Where Y'at
February 2002

Where are you Eating?

A visitor's guide to some New Orleans Hotspots

Casamento's Restaurant

4330 Magazine Street 895-9761

You hear so much about "real New Orleans food" and who does itr best, what it really is, blah, blah, blah… . Casamento's should easily fulfill all the stereotypes surrounding our cuisine. Not only has the restaurant been around since 1919, it serves up truly fresh seafood, and everything is fried in lard. Really, what more could anyone ask for in a unique New Orleans dining experience?

The raw oysters are incredible—you can watch the oyster shucker do his thing at the bar, and eat the oysters immediately after they're freed from their shells. They're big, too. Too bad Mardi Gras falls so early this year, in just one more mouth-watering month, the soft-shell crabs will be back in the frying pot. For now, be content with the restaurant's version of any oyster po' boy—plump fried oysters served on soft white bread instead of the traditional French loaf. The gumbo is not to be missed; it's full of seafood with a nice tomato zip. Another great meal for two is the combination platter, featuring fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish and fried crab claws. And please, please get some French fries. Truly, they are some of the best fries you'll ever eat. They never get crispy, in fact they're a bit limp, but they are so incredibly rich you will fall in love with lard.

Call before heading over to this white-tiled shrine to the art of frying. The restaurant closes between lunch and dinner and doesn't stay open late. By the way, you really do have to head through the kitchen to use the bathroom.