Acme Oyster House

Acme Oyster House at 724 Iberville Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, is an oyster bar and Creole seafood restaurant that has operated since 1910. It is one of the best-known casual restaurants in the city and a first stop for many visitors seeking raw oysters and New Orleans comfort food. The signature is the oyster bar itself, where shuckers open Gulf oysters to order and serve them on the half shell on ice, usually in half-dozen or dozen portions, with horseradish, lemon and cocktail sauce. Chargrilled oysters, cooked over open flame and topped with garlic butter and cheese, are the most popular hot preparation. The menu also includes fried seafood platters, po'boys, gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp dishes. Oysters are available year-round, though many locals prefer the cooler months. The dining room is a casual, crowded space with checkered tables, vintage signs and a continuous hum, and the atmosphere is busy and noisy. Dress is casual, and no reservations are taken, so lines are common, especially on weekends and at dinner. The line often forms outside along Iberville Street, and eating at the oyster bar can sometimes mean a shorter wait than a table. Staff are fast, and the pace is brisk. A beer or a cocktail pairs well with the briny oysters. Expect to spend about US$20-40 per person, and lunch and early dinner can be cheaper and less crowded than peak evening times. Hours should be confirmed on the website. The restaurant is a short walk from Bourbon Street, Canal Street and Jackson Square, making it a convenient stop on a first day in the Quarter. Visitors who prefer to avoid raw shellfish can choose fried or grilled seafood, gumbo and po'boys, and the staff can explain how each preparation is served.