Bartender, fix me a jack and coke … and a pork loin.
Bars around LSU are getting into the food business, and restaurants are getting into the bar business as well. The ritual of late-night eating after a night of drinking and partying is moving to the bar itself and away from Jack in the Box.
Bars like Bogie’s, Lakeside, the Caterie, and Brightside are disguising themselves as restaurants, and restaurants like Mellow Mushroom, Chelsea’s and Rotolo’s are disguising themselves as bars.
Mellow Mushroom offers a munchie menu after 10:30 p.m. until closing to combat this law. The menu features sandwiches and cheese bread. During the day Mellow Mushroom serves pizza, calzones, and salads.
Mellow Mushroom draws in a large crowd at night because of live music and trivia contests. Tuesday night open-mic, Wednesday trivia, and live music Thursday and Friday, as well as the game on TV on Saturday, all help the restaurant late night bar business thrive.
Mellow Mushroom’s own Clark Gaines said the restaurant draws in a fairly diverse crowd composed of music lovers and Greek students.
Rotolo’s is well known to students wishing for food delivered to them on a late night. But those who actually come into the bar know it is a place to dine in as well.
With the tagline “The hottest piece in town,” Rotolo’s specializes in pizza and calzones. Unlike the Mellow Mushroom, Rotolo’s delivers until 3 a.m. with an extended time of 4 a.m. on the Fridays and Saturdays of LSU home football games.
Manager and coordinator of events for Rotolo’s, Claire Sanderson, said the food definitely changes the atmosphere.
“It’s a lot more laid back. It’s not a dance club obviously, like Reggie’s across the street,” Sanderson said.
Rotolo’s is open Sunday nights and has karaoke and two for one drinks.
Bar and grills like Brightside, Lakeside, Sammy’s and George’s offer patrons a chance to eat, drink, and be merry as well.
Brightside Bar and Grill serves food such as poboys, hamburgers and other appetizers from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Monday nights Brightside offers a dollar hamburger special that draws in many students such as Brightside regular Katy Bowman, an economics senior.
“Actually, I do [think the food is good]. It’s a different atmosphere because of the food, it’s more relaxed,” Bowman said.
A Tigerland favorite, Bogie’s got into the food business last spring. Now the bar offers a wide range of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. The most popular menu items are hamburgers and cheese fries.
Most bars that serve food cater to the typical collegiate tastes of hamburgers and pizza, but some places are taking the food a step further.
Chelsea’s Café is a well-kept secret among older students.
“It’s not for the eighteen-year-old looking for a cheeseburger,” said owner Dave Remmetter.
Chelsea’s offers a wide variety of food including vegetarian and vegan items.
Remmetter said the menu pulls in a different crowd. Unlike Bogie’s or Brightside the best selling menu item is a pork loin entree with gravy and vegetables, not a hamburger.
The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. and the bar is open until 2 a.m.
With live, original music Wednesday through Saturday and Bingo night on Tuesdays, Chelsea’s pulls in a steady crowd of students mainly over the age of 21.
With all these different food options, students might have more trouble warding off the freshman fifteen.