SEAFOOD

II TONY'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
105 Hammond Hwy., Metairie, 831-0999; www.two-tonys.com
A Bucktown institution, Two Tony's serves Italian-Creole cuisine along the lake, including specialties like a grilled seafood platter loaded with Gulf shrimp, oysters, Louisiana blue crab cakes, farm-raised catfish seasoned lightly and grilled with extra virgin olive oil. The menu also offers artichoke-stuffed chicken — garlic, herbs and spices blended with artichoke hearts in a light dressing then rolled in a boneless chicken breast, fried golden and topped with a herb cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

ACME OYSTER & SEAFOOD HOUSE
724 Iberville St., 522-5973; 1202 N. Hwy. 190, Covington, (985) 246-6155; 3000 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 309-4056; www.acmeoyster.com
Fried, grilled, on the half-shell or spilling out of a dressed loaf of French bread, bivalves are a main draw at Acme. For something more land-based, try the aptly named Ten Napkin roast beef po-boy, that swims in gravy. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

ADAM'S CATFISH HOUSE
8523 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse, 392-0541
Take a wild guess what the specialty is here. Catfish comes grilled, fried or served atop salad greens tuna salad-style. The whole fish platter is an entrée of three fresh fish on the bone, served with French fries, hush puppies and coleslaw. Adam's also offers a children's menu and appetizers like a fried onion, fried vegetables and fried pickles. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Thu.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

ANDREW JAEGER'S
4250 Hwy. 22, Suite B, Mandeville, (985) 624-2300
Andrew Jaeger's offers a mix of Louisiana seafood dishes and Italian dishes that feature seafood. There are many baked oyster dishes and oysters en brochette wrapped in bacon. There are steaks and veal entrées, including baby white veal topped with jumbo lump crabmeat in garlic butter sauce. Italian specialties range from mussels in red sauce to seafood stew. A children's menu also is available. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$$

BIG AL'S SEAFOOD
1377 Annunciation St., 265-0324
An historic firehouse is the setting for a new purveyor of traditional Louisiana-style seafood, Big Al's, which recently expanded from its home base in Houma. Start with a dozen raw or grilled oysters, then tackle one of Al's overstuffed po-boys, a huge seafood platter or specialties like fried frog legs, alligator or batches of seasonal boiled seafood. Reservations accepted for large groups. Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. Credit cards.

BIG DADDY'S SEAFOOD
1023 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 301-1907
While this Metairie market specializes in fresh seafood, it also carries prepared foods to go, such as seafood gumbo and stuffed artichoke. But patrons also can order boiled crab, crawfish or shrimp and dine in. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $

BOURBON HOUSE
144 Bourbon St., 522-0111; www.bourbonhouse.com
Large picture windows for watching people on Bourbon Street from the tables at Bourbon House give diners a touch of excitement along with the taste of Creole cooking. Redfish on the half shell is grilled skin-on and served with a side of lemon-butter sauce. Diners can sweeten the deal by adding optional crabmeat with a Chardonnay broth. From the raw bar, a platter of fruits of the sea include fresh-shucked oysters on the half-shell, boiled Gulf shrimp, marinated crab fingers, roasted calamari and marinated seafood salads. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP COMPANY
429 Decatur St., 522-5800; www.bubbagump.com
Drawing on the fame of 1994 hit film Forrest Gump, this whimsical seafood restaurant is decked out in film memorabilia. The references even continue on the menu, where customers find the Run Forrest Run smoothie and the Mama Blue's Southern Charmed Fried Shrimp. A gift shop and music from the film's soundtrack playing in the dining room complete the Gump experience. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

CASAMENTO'S
4330 Magazine St., 895-9761; www.casamentosrestaurant.com
In business since 1919 in its iconic, tile-covered location, Casamento's is one of the most beloved oyster purveyors in a city where bivalves are serious business. Try them raw on the half-shell, in gumbo or on an Oyster Loaf — fried and served on thick slabs of Texas toast. Shrimp, soft-shell crabs and fried crab claws share the spotlight. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Sat., dinner Thu.-Sat. Cash only. $$

CATE STREET SEAFOOD STATION
308 S. Cate Ave., Hammond, (985) 340-3891; www.catestreetseafoodstation.com
Get all sorts of seafood fixes at Cate Street, which serves steaks, seafood and pasta. There is a full sushi menu and creative options like the New Orleans Saints roll with cream cheese, snow cab, jalapeño, avocado, fried escolar and eel sauce. Pan-fried redfish with Gulf shrimp, crab and seafood cream sauce satisfies heartier appetites, but grilled oysters and broiled Maine lobster also are popular. If you prefer beef, try the Black Angus rib-eye. Reservations accepted. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

De-No Seafood
505 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, 362-4608
This family-friendly restaurant is the pride of Dennis and Norean Rojas. The couple offers a good variety of seafood platters including shrimp, oyster and catfish as well as pasta dishes like shrimp Alfredo and crawfish Monica served on angel hair pasta. There also is a kids' menu and desserts such as apple cobbler and pecan pie. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

DEANIE'S SEAFOOD
841 Iberville, 581-1360; 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831-4141; www.deanies.com
Regulars at Deanie's know where to get more bang for their seafood buck. The giant seafood platter is a bounty of fresh shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft-shell crabs and crawfish balls, comes with fries and feeds four. Barbecue shrimp is another popular choice, jumbo head-on shrimp sautéed in Deanie's unique blend of seasonings, in addition to other items like stuffed flounder and the Bucktown Boil seafood pizza. No reservations. French Quarter: lunch and dinner daily, Metairie: lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards and checks. $$

DESIRE OYSTER BAR
300 Bourbon St., 553-2281
The flashing sign over the door has long served as a gateway announcement of Bourbon Street's many temptations; here, a lust for fresh seafood can be more than sated, whether you like your bivalves raw or Rockefeller. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

DOCKSIDE SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR
1820 Dickory Ave., Harahan, 736-9666
Raw and charbroiled oysters reappear on Dockside's menu for fall in addition to rib-eyes, pork chops, fried chicken, seafood platters and daily specials. Shrimp, catfish and crab also are available in a variety of preparations from boiled and spicy to golden-fried. Sides include sweet potato fries, hushpuppies and Dockside potatoes — deep-fried, boiled red potatoes. The seafood extravaganza platter feeds four. For dessert there's bread pudding, ice cream, pecan pie and cheesecake. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

DON'S SEAFOOD HUT
4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 889-1550
Don's has everything under the sea, or at least everything the locals crave. Beyond the requisite fried seafood platters, there's seafood salad with boiled shrimp, crawfish tails and lump crabmeat, a grilled fish of the day and broiled or fried soft-shell crabs. Start your meal with one of the savory gumbos or the crawfish bisque. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

DRAGO'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, 2 Poydras St. 584-3911; 3232 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie, 888-9254; www.dragosrestaurant.com
If you've never had Drago's charbroiled oysters — shucked and grilled in their own juices and topped with grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses and a sauce of butter, parsley and garlic — then you're missing out. When you go there to correct this culinary oversight, try out some of the restaurant's other famous dishes like lobster Marco and other seafood specialties. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

FRIENDS COASTAL RESTAURANT
407 St. Tammany St., Madisonville, (985) 845-7303; www.friendscoastal.com
Friends Coastal lives up to its seafaring name. The Cajun Lobster is actually a Maine lobster boiled to perfection with savory spices. The seafood lasagna layers sheets of pasta with spinach, Gulf seafood and a béchamel sauce, and the blackened "katfish" is seared in a hot iron skillet and topped with bronzed shrimp, crabmeat and key-lime butter. If your sea legs abandon you, dig into Caribbean jerk chicken or Quesadillas Gigante. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

GW FINS
808 Bienville St., 581-3467; www.gwfins.com
The menu at this upscale seafood establishment changes frequently as chef Tenney Flynn stocks his kitchen with a wide range of fresh fin fish and shellfish flown in from around the world. The Chilean sea bass is braised in a hot-and-sour shrimp stock with Asian vegetables. Sea scallops from New Bedford, Mass., are grilled over hickory and oak and served with risotto and mushroom butter. Reservations recommended. Dinner nightly. Credit cards. $$$

GALLEY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
2535 Metairie Road, Metairie, 832-0955
Boiled seafood is a favorite at Galley, but there's a wide range of other preparations to choose from including fried and blackened items. Creole dishes, seafood-topped jumbo salads and gumbo brimming with shrimp, oysters and okra round out the menu. Featured at Jazz Fest, Galley's Louisiana soft-shell crabs are knock-outs. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

GRAND ISLE RESTAURANT
575 Convention Center Blvd., 520-8530; www.grandislerestaurant.com
This Joel Dondis' restaurant offers delicious non-seafood options, but dishes like Shrimp Romesco — fresh shrimp in Romesco sauce with fresh spinach and Manchego cheese croutons — and Potted Crab — Louisiana jumbo lump crab with shallot butter — are worth skipping a steak or meatloaf for. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

GULFSTREAM RESTAURANT
1755 St. Charles Ave., 524-1578; www.hillstone.com
This stylishly designed St. Charles Avenue restaurant reels in the crowds with a seafood-focused menu, a lively bar scene and live music nightly. Try oysters St. Charles, a combination of fried oysters on a bed of creamed spinach with hot sauce and aioli, or go for an ahi tuna burger. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

HARBOR SEAFOOD
3203 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-6454
Seafood draws customers to this busy Kenner restaurant and seafood market. Look for local favorites such as the crabmeat-stuffed eggplant pirogues, seafood gumbo and fresh raw oysters. Wash them down with a beverage from the fully stocked bar. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

JACK DEMPSEY'S
738 Poland Ave., 943-9914
The food here packs a wallop just like its namesake. Your stomach won't be sore, but it will be full after meals such as the Jack Dempsey seafood platter which has heavyweight servings of gumbo, shrimp, oysters, catfish, redfish and crawfish pies. It's enough for two, maybe three if you're watching your weight for your next bout. Every dinner comes with a choice of fries, potato salad or baked macaroni and cheese. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Sat. and dinner Wed.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

JOHNNY TRAUTH'S SEAFOOD BISTRO
2121 25th St., Kenner, 471-0808
The seafood is always good at Johnny Trauth's, but it's extra enticing on Tuesday nights, when all-you-can-eat snow crab legs are just $17.99. The broiled catfish stuffed with crabmeat is a popular choice all the time, as is the broiled redfish topped with crab meat au gratin. Reservations recommended for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

KENNER SEAFOOD INC.
3140 Loyola Drive, Kenner, 466-4701; www.kennerseafood.net
Customers can pick up fresh seafood from the market or enjoy a meal at Kenner Seafood. Soft-shell crab Marie features a fried jumbo crab over angel hair pasta complemented by crabmeat sauce with salad and garlic bread on the side. The market sells everything from fish, shrimp, live crabs and crawfish to boudin, alligator and crawfish bread. Daily specials include raw oysters and fried shrimp plates. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

KJEAN SEAFOOD
236 N. Carrollton Ave., 488-7503
Kjean is a seafood market that makes the best of its daily catch. Fried shrimp, oysters and catfish are available in po-boys or on platters. There are also stuffed crab plates and soft-shell crabs. The sandwich list also offers hot or cold ham or roast beef, burgers or meatballs on French bread or bun. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $

LANDRY'S
400 N. Peters St., 558-0038; 8000 Lakeshore Drive, 283-1010; www.landrysseafoodhouse.com
This family-friendly national seafood chain has offered the bounty of the ocean since 1947, offering diners across the country a taste of the Gulf. Try the bacon-wrapped shrimp en brochette with seafood stuffing, Jack cheese and jalapeños, or pick your own fresh lobster from the tank. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

MIDDENDORF'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Hwy. 55 (off Exit 15), Manchac, (985) 386-6666; www.middendorfsrestaurant.com
There may be a new owner of this landmark waterfront seafood house, but its many fans have been relieved to discover little else has changed. The Middendorf's special is still ultra-thin fried catfish with hush puppies and tartar sauce. The menu also includes crawfish cakes, fried shrimp and oysters, barbecue oysters, broiled whole flounder, fried or broiled chicken and sandwiches. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

MORTON'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
702 Water St., Madisonville, (985) 845-4970; www.mortonsseafood.com
Morton's is a Madisonville landmark. Its "seafood boats" — hollowed bread loaves stuffed with shrimp, oysters or catfish — are a specialty, as is the charbroiled fresh catch. Fried versions of everything and creamy pasta dishes can be offset by a few heart-healthy menu items. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Mon. Credit cards. $$

OCEANA GRILL
739 Conti St., 525-6002; www.oceanagrill.com
Seafood is the specialty at this colorful café just off Bourbon Street. The redfish Amer is topped with a crawfish cream sauce, and the chef's La Boheme special tops grilled ahi tuna with New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp. Order fried catfish, shrimp or oysters in po-boys or on platters with jambalaya and a vegetable on the side. Try the smoked duck or garlic filet mignon for meatier meals. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Sat., brunch Sat. - Sun. Credit cards. $$

PASCAL'S MANALE RESTAURANT
1838 Napoleon Ave., 895-4877
Although it is known for creating New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp and having a popular oyster bar in the front, Pascal's Manale has always featured a mix of Creole and Italian dishes, especially with seafood. Barbecue shrimp are served head-on and doused in spicy, tangy sauce. The combination pan roast features oysters, shrimp and crabmeat with a blend of shallots, parsley and seasoning. Reservations recommended. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

PONTCHARTRAIN POINT WEST END
8536 Pontchartrain Blvd., 282-4233
A traditional New Orleans seafood house situated near the lake, Pontchartrain Point is a family-oriented eatery serving big portions of local favorites. The Creole crab cakes are served over penne pasta in a spicy cream sauce. Redfish Pontchartrain is a fillet of redfish topped with lump crabmeat, mushrooms and green onions in lemon-butter sauce and served with the vegetable of the day. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

QUARTER VIEW RESTAURANT
613 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, 887-3456
Now offering boiled shrimp, crawfish and fresh Maine lobster every day, Quarter View specializes in all the fruits of the sea. The fried, boneless fillet of trout is stuffed with crabmeat dressing and topped with Cajun crawfish cream sauce. Grilled oysters with garlic-butter sauce are served with French bread for mopping the plate clean. Quarter View's platter of fried seafood includes shrimp, oysters, fish, stuffed crab and soft-shell crab. No reservations. Dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

RALPH & KACOO'S
519 Toulouse St., 522-5226; www.ralphandkacoos.com
Ralph & Kacoo's original restaurant in the French Quarter serves local specialties such as shrimp remoulade, seafood gumbo and grilled redfish Atchafalaya topped with crawfish etouffée. Entrées include delicately grilled mahi mahi and certified Black Angus steaks. Po-boys have returned for lunch beside the always available and potent hurricane drink. Reservations accepted. Lunch Sat.-Sun., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

RED FISH GRILL
115 Bourbon St., 598-1200; www.redfishgrill.com
Fresh Gulf fish and shellfish are the main attractions at this end of Bourbon Street. There's a raw oyster bar to enjoy a dozen on the half-shell before settling in at a table. Barbecue oysters are flash fried, tossed with Crystal barbecue sauce and served with housemade blue cheese dressing. The hickory-grilled redfish is topped with blue crab meat and lemon-butter sauce and complemented by tasso and mushroom Pontalba potatoes. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

RESTAURANT DES FAMILLES
7163 Barataria Blvd., Lafitte, 689-7834
Located on the edge of the Jean Lafitte nature preserve, there's no telling what bayou creatures might be lurking just beyond the door of this quaint Lafitte establishment, likely attracted by the aroma of its delicious seafood dishes. The catfish Foster is a lightly battered catfish fillet topped with green onions, artichoke bottoms and mushrooms sautéed in butter and wine. Pasta Lafitte is crabmeat, shrimp and green onions in spicy cream sauce served on a bed of angel hair pasta. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

Rick's Catfish Cabin
78461 Hwy. 437, Covington, (985) 893-7274
The cabin sticks to what it does best: hearty seafood platters with catfish, butterfly shrimp, oysters, stuffed crab, stuffed shrimp, French fries and Rick's original hushpuppies. Patrons also can get platters that are exclusively catfish, shrimp or oysters. No reservations. Lunch Tues.-Fri., dinner Thurs.-Sat. Cash and checks only. $

RIOMAR
800 S. Peters St., 525-3474; www.riomarseafood.com
New Orleans knows a thing or two about seafood, but RioMar takes diners on a fishing trip a little further down South with Latin-influenced preparations of fresh local catches. The appetizer menu starts with four varieties of ceviche, which can be ordered together as a sampler plate, and the entrées include a generous cut of tuna wrapped in Serrano ham and escabeche of Gulf fish. Pressed sandwiches on warm, crispy French bread like the jamon with manchego and Spanish sausage with tomato are crowd pleasers. Check out the tapas menu on your lunch break. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

SALTWATER GRILL
1340 S. Carrollton Ave., 324-6640
With a portion of the restaurant now devoted to a retail seafood counter, you know the fish coming through the kitchen has to be fresh. In addition to grilled and blackened fish choices, the menu at this family-friendly restaurant includes fried seafood po-boys, red beans and rice, hamburgers and grilled chicken. Reservations accepted for five or more. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$

SEAFOOD GALLEY AND DELI
509 Tyler St., Covington, (985) 892-3287
At Seafood Galley, you can order New Orleanians' favorites — shrimp, oysters, catfish, crab and crawfish, when in season, on po-boys or platters. But lunch specials also appeal to the local palate: red beans and rice, meatballs and spaghetti, chicken-fried steak or meatloaf, for example. The specials come with salad, a vegetable and bread. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

SEITHER'S SEAFOOD
279 Hickory Ave., Harahan, 738-1116; www.seitherseafood.com
When it's in season, crawfish is the specialty at Seither's. Otherwise, po-boys and fried seafood platters remain the constant attraction at this casual eatery. Crab cakes are made with jumbo lump crab is served over pasta with crawfish cream sauce. Blackened shrimp are served with garlic mashed potatoes, Cajun corn, garlic bread and salad. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $

ZEKE'S
1517 Metairie Road, Metairie, 832-1133
Casual New Orleans classics rule here in the heart of Old Metairie, where Zeke's has gained a reputation for boiled shrimp and crawfish as well as raw and char-grilled oysters. For entrées, consider the bratwurst sausage and onions with warm German potato salad or sauerkraut. The grilled fish of the day could be anything from mahi mahi, to amberjack and salmon. Daily and monthly specials are offered. Dessert options include homemade bread pudding. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

ZIMMER'S SEAFOOD
4915 St. Anthony Ave., 282-7150
This family-run seafood market offers a lunchtime affirmation of the recovery of its Gentilly neighborhood as regulars and others pour in for fried and boiled seafood. The po-boys use bread from John Gendusa's Bakery next door, and the crabs, shrimp, crawfish and fish come fresh from local waters. Try a generously piled seafood combination platter featuring shrimp, fish and oysters with crinkle-cut fries, side salad and bread, or take home a pint of boiled crabmeat. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $

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