Simple Joe Cafe — Restaurant in Baton Rouge

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Simple Joe’s Cafe is an absolute gem and one of my favorite breakfast spots in Baton Rouge. I might be a creature of habit, but when something is this good, it’s hard to stray from it. My go-to order is Combo #3: grits, eggs any way, your choice of protein, and toast. My protein of choice? The grilled chicken—and it’s perfection every time.

The grits at Simple Joe’s are out of this world. They’re silky, rich, and decadent, almost like they’ve been whipped with heavy cream or a secret ingredient that makes them irresistibly smooth. The scrambled eggs are always fluffy and light, cooked just the way scrambled eggs should be. The grilled chicken is seasoned beautifully and cooked to perfection, adding the right amount of savory flavor to the meal.

The atmosphere is quintessential Baton Rouge—welcoming, vibrant, and full of local charm. Simple Joe’s reflects everything I love about Mid City and the nearby neighborhoods like Capitol Heights and the Garden District. The owner is a standout. He’s warm, personable, and has an incredible knack for making every customer feel like a regular, even if it’s their first visit.

Pro tip: It gets busy as the morning goes on, so arriving early is your best bet for a more relaxed experience. Whether you’re a repeat customer (like me!) or trying it for the first time, you’ll notice the personal touches, like the variety of coffee mugs you can choose from. It’s these small details that make Simple Joe’s feel like home.

Breakfast here is more than a meal—it’s an experience that reminds me why I’m proud to call Baton Rouge home....

Upon entry I thought, this is a cute little place. Shortly after I was ready to leave and I had not even placed my order. I cannot speak for the masses, however, I can explain my experience. The cashier was rolling her eyes at me before I walked up to place my order. While placing my order I spoke how I felt according to the vibe I was receiving. “I’d like my order to go”. I quickly remembered that it was a breakfast date I made with my friend. “No, I’m sorry I’d like to have one here and one to go.” The cashier responses, “ Na look here you gots to tell me all that to being with.” I could definitely tell by the diversity in the place that I was more than welcome, with the attitude I was on the receiving end of, so unprofessional. While sitting, eating, and talking, we were not watching the time. A waitress came over and asked if we would like her to take our plates, however my friend was still eating. A few minutes later a waiter comes over and wants to politely show us the door. I let my friend know we should probably wrap it up and go, but she is determined no finish her meal. It was strange because there was a table full of people conversing not far from where we were sitting. I totally got the message, my friend however did not. The message was not meant for her. After a long night’s work we just wanted to be able to enjoy good conversation, amongst one another, and eat breakfast. I will never again eat here, I can spend my hard earned money elsewhere! The food was not worth the lack of service. You may like this place, but it just...

When we left The Queen, it’s was 7:30AM. We were both hungry for breakfast, but not interested in Waffle House, so I did a quik search of the area and opted for the Simple Joe Cafe. They have a self-serving counter, where you stand in line, give your order, pay, get a number for your table, fix your drink, and find a place to sit. They weren’t extremely busy so we got a table with no problem. I loved the energy in this place. It felt very friendly and had a close-nit neighborhood vibe. I can tell they have a lot of regulars. The only things I can really complain about are 1. It was pricier than what I expected, but everything is nowadays. 2. The young gentleman who rang us up seemed a little rude and I really didn’t care for his attitude. He didn’t say anything wrong, he just didn’t make us feel welcomed. He definitely didn’t match the vibe in this place because he wasn’t friendly at all. Compared to the rest of the experience, he stuck out like a sore thumb. As for the food, I got the two egg scrambled breakfast with grits, bacon, and French toast. The eggs and grits were amazing but I didn’t care for the French toast at all!! This is the first time I’ve had grits at a restaurant that makes them the same as I do, using milk and real butter. They were cooked to perfection…they were soooo good! We both agreed to stop here again the next time we’re in the area. Though I’d usually give 3 stars, especially bc of the unwelcoming attitude I received, everything else made up for that so I added...