Looking to sample the best seafood around town?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top high-end seafood restaurants in New Orleans, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings for lobster, soft-shell crab and other fancy fare.
1. GW Fins
Topping the list is the locally owned GW Fins, which opened its doors back in 2001. Located at 808 Bienville St. in the French Quarter, it's the most popular high-end seafood restaurant in New Orleans, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,611 reviews on Yelp.
The menu features traditional New Orleans fare like seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab, oysters, crawfish and long grain rice; crispy soft-shell crab with hazelnut brown butter; and barbecue shrimp deglazed with Abita Amber, served with grits. On its website, GW Fins says it uses seasonal ingredients and showcases its high-quality fish "in elegant simplicity."
2. Pêche
Next up is Lower Garden District's Pêche at 800 Magazine St., which has earned four stars out of 1,303 reviews on Yelp. The restaurant has a rustic vibe with a modern twist, with exposed beams and reclaimed wood tables.
On the menu, start off with the seafood platter from the raw bar or a small plate of catfish with pickled greens. Entrees include grilled tuna with tomato and crispy rice salad, a Louisiana shrimp roll and a whole grilled fish. Wash down your selections with a cocktail, wine or beer off the extensive drink list.
3. Emeril's New Orleans
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant in the Warehouse District has been a popular destination for a night out since it opened in 1990. The swanky and award-winning Emeril's New Orleans, which serves up a modern take on Cajun/Creole cuisine, boasts four stars out of 1,259 reviews.
Yelp reviewer Susan L. has high praise for the restaurant, located at 800 Tchoupitoulas St.: "Beautiful restaurant with a rustic but classy feel. ... Service was beyond excellent. The food was scrumptious, creatively prepared and meticulously plated."
Seafood dishes include sweet barbecue salmon with fingerling potatoes, pancetta-roasted rainbow trout and the crawfish-stuffed top neck clams.
4. Restaurant Rebirth
Also in the Warehouse District, Restaurant Rebirth is another much-loved, pricey go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 302 Yelp reviews. Head over to 857 Fulton St. to try the farm-to-table Cajun/Creole restaurant for yourself.
Helmed by south Louisiana native and chef Ricky Cheramie, Restaurant Rebirth says it "creates food for the soul." Look for standout menu items like the crispy-fried Louisiana oysters with angel hair pasta, gumbo and blackened scallops with a sweet chili saffron glaze.
5. Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse
Finally, there's Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, which has earned four stars out of 689 reviews on Yelp. Treat yourself at the fine-dining establishment — one of more than a dozen Brennan family restaurants in New Orleans — by heading over to 716 Iberville St. in the Central Business District.
The restaurant has received many accolades over the years and says it treats guests "to a grand dining experience, with all the hospitality for which New Orleans is noted."
On the menu, you'll find the popular barbecue shrimp and grits, steamed Maine lobster with warm asparagus salad and several steaks in a variety of cuts.
