Critic's Review

The Shuck ‘N Dive is your typical neighborhood New Orleans style restaurant. Its a pretty nice place, with good music playing and a clean looking interior with Mardi Gras, LSU and Saints decor. There’s a central bar with 3 TVs (one large flat screen), with 6 booths and 6 tables for dining. Outside there are some pub tables and picnic benches for outdoor dining.

The food here is pretty good, but if you’re expecting Emeril’s or  you’re a real authenticity snob you’ll be disappointed. Also, if you’re craving Jambalaya, forget it. Its only an occasional special. Some of the items are outstanding; the dirty bird is my favorite; a blackened chicken filet with sauteed onions and provolone cheese. They give you hot, yellow peppers on the side that add a bit of crunch and kick. Its just really good. The cole slaw is good here also; its not mayo based and its not too sweet. Its more like a cabbage salad with a nice dressing that takes the bite out of the cabbage.

Other items are disappointing; not bad but lacking the deep, layered flavors you might hope for. Fried oysters are nicely battered and can be ordered with red beans and rice. The oysters are good if not authentic; the red beans and slices of tubular andouille are spooned over white rice. Its a satisfying meal although the sausage is not the really good andouille you get at a place like Emil’s. Other favorites here are the black N blue burger (blackened with blue cheese), the crab and spinach dip and the fried green tomatoes. Wash it down with an abita beer; I recommend the TurboDog, a smooth medium brown, chocolate tasting beer with 5.6% alcohol content.

Service can be a bit disorganized if not friendly. They do have a “no cell phones” policy which I suspect is left over from the days before cell phones were web-enabled devices. Nobody tried to stop me from web surfing while I was there but I suggest you turn off the ringer and refrain from making any calls.