As summer sets in and the days grow longer, Louisiana restaurant closures often follow — the seasonal “summer slump” can hit hard.
But in Baton Rouge this year, the trend is bucking expectations: For every restaurant that has closed, four have opened.
So far in 2025, 24 restaurants have opened in the Baton Rouge area, while just six have closed.
The following Baton Rouge-area restaurants have closed in 2025:
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant grills oysters Sunday, June 2, 2019, during the New Orleans Oyster Festival in Woldenberg Park. The restaurant opened a Baton Rouge location on Constitution Ave.
Drago’s
4580 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge
At the beginning of the year in January, Drago’s announced that it was bought out of its current lease with plans to close. The Metairie restaurant opened in Baton Rouge in 2020 near the Interstate 10-College Drive intersection. In its place, Loft 18, a sports bar with high-tech simulation bays, opened in May.
Thankfully, for oyster lovers, Drago’s is set to open a new location in Perkins Rowe, in the space that previously occupied Kona Grill.
Oak & Smoke
40255 La. 42, Prairieville
In Prairieville, a loyal following of Oak & Smoke BBQ Company fans were devastated when the restaurant announced plans for closing in April.
“After much thought and reflection, we have made the difficult decision to close Oak & Smoke,” a social media post on the restaurant’s Facebook page stated. “Since the first days of the food trailer, this journey has been full of smokey pits, delicious plates, spectacular specials, long hours, and unforgettable connections.”
The barbecue joint originally opened in 2023 as a pop-up. The menu often included weekly specials and dishes with Asian fusion flair.
The side of Chicken Salad Chick, at 801 Frogmore Drive, featured a drive thru and expansive patio on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Chicken Salad Chick
801 Frogmore Drive
The Southern-style chicken salad franchise closed its Lee Drive location in March after five years in business. Still, fans of Chicken Salad Chick can get their fix in Denham Springs (27306 Crossing Circuit) and Gonzales (503 W. Highway 30).
Panda House
7474 Corporate Blvd., Baton Rouge
Across from Towne Center in the Courtside Crossing shopping center, Panda House closed in March. The Chinese restaurant included menu items like General Tso’s chicken, pepper steak and more.
Habaneros
10155 Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge
Construction begun at 10155 Perkins Rowe after Habaneros closed in March 2025. The spot was replaced by Tacos Del Cartel, a popular New Orleans Mexican restaurant chain that opened in 2020.
Habaneros opened in Perkins Rowe in May 2024 with modern decor and an extensive taco menu. After less than a year, the restaurant closed in late March.
In its place, New Orleans chain Tacos Del Cartel opened in April, offering dishes like crawfish bisque, red snapper and octopus ceviche.
Roux 61
8832 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge
After almost 10 years, Roux 61 Seafood and Grill abruptly closed its doors with little notice to employees on May 31.
Former cashier and hostess Diamond Banks, a seven-year employee at Roux 61, said when she arrived on May 31 for her usual shift at 3 p.m., she noticed a large dumpster in the parking lot. After a busy night, the restaurant closed at 10 p.m., and then managers asked staff to meet in the bar area around 10:45 p.m.
Banks said the managers told the staff that the owners had sold the building, and the restaurant was closing that night. In 2011, brothers Brian and Jason Lee started Roux 61 Seafood and Grill in Natchez. They expanded to Baton Rouge in 2015.
Did we miss a restaurant closure? Send details by emailing lauren.cheramie@theadvocate.com.
