Juban's Restaurant

Since 1983, Juban's has held the line. White tablecloths. A wine list that means it. Creole-Continental cooking that has survived four decades of food trends by the simple fact of not chasing them. The Hallelujah Crab — fried softshell finished with crabmeat and butter sauce — has been on the menu since opening, and no one has found a reason to take it off. This is where Baton Rouge goes when something actually matters. Not the kind of place that announces itself, but the kind a city needs to have — a room that holds anniversaries, promotions, the meal after the funeral, the dinner that closes the deal. Reservations are strongly recommended. A jacket is not required but would not be out of place.