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A look at 25+ new restaurants and bars that have opened in greater Baton Rouge so far this year

Editor’s note: This list represents restaurant openings reported in 225 Daily before July 8. It has been updated to include Habaneros.

Here it is, folks: Our mid-year round-up of bars and eateries that have opened in greater Baton Rouge since January. From competition-style barbecue to Japanese rice balls, there’s plenty to get excited about.

A few patterns emerged in this biannual compilation, including a surge of smaller concepts, along with lots of new locations for existing brands. We also noticed a few brick-and-mortar upgrades for former food trucks. And we saw plenty of restaurants undertake expansions and renovations to stay relevant in a competitive market. Despite challenges in the current climate, the good news is, there’s plenty of innovation and energy happening in the Baton Rouge dining scene. Check out the latest.


Passé All Day Café (inside the Origin Hotel)

101 St. Ferdinand St.

Opened: January

Passé All Day Café. File photo by Ariana Allison

Set in a stylish new downtown hotel, Passé’s menu features dishes like grilled Porkchop Tchoupitoulas, topped with New Orleans barbecue shrimp, and finger-lickin’ Crawfish Bread made with loaves from famed Leidenheimer.


Toasted Comfort Food & Cocktails

5201 Nicholson Drive, Suite F

Opened: January; Temporarily closed

Creamy Fire Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons and Crab Rangoon at Toasted. File photo by Ariana Allison

Boozy milkshakes and grilled cheese sammies are among the offerings at Toasted, a former pop-up concept at Pelican to Mars that developed a large following before opening permanent digs on Nicholson. Don’t miss the brunch-time Belgian waffles.


Oni Onigiri

Locations vary

Opened: February

Oni Onigiri’s Snowkrab Onigiri photographed at Okki Tokki in downtown Baton Rouge. File photo by Ariana Allison

Friends and former Chow Yum line cooks created a pop-up concept specializing in onigiri, Japanese rice balls stuffed with various fillings. The mobile business has appeared at festivals, bars and breweries in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.


The Pink Agave

4001 Nicholson Drive, Suite B

Opened: March

Pink Agave. File photo by Ariana Allison

Zany colorful cocktails served in a wide variety of novelty glasses are a must-try at this Ponchatoula-born concept, known for a trendy, high-energy vibe and Taco Tuesday specials.


Somewhere Neighborhood Bar

214 Third St., Suite 1B

Opened: March

Somewhere Neighborhood Bar. File photo by Ariana Allison

Shoot pool and raise a glass at this new Third Street bar, located in the spot previously occupied Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s, now in a new location on Third Street. Somewhere’s moody-but-chill vibe is accented by lighted signs, graffiti-inspired art, dark furniture and industrial details.


Big River Pizza Co.

5725 Commerce St., St. Francisville

Opened: April

Big River Pizza Co. File photo by Ariana Allison

Enjoy wood-fired Italian pies and sharable apps at this casual eatery situated in a newly revitalized stretch of downtown St. Francisville. The rear of the family-friendly restaurant features the contemporary speakeasy, Proud Mary’s.


Milkshake Mack

437 Hearthstone Drive

Opened: April

Milkshake Mack. File photo by Ariana Allison

Creamy treats made with nearly three dozen syrups in the heart of Mid City.


Okki Tokki

549 Main St.

Opened: April

Okki Tokki’s garlic fried rice with Korean Fried Chicken bites. File photo by Ariana Allison

Build your own bowl with customizable Korean ingredients at this downtown eatery, located in the storefront once occupied by The Jambalaya Shoppe.


Arceneaux’s on the River

9438 Highway 75, Geismar

Opened: April

Arceneaux’s on the River’s Shrimp & Grits. File photo by Ariana Allison

Opened by husband-and-wife-duo Brett and Suzanne Areceneaux who got their start in catering, this breakfast and lunch spot is serving up rich breakfast plates and daily lunch specials.


1808

1808 Perkins Road

Opened: May

1808. File photo by Ariana Allison

One of the city’s newest snoball stands revived an abandoned corner in the Garden District, where more than 30 flavors of snoballs are served from a repurposed horse trailer.


Chicken Wagon

1955 Staring Lane, Suite A

Opened: May

Chicken Wagon. File photo by Ariana Allison

Sink your teeth into Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches and tenders in this Baton Rouge-born fast-food concept that’s sure to spread.


Chicky Sandos

7930 Jefferson Highway

Opened: May

Chicky Sandos. File photo by Collin Richie

The popular food truck specializing in hot chicken sandwiches with scratch-made sauce leapfrogged to a permanent location in the Jefferson Highway spot once occupied by Kolache Kitchen.


Big Cheezy

144 W. Chimes St.

Opened: May

The Big Cheezy. File photo by Ariana Allison

Impossibly gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, made famous by the brand’s still operational food trucks, are now available at a permanent location on Chimes Street.


Habaneros

10000 Perkins Rowe, Building 100, Suite P

Opened: May

Habaneros. Photo by Ariana Allison

Perkins Rowe’s trendy Mexico City-inspired restaurant, a fast-growing brand originally launched by Omar and Dulce Lugo in Covington in 2014, is an ode to street food flavors.


 Offset Smoker BBQ

5335 Government St.

Opened: June

Offset Smoker BBQ. File photo by Ariana Allison

Order Texas-style barbecue while it lasts at this authentic barbecue shop on Government Street, the first permanent location for the former food truck.


The Patio Tex-Mex Fusion

7655 Old Hammond Highway

Opened: June

The Patio Tex-Mex Fusion. File photo by Ariana Allison.

The latest concept by Magnolia Restaurant Group (behind Geisha, Sushi With a Flair and Umami Japanese Bistro) brings Asian inspiration to Tex-Mex fare in the old Velvet Cactus digs.


Mustard Seed Creamery

111 N. Range Ave., Denham Springs 

Opened: July

Mustard Seed Creamery. File photo by Ariana Allison

New eatery and retailer in the Denham Springs Antique District featuring ice cream, Southern small plates, wine, coffee and socially conscious retail items from brands that benefit vulnerable women.


Second Story

214 Third St., Suite 2A

Opened: July

Second Story. File photo by Ariana Allison

Sophisticated second-floor bar on Third Street featuring terrace views, craft cocktails and exposed brick walls.


Var’s Pizza

3030 Perkins Road

Opening: July

Var’s Boudin & Cracklin’ Pizza. File photo by Ariana Allison

New York-style pizza made with dough from St. Bruno Bread Co. in the location once occupied by Unleaded BBQ.


New locations and expansions


CounterspaceBR Mid City

5621 Government St.

Opened: January (Mid City location)

King cake and cookies from CounterspaceBR in Mid City

Offering dine-in seating, the new Mid City store features breakfast, coffee and the same peanut-free baked goods menu found at its Jefferson location, including famed salted chocolate chip cookies.


Mid Tap

660 Arlington Creek Centre Drive, Suite D

Renovation completed: February

Mid Tap. File photo by Ariana Allison

Outfitted with a swanky new design, the Arlington Creek tap room now features full-service dining and drinking rather its former self-pull taps.


Sammy’s Grill

37306 Perkins Road, Prairieville

Opened: February (Prairieville location)

Sammy’s Grill in Prairieville. File photo by Ariana Allison

Known for boiled crawfish, heaping piles of fried seafood and juicy burgers, Sammy’s spread its wings in Prairieville this spring.


Basel’s Market 

5951 Commerce St., St. Francisville

Opened: March (St. Francisville location)

Basel’s Market in St. Francisville. File photo by Ariana Allison

The former Highland Road sandwich shop and market reopened this year in St. Francisville in a larger location.


Curbside Burgers

4158 Government St.

Renovation completed: March

Curbside’s new patio. File photo by Ariana Allison

The popular Mid City burger establishment now features an improved patio with additional shade features, fans and TVs, making it even better for outside dining and live music.


New York Bagel

4350 Highland Road

Opened: March (Highland Road location)

New York Bagel’s Club New York on an asiago bagel with regular bagel chips and garden dip. File photo by Ariana Allison

After closing its Lee Drive location, New York Bagel welcomed new digs on Highland Road featuring a fresh design and adult bevs on the menu.


Rally Cap Brewing Company

11212 Pennywood Ave.

Opened: March (new pizza kitchen)

Rally Cap Brewing’s Margherita Pizza. File photo by Ariana Allison

A new pizza oven at the local brewery now means hot pies, calzones, Italian subs and more to satisfy thirsty customers looking for a nosh.


Zippy’s

3155 Perkins Road

Renovation completed: April

Zippy’s. File photo by Ariana Allison

Now with double the bar space, Zippy’s new design is intended to be a fusion of an Irish pub and your favorite beach town watering hole.


Tsunami Highland

1 Smart Way 

Opened: April (@Highland location)

Tsunami Highland. File photo by Ariana Allison

Fans of the popular sushi concept now have a splashy option at Highland and Bluebonnet featuring a wave-inspired contemporary design by Tiek Byday.


Street Food Munchies

Inside the Mall of Louisiana 

Opened: June (Mall of Louisiana location)

Street Food Munchies. File photo by Ariana Allison

This Zachary-born concept now features a kiosk inside the Mall of Louisiana with signature dishes like seafood-draped flatbreads and nachos.


Chris’ Specialty Foods 

18135 E. Petroleum Drive

Opened: June (Petroleum Drive location)

Chris’s Specialty Foods. File photo by Ariana Allison

The fourth location of the popular Louisiana meat market features a fresh amenity: a fast-casual lunch cafe serving generous plate lunches.