Ahead of The Ruby Slipper Cafe’s highly-anticipated opening next week in the Acadian Village Shopping Center, 225 Dine recently got a sneak peak inside Baton Rouge’s newest breakfast and brunch spot.
“The interior of the Baton Rouge restaurant has an industrial ambiance, with an exposed ceiling, hanging Edison bulbs and dark wooden tables and booths,” 225 Dine reports. “The neighborhood vibe is found in the ‘community tables,’ where multiple parties can sit together similar to hibachi-style.”
The popular New Orleans brunch spot has rapidly expanded since Erich and Jennifer Weishaupt opened the first location in 2008. There are now five Big Easy locations as well as restaurants in Orange Beach, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. But the Weishaupts are determined to make each eatery a unique institution in their respective neighborhoods.
“We hate the word ‘chain,’” Jennifer Weishaupt says. “We’re a neighborhood restaurant, and we want every one of our restaurants to feel like [that].”
But there are some similarities at each Ruby Slipper, including menu staples and a mix of local art with traditional New Orleans decor elements, such as chalkboards designed by Smallchalk and signs by Simon Hardeveld. The Baton Rouge restaurant can seat 114 people, including the outdoor patio.
The Acadian Village location will be the The Ruby Slipper’s first location in a shopping center, as it usually reclaims space from dilapidated buildings. The organization knew the former Pei Wei space was the ideal location for its proximity to other New Orleans-based businesses, such as Galatoire’s Bistro and Acme Oyster House, Jennifer Weishaupt says. A grand opening will take place Wednesday, July 26.
Read the full story and see a photo spread of the new restaurant. And be sure to sign up for the free 225 Dine e-newsletter to get your fill of Capital Region culinary news every week.
