History
Deanie's Seafood was established in 1961. The original owners were John and Alma (Deanie) Livacari. Initially, the business was located on Old Hammond Highway before moving to Orpheum Street and finally to Lake Avenue, where it remains today. Ownership changed hands on April 26, 1982 and was purchased by Frank and Barbara Chifici.

Together with their family, Frank and Barbara Chifici continued the tradition of Deanie's Seafood in Bucktown. The concept would be as simple as "Great Food, Big Portions with moderate prices". The menu consists of many New Orleans favorites with our own spin on things. Our atmosphere is a casual family restaurant that is inviting to our locals as well as to tourists. Under Barbara's leadership, with the help of her children, Deanie's has evolved into one of the top seafood restaurants in the city.
 

Born and raised in New Orleans, Barbara is of French and Italian decent. Her background includes several family members as restaurateurs. At a very young age, she acquired art interest in cooking. Many hours were spent in the observation and questioning of the fantastic cooks in her family. Of course, she got hands-on experience, too. She wanted to know everything there is to know in order to become a great cook. At nineteen years of age, she married and went to live in Paris with her husband, who was attending Le Cordon Bleu.

In the early 1970's, Barbara and Frank opened their first restaurant, Chifici's on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Their second restaurant, Gromboli's located on Veteran's Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, opened early in 1982. Both restaurants were closed to concentrate their energy on Deanie's, which was a much larger operation.

Barbara's career has afforded her the opportunity to work with local chefs as well as other chefs around the country. She has cooked for national political figures, celebrities in the entertainment field and sport personalities. She spent three weeks in western New York instructing a small group of chefs that were eager to learn more about Cajun/Creole cuisine. As chef, Barbara has been invited to participate as a judge in food contests around the country. She has judged on both professional and amateur levels.

Accolades

New Orleans Magazine Reader's Choice Award
Best place for fried seafood - 2001, 2002
Best place for boiled seafood and fried seafood - 1994, 2002

Gambit Weekly
Best Boiled Seafood - 1992,1993,1994,2001
Best Fried Seafood - 2001
Best Boiled Crawfish - 1990
Best Seafood Market - 1999
Best Seafood Restaurant - 1999,2000

Best of the Best
5 Stars Diamond Award - 1991, 1992
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant
One of the top 50 Seafood restaurant in the U.S.
Fish/Seafood, Bronze Award Winner.

Louisiana Restaurant Association
3rd Place Menu Contest
1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

Food Finds
Top 5

Travel Channel
Featured restaurant

Reviews

Virtual Travel
...restaurant where they serve some of the best-fried and boiled seafood in the area. Deanie's Seafood Restaurant is known as the "Home of the Giant Seafood Platter."...

Best of New Orleans - Gambit Weekly
...offers heaping portions served by a friendly staff in a large, bustling dining room. Deanie's seafood platters are legendary...

Time Out Magazine
...large portions of boiled or fried seafood, all cooked with just the right amount of spice...