10 metro Atlanta eateries to get a taste of Mardi Gras

With Mardi Gras right around the corner, it’s time to revel in the festivities and savor some incredible Louisiana-style cuisine. As local Atlanta eateries prepare to celebrate Fat Tuesday with unforgettable food, be ready for the French Quarter to come to you. Check out the list below for some of the best places around Atlanta to get a taste of Mardi Gras and let the good times roll!

The Po’Boy Shop and Basement Bar

A traditional po’boy dressed in lettuce, tomato, mayo, and a pickle is always a classic choice. The Po’Boy Shop in Decatur serves up some true Cajun food with more than 20 different po’boy options, including shrimp, catfish, grouper, alligator, oyster, crawfish and more. Try other well-known dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans and rice.

Location: Decatur - 1369 Clairmont Rd.; Website: thepoboyshopatl.com; Contact: 678-974-8725

C and S Seafood and Oyster Bar

Like a high-end oyster bar in New Orleans, C & S provides fantastic seafood and oysters in a nice, elegant setting. If you order their “Le Petit” or “Le Grand,” you can enjoy clams, oysters, lobster, tuna tartar, shrimp cocktail and colossal crab. They also serve delicious sea bass and jumbo lump crab cakes.

Location: Two Locations (Sandy Springs and Vinings); Website: candsoysterbar.com

The Food Shoppe

Visit The Food Shoppe in downtown Atlanta if you’re seeking a traditional Louisiana meal. This family-owned Creole restaurant serves hearty classics like jambalaya, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, and seafood bisque. Save room for dessert because Angie’s bread pudding is an absolute must!

Location: Downtown - 123 Luckie St. NW #108; Website: thefoodshoppeatl.com; Contact: 404-600-8443

Louisiana Bistreaux Seafood Kitchen

You will find a wide variety of Cajun and Creole cuisine at Louisiana Bistreaux to sample. We promise you’ll want to come back for everything from the fried lobster tail and oysters to the redfish Pontchartrain and the incomparable crawfish combo.

Location: Multiple Locations; Website: louisianabistreaux.com

Hugo’s Oyster Bar

Hugo’s Oyster Bar, founded by the same crew that brought you C & S Seafood and Oyster Bar, flawlessly replicates the tastes and ambiance of the coastal American South. Located in downtown Roswell and open for lunch, brunch and dinner, you’ll want to sample their garlic parmesan beignets, Hugo’s oysters served with bacon, jalapeño, and white cheddar, as well as their delectable étouffée pasta.

Location: Roswell - 10360 Alpharetta St.; Website: hugosoysterbar.com; Contact: 770-993-5922

Cafe Bourbon St.

A family from New Orleans is serving up some delectable dishes, bringing NOLA to Atlanta with Cafe Bourbon St. If you’re looking for something fast and casual, stop by one of their two locations for Grandma’s seafood gumbo, a Cajun fried shrimp basket, jambalaya egg rolls, or mouth-watering Cajun fries. Don’t forget to order some fresh beignets for dessert to complete your experience.

Location: Two Locations (South Atlanta and Marietta); Website: cafebourbonst.com

Fontaine’s Oyster Bar

At Fontaine’s Oyster House in Virginia Highland, be sure to arrive hungry. Begin with Prince Edward Island mussels or Cajun rice balls, then try their renowned raw oysters or their oyster sampler to savor NOLA oysters, crab and bacon oysters, and oysters Rockefeller all in one. Try their lobster mac ‘n cheese, crab cake dinner, or jumbo shrimp for an alternative to oysters.

Location: East Atlanta - 1026 1/2 North Highland Ave. NE; Website: nightcapfoodandspirits.com; Contact: 404-872-0869

Henry’s Louisiana Grill

There’s a little bit of everything at Henry’s Louisiana Grill. Their appetizers include Louisiana shrimp and grits, hot chili gator, Boudin balls, and Lagniappe (means “something extra”), which is a sampler plate with fried oysters, crawfish, shrimp, and bayou cake. Try their Atchafalaya Catfish (as seen on the Food Network) or their signature po’boys as your main entrée. Upon request, any dish can be made extra spicy (if you dare).

Location: Acworth - 4835 N Main St.; Website: chefhenrys.com; Contact: 770-966-1515

Copeland’s of New Orleans

Dining at Copeland’s will always leave you full and satisfied. Lines usually wrap around the restaurant for brunch on the weekends, so you know that it’s a must-try. For Mardi Gras, they offer a special menu with items including crawfish étouffée, boiled shrimp, alligator, and their famous Copeland’s King’s Cake Cheesecake for dessert.

Location: Two Locations (Cumberland and Kennesaw); Website: copelandsofneworleans.com

Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou

Get a taste of the Louisiana Bayou at Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou, located in Alpharetta’s historic downtown. Try their spicy crab dip or fried alligator bites before trying their jambalaya with shrimp and andouille sausage. They also serve NOLA-style chargrilled oysters, po’boys with swamp sauce, and Louisiana Cajun fried chicken. To “make it dirty,” add a scoop of gumbo over any entree. Visit on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21) to enjoy live music, delicious food, hurricanes and lots of beads!

Location: Alpharetta - 52B N Main St.; Website: flatlands52.com; Contact: 470-242-5458