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Bruning's
Bruning's serves very good fried seafood and may be the oldest fried-seafood house in the world. It squats quietly on Lake Ponchartrain unaffected by storms, change, and politics. Bruining's is currently run by the fifth generation of the founder's family. It reeks of character, and has a history that stretches back to 1859. It occupies a unique position in New Orleans cuisine.
A chilly New Orleans day, with brisk winds and a choppy Lake Ponchartrain, is the right kind of day to have lunch at Brunings. Actually, I enjoy having a meal at Bruining's anytime. We arrived early for lunch. The lake windows in the dining room were already taken. We sat a couple of rows back from the lake windows, but could still see the choppy waters of the Lake. Lake Ponchartrain gets choppy easily. We weren't there long before the regulars began to show up and fill the dining room. This wasn't a tourist place. It was fun being in the middle of a bunch of folks enjoying great food. We ordered a cup of gumbo, which is equal to any and better than most. The fried shrimp and oysters were prepared succulently perfect. I personally prefer the shrimp remoulade and did. Oh man, the remoulade sauce and the shredded lettuce with the boiled shrimp was scrumptious. Lunch was just plain good. Throw in the history and the locals and it just doesn't get any better. When you go, a word about some other things. The boiled crabs and crawfish are excellent. Broiled flounder and trout are hard to beat. Their bread pudding makes a good dessert. Check out Bruining's. It's a part of our New Orleans culture.
Mike Clay with Word Pictures, a community service of Lifesongs.
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