The Anchor

Kids menu shrimp comes with 4 shrimp and fries for $14. Quite ridiculous. Kids menu as a whole is priced poorly for what you get. Cocktails have been downsized to 8oz cups and still charging the same as if they were 12oz. Piled to the brim with ice, and about 8 sips to the bottom. Drinks taste great though. No issues with service. Atmosphere was wonderful. Food came out in a fair time, and everything tasted great. Everyone should try the boudin eggrolls; but 3 of them for $16 is excessive. Dock nachos and wings were good too. Tried all 3 salads between last 2 visits. All good. Have ordered the sweet and spicy shrimp every time I come. No complaints at all. Only reason it’s a 3 star is my kids come every time and aren’t ever pleased with their food, and it’s over priced. Playground is really the only reason we come and pay stupid prices for kids food and adult drinks.

Me and my husband had gotten there when they first opened today and the view and the staff were kind. We were seated and gotten our drinks when the server came back asked if we were ready and we said no we are still looking as this was our first time there. We then ordered a 16 oz bushwacker daiquiri which was $11 each which isn't bad pricing. When we were ready to order our food we had both decided to get the bacon jam burger with Mac and cheese and an order of fries as like an appetizer. The burgers were 18 a piece which is an ok price. Not good not bad. When we gotten our food the burger was good needed more bbq sauce but the Mac and cheese was terrible. It was very dry and had no flavor and could pick up the whole cup of Mac and cheese up with your fork. We had gotten 1 of the cups of Mac and cheese off and substituted it for the appetizer of fries. Our server didn't check on us often after getting our food hence the 3 stars. For the amount and quality of food especially the Mac and cheese wasnt worth almost $70 for 2 people. Good views of the water tho.

The atmosphere here is great if you are looking for somewhere to hang out and have a couple drinks while the kids play; however, the prices have gotten obscene. The kids meals are $14 a piece. Based on these prices I assumed the kids meals would at least be large; however, it was not even enough food to feed my 7 year old. My table of kids got the kids chicken tenders, kids catfish, and kids burger (all of which at least include a side and drink). The chicken tenders & catfish each only included 2 tenders, and the burger was the size of a slider. I initially ordered 2 kids meals to split between my kids (3F, 5F & 7F), as my girls don’t each much, but I ended up ordering a third meal once I saw how small they were. I got a salad with grilled chicken, which was good but also $22. Alcoholic drinks are also very expensive. Thankfully, they just added $.50 wings on their menu for football games, so that kept our bill from being more outrageous. Service was ok; we have been several times and it is always mediocre at best. I’m disappointed at how expensive the food has gotten. We have always enjoyed coming here on occasion as the kids really like the playground, but I don’t know if I can justify spending $42 on 3 kids meals that leave my kids hungry. I hope they rethink the price of the kids meals; it will be a deciding factor on whether we return.

Slow service even when its dead in there. Food is way over priced. Kids meal is $14 for gross macaroni with 5 shrimp. The seafood platter had 6 shrimp and 2 small pieces of fish for $24. Boudin egg rolls are delicious but they need queso to be served with them. Moscow mule was delicious. Sitting on the water is great.

The food was good. My husband & son liked the burger they got. I got a side salad, can't mess that up. Loud, very loud. Maze to find the restrooms. Kid play area was cool. Waitress was just average on service.

The Anchor Restaurant is a true gem that exemplifies excellence and inviting atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by a charming ambiance that perfectly balances upscale elegance with a cozy feel. The decor is thoughtfully curated, making it a perfect spot for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. Sit outside by the water or share a table with some friends while the kids play on the playground. The menu at The Anchor is a delightful journey through a variety of flavors from pizzas, hamburgers, wings, ribs, and lot’s more. Service at The Anchor is impeccable. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being intrusive, enhancing the overall dining experience. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon with the family, The Anchor Restaurant is a place where unforgettable memories are made. I can't recommend it enough—it's a dining experience that will keep you coming back for more! Tracy Kennedy

Always great service and fun atmosphere! They added BBQ (ribs, brisket, wings) to the menu. Excellent! Perfectly smoked and big portions. The sides are delicious!

This restaurant has large openings to the outside, that includes great views of the river, a play area for kids, and an outdoor seating area. Staff was prompt and friendly. The anchor shrimp (appetizer) was was crispy, perfectly portioned and the flavor didn't disappoint it's appearance. Garlic parmesan wings (appetizer) were good. I prefer crispier wings, but they were typical compared to other restaurants I have been to. If anyone knows of a place that has large crispy wings let me know!! The Nashville hot and chicken was good. Crispy and juicy. The bacon jam burger was delicious. The bacon and jam added a sweet and savory component over your typical burgers. The fries were just ok. Thicker size like Wendy's fries, little to no seasoning/flavor and kinda on the softer size. Fish and chips, again the fries are nothing to write home about. But the large portion of crunchy and flaky redfish hit the spot for me. Strawberry lemonade mint daiquiri doesn't really have a mint taste but is very good. The play area was a good size and all the kids there including mine enjoyed this space. I was told the menu changes ever couple months. Don't know if there is a live band every night but there was a good band during our meal and the overall atmosphere was outstanding. One of our favorite places so far on the north shore overall, covering all ages of our family

Food was very good, atmosphere and vibe was great! We had the bacon jam burger and Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Both were very tasty. I would highly recommend either one. You also get to choose from a variety of sides. They give you a generous portion of the sides as well. The views of the water are pretty, and if you have young kids, there is a big playground right next to the dining area! This is a well thought out restaurant with fun amenities for the whole family. I highly recommend.

Atmosphere was great. Good food. Good drinks. Service was amazing. Loved the playground

Beautiful spot on the water. Walked in and seated on the outside porch right near the dock. Started with a ponchartrain punch. Really great. Ordered the redfish sandwich , grilled with slaw. The slaw is a vinegar base and refreshing just different. The waitress was new but super sweet and helpful. Another terrific experience.

Great atmosphere and great drinks! Service is excellent and food is great! They even have a playground for little ones!

Other than the beautiful view, there is nothing positive I could say about our experience here for lunch. We were seated outside, which was great because it was a gorgeous day, but we were seated very near the playground, which was fine, but we were near a wall that I guess kids were hiding or playing hide and seek near and they literally were trying to jump the wall basically into our laps. It was wild! I'm not sure where their parents were, but these kids were definitely old enough to know better! The service was absolutely horrible. Extremely slow. They brought out incorrect drinks from what we ordered. My burger was very overcooked and inedible. Super disappointing and very chaotic experience.

This is a frequent place for us and we love it!! It's a great casual place that is family friendly and has a great view of the water. You can also dock your boat there. They recently updated their menu, and it has a lot more options! To start, we usually get the boudin egg rolls. They are delicious, but we were a little sad to see they don't come with their pepper jelly aioli they had before. We also love their anchor shrimp (sweet and spicy shrimp) appetizer. This time we got the bacon jam burger which was really good. I do think the burger meat itself could have been a little more seasoned but that just may be a personal preference. However, the burger did have a lot of flavor with all the toppings. Their drinks, especially their frozen cocktails are great. The service was a little slower today but they were super busy, and we usually have quick service there! We can't wait to come back and try more on their menu!

My wife and I stopped at The Anchor for a Saturday afternoon lunch. We were told there would be a twenty minute wait; which was reasonable. Inquired about restrooms and were told they were upstairs. Near the kitchen area there were three flights of stairs to a pair of single stall restrooms. Not a huge problem for most I suppose, but a severe impediment for those with even mild mobility issues. After returning to our wait for a table, we observed multiple tables for two that had been bussed, but were apparently not available. We left. The Anchor has an attractive open air location on the river and might be a good spot for boaters and the younger crowd to meet for a few brews, but for other than that we can't recommend.

I gave the anchor multiple tries and it never went well for me. When this business first opened it was highly recommend especially since it took place of Friends. My first time going there, it was impossible to get decent seating so we were placed on a couch with a restricted view. Our food came out warm and our drinks were the only thing that was up to standard. Fast forward, I go back to the anchor (maybe a year or so after it's opened) I have a similar experience. Maybe my expectations were too high, I'm not sure. I don't blame the staff for how crowded it was or the food being cold. It seems like it might be a management issue.

Amazing views with stellar service, refreshing drinks, and tasty seafood options. This place was a nice gem to discover but it is not very vegan or kosher friendly as most of the items contain either shellfish or pork.

The cauliflower pizza is amazing. I think they have a brick pizza oven because the crust is crispy, perfection. Lots of fans for this outdoor dining experience. Tasted the frozen bushwacker and the best alcoholic milkshake ever. Almost as good as FloraBamas.

Bri is THE best bartender on the Northshore!! Super friendly! Makes amazing drinks! Has a regular following of awesome patrons who I can genuinely call friends :) Bri is why I visit the Anchor!

I LOVE this place! The drinks are amazing and the food is phenomenal! The executive chef definitely knows what he is doing! Pierce was our server and did an amazing job and the GM is so friendly and you can tell he cares for this establishment and the customers and the ambiance is unmatched! I can't wait to go back!

Great outdoor space with live music. Food and service were good.. not great. Nice place to eat on the water.

This was my 2nd visit to The Anchor! On both occasions the hostess was very inviting and accommodating. The first visit was during the summer season when everyone wants dockside seating. We met two separate couples and had a very relaxing and enjoyable meal with friendly conversation. Today, our visit landed us at The Anchor after a recent cold spell. Anyone from Louisiana knows these rarely last for to long. The day was pretty and the temperature was up, but still chilly. My partner wanted to be seated dockside, I preferred a little heat. The hostess, Nicole, gave us the best of both worlds. She gave us seats with water views but under the very comfortable heaters. Can I say, really accommodating and pleasant! And, that was on the first visit too when it was extremely busy! Our waitress, Emily, was super! I wanted a boozy warm drink. She made something for me that wasn't on the menu, and was quit tasty. For my entree I had the tacos with Firecracker shrimp and sweet potato fries. Spicy & Tasty!!! Honestly, I was to full to eat because we had an order of boudin egg rolls and Nashville wings which was all scrumptious! The sweet potato fries were pretty good; but I could have downed the beer fries on my own. The Boat Burger was seasoned and juicy. As full as I was I took a few bites because, it was delicious! Overall, everything was amazing; from the atmosphere, the service, and the food! I'd be back; hopefully a lot sooner!

I really really really like this setting. The vibes by the water & the actual aesthetic of the restaurant was my type of vibe. I was disappointed in my food. The picture was good but the food was cold. I made a stop on my lunch break, I waited just about 45 minz for my food to get to me after placing the order shortly after I arrived and when I got my food I wanted to send it back but I didn't have time to wait again. The restaurants restroom is upstairs as well. So don't hold it lol cause you have two flights to walk up.

I've been here four times, and I'm done. The food is hit or miss, but all of it is ridiculously overpriced. Apparently, the business model of this place is to keep raising prices because fewer guests are coming. The higher they raise prices; the less people will want to come. The first time I was there in December with a large group. Service was terrible. Half the group was very dissatisfied with the food. The time I was there recently, on a beautiful Friday afternoon, the place was almost empty. It should be PACKED with a location like that. The music was so loud we couldn't hear ourselves speak. I like country music, but it doesn't fit this place. They could be playing Jimmy Buffet or reggae music, which would fit the ambiance. Yes, if you're sitting at tables along the river, you have a view, but that's it. The odd flavor daiquiris were the worst I've ever tasted ANYWHERE. In fact, if you told me they contained pesticide; I'd believe it. The mixed drinks were no better. If you want to pay $6 plus tax and tip for one domestic beer, this is your place. Roast debris sandwich tasted good, but I had to send it to the lab to see if there was actually any roast on it. For $19?? A small bag of Zapp's chips, $4?? French fries $7 (they weren't good, btw)?? Grilled chicken Ceasar salad $19. The owners put so much into renovating this place, and it had so much potential, but they do not have a profitable business plan. There wasn't a boat at any of the docks. As an owner, I would much rather have a packed restaurant with reasonable prices and a waiting list to be seated than a mostly empty place with a few unsuspecting patrons who will likely never return. To sit here and have a sandwich and a few beers, you're looking at a $50 per person lunch (for mediocre food). No thank you. Someone will have to buy the place and change the name and the business model to turn this around.

Atmosphere is great. Food is just ok. It's overpriced bar-type food. Drinks are just ok, not very strong. If you're looking for a great place to hang out and don't really care about food or drinks, this is the place for you.

First and last time here. Took 10 minutes for someone to come to the table for our drink order. Very nonchalant when she did finally appear. Waitstaff is sorely in need of training. When our Boudin egg rolls were brought, they forgot the sauce it comes with. They were ok. Husband had Nashville Chicken Sandwich and he said it wasn't bad. I had Crab Cake & Fried Green Tomato Sandwich - the crab was non-existent and the sandwich really didn't have much flavor at all. Not sure what kind of bun they use, but neither of us cared for it. Drinks - 1 beer, 1 iced tea. Total $66! Way overpriced. Atmosphere was ok - could have turned on all the ceiling fans though since it's the end of May. The restrooms are up 2 flights of stairs, so don't wait til the last minute if needed. The view of the water is very nice, it's a shame that the restaurant doesn't live up to its potential.

First of all I recommend this place for atmosphere and service but the food is just ok or not that good. We had the roast beef debris Poboy. It really wasn't a pot roast in Poboy. gravy on the side which is a bad sign. Kind of thick gooey gravy. The bread was just average or worse. Red beans side was good. So I was going to give this place 3stars because the food is not bad and I'm very picky, so I think many may enjoy it. but a couple of things knock them down a star. The biggest issue was we had a side of potato salad. It was sour cream, potato salad, which I absolutely despise and I don't understand how anyone can eat. Any restaurant that serves this should have a warning on the menu. Maybe some people like it but it's not the traditional potato salad and it just not my thing. The other minor criticisms are battered fries. I just think they're un-American and I don't like them and they were kind of cold And to top it all off the music there sucks. pop country doesn't get much worse than that.

Food was cold when it came out , people walking all over the dining area. High priced McDonald's by the water basically.

Views were great, but the service and drinks sucked. I had high expectations for this place, but they did not come through sadly. It took 5 minutes for us to be noticed at the bar, every time.

Ambiance was really good, live music tonight was fantastic, food was yummy and service was good too!

We were checking out this area and found this on the water for lunch. First, the staff was amazing. Bathrooms cant be on the first floor. With my eyes, I wasn't sure how to make it upstairs & at the time I couldn't climb stairs. One of the waiters took me up in the elevator to get me to the bathroom. He also waited for me to bring me back downstairs to my table. So appreciative of this young man!! Our waitress was nice as well. Too many of those, I think they are called "kissing bugs", they were everywhere and kept landing on my food. The 4 stars is for the staff. The food, about a 3. Husband had the boathouse burger. He said it was ok, nothing to write home about. I had the anchor dog. It was good, just hard to eat with flies in my face LOL. I do not recommend the Cole slaw. Had an awesome view of the marina!

Beautiful location to grab a casual meal with the family. The smell of the smoker is AMAZING!!!! And they have an amazing kid play area complete with a pirate ship. So cute! The food was good and we will definitely be back. I just won't be ordering a Patron margarita. I was charged $16 for that little cup filled mostly with ice.

Love it but you can spend some dollars here quick but it's a good place for kids and adult fun in one.

Drinks are ok. Service is a bunch of young kids. The food sucks. If this wasn't on the water they would be out of business.

3 starts just cause this portion is robbery. I'm just the kind of guy who would slide you 5 nuggets in the box even if u ordered 4. To go kitchen couldn't even fill it half way man. give consideration for your customers I don't get people like that.

I've had two meals here and drinks a few times. The pros: the outdoor dining area by the river, live music The cons: limited beer selections (how is your bar area that big with no beer taps?), mediocre food, sporadic service, and limited hours (closing at 7pm on a weeknight?) Lastly, some of the patrons quite er, um, loud and opinionated? It's definitely a mixed bag of people. I appreciate the effort into revamping the Madisonville riverfront, but this place has plenty of room for improvement.

The service was amazing, love the location, the food was amazing. The atmosphere was amazing everyone was so nice and I sure will come back a ton.

It's funny the Anchor has so much potential but the service and the cleanliness just always lacks! Food is always good, -although they took away the items we really liked- pulled pork sandwich and boudin balls! I wish they would train the wait staff a bit more and have better bartenders-

The anchor is the downstairs bar and grill in the location where friends used to be. They have the same chef that the fine dining restaurant upstairs called Tchefuncta S. So the food in both locations is actually pretty incredible. One of the best sandwiches I've ever pad is the soft shell crab sandwich pictured below. It's the best place I know of to have a drink grab a bite and watch the boats go back-and-forth on the river. Bring the kids there's a foosball table and a ping-pong table shuffleboard table and a playground. I can't wait till Tchapitoulas opens upstairs. It will bring a new level of fine dining to the north shore.

Always a relaxing scene. Great hangout spot for a small bite or drink. Food is pretty good it's more about the atmosphere and sense of community. Worth stopping by. Salads are fresh and burgers are decent.

i hate that this place has so many negative reviews. we are here for labor day and our experience has been great! the the anchor shrimp appetizer were very flavorful and crispy...i hate when they're soggy after being tossed in sauce but these were perfect. i got the nashville hot chicken sandwich as my entree and it had the perfect amount of spice. the filet was HUGE and so flavorful. beer battered fries were amazing and so crispy i took the rest of my fiancés leftovers to air fry tomorrow. potato salad was also great. for my drinks i got the ranger margarita: DELICIOUS. i'm a margarita girl so i'm picky...i also tried the mockingbird - not very good...wasn't sweet enough for me and had no blueberry flavor at all. service was also quick even with our party of 10. overall great experience and we will be back when it's finally not 95 degrees at 6 pm:)

This location has been a number of different restaurants. It's on the river with outside, shaded seating and a playground for kids. Beautiful scenery. All of that is good. Food is ok, I had the roast beef po-boy; although I didn't have the boiled crawfish. If you get here before closing you may not have access to the bar as they close it before the restaurant and by the I mean they close while you are finishing your dinner. Management needs to understand when you have a big group and you are closing down bar despite being open - you should tell your customers. Lost a star due to poor management.

The food ordering system is disorganized and inefficient. The woman taking orders was 100% on top of her game but not so much the bar staff. The bartender was inattentive and deadpan sarcastic in ineffective ability to track customers or orders. He was also unable to answer simple questions concerning the structure of food and beverage service. He was overwhelmed with three customers, I would hate to see how he responds when they are truly busy.

Visited here for the first time! I loved it! My toddlers have major food allergies and the staff were so understanding and attentive to our requests! The food was great and the atmosphere was so fun! It was a rainy day so it was closed up but would be amazing on a sunny day with views of the river and a fenced in playground for the kiddos!

Food was ok. Customer's dramatic. Staff nice. Fun to sit outside in fresh air! They have a playground for kids.

We have been wanting to go and bring the kids. It looked very fun for them. We ordered Fried red Fish and was surprised it wasn't catfish. My 8yr old looked at it and ask what is it? Chicken strips look just like the fish. hard to tell what was what except for the shrimp. The barbecue was eatable nothing to brag about. When a adult won't eat it lis want.

I really wish I didn't have to give it one star. This place is a JOKE. They can't handle their location and it was a huge disappointment. So it's right on the water and there's a deck you can dock your boat at and come in for some food. There's places to relax and drink, tables to sit and eat at, a bar and even a playground for kids. Sounds pretty awesome right? I thought so too but I was SO WRONG. First they tell you the wait is an hour. Because I think they know they can't handle it so they are actually trying to get people to not get on the waitlist and just leave. I didn't wait an hour I waited maybe 30 mins. So cool! Not as long of a wait as I thought, yay.... I get seated and some young kid comes to take my order and doesn't know anything about what's on the menu. He seems very distracted. He takes our drink and appetizer order. And then we never see him again. I get up with my kids to go play while my husband tries to flag him down. Finally my husband decides we are just going to leave and gets up to come get us from the playground. He then runs into the waiter and the waiter asks "hey y'all ready to order? Y'all need something?" To which my husband responds "well we were going to leave but yeah we will order" (obviously we are hungry and are hoping it can't get worse since we shared his lack of attendance as already being an issue). Now we run out of drinks waiting on the food. Waiter doesn't come back... again. I grab a waitress walking by and tell her my kids and I need drinks. She tells our waiter, he comes to the table and asks "hey, someone said y'all needed drinks?" To which we respond with what drinks we had and need. So our food comes, delivered by food runners not the waiter. Still no drinks. I need Mayo for my sandwich, but can't flag down the waiter. So my husband goes to the bar to get our drinks and then to where the runners are to ask for Mayo. It's not like we wanted to eat our food together or anything. My husband was our waiter that day I guess. During none of this time does the actual waiter ever come back to us. The food was also very expensive and not worth it. You get coleslaw and potato salad in a condiment cup, so literally a spoonful of potato salad and a spoonful of coleslaw. If you don't get coleslaw and/or potato salad another side is chips. Sometimes it's Zapps in a bag if they haven't run out. If they have run out it's some weird BBQ chip, which isn't really what you want to eat when you are also eating BBQ food... I've also heard they run out of food a lot on the weekends. But anyways back to the waiter. My husband gets up from eating because our son is restless and he's angry the waiter is now almost purposefully ignoring us and goes back to the playground. The waiter decides he has to come check on us now I guess, probably because he has to bring a bill. He also asks if there's anything I need. To which I reply "what happened to the drinks you were supposed fo bring? I see you waiting on other tables but you won't come back to us. What I need is your manager". The manager came and apologized but he didn't seem like he really cared. I gave him the rundown of events. Like I didn't feel like he had any concerns. It looked like maybe his dad gave him this manager gig and he was a fish out of water. The experience was miserable. Just go to Abita down the street. Way better staff, price and food.

The peel and eat shrimp was a mess....served with heads on, not deveined. Ridiculous price for a mess that I had to prep myself.

My kids and I LOVE this place! Seriously recommend to parents who want a simple lunch spot where kids can play! Their playground is layered with a super soft rubbery mulch like floor so that even if there's a fall on the playground, they'll be fine while you enjoy your drink The owner Mr.Greg is my Boyfriends Ex Father in law and when I first met him, gave us a genuine warm welcome and we've come back at least once every two weeks since. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEIR PIMMS CUP They also have delicious Mocktails!

Love this place! Atmosphere is great. Food is consistent and always yummy. And the service is always with a smile! I recommend the Cuban sandwich and the pork tacos. Oh and the shrimp. The fries are soooo good. And dessert- ice cream sandwich.

After an awful experience at the Abita Roasting Co., just down the street, we walked over to the Anchor. Emery is amazing! What a queen! The drinks are great and the food was 10/10! Loves the atmosphere.

For those writing negative reviews... THEY OPENED DURING A PANDEMIC KAREN! We went for brunch! VERY kid friendly! They even have a playground. The food and the service were great. I'm usually not a frozen drink girl but WOW their daiquiris were perfect (not a sugar bomb)! Definitely going to be a regular place for us! Food we ordered Appetizers: boudin, coconut shrimp toast, and ahi tuna Entree: Shrimp salad, shrimp poboy Suggestions for restaurant: get kid cups with lids

Definitely a place you go to for the atmosphere. Very kid-friendly with a fenced in play area. The food and drinks are good. The wait staff is still getting their feet wet. But, the atmosphere is great for sitting and relaxing. Don't be in a rush when going- the food took a while to come out. But a band playing will make you enjoy the wait.

Went on a Sunday afternoon when there was live music. It was pretty packed and music was good. However, service was not on their game, food came out wrong and High Noon seltzer was $10.00/can. Unbelievable. Likely will not return. I like how the effort is being made to revitalize the building, but, I will not spend $10.00/can plus other bar offerings were just as expensive. Not everyone wants the frozen daiquiris.

This is a very upscale restaurant. There is the main part which you go into or you go out to the patio overlooking the water. The menus are different for each place. The food at the patio is comparable. The service is good and the food is delicious. If you want to pay more for better food you have to go into the main part.

The hype is there because lets be honest it's something new in the area. Sadly, the floor plan is as simple and uncomfortable as it can get. What's the point of having a bar/restaurant on the river if the majority of the customers can not see the view due to low sitting tables and the bar style sitting along the River? The gun metal gray seating throughout is and eye sore and the couch style seating is as uncomfortable as it gets while trying to eat furthermore have a conversation. We, the group I was with planned for a nice dinner but stopped at the appetizers. The comfort was definitely not there and the food we did have was mediocre at best. In all honesty, it does not seem like there was much thought put into the remodel and over all design of the Anchor. Something simple such as bar style tables would've been key for better views along with placement. Food...well, McDonalds has better fries and Rouses deli Tuna is just as good. Constructive criticism, take it and run with it! I wish y'all the best too.

You're going to want to get here. There's nothing else even remotely similar to this place north of Lake Pontchartrain. Gourmet-casual food, craft cocktails and family-friendly atmosphere in a sophisticated outdoor setting fitting to it's location on the Tchefuncte River. It's located in the covered patio area of a building with at least two other floors of a contemporary architectural marvel. It appears more good things are to come from the inside of the host building which wasn't yet open but looked to be the makings of it's more formal, inside dining counterpart which is named after the river- don't make me spell it again-that is the source of it's riverfront dining distinction. I visited on what I think must have been opening day, or very close to it. Luckily, it's typical for me to investigate, compare and contrast my food options when I am in the mood for a sit down meal. Being a St Tammany parish resident, one of my sources for inspiration is the Louisiana Northshore tourist information center's Facebook feed that features local dining options. The Anchor was featured on 7/03/20 and the description was enough to capture my interest. I had never heard of this place though, so of course I checked Yelp because the explanation for that had to be there. The Anchor wasn't listed, hmmm I thought, I'll just take a chance and drive there anyway. That was such a good decision for me. Knowing what I know now, it might have been worth walking to this place. The place is a huge covered patio with an attached playground for the kids, a dock for this who chose to take a boat instead of walking or driving, and the kind of games seen outdoor settings (table tennis, bag toss, etc). There was a ton of wait staff (masked for these times), a walk up bar serving craft daiquiris among other crafty cocktails, a DJ, hosted table seating and raised bar seating around the perimeter overlooking the river-for bonus views. The menu wasn't expensive or expansive. We were told it would expand next week. There were appetizers, mostly sandwiches, a couple of entrees and a desert. I choose a roast beef debris sandwich and my husband had a soft shell crab sandwich. We shared an order of hand cut fries with cheese and pork belly as the sandwiches were a la carte. My roast beef sandwich looked small, but the density of the shredded beef made it more than I could finish. The beef was flavorful and had enough gravy to make it meld together without causing the bread to be soggy, with tomatoes and shredded white cheese and a little lettuce underneath the beef. Most importantly, the bread was homemade and delicious! The sandwich was served lobster-roll style and grilled underneath. I really enjoyed my sandwich, but would have preferred a larger portion of bread because I had to pull about half of the meat out to be able to pick the sandwich up without the meat falling off. Life is hard sometimes, but I managed to get through it and took home enough beef for another sandwich. I only had a few of the fries because I am one of those people who eats one thing at a time. I was too stuffed to eat more than a few after the sandwich. They were good enough and on the soft side like most hand-cut fries with real melted white cheese of some sort. The pork belly wasn't moist and chewy like I've usually had. It was more akin to the texture of pre-packaged bacon bits you can buy in a grocery store and a little on the salty side for me, eaten alone. Together with the fries though, saltiness was no longer an issue. I don't do soft-shell crab but my husband said it was really good and the tempura batter was different. He said the sauce on the sandwich was good but sweet. It was described as a bacon vinaigrette on the menu. I didn't ask if the "but sweet" was a good or a bad thing. We had a couple of drinks, a daiquiri with rose and fruit flavors with gin and I had the margarita with mango and no salt. The daiquiri was good and I don't even like gin. This was different, with the mild rose flavor making it distinct from the usual daiquiri flavors. I had the margarita which was in a small cup and served on the rocks. The mango flavor was prevalent and made the strong drink go down smoothly. This was so smooth that my husband needed to drive home afterwards. Overall the atmosphere, setting (location, location location), better than good food and interesting drinks make the Anchor a place that is going to be a part of my regular rotation. I am excited to see what it's sister indoor dining venue will bring. It's a welcome and sure to be revered addition to the New Orleans area dining scene.