Mosca’s Restaurant
4137 US Hwy 90 W, Westwego, LA, 70094
Mosca’s Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Westwego for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Westwego for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Westwego for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4137 US Hwy 90 W
Westwego, LA, 70094 - Phone (504) 436-8950
- Website https://www.moscasrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Lacie D.
Things to know about Mosca's before you go: They are strictly cash only It takes around 50 minutes to get your food The restauraunt can get VERY loud Portions are huge You usually need reservations The menu is limited I find Moscas to be expensive for what you get. I have mainly tried the spaghetti and meatballs. The red gravy is good, but the meatballs are dense. The pasta was angle hair cooked al dente. I have also had the crab salad which was mostly iceberg lettuce tossed in a light house dressing and sprinkled with crab meat. It tasted better than it looked but I was not overly impressed. Supposidly the oysters and chicken la mosca are amazing and I am told that they would change my mind about the place. If I come again, I will have to give the chicken a try (I dont eat oysters). For me, the food is not good enough to justify the drive, cost, and time, but it is the noise factor that definitely kills it for me. It is so loud you cannot talk to the person sitting next to you without shouting and only further adding to the earsplitting noise. 50 minutes of staring at the people you are with and smothered by the reverberation of ever conversation in the room is not my idea of a nice meal.
(3)Danny B.
Wow! THE best Italian cuisine in town. It's served family style so you'll do well to order several entrees for the table. We went with the crabmeat salad, Shrimp Mosca, Oysters Mosca, Chicken Cacciatore, and filet. Everything was really good. The Oyster Mosca was unbelievable -- kill me now, my work down here is done!
(5)Andy S.
Take a step back in time at Moscas. Located just outside New Orleans, this place has the authentic feel of old Italy. Located in an unassuming building on the side of the highway. Inside still keeps cool with window unit air conditioner. Besides all of the non-traditional modern amenities, the food and experience in Moscas is top notch. Ask the waiter for recommendations. They will steer you in the right direction.
(4)Mike M.
My family loved every part of our meal from start to finish. The oyster and shrimp mosca was so delicious. The crab salad is a must have.
(5)Morris P.
In sad decline, unfortunately. At one time this was one of my favorite places to eat on planet Earth, but no more. I've been going to Mosca's periodically over the past fifteen or so years, and each time there is a little less care and a little less yumminess overall. This visit was a low point. The iconic Mosca's dishes (we had Italian crabmeat salad, Chicken a La Grande and the Oysters Mosca)-are ordered so frequently that the kitchen has obviously taken to preparing a few copies of each in advance. Both the oysters and the chicken we ordered were lukewarm at best, and both of them came out of the kitchen WAY too fast. I contrast this with the first chicken a la grande I had fifteen years ago, which took 35-40 minutes to cook. The wait for THAT chicken was well worth it! The Italian crabmeat salad consisted of a few meager flakes of crabmeat, with iceberg lettuce. The only taste overall was of lemon, and careful examination of the salad's composition revealed no flecs of spices at all. The salad was a huge disappointment-basically tasteless. As previously mentioned the Oysters Mosca were lukewarm and lacking in the garlic/oil/oyster/breading umami upon which the Mosca's mystique is built. Ditto the Chicken A La Grande: warm (not hot), and nowhere near the flavor/texture explosion I remember. Service, never a strong point, actually bordered on unfriendly this time, which is something new. The wait staff always made up for a (blessed) lack of French Quarter slickness by being homey and conversational. This time, our waiter never smiled. She took our order, brought our food, and then brought the check when I requested it. I was not expecting (or wanting) fawning, ingratiating service, but I've experienced greater levels of enthusiasm when filling my gas tank. RIP John Mosca. It's a shame that Mosca's just isn't very good any more.
(2)Flora H.
*** JBF America's Classic (1999) *** #10 *** Mosca's is about 30 minutes outside of New Orleans (CBD / French Quarter), and not open on Sundays or Mondays or for lunch, so it took me many trips to New Orleans before being able to fit it into my schedule. This time, in New Orleans for only one night, Mosca's was the only choice. I called about a month in advance to book a reservation which probably wasn't really necessary, give that the restaurant was only about 60% full at 8:30 pm on a Thursday night, but they recommend making reservations and I didn't want to take any chances. Very unassuming, Mosca's is located off the side of the highway, with not much around it. I have no idea how James Beard found this place, but I'm glad that they did. You can definitely tell that this place is an institution, somewhere that has many regulars that have been coming for decades. Old school, they still accept cash only. Everything is served family style and made to order. Don't arrive starving, because it takes 50 minutes or more to prepare the food. We thought that they were exaggerating with the estimate, but it was close to 50 minutes to prepare our oysters and pasta. There was bread on the table and we ordered a salad which came out very quickly, so that was able to tide us over. THE FOOD: Italian Crabmeat Salad - Iceberg lettuce with oil, vinegar, giardinera, and fresh jumbo lump crabmeat - I'm not usually a fan of iceberg lettuce, but the chunks of fresh (not processed, packaged) crabmeat made this and interesting and very good salad. Not something that I was blown away by, but something that I definitely enjoyed. It was dressed with just the right amount of oil and vinegar (not overpowering as some places do, especially when trying to dress up iceberg lettuce). A solid starter while waiting for your meal. Spaghetti Bordelaise (Oil, Butter, and Garlic) with Oysters Mosca (Small) - The oysters were not healthy at all but totally amazing. The small was more than enough for two people when paired with the pasta. They were served almost like a casserole, baked with breadcrumbs and I don't know what other secret ingredients, but they were delicious. They went well with the bordelaise, which on its own might have been a bit plain, but with the oysters was perfect. Very friendly staff that made us feel just like any of the regulars, even though we clearly were not. I'm glad we were finally able to make the trip out to Avondale. I wish it were a bit closer to New Orleans so that we could go more often, but at the same time that's part of the charm!
(4)Jim G.
Traditional-type italian restaurant that looks kinda like a roadhouse about 5 miles from the middle of nowhere on westbank on way to Houma. Not interested, right? Mistake. You know the place is good when you walk in and there's couple big tables of lakeview-looking folks who drove in to celebrate something. This place is and looks old and it's worth a trip for the atmosphere alone. The food's pretty good too. Think italian of the nola/sicilian variety - red sauce, garlic, etc. Spaghetti and meatballs are excellent - perfectly al dente pasta (doesn't sound like big deal but how often do you really get it that way), big meatballs, slightly zesty red gravy. Soup, salad and bread went well with the meal but nothing great. I didn't get the chicken a la grande but I think that's actually their specialty. Will do-dat time and update review.
(4)Nicole C.
Mosca's is a local tradition, yet I only just dined here recently. Party of 8 on a Saturday night for a Birthday celebration. Place was jam packed. From the outside, it looks a bit sketchy, but once you walk in and smell the Italian cooking, it's heaven. We were seated right away since we had reservations (make them) and the hostess happily took the cake I brought and put it in the walk-in. Mosca's is family style so go with a small group if possible so you can try a few different dishes. We had the spaghetti and meatballs, I really like their red sauce. The Oysters Mosca is a baked dish of delishiousness....a fan favorite! The Crab Salad...way more crab than you would think, a perfect summer dish! The Spaghetti Bordelaise (Oil, Butter, and Garlic) dish was the table favorite, so simple, but very right. Hmmm...what else did we have? Oh! The Shrimp Mosca, shrimp in shell sauteed with Italian seasonings and white wine, these were done well. Last but not least, the Mimi's Broiled Chicken was enjoyed. I would probably order the other dishes over this one though, because the others were just so great! Mosca's is an experience, an experience worth the drive to Avondale!
(4)Jorgelina T.
I had spaghetti and salad... it was the best spaghetti and the best salad I have ever eaten... I wish I had eaten something else or had the opportunity to return... I was surprised since I only made the trip out there to experience where "The Little Man" dined so often... now, I know why he did...
(5)Liz B.
What a great atmosphere! If you want to feel like a huge family style dinner, this is as good as it gets! The food is incredible and staff is amazing. You have to get the crab salad and oyster Mosca and be sure to come hungry. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)Jennifer G.
The food here is amazing, seriously really good! You'd never expect that by looking at the place! BUT you have to make a reservation on a weekend and they do not accept credit cards, that's why they get 4 stars and not 5. I just think it's ridiculous for any restaurant these days to not take credit cards. Aside from that, Mosca's is always a special treat and never disappoints!
(4)Lindsay H.
Old school. Family style Italian. In the middle of no where. Everything was good. We had four people and ordered a chicken dish, a shrimp dish, a salad and spaghetti and had a brown bag. They now accept reservations. If you're in the mood to treat your family to Italian and have the time to drive, È squisito!
(4)Megan M.
My husband and I would visit Mosca's about 2-3 times a year when we lived in New Orleans. It is definitely a local's joint. We always had the same incredible server it kinda felt like we were dining with family every time we went. You have heard the saying that often times the best meals are often eaten at "hole in the wall" establishments. Well Mosca's is an unassuming, tiny, and weather worn building on the side of deserted back road in bayou country on the way to Boutte, LA. (Boo-Tee) If you aren't paying attention, you may very well drive right by it, and not ever know you've passed it. Thank gawd for GPS! It's not close to the QTR, so unless you have a rental car or are visiting friends who have a car it is quite the hike, but well worth the trouble. The Huey P is not for the faint of heart at night. This rickety dinosaur of a bridge was designed for cars from 40 years ago. Certainly not the HUGE cars we drive today and for sure not fun when you have to share the tiny two laner with a semi. Just close your eyes if you aren't driving, but you will miss the amazing view. The food is served family style (HUGE portions) which is great because dining should be a shared experience. Don't go there if you are in a hurry because it's not a fast food place. Good things take time. Not a huge menu to choose from, but this never mattered to our group as we always ordered the same thing. Never waver and you won't be disappointed!! Italian salad with lump crab - Light and delish plenty to share. Shrimp Mosca -Oh my garlic heaven in every bite! Can be a tad oily, but hey if you're on vacation - live a little. Oysters Mosca - Divinely seasoned cooked to perfection a party in the mouth. Chicken a la Grande - The highlight of the evening!!! - Moist, tender, fall off the bone, seasoned to perfection, and melt into your mouth goodness, with a sauce that you will be sopping up with every last piece of bread. Roasted potatoes or a side of spaghetti - Always crowd pleasers but never the stars. Finish with a cup a coffee and revel in the delightful meal that you enjoyed with family and friends. A trip out to the Bayou for a meal at Mosca's is a night you will always remember. It's definitely one of my fondest memories about living in the Crescent City prior to Katrina. So glad they are still there!! *FYI* Not sure if they are still CASH ONLY, but I would definitely go prepared to pay with cash if I were you.
(4)Lee S.
No, it's not in the quarter It's a trip back in a real time machine. And they pile 'blue crab' meat and carrots on lettuce with italian dressing. And that alone deserves some sort of culinary award. SImple, authentic, and real New Orleans Italian cuisine. This is food that you think about when you're not there.
(4)McRae T.
This place was great! Read up on the history if you go. The menu is small and the food is a little slow (everything made to order), but it's well worth it! The red sauce is different.... Which to me simply equates to "good." I find that most red sauces at Italian restaurants all taste the same. Not here! It's delicious! We ordered a side to go with our bread and then a meatball on the side with our meal. We ordered the shrimp mosca and the oysters mosca. Which are really two completely different dishes. The shrimp I probably won't order again, but I will DEFINITELY return for the oysters!! It was incredible, especially given the fact that I expected a very mediocre dish of oysters and the usual butter and bread crumb topping that most seafood places do in one way or another. This was truly different! the table next to us got the chicken cacciatore which looked very good as well. Wish we would have gotten it instead of the shrimp. Next time, and there will DEFINITELY be a next time!
(4)Neha S.
Tonight, I went to Mosca's. If you're in the mood for a huge "family-style" dinner, this is the place to go. We started with 'blue crab' salad, which was excellent and loaded with meat. Then came the good old fashioned Italian chicken basted in a rosemary sauce. Very heavy. So you have to be in the mood for a sit-down meal. Also, if you go later ...like around 7, you're going to have to wait. I went on a Tuesday night and the place was packed! Try to get there early and bring good company as there is a bit of a wait for the food (well worth it, I might add). I also had just this pasta in red sauce which was amazing. I'm not sure what the red sauce was ... but it was fabulous. The richest thing on the menu were the clams. They were prepared so well that I had no room for dessert. Though, I'll be sure to go back for dessert when I feel that I have finally digested all of the food. hahaha Our server knew the restaurant and the menu really well, and navigated everything very nicely. Dress casually and when you go, make an evening of it! It takes a while to get out there. They weren't well staffed the night we went, but the food was well worth it. I think to properly enjoy this place... you have to be in the proper mindset. Imagine yourself fifty or sixty years ago at a neighbor's house for dinner. You're there for the old-time themed restaurant and and the delicious food. Take your time.
(4)Aleatha M.
Live a mile from here. Never a bad dish. Delicious!!! Steaks and crab salad? Now that's good eatin!
(5)Hope K.
I recently went to Mosca's with five other people--all of us making the trek from our usual haunts in downtown New Orleans to the faraway land of Avondale. As recommended, we ate family style--we ended up sharing large-size portions of the Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken a la Grande, Sausage and Potatoes, Oysters Mosca, an Italian Salad, and two bottles of wine. Plus an order of cheesecake and an order of pineapple fluff--we were curious! For six adults, splitting everything fairly equally, this was just about enough food. The food was delicious--the sausage crispy, the spaghetti light and flavorful, the pineapple fluff...fluffy! Still, for the money/tip we all spent, I would have liked to have had a bit of food to take home. Pros: Tasty food, friendly waiters, nice for a communal experience with friends. Cons: Long drive to Avondale from New Orleans proper. Also, if you're really hungry and eating with a big group, you probably want to order more than you think you'll need. Neutral: The menu warns of a 50 min wait time for meals to arrive--however, that also means that the food is prepared to order--not necessarily a bad thing! Also, it's a family style place, so expect, you know, families. There were a lot of...shouty...kids while we were there--and while I'm good at tuning that sort of thing out, if the joyous screams of young humans set your teeth on edge, you might want to come prepared. Or order an extra bottle of wine.
(4)Katie M.
Overpriced and disappointing. I would happily have made a more enjoyable chicken and pasta dinner at home.
(2)Bert W.
One of the worst meals I have had in New Orleans area. Food is over priced and any of the "dangerous charm" has been renovated out of the place! Much more expensive than $$ more like $$$$ and they only take cash. Everyone in the group was disappointed and had stomach issues after we left. The salad was lacking with no artichokes or the usual things you find in an Italian salad. Shrimp Mosca's was bland and the chicken Mosca's was as well. For the price tag of over $300.00 we could have had a sooooo much better meal elsewhere. We had so many leftovers for 4 of us but I tossed them because it made us sick.
(1)Vanessa V.
I was just going through my list of New Orleans spots and realized I left out Mosca's! How dare I? In the same way that Food Inc will turn anyone with a heart into a vegetarian, the smell of Mosca's will turn any lifelong herbivore into a cold blooded meat-eater. As guilty as I feel about it, years later I still find myself dreaming about Mosca's chicken cacciatore. The salad is surprisingly good too, as is pretty much everything else. It's worth the drive from New Orleans proper to the middle of nowhere to visit this classic (semi-secret) spot. It's the real deal-- I promise.
(5)Jen R.
here's the deal: it's on 90 west about 20 miles from the city proper. so if you're visiting - not a cab ride. time to befriend someone with a car and offer them a dinner at mosca's for driving you to mosca's. actually, it's closer to the airport than the city so maybe what you should do is take a cab from the airport straight to mosca's and invite the cabbie to join you for dinner. i don't think that will necessarily make your ride a free one but it will make your cabbie a happy one. happier, anyway. also: cash only. also: really just a shack on the outside and very simple on the inside. low on ambiance, high on charm. you feel me? not a place to take someone you're trying to impress by appearances. also: the food is made to order, so arrive before you are starving, and bring people you like to make the time go faster. and to share the food with you, because also: family-style. ===================================== clearly, the mosca family has sold their souls to the devil. i hope they got a fair group rate from the man in red. it's just a chicken, butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and dried rosemary. DRIED ROSEMARY. like, the kind you shake out of a plastic container with holes on the lid. so ok, something you or i or anyone with an oven could make at home. so how come it tastes so good? i already answered that question above. in addition to a whole chicken ala grande, our party of three had the crab salad (fresh, zesty, sweet meat, a little crazy on the pickled somethings...albino beet-like things?), a small spaghetti bourdelaise and the large oysters mosca. i couldn't have eaten the pineapple fluff even if they hadn't sold out of it but the description made me want to make room for it so, next time. problem is, i still want to eat all of those other things. so i guess i'll have to bring one more person to divide dinner up with so i'll have room for dessert. problem solved.
(4)Caroline L.
I was disappointed in Mosca's. I heard it was awesome but I just felt like it was okay. The white bean soup was bland and our waters were empty the first half of the meal. The food was pretty good but overpriced. It is in the middle of nowhere so I probably would not go back.
(2)Daniel K.
I went with a group of 11 guys and we chowed down! We had the server order for us and we were not disappointed. The crab salad to start followed up with delicious bread and garlic shrimp. Two types of baked garlic, rosemary chicken were served up as well. All of the food was fantastic. The pasta was perfect and the oyster dish was super tasty! We were stuffed with pineapple puffs and homemade cheese cake for dessert. It was certainly worth the trip out of the city. I will be back.
(5)Anna T.
A great place to over-eat with friends and fam! Everything was simply done and delicious, especially the spaghetti and meatballs - yum yum! The atmosphere is very casual and friendly. Be sure to make a reservation before you go if you can (I know they only take reservations on certain days...). Definitely worth the drive out there! and oh em gee, their cheesecake is GOOD. You probably won't have room for dessert, but have dessert anyway! Don't forget it's cash only! So yes, this place takes a little planning if you are going to do it right, but it is worth the effort!
(5)Gavin S.
If you're looking for fancy, this is not your place. Mosca's personifies the term "old school" probably more than any other restaurant in New Orleans. That said, the food is so damn good, who really cares? Served family style, their entrees epitomize classic Sicilian cooking, and the simple elegance of the food easily outclasses even the best Italian restaurants. And ordering could not be simpler. Italian salad, Oyster's Mosca, Chicken ala Grande and a side of spaghetti with olive oil and you're set. And by set I mean you're in culinary heaven...
(5)Paco d.
Mosca's made the best rosemary/garlic chicken thighs I ever ate, 20 years ago, and I've been trying to reproduce that dish at home ever since. I'm glad to see it on Yelp, and hope to make my way back there someday. If you're in New Orleans it's well worth the drive out there.
(5)Elise H.
We made the trip out here on Friday night based on the recommendation of a member of our party who is enamored with the place. If I liked oysters, I might have gotten excited, but I found it very comparable to other hometown restaurants - not bad, but not worth the venture out from the Quarter where there are some phenomenal meals to be had (see Louisiana Bistro). The salad was over-dressd and oily, and the roasted chicken was nicely seasoned but nothing special. The sausage with roasted potato side is your best bet. Also, be forewarned - cash only.
(2)Jak K.
Still one of my favorites after coming here for almost five decades. Consistently good food. Simple New Orleans style Sicilian/Italian food. Cleaned up since Katrina. Probably operated by younger members of the Mosca family. (conjecture). Mostly local people. No one does New Orleans Italian better. Worth the effort and time if you want unpretentious good food and service.
(5)Mandy N.
yes, yes, yes! awesome family style dining. we had oysters mosca, shrimp mosca (tip: save some bread for dipping), the sausage dish (made in-house) and pasta with olive oil. all delicious! mosca's has a jukebox with lots of classic goodness and last but certainly not least, they make a damned fine dirty martini. would love to go again...soon.
(5)Matt R.
Ive had better food at a Chinese buffet. crab salad was out of a bag, chicken was greasy, bread and butter was hard and frozen, and they were out of tea. it's 2011 and you dont take credit card? you would assume that if you're making such a high demand on your customers by taking cash only, the food and service would be peerless, but this is not the case. if you wanted to spend $150+, you'd be better off getting a speeding ticket, at least the officer would spend more time with you than our waitress did. as a Sicilian, i would be ashamed to bring people to this place. Olive Garden has more flavor and character than this dump. you would imagine that by seeing the window units every 4 ft that it should let people know how terrible the place is inside. i have no idea how this place lasted this many years. it is a perfect example of Kitchen Nightmare's.
(1)Elle A.
I went to this joint over New Year's at the suggestion of a Mosca's enthusiast. It's a bit "out of town" as most reviews mention, but you immediately get the feeling of being a part of something special upon arrival. (It's literally a tiny joint off a highway). I was there with a a large group and so the family style presentation worked nicely. There is also an interesting jukebox that we embraced, playing tunes to the likes of Dean Martin. My vegetarian companion was a little dissapointed being that she was part of a carnivore family style dinner (she opted for bread, wine, and salad) but other than that, fantastic. We got several things and this oyster--pie ish thing was particularly amazing. I have a motto when you go into a restaurant for the first time, you order the most basic thing (i.e. cheeseburger) and that sets the standard for the rest of the menu. In this case, the spaghetti and meatballs was a favorite by all. I also heard that they've used the same pans for 40+ years and also "back in the day", mafia people used to go there. Got to love a good history.
(4)Cameron W.
This place is as authentic as any food you can find anyplace on earth. It's very Italian and very New Orleans, even though its 20 miles away in a godforsaken swamp (okay, its on the edge of suburban Avondale). Their Oysters Mosca -- oysters baked in a pan with olive oil, garlic and other good stuff -- are one of the true New Orleans classics. I don't like the chicken la grande that others go crazy over, but thats okay because i am an oysters fanatic. It's worth the trip, absolutely and without a doubt. Its pricey, but you don't need 4 entrees for 4 people. Three will do.
(4)Michael K.
Yet another of the hundreds of great meals was had Friday night at Mosca's with the entire family and friends. This place NEVER ever disappoints. It's a little bit of a hike from New Orleans/Metry, but why not for a great meal and a great time. Hiring a taxi and/or limo is not a terrible idea if it's a big occasion. What to order: ALWAYS get the crab salad, baked oysters, shrimp Mosca (unreal...), meatballs, and potatoes. The smell of fresh garlic and basil are unmistakable and lasting (literally on your clothes) even after the meal, but in a good way. This will be my last meal if ever required in life to have one last meal.
(5)Joann B.
We were having a mini reunion in Metairie and some family members mentioned dinner at Mosca's. We've not all dined together, so we were all unsure about what kind of dinner was ahead of us. The restaurant seems to be in the middle of nowhere as it was next to the highway and not surrounded by much. The exterior made me think of a double wide trailer, but the inside is pleasant. The staff is courteous and were willing to answer any questions/requests we had. Everything is served family style here, so you won't have your own personal entree. The ten of us split the Crab Salad, Italian Salad, Spaghetti Bordelaise, Oysters Mosca and Chicken A La Grande. I fell in love with the Oysters Mosca and the Spaghetti Bordelaise. Having those two together was the perfect dinner for me! I usually only eat raw oysters because the few times I had Oysters Rockefeller, they were some of the worst things I had eaten. Going into this, I was wary and thinking the Oysters Mosca were going to be gross, but I was proven completely wrong. The oysters were not mushy/chewy, they weren't overly breaded nor greasy. It was tender and very flavorful and like I stated, the perfect pairing with the Bordelaise. I had some misgivings about the Bordelaise as well. They could have been dry, bland, oily, but again, I was wrong. They were made al dente with a hint of garlic buttery-ness. It played well with the slightly sweet but savory oysters and their seasoned breading. My new comfort food from Mosca's. The chicken was good, but I thought it was overcooked and dry. I couldn't taste the crab in the crab salad and the Italian salad was your standard garden type salad. We had no room for dessert, but I wasn't broken up about it. The Oysters Mosca and Spaghetti Bordelaise made it all worthwhile. The downsides to this place are: It's CASH ONLY folks! If you're a vegan, like one of my relatives, there isn't anything for you to eat here. Sorry vegans.
(4)Dylan I.
Firstly, let me say I have been going to Moscas for almost twenty years of my life. This is no doubt the best Italian food available in the Greater New Orleans area. It's not just Italian food though, it's Italian with Moscas' own southern twist. Every time I go, I start off with the crab salad which is excellent. All of the entrees are amazing as well. For example, the Oyster Mosca is my favorite. They get a crispy on the outside but so moist on the inside. I am convinced that you will never find a dish in the world similar. The Chicken a la Grande is also a must-get. Then there is the pasta with bordelaise sauce. I also get it with meatballs and put tomato sauce on the bordelaise pasta, and there is no better meal in this city. Service and wine list are also great and this is why Moscas is one of my favorite New Orleans eaterys.
(5)Lindsay A.
Hop in your car, cue the theme song to The Sopranos, drive past the truck stops/casinos and Subways until you think you'll drive into a swamp, go to the one stoplight of Avondale, take a U-turn and park in the dirt lot of the white house. Cue up the Godfather theme. Step out of the car and be prepared for old-school New Orleans Italian that has not changed (probably) since it opened in 1946. Open the door to Mosca's and I would put money that Frank is playing on the jukebox. Some women who look like they stepped out of Jersey are probably standing guard. There is a big family table in the front room by the bar. It was a Wednesday night and the place was pretty empty but we were still asked if we had a reservation. We did. My friends were treating me to dinner for planning some great birthday celebrations and they wanted something interesting and different. This was it! We were led to our table. To our left, a daughter, boyfriend, and dad had just finished their first bottle of wine and salad, to our right, three big dudes in suits were cackling over their meatballs. This place is pretty amazing. The three of us shared a salad, two bottles of wine, spaghetti and meatballs, and an Oysters Mosca and were stuffed to the gills. However, that didn't stop us from ordering a pineapple fluff out of pure curiosity. We enjoyed everything from the food, to the atmosphere, to the people-watching. Yes, it's still cash only (of course a place like this is). It's a little pricey but for everything being served family-style, you do not need an entrée per person. If you are looking for a nice old-fashioned Italian dinner outside of NOLA, I highly recommend checking this out at least once. When we were leaving that night, there was a huge crowd gathered at the 'family table'. The guy sitting at the head of the table turns to us and says "Have a good night! Hey, and tell us the next time you're coming back!" I guess we're part of the family now.
(5)Bonnie R.
A bit off the beaten path, this classic old style New Orleans Italian restaurant is still consistently wonderful! The atmosphere is plain & uneventful, but it's always full (mostly larger groups of people) on the weekends! We had our favorites: crab Italian salad, Oysters Mosca, Chicken a la Grande and a side of pasta. Fabulous as usual!
(5)Anthony C.
Definitely worth checking out. The wait staff was on top of their game. Although kind of noisy it is a good atmosphere and it is a place you should make reservations. Everything tasted great most certainly a true Italian restaurant.. When ordering a "whole" meal it is enough for 2 people, no need to order a personal meal because you will take home food.
(4)Alexandra S.
It's only because Calvin Trillin, wrote a piece about Mosca's in the New Yorker last year that we found ourselves last week, driving over night-darkened two lane blacktops to find this restaurant in the middle of what seems like nowhere Louisiana. As Calvin Trillin quotes a local friend: " 'Mosca's always had the feel of a neighborhood restaurant, without the neighborhood.' " There is simply nothing else around here but road. It was an adventure, the kind of mysterious road trip that I love. And when we finally arrived and saw this old-timey roadhouse as the only beacon lighting up the dark, I felt ridiculously happy. And believe it or not out here, reservations really are a must . The locals have known about and loved this place since 1946. I don't think of Louisiana as an Italian-food kind of destination but the history and lore surrounding Mosca's was intriguing enough to take a chance. We entered and felt like it was still 1946. It feels frozen in time leaving one to wonder if you've fallen down the rabbit hole and done some time travel. You walk into a main room with a bar, a few tables and an old jukebox filled with oldies crooners. Love! We were then ushered into a second room which is the main dining room. It was little bit like walking into someone's great-aunt's dining room . From the moment we walked in we were greeted warmly and immediately brought to our table which was situated near a faux fireplace. I swear it made me feel warmer but in reality the undulating "embers" gave off no heat. What happened here has happened to me in a couple of other Louisiana restaurants and that is, we were waited on by everyone. Rather than being confusing, it simply felt like all the staff was really looking out for us and making sure we felt cared for and attended to. Nothing was duplicated, it's just that everyone made sure our water and wine glasses were filled, that the warm and tasty bread basket was at the ready, and that our every need was being met. You are told upfront that each dish is cooked to order and depending on what you've selected, your meal could take up to 50 minutes to prepare. So sit back, relax and have an appetizer and a drink, no one is rushing you. We ordered wine and what's simply called "an Italian salad" to share. The portions we were told are large and indeed they are. Out came a very big mixed salad which was plenty for two of us. It was iceberg lettuce (which I happen to love) with a variety of raw and pickled veggies. It was simple, a bit different and quite delicious. We heard the oyster casserole was a must, so we ordered it. While the flavors were good it was unfortunately much too salty. This was a disappointment because I think it otherwise would have been a wonderful dish. For my main I ordered a simple bowl of spaghetti with the Mosca's version of a red sauce. For me this can be the true test of a southern Italian-style restaurant. How the pasta is cooked and the flavor of the sauce is often a barometer of authentic goodness...or not. I was also in the mood for some familiar comfort food after a few days that had been heavy on ultra spicy Cajun-Creole delights. While the dish was good, it wasn't amazing. I wondered how Calvin Trillin was waxing poetic about his decades of visiting this restaurant. Yet the restaurant was filled. For us as it turned out, it was less about the food and more about the experience. The menu has stayed the same over the years of Mosca's long existence. There are never any "specials". The menu is what the menu is and always will be. One of the favorites is something called Chicken a la Grande. There are a couple of shrimp options including Shrimp Mosca which is a simple saute version with white wine. There are sausage and peppers, quail dishes and a steak dish. This is not a vegetarian's paradise and therefore does vary from other southern Italian restaurants with which I'm familiar. Nonetheless, this is the tried and true menu for this beloved Lousiana shrine and who am I to quibble with it? We may not have ordered the entrees that put Mosca's on the locals' radar for all these years. I don't know. But it was still a good adventure. Even if the food didn't transport us, the experience in many ways did. It's hard to describe why. It's a place that reminded me of something vaguely very good from my past. That's all I can tell you. The food we ordered was a 3 star experience but this is unfortunately based on one meal in one visit. Clearly, others would strongly disagree. If you come, note that it's cash only. Lots of times, just being in Louisiana and interacting with people who hail from these parts, trumps everything else. This visit counts as memorable on that front. I'd say go visit Mosca's and let me know if you fell down that same magical rabbit hole too. P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to all my cherished Yelp friends.
(3)Stephen V.
The food: fantastic. Service: the best (Missy was great!). Price: very reasonable. The wine: great selection, good prices, stay with the Italians. Details: Oysters Mosca: unbelievable! Spaghetti: absolutely better than in Florence!! An amazing evening!
(5)Amy D.
Loved the atmosphere, the lovely ladies who all shared waiting on us and the food. The outside says nothing about what you find inside. Very cozy and homey. Next time will be going with friends so we can order multiple things and share as it is family style. Two of us tried to split a spaghetti and meatballs. Couldn't finish it. The meatballs are large and dense. We accused the waitress for lying to us and underestimating the size! Lol
(5)K B.
We went here before the marathon to load up on pasta. I really loved the Oysters Mosca and had to hold back eating more because it's just so rich. We had the house salad, chicken dish, and spaghetti. All of it was really good and unique in that all of those options are familiar standards. That said, with the Mosca treatment they all get better. Service was more than good and the waitress made sure we ordered the right amount. I hope this place is around for 50 more years. I'll definitely make every effort to go there next time I'm in town.
(5)Roger B.
We went to Mosca's with some friends for a weeknight dinner. And that's the way to go, with friends you are willing to spend some time with. The meals are made to order and can take up to an hour to prepare. You walk into the unassuming building and enter into the bar area. Off to the side is the ATM machine. Be aware that they are cash only. The main dining area is to the right. Nothing fancy, just a place where you can eat some good food. It didn't take long to decide what we wanted. We started with a large bowl of the Italian crab salad. Like rest of the meal, it is served family style. So you wait your turn as the bowl makes its trip around the table and then help yourself to the salad. There was plenty of crab meat in the salad. The entrees were a large pan of their signature Oysters Mosca, a bowl of Chicken à la Grand, and a platter of Spaghetti with a Bordelaise sauce. All the dishes heavy with garlic. The family style presentation worked nicely. The only dish not served family style was the desserts, a piece of cheesecake & the Pineapple Fluff. Even so, everyone of us was given a spoon to taste the desserts as they circled around the table. What can I say that hasn't been repeated in many reviews? The meal was great. Service was all you would expect. Staff all helped each other keeping the water glasses full, the fresh hot bread coming, and making sure we had enough of what we wanted. Only one minor glitch, our first choice of wine was down to just one bottle. That wasn't going to be enough, so we went with our second choice. They have a nice bar and serve good cocktails.
(4)Nicholas T.
I haven't been here since 1972. The place is a little newer a little brighter. I am a lot older, but the food is as good as I recalled. We had the Oysters, the Chicken Cacciatore, Srimps and the Potatoes. All were unique in taste and creative cooking. Unique only in the sense of other restaurants, other ways of preparing these dishes, but not to MOSCAs old style. If you don't eat here, you have missed perhaps, the best tastes you ever had.
(5)Laila B.
Meh is exactly what I was thinking during my dinner. Look, for the most part, this food isn't bad, I actually enjoyed most of it. But it's damn expensive and what was good were things I could make any old night of the week. Plain old spaghetti with a garlic-scented butter? Yum! I loved that as a kid! And it takes 10 minutes to make. No need to drive to Avondale for that. Baked chicken with lots of garlic? Also, tasty and easily made at home. The baked oysters Mosca I thought was terrible and outrageously overpriced. $38 for about 12 oysters baked to death in a thick layer of breadcrumbs, which negated any oyster flavor. I can see how this place can be fun but it's unlikely I'd go back.
(2)Brendan T.
An American classic, no trip to New Orleans is complete without making a pilgrimage out here. A one of a kind experience. Worth renting a car for if you can drink responsibly or find a designated driver. I still have dreams about the Oysters Mosca and the New Orleans Italian scene is surreal and amazing. Spaghetti sauce has a nice cajun kick. Chicken Scrap is as good as Don Peppes.
(5)Shannon S.
I recently returned to Mosca's for an early dinner after not having eaten here in a few years. The pasta and chicken is still as good as ever while the quality of the oyster's Mosca and shrimp Mosca had dropped from my last visit and were overcooked. We were the second table in the restaurant yet somehow we managed to get the last of the "good" oysters that night so that raised my concern. The biggest issue they seem to have now is the extreme slowness and confusion of the waitstaff. Our meal started when they brought ONE bread roll to our table and it was the last one we saw all night. It then took excessively long times to receive drinks after ordering them when we were only one of two tables in the restaurant but as more customers arrived the service got exponentially more slow. I started out drinking water and then towards the end of my meal I wanted a beer so after putting my order in with two of the many different servers that came by our table I NEVER received it! I was also extremely unhappy that they no longer brew iced tea and have gone the LAZY route of only selling nasty bottled iced tea. I've never had such issues in the past and it wasn't nearly as crazy crowded as my past experiences so I'm not sure what the problem was that night. Sadly I've got to yank one star away for these issues. It is a bit of a haul to get here from New Orleans so these issues will certainly make me think twice before I make the journey out here again. I've always liked this place but when I think twice about it I have to consider that for the price any potential Mosca's diner needs to consider there is a whole lot of stiff competition in the city these days for our dining dollars and there are some great Italian places charging similar prices for much better ambiance a whole lot closer to home. I hope that the next meal I eat here doesn't leave me with the need to think twice...
(3)Ned W.
Walking into the door we were greeted by a very friendly staff. I don't even think "very" is the correct word, possibly "incredibly" would be a better choice. It's been a very long time since I have seen that sort of customer service at a restaurant. Almost every employee visited our table at least once, either to refill the drinks, bring us our food, or to ask how we were doing. The menu was rather limited with prices that were a little higher than I expected, for example $12 for just spaghetti and meatballs. My party ordered a variety of items off of the recommendation of the owner. The portions were pretty large but still didn't seem to match the price tag. The big surprise came with the drinks. One person at our table ordered sweet tea while I ordered a soda. The tea came in a bottle while the soda arrived in a can. Once we got the ticket we found that the tea cost $4.50 while the one can of soda cost $2.50. I know many places make their profit off of drinks, but $2.50 for a can of soda is ridiculous. With the limited menu, pricey menu items, and drink highway robbery I doubt that I would be returning to Mosca's. If your looking for great customer service then I would recommend the place, just make sure to bring your pocket book and order water.
(3)Vincent R.
Mosca's Is The Bomb! Meaning Great of Course and "Right-Up-My-Alley" It's Old School, Un-Contrived, Cool and completely Unique ... The place has a cool ambiance and great vibe. Delicious Food, with a small, unique menu where most dishes are "Famous," like" Chicken Grande, Crab Salad, Bean Soup, Italian Roast Oysters, Home-Made Sausages, and Spaghetti Bordelais ... "Wish there was a Mosca's in NewYork" Now you know this place is Great if an Sicilian-Italian-New Yorker is wishing for one. Mosca! Keep up the Great Work and don't change a thing, you're tops.
(5)Rachel S.
I was expecting flavor of the Italian motherland but was underwhelmed with plain tomato sauce pasta that reminded me of being awful broke in college. The Oyster's Mosca was mushy and not at all what I had expected, the Shrimp Mosca was chewy and tasted fishy which brought its freshness into question. The rosemary chicken was dry and oily, and the garlic and olive oil pasta was nothing special either. If you go, I did enjoy the crab salad although the pickled veggies were a little overwhelming, yet the pineapple fluff was delicious, however the cheese cake not so much. It's a long drive for an expensive, mediocre meal.
(2)Dorothy Y.
Drove out last night for my friend's birthday dinner; apparently, there was an article about Mosca's in a recent New Yorker and as yuppies, we are required to do as it says (also applies to the New York Times). Fun fact: the first school I ever taught at is located only 3 minutes from there. I had no idea when I made the trek past Avondale to Waggaman for 6 months that there was non-fast food in the area. The drive wasn't so bad, although I felt vindicated that it took half the time to get back via Huey P. and Jeff Hwy, as I suggested, than the 35+ minutes via the expressway. We called at 545 to reserve for 630 and strolled in right on time. With all the implications of mob/mafia ties, I expected a swarthier atmosphere. Instead, the clapboard house is clean and sparse, with their framed James Beard award featured prominently among other clippings and a few black and white photographs. The house was pretty quiet on a Tuesday night, with about half or less of the tables seated. We were quickly seated and brought menus and toasted bread with pats of butter. After a short peruse, we ordered: - A bottle of the house chianti: $26, mellow and warmed the three of us up. - Chicken a la grande: 1/2 a chicken sautéed with rosemary and special seasoning, whole garlic cloves and white wine. Lots of butter to be seen rising above the sauce, but it was moist, with flavorful skin, and soft, caramelized globules of garlic. Delicious and recommended by the New Yorker article (as were the window treatments, and ATM, and bathroom...) - Spaghetti and meatballs: A misnomer-this was a large platter of angelhair pasta, not spaghetti, topped with roasted tomato marinara and 2 large meatballs. Hearty and filling, with simple and satisfying flavors. The sauce was perfect, not too sour, not overly sweet, and smelling of many spices. - Roasted potatoes: Huge peeled chunks of potato roasted to an extremely tender consistency. The texture was almost too soft, considering you couldn't even stab a piece with a fork without it falling into mush. Still, a good accompaniment to the chicken, and absorbed the flavorful sauce. Service was prompt and fairly attentive; when we asked for more bread, she had already put more in to be toasted, and the food came out clearly prepared to order and piping hot. For the three of us, the total came out to about $77, split among 2 as it was a birthday. A little pricey for the amount of food actually ordered, but we were all full and satisfied with the meal. CASH ONLY. Closed Mondays. 50+ minute wait for food (as warned on the menu and the website). Pretty good. I'd come back.
(3)Jen L.
We went on an excursion to Mosca's for a friends birthday and had dinner family style with 20 people. The staff was really accommodating, even with the drunks in our group. The food was delicious and old school. Is it wrong that I really loved the pineapple fluff? Mosca's is definitely one of those places that is frozen in time and the journey to get there just makes it more special. Although really these days suburbia is rapidly encroaching on their formerly remote spot.
(4)Ken S.
KenScale: 8.0/10 When I told my work colleague that I was traveling to New Orleans over the weekend, her husband, an avid foodie, insisted that I visit Mosca's. I looked it up and saw that it was not even in New Orleans and located in the middle of nowhere in Avondale. The restaurant has been around for more than half a century since Provino Mosca, an Italian immigrant, moved from the Midwest to New Orleans and opened this restaurant. Yes, I can see the classic aura just from learning about its story, but will it be really worth it given I don't have much time in New Orleans and I've already been to a ton of great Italian restaurants in NYC? The short answer: if you have time, Mosca's is definitely a great place to visit if you're looking for a hearty, family-style meal. It is one of those feel-good type institutions that will make you satisfied no matter what. There is nothing fancy about the food at Mosca's. It's just straight-up rustic Italian with a hint of Cajun and Creole. The level of satisfaction from each dish, however, was high. Perhaps you may think it's really hard to screw up Italian cuisine, but I could see the thoughtfulness in preparation of the dishes. Fresh whole oysters with special Italian seasoning are topped with breadcrumbs and baked; you've seen baked oysters before but the hearty feel to this dish was great, as was shrimp in shell sautéed with Italian seasonings and white wine. You really can't go wrong with either version of spaghetti, whether it is with the flavorful and juicy meatballs or just straightforward one with oil, butter an garlic. I loved both versions of spaghetti, with noodle cooked al dente to create great texture and the rustic flavor that really epitomizes the rural Italian cuisine. Somewhat strangely, the only letdown was the famed chicken a la grande, sautéed with rosemary and Italian seasoning, whole cloves of garlic and white wine. There was nothing wrong with the flavor; I loved how the flavor was rich without being heavy, but wish the chicken came a little bit more tender to create perfect balance between flavor and texture. Definitely save room for dessert, as you will marvel at the pineapple fluff, a simple looking dish that is so satisfying that I don't remember last time I was so impressed with dessert like this. The restaurant has that really cozy, family vibe that would make this an ideal location for dinner on intimate settings. There are a bunch of wine options at affordable prices. Getting a reservation doesn't seem particularly challenging, although the restaurant was nearly packed throughout the course of our meal. If you have time for a quick detour from the French Quarter in New Orleans, Mosca's is definitely worth the drive. You have probably seen the cuisine before, but will nevertheless walk away satisfied.
(4)