SOUTH AUSTIN. Since 1994, the Alligator Grill has been South Austin's answer to N'Awlins style food and fun. During the daily happy hour (from 3pm-7pm), get shrimp for a dime a piece, oysters for a quarter each, wings for 35 cents, and $4 hurricanes. The rest of the time, nosh on boiled crawfish, fried catfish or shrimp, etouffee, gumbo and po' boys. Finish with beignets, fried Twinkies or bread pudding! Live jazz and blues on weekend evenings get the place jumping, but it's great for a family meal otherwise.

6TH STREET. For bayou-style seafood, look no further than Boiling Pot. The restaurant's Cajun Combo selection is a vast quantity of blue crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn dumped on the table for all to share. Other options include gumbo, oysters, and etouffee. For dessert, Key lime pie is ideal, but if you're feeling a little more adventurous, try chocolate-covered crawfish heads!

WEST END. It started out as a beignets and café au lait shop, but Crescent City expanded and now offers a full New Orleans menu. Choose from traditional dishes like po' boys, fried seafood platters, jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and red beans and rice. For dessert, bread pudding is good, but beignets are freshly made to order and are completely unbeatable! The place is quick, but don't equate it with fast food - it's miles better!

SOUTH AUSTIN. Owned and operated by a New Orleans native, Evangeline Café serves hearty portions of favorite French Quarter dishes. Menu highlights include stuffed pistolette (a small French roll with shrimp or crawfish and cheese sauce), boudin (Cajun sausage made with rice and spicy pork), shrimp etouffee, fried catfish, and awesome homemade potato chips with chipotle mayo for dipping. Live music in the evenings is a regular happening and adds to the already authentic atmosphere.

CEDAR PARK. Devoted to seafood of all kinds, Freda's is also known for serving a good selection of dishes inspired by native Louisiana cooking. The appealing interior boasts stained concrete floors, granite tables, multicolored light fixtures, and lots of windows, but folks often opt to dine on the outdoor patio when the weather's mild. Among the dishes to try are bacon-wrapped scallops, pecan-crusted tilapia, fried soft shell crabs, and a mixed seafood grill. Steaks, pastas, and chicken are available for folks who don't relish seafood. In addition, Sunday's brunch buffet is a bargain that features all-you-can-eat shrimp, oysters, crab cakes, fried catfish, French toast, omelets, soups, and desserts.