Downtown and looking for some Vietnamese food? Thanks to Cafe Mimi, you won't have to drive far.
Cafe Mimi is in the midst of its soft opening. The restaurant is located in the former spot of Harrington's Cafe, at 329 Florida St., in downtown Baton Rouge.
Julie and Dave Carlson and Steven and Sally Banh took over the old Harrington's space in May and started renovations in June. Inside, the space has been transformed with a modern, sleek look.
The Banhs owned the B&B Mini Mart in Denham Springs, but after last year's flooding, the family had to demolish the convenience store, where customers used to come in for breakfast and plate lunches.
Last year, the Banhs were partnering with the Carlsons to open a juice bar in Towne Center. But after the flooding and store demolition, the plans were put on hold. The couples came across Harrington's and got to work. The name, Cafe Mimi, is a tribute to Julie Carlson's niece, who died unexpectedly in May due to complications with a brain arteriovenous malformation.
So far, Cafe Mimi is serving breakfast plates (biscuit sandwiches are a must) and daily lunch specials. Patrons can expect Vietnamese items like pho and spring rolls as well as a few favorites from the Harrington's menu.
"Harrington's had a huge following," Carlson said. "Their followers are saying we gotta keep this on the menu. We're taking that into account, but we don't want a huge menu. Right now, we're just getting our feet wet, getting a feel for downtown and settling in."
Cafe Mimi is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. A grand opening is in the works.
For more information, visit facebook.com/cafemimibr or call (225) 343-2526.