NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – If you end up near the Fairgrounds and are looking for a poboy to curb your hunger. Sprint to Liuzza’s by the Track (it’s literally two blocks from the track) to get your hands on some seafood poboys that are unique as Liuzza’s itself.
Liuzza’s has been around nearly as long as the track itself. Owner, James Lemarie tells us that the place started out as a neighborhood grocery and transitioned into a bar and restaurant.
It has catered to both locals and Jazz Fest crowds for years and years.
In fact, Liuzza’s changes dramatically for the “Fest” each year. The chairs and tables go into storage for that two-week period, and Liuzza’s turns into Jazz Fest’s biggest cocktail party with thirsty concert-goers from near and far enjoying beer, cocktails and Liuzza’s iconic Bloody Marys.
After Jazz Fest wraps up, it’s back to business as usual and back to some really great eats that will please almost any palette.
Poboys are a big part of that menu. We tried two that were top-notch.
The first was a BBQ shrimp poboy. It is plump, juicy shrimp sauteed in a peppery, buttery sauce.
They scoop those golden shrimp into hollowed-out French bread and give it a liberal coating of that signature BBQ sauce. It is certainly a knife and fork dining experience. It is also an experience that will linger in your mind in the best way possible.
We also tried their Garlic Oyster poboy. There are many fried oyster poboys in town. However, there aren’t many as distinctive as this one.
Wow! The fine folks at Liuzza’s pile fried oysters and all the traditional fixings (lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles) on French bread that has been given a generous coating of Liuzza’s own garlic and herb spread.
The bread is then toasted to create a heavenly, garlicy bed for those oysters to nestle between. It is a taste that will knock your socks off.
So if you’re over by the Fairgrounds, race on over to Liuzza’s by the Track for some grub that will win, place and show.