Seaworthy New Orleans, a gift from the gulf: Restaurant Review
Smack in the centre of the trendy Warehouse district in downtown New Orleans, right in the epicentre, is Seaworthy, a cozy restaurant set up in a classic Creole cottage built in 1832. Opened by Ace Hotel and with support from the team at Grand Banks, yes thee Grand Bank’s, the floating oyster restaurant in New York’s Hudson River. What Grand Banks doesn’t know about oysters, isn’t worth knowing, and oh boy does Seworthy deliver toe to toe with Grand Bank. Seaworthy culls inspiration from Gulf Coast waterways, the time-worn traditions of Southern hospitality and the legendary exuberance of the city of New Orleans.
From the moment you step inside, Seaworthy exudes a charming and cosy atmosphere. The decor is shabby chic, with dark wood and intimate lighting creating a warm and inviting ambience. The menu is inspired by the Gulf Coast waterways and time-worn Southern hospitality traditions, with a touch of the legendary exuberance of New Orleans.
Our meal was an absolute feast. You cannot step foot in Seaworthy if you aren’t going to at least try an Oyster. We counted 14 types on the menu. We started with six oysters from different parts of the Americas, each with its own distinct flavour profile. We had Pink Moon oysters from Pei Canada which were briny and smooth, Sweet and plump Kumamoto from Humboldt Bay in California, and Little Honey’s from Apalachee Bay in Florida our personal favourite. These little bad boys were creamy but delicate. The damn morish oysters were paired perfectly with the house-made mignonette. Note: We strongly suggest more than 6, our one regret was being restrained when it came to ordering.
Note: Oyster Happy Hour is from 4pm-6pm every day with half off the gulf and east coast oysters and a generous bonus happy hour with wild gulf oysters for $1- unmissable!.
With the Oysters out of the way and left obsessing over the decision on whether to get more (learn from our mistake and say yes! For the sake of King Triton, say yes) we were happily interrupted with a stunning seafood boil, which was a generous portion of perfectly cooked giant shrimp, potatoes, and corn, all tossed in a spicy broth. We were also brought crispy brussels paired with pickled grapes and anchovies. Truly a culinary delight, what with its bitter, salty, sweetness.The perfect side-dish to balance out the heat from the seafood boil.
This was followed by Fried Gulf Shrimp and served with charred lemon and old bay remoulade. Truly unmissable, I would liken the deep-fried shrimp batter to more of a light Japanese Tempura, which felt light and non-greasy. A really elevated shrimp dish.
We were also brought a peach barbecue glazed pork belly with a cornbread crumble and charred napa cabbage. As I’m sure you can tell from the menu description; it was epic. Sweet, smokey and earthy- a dish that truly represents the atmosphere of the restaurant.
My personal star of the show was the cocktail, Holy Water. Made with 13-spiced rum, cognac, green chartreuse, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and angostura bitters, this cocktail came served in a flaming devotion candle glass that you could buy as a souvenir. The flavours blended together beautifully, with the green chartreuse adding a hint of herbaceousness (great word) to the sweet and sour citrus flavours.
The service at Seaworthy was top-notch. Our server was knowledgeable, and friendly, and made sure our experience was unforgettable. The attention to detail in both the food and the service was evident, making our dining experience truly special.
Seaworthy is a must-visit restaurant for seafood lovers visiting New Orleans. The atmosphere, food, and drink all come together to create a dining experience that is equal parts cozy and chic, and the perfect blend of Southern hospitality and New Orleans flair. So, if you’re in New Orleans, or even the great state of Louisiana, don’t miss out on a chance to dine at Seaworthy.