College cuisine has never tasted so good. The Bleachers Bar and Grill on West Chimes is a new sports bar and grill specializing in home cooking and Louisiana cuisine. Maria and Peter Losavio opened Bleachers the first week of September last year.

“This place has always been part of my husband’s family and his heart,” Maria Losavio said. “It’s a continuation of what my father started, and it used to be one big pool hall, which soon a kitchen was added and he served po’boys.”

The restaurant is a part of Peter Losavio’s family history that dates back 50 years. His father first opened the space as a pool hall and later opened a kitchen that served classic po boys and other New Orleans dishes.

Bleachers is now the go-to spot for great prices and even better food. Every dish is original and is a special family recipe. One of its specials is its weekly lunches — Monday through Friday, it serves a special entrée to all the students who walk through the door.

“We do Mama’s plate lunch, for the younger people. It is typically an entrée their mama would have fixed,” Maria Losavio said.  

Every day, there is a special lunch theme that can include meatloaf, lasagna, New Orleans-style red beans, tacos or  seafood. They have even found the time to accommodate the local vegetarians with items like veggie burgers.

They also have a gourmet burger, which normally runs at a $10 value, but students can get it for just $5.95. This special is a half-pound burger combined with short rib, brisket and brown chuck with a side of fries. Students also can have the opportunity to sign up for a VIP card and can receive free drinks with their order. This happy hour Bleachers provide is something the Losavios have come up with to better relate to the students.

“We were all students at one time and had trouble making ends meet, so it’s our way of giving back to have something of good value at a good price,” Peter Losavio said.

Bleachers is also a good spot to catch all the sports games. They have special gameday watch parties where the 15 high definition TVs heighten the experience of everyone involved.

Bleachers offers other neat activities like open mic night on Mondays where any talent is appreciated, including comedy, poetry and singing. They will also begin to host a trivia night, and Wednesdays will be ladies night where they will provide special traditional cocktails and their new shots like Watermelon starburst, green apple skittles and banana laffy taffy. 

“We love the college student atmosphere. We love the energy and excitcement they bring,” Peter Losavio said. “We understand the struggles they are going through.”

On Thursdays, Bleachers brings an authentic sound and have a live Cajun band perform. People come around and enjoy Cajun, line and zydeco dancing. The Losavios love to see the students come in and enjoy a nice meal and just have a good time. They love to make the customers happy, but their passion is entertaining students.

“We get what the things they think and feel of today’s world because we we’re once that age,” Maria Losavio said. “Clearly things have changed, but it keeps us young. We also love LSU tigers.”