5 Louisiana Seafood Spots Visitors Rave About & 5 Locals Stay Away From
Louisiana’s seafood scene is legendary, with visitors flocking from around the world to taste authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine.
I’ve spent years exploring the bayou state’s restaurants, from hole-in-the-wall joints to upscale eateries.
What tourists don’t realize is that locals often have very different opinions about which spots truly serve the best crawfish, oysters, and gumbo.
Let me share my insider knowledge about which seafood spots have tourists lining up—and which ones have locals rolling their eyes.
1. Acme Oyster House: Tourist Paradise, Local Eye-Roll
Last summer, I watched as tourists waited two hours in the scorching New Orleans heat for a table at Acme Oyster House. The historic restaurant dates back to 1910 and has become a French Quarter institution that visitors simply must check off their bucket lists.
The chargrilled oysters arrive sizzling hot, and the atmosphere buzzes with that unmistakable Bourbon Street energy. Servers move at lightning speed, often engaging in playful banter with out-of-towners.
Meanwhile, most locals wouldn’t dream of fighting those crowds. We know the oysters are decent but overpriced, and the long waits aren’t justified when equally delicious options exist just blocks away without the tourist markup. The food isn’t bad—it’s just not worth the Instagram-fueled frenzy.
2. Pêche Seafood Grill: Where Locals Splurge For Special Occasions
My birthday dinner at Pêche last year completely changed my understanding of what seafood could be. This James Beard Award-winning restaurant in the Warehouse District serves Gulf seafood with a sophisticated yet unpretentious approach that makes locals willing to open their wallets.
The whole grilled fish is a showstopper—served family-style and perfectly cooked every single time. Chef Donald Link’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices means the menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and available.
Visitors who venture beyond the French Quarter rave about discovering this gem, but it’s primarily locals who fill the tables. We save Pêche for celebrations, knowing the smoked tuna dip alone justifies the splurge. The cocktail program deserves special mention too—try the Shipwreck for a true taste of Louisiana ingenuity.
3. Parrain’s Seafood: Baton Rouge’s Hidden Treasure
“Y’all gotta try the crawfish étouffée,” I tell every out-of-towner who asks where to eat in Baton Rouge. Parrain’s sits unassumingly off Perkins Road, looking more like someone’s oversized home than a restaurant serving some of the best seafood in the capital city.
The stuffed flounder has reduced grown men to tears of joy. No exaggeration! What makes this place special isn’t fancy techniques or trendy presentations—it’s generations-old recipes executed flawlessly every time.
Locals pack the place on weeknights, and the bar area becomes standing-room-only during LSU football season. Tourists rarely venture here since it’s not in any guidebooks, which is exactly how regulars prefer it. The lack of pretension combined with consistently perfect seafood makes Parrain’s the first place locals bring visitors they actually like.
4. The Chimes: LSU Students’ Seafood Sanctuary
The first time I walked into The Chimes as a freshman at LSU, I knew I’d found my second home. This beloved institution sits right at the North Gates of campus and has been feeding hungry students, professors, and locals for decades with surprisingly excellent seafood at reasonable prices.
Blackened alligator with remoulade sauce and oyster shots (raw oysters dropped into spicy Bloody Mary mix) have fueled countless study sessions and post-exam celebrations. The restaurant’s weathered wooden interior tells stories of generations of Tigers who’ve gathered here.
Tourists rarely discover this gem unless they’re visiting the university. That’s a shame because The Chimes offers one of the most authentic local experiences in Baton Rouge. The seafood po’boys are massive, the beer selection is impressive, and the prices won’t make you wince—a true Louisiana trifecta!
5. Tony’s Seafood Market: Where Locals Buy, Tourists Photograph
Holy crawfish, Batman! My first visit to Tony’s Seafood Market in Baton Rouge nearly knocked me sideways—the place moves 50,000 pounds of live crawfish during peak season! This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s Louisiana’s largest seafood market and a cultural institution where locals actually shop for dinner.
Massive metal bins overflow with squirming crawfish while workers efficiently pack orders for weekend boils. The prepared food counter serves incredible crawfish boudin and gumbo that’ll make you slap your mama (though I don’t recommend actually doing that).
Tourists often stop by to take photos of the spectacle but rarely understand how to navigate the organized chaos. Meanwhile, locals confidently call ahead with orders, knowing exactly which days to visit for the freshest catches. Tony’s represents real-deal Louisiana food culture—not the sanitized tourist version.
6. Oceana Grill: Tourist Trap Extraordinaire
Confession time: I once accidentally ate at Oceana Grill after a particularly wild night on Bourbon Street. The restaurant’s strategic location in the French Quarter ensures a constant stream of tourists looking for “authentic” New Orleans seafood after bar-hopping.
Aggressive hosts practically drag passersby inside with promises of the “best seafood in New Orleans.” The gumbo lacks depth, the fried seafood platters are unremarkable, and everything costs about twice what it should. Yet TripAdvisor reviews from visitors often glow with praise.
No self-respecting local would be caught dead here unless severely intoxicated (my excuse) or desperately hungry at 2 AM. The food isn’t inedible—just mediocre and overpriced. Oceana perfectly represents the gulf between tourist experiences and local realities in New Orleans’ food scene.
7. Mosca’s: The Legendary Road Trip Worth Taking
“You’re driving WHERE for dinner?” my friends asked when I suggested Mosca’s for my 30th birthday. This legendary Italian-Creole restaurant sits in the middle of nowhere in Westwego, requiring a 30-minute drive from New Orleans proper—and locals make the pilgrimage regularly.
Housed in what looks like someone’s grandma’s house, Mosca’s has been serving the same menu since 1946. The Oysters Mosca—baked with breadcrumbs, garlic, and enough butter to make your cardiologist weep—are worth every mile of the journey.
Tourists rarely venture this far off the beaten path, which is precisely why locals treasure it. Cash only, no reservations, and sometimes grumpy service add to its mystique rather than detract from it. Anthony Bourdain once called it “criminally underappreciated”—a sentiment locals who make the drive monthly would agree with.
8. Drago’s Seafood Restaurant: Charbroiled Controversy
The great charbroiled oyster debate nearly caused a fistfight at my family’s Christmas dinner last year. Drago’s claims to have invented this now-ubiquitous New Orleans delicacy—oysters topped with garlic, butter, and cheese, then grilled until bubbling.
Tourists flock to Drago’s Metairie location or their outpost in the Hilton Riverside, happily waiting hours for these smoky, cheesy treasures. The restaurant certainly delivers consistency, and their origin story gives visitors that authentic connection they crave.
Locals, however, are deeply divided. Some remain loyal to Drago’s while others insist the quality has declined as they’ve expanded. The truth? Their charbroiled oysters are still good, but many smaller restaurants now do them better. Locals know to visit during off-hours if they go at all, avoiding the tourist crowds that have transformed this once-neighborhood spot.
9. Deanie’s Seafood: French Quarter Convenience At A Price
Boiled potatoes seasoned with crab boil arrive instead of bread—that’s the first clue you’re at Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter. I’ve watched countless tourists’ eyes widen at this quirky touch, convinced they’ve discovered something uniquely local.
The massive seafood platters heaped with fried everything certainly photograph well for Instagram. Located conveniently in the Quarter, Deanie’s provides reliable, if not remarkable, seafood that satisfies visitors’ cravings for Louisiana classics.
Ask a local, though, and they’ll direct you to Deanie’s original Bucktown location instead—or suggest somewhere else entirely. The French Quarter outpost charges premium prices for what locals consider average execution. The food isn’t bad, but it’s designed for tourism rather than taste. Those potatoes, though? I’ll admit they’re pretty darn good, even if the rest is overpriced.
10. Middendorf’s: The Thin Catfish Temple
My grandpa used to say, “If heaven serves catfish, they get it from Middendorf’s.” Perched on stilts between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, this 89-year-old institution specializes in catfish sliced so thin you can almost see through it, then fried to crispy perfection.
The 40-minute drive from New Orleans takes you through swampland that feels increasingly remote. The restaurant itself looks like it might blow away in the next hurricane, yet it’s survived dozens. Locals make this pilgrimage religiously, often bringing their own fishing catches from morning expeditions.
Tourists who discover Middendorf’s feel like they’ve unlocked a secret level of Louisiana cuisine. The thin-fried catfish literally cannot be found anywhere else, and the views across the water at sunset are worth the journey alone. This is one spot where tourists and locals agree—some traditions deserve to be preserved forever.