Dat fried chicken is really finger looking good and it smell good…read more Dat all I can say!!!!

A decent place to stop for gas, snacks, restroom, etc. along hwy 11. They even have some outdoor…read moreseating. I guess you can hang out awhile or enjoy good from the juxtaposed café if you're in no rush. The cashier was nice.

I have walked into plenty of shady establishments in my time on this earth. I have often wondered…read moreif I would walk out of some, but occasionally I've found a gem. Cochiara is one such gem. Growing up in South Louisiana I spent a lot of time in Grand Isle. Heading there we would always stop at a friend's gas station/fishing supply/bar on the way to the island. I always remember the old men sitting at the bar laughing and drinking while we tried to convince my parents to buy us candy. Throughout the years I have visited many a boat launch and marina in Louisiana fishing communities with similar businesses. These places have always reminded me of those family trips and they always bring me great joy. After a recent trip to Boutte's for dinner, I discovered another place that made my quite happy. Cochiara is the convenience store/bar next to a boat launch. There used to be hotel rooms here, but I think they no longer exist. Inside is much more of a bar than convenience store, but there are chips and soft drinks should you need supplies for a fishing trip. The crowd was primarily local, but very friendly. I think I was tested by some locals when they noticed me singing David Alan Coe, but I must have passed with flying colors as they welcomed us with open arms. This may have been because I am a very likable guy with an incredible knowledge of country music. If you're not me, or not with me, you may have issues, but I will be glad to offer pointers for a small fee. The jukebox was stocked with old country classics, but also had some surprises including Madonna. The beer selection was somewhat lacking unless you are a fan of Bud products. When asked what beer they had besides Bud Light, the bartender advised of us of no less than seven different Bud products. If I buy a camp in Lafitte I will become a regular here. Even if I don't, I will make sure and stop on every trip I make. Note: I am thinking bars like this would make a great UYE. I wonder if we can figure out a way to do all waterfront bars one night.

This is a cool little bar in Lafitte. Good jukebox with old country on it. Really nice people and…read morecheap drinks. What more could you ask for? It's a really big place with a pool table, a dance floor and a bunch of snacks that you can buy if you want something to munch on. In this town everyone knows everyone. A young guy came up to my friend and me and asked where we were from. If you aren't from the area, go in and be nice and the locals will treat you like one of their own.

When is a gas station more than a gas station? When it sells my favorite hangover food on the…read moreisland. Richard's sells various fried sundries including meat pies and egg rolls, but my favorite thing to get there is the cheeseburger poboy. This thing is so bad for you and so so good. They also offer a pizza for $10 with unlimited toppings.

It's been a while, but years ago on road trip my GF and I were on GI looking for some food. It was…read morethanksgiving night and we were camping on the beach nearby. We were perfectly willing to cook some hotdogs over the fire, or even gnaw on some nasty chicken fingers. "You don't wauhunt that," a man at the counter with a booming cajun voice advised." That chicken been dare awul dayee. If ya'll hungry, come on back here in abow thoytee minutes and my wife wil cook up sumpin good." No offense, but that's how my Ohio ears heard it. So we left, took a spin around the island and scored some drive through daiquiris. Cruising around with a quart of frozen booze, we checked out the desolate island and after about 30 minutes we cruised back to the gas station on stilts. Shonuff, the Mrs. was there and running the kitchen. Poboys were the specialty and we went native. Crawfish was not in season, but they had fresh crab, and the GF ordered shrimp. This is a local joint however, so the shrimp was in a patty form. Lots of shrimp, but it was chopped up and formed into a crispy fritter. Both were delicious. We crushed those giant poboys, enjoyed a quiet evening camping on the beach, and woke up to the sound of shrimp boats heading out bright and early. Now, A poboy is just a big sandwich on a french roll. Simplicity is the key, but what makes a great poyboy is fresh ingredients. To this day, I have not had a poyboy like Richards makes. I dare say, it's worth a drive from New Orleans just to have one. Best Thanksgiving dinner yet, and it's been over 10 years.

We decided to stay off I-10 and take Hwy. 90 across to Bay St. Louis just for a change of pace and…read morea little sightseeing. Knowing we needed to stop and fuel up before starting on this journey since the route is a little remote and we weren't sure if there were going to be a lot of choices for gas as we traveled east. There are a few stations along this stretch of road but this seemed to be one of the better choices judging by appearance only. It turned out to be a good choice the pumps were in great condition and the restrooms were pretty clean, heading east the station is on the left side of the road I recommend avoiding the station on the right just before the turn for this one it looks a little shady but that just my observation after pulling in and exiting without making a purchase.

It's a normal convenience store in many respects, but a memory from a long-ago Super Bowl visit…read morebrought me back...for the food (the fact that it is literally around the corner from our Airbnb did not hurt, either). The memory in question was about a catfish poboy wherein I ordered it and the cashier washed her hands, dredged a fresh catfish filet through an egg wash and cornmeal, prepped the roll, and voila! It was heavenly. 12+ years later, the menu only said "fish" poboy sandwich. If you're a catfish purist like myself, that's a red flag, so I went with the fried chicken. My wife ordered the Philly cheesesteak sandwich despite the geographical incongruity. Both were outstanding, and I can't recommend the kitchen enough.

Best fried chicken I've ever had!! We stopped by on our way out of New Orleans as we were headed to…read moreNYC and I'm so glad we made the detour because this blew me out of the water. They were frying up a new batch when we arrived so we waited about 15 minutes but SOOO WORTH! The chicken from the fresh batch was fried to optimal crispiness and juiciness and it was also perfectly seasoned. I don't think there's another place that tops the fried chicken here. On our road trip back from NYC to LA, the only place we stopped at in New Orleans was this spot again. It can't top the time we got it fresh, but if there's anywhere you have to stop by in New Orleans, I gotta say it's this unassuming gas station with the most gas fried chicken.

This tiny little Shell station is located at the corner of Belle Chasse Highway and Woodland…read moreHighway. It is one of the small, box type stations with 4 gas pumps, two on either side of the store. Getting in and out of here can be difficult especially when traffic is bad. Due to the size of the store, the selection is not great. Since it is kind of old, it is not the most sparkly store in the area. In general, it is clean and things are in good repair. I rarely see trash outside, and the trash cans always have room in them. The employees are usually polite and seem to be reasonably competent. I always feel safe stopping here. The gas is not the cheapest in the area, but in the morning, it is a good pit stop for snacks and drinks or a little gas.

Not a very friendly establishment! My fiance's work van broke down in the parking lot after…read morepurchasing gas. Unfortunately he had forgotten to bring his cell phones that day, he had left them in the car at work. When he asked the station attendant if he could use the store phone to call for help he said no. I mean seriously!? luckily a nice lady had over heard the conversation and let him use her cell phone to call work so they could send a tow. Belle Chase Shell station you guys suck!