Fast Break: Caprese and pastries at La Divina

Photo by Chelsea Caldwell

La Divina Italian Cafe is one of those niche restaurants that has a limited but spectacular menu. It’s most known for its gelato and sorbetto bar, which rotates out several delicious flavors made from scratch with local ingredients.

But it’s also home to a menu of fresh and colorful salads, hot panini sandwiches, daily soup and lunch specials and traditional Italian coffees.

I was feeling particularly healthy when I went for lunch, so I ordered the Caprese salad and added grilled chicken.

Several thick slices of tomato and fresh Mozzarella topped a bed of mixed greens, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and basil-infused olive oil. The grilled chicken came on the side.

The salads are entrees themselves, so you don’t have to worry about small portion sizes.

I was pretty full from the meal, but the display case full of homemade sweets was summoning me. So I topped my light lunch off with a decadent and flaky apple raisin pastry. And I regret nothing.

La Divina Italian Cafe is at 3535 Perkins Road, Suite 360. The restaurant is open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sundays.

Fast Break is a 225 Dine series that celebrates lunch in Baton Rouge. Follow along each week as we tour different lunch spots in Baton Rouge, in search of that perfect sandwich or salad.