Oyster Season in New Orleans: Where to Find the Best Oysters

Although you can enjoy oysters year-round, they are best in the months that have an “R” in them: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and April. Oysters can be found in most coastal cities around the country, but we all know New Orleans does things a bit differently down here. All around the city, you can find oysters served raw, fried, baked, grilled, charbroiled, barbecued, and however else we can possibly think of cooking them. If you find yourself in New Orleans between September and April, you don’t want to miss out on trying oysters from any of the restaurants below. 

Drago’s 

If you love charbroiled oysters, you can thank Tommy Cvitanovich, second generation restaurant manager at Drago’s, for creating this local staple. Their delicious signature oysters are grilled in their sauce of garlic, butter, and herbs and topped with a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese. Don’t forget the french bread for sopping up the delicious sauce. On a busy day, they can sell over 900 dozen Charbroiled Oysters! This restaurant should be on the top of your list when visiting New Orleans and looking for oysters. 

Acme

Acme Oyster House is no stranger to oysters and offers a variety of options - raw, chargrilled, oyster rockefeller soup, fried, and even an oyster shooter. Yes, you read that right - an oyster shot, which includes one freshly shucked oyster with cocktail sauce and vodka all served in a shot glass. Try it if you dare! If you’re looking for a good oyster po-boy, their Fried Peacemaker Po-boy is one of their most popular items on their extensive menu. It consists of Golden fried oysters and shrimp, seasoned to perfection with Tabasco infused mayo. 

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar

If you’re looking to try just about every type of oyster you can find - Felix’s should be first on your list. Raw oysters on the half shell, buffalo oysters, oysters du jour, oyster platters, oyster salads, fried oysters, oyster po-boys, Oysters Felix, Oysters Rockefeller, chargrilled oysters - you name it, they’ve probably got it! Don’t worry, if you have an anti-oyster person with you, they’ve got plenty of other delicious items on their menu.

Antoine’s

Antoine’s is one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the country and is the birthplace of Oyster Rockefeller, named for the richness of its sauce. They have been dishing out this culinary classic since 1899 when there was a shortage of escargot. The full recipe is a family secret, but it involves a sauce of spinach and herbs, breadcrumbs, and is served warm from the oven. They also offer their version of the local favorite Charbroiled Oysters and Oysters Bienville, which are baked with white wine, green onions, fresh peppers, pimentos, and grated Romano cheese. 

Neyow’s Creole Cafe 

This popular Mid-City eatery has an extensive menu that features classic New Orleans dishes such as red beans, gumbo, po-boys, BBQ shrimp, and of course their chargrilled oysters. The grill is located at the end of their bar where you can watch the chefs grill the oysters over rising flames and smell the aromas of the garlic butter, cheese and herbs - it makes it difficult NOT to order their chargrilled oysters. Don’t forget to quench your thirst with their popular “Bow Wow” drink!