Best Oyster Poboy?

[briox]

Hello fellow chowhounders,

My husband and I have recently moved into the city from Austin, TX. I'm from here, but have been away for ten years, and my husband's from the midwest. Anyway, we are on a quest to find the perfect oyster poboy. Please write in your recommendations. We'll go out and sample all the poboys recommended and then write in about our opinions of them and comparisons.

So please, write in and tell us: WHO HAS THE BEST OYSTER POBOY IN NEW ORLEANS?

[MaggieLovesNola]

In Kenner at Harbor Seafood, inexpensive and delicious.

[chapster3]

Domilese's is great for an oyster loaf. The Parkway Bakery os also very good, but it's a bit pricey. I had one a couple of days ago and it was over $12.

[thedish1]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this site and just begain to look around when I noticed the New Orleans section of chowhound....I love it. Now Best Oyster Poboy, I think that The Howling Pepper in St. Rose not only has the best Oyster Poboy but several other items on the menu look great.

[Bill Hunt]

Welcome to Chowhound and to the NO board.

Gosh, have not been to St Rose in four decades. I am not familiar with The Howling, but would assume that it did not exist way back then.

Thank you for the rec.

Hunt

[thedish1]

The Howling Pepper open back in March. I know we don't have much choices out here in Saint Rose but the food is really good. Check it out if you are ever in the neighborhood. They also have a cute website!!

[briox]

We went to Mandina's today. Wow, they have some pricey items on the menu! However, I must say that the oyster poboy was priced the same as the other places we have tried so far. We ordered the 1/2 loaf and it was very large and stuffed with oysters. It is definitely at the top of the list of the ones we've tried so far. Nothing unusual about the sandwich dressed with lettuce tomato and mayo with pickle on the side. Just the right blend of good breading and nice flavor. We still think Domilise's is better, but we haven't tried their poboy lately, so we're not sure.

So far the ranking of what we've tried goes: 1. Mandina's 2. Luizza's by the Track tied for 3. The Galley and Parkway Bakery

[pzbrite]

There isn't an oyster po-boy in the city or the 'burbs that approaches Casamento's oyster loaf in sheer deliciousness. As other posters have pointed out, though, Casamento's closes from late May until early September, that stage of the year when oysters' minds turn lightly to thoughts of love. Summer oysters are certainly edible in the age of refrigeration, but they aren't as tasty as colder-weather ones, and they don't fry as well.

[mikemill]

I completely agree with you, Poppy. Casamento's is unbeatable in my mind.

[RBPoBoy]

Lots of good suggestions here. Let me offer one. It ain't a po-boy, but the fried oyster and (house made) bacon sandwich at Cochon is off the charts.

[southportchow]

The sandwich shop on the corner of Magazine and Coliseum...Ignatius (relatively new) further down Magazine for the shrimp remoulade poboy...and great salad. Ate my way through New Orleans this week...

[briox]

aren't magazine and coliseum parallel to each other?

[JazzyB]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but if you go to Bozos for an oyster po-boy your quest will end. IMO, the gold standard. Freshly shucked , fresh oil, fried to order in a cast iron skillet.

[briox]

It's on the list. When I was a small child and I got to have lunch just me and my dad, we used to go to Bozo's and it was such a good time. I haven't been there in over twenty years.

[N.O.Food]

Yes, they're parallel.

[briox]

Time to write in again on a new oyster poboy review. Over the weekend, my husband and I went to the Parkway Bakery for an oyster poboy. The place was an incredibly cute restaurant with New Orleans nostalgia covering the walls, counter service, and a bar. The restaurant also had outdoor seating, but it was much too hot for that.

The poyboy was very tasty. Dressed it came with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo. The fried oysters were tasty, but not out of the ordinary. The placement of the oysters was not as packed as Liuzza's on the track, but they were spaced out decently.

All in all, I'd say the sandwich reminded me of what I think of when I think of a typical New Orleans oyster poboy, not unique or outstanding, but traditional and tasty.

[schuarta]

CRABBY JACKS on Jefferson Hwy. A little out of the way but well worth the trip. All their Po-Boys are exceptional. For a little variety, try their FRIED GREEN TOMATO AND SHRIMP REMOULADE PO-BOY. Heavenly!

At Crabby Jack's, nobody cares if you play with your food. The wait in the 30-seater space is long; by the time customers get face-time with their food, they take it literally. You'll find yourself rubbing love handles with men wearing K&B T-shirts who let the gravy-mayonnaise drippings squeezed out of a Not Famous Ferdi po-boy trickle down to their elbows, and women who announce they haven't showered yet today in anticipation of boiled lake crabs by the pound. I once spent 20 minutes watching a man tugging single fried shrimp from a po-boy, showering each one with Tabasco and savoring them individually. Many customers push stools aside to attack their sandwiches standing. The only rule at Crabby Jack's is painted on folk-arty signs from Dr. Bob around the restaurant: "Be Nice Or Leave."

[pzbrite]

"The only rule at Crabby Jack's is painted on folk-arty signs from Dr. Bob around the restaurant: "Be Nice Or Leave.""

I left.

[TigerAtty]

Domilise's on the corner of Annunciation and Bellecastle streets. Grab it to go with a couple of sodas and take it down to the fly. If you are looking for a little more kick in your beverage, grab a gallon of daquiri on your way. Can't beat that with a stick.

[mgarland]

I second Domilise's. I tried a few around the city when I was just there, and this was the best po boy I had.

[randeaux]

This is kind of a twist, but I like to get my oyster po boy made buffalo style. Tossing the fried oysters with buffalo sauce before putting them on the bread.
Cooter Browns does this well for me. Just tell Dale, you want a "Randy"

[JazzyB]

Redfish Grill serves a BBQ (Buffalo Sauced) po boy, dressed to include carmelized red onions, tomatoes, lettuce and bleu cheese dressing. R eally tasty.

[Jeeves_too]

Parkway! Especially their B.L.O.T. po-boy. Bacon, Lettuce, Oyster and Tomato.

[N.O.Food]

I'm going to ask this in another thread, but where are the oysters coming from right now? Gulf oysters are definitely not in season.

See: http://www.wlf.state.la.us/news/?id=694

I'm assuming they're either frozen or imported from another part of the u.s. I don't see how they could be gulf oysters unless they are frozen.

[JazzyB]

Bozos only uses freshly shucked oysters for their poboys and pan fries each batch separately so they must be getting them fresh from somewhere. Also, do you imagine Dragos and the oyster places like Felix's and Acme serving them on the 1/2 shell are using frozen? In my experience, oysters from the Atlantic and Pacific are not as sweet and much stronger tasting than gulf oysters. Easy to pick out in a blind taste test. If they are importing oysters, the price would increase due to the tremendous shipping weight. A call to any of these places would be the ticket.

[N.O.Food]

Okay, I reposted this question and someone came back with this reply:

"Saw your blog and thought I would reply, I work in communications for the Louisiana Seafood Marketing and Promotion Board and Louisiana oysters are in season right now, they press release you posted at the top is for public oyster beds, not the leased oyster beds that commercial fishermen have. While some oyster connoisseurs say that oysters in the summer as not as large as the ones you get in the cooler months, they are still available and safe to eat. MakingSense is right though, Individual Quick Freezing is a postharvest process that some harvesters use for oysters that will be sold on the half-shell. Something to be proud of, N.O Food, is that Louisiana is the largest producer of oysters in the United States. Speaking of oyster po'boys, try to make it next year to the French Quarter in March when we build the world's longest oyster po'boy, the one we did this year was over 350 ft long."

Now we know.

[JazzyB]

Had several pieces of what was one of the best/tastiest oyster poboys, cut from the 350' long one. It was the section created by Chef Duke(Cafe Giovanni). A terrific spicy combo of his sauces in addition to bacon. I could eat his version exclusively if only they were available.

[JazzyB]

Seems like they're just rotating open/close of beds to perhaps prevent over harvesting in 2007 each area.

[N.O.Food]

Yeah, but the website shows that everything is closed by the end of April and doesn't open up again until September. As you know, Casamento's follows the oyster season, and that's why they're not open. I think that says a lot.

[JazzyB]

TF says there's no reason to not eat oysters when they R not in season. Of course he is a bit of a bufoon with whom I seldom agree.

[gillsnthrills]

I think they're ok to eat cooked, but not the best idea to eat them raw when the waters are hot.

[N.O.Food]

I don't mean to say that you can't eat them in non "r" months. What I want to know is how are people getting them if the season is closed by law.

[edible complex]

"Louisiana oysters are available year-round and vary in size from season to season. "
from :http://www.louisianaseafood.com/howto...

[N.O.Food]

Apparently they are freezing them now....

http://www.theperfectoyster.com/news....

[JazzyB]

Probably invented for shipping out of the area. Can you imagine any local oyster bar using them?

[gillsnthrills]

They're still selling fresh Gulf oysters at the seafood counter at Whole Foods. How does that work?

[edible complex]

also, try the Rivershack on River Rd. (just west of Causeway)
their special sauce and sweet fries are a great side. and their seafood platter is a great shared app.

[edible complex]

consider trying different condiments too: tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, horseradish.

[briox]

My husband and I began our search for the best oyster poboy on Saturday afternoon. I picked one up at the Galley and he picked one up at Liuzza's by the track. Neither place would do a half, so we each got a whole oyster poboy from each. The Galley seemed like a cute seafood themed sit down restaurant. The place wasn't crowded at lunch time, but there were people at about every table. I can't describe Liuzza's because I wasn't there. We ordered both the poboys "dressed" which at the Galley meant mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickle and at Liuzza's meant mayo, lettuce and tomato.

Both poboys were tasty. Neither was as good as we remember Domilise's to be. The Oysters from Liuzza's had an interesting breading which made the sandwich a little more flavorful overall then the Galley poboy, although both were delicious, as I said. Also, the placement of the oysters on the Liuzza poboy with oysters close together stacked on top of each other beat the spread out oysters on longer bread from the Galley.

Thus on overall experience of flavor, texture and placement of oysters, Liuzza's beat the Galley. But both sandwiches were very good.

I'll write in again when we try more poboys!

[gillsnthrills]

Was it the garlic oyster poboy from Liuzza's? Thats my favorite.

[briox]

My husband just said "oyster poboy"...he then saw the garlic on the menu and remembered he was supposed to order it. we're not sure which one we got, but i will say it was well seasoned. Thus the jury's still out on that one. :)

[briox]

This is one great list of places to try out! I think I'll sample my first poboy suggestion this afternoon. The location will depend on what part of town I'll be in. I'll write in about the experience this weekend. Thanks guys!

[JazzyB]

Hands down, Bozo's in Metairie, 21st St. I like it with butter and hot sauce only. Casamentos is good but not even close. Not fond of the giant pan bread (like Texas toast on steroids). BBQ oyster poboy at Redfish grill is different and tasty.

[edible complex]

River Pond Seafood on Airline Hwy.
Their soups are great too.

[N.O.Food]

It's not oyster season anymore. I'd wait until september at least.

[Hadacol]

Parkway Bakery
Crabby Jack's
Casamento's (won't be back open until Summer is over)
My house, right after I've gone by Leidenheimer's and picked up bread off the line

[HalfShell]

Parkway (the best)
Parran's (on Vets in Metairie... don't be scared)
Ye Olde College Inn
Mandina's

[sirvelvet]

Parkway Bakery has a great poboy. It is chock full of oysters and I like it better than Casamento's. If you want an interesting twist on oyster po boys, try either the garlic oyster po boy at Liuzza's By The Track, or try the oyster bacon and cheese po boy at the Blue Plate Cafe. I think they call it the Ignatius.

[Bill Hunt]

My vote is for Parkway, though I have to admit that I am also a Felix's fan, regardless of what the popular feeling is on this board.

There *used to be* a spot way out on East Lakefront, past the old Lincoln Beach, right on the highway (name eludes me now), that did both shrimp and oysters in a "boat." Not exactly a deconstructed po-boy, but close. The "boat" was a loaf of bread, thicker than even a big po-boy loaf, and was hollowed out. It was buttered inside, an filled with shrimp/oysters, or both. These were great, though different enough to not qualify in the po-boy thread.

Doubt that this spot is still around, especially post-K. I'd guess that they blew away years before, as they were in a low area, just S. of the hwy.

Hunt

[JazzyB]

You really should try Bozos. For me, none can compare. Oysters are freshly shucked vs tub. Orders are fried in fresh oil in cast iron skillets. Crispy bread. First bite ALWAYS elicits an OMG. 21St., Metairie. Brunings had the shrimp equivalent.

[kingofkings]

Bozo's in Metarie. Chris still pan fries the catfish and oysters.

My family has eaten there for 4 generations. Starting with the original on St. Annes.

[edible complex]

Bill, it was out on Hayne Blvd., New Orleans Lakefront. The name escapes me, but they were famous for their seafood "boats".
Deanie's and Castnet Seafood are open in NOE, but I have not heard if the other place has plans to reopen. It "Lake" in its name, like either Lakeside, Lakeshore, Lakeview, Lake...

[Bill Hunt]

You got it. Now, we just need to come up with the name.

I am more of a shrimp fan, than an oyster fan (for me, they need to be raw, or perfectly fried, with little room in the middle), but they did a good "boat."

I hate getting old, as I can come up with some details, but the main ones elude me, all too often.

Hunt

[JazzyB]

Hunt, pose your question to : [e-mail] This is Tom Fitzmorris, a local food critic. Full of himself, but also a wealth of info.

[Bill Hunt]

Thanks for the link. I'm thinking "Lakeview Tavern," but since all of my grey-matter is Zinfandel addeled, I could be all wrong.

Hunt

[chicoryman]

That was my family's restaurant. It was called Lakeview Seafood. No, it doesn't exist any more. It was closed down pre-Katrina. My father, Charles Smith invented the shrimp and oyster boat dishes.

[chicoryman]

You're talking about my family's restaurant, Lakeview Seafood. No, it doesn't exist any longer. It was closed pre-K. My father, Charles Smith, created the shrimp and oyster boat dishes.

[speyerer]

Bill, was that Gee and Lil's?

[briox]

Wow, these are all great suggestions! My husband and I will have to get to work trying them out!

[nolalawyer]

The Galley - Metairie Road
Ye olde College Inn

[Bill Hunt]

Nolalawyer,

I tend to think of Ye Olde College Inn for their fried chicken. Have never tried their oyster po-boy. If it's as good as the chicken *was* then I might have missed a good one.

As for the Galley, I have gotten many recs., and have tried it on a couple of occasions. I have yet to find anything that I'd go back for. Have not tried the oyster po-boy, so I might not have experienced their strength. All of our experiences have been for dinner, and we've been underwhelmed. The recs. came for folk, who do know good food, so we tried it more than we should have, based on our dining there. Right now, I just do not get it.

Hunt

[piglet3000]

Love, love love the oyster poboy at Franky & Johnny's at 321 Arabella St., in the Irish Channel neighborhood, I believe......

[chanterelle]

Please take a drive down Hiway 11 to Captain Humbles. For roast beef I stick with Parasols and Parkway Bakery, but I will drive a spell for the oyster po-boy at Captain Humbles.

[geegeeTX]

Casamento's is closed during the summer, but I would say that they have the best fried oyster poboy I have eaten (perfectly fried, great bread). When I lived there a few years back, I tried many different oyster poboys out - and theirs was the best - by far! As an alternative, I would suggest Domilise's.

[briox]

Oh man, closed until September! Well, we'll try them in September! We've had Domilise's before, but for the purpose of experimentation, we'll have to go again to compare with other recommendations.