re: The next big thing in BR

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Anything come to mind that you really want to see in BR, but can't find, or don't want to go to a certain place to get? Foods, Drinks, Entertainment?

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my reaction to some of the responses so far...

dave and buster's...meh. like someone said. chuck e cheese for adults.

mimi's cafe...meh. reminds me of an upscale shoney's or marie calendar's.

there's really no tapas & wine bar in br? you'd think it would do well with the young professional crowd.

my preference would be for a nice gastro-pub. someplace that carries only high-end beers (and if they don't serve bud and miller it would help to keep the rednecks away) and gourmet small plates and entrees. i don't know if people in br would "get it" though.

OR

i think a chain restaurant like a claim jumper's would do well in br. it's large so it can accommodate lots of people. you get HUGE portions (br seems like a quantity=quality town) and they've got a big bar to wait in. not one of my favs, but i feel like it would work in br.

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It would take a very financially strong person to open a restaurant or entertainment facility without being a chain. Very few individuals have the financial wherewithall and the operational knowledge to hit a market the size of Baton Rouge with a concept that makes a big impact. And in most cases it would be a knock off of something already proven...not that innovation is impossible, just that for the money, they would rather invest in a proven concept.

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Very few people have any money right now or money to put into something like a new concept restaurant. Pretty much all across the country and Baton Rouge is not immune. I think after the first quarter 2009 you will see some closings of some places you would think were solid.

That is why I said a hot dog joint.

One we don't have any and two it would be relatively inexpensive to open and three people will spend money on a hot dog or a hamburger even in bad economic times.

I remember the mid 80's when the ecomony sucked. Most people don't remember that and have never seen what we are about to go through.

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would rather a Fast Track burger

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I'm not sure if I'd feel the same today, but in my high school/college days I thought the Big O was a mighty tasty burger.

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Then, with Bud's Broiler, it was on Fla at Airline, and seemingly off many BR folks radar for a burger

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That's a terrible location, I think it does ok for lunch but not so much for dinner. Restaurants in that area have never done well, Chi Chis and Red Lobster across the street come to mind.

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Whatever was "big" anywhere else about 5-10 years ago.

I saw someone said tapas bar. That sounds about right.

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agreed. Anything BR folks think is new and hip, yet they have heard about it for years so it has credibility in their minds and thus really isn't new and hip, has a shot.

and YA, notice the influx of Tapas places in NOLA? NOLA is pretty far behind the food times as well for a city that likes to think it is a foodie haven.

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I can't believe I didn't think about this one before. Baton Rouge needs a Five Guys burgers

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+1,000,000

Not that BR doesn't have decent burger joints, but 5 Guys is the shite. Plus you get to laugh at female co-workers who mistakenly say "I'm going to have 5 guys for lunch...

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Mimi's in the Marigny

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No...Mimi's Cafe out of California. It is very cookie cutter casual dining.

I did like Claim Jumpers when we went...really big place...the food (like Mimi's) was just average though.

With the way the economy is, I would think a place where you could get something to eat and drink while you're getting a quick bankruptcy would go over big

true, unfortunately true bbq doesn't fit the business model of foods that can be quickly prepared to order from a fresh or frozen state....thus minimizing spoilage, lead time, inconsistency, and requisite skill.

how is the bulldog any better than the chimes? The food at the Chimes is better, and beer selection seems to be comparable. The one great thing about the Bulldog is the outdoor seating, but will they allow a similar setup in BR?

And yes, i agree about what is needed in BR. But, like you said....for some reason people in BR seem to equate nice/great with just throwing out a bunch of expensive items, in season or not. You can read that as topping anything and everything with lump crabmeat to make it "fancy".

yeah, i agree with that. I guess b/c i hate being inside the bulldog on magazine and always head outside that i tend to forget.