Habanero-pineapple glazed salmon at BRQ
The first thing they bring you at BRQ is a bowl of housemade chips and a separate bowl of pickles. It was kind of bizarre at first, but then I had my first chip, and everything immediately made sense. For my first visit, I opted for the habanero-pineapple glazed salmon. The dish is good value for money — it comes with two sides, both of which were generous portions. The salmon itself is cooked well and contains the perfect balance of sweet and a little kick.
BRQ, 10423 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge (Serena Puang, features writer)
Mixed fajitas from La Pagua
I find that fajitas are great to order when trying a Mexican restaurant for the first time. You get a good sense of a kitchen's priorities in a plate of grilled meats and warm tortillas, and I was immediately impressed by La Pagua's flavorful, perfectly cooked mix of sausage, beef, chicken and shrimp — with a side of rice and beans and a warm tostada with guacamole for scooping up the perfect bite.
A Fajita platter from La Pagua in Lafayette, LA.
La Pagua offers popular Tex-Mex dishes like enchiladas, fajitas, tamales and more, but leans traditional in their style and flavors, giving guests an exceptional experience that made me wonder why I'd never tried this spot before.
The tamales in particular were a special treat — moist and tender, cooked in some mix of savory and warm seasonings that left me going back for more. And don't miss La Pagua's special, housemade margarita mixes. The fruity, tangy drinks are the perfect complement to a Mexican night out.
La Pagua, 5425 Johnston St., Lafayette (Joanna Brown, staff writer)
Seven layer salad from Superior Grill
The seven layer salad at Superior Grill is somewhat of a showstopper.
The seven layer salad from Superior Grill.
A bed of lettuce is placed on a dish while a server balances a glass cylinder full of mesquite chicken, chipotle peppers, roasted tomatoes, avocado, queso blanco, roasted corn and black beans tossed with chipotle ranch on top. With a little swirl, all of the components are released onto the plate.
Yes, the theatrics are there, but the salad itself is delicious. It's smoky. It's a little spicy. It's everything one could want from a salad at a Mexican restaurant.
Superior Grill, 5435 Government St.; 7333 Highland Road, Baton Rouge (Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator)