A normal balanced diet includes three meals a day. But in Baton Rouge, late nights in Tigerland and downtown can sometimes lead to the fourth meal of the day- the late-night snack.
By the end of the school year, most freshmen will know the best spot to grab a decent meal at 2 a.m. A night out on the town can be an exhilarating experience, but when the music stops, hunger and perhaps a little dehydration sets in. Hoards of people exit local Baton Rouge bars searching for their keys and a late-night menu.
Fortunately for those diners, Baton Rouge offers a variety of late night stops to grab a bite and keep the night alive, and most are a short drive away from the local watering hole.
Louie’s Café seems to be the student favorite for late-night breakfast or dinner, and it is conveniently located for students living near the North Gates of campus. Situated on State Street, Louie’s offers a hometown style of cooking featuring Cajun and Creole dishes.
The 24-hour diner serves the late-night college crowd traditional breakfast fare such as omelets, grits, hash browns and pancakes along with staples like burgers and sandwiches throughout the night.
“Everyone knows Louie’s,” said Baton Rouge resident Johnson Clawson. “It’s awesome. I’ve never tasted their food sober, but when you’re drunk, everything tastes better.”
Louie’s is the place to be for students in search of a local all-night diner, but Baton Rouge also offers the late-night breakfast chains available to diners in many large cities, namely Denny’s, Waffle House and the International House of Pancakes.
Spread out across the city, most of these chain restaurants are open seven days a week and some even 24 hours a day. Denny’s and IHOP are located just minutes away on College Drive and Acadian Thruway and cater toward late night college students and interstate travelers.
“I like a place I can sit down and smoke,” said political science senior Corey Salvadras. “When I’m drunk, I’d rather be stationary than driving. I prefer a meal over burgers anyway.”
For those without preferences as strong as Salvadras’, fast food is another popular choice for late-night appetites. McDonald’s offers a late-night menu and is located on nearly every corner near the LSU campus. Raising Cane’s with its famous chicken strips is another stop that offers something different. Located on Highland Road near the North Gates and on Lee Drive, Cane’s is possibly the cleanest fast food restaurant in town.
Across the street from Cane’s on Highland is Jack in the Box, which is consistently packed with partygoers looking for a burger throughout the week.
“I don’t have to wait at a fast food restaurant,” said communications senior Mark Malone. “I’m impatient. I just want to get my food and to go.”
—–Contact Brennan David at [email protected]