Reviewing the results for our annual Best of 225 Awards is always an adventure. Voting is open to all 225 residents each spring, and we’re never quite sure what to expect. Did the rest of the city love that new bar as much as we did this year? Have Baton Rougeans found any new brunch go-tos?
For the 2017 round, we reintroduced a “Best Chinese” category for the first time in years, and we can’t lie—we were surprised to discover that about 40% of our voters chose national chain P.F. Chang’s over any of our local Chinese eateries. We love its lettuce wraps and honey shrimp, too, but we wondered what’s keeping Baton Rougeans from stepping outside of the comfort zone?
Around plates of steamed rice, bright veggies and hot and sour soups at one of our favorite local Chinese restaurants, 9 Dragon Noodle House at the corner of Highland Road and Lee Drive, we’ve decided that perhaps it’s a fear of the unknown. Chinese menus can be a little daunting if you’re not sure what you’re reading, leading many of us to the comfort of buffets where we can inspect our food before piling it onto our plates or chain restaurants with easily approachable menus. But sit-down Chinese restaurants in Baton Rouge have plenty to offer.
