The 13 Best Seafood Restaurants in New Orleans
When you think of New Orleans, what are the things that first come to mind? The amazing music, the nightlife, and the fireee cuisine top the list of things that are hard to miss about NOLA!
Other than its fried chicken and cornbread, New Orleans is also super famous for its seafood. Considering its location right next to the Mississippi River, its seafood is kind of a big deal. But with so many choices, which one should you pick for your next night out with your friends or solo?
Knowing that your seafood experience is not something to be messed with, we’ve compiled a list of the best seafood restaurants in New Orleans for you. And don’t worry— you won’t end the night puking in the bushes if you follow these suggestions.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get into it!
1. Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar
Wow! That’s the one word to describe the food at Superior Seafood! This stylish restaurant has a zinc bar and full-service oyster bar perfect for anyone looking for Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine.
The menu changes weekly at Superior Seafood to highlight the freshest, local ingredients available, so you can always expect a quality experience. If you see it on the menu, the crawfish cornbread and shrimp and grits were my personal favorites! Tell them Courtney sent you ;)
Whether craving oysters, a full meal or simply a drink, the bar provides guests with a memorable, entertaining experience that you won’t forget!
2. GW Fins
GW Fins is probably the French Quarter’s crowning jewel when it comes to seafood. But what’s all the hype about? It’s just seafood, right?
Well, yes, and no. It is just seafood, but not just seafood native to NOLA. Take a look at their menu and take a deep dive (pun intended) into a sea of different seafood delicacies from all over the world.
Combine that with Gary Wollerman and Tenney Flynn’s philosophy of not masking the taste of great food with heavy sauces and a crazy amount of spices, and you have the best seafood in town.
Also, GW Fins has something new on the menu every night so that you won’t get tired of the food any time fast.
3. Borgne
It’s impossible to talk about the best seafood restaurants in New Orleans without talking about Borgne.
Whether you want to grab a quick bite with your friends before the big game or enjoy a fun place to have a first date, Borgne is the place for you. With its fresh twist on classic seafood recipes, Borgne takes all that is great about New Orleans seafood and presents it to you in the form of a trendy sports bar.
It also doesn’t hurt to mention that it has a super cool bar that you can use to turn up with friends while catching the game on the TVs mounting its walls.
4. Bourbon House Seafood and Oyster Bar
Located on Bourbon Street, this restaurant makes the cut for one of the best seafood restaurants in New Orleans because of its traditional take on seafood.
The Bourbon House Seafood and Oyster Bar boast various seafood choices while staying true to its roots. Now, you may be wondering, what on Earth does that mean? They do it by having a rule. If it isn’t in season, you aren’t gonna find it at Bourbon House. This rule makes sure that they serve only the best of the seafood that the Gulf of Mexico offers. As an added incentive, they also offer some sick bourbons to choose from. After all, the restaurant is part of the New Orleans Bourbon Society. Cool, right?
5. Acme Oyster House
Acme Oyster House is another one of the French Quarter’s fabulous additions to the seafood restaurant scene. Although most of the menu comprises oysters, the chefs switch up the recipes in a way that allows you to explore yet another facet of oysters that you hadn’t tasted before.
Another reason why tourists and locals flock to Acme Oyster House is because of its rich history. Based in 1910, it has a century of NOLA culture enriching its walls.
So, if you’re looking for a place that is rich in history and taste, it’s time for you to slurp some chargrilled oysters at the Acme Oyster House.
6. Casamento’s
Casamento’s is another well-loved New Orleans seafood restaurant. It’s a small establishment, but boy is the food good.
So, while there are many more flashy restaurants than Casamento’s in New Orleans, celebrities and commoners alike rush to it because of its cozy atmosphere, delicious signature pan bread, oyster loaf, and seafood gumbo.
Its inspiring story about an Italian immigrant opening the restaurant in 1919 by using hundreds of tiles from four different companies in the US and cooking seafood with recipes from back home is another reason people frequent the place.
7. Pêche Seafood Grill
If your date is into places that give off old-world vibes, Pêche Seafood Grill is the place for an exciting first date. If you take that classy lady or gent there, you’ll get to see exactly how they cook their seafood over an open fire that you can see from the dining area.
The Cajun gumbo is fantastic and as close to the original as possible, the ambiance is rustic, and the entrees and the side dishes are simple yet delicious.
With its exposed beams, 19th-century architecture, and refined wine menu, this restaurant is the mainstay for the chic and the nostalgic.
8. Deanie’s Seafood
Another great thing to come out of the French Quarter is Deanie’s Seafood. If you’re looking for good down-home eats or crawfish, Deanie’s is the place for you. With its fried seafood loved by everyone in New Orleans, this place caters to absolutely everyone with a hunger for traditional cuisine.
Opened almost fifty years ago, this place has since become synonymous with serving nothing but the most authentic fried Southern cuisine to hungry New Orleanians for many decades now.
9. Oceana Grill
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably craving some Cajun food. If the cravings also include seafood, it’s time to head over to Bourbon Street and get a taste of the classics with Oceana Grill.
Most patrons are huge fans of their crab cakes and gumbo, which most people think to be some of the best in New Orleans and the French Quarter (which is saying something considering all the awesome seafood restaurants lining these areas). The stream of celebrities coming in and out of Oceana Grill are a testament to the fact.
10. Red Fish Grill
If you’ve tried all the traditional seafood eateries you could find, a more modern option is the Red Fish Grill. Also located in the French Quarter, this place stands out for its fresh take on seafood.
Surprising New Orleanians when it comes to seafood is an almost impossible task considering how much seafood cuisine they routinely eat. However, Red Fish Grill did just that with its multiple sauces, trendy oyster bar, and innovative crab cake. Out with the old, in with the new, they say.
11. Drago’s
Drago’s is another restaurant that took a newer approach to seafood in New Orleans, and it paid off. Drago’s created a modern, innovative recipe to make oysters that have wowed native New Orleanians and tourists alike by dousing oysters in butter and garlic and charbroiling them.
Patrons also go nuts for their twist on the traditional lobster. By their admission, Drago’s lobster dishes are as good as those found in Maine.
This one is a restaurant that seafood lovers have to put on their list of the best seafood restaurants in New Orleans.
12. Briquette
Located in the Warehouse District, Briquette has emerged from the ashes of an abandoned factory as a seafood favorite.
It only went through a certain amount of remodeling to make it look the way it does now. The partly exposed brick walls and the chic lighting give the place a modern yet homey feeling. However, more than its beautiful interior, Briquette is known for its delicious takes on traditional coastal dishes that New Orleanians have enjoyed for decades.
Special Mention: Crabby Jack’s
Where are the Cajun food fans? Someone needs to tell them that within all this chaos is a quiet restaurant that serves fantastic Cajun food, with their poboys making the cut for the most popular dish. Since Crabby Jack’s doesn’t have much to offer by way of ambiance or service, the only reason people keep coming back, again and again, is because of the high-quality Cajun food that it serves. We definitely recommend giving this place a try, especially if you want something hefty!
The Bottom Line
If you’ve reached this far, you probably have a vested interest in seafood and you’re likely drooling - don’t worry we are too.
Our list comprises 13 of the best seafood restaurants in New Orleans. We decided on this list after careful research (at the expense of our diet plans) and many back-and-forths.
So, the next time you’re craving quality seafood, don’t let our efforts go to waste and just give this article another read. Let us know if you’ve visited any of these locations in the comments below!
