off select beers; $6 house wines and more
—Suggested by @calabelle3
Rocca Pizzeria
2-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday
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Half off draft beer, wine, cocktails and select menu items
—Suggested by @arnoldnutritioncoaching
This article was originally published in the December 2022 issue of 225 magazine.