Mike Serio’s Po-Boys

Nice people, good food. Not much to look at here… its old school inside. We were the first ones there (as it had just opened). So we had to wait for the bread to be delivered. But that was no big deal… I had the shrimp po boy. I’ve had better but it was still good.

We tried this place because everything in the area was packed to the brim and we were in a rush and the line here wasn’t too long.
The cashier was super friendly, but our fries were all cold and the waitress didn’t seem to care. The muffuletta was INCREDIBLE! Really big portion too. The shrimp po boy and tiger burgers weren’t bad, but I wasn’t that impressed.
If you come here definitely try the muffuletta, they were on the food network for it.
Also, use the coupon on Unilocal for a free drink.

Sparsely decorated, non-​descript restaurant/​bar with table seating and TVs hung up throughout the room. Order your food at the counter, pick it up and eat with a soda fountain you serve yourself for drinks. Didn’t find the food that amazing though they have newspaper articles and an award hung up on the walls. I feel like it’s a shadow of it’s former self surviving on the habits of it regulars. They offer sandwiches, gumbo, and jambalaya at pretty reasonable prices. Will do in a pinch but otherwise wouldn’t go out of my way for them.

Been New Orleans several times and have now found the best muffuletta we’ve ever had. Hours here are 11 am to 3 pm Monday thru Saturday.

Don’t waste your time, or money in this dive. The food is crap, and the service is even worse. It, s a small Italian family business perhaps tied to the mob.
So if you don’t like it, just don’t start the car. This place used to be an old porno theater in the early 1970’s sleazy, greasy, and sticky floors. 2015 it’s not much has changed.

Worst Hamburger PoBoy I’ve ever had!!! Frozen dried out meat., No seasoning., crappy lil tomatoes and a Pinch of graded cheese!!!
No wonder this place is empty at lunch time in the middle of downtown!!!

I work two blocks away from Serio’s and I just tried them for the first time today. First of all, the place is very nice inside and the people there are very friendly. Got my order quickly and with no errors. The sandwich was delicious and was definitely more than adequate to satisfy a hungry young man like me. Of the four places I’ve gotten a sandwich at in this little area, this one is my new favorite. I will definitely be going back!

Had the turkey po boy and I’m pretty sure the bread was a week old. Thought I was gonna lose a tooth. Not my fave place. And FYI folks, no air conditioning.

We got the half muffuletta which cost us $ 9 and change. It was more than enough for us to split and it was quite tasty. A little difficult for me to eat, since I have Bell’s palsy right now. Don’t forget your check in bonus — free drink with sandwich purchase.
We got the sandwich to go so we didn’t spend much time in the restaurant. It was bare bones — just very plain tables and chairs. They’re obviously huge LSU/​tigers fans though! No bells and whistles, just a sandwich shop/​bar. Closed Sunday’s and at 3 on weekdays so we made it in just in time.
The sandwich was pretty good. I love the olive salad — so good and flavorful. The whole muffuletta is bigger than my head. I can’t imagine trying to down that thing myself. Serio’s didn’t disappoint.

Good food but a horrible funky smell in here. The atmosphere is kinda lacking but I suppose this is a delicatessen so what do you expect. The biggest issue is the stank. Time to change the mop water… Hard to eat when it smells like a dirty bar.

I love the fried shrimp Po boy. Everything tasted fresh it was very simple but very delightful.

Large shop only open for short hours. No one to great you so I sat down and eventually was told to go order at the back counter. Nice Cajun decorations. Good was good. Service ok.

I stumbled in this place and got a muffuletta and it was very good. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area

Worst po boy of my life. I ordered the 9^th Ward, which is a French fry po boy with roast beef debris. The guy taking my order said, «Dressed? Lettuce, tomato?» BUT I heard, «Dressed? Lettuce, tomato…» thinking but OF COURSE he means lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickles… etc. Not just lettuce and tomato.
To my utter disappointment, the po boy came. Bread.tough. French fries… cold. Roast beef debris…2 chunks of roast beef with barely any gravy. Come on! I want that thing dripping! As for dressed… I got some cabbage… cabbage??? and 2 slices of tomatoes.
The best part of my lunch was my bottled Barq’s.

Serio’s received national attention when Bobby Flay challenged them to a Muffaletta throwdown and he was beat in historic fashion. Due to this event, I was happy to try the sandwich that bested Bobby Flay.
For $ 5.49, you’ll receive one quarter of a muffaletta. This sounds little, but it’s as large as most full sandwiches and filled me up pretty well. In it contains fresh ham, thick cut genoa salami, swiss & provolone cheese, and a homemade olive salad, all in between two seeded loaves of Italian bread. I commend them for not using any sauces, but as a consequence, the sandwich was dry and the bread was difficult to chew. Overall, the muffaletta is respectable tasting because the olive salad exhibited bold, zingy, and refreshing flavors, but the dryness is hard to override – even with great tasting meats.
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Conclusion: Inside this establishment, it seems like a half deli/​half bar with TV’s and jerseys on the walls. (Supposedly Peyton Manning is a fan of Serio’s) To think this muffaletta destroyed Bobby Flay made me question Bobby Flay’s skills altogether since I thought it was just average in taste. Regardless, if in wanting of a muffaletta, hail a taxi to Butcher Cuchon instead to find the best one ever created.
Extra Notes:
–Accepts credit card
–Check in on Unilocal to receive a free drink with sandwich purchase!
–Fantastic customer service, friendly people
–Décor seems old and worn down projecting a sad and crabby atmosphere; the menu needs to be revised to look cleaner too
–Restroom Available

Myself and a colleague were here for a conference and we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott across the street. After a few days we were sick of the seafood and fried food so I was thrilled to have a muffaletta at Serio’s. Not only was it delicious… it was huge! I ended up taking half of it to eat at the airport a few hours later. We had very fast service and it was a convenient location close to the hotel. This was my third trip to New Orleans and I’d certainly return if I ever find myself back in this fun city!

Didn’t feel like walking too far. Wasn’t anywhere close to Parkway. Not in the mood to wait in line at Mother’s.
So I opted for Serio’s.
And I’m sure glad I did! I ordered the roast beef po’ boy and it proved to be no-​fail! Quick, easy, and cheap. In and out of there.
Apparently there are food tours that stop here, so Serio’s MUST know SOMETHING about food. I know that I sure enjoyed it.
I’ll be back again. Don’t go anywhere, Serio’s.

I’ve only ever had Central Grocery’s muffuletta before, so that’s where I’m going to start.
Got half a muffuletta from Serio’s Po-​Boys & Deli, for just under $ 10. This will feed 2 semi-​hungry people, or one fairly hungry person! Eating more than half by yourself, well, that’s just asking for a food coma.
Serio’s bread is softer than Central Grocery’s, that’s for sure. Think I might actually like Serio’s muffuletta better. Their olive mix isn’t quite as salty as C.G. Found a whole pickled cocktail onion in the mix. Love it! Last time I had one from C.G.(a while ago), the olive mix tasted different. Think it had chopped pepperoncini, and I didn’t care for it. Made it taste off, somehow.
So all you die hard Central Grocery fans, Serio’s has a very good muffuletta. Don’t be afraid to try it! I was pleasantly surprised, and I bet you will be too!

Been wanting to try this place ever since i saw them on Throwdown with Bobby Flay way back when.
The servers have a personality in a good way. They were also helpful in ordering the size of my Muffuletta. I ordered a ¼. I think i could have finished a ½, but I’m glad i only got a ¼ because I was looking to eat at other locations too.
The sandwich is pretty damn good. I love the olive salad. You can also get it warmly pressed which is the way to go, so the bread has a crust but its still warm and soft on the inside.

MORE A LOCAL BELLWETHER THAN A GOOD SANDWICH: I was lunching here in 2001 on the day Governor Edwin Edwards was found guilty on 17 of 26 counts. Of all the places that #1 ranked local WWL TV could choose to gaige the quintessential natives’ reaction they chose Serio’s. Coincidentally, today I dodged another WWL interview when they again selected Serio’s to capture the true locals’ opinion on the conviction of Mayor Ray Nagin, guilty on 20 of 21 counts. NOLA may seem to be changing, but thankfully, Serio’s continues to be a bastion of old school authenticity & opinion.
THE «GREENIE» WAS DRY, PRICEY, UNFLAVORFUL & didn’t seem dressed. But then Leidenheimer tends to suck up the maynez, so ask for extra. A single 7″ with a side of potato salad & tap water totaled a whopping $ 12.
BETTER NEARBY MUFFALETTAS: Reuben’s (900 block Gravier) but ask for extra olive salad; Welty’s Deli (300 block Camp); Cajun Mike’s awesome Muff panini (100 block Baronne); & Butcher makes a good Bronze Medal version.
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