Fall is in the air and this is the perfect time of year to enjoy Louisiana outdoors. You can find a spot to dine in a famous New Orleans courtyard in the French Quarter or you can head to the lake. Last week we ate lunch on a beautiful, cool, blue bird day at Landry’s Seafood House at 8000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans.
If anyone saw the devastation to this area after Katrina you will be amazed at the progress that has been made in reviving the area. This restaurant sits in a picture perfect spot overlooking the lake and the marina. You are almost on top of the water; definitely close enough to hear the waves lapping on shore and have the gulls flying over head. We wanted a lunch spot where we could talk in a relaxing, peaceful setting without loud noise and this place fit the bill.
The Landry family began it’s tradition in the seafood business with the first Landry restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1947. There are now 24 restaurants, two of which are in New Orleans: one at the lake address and one in the French Quarter.
We did not expect a whole lot of the food as we really chose it for the ambiance. This place has not received many accolades and in a city where everyone is a foodie and stellar restaurants abound we were not expecting much but we were pleasantly surprised and had an enjoyable afternoon on the deck. Our meals were delicious!!!
The menu has fresh seafood in every way imaginable with a variety of toppings to suite your taste. Also on the menu is certified Angus beef steaks which you get with a choice of sides two of which are the signature Landry’s sweet potato and creole green beans or go for the chicken BLT or a 10 ounce sirloin burger. Oyster season is here so look for other seafood favorites such as oysters on the half shell, fried, grilled, and baked oysters.
All entrees come with Landry’s Salad Bowl which is presented in a very large bowl, tossed table side and served family style. A Bloody Mary set the mood for the lunch for me. Served in a huge glass rimmed with Old Bay spices, it came with enough garnishes to meet my minimum daily requirements for vegetables.
The specialty of the day was a fried soft shell crab dish. It was a winning dish with two very fresh crabs served crispy with an “Acadian” topping of crawfish tails, corn pico de gallo and andouille cream sauce.
As we had to try a dessert to share, we went for a bananas foster recommended by the waitress. The rich vanilla bean ice cream was served in a crepe and topped with the banana, rum and brown sugar cane topping and whipped cream. A beautifully presented twist on a New Orleans tradition this dessert literally fed our table of four.
This is the place to go for a walk by the lake and a meal with a view or just a drink on the open deck. Try it!
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#1 by Drue Deshotels on November 23rd, 2009
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I think that you are mistaken, Landry’s started in Katy, Tx, in 1980 (as per their website), I think that there is a different Landry’s on Johnston Street in Lafayette, but I don’t think it is affiliated with the ones located in New Orleans. This is one reason I do not patronize either resturant here, why go there and send your money to Texas (unless just for the view) when there are other’s (like Deanie’s) which are locally owned and operated.