In New Orleans, we love our seafood. We put seafood in our gumbo, seafood in our sandwiches. We even put seafood in our seafood. So, when a restaurant stands out as a good seafood spot in a town overflowing with good seafood spots, it must be doing something noteworthy. Enter Landry’s Seafood House. They’ve been doing seafood—and doing it right—for 71 years now. With a new location recently opened in the French Quarter, they can now bring you even more seafood. And, what’s even better, you can peel that shrimp or spoon that bisque while taking in the magnificent views of the Mississippi River and Jackson Square.
Landry’s has Smoked Bacon Crusted Scallops, Crab-Stuffed Shrimp, and Blue Crab Cakes. They have Crawfish Bread, Crab Fritters, and Oysters Rockefeller. There’s the Blackened Catfish Atchafalaya, served with crawfish, green beans, and dirty rice; or the Broiled Lobster Tails with twice-baked mashed potatoes. But seafood is not the only option. When it comes to the menu items, there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
Prefer your dinner from dry land? Landry’s has a great selection of steaks, burgers, salads, and pasta. Want a little liquor with lunch? Landry’s has three bars serving up an impressive selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Dietary dilemmas? Landry’s will accommodate, and offers an entire gluten-free menu. They even have outdoor patio seating if you like to eat your meal al fresco while enjoying those stellar views. And no matter how many oysters you slurp or “Two-Handed Po-Boys” you chomp, don’t fill up until you get a slice of their Bananas Foster Cake. It’s not seafood, but it’s four layers of banana decadence that’s at least as big as a whale.
Executive Chef Eric Walker has been in the business of cooking delicious food for 22 years now, the last three of which have been spent heading the kitchen at Landry’s Seafood House. He took time out from perfecting his Speckled Trout Meuniere recipe and making some of the creamiest pimento cheese grits in town to talk to us about being the man behind so much good seafood (and beyond).
“Our restaurant has a deep-rooted history in Louisiana, but we wanted to make this location special to our New Orleans residents,” Walker explains. “We are known for our locally sourced seafood dishes and flavorful sauces, but we wanted to take that a step further. We created a menu that is unique to New Orleans, offering dishes and flavors that are native to this area—like the Smoked Onion Butter Snapper.”
Walker touts all that Landry’s has to offer, from its animated location in the former Jax Brewery locale, to the unique menu which he created. As for the food, while Walker strongly recommends that everyone try the N’awlins BBQ Oysters, because “they rival any grilled oyster in the city,” his favorite dish on the menu is something different. “Honestly, I’m a simple eater,” he admits. “I love fresh seafood and crawfish, but my favorite dish is the red beans and rice with catfish. It sums up New Orleans and Landry’s Seafood House in one bite.”
And how do we sum up Landry’s? Well, it’s a little bit of atmosphere, a lot of good food, some amazing views, lots of fresh seafood, great cocktails, excellent service, and a fun and exciting vibe that is very New Orleans. As Walker puts it, “New Orleans is a vibrant city known for its rich culture and lively jazz. This is an environment that only enhances the dining and culinary experience that can’t be replicated. You can feel this spirit in our dining room and on the patios that overlook all of the action.”
For more than just a good meal, come in and try Landry’s for yourself. There’s something for everyone, and the chef and all the staff will make sure you have an unforgettable dining experience. Says Walker, “I want everyone to feel at home here. We want every guest to feel like they are a part of the family! We like that guests can just walk up for a casual dinner or enjoy a drink on the balcony overlooking Jackson Square.”
