BR's list of restaurants/bars that opened & closed in 2023

quote:

---

When the end of December rolls around and the year-end lists start appearing, the idea of creating said lists can be daunting. Good thing we're like Santa Claus and have been making a list and checking it more than twice throughout 2023.

Compilations like these prove that time is, in fact, a construct. You may see a restaurant below and think, "Wait, that opened this year?" or, "I thought that one closed two years ago."

In 2023, more than 30 restaurants and bars opened and around 10 restaurants closed in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. We said hello to bagel sandwiches and select wine from Mulberry Market, but goodbye to Kalurah Street Grill and Slap Ya Mama boiled street corn at Gov't Taco.

Library Wine and Provisions brought "a little flair to Ascension Parish" with personal lockers and wine concierges. Cava replaced Zoë's Kitchen and Blue Store Chicken opened its seventh location.

We saw a surge of restaurants that closed temporarily and reopened with modern interiors and delectable menus, breathing fresh air into the Baton Rouge restaurant scene.

Lists like these offer a chance to remember the buzz of energy when a new restaurant opens and an even greater sense of wonder when you walk into a restaurant for the first time.

Most importantly, it's exciting to think of all the possibilities for what's to come.

Restaurants that opened in 2023:
Chai Thai-Lao, 8733 Jefferson Highway
Hive Pizza, 3627 Perkins Road
Cork's Cajun Fried Fish and Shrimp, 5131 Government St.
Light House Bar and Pizzeria, 8416 Scotland Ave.
Pizza Art Wine, 7673 Perkins Road
Library Wine and Provisions, 7530 S. Burnside Ave., Gonzales
Cava, 7415 Corporate Blvd., 5295 Highland Road, 18107 Highland Market Drive, 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Mulberry Market, 8201 Village Plaza Court
KOK Wings and Things, 1509 Government St.
Pedro's Tacos and Tequilas, 7655 Andrea Drive
Blaze Pizza, 6556 Siegen Lane
Brasas Peru Charcoal Chicken, 7520 Perkins Road
Belli, 701 Spanish Town Road
P-Beau's (reopened), 121 Bass Pro Blvd., Denham Springs
Opie's Baton Rouge, 7112 Florida Blvd.
D.P. Dough, 3272 Highland Road
Town Square Pizza, 321 North Blvd.
Habanero's, 10202 Perkins Rowe
Empire Wingz (fourth location), 623 E. Boyd Drive
The Plantry Cafe, 5454 Bluebonnet Blvd.
The Queen (reopened), 1717 River Road
Jude's Hot Chicken and Shrimp, 3930 Burbank Drive
Zea Rotisserie and Bar (reopened), 7415 Corporate Blvd.
Blue Store Chicken (seventh location), 879 Staring Lane
Melty, 2330 College Drive
Counterspace Zachary, 4512 Virginia St., Zachary
McAllister's Deli, 5939 Centre Drive
Jed's Local (reopened), 672 Jefferson Highway
The Hawt Chick, 166 W. Chimes St.
Yerin Korean Grill, 7064 Siegen Lane
Los Reyes Mexican Grill, 1072 W. Lee Drive
South Plains Food Co., 1605 Mount Pleasant, Zachary Road, Zachary
Beloved (inside Zeeland Street), 2031 Perkins Road

Bars that opened in 2023:
Pelican to Mars, 2678 Government St.
Dark 30, 151 3rd St.
Edge Lounge, 777 L’Auberge Ave.
Mother's Lounge, 143 3rd St.
Firehaus, 1700 Government St.
What If Distillery, 14141 Airline Highway
NOËL Family Distillery, 30 Veterans Blvd., Donaldsonville
The Tunnel (inside Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center), 201 Lafayette St.

Restaurants that closed in 2023:
Kalurah Street Grill, 2857 Kalurah St.
Hive Pizza, 3627 Perkins Road
TJ Ribs, 6330 Siegen Lane
Kolache Kitchen, 7930 Jefferson Highway
Soulshine, 144 W. Chimes St.
Rock Paper Taco, 166 W. Chimes St.
Gov't Taco, 5621 Government St.
The Shed, 7477 Burbank Drive
The Salad Station, 333 Laurel St.
Opie's Baton Rouge, 7112 Florida Blvd.
Roma Pizza, 37304 Old Perkins Road, Prairieville

Coming soon
Offset Smoker BBQ, 5335 Government St.
Caroline's Cookies, 10001 Perkins Road
Basel's Market, new location to be announced in St. Francisville
Pink Agave, 4001 Nicholson Drive
Counterspace Mid City, 5621 Government St.
CounterspaceBR, 5621 Government St., 4512 Virginia St., Zachary
Tsunami on Highland, (corner of Highland Road and Bluebonnet Blvd.)

---