Best Seafood Restaurants in Baton Rouge

As the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the city of spices, Southern cooking and of course, plenty of seafood. It only makes sense that Cajun and Creole food like the dishes you’ll find populating the restaurants of Baton Rouge rely heavily on seafood. With Louisiana’s border along the Gulf of Mexico, residents have long since been using local and fresh-caught ingredients to whip up some of the tastiest dishes around.

While this tradition of cooking with seafood has its roots in a strong history, it carries on to this day. Restaurants located in Baton Rouge and across the rest of the state continue to rely heavily on different varieties of seafood for the base of their dishes, making this city a paradise for seafood lovers from around the country. Today, we want to break down some of the top places to eat seafood in Baton Rouge. Use this list as a guide and tick the restaurants off one by one, or just hit the spots that sound tasty to you.

1. Milford’s on Third

For a unique experience that stands apart from the other restaurants we’ll mention later on this list, we’d like to invite you to stop by Milford’s on Third. Milford’s is a traditional delicatessen located conveniently in downtown Baton Rouge, within the historic Watermark hotel. Here, you’ll find we’ve combined the best of the traditional NYC deli experience, but wrapped in a Southern packaging that includes many of your favorite Louisiana flavors, as well as the spirit and style of the Deep South.

We particularly pride ourselves on using only the freshest local ingredients and serve up everything from salad greens to meats and cheeses. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Baton Rouge-based eatery without seafood on the menu. Enjoy seafood salads and sandwiches in addition to all the other delicious goodies here.

Whether you’re grabbing breakfast, stopping for lunch or just grabbing something ready-made to take with you on the go, Milford’s on Third is your No. 1 deli destination in Baton Rouge.

2. Parrain’s Seafood

Parrain’s Seafood might not be the oldest restaurant in town, but they’ve already earned a reputation across the city for consistently serving up some of the best fresh seafood in Baton Rouge. They first opened their doors in 2012 and have been committed to delivering fresh-caught and delicious seafood ever since. The menu includes a tantalizing array of entrees such as andouille-encrusted fish, seafood pasta and fried oyster platters, as well as appetizers, soups, salads and desserts.

While Parrain’s is an excellent place to find seafood at either the lunch or the dinner hour, you’ll want to head someplace else for breakfast, as they don’t open until 11:00AM. If you have your heart set on eating here early in the day, try popping in on Sundays, when they serve select brunch items. Parrain’s also has a convenient location in the mid-city district, making it easily accessible no matter which part of the city you’re coming from.

3. Sammy’s Grill

Sammy’s Grill is a Baton Rouge favorite, but this isn’t the only city where you can enjoy it. This restaurant has also expanded to open secondary locations in Zachary, Prairieville and Central, meaning you can still feast on the delicious flavors of Sammy’s Grill no matter where you travel in the greater Baton Rouge area. And while the draw of many restaurants is partially the experience of dressing up and experiencing an elegant night out, Sammy’s brand is more laid-back and casual, boasting a great time through hanging out with friends and enjoying some tasty boiled seafood in Baton Rouge.

While Sammy’s offers a full menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers and starters, and you can’t go wrong with any of them, certain menu items stand out above the rest. If you’re heading to Sammy’s Grill for dinner, for example, we have to recommend the Acadian catfish — two fried catfish fillets with a catfish etouffee served over a bed of rice, with sides of salad and garlic bread. There are also kids’ and brunch menus, so no matter what your day looks like or who you have with you, Sammy’s is there for you.

4. Louisiana Lagniappe Restaurant

Louisiana Lagniappe has a unique history. The restaurant originally opened in Florida in 1985, where it enjoyed over 10 years of popularity and gained a dedicated customer base through its simple and classic dishes prepared with only the freshest Gulf ingredients. But when the restaurant proprietors relocated to Baton Rouge in 1998, they reopened Louisiana Lagniappe to serve a new city and a new public, all while maintaining the same great taste and style.

Louisiana Lagniappe is the perfect destination, whether you’re looking for classic seafood dishes like unbeatable barbecued shrimp or interested in trying one of their famous specials such as the Cocodrie, which is their sautéed fish in garlic beurre blanc, served with toppings of fried artichoke hearts, fried softshell crabfish and béarnaise sauce. There’s also a kids’ menu, making this a good spot to bring the whole family. You’ll need to make your trip here during the dinner hours, however, as Louisiana Lagniappe is not open for lunch or breakfast.

5. Mike Anderson’s Seafood

For a restaurant with a unique past and story, it’s hard to top the legacy you’ll find at Mike Anderson’s Seafood. Mike Anderson, a former LSU football player, first opened the restaurant back in 1975. While he originally called the restaurant Mike Anderson’s College Town Seafood & Oyster Bar and served only a limited menu, it didn’t take long for word to spread and popularity to grow. Soon, the restaurant was moving to a new location, rebranding and growing its menu to its current full size.

Today, Mike Anderson’s Seafood has over 40 years of success in the business, seats more than 250 people in its Baton Rouge location and has opened two additional locations across the state. This local favorite serves both lunch and dinner and features an extensive menu filled with many local favorites, most notably including the Guitreau. This culinary masterpiece features grilled mahi-mahi loaded with Gulf shrimp, Louisiana crawfish, mushrooms and onions sautéed in butter, white wine and spices.

6. Roberto’s River Road Restaurant

Looking for a casual dining atmosphere located outside the hustle and bustle of the heart of Baton Rouge? Take a drive to the south along the river, and you’ll reach Roberto’s River Road Restaurant. The restaurant itself is in a historic 1850s building that was once home to a department store and faces the levee on the river, making it a delightful spot to relax and watch the sun go down on summer nights.

While you can visit Roberto’s for dinner any day from Tuesday through Saturday as well as for lunch from Tuesday through Friday, take note that they’re closed on both Mondays and Fridays. There are menu options for the non-seafood enthusiast here, but like every restaurant on our list, the best items celebrate a true Southern love of all things seafood. In particular, you won’t want to miss a yummy dish of shrimp Roberto, which includes three seafood-stuffed shrimp, wrapped in bacon before getting fried, set in a beurre blanc and topped with Parmesan cheese and hollandaise.

7. Juban’s

Juban’s takes pride in not only serving up classic seafood dishes, but also in providing a classically elegant dining experience that’s perfect for special occasions such as dinner parties, weddings, corporate events and receptions. Even if there is no particular occasion and you’re looking to treat yourself out to a night on the town with a loved one or two, Juban’s makes every night feel like a special occasion.

While the menu is full to bursting with entrees, appetizers, soups and salads, the dish Juban’s is best-known for and that you’ll want to be sure to try is the hallelujah crab — a soft-shelled flash-fried crab filled with crabmeat, shrimp and crawfish tails before getting topped with Creolaise sauce, haricots verts and parsnip/Yukon gold mash. Enjoy stopping by Juban’s for brunch on Sunday, lunch on Tuesday through Friday and dinner on Monday through Saturday.

8. Drusilla Seafood Restaurant

If you’re on a mission to find the restaurant that’s consistently received the designation as “Best Seafood in Baton Rouge” from many critics and seafood enthusiasts alike, as well as the restaurant that has the distinction of being one of the oldest in the city, you won’t want to miss Drusilla Seafood Restaurant. Drusilla opened in 1982 and has been serving mouthwatering traditional Cajun-style recipes ever since.

In addition to providing great Southern flavors, Drusilla also has a reputation for its attentive service and homey family-friendly dining atmosphere, where everyone feels welcome. Visitors can enjoy both lunch and dinner every day of the week and can even book one of the restaurant’s six private rooms for parties, receptions and other festive gatherings. And while you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, we particularly think you’ll enjoy the boiled and fried shrimp platters during your visit to Drusilla.

9. The Chimes Restaurant & Tap Room

When you visit The Chimes, you can always be sure you’ll have a relaxing time in a casual and family-friendly environment while also enjoying some great food and beer. While this restaurant is a popular destination for local LSU students, it’s also a favorite with families and professionals, as everyone can enjoy the eclectic variety of seafood dishes on the menu.

While the menus at all three of The Chimes’ locations are full of fantastic entrees, desserts and sides, we want to particularly highlight the phenomenal crab cake appetizer, which is an absolute must-try when you make your visit. And while you’re enjoying your delicious meal, don’t forget to take advantage of the restaurant’s truly impressive beer and liquor selection, and even enroll in their “Beer University,” where you can learn tons of information about your favorite drinks.

10. Roux 61

Roux 61 originally hails from Natchez, Miss., with their Baton Rouge location being their second. Don’t let this fool you into thinking they’re not a true Baton Rouge essential, however. For all things seafood and steak, there’s no place better to grab a bite to eat.

At Roux 61, you can enjoy both lunch and dinner with hours from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day except Sunday. Once you’re here, you can browse a menu that’s unlike any other, with unusual and exciting dishes such as shrimp and alligator cheesecake, as well as traditional favorites such as grilled shrimp, seafood gumbo and chargrilled oysters.

11. Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar

If you’re less excited about seafood as an umbrella category and more enthusiastic when it comes to oysters in particular, we’d like to direct your attention toward Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar. As the name suggests, oysters reign supreme here, and we’re not just talking about oysters from the Gulf Coast here. You can also enjoy a refreshing mix of both East and West Coast oysters for a true tour of the variety of this tasty treat. Enjoy them raw, try the baked, sample the Rockefeller-style or get really crazy and dive into a platter of oysters topped with brie, bacon and rum-mango salsa.

Aside from the exciting menu of oysters to choose from, you’ll also find Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar is a great place to grab a few drinks in the evening, with an excellent variety of beers and cocktails to choose from. Depending on the night you visit Jolie, there will also often be live music as well, making this the perfect atmosphere for relaxing with friends over oysters and a few drinks.

12. Jasmines on the Bayou

At Jasmines on the Bayou, there’s a dining experience for everyone’s taste. Whether you’re looking to eat in the dining room, enjoy the cool breeze out on the patio, grab some takeout or even get your special event catered, Jasmines is ready to accommodate you. With a friendly staff and a cheerful, welcoming environment to boot, there’s no reason not to stop by.

Located on Jones Creek Road, Jasmines is open for both lunch and dinner and features a menu that offers everything from pasta, burgers and salads to po’boys, lagniappe and seafood platters. There’s even a menu for the kids to pick from. If you’re visiting Jasmines, you’ll be sure to enjoy anything you choose off the menu, but in particular, we think the crawfish-stuffed beignets are truly something special.

Stop by Milford’s on Third Today

Love seafood, and have enthusiastic opinions about your favorite spot for shrimp, oysters and fish in the Baton Rouge area? Comment below and tell us you what you think the best seafood restaurants in Baton Rouge are. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to stop by Milford’s on Third for a charming deli atmosphere or a quick grab-and-go meal when your busy day doesn’t allow time for a sit-down meal. We’re conveniently located on the first floor of the Watermark hotel and can’t wait for you to taste some our delicious and fresh flavors.