Louisiana's Best Seafood Dives

Middendorf’s, Akers
What to expect: Heavenly thin-fried catfish, plus excellent gumbo, fried shrimp, and fried oysters.
Check it out: 30160 Highway 51 South; 985/386-6666 or middendorfsrestaurant.com

Voleo’s Seafood Restaurant, Lafitte
What to expect: Amazing Cajun and Creole food in a gritty town on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Check it out: 5134 Nunez Street; 504/689-2482

Morton’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Madisonville
What to expect: Good food, fun atmosphere.
Check it out: 702 Water Street; 985/845-4970 or mortonsseafood.com

Sid-Mar’s Restaurant & Bar, Metairie
What to expect: Try the fried oysters, shrimp, or catfish, the po’boys, or the not-too-spicy but seafood-packed gumbo. Savor the boiled crawfish while you can; their season ends as summer heats up.
Check it out: 3322 North Turnbull Drive; 504/831-9541 or sidmarsrestaurant.com

Acme Oyster House, New Orleans
What to expect: Great raw oysters, and try the oyster po’boy and shrimp Gumbo Poopa, too.
Check it out: 724 Iberville Street; 504/522-5973 or acmeoyster.com

Casamento’s Restaurant, New Orleans
What to expect: This 1919-vintage favorite serves wonderful oysters and other great seafood from its original, tiled-inside-and-out Uptown storefront. Unfortunately, Casamento’s closes during the warmest months (June through August). Cash only.
Check it out: 4330 Magazine Street; 504/895-9761 or casamentosrestaurant.com

R & O Restaurant, New Orleans
What to expect: Hurricane Katrina demolished many of the seafood restaurants in the Bucktown area on Lake Pontchartrain. Fortunately, R & O survives and thrives, serving great po’boys, fried seafood, gumbo, pizza, and other delectables in an ultracasual, ultrafriendly atmosphere.
Check it out: 216 Metairie Hammond Highway; 504/831-1248