re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette

To say Ruffinos Italian is well behind Gino's is absurd. I've been to Gino's twice in the last month and it's a tired old menu with a wine list about as aggressive as Olive Garden. Not one thing on it has changed in the forty years I've been to it.

Ninos is very well done, nice wine selection and innovative menu. However it also only has about ten or so tables which makes it a lot easier for him to be fluid.

And to call Baton Rouge a black hole makes me realize how much you don't know. Just because you can't walk out of your door and into a fine dining establishment doesn't make it bad. Most newer cities are in the same boat. Houston, Dallas, Los Angelos. You think they don't drive to eat?