A Louisiana Dining Experience So Exceptional, It’s Nationally Recognized

There are literally hundreds of restaurants in New Orleans from which to choose if you are a resident or visitor. Lucky for diners of all kinds, the vast majority of them are quite good; everyone knows that New Orleans is known for its cuisine. Among the many fantastic restaurants in The Crescent City, a large number of them are seafood restaurants, which makes sense due to Louisiana's culture and proximity to the water. With all that in mind, when one seafood restaurant rises above all the rest in the area, everyone should take notice.

GW Fins Restaurant is, without a doubt, one of the very best seafood restaurants in all of New Orleans. Plus, it has won countless awards. In 2024, it was named one of OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in the US for the fourth consecutive year. In that same year, it appeared on The Infatuation's list of The 25 Best Restaurants in New Orleans. Yelp included it on its list of the Top 100 Seafood Spots in America, and TimeOut called it the Best Restaurant in New Orleans' French Quarter.

These accolades are only the beginning for GW Fins, which has also won many other awards since it first opened in 2001. It is owned and operated by restaurateur Gary Wollerman and his family. Executive Chef Michael Nelson and General Manager Kyo Juttner help make every part of each diner's experience absolutely exceptional.

When you dine at GW Fins, you'll be amazed and impressed from the moment you walk through the door right up to the moment you leave. The service is exceptional, and you'll be welcomed in by each staff member that you pass on the way to your table. The vibe is classy and upscale, but also comfortable and welcoming. It's as unpretentious as the city of New Orleans itself, and all guests are treated with great care and beautiful Southern hospitality.

Of course, the focus at GW Fins (as it should be!) is the food. All fish served at GW Fins is as fresh as it can possibly be; fish that are not local to the area are flown in from other parts of the world daily. When possible, spearfish divers from the Gulf of Mexico offer GW Fins their morning catch. Other seafood incorporated into the dinner menu arrives from the airport at around 4 p.m.

Because of these factors — the uncertainty of what will be caught and what will arrive each day — the menu at GW Fins varies daily. The menu for each night's dinner service is printed every afternoon. Over a dozen different varieties of seafood are included on it, but you won't know which ones until you arrive.

Once these fish arrive whole, GW Fins' chefs butcher them with precision onsite on a specially created refrigerated table, and then turn them into beautiful, delicious, delectable dishes for the restaurant's patrons.

Beyond the seafood itself, all other ingredients included in GW Fins' dishes are also selected with great care. Seasonal ingredients and local fruits and vegetables are included whenever possible, and each item is elevated to its greatest potential as it passes through the hands of this restaurant's chefs.

Further, GW Fins is also well-known for its cocktails and wine. In fact, GW Fins has been awarded Wine Spectator's prestigious Award of Excellence every year since 2002, and over 100 wines from around the world are featured on the restaurant's menu. Everything that you will eat, drink, and experience at GW Fins will blow you away. This restaurant goes above and beyond in every way possible, and it shows.

If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience in New Orleans, then GW Fins should be at the top of your list. You and your dining companions will love everything about this establishment, and you'll be raving about your meal there for years to come. Make a reservation and get excited. You'll be quite glad that you took the opportunity to dine at GW Fins. And if you're looking for things to do before or after your meal, be sure to check out our itinerary planner for ideas.