any recommendations? Any comments on Pascal Manales....it was recommended to me by a friend...

Raw oysters are very dangerous and can harbor Vibrio Cholerae and more commonly Vibrio Vulnificus as well as parasites. Just think of the wastes we dump in the water that are filtered daily through shellfish- do you really want to eat raw seafood? Please read the FDA warnings.

Where in the world do you live, that would help us tell you...if you live in Minnesota true the Blue Point Oyster Bar near Lake Minnetonka. Those Blue Points are the best!

Linda, one might call you a bit of an alarmist, since you gave your warning out of context. That is, you left out the other half of the warning: that only those with a compromised immune system, such as those with HIV, or liver disease (including alcoholics) or those receiving chemotherapy, are unable to defend against these bacteria. Everyone else (most of us) will do just fine - our bodies fight these bacteria successfully every day. I say "Eat 'em raw, let 'em slide!" Now, Rick, as Vera said, where are you talking about?

I may be an alarmist, but my micro prof in college is head of Amer. Micr. Society and told us about cholera outbreaks that affected all people. You are right about Vulnificans....but there are other pollutants and chemicals in many waters which are cause for concern when consuming raw shellfish. I do have a degree in Bio/chem and I will not eat it nor would my professor!

sorry...I was posting under Louisiana...New Orleans...but I guess it also posted on the main page...

Linda, thanks for the concern..I know you are well meaning. I am willing to take my chances though...

Thanks...Rick

If you're in New Orleans then you should head over to the ACME Oyster House. If you want the best oysters, sit at the oyster bar instead of a table. The shuckers there are hilarious.

Casmento's.
PS--There is no New Orleans or LA page--there's only the US page.

Swan Oyster Depot

As for linda's comments, most oysters are now farm raised. Check the FDA records on eating grilled food, cancer cancer cancer. Everything kills us. Might as well go out with a high libido.

I hadn't tried them in years but recently had some at Acme Oyster House. They were excellent but the other food (gumbo and Adouille sausage) was just okay). Interesting you mention Pascal manales - it was across the street from the funky guesthouse we stayed in (the Dive-Inn) but we didn't get a chance to try the food there. Have heard that the food in general is good but haven't heard anything re/their oysters.

Rick-While the oyster bar at Pascal's was very good, we go there for the BBQ shrimp!
Good stuff. Great taxi ride from the FQ out to PM's too.

Nice to stop at Tipitina's on the way back to the FQ so you can have a quick one. You don't want to go thristy during the cab ride back!

As for oysters in the FQ, yep on Acme but also Felix's.
Kal

I had a nasty case of Hepatitis A after eating raw oysters so you can't tell me they are safe!

To all it may concern:

Please! Listen to Linda! We are...I mean THEY are nasty, nasty, nasty. In addition to all the bacteria I contain...I mean THEY contain, There are MANY other potential hazards in eating me...I mean THEM. You could ckoke to death on a pearl or prick your finger on my shell...I mean A SHELL.

Also, I have heard that all oysters are CURSED! And that if you eat me...I mean THEM, that strange and terrible things will happen to you and everyone you know!

So, please, don't eat us...I mean THEM! Nothing good will come of it and you could die...somehow.

Sincerely,

Ollie (difinitely NOT an oyster)

Ollie...lol. Well I did not mean to start such controversy!

Thank you everyone for their responses!

Rick

I just love raw oysters, but rarely order them, anymore, and always with fear. You see, a few years ago, I ordered an appetizer of oysters on the half-shell at a hotel restuarant in Victoria BC. All the oysters looked delicious, and I was enjoying their sweetness, when suddenly and with no warning, I slipped a putrid one into my mouth. Honestly, I had not even noted a foul smell. But, when it slid into my mouth, it was beyond disgusting; it was truly fecal. I spit it out immediately, and washed my mouth out with water several times. It took several minutes before the taste left my mouth. The waiter seemed to just wish I would disappear, and barely acknowledged my complaint. Interestingly, I did not get sick. That, I do not understand.

I wish I could recall the name of the restaurant, and I'd finally get my revenge on this travel board. Alas, I have blotted it from my mind. But the memories of the experience linger....

The minute an oyster is shucked, it begins to die. This is why the best oysters generally are to be found in oyster bars: They are shucked--right in front of you--to order. Even "fine" restaurants often "prep" their oysters beforehand; this is bad. At the very least, if an oyster must be shucked in advance, it should not be separated from the shell until it is eaten.

As for the bacteria, believe it or not, the combination of cocktail sauce, lemon juice, horseradish, tabasco, etc. actually serves to kill much of the bacteria that manage to live in oysters.

One last comment, sometimes you get a bad one. It's not necessarily the fault of the restaurant--or of the person who prepped it (even the above poster couldn't detect anything on the surface of her rotten one) it just happens.

Sorry, Ollie.

Aw, Shucks

I've heard that if you follow each oyster with a shot of liquor (not beer or wine, but liquor), it will kill so much bacteria that you should be fine. I actually heard this from a microbiologist. Linda, do you know if this is true?

I don't know about the oysters at Pascal Manales, but I can second the recommendation for BBQ shrimp - yum!

Donna,
First, ETOH is ETOH whether it's Stoli or Boone's Farm, LOL. This is a common myth about alcohol/seafood. Read http://www.fl-seafood.com/Seafood_Specific/oytfdser.htm.
Some people believe that Ceviche is safe because of the lime marinade. Same for sushi. Not true. High risk groups are still warned.One thing that nobody has mentioned on this post is raw food preparation. Are you sure the kitchen people are using clean utensils, fresh cutting surfaces, knives, etc? This is a serious problem when it comes to raw meat of any kind. Not downing you for your choices, but I will eat Veggie Sushi and Oysters Rockefeller any day over raw choices!

Casamento's (uptown on Magazine) has some of the best Oysters anywhere.

Pascals Manale is good too. Unfortunately, I think their BBQ shrimp is slipping -- oily and bland compared to Mr. B's (the best BBQ shrimp in N.O.)

ACME is good for oysters, but the rest of their food is way below par -- really bad! Whatever you do, don't order the gumbo there. Also, it's way too crowded most of the time.

Right around the corner from ACME is the Red Fish Grill. Fine oyster bar. They also have a few cooked oyster dishes that are outstanding... one is called BBQ Oysters...think buffalo wing with fried oysters instead of a wing. Even comes with the blue cheese dip! Yummmy!

If all the talk of bacteria gets you down, and you don't mind a truip to the 'burbs (Metairie), then put DRAGO'S on your list. They really know their Oysters there, and their specialty is CHAR-BROILED OYSTERS. They pop the top shell off, then put the bottom shell right on an open grill, then they baste each one in an herb-butter and throw on a little grated cheese. The open flame on the shells give these puppys a taste that is impossible to describe. It is the best cooked oyster you will ever put in your mouth!