Restaurant Reviews Part IX (Red Fish Grill, Bourbon House, Acme Oyster House)

1) Red Fish Grill (French Quarter)
Stats: Genre - Seafood, Price - $$, Ranking - 4 stars

Ralph Brennan's Red Fish Grill is a great seafood restaurant with an even better location on Bourbon St. Arguably the most casual of the Brennan family group of restaurants, Red Fish Grill has a laid back ambience that is inviting to tourists and locals alike. Metal fish sculptures adorn the ceilings and walls, and even the tables are decorated with creatures from the sea. However, while the food quality is excellent, the service is slow and somewhat hit or miss, disappointing for a Brennan's restaurant.

On my most recent trip to the restaurant, my party was seated promptly, and drink and appetizer orders were taken at once. The service went downhill from that point on, and our server seemed to be in a perpetual state of confusion. Nevertheless, the food was excellent.

The BBQ oysters were a good choice for starter as they were lightly fried and packed with flavor. The blackened redfish burger and BBQ shrimp po-boy were great. I was not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by the huge serving size and flavor of the seafood. As for main entrees, I also recommend the hickory grilled redfish and corn crusted gulf fish, the latter having a citrus finish that complements the texture of the fish.

Finally, for dessert we ordered the double chocolate bread pudding, and I have to say that this is one dessert that gives Commander's Palace bread pudding souffle a run for its money. Decadent and rich, this dessert is hard to beat.

Unfortunately, the entrees and dessert took too long to be delivered to our table, especially considering the restaurant was only half full. I hope the management deals with these service issues, as the restaurant is capable of a lot more.

Overall, Red Fish Grill is a good choice for the diner that wants the Brennan quality without the extra price.

2) Bourbon House (French Quarter)
Stats: Genre - Seafood, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 3 stars

Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House, along with Red Fish Grill, is the most casual of the Brennan family of restaurants. Nevertheless, the decor and atmosphere of Bourbon House gives it an old-world charm not present at its counterpart across the street. However, though most of the food is tasty, the menu does have its share of problems, and the service can be unnecessarily slow at times.

The restaurant itself is beautiful with tall ceilings, glass blown chandeliers, and a mezzanine balcony overlooking the main dining area. The oyster bar is also impressive. But, Bourbon House is unpretentious. Located on Bourbon St, the restaurant will accept all, from the suited and booted to the late night drunken masses. It makes for an interesting dining and people-watching experience!

The menu consists of many seafood preparations. The raw oysters were wonderful. While I normally stay away from fried food, the fried calamari appetizer was light and tasty. For the main entrees, I would suggest the fish preparations, as they combine great Creole flavors. I would stay away from the fried platter and the BBQ shrimp. While the shrimp was served traditionally in the shell, the sauce was sweet and not spicy or tangy as true New Orleans style BBQ shrimp should be. The desserts were also a disappointment, and the bread pudding was mediocre compared to Red Fish Grill.

Overall, Bourbon House is a good restaurant for those looking to add a touch of class to their Bourbon St experience!

3) Acme Oyster House (Metairie)
Stats: Genre - Seafood, Price - $$, Ranking - 2.5 stars

In a city that prides itself on good seafood, Acme Oyster House is a popular French Quarter favorite. For this reason, I was looking forward to trying the Metairie branch to see if I enjoyed it as much as the Quarter spot, but ultimately I was disappointed. The ambience is really what gives Acme its extra kick, and while the Metairie branch was crowded, the restaurant was noticeably subdued in comparison, though I suppose you can't really compete with the Quarter.

As for the service, my party was seated immediately near the oyster bar, and food was served in a prompt, efficient manner. For appetizers, we ordered the chargrilled oysters, and while they were good, the oysters can't compete with the chargrilled ones at Drago's. We also ordered the peacemaker po-boy, which was tasty but was only 8", definitely overpriced for a po-boy. My favorite dish of the afternoon was the grilled shrimp, light and tangy in a sweet sauce.

While I had an enjoyable lunch, it was not amazing, and I've definitely had better seafood at many other restaurants in the city. I think from now I'll stick with the French Quarter branch of Acme Oyster House, as the ambience really sells the food!