I just drove by another Popeye's thinks that the lunch rush would be over by now. No such luck. Even longer line than at the other Popular yesterday. I can't even go to a Popeye's for my regular order of chicken and red beans and rice.
Y'all need to get over this Popeyes obsession and go support your locally owned mom and pop restaurants.
New Orleans is still full of great mom and pop restaurants but Baton Rouge not so much. I eat pretty often at George's and at Sammy's. There are 3 George's in town and judging by the size of his house the owner is doing pretty damn well. Sammy has 4 locations and I know a guy who had invested with Sammy early in it's existence. He is not a part of the ownership anymore but he still gets $3 million a year from royalties. When I eat at places like that I don't get a feeling of supporting a struggling family to make a go of it. Most of the Mexican restaurants are owned by white corporate types. There are a lot of family owned Chinese places but I only eat Chinese every once in a while. I eat Subway and Jimmy John's now and then. Both are mega chains. I go to family owned Phil's Oyster Bar now and then but usually only when I want raw or grilled oysters. The roux in their gumbo is almost white. Gumbo should always be made with a dark roux made from scratch, not from a jar. About the only family owned Italian place is Gino's. Great food but I don't get by there too often. DiGulio Brother's is family owned and I used to go fairly often. I was friends with one of the brothers but he has passed away. Popeye's is about the only fast food place I go. I didn't know they even had chicken sandwiches until the recent hullabaloo. Now I can't even go there for chicken until the furor over a sandwich has run its course. Popeye's was founded by a native of New Orleans and Raising Caney was started by a guy from Baton Rouge. There is one BBQ place I sometimes get takeout but good BBQ in Baton Rouge is pretty non existent. Somebody should start a chain of BBQ chicken restaurants.
The Sandwich so Good Nobody can Buy it https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/popeyes-new-fried-chicken-sandwich-sold-out
Dude, I am talking about the one-off type restaurants. Magpie cafe comes to mind. Get on yelp or Google, or just open your eyes as you are driving down the road and go into a place that you have seen but never gone into.
On Government St. Used to be called Smokin' Aces but now it's Garden District BBQ. I usually get a pulled pork sandwich and BBQ beans.
When Popeyes opened up here in New Bern, lines were around the building, through the access road, and onto a pretty significant street/highway. Now, I hardly ever see anyone there. IMHO too expensive, most of their fried stuff tastes about the same, and the can NEVER get an order correct. Ever.
magpie cafe looks gay and pretentious. if you are gonna go to a family owned place, they should be not white, and bad at speaking english, or at the very least, over 50 years old. like dang's or pastime or fluer de lis. no middle age white hipsters and instagram art coffee
All those you mention are good too. Magpie makes some really good food. I mentioned them because they are less established than those you mentioned. It's all about supporting local business. IIRC, you used to love all of your hipster bicycles and shit when you where in New York. Don't be two faced Martin.
