OUR STORY
In 1945, Phil Tuminello and his family opened a little seafood market on Government Street. Five years later, that market grew into a full-service restaurant. When Phil retired in 1971, he sold the place to a group of local entrepreneurs, who brought in a young manager named Gus Piazza.
Gus was a New Orleans native who came to Baton Rouge for college in the 1970s. While at LSU, he worked as an equipment manager for the LSU football team and quickly fell in love with the university. During that time, he also managed the oyster bar connected to Phil’s, a spot that soon became a second home. Gus had always dreamed of owning the restaurant, and in 1975—just a year out of college—he raised the money and made it happen.
Gus was more than just a restaurant owner—he was a fixture in the LSU community. A die-hard fan and friend to many in athletics, he was known everywhere for his food and his hospitality. For years, Phil’s was the go-to spot for fans, media, and visitors who came to Baton Rouge for LSU games.
In 2007, declining health forced Gus to close Phil’s—exactly 32 years to the day after he had purchased it. He passed away later that year, leaving behind a legacy of great food, friendship, and community.
Following his passing, the Piazza family felt a strong desire to restore their father’s beloved restaurant to the place it once held in Baton Rouge. In 2016, that dream was realized with the reopening of Phil’s Oyster Bar & Seafood at its new home in Southdown’s Village.
Today, Phil’s Oyster Bar is proudly owned and operated by Gus’s eldest son, Anthony Piazza. Having grown up in the restaurant alongside his father, Anthony not only learned the family business but also the importance of treating people with kindness and building lasting relationships. Carrying on Gus’s vision, Anthony remains committed to making every guest feel like family.
