As I write this it's been five days since I dined at The Chimes. You might think the experience wouldn't still be fresh in my mind, but reviewing my pictures makes it feel like I'm still there enjoying some of the best Cajun cuisine I've ever had. The wait staff were friendly, attentive, and seemed to appear right when we needed them.
Dim lit with cozy seating, I immediately felt comfortable and relaxed in a new town and a new restaurant. I wish I could remember our server's name; he was a young man with glasses and kind of shaggy brown hair. He helped me pick something that fit my taste preferences and the authenticity I was looking for. Not to mention, before I left he suggested several nearby places to get even more authentic LA dining experiences.
After much deliberation I decided to start with a blackened alligator appetizer and I chose the seafood lasagna as my main entree. Both of my kids settled on a fried fish child's plate with fries and hush puppies. After the first bite we knew we had made the right decisions.
The alligator bites came out first, I had never had them grilled before, only fried, and I don't think I ever want to eat them any other way. Tender, full of flavor, and simply amazing with the perfectly paired "gator sauce", I should've ordered three of'em. Defiantly something I want to try and recreate at home.
The seafood lasagna was easily the best take on the classic dish I've ever eaten. Jumbo lumps of crab, shrimp, crawfish, and ricotta all layered between perfectly cooked lasagna and covered in a delicious cream sauce. Each bite brought with it an explosion of taste and texture unmatched by any Italian version of the traditional spaghetti cake. The portion size was enough that I could have had leftovers, but I couldn't stop eating. I could've ate that stuff till I got sick. Not to mention the roll that came with it; crispy and buttery on the outside, pillowy and warm on the inside. Utter perfection.
As I mentioned, my kids ordered "children's plates" but these were anything but. Easily enough to feed an adult, these little mountains of Louisiana delicacy were overflowing with shrimp, fries, and even a couple of hush puppies. Even my pickiest eater was impressed and finished as much as he could and that says a lot! I had to try some too and the hope was real. Perfectly flavored fried shrimp; a crispy and crunchy batter crust with a juicy inner shrimp that tasted clean and fresh. The fries were top notch as well. Cooked to a golden perfection with just the right amount of seasoning.
Great place to stop, and out of all the options I Googled, I'm glad I landed on this one.
A cozy, comfortable atmosphere, delightful staff who seemed to appreciate their jobs, and delicious, mouth watering food at a reasonable price make The Chimes a definite must stop for anyone visiting Baton Rouge. read more