Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in Baton Rouge, Metairie with a total of 6 locations is widely regarded as a premier destination for traditional Louisiana seafood, particularly famous for its signature charbroiled oysters. Located in the Perkins Rowe development, the restaurant offers a casual but vibrant atmosphere suitable for families, business lunches, and large groups. » AI

Signature Dishes

The menu centers on South Louisiana staples, with many diners visiting specifically for the oyster bar.

Drago’s Original Charbroiled Oysters: The restaurant’s “star of the show,” these are grilled over an open flame with butter, garlic, and herbs.

Seafood Pasta: A popular entree often served with shrimp and crabmeat over angel hair pasta.

Maine Lobster: Notably offered as a stuffed lobster or as part of a “Twin Trio” featuring filet mignon.

Boudin Balls & Gator Tacos: High-quality appetizers that reflect local Cajun and Creole flavors.

The restaurant is described as massive, contemporary, and often noisy, featuring an open dining space where guests can watch chefs grill oysters.  It includes a large bar area with multiple TVs for sports and occasionally hosts live music on weekends.

The history of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in Metairie is a quintessential American immigrant success story, beginning with its founding by Drago and Klara Cvitanovich in 1969. Originally a small 60-seat establishment in Metairie’s Fat City district, it has evolved into a Louisiana culinary landmark famous for pioneering the charbroiled oyster.

While the restaurant was a steady neighborhood staple for decades, it achieved legendary status in 1993 due to a single dish.

The Creation: Tommy Cvitanovich, the founders’ son, experimented by brushing a sauce of garlic, butter, and herbs onto fresh oysters, dusting them with Parmesan and Romano cheese, and grilling them in their shells.

Motivation: The recipe was partially developed as a response to a raw oyster health scare at the time, providing a safe and delicious cooked alternative.

Impact: Today, the original Metairie location and its affiliates serve approximately 4 million oysters annually.

Here’s a cool video of their Oyster Kit