Liuzza’s by the Track is a couple blocks from the New Orleans Fairgrounds, where the annual horse races and Jazz & Heritage Festival  are held.  It has been family owned and operated since 1996, but the 1930’s corner building is an historical landmark.  Liuzza’s is known for its signature BBQ Shrimp Po-Boy and other genuine New Orleans staples. Only closed on Sunday, except if the Saints’ are playing, it is quite popular.  Entering at the corner the room is filled with photos and memoriabilia.  A long bar runs the length of the room and you can eat and/or drink here as well as at the tables inside and out.  Windows to the street add extra light, music is in the background and parking is on the street.  Specials are on a board to supplement the menu.  Staff were super friendly, helpful and efficient.  We had to go back for a second visit and another of their shrimp Po-Boys.  Good place.

Facility

 

Food

We started with a Bloody Mary that was seasoned with pickled green beans and olives as well as a spicy tomato cocktail base.   It was very good and served in a chilled mug.

 

BBQ Shrimp PoBoy is their signature dish.  It is made with fresh shrimp sautéed in a New Orleans BBQ sauce and stuffed into a French Bread pistolette.  The shrimp were perfectly cooked, peeled and surrounded by a spicy, deeply flavored gravy, they called BBQ sauce.  Not what I’d call BBQ sauce but whatever you call it, it is delicious.  The generous amount of shrimp are well stuffed into the roll and the gravy melts into the bread making it a wonderful part of the dish.  You can’t pick it up like a sandwich but you’ll want to lick the plate and get every bit of that goodness.  It was so good we came back the next day and got it again.

 

The Garlic Oyster PoBoy is made with succulent, deep-fried oysters served on roasted garlic butter bread.  The oysters were fried to a nice crisp, still leaving the oyster moist inside and having a good balance of breading to oyster. The garlic flavor on the bread really added a nice touch to the fun, tasty sandwich.

 

Creole Gumbo is a savory New Orleans standard stock with sausage, chicken and a cornucopia of seasonings.  They saute fresh shrimp right before they send it to your taste buds.  It is also available without seafood.  It was nicely spicy and filled with ingredients to vary texture and taste.  While it was fun to try the BBQ shrimp poboy ran away with my heart.

 

Here’s another picture of a BBQ Shrimp PoBoy.