"Kid-free lunch date before school pickup at City Cafe in Baton Rouge. We did the lunch special with soup and 4 chargrilled oysters. The chargrilled oysters were clean and cooked well, but a little too heavy on the lemon for me. The lunch special portion was just enough for lunch. The seafood gumbo was extremely flavorful with a nice little kick, and the shrimp & crab bisque was amazing — the kind of soup you want the recipe for. I had the NOLA fried chicken sandwich. It was good but not very flavorful on its own, so I had to doctor it up a bit. The fries were good with ranch and a drizzle of Tony’s. Our bill was about $28 per person including fountain drinks, which felt fair for what we got. We sat outside and it was packed, but service stayed friendly and fairly quick. Overall: 4/5. I’d definitely go back, especially for the gumbo and bisque."

"The place has a warm, relaxed vibe with a strong local touch. Our server was outstanding, polite, attentive, truly welcoming. The food was a highlight of the visit. The menu features a wide variety of local favorites, plus sandwiches, soups, salads for every taste. A wonderful spot for a comfortable, enjoyable meal."

"We find the City Cafe on O’Neal Lane is a great spot for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere is friendly and casual, very much a local flare. Our server was excellent, very friendly and attentive. We also very much enjoyed the food. They offer a very wide assortment of local specialties as well as sandwiches, soups and salads."

"The first time back after several years, food has degraded somewhat. The place is very neat and clean, and the service is exceptional. Large outdoor patio and full service bar if you're just in the mood for a cocktail. I had catfish atchafalya, and both the fish and etoufee were well cooked but lacking in flavor. One friend had shrimp and grits, which she said was really good. The other friend had a red drum dish with veggies and said it had no seasoning at all. I had a bowl of seafood gumbo, which was delicious. However, the char-grilled oysters we shared were just ok. Ended the meal with key lime pie, which was really good. Mixed bag at best."

"I discovered this place looking for somewhere to get a salad after taking in a movie near by. Was quite pleased to find a true Americana café w/ an upscale yet super casual atmosphere. Nice music stream. Great menus choices. The food tasted as good as it read on the menu. Server, Ellie, was personable & attentive. Food came quickly, obviously freshly prepared to order. Will revisit when next in Baton Rouge."