City: Baton Rouge, LA

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (225) 927-9917

Address: 2380 Towne Center Blvd.

Description: Located in Towne Center, one of Baton Rouge’s newest shopping complexes, Zea specializes in American cuisine with regional flavors created around a wood-burning grill and rotisserie. In Louisiana, “regional” flavors means fresh seafood grilled to perfection and other dishes enhanced with herbs and spices. Most diners rave about the Mediterranean hummus appetizer made with sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, roasted garlic, and olive oil. The seared tuna steak with a soy marinade and cooked to order comes with orange basil butter. Zea’s huge rack of St. Louis–style spare ribs slow roasted and grilled with a wet hickory sauce are fall-off-the-bone tender. The contemporary décor of the restaurant is soft and pleasant. Families and friends gather here around large tables for the excellent food and conversation.