When Is Oyster Season In New Orleans?

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Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.

When Is New Orleans’ Oyster Season?

Oyster season in New Orleans runs roughly from September 1 to May 1 of the following year. That’s when oyster harvesting season takes place.

During that time, which corresponds to winter through the spring, you can enjoy some of the top oyster varieties and dishes.

If you choose to eat oysters outside of that season, you could get some that have a watery or “fishy” taste, or worse, come down with a bad case of food poisoning!

What Kind Of Oysters Does New Orleans Have?

New Orleans, quite naturally, is known for its Gulf oyster, which is harvested and used by many of the local restaurants, oyster bars and fish houses in the region.

Where Do Locals Go For Oysters On A Half Shell?

Bourbon Street has plenty of oyster joints, of course, you can’t go wrong with Acme, which is perhaps the most renown spot in the city. No matter how you like them — raw, chargrilled, or Rockefeller style — you can get them in New Orleans.

Final Word

Remember, oyster season in Louisiana is from around Labor Day to April 30 of the next year. Anytime outside of that, you’ll have to trust the reputation of the restaurant.

Eating in season is one of the best ways to enjoy Louisiana cuisine. From oysters to crawfish and other delicacies, pay attention to the calendar before you order from the menu.

When New Orleans’ food is mentioned on a national level, it somehow always reverts back to gumbo, which is the best around, although the city’s eateries certainly represent those dishes well, there’s so much more.

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Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.