The former home of Mexican restaurant Serranos Salsa Company has transformed into a destination for endless drinks, classic video games and food.
Nestled between the Varsity Theatre and Roul’s Deli on Highland Road is Barcadia.
“I thought this was the only location to have. There really couldn’t be a better spot,” Barcadia national brand owner Bill Blatty said.
The expanding business also has locations in Dallas, Forth Worth and New Orleans.
Barcadia has been highly anticipated for almost a year since the restaurant’s announcement that it would be replacing Serranos.
Over the weekend, the restaurant practiced soft openings with all drinks available and offered an abbreviated menu during the Super Bowl.
The inside of the restaurant is open, providing a comfortable environment for customers to socialize over drinks or food while listening to a mix of modern, alternative music.
The décor features traditional pin-up art spanning the length of the walls and damask wallpaper to create a ’50s theme.
In the arcade, customers will find games such as Pac-Man-themed basketball, air hockey and countless upright video game machines.
In between drinks or while waiting on a meal, customers can play the games, which date back to the early ’80s and ’90s. Some of the most popular include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Area 51, Rampage and Centipede.
The Baton Rouge branch is under the general management of Miles Tully Jr.
Nick Hufft serves as the head of the culinary team. Hufft is also known for starting Curbside Burgers food truck while he was a student at the University.
When the New Orleans branch was being planned, Blatty contacted Hufft and soon became part of the business venture.
While Hufft’s burger creations will be a staple at Barcadia, the menu also includes dishes such as salads, wraps, sandwiches, soups, pasta and wings.
“There’s a little bit for everybody. We have a whole bunch of good, beer-drinking friendly appetizers,” Hufft said.
Moving to Baton Rouge to create a second venue in the state was an “organic progression,” Blatty said.
The goal was to have another branch near New Orleans but still have it serve its own market.
The building is 7,500 square feet and designed to be much larger than Barcadia’s New Orleans location.
Previous kitchen space restrictions inspired the need for more room to attempt to make everything on the menu made entirely from scratch.
Hufft said if they decide to expand into other Louisiana cities, the Baton Rouge location would serve as the heart of production.
Barcadia will offer its full menu for dinner Thursday and plans to hold a grand opening about a month from now, once officially settled. The location will not be open for lunch for a few more weeks.
For the time being, Barcadia will continue its soft open and fix issues as they appear. To stay updated on its future plans, check their Facebook page — Barcadia Baton Rouge.
You can reach Ashlyn Rollins on Twitter @ash_r96.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Javier Fernández

Barcadia bar, restaurant and arcade opened doors with limited hours for the first time during the Super Bowl transmition on Sunday, Feb. 01, 2015 near LSU campus in Highland Road.