Brief reviews for restaurants, outdoor and cultural hangouts, etc. Scale from 1-5. For restaurants, that’s 1 being a trip to the fast-food hole down the street, and 5 being similar to dining at a local, family-owned seafood joint where you don’t mind having to wait twenty minutes for a table. If I review anything above that, I just don’t put a rating, because there’s no need. A rating of 3/3 means it’s a good bet you’ll find something you like.

SAIGON CAFE | name changed recently to “Rawz” | Thai food, simply, from the natives | 1100 Sterlington Rd | Monroe, LA 71203 | 318 345-3154
Food: 4 | Service: 2
The food is authentic and the owners are right there cooking the food with their family members in full view. They bake their own bread for the po-boys, which are smaller than you expect but taste far better than you expect, too. The food is fresh as it can be; a little on the simple side and you might find yourself having to add condiments, but overall you’re bound to find something satisfying here. I really like the tofu fried rice, which has more flavor than seems possible. I always ask them to skip the hot spices. The interior is basically just a sunlit room with tables, chairs, and two wide-screen TV’s on the wall, but I’d rather be disappointed in the building and surprised by good food, anyway. This little joint is a favorite. You can get a perfect, quick, foreign meal for under ten bucks. It’s a sit-down restaurant but don’t expect table service. Very exotic and consistent flavors cooked up by a family from Saigon that cares about what they do.

SPICE | Indian and American cuisine with a bar and frozen drinks | 8649 Highway 165 North, Suite 10, Monroe, LA 71203 | 318-361-2700
Food: 3 | Service: 3
Better than you might expect for such an out-of-the-way place; worth the trip. Nothing too fancy, but very authentic. Highlights are definitely the main courses served in small, hot metal bowls. Make sure to ask for mild seasoning unless you like eating hot peppers for fun. The alcoholic drinks are well-made and include ready-to-serve daiquiris. With the owners present and dressed in authentic clothing, the service can vary between very good and too personal, but I prefer that over the alternatives. 08/07/09

Lu San | Sushi and other Asian attempts with a bar and live music | 300 Washington ave, Monroe, LA 71201 | (318) 855-3732
Food: 2 | Service: 1
Absolutely horrible. We asked the waiter for hot tea and he brought a water glass filled with Lipton tea from a pitcher that he had warmed in a microwave; it took him fifteen minutes to bring out a proper cup with hot water and a tea bag. He didn’t pick up a single dirty plate from the table until we asked him to, and rarely came by to check on us, a table of three adults and three children. The food took far too long to arrive–when it did, it was bland and needed additions of whatever condiments we could find lying around. We had to ask a waitress to bring soy sauce, chopsticks and ginger for the sushi. The experience was so bad that the quality of the food is hardly a consideration. Go here only if you plan on drinking wine with friends and ignoring the menu. 08/06/09

Pieworks | Hand-tossed pizza, salads and pasta with a sports bar | 2252 Tower Drive, Monroe, LA 71201 | (318) 387-1044
Food: 4 | Service: 3
The best pizza I’ve ever had, anywhere, including Chicago. This is currently one of my favorite spots to eat in Monroe. It’s good for families — not too loud, not too quiet, and there’s something for everyone. The kids menu actually nets food that the kids like, not a lame frozen pizza, for instance, but a real, handmade deal that makes you feel like you get what you pay for, and it’s a joy to watch the kids actually eat it happily. For the adults — the pastas here are the weak spot, so stick to the pizzas and salads. The whole wheat Italian Classic pizza is a sure winner, and the crust is better than anything I’ve had anywhere else. There’s a hint of spice in the sauce that will tickle gentle palates but otherwise gives the pizzas a nice touch. 10/23/09