10 Best Best Seafood Spots in New Orleans
Considered a gem of the coast, Louisiana's unique coastal landscape—including bayous, swamps, and beaches—has influenced its culinary achievements. With the state's location on the Gulf, it's no surprise that Louisiana has some of the best seafood and seafood cuisine in the country!
From oysters, lobster, and even crawfish, seafood has adapted throughout the course of Louisiana's cooking history, growing more delicious, richer, and tastier by the year. From shrimp po-boys to seafood gumbo, New Orleans takes advantage of it's access to such fresh delicacies and whips up some of the best food the country has to offer.
1. Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Multiple Locations
felixs.com
Felix's was established in the 1940s and is responsible for putting the concept of the oyster bar on the map in New Orleans. The restaurant has locations in both the French Quarter and the Lakefront, as well as in Gulfport, MS, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to try out its delicious food.
They're po-boys are to die for and come filled with oysters, shrimp, alligators, and fish. From seafood gumbo and crab dip to Iberville catfish and raw oysters, there is plenty of quality seafood to enjoy at Felix's.
2. Drago's Seafood Restaurant
Multiple Locations
dragosrestaurant.com
With locations all over Louisiana, as well as a spot in Jackson, MS, Drago's is one of the undisputed champions of seafood in the Gulf South. Opened and owned by the Cvitanovich family, this restaurant is perhaps most famous for originating the chargrilled oysters dish that is beloved in New Orleans and is now a staple dish of the city.
Go to the original Metairie location and watch as the talented cooks at Drago's grill their oysters right before your very eyes. The restaurant also has plenty of other seafood dishes to choose from, such as blackend gator tacos, Maine lobster, and crawfish étouffée.
3. Acme Oyster House
Multiple Locations
acmeoyster.com
Acme Oyster House is a renowned seafood restaurant located in Louisiana (New Orleans, Metairie, and Baton Rouge) and in Alabama (Gulf Shores and Destin). As their name implies, Acme is known best for its oysters, and the restaurant actually shucks more than a million of them each year.
In addition to raw, chargrilled, and fried oysters, the restaurant serves fried seafood platters, po-boys, gumbos, and so much more. Fats Domino, John Goodman, Drew Brews, the Mannings, and more have eaten at Acme, and you should too.
4. GW Fins
808 Bienville St., (504) 581-3467
gwfins.com
Using fresh and seasonal ingredients, paired with their skilled culinary techniques, GW Fins sets itself apart as a refined and one-of-a-kind restaurant. Ranked by Yelp as one of the top 100 seafood restaurants in the country, GW Fins boasts a long list of accolades.
Sourcing their products locally to ensure that guests experience the freshest and most authentic New Orleans' seafood, their dinner menu is well-curated. While the menu changes daily, some current options have included lobster dumplings, panko crusted calamari, lobster bisque, and yellowfish tuna tartare. Get some of the freshest seafood at GW Fins.
5. The Galley
2535 Metairie Rd., (504) 832-0955
Casual and homey, The Galley looks like a quick-stop, Southern restaurant on the outside. But inside, it serves some of the best seafood Greater New Orleans has to offer. Get your hands a little dirty peeling crawfish with their boiled crawfish plate or grab a quick bite to eat with their classic shrimp po-boy.
If you have never experienced a classic seafood boil and need to try it, then The Galley is a great spot! A warm and cozy spot for families and friends, stop by for a casual dinner or lunch and have you heart warmed and belly filled.
6. Superior Seafood
4338 St. Charles Ave., (504) 293-3474
superiorseafoodnola.com
Superior Seafood loves to serve seafood upscale Louisiana-style. Start off with escargot, crawfish beignets, or even sizzling jumbo Gulf shrimp. The cast-iron cornbread is a popular appetizer for the table and comes topped with crawfish étouffée.
In the Entrees section of the menu, you'll find shrimp and grits, seared scallops, and more. The Blackened Catfish Napoleon is Cajun influenced: delicious Des Allemands catfish blackened and topped with crawfish étouffée.
7. Pêche
800 Magazine St., (504) 522-1744
pecherestaurant.com
Pêche has the distinction of winning a James Beard Award. Not only is this seafood-centric restaurant a popular place before games and shows at the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Arena, it has some of the best seafood that you can get in the entire city. The raw bar has several options including Gulf shrimp, steak tartare, and a seafood platter.
You are welcome to get an entrée such as the grilled tuna with butternut squash and almonds or the jumbo shrimp with purple rice pilaf and broccoli, but the whole table will love the Whole Grilled Fish. Add some sides such as roasted pumpkin or brown rice congee for a complete meal.
8. Bourbon House
144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111
bourbonhouse.com
Fresh, delicious, and authentic, Bourbon House won't serve something that's not in season! A top oyster bar and seafood restaurant, they offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
With a large and diverse menu, the Bourbon House has a great selection of fresh seafood: fried jumbo Gulf shrimp, blackened Gulf fish, BBQ shrimp po-boy, and much more. A very popular dining spot, make sure to get a reservation when visiting the Bourbon House.
9. Landry's Seafood House
Multiple Locations
landrysseafoodhouse.com
Landry's Gulf Coast seafood is so delicious that the brand has expanded across the southern U.S. from Texas and Missouri to South Carolina. In the New Orleans area, you can visit Landry's in the French Quarter (620 Decatur St.) or at the lake (8000 Lakeshore Dr.). It may sound weird, but the Oyster Bar Trash is a great appetizer; it's a combination of blackened shrimp, lump crab, steamed rice, and lemon butter.
Landry's has a big menu of platters, fresh catches, and house specialties. The blackened redfish étouffée comes with steaming hot vegetables and rice. Make sure to also try their shrimp and crab capellini pasta.
10. Desire Oyster House
300 Bourbon St., (504) 553-2281
sonesta.com/royal-sonesta/la/new-orleans/royal-sonesta-new-orleans/desire-oyster-bar
Desire Oyster Bar's iconic sign is one of
the most photographed signs on Bourbon Street (and maybe New Orleans itself). It
harkens back to a more sophisticated era of the entertainment district when
live jazz bands performed in every bar. Desire Oyster Bar allows some guests to
sit right where the action is: the oyster shucker raw bar. You can get them on
the half shell or chargrilled to perfection.
Some people prefer their oyster bar while others always order their many different po-boys. Top off your oysters with an entrée like the Big Fried Catch Plate, then go out to Bourbon Street for a good time.
The Best Seafood Restaurants in NOLA
Whether you are a local or a tourist, New Orleans—and Louisiana generally—is known for its fantastic selection of seafood and seafood restaurants. Try these restaurants out, either for a lunch with friends or a dinner with family, and experience fresh, authentic, and delicious seafood dishes.
