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Ever want to try a popular restaurant or attraction when traveling but don’t know if it’s worth the hype? If you’re headed to New Orleans then I’m sure you’re debating Acme Oyster House’s worthiness.
I’ve got you! I’ve visited New Orleans A LOT. In fact, it is one of my favorite (slightly) warmer places to visit in the US when it is too cold up north. And with some of my in-laws also from there, it’s become a bit of a home away from home.
But like many tourist destinations, I’ve learned that some of the popular NOLA attractions don’t live up to the hype, while others are actually totally worth it despite being deemed “touristic”.
Acme Oyster House is one of those places. So this article will address the question: Is Acme Oyster House as good as people claim or is it all hype?
Here are my honest thoughts!
How Many Acme Oyster House locations are there?
There are 6 Acme Oyster House locations; the most famous in New Orleans French Quarter. Other locations include Baton Rouge, Destin, and Houston, to name a few.
My Initial Acme Oyster House Experience
The Acme Oyster House in New Orleans came highly recommended as a must-have dining experience during our time in NOLA. Planted right in the French Quarter, it was an easy walk from our Airbnb.
Waiting time at Acme Oyster House:
We arrived at the restaurant around 7:30 p.m. and were greeted by a line spilling around the corner. We couldn’t make reservations so decided to endure the potentially long wait.
Approaching the queue, we asked the hostess how long the wait was: 30 minutes. The hostess then walked outside and informed everyone that it would be a 30 to 40-minute wait, though I found it hard to believe we all had the same wait time — regardless of our position in line.
Luckily, it wasn’t too uncomfortable outside while waiting, and they called us within 20 minutes.
Ambiance and Service:
The hostess escorted us through the loud, bustling dining room, and seated us smack dab in the middle of the room. That meant waiters and hot plates of food were navigating tight spaces between tables.
The whole sit-down process was a blur and you could tell there was a fast-paced flow with a quick table turnover rate (the amount of time someone spends dining). Regardless of the chaos, every worker managed to be cheerful and hospitable.
The menus were opened quickly, revealing a straightforward array of seafood options, and within three minutes our waitress arrived.
Popular Menu Items to order at Acme Oyster House
The Acme Oyster House menu is robust, but we came in with tips from previous diners on what to try. The raw oysters and chargrilled oysters are the stars of the show, but there are some great New Orleans specialties and entrees to try too.
My group knew they wanted to come here for the famed oysters so placing orders was easy. We immediately ordered one dozen raw oysters, one dozen chargrilled oysters, and oyster shooters to start. We had a diverse palate for this dinner: experienced oyster patrons and novices, like me.
Specialty Drinks: The Oyster Shooters (Vodka)
We were encouraged to try something “unusual” so went for the Oyster Shooters (0/10 — I do not recommend). It is fresh-shucked oyster and cocktail sauce with vodka, served in a shot glass. Disappointed by the oyster shooters across the board (I gag as I recall them), we were glad to move on to the regular oyster orders and begin the chow down. If you love oysters and vodka, you might enjoy this but it was a no for me.
House Favorites: Raw Oyster & Chargrilled Oysters
The chargrilled oysters were phenomenal and what I would absolutely come back for every time. Smothered in butter and Parmesan cheese — two of the best things on Earth — we scraped every last bit of each oyster with our forks and then proceeded to lick the shells just to make sure we left nothing behind.
The raw oysters, although appetizing to the rest of the table, were not my favorite. I am not a fan of shellfish and its distinct flavors, so it didn’t do it for me. However, my group loved and quickly devoured the raw oysters. They are the experienced oyster diners and they gave it two thumbs up, so I’d take their opinion over mine in terms of rating the raw oysters.
We loved the dishes so much the four of us ordered another round of one dozen chargrilled and raw oysters, each, and explored the rest of the menu.
New Orleans Specialties: Acme Poopa and Jambalaya
As our hunger slowly satisfied, our gastronomic pleasure turned to gluttony and we continued ordering more food; we requested red beans with rice poopa (grilled smoked sausage) in a large French bread bowl, which was so delicious!
We also got the jambalaya (which is a seasoned rice dish with smoked sausage and chicken). This is definitely a quintessential New Orleans dish and Acme Oyster House serves it well! A perfect shareable portion.
Other Menu Platters: Fried Fish Platter
This was absolutely the best dish for me that day and what I’d recommend alongside the chargrilled oysters. By the time we cleared our oyster plates, poopa, and jambalaya, the fried fish platter was making an entrance.
I stared down at the dense display and pondered how the three large pieces of breaded filet and fries would fit into our stomachs. I distributed the portions and took the first bite.
At that moment I realized I was biting into the best part of the night’s meal. I looked up at the others, wondering if they’d tasted it yet. Silence. With eyes wide open and fish-stuffed smirks on their faces, the countenance read, “Delightful.” The swai fish fillet (a white fish) was light, moist, and flakey, breaded and fried for a smooth, buttery experience. It can come with a side of french fries or hush puppies.
Other Menu Options: Po-boys and bread pudding
If you have the space to keep going I’d added these to your list! Po-boys are a NOLA specialty and bread pudding is well, heaven. Try oyster po-boy or the Peace maker po-boy (which is a combo oyster and shrimp po-boy) if looking for that same flavor profile.
Or explore something different like a sampling of gumbo! So much to choose from and always a generous portion.
We consumed so much that we forgot to order our drinks. There was no need for alcohol, anyway. We were drunk in love with food. And full. Very full.
We began to slouch and adjust the waistlines of our pants.
Check, please.
Would I recommend Acme Oyster House New Orleans?
Absolutely. It has had such a positive impact on our first experiences in New Orleans that it is a place I always recommend to newcomers. From the fast-paced but friendly service to the super convenient location and reasonable prices—it is worth the hype, in my opinion.
The bill came reasonably priced, costing $30-40 each split across four people, and we left the restaurant in glee, impressed by our appetizing adventure.
Enjoy!