Best seafood in Louisiana to eat during Lent? Try these 13 restaurants

Whether it lives in freshwater or saltwater, Louisiana is renowned for its seafood, as the state sits along the Gulf Coast and has an abundance of waterbodies.

Seafood has sustained Louisiana since its beginning, and the state’s most famous food dishes reflect seafood’s significance.

Louisiana cuisine goes deeper than just marine life, though, as blends of multiple cultures have shaped the way food is seasoned and prepared.

13 best seafood restaurants in Louisiana according to TastingTable

If you want to get a real taste of Louisiana, the best way to do so is through famed seafood dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, Atchafalaya, étouffée and more.

There’s no better way to truly understand why Louisiana’s seafood is one-of-a-kind than to dine at some of the best seafood restaurants in the state. Here are the 13 best, according to TastingTable.

1. Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant

Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant in Baton Rouge is a local seafood joint that serves classic Louisiana recipes in a rustic atmosphere. Here, menu items are prepared fresh to order and there are daily special for lunch and dinner. Specialties at this restaurant include dishes like catfish perdu, crawfish étouffée and catfish Atchafalaya.

2. Spahr’s Seafood

Spahr’s Seafood strives to bestow patrons with an authentic Cajun experience, serving traditional recipes using only the freshest local seafood. This restaurant is known for three signature items, “the original” catfish chips, “world famous” bloody marys and seafood gumbo. There are three Spahr’s Seafood locations, they can be found in Des Allemands, Thibodeaux and Galliano.

3. Pêche Seafood Grille

Pêche Seafood Grill, located in New Orleans, serves cuisine inspired by South America, Spain and the Gulf Coast. Focusing on working with local fishermen and farmers, this restaurant creates contemporary dishes, rustic creations cooked on an open hearth, as well as fresh oysters and Gulf fish.

4. Kingfish

Kingfish in New Orleans serves up traditional New Orleans cuisine, but with modern twists. This upscale, casual restaurant pays homage to the late ’20s and ’30s, which was during the reign of former Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, who was nicknamed “Kingfish.” Notable menu items at Kingfish include the “Every Man a King,” “Governor’s Breakfast,” as well as Kingfish & grits.

5. Trapp’s

Trapp’s in West Monroe serves up Cajun cuisine in a casual setting that offers stellar views of the Ouachita River. From crawfish pies and crawfish étouffée to smothered catfish and seafood platters, Trapp’s has whatever Louisiana seafood dish you could want.

6. Seafood Palace

Seafood Palace, located in Lake Charles, is a laid-back restaurant boasting an extensive menu, with seafood items like alligator, frog legs, fish, crab, shrimp and crawfish. This restaurant features daily specials and you can order your seafood whichever way you like, whether it’s grilled, boiled or fried.

7. Peck’s Seafood Restaurant

Peck’s Seafood Restaurant in Slidell is a casual dining spot that serves only the freshest seafood, salads and sandwiches. This restaurant has an expansive menu featuring a number of creative dishes, such as grouper nuggets, gator puppies and fried shrimp salad.

8. Yakuza House

Yakuza House, located in Metairie, is a casual Japanese restaurant that crafts traditional handrolls and serves various other dishes. This restaurant also offers an Omakase experience, which is where the chef curates a multiple-course tasting menu that consists of only the best dishes and seasonal items.

9. Mansurs on the Boulevard

Mansurs on the Boulevard in Baton Rouge is a white-tablecloth establishment that offers fine creole cuisine. This restaurant is home to award-winning dishes, with menu highlights including the cream of brie and crabmeat soup, chargrilled oysters and lobster tails. Mansurs prides itself on quality and consistency when it comes to exceptional food.

10. Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House

Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House, located in New Orleans, is an upscale eatery featuring a menu built upon generations of the Rizzuto family’s traditional Sicilian recipes. This restaurant uses only the freshest local ingredients and provides a selection of the finest USDA prime steaks and chops.

11. Pat’s of Henderson

Pat’s of Henderson in Lake Charles is a family-owned restaurant that delivers Louisiana Cajun and Creole cuisine with a helping of southern hospitality on the side. Considered the best Cajun seafood restaurant in Lake Charles, this restaurant is dedicated to upholding the rich history and flavors of southern cuisine.

12. Mommie Joe’s

Mommie Joe’s, located in Cut Off, is a casual restaurant that offers views of the bayou along with Cajun cuisine staples like gumbo, softshell crab and seafood platters. This eatery is a beloved spot among locals, as fresh caught seafood and beautiful scenery makes for an excellent dining experience.

13. Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant

Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant in Akers is a landmark seafood joint, as the restaurant has been around since 1934. For 90 years, the joint has served its famed house specialty, thin fried catfish. The restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere and mouth-watering food has kept customers steadily coming back.

Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com