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Grand Isle
575 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 520-8530
Web Site: http://www.grandislerestaurant.com
Despite the huge amount of destruction and displacement caused by Hurricane Katrina, restaurant life is still quite alive in New Orleans. In addition to a number of notable re-openings and renovations of popular and long standing restaurants, there have been a number of notable new restaurant openings as well. One of those is Grand Isle, in the Central Business District located right across from the Riverwalk shopping center and the Hilton hotel, and situated close to the Morial Convention Center.
We had been told about Grand Isle by local food writer Todd Price, who is always looking for good deals when eating out. During the hours between 4PM and 7PM, Grand Isle does a happy hour where you can get a big ‘ol plate of boiled seafood for $3.99. As it was shrimp season, they were offering 1lb plates of boiled Gulf Shrimp with corn and potatoes. That’s all it took to get us in the door.
Grand Isle restaurant on Convention Center Boulevard.
Main Dining Room
Dining Room View
Bar Dining Area
Oyster Bar
Rachel was still a bit under the weather and was in a soupy mood. We got some of their Turtle Soup, which is similar to a Gumbo but has turtle meat in it. It was turtlelicious.
Big ‘ol 1lb plate of Louisiana gulf shrimp, heads on, boiled in Zatarains, with corn on the cob and new potatoes. You can’t beat this deal for $3.99. At these prices, I was inclined to order a few more plates, but I wanted to check out the new Drago’s across the street and we had another dinner appointment that evening.
Shrimp closeup.
Off The Broiler 
I don’t think you ate enough to judge the kitchen, but the restaurant is very nice looking. The menu looks like a lot of fun!
[…] in the downtown Hilton hotel, near the Riverwalk shopping center. As we were across the street at Grand Isle checking out their happy hour, I absolutely had to try the new place and see if it lived up to the […]
I work in the CBD and have had the pleasure of eating at Grand Isle a few times. Early on they seemed to have some service issues, but my last couple of trips have been good. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the jalapeno shrimp appetizer as well as the potted crab. Their house Green Goddess dressing is also a favorite. I rarely do dessert at lunch but I am always tempted here. The lemon ice box pie and rice pudding are wonderful.
Horrible experience with this restaurant. Service was horrible and i have had better frozen dinners than the seafood they serve there. Way overpriced too.