You know that moment when the server sets down a platter so huge everyone scoots their drinks out of the way? That is the Louisiana seafood experience in its most glorious, table-filling form. From mountains of crawfish to towers of oysters and fried seafood piled sky high, these spots make feasting a team sport. Bring friends, bring napkins, and come hungry, because these plates play by big-bayou rules.
The Chimes – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
You feel the hum before the platter lands, that excited hush when everyone leans in. The Chimes serves seafood by the mound, with golden fried catfish, shrimp, and oysters cascading over hushpuppies. Add boudin balls, boiled crawfish when in season, and a pile of fries that might actually defy gravity.
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Order a cold local beer and settle in, because the table is the stage here. Platters arrive like parades, noisy and joyful. You start making trades with friends across the table, swapping shrimp for oysters, then a hushpuppy for a crawfish tail.
Expect the staff to keep sauces flowing and baskets refilled. You will leave stuffed, smiling, and already planning the next round.
Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar – Kenner, Louisiana
Harbor Seafood feels like a fisherman’s handshake, warm and briny. Trays of oysters glide from the shucker to your table, raw and gleaming or chargrilled with butter and herbs. Fried platters arrive ridiculous in size, a crunchy quilt of shrimp, catfish, and soft-shell crab.
You will need elbow room and an extra stack of napkins. The vibe is dockside casual, with quick service and a steady rhythm of seafood hitting hot oil. Grab a squeeze of lemon, swipe through remoulade, and keep the parade marching.
When crawfish season hits, the boils dominate, red shells and steam perfuming the room. Bring friends who love sharing, because these heaps are meant for passing around.
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant in the French Quarter – New Orleans, Louisiana
Deanie’s in the French Quarter is famous for going big and never apologizing. Those seafood platters are skyscrapers of crunch, stacked with shrimp, catfish, oysters, and crab claws over fries. The giant onion rings arrive like golden life preservers, and the boiled potatoes and corn bring that backyard boil comfort.
You will probably have to rearrange silverware to fit it all. The servers know the drill and slide extra plates in without a word. Every bite snaps with fresh Gulf flavor, perfectly seasoned and proudly messy.
Split a platter or dare to tackle one solo. Either way, expect leftovers and compliments from neighboring tables who are thinking the same thing: that platter is huge.
Landry’s Seafood House – Lake Charles, Louisiana
At Landry’s in Lake Charles, the platters blend polish with pure Gulf abundance. Think blackened fish tucked beside piles of fried shrimp and oysters, with crab cakes nesting on a bed of slaw. When crawfish season arrives, you can add a bright-red cascade that perfumes the whole table.
The setting feels a touch upscale, but you are still encouraged to roll up your sleeves. Sauces arrive like a flight: tartar, cocktail, remoulade, and drawn butter. Share bites back and forth and find a favorite pairing.
It is the kind of place where lunch becomes dinner without anyone noticing. The portions are generous, the seasoning confident, and the view a reminder of where it all comes from.
Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Parrain’s delivers that Baton Rouge comfort with Cajun swagger. The platters are hearty quilts of fried catfish, oysters, shrimp, and sometimes fried alligator for extra bragging rights. Smothered sides like crawfish étouffée or red beans round out the feast.
You will notice the crisp batter that stays light, even under lemon splashes. Remoulade shows up tangy and assertive, a perfect match for oysters. Ask about seasonal boils, because when they make an appearance, tables turn into seafood command centers.
It is easy to settle in for hours, talking and trading bites. Portions run generous, service runs friendly, and your appetite will need running shoes to keep up.
French Market Restaurant and Bar – The Original – New Orleans, Louisiana
This French Quarter original leans into spectacle with unapologetic abundance. Platters spill over with chargrilled oysters, fried shrimp, crawfish tails, and crab claws that invite dipping. The energy from the market spills inside, turning meals into a rolling party.
You will want hot sauce within reach and a second basket of lemon wedges. Servers move fast, and plates arrive hotter than the sidewalk in July. Every element feels freshly pulled from the Gulf and treated with classic New Orleans flair.
Grab a balcony seat if you can and watch the Quarter swirl beneath you. By the time the platter’s half gone, you will be promising to come back for round two.
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant – Metairie – The Original – Metairie, Louisiana
Drago’s in Metairie is the mother ship of charbroiled oysters. Trays arrive smoking, butter snapping and garlic perfuming the room, with bread ready for sopping. Alongside, you can land a fried seafood spread that threatens every inch of table space.
You will pace yourself, then fail, then smile. The oysters are addictive, the platters overachieving, and the sides comforting. Share a mountain of shrimp, pass the tartar, and save bread for every last drop of oyster juice.
It feels like a celebration even on a Tuesday. Loud, lively, and absolutely worth the butter stains on your shirt, this original location knows how to feed a crowd.
Middendorf’s Manchac – Akers, Louisiana
Middendorf’s is a pilgrimage for thin-fried catfish lovers. The fillets are paper-thin, shatteringly crisp, and stacked so high you lose count. Platters come with hushpuppies and sides that make the table feel like a family camp spread.
You will hear stories at nearby tables about first visits decades ago. The recipe is simple, the execution flawless, and the portions famously immoderate. A squeeze of lemon, a dab of tartar, and that signature crunch repeats bite after bite.
The lakeside setting seals the deal, breezy and relaxed. Bring friends and an appetite for nostalgia, because this is Louisiana tradition served on a comically large plate.
Fiery Crab Seafood Restaurant And Bar – Lafayette – Lafayette, Louisiana
Fiery Crab turns the boil into a customizable, table-dominating event. Choose your spice level, pick your seafood combo, and watch a bag arrive swollen with crawfish, shrimp, crab legs, corn, and potatoes. The aroma is powerful and the glistening sauces coat everything.
You will glove up, tie a bib, and get to work. The table becomes a happy mess of shells and smiles, with lemon pepper or Cajun butter clinging to your fingers. Keep napkins handy and order extra corn for soaking sauce.
It is interactive eating, casual and addictive, perfect for groups. Expect to leave pleasantly wrecked, with spice-tingled lips and zero regrets about that extra pound.
Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar – New Orleans, Louisiana
Felix’s has that timeless oyster bar energy, noisy and friendly. Oysters arrive on ice by the dozen, briny and bright, followed by a fried seafood sampler that threatens balance. Shrimp, oysters, and catfish pile up alongside fries and hushpuppies, a crunchy chorus line.
You will find yourself chasing the perfect bite with hot sauce and a cold drink. Shuckers work fast, and the platters keep pace, filling the table with Gulf goodness. It is a place where strangers trade recommendations and leave as allies.
Grab an extra plate for shells and dive in. The portions, the history, and the buzz make this a French Quarter essential for serious seafood cravings.
Buster’s Place Restaurant & Oyster Bar – Covington, Louisiana
Buster’s Place brings Northshore comfort with a platter built for sharing. Shrimp, oysters, catfish, crab claws, and crawfish tails crowd a tray that barely fits the table. The batter is light and well seasoned, keeping every piece crisp to the last bite.
You will appreciate the steady rhythm of refills and friendly guidance from the staff. Cocktail and tartar sauces arrive quickly, and the lemon wedges keep coming. It feels local in the best way, easygoing and generous.
Bring a crew, order a sampler, and pass plates until everyone finds their favorite. The portions make leftovers likely, which is perfect for a late-night snack victory lap.
Mike Anderson’s – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mike Anderson’s is Baton Rouge tradition with big-shouldered platters to match. Expect a mountain of fried shrimp, oysters, and catfish, sometimes flanked by stuffed potatoes loaded with seafood. Add a side of crawfish étouffée to push the meal into overtime.
You will hear cheers and conversations rolling like a home game. Service is quick, portions unapologetic, and everything tastes freshly pulled from the Gulf. Dip, squeeze, repeat becomes the rhythm of the table.
Plan for leftovers and a satisfied food hush on the ride home. This is the kind of feast that turns an ordinary night into a celebration you will talk about next week.
Acme Oyster House – New Orleans, Louisiana
Acme is the line-out-the-door kind of classic that earns the wait. Oysters arrive fast, whether icy on the half shell or chargrilled with bubbling butter. Then comes a fried seafood platter that spreads like a tide, crowding the table with shrimp, oysters, and fish.
You will juggle hot sauce, lemon, and a cold drink while claiming your favorite bites. The pace is lively, the shuckers are relentless, and the vibe is pure New Orleans. Friendly staff keep the platters moving and the energy high.
It is a ritual for visitors and locals alike. Bring patience and appetite, and you will leave with a story and a very full belly.
Oceana Grill – New Orleans, Louisiana
Oceana Grill pairs Bourbon Street buzz with platters that could feed a small parade. Blackened fish meets fried shrimp and oysters, while crab cakes and seafood pasta elbow onto the tray. It is a joyful chaos of textures and sauces.
You will want to anchor your drink and make room for side plates. Everything arrives hot and fragrant, seasoned like a second line marching through your senses. Squeeze lemon, pass the remoulade, and negotiate for that last crispy oyster.
It is a great place to kick off a night out or close one down. Big portions, bold flavors, and a menu that wants you to try everything at once.
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