To serve, protect and feed

You don’t need a badge to chow down on the classic plate lunches offered at the Louisiana State Police Cafeteria. The cafeteria has been serving officers, trainees, employees and the public for decades, but somehow it remains a well-kept secret in Baton Rouge. It’s not hard to find—just look behind the Department of Motor Vehicles building off of Independence Boulevard—and it’s in an area considered the historic center of Baton Rouge. The menu changes daily. Red beans and rice appears faithfully on Mondays, along with fried chicken wings. A recent Wednesday featured chicken quarters as the lone offering on the entrée menu, but they were served baked, barbecued or fried. On a Thursday, the cafeteria served up pork spare ribs (smoked on the mammoth pit outside), dense meatloaf (cut precisely like a thick slice of bread) and fried catfish. Simple, church-supper sides can include carrot raisin salad, cole slaw, green salad, potato salad, baked beans, collard greens, sweet peas, mashed potatoes, dirty rice and cabbage. For more dining news, check out 225 Dine here.