New Orleans is known for its delicious Cajun and Creole cuisine. But beyond its Louisiana roots, the Crescent City pays homage to its larger Gulf Coast surroundings by elevating one ingredient above the rest: seafood. In fact, Nola is consistently listed as one of the best cities for seafood in the United States.
The city’s access to fresh Gulf ingredients is on full display all over the port city, from hole-in-the-wall po-boy joints to fine dining establishments. If there’s a way to prepare seafood, New Orleans has found it. From deep-fried catfish to boiled crawfish, the city is home to seafood staples you can only find down South.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best seafood spots near our vacation rentals to give you a taste of the Gulf during your stay!
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
- Address: 538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $
- Known for: No-fuss diner vibes and deliciously classic po-boys.
We can’t make a seafood restaurant list without including one of the most famous po-boy joints in Crescent City.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern is close to many of our vacation rentals in the Mid-City neighborhood. This long-time po-boy spot has been serving the community for over a century before the creation of po-boys even came to be! They’ve got a no-fuss, simple menu of po-boys, sides, and desserts.
Their po-boys range from classic favorites like fried shrimp and fried oysters to specialty items like the Parkway Surf & Turf po-boy. Basically, you can find any combo of seafood and toppings your heart desires here.
Be prepared for a line out the door as this is a local and tourist favorite spot. Don’t worry – it’s totally worth it.
Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar
- Address: 4338 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $$
- Known for: The only oyster bar on St. Charles Avenue.
Located in the Uptown neighborhood, Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar has been a staple in the community for decades.
This classic New Orleans restaurant is known for its fresh, local ingredients and traditional Louisiana cuisine. Perhaps most popular is their full-service oyster bar, where guests can pull up a seat and enjoy a live shucking before indulging in raw oysters.
The dinner menu features a variety of seafood dishes, from crab cake salad to the classic shrimp and grits. The Fresh Catch section allows guests to try an array of local fish, including herb crusted flounder and Gulf mahi-mahi. With delicious Southern sides and a decadent dessert menu, you can’t go wrong at Superior Seafood.
Red Fish Grill
- Address: 115 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $$
- Known for: Weekend brunch menu with bottomless cocktails
It would be impossible to talk about seafood without mentioning Red Fish Grill. This award-winning restaurant has been a staple in the French Quarter for over 20 years and is consistently rated one of the top seafood restaurants in New Orleans.
The lively, inviting atmosphere makes this a great choice for a casual lunch or dinner spot. They are known for elevating classic New Orleans dishes, like BBQ fried oyster po-boys and alligator gumbo, and turning them into a true delicacy.
Perhaps most popular is their seafood brunch menu that even comes with $20 bottomless cocktails! You can’t go wrong with the crab cake and poached egg combo or Gulf shrimp over smoked gouda grits.
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant
- Address: 3232 North Arnoult Road, Metairie, LA
- Price Point: $$
- Known for: Inventing the original chargrilled oysters
Drago’s will forever be synonymous with oysters in New Orleans. In fact, Drago’s is credited as the original inventor of the infamous chargrilled oyster. It all started when Drago’s son experimented with brushing garlic butter on oysters and grilling them in their shell. Alas, the chargrilled oyster was born!
Beyond oysters, Drago’s offers an extensive seafood menu serving everything from fried seafood, seafood gumbo, catch of the day, and even lobster. Drago’s is a one-stop shop for all of your seafood cravings.
They have locations all over Louisiana, but the original one is located in Metairie, just outside the city!
Mosquito Supper Club
- Address: 3824 Dryades St, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $$$
- Known for: Seasonal ingredients, intimate atmosphere
If you’re looking for a dining experience that fully celebrates Gulf Coast cuisine, Mosquito Supper Club delivers on it.
Set in a cozy cottage in the heart of Uptown, this Cajun restaurant is known for honoring local fishermen through its sustainability efforts and seasonal menu. Sourcing only the finest ingredients, the rotating menu changes weekly but always features local seafood such as shrimp, oysters, and mussels.
Mosquito Supper Club is intentional with every decision they make, from their menu to the amount of guests they take per night. Open four days a week, guests must make reservations and pay in advance for the fixed menu. Be sure to plan ahead if you and your group want to try this unique dining experience.
Peche Seafood Grill
- Address: 800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $$$
- Known for: Live-fire cooking techniques that celebrate local seafood
Located in the Warehouse District, Peche Seafood Grill won a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in America in 2014 and has been named the best restaurant in New Orleans year after year since.
Peche’s menu is influenced by Spanish and South American cuisines, paying homage to local fishermen through its Gulf Coast ingredients. The seafood is truly the star of each dish. You’ll find anything from ground shrimp & noodles to grilled tuna with okra here. Their raw menu is simple and elegant, featuring a seafood platter to share as a group.
We recommend finishing off your dinner with one of their signature desserts. You can’t go wrong with the key lime pie or sticky toffee pudding.
Reservations are required, as there is limited seating. Be sure to book in advance if you want to visit.
GW Fins
- Address: 808 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA
- Price Point: $$$$
- Known for: Dry-aged fish, extensive wine list
We find ourselves listing GW Fins as one of our top favorite restaurants time and time again because it truly captures the essence of fine dining cuisine in New Orleans.
This classic French Quarter restaurant is best known for its preparation techniques, being careful to utilize the whole fish in their unique dry-aging method. As experts in Gulf Coast seafood, GW Fins’ menu speaks to the level of respect and care they take in preparing their seafood dishes. Highlights of their dinner menu include dry-aged swordfish, New Bedford sea scallops, and lobster dumplings.
GW Fins is also praised for its extensive wine list, with knowledgeable staff ready to help you pair the perfect bottle with your seafood dish.
Reservations are recommended; bar seating is first come, first serve. The dress code is business casual.
Must-Try Seafood Dishes in New Orleans
It’s hard to narrow down the best seafood dish in New Orleans. We’ll let you in on our must-try staples so you leave your trip feeling like a pro on Louisiana seafood.
Po’boy
First up is the infamous fried shrimp po-boy, made famous in the 1920s as the “poor boy’s” sandwich. It’s evolved over the past century to include any filling you can think of, but the classic fried shrimp po’boy will forever be the choice of most locals. Make sure to get it “dressed” with all the fixin’s that make it ooze with flavor!
Seafood Gumbo
You can’t go wrong with a classic Seafood Gumbo, served any time of the year in a variety of local restaurants. A seafood gumbo could be filled with anything from blue crab to Gulf shrimp to crawfish. Each local joint does it a bit differently, so you can spend your whole trip exploring the diversity that is New Orleans gumbo and never get enough.
Fresh Oysters
Finally, Nola is known for its access to fresh oysters, and many seafood restaurants come equipped with an oyster bar ready to shuck them right in front of you! Oysters come in many forms, but New Orleans is home to the original chargrilled oysters that many have come to know and love.
Smothered in garlic butter and parmesan cheese, these smoky oysters are a hit for an appetizer to share. We recommend ordering French bread on the side to sop up all of the leftover sauce!
Get Your Seafood Fix in Nola
It’s hard to overestimate how important seafood is to the culinary scene in New Orleans. Whether you visit a corner po-boy joint or a fine-dining establishment, we guarantee that seafood will be on the menu.
During your stay at our vacation rentals, there are some must-try seafood dishes you don’t want to miss. You can’t go wrong with a classic shrimp po-boy, seafood gumbo, or chargrilled oysters.
But don’t be afraid to get creative! New Orleans celebrates its Gulf Coast ingredients in all shapes and sizes, from dry-aged fish to Spanish-inspired scallops. We hope you enjoy getting your seafood fix during your New Orleans getaway!