Founder Joe Casamento 1978
Photo by Burt Steel Nola.com
The Times Picayune Archive
Welcome Nash!
5th Generation Casamento
Nash was born 6/15/22 to founder Joe Casamento’s great-granddaughter Nicole
Casamento’s Restaurant Celebrated its 100 Year Anniversary in 2019.
Casamento’s Restaurant in 1919
Joe Casamento and his brother Anthony are behind the counter.
Casamento's Restaurant was established in 1919 by Joe Casamento, a hard working immigrant from Ustica, Italy. Casamento's is a spotlessly clean restaurant tiled inside and out with over 100 year old imported Italian tile. Following building traditions from his native Italy, Mr. Casamento knew tiled surfaces would be easier to clean and would retain their original beauty for a very long time. So much tile was needed to meet Mr. Casamento’s requirements that it took four tile companies from across the United States to fill the order.
Casamento’s Restaurant in 1932
Joe Casamento at the counter with his daughter Mary Ann, mother of CJ Gerdes who owns the restaurant today with his wife Linda.
Unlike most New Orleans seafood restaurants, Casamento's uses their own signature bread called "pan bread" instead of french bread. Our oyster loaves have been acclaimed as far away as England and Australia and featured in numerous publications. We have one of the top Seafood Gumbos in New Orleans. Casamento's also has one of the best Soft Shell crabs in the area along with fried shrimp, trout and Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Casamento’s 1979
Photo by Lee Crum Nola.com
The Times Picayune Archive
Over the years, the restaurant has been the backdrop and has been featured in numerous movies, television shows and commercials because of the unique decor. Generations of New Orleanians and scores of seafood lovers from around the world have eaten at Casamento's and continue to do so every week. Many celebrities have made their way through our door as seen in our collection of photos and autographed T-Shirts. Some celebrities have become regular visitors to Casamento’s so you never know who you may see inside. The restaurant is still family owned and operated by Joe Casamento's grandson, CJ, with his wife, Linda, and their twin daughters, Natalie and Nicole.
Four Generations of the Casamento and Gerdes Family are depicted in this photo mural displayed at the restaurant in 2019. CJ Gerdes is the grandson of the founder, Joe Casamento, and owns the restaurant with his wife Linda.
Joe Casamento and his wife Elena during their later years.
Left to right: Natalie Gerdes Hebert and Nicole Gerdes, great-granddaughters of founder Joe Casamento with their mother Linda Gerdes, co-owner of Casamento’s Restaurant with her husband CJ.