New Orleans, Louisiana · Founded 1919
A family-run Uptown oyster restaurant founded in 1919, known for its tile-lined rooms and oyster loaves.
Casamento’s was founded in 1919 by Ustica-born immigrant Joe Casamento and remains in the founder’s family through co-owners C.J. and Linda Gerdes. Its all-oyster-season rhythm and green-and-white tile-lined interior distinguish a focused Uptown seafood institution—but its official site warns that the next season may be its final one.
Joe Casamento, an immigrant from Ustica, Italy, opened Casamento’s. The original patterned tile floor remains associated with the 1919 opening.
Source: Southern Foodways Alliance, "Charles Joseph 'CJ' Gerdes"; Saveur, "Celebrating 100 Years of Oysters at New Orleans' Casamento's"
Joe Casamento began the wall-tiling project that lined the restaurant inside and out. Saveur reports the work took nearly three months and required tile from four suppliers.
Source: Saveur, "Celebrating 100 Years of Oysters at New Orleans' Casamento's"
The restaurant scheduled the wall-tile work in summer, when oysters were less desirable and business was lighter. The summer closure became an enduring operating practice.
Source: Saveur, "Celebrating 100 Years of Oysters at New Orleans' Casamento's"
Southern Foodways Alliance documented C.J. Gerdes, founder Joe Casamento's grandson, running the restaurant with his wife Linda, while their daughters helped on weekends.
Source: Southern Foodways Alliance, "Charles Joseph 'CJ' Gerdes"
Casamento’s official site lists a June–August summer closure and says it expects to reopen in late September for oyster season. It also states that the upcoming season may be its final season.
Source: Casamento’s Restaurant, home page; Casamento’s Restaurant, "Hours"
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The official restaurant history and an independent Southern Foodways Alliance oral-history profile identify Joe Casamento, an immigrant from Ustica, Italy, as founder in 1919.
The restaurant’s official account describes imported Italian tile inside and out, while Saveur documents the 1949 wall-tiling project. The original tile floor is associated with the 1919 opening.
The original floor dates to the 1919 opening, but walls were tiled in 1949. Sources support tile's ease of cleaning and durability; they do not establish the claimed complete 1919 tile installation or a personal psychological motive.
The restaurant identifies founder Joe Casamento's grandson C.J. Gerdes and his wife Linda as co-owners. Southern Foodways Alliance independently describes their operation of the restaurant and their daughters' weekend help.
The restaurant's current official site says the coming season is "looking like our final season." This signals a real possibility, not a confirmed permanent closing date. The status must be checked again before publication or travel planning.
Casamento’s was completely tiled inside and out in 1919.
The original tile floor dates to the 1919 opening. Joe Casamento added the restaurant's wall tile in 1949, a project that took nearly three months and used tile from four suppliers.
Source: Saveur, "Celebrating 100 Years of Oysters at New Orleans' Casamento's"
Casamento’s walls are covered in imported Spanish tile.
The restaurant’s own history describes the tile as imported Italian tile.
Source: Casamento’s Restaurant, "Our Story"
Casamento’s is permanently closed for the summer.
The restaurant has a recurring June–August summer closure and says it plans to reopen in late September for oyster season. Its current site says the upcoming season may be its final season, but no final closure date has been confirmed.
Source: Casamento’s Restaurant, home page; Casamento’s Restaurant, "Hours"
The current building was constructed in 1919.
The sources reviewed establish the restaurant opening in 1919 but do not establish the construction date of the building at 4330 Magazine Street.
Source: Southern Foodways Alliance, "Charles Joseph 'CJ' Gerdes"; Casamento’s Restaurant, "Our Story"
The restaurant’s multi-generation family operation, focused seafood menu, and distinctive tile-lined setting have sustained it for more than a century. Its seasonal June–August closure, rooted in the restaurant’s history and still observed today, has also become part of its identity.
Casamento’s was founded in 1919 by Joe Casamento, an immigrant from the Italian island of Ustica.
The restaurant's tile floor dates to its 1919 opening, and Joe Casamento added wall tile inside and outside in 1949. The restaurant says he followed Italian building traditions because tile was durable and easier to clean.
Casamento’s is co-owned and operated by C.J. Gerdes, founder Joe Casamento’s grandson, and C.J.’s wife Linda.
No. The restaurant’s official site says it closes each June, July, and August and generally reopens in late September for oyster season. It also currently warns that the upcoming season may be its final season, so check directly before traveling.
4330 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 895-9761
Casamento’s is on Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans. It is closed Monday–Wednesday, closed June through August and major holidays, and normally reopens in late September. The restaurant’s official site currently says the coming oyster season may be its final one—confirm its operating status, hours, and seating policy directly before visiting.