acme oyster house (new orleans, la)

I've always wanted to check out Acme after hearing great things from fellow Atlanta bloggers on Twitter and seeing it so much on TV. The downside to any restaurant shown so much on TV? The lines are absolutely ridiculous. Even with the rain and soul chilling temperatures outside, the line for Acme wrapped around the block.

The Canadian in me won't allow me to pass up poutine of any nature, good or bad, when I see it on the menu. Acme's version of this Canadian favorite is called "Boo Fries" on the menu and it's french fries, doused with roast beef gravy and cheddar cheese. While the chewy, gooey presence of the fresh cheese curds are heavily missed in the Boo Fries, the salty and savory roast beef gravy over the fries makes this a tasty appetizer. Of course, I am biased towards all poutine fries so this may be a hit or miss to some.

No trip Acme is complete without ordering some type of oyster. We got the chargrilled oysters after seeing them cook on the grill walking in. The briny oysters with a touch of smokiness and melted cheese over them smell fantastic and this version makes oysters palatable to even those scared of our shelled friends. Even after cooking, the oysters remain tender and succulent.

I got the Fried Peace Maker Po-Boy as my main -- fried oysters and shrimp "dressed" with Tobasco infused mayo. It wasn't my favorite thing at Acme but it was ok. The oysters smelled really fishy even after being in the deep fryer and I really didn't get any kick from the Tobasco. I actually added in more hot sauce to the Po-Boy which cured most of this sandwich's ills. Someone at our table got the Acme Special Po-Boy which looked and smelled really good. If I ever visit Acme again, I want to try that instead.

My friend got the New Orleans Medley which consists of gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and a grilled smoked sausage. The jambalaya was okay -- it was pretty dry and needed bolder flavors to stand up to the rest of the dish. The grilled sausage was simply what it sounds like -- a grilled sausage. It's salty, savory, and yummy. The seafood gumbo was pretty good. Stew-like thickness with a deep and bold flavor. The best thing on the plate though by far were the red beans. The red beans were just so savory, thick but resembled a creamy consistency and were seasoned to perfection.

Acme has a fun, communal atmosphere and we had fun eating at Acme. I think if you're looking for strictly awesome food, you can definitely find better food elsewhere. However, if you're looking for good food with a fun atmosphere to hang with your crew, Acme is definitely worth a visit. Make sure you get there early or prepare to wait in line for awhile!