Restaurant - The Chimes East
Location - Baton Rouge, LA
Meal - Lunch
Date - February 8, 2010
The Set-Up - Kay and I both had 1 p.m. medical appointments so we decided to go to lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants along the way. The Chimes East is a second location of the popular restaurant/bar, The Chimes, at the north gate of the LSU campus. I first ate at the original Chimes in 1987 when I first came to Baton Rouge. Whereas The Chimes still feels like a restaurant that has grown up around a bar, The Chimes East is clearly a restaurant first. Like all Louisiana restaurants, both locations are non-smoking, though Chimes East does offer a patio where smoking is allowed.
The Meal - Kay got her usual Caesar salad with blackened chicken, but with the house dressing. Monday is usually Catfish Jacques (fried catfish with crawfish sauce over egg noodles) day for me, but I've never felt that Chimes East measured up to The Chimes on that dish. My second choice would have been the blackened salmon sandwich with tomato basil crab soup that I had on my last visit, but the soup wasn't on the menu, so I went with a Chimes club with blackened chicken, a sandwich I'd enjoyed on at least one other occasion. At $7.50, this huge sandwich that also includes bacon, ham and swiss cheese, is a real bargain.
Kay was a little delayed eating her food as the wait staff struggled to bring the "to go" box that she asked for. She likes to put half of the large salad in the box to eat at home, but needs to make the split before she puts the dressing on the salad. After two requests and a followup, the box arrived and lunch proceeded. Kay claims that the salad is the best in Baton Rouge. I know that the side salads that I get with various plate lunches are outstanding. The freshness of the vegetables and the tasty house vinaigrette dressing a great combo. DeAngelos' Italian restaurants are the only places that compete in this category.
Drinks - Usually it's diet Coke and iced tea at The Chimes, but Kay went with the pomegranate martini. I had one sip, which was delicious. I'm not sure how people handle that much alcohol in one drink. Chimes iced tea, at either location, is always great, and usually refilled promptly, though on this day I got through the entire meal before being offered seconds on tea.
Both locations feature an extensive selection of beers from around the world. A major feature at The Chimes (lesser at Chimes East) is earning "Round the World" status by drinking beers from a wide variety of countries. I think the target is 30 in a period of six months. Drinkers who accomplish this are memorialized on a plaque. The walls at The Chimes are almost literally covered with such plaques. Some drinkers have been "around the world" dozens of times. Surprisingly, I never made it even once. I have my favorite beers and I stick with them.
Ambience - The Chimes East was designed and built from the ground up on an open site, so the layout and ambience are essentially perfect for this style of restaurants. TVs arrayed high in the corners let you keep up on the latest sports events and news. The booth they originally seated us in was pretty cramped, even for two, but we moved to a table without getting any feedback. Both Chimes locations are generally pretty noisy. There are better choices for a quiet, romantic meal or a lunch or dinner where you want to get some business done.
Service - The veteran waiters at the original Chimes do a somewhat better job than at The Chimes East. Between the go box and the iced tea, this was not their best day.
The Check - We usually can get lunch for two for about $30. Today the martini pushed the tab to $35.65 with tax and tip.
The Scoreboard (one-to-five scale)
Food - Five - There isn't much that they don't do well.
Drinks - Five - The pomegranate martini was a new treat. Chimes iced tea is always perfect.
Ambience - Five - Our table by the window allowed enough light for me to take pictures without a flash!
Service - Three - They usually do a bit better than this - at least a four.
Price/Value - Four - The salad is a little pricey, but makes two meals.
Overall Assessment
Special Occasion
Favorite - In twenty-plus years I've eaten innumerable meals at either The Chimes or Chimes East. They rarely disappoint.
Very Good
Good Enough
If Hungry Enough
Keep Driving and Looking
The Chimes East
10870 Coursey Blvd.
Baton Rouge La. 70816
Phone: 225.296.4981
The Chimes
3357 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: 225.383.1754
Hours:
Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Chimes East
The Chimes
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