Restaurant Week begins Monday, and while it is expected to be one of the coldest winter weather days of the year, there is something powerful about showing up anyway. When the weather is tough, community matters even more. Choosing to support local restaurants during moments like this is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways we can stand behind the people who keep Baton Rouge fed and connected.

Restaurant Week was created with purpose. Taking place during the city’s traditionally slower season for dining and tourism, the week encourages residents and visitors to dine out, try new places, and return to longtime favorites. That extra support helps restaurants maintain steady business during quieter months and keeps momentum moving through the hospitality industry. When you dine out during Restaurant Week, you are supporting far more than a single meal. You are supporting servers, chefs, bartenders, dishwashers, local farmers, suppliers, and countless others who make the experience possible.

This year, showing up carries even more meaning. Some restaurants may be closed on Monday due to staffing challenges, travel concerns, or weather conditions. For those that are open and ready to welcome guests, every reservation, takeout order, and shared meal makes a difference. As the week continues and the sun is expected to return, Restaurant Week becomes a reminder that better days are ahead and that our food community is worth showing up for.

Baton Rouge Restaurant Week also creates a lasting impact beyond the dining room. Proceeds benefit the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation, which supports the ProStart program taught in more than seventy high schools across Louisiana. ProStart helps educate and inspire the next generation of chefs, restaurant owners, and restaurant managers, giving students hands on experience and a path into the hospitality industry.

In addition, Restaurant Week supports the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, which provides critical assistance to service industry workers during times of need. From unexpected hardships to long term support, the foundation helps strengthen the hospitality community and care for the people who care for us.

At its heart, Restaurant Week is about connection. It is about choosing local. It is about celebrating creativity, resilience, and the shared table. Whether you make a reservation for Monday or plan your visit later in the week, your participation matters.

Show up. Try something new. Support your favorites. Share a meal with people you love.

Restaurant Week begins Monday, and Baton Rouge is ready to gather.