When he opened the gourmet pizzeria, Rocca, in January 2018, restaurateur Ozzie Fernandez knew that he would eventually have to serve brunch. It didn’t matter that pizzerias aren’t normally associated with brunch fare; Fernandez knew it was good business. He’d set up in one of the most brunch-centric parts of town, Mid City, and he created menu items that reinforced the restaurant’s theme while also fitting a brunch brand.
“There’s an expectation, especially among millennials, that full-service restaurants are going to offer brunch service in Baton Rouge, so we knew we would eventually do this,” Fernandez tells Business Report. “It’s been a good move. We’ve seen a real increase in traffic on Saturday and Sundays because of brunch.”
A decade ago, brunch in the Capital City was limited to a handful of restaurants and hotels, but today, full-service restaurants of every type, as well as some quick-service spots, have jumped into the brunch fray, capitalizing on reliable crowds who seek it out every weekend. Along with places you’d expect, eateries as varied as T.J. Ribs and White Star Market are part of the game, as are bar-restaurants like Olive or Twist, Duvic’s and The Overpass Merchant. More special event pop-up brunches have emerged, as well.
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Read on for the full story from Business Report. And if you’re looking for good brunch spots, check out our roundup of 40+ brunch dishes from 225‘s May cover story.