South Louisiana restaurants we think are worth the day trip from Baton Rouge

This article was originally published in September 2023.

To say our staff is a little obsessed with the restaurant scene in Baton Rouge would be an understatement. If you hacked into our Slack channel, you’d field a flurry of messages about what’s opening where, who tried what, and which food trend might make its way to town next.

And when we hit the road for a holiday like Memorial Day weekend, we’re just as committed to the hunt for good south Louisiana eats. Here’s what we’ve tried and loved lately an hour or so from Baton Rouge.

We’d love to hear your picks, too! What restaurants do you just have to stop at when you’re in New Orleans, Mandeville, Lafayette and beyond? Tell us at [email protected].

Lilette

3637 Magazine Street, New Orleans

“I love to explore new bars and restaurants in New Orleans, but I also love the comfort of returning to a favorite spot whose menu I know cold. That place is Lilette, a legit neighborhood establishment Uptown with low lights, classic hexagonal floor tile and a killer by-the-glass wine list. I like to take things slow and order a whole bunch of starters, especially the grilled beets with goat cheese and the hearts of palm salad. While the seafood is always great, it’s hard to pass up the entree hanger steak with fries. And for dessert, I always, always, always opt for the exceptionally balanced goat cheese and creme fraiche quenelles with poached pear, pistachios and lavender honey. It’s one of my favorite desserts on earth, and I look forward it to every time. Dress is casual, but I highly recommend an elastic waistband.”

—Maggie Heyn Richardson, 225 features writer

Coffee Rani

234 Lee Lane, Covington
3517 Highway 190, Mandeville

“I’m from Covington, so I love taking the hour drive on the weekend to visit family and get a good bite to eat. I feel like every time I make the trip, there are new businesses to try, but I usually stick to my favorites on the Northshore. For lunch, I’m always wanting to go to Coffee Rani. The menu has everything from pasta and salads to sandwiches and smoothies. My go-to is the Cobb Club. This sandwich has all the things you love from a Cobb salad stuffed inside a warm piece of herbed ciabatta bread. Don’t skip out on their dessert case, either. You can’t go wrong with a chilled cake slice or a petit four.”

—Olivia Deffes, 225 digital staff writer

Tavi

330 N. New Hampshire St., Covington

“Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam character on Only Murders In The Building is a man of many quirks, but I’m with him on something: dips for dinner. I don’t think any meal has made me quite as happy recently as a date-night spread of nothing but hummus, labneh, salad and so. much. pita at Tavi. The Israeli restaurant—a sister location for Shaya in New Orleans—opened in Covington last year. I schemed for months to try to find the perfect weekend to make the trip for a day of antiquing followed by dinner reservations. This is the kind of place where you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, especially when pairing it with mounds of fluffy, oven-fired pita bread. For a textural, interesting dessert I don’t think I’ve seen in Baton Rouge, try the ghazal el banat. It’s sometimes called Lebanese cotton candy, and Tavi’s is served with orange blossom gelato and pistachio.”

—Jennifer Tormo Alvarez, 225 editor

Nomiya

4518 Magazine St., New Orleans

“Ramen is hands down my favorite food, and my favorite ramen shop is right here in Louisiana. Nomiya has captured my heart thanks to its unparalleled mastery in crafting traditional Japanese ramen. From the moment you step in, the inviting aroma of simmering broth and carefully selected ingredients envelops you, transporting you to the streets of Tokyo. The dedication to authenticity is evident in every bowl, with rich and complex flavors that evoke a sense of nostalgia even if you’ve never been to Japan. The meticulous preparation and artful presentation of their ramen dishes showcase the chef’s expertise and passion.”

—Gabrielle Korein, 225 contributing writer and photographer

Willa Jean

611 O’Keefe Ave., New Orleans

“I firmly believe that breakfast is the best meal of the day. And recent breakfasts at Willa Jean might have been the best meals of my year. This may sound like old news to some, but for years I’d struggled to get a table for weekend brunch at the buzzed-about Willa Jean when traveling to Nola for weddings, concerts and whatnot. In the last few months, however, I’ve visited the Big Easy twice on a weekday. The first thing that came to mind? A table at Willa Jean. Our first visit to Willa Jean was with friends traveling through Louisiana for Thanksgiving. I was blown away by the massive breakfast plate. I told myself there’s no way I would eat it all. But, reader, I did. The grits were rich and creamy. The scrambled eggs perfectly fluffed. And the biscuit had just the right balance of buttery crunch on the outside with a warm, soft bready inside. I left sufficiently stuffed and with visions of returning to that beautiful biscuit soon. So, a few weeks ago, when we took the whole family to check out the updated Audubon Aquarium, that’s exactly what we did. Everything was as delicious as I remembered, and my children actually ate their food. Scratch that, they loved their food. The meal even prompted our always honest 3-year-old to exclaim, ‘This is the best biscuit of my life!’ High praise, indeed. And certainly worth the wait.”

—Laura Furr Mericas, 225 managing editor

Leonardo’s

2625 Florida St., Mandeville

“For dinner, I love to go to Leonardo’s. It’s the coziest little Italian spot complete with gelato and made-to-order cannolis. In my opinion, the chicken Parm is a must, and it’s so big you can probably share with someone else. Before you get your entree, you can snack on toasted loaves of bread that you just have to dunk in the olive oil, balsamic and Parmesan mixture.”

—Olivia Deffes, 225 digital staff writer

Copper Vine

1001 Poydras St., New Orleans

“This spot in the Central Business District is far from a hidden gem, but to me, it earns its popularity. The menu is New American with Southern influence. While the food is great—I’m especially a fan of the gumbo served over boudin instead of white rice—the wine pub’s ambiance is what makes it stand out. The restaurant is moody, with a lot of mirrors and greenery that I’ve tried (and failed) to replicate in my apartment. It’s a definite stop when I’m in New Orleans.”

—Jillian Elliott, 225 contributing writer

Molly’s Rise and Shine

2368 Magazine St., New Orleans

“Molly’s Rise and Shine is like your favorite fast-food breakfast, but grown up. It makes a mean Grand Slam McMuffin, and the menu, decor and plating are just as playful and nostalgic as its food-media-famous sister restaurant, Turkey & the Wolf. But the chefs behind the kitchen aren’t just elevating McDonald’s icons—they were James Beard finalists last year. As much as I adore a good hash brown, it is dishes like the Crispy Rice Salad—puffed rice, veggies and herbs tossed in a chili lime dressing—that have truly made me a devotee. And I can’t come here without ordering the Carrot Yogurt: yogurt whipped with carrot marmalade and topped with lemon zest, mint and housemade granola. If only breakfast could be this good every day.”

—Jennifer Tormo Alvarez, 225 editor