When the craving for boiled crawfish strikes, you may not always have a backyard boil on the schedule. That's where local New Orleans restaurants come in. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
It goes without saying that the best New Orleans crawfish boils are found in backyards, where newspaper-laden tables creak under the weight and heat of bright red mudbugs, potatoes, sausage, mushrooms, garlic and citrus.
- But when a backyard boil isn’t on the docket, it’s time to head to local restaurants, where you can count on a fresh pot reliably boiling anytime they’re in season.
Though there are blessedly many other New Orleans seafood restaurants, bars and pop-ups beyond this list, here are seven of our favorite places to pinch, peel and eat up.
Bevi Seafood Co.
Location: 236 N. Carrollton Ave.
Order ahead: Call 504-488-7503.
Beyond the boil: Look for crave-worthy poboys like the Peacemaker, a surf-and-turf option with fried shrimp, roast beef debris and melty Swiss cheese.
Clesi's Restaurant and Catering
Order ahead: Order online through Toast.
Location: 4323 Bienville St.
Beyond the boil: Expect the usual fried seafood platters and poboys, but look to the apps for the fun stuff, like crawfish Rangoon and jambalaya-coated cheese fries.
Salvo's Seafood
Location: 7742 LA-23, Belle Chasse.
Order ahead: Call 504-393-7303.
Beyond the boil: Stop by after 5pm for the all-you-can-eat boiled special, but make sure to throw in an order of the fried frog legs or crawfish eggrolls to share.
NOLA Crawfish King
Location: 5321 Franklin Ave.
Order ahead: Order through the restaurant website or call 504-259-0828.
Beyond the boil: Sure, crawfish is in the name, but chef Shaggy Davis and his gang are also well-known for barbecue, so try the Gentilly Reuben with its slow-cooked brisket pastrami, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye.
Cajun Seafood
Locations and where to call ahead:
- 2730 S. Broad Ave., 504-821-4722.
- 1479 N. Claiborne Ave., 504-948-6000.
- 1901 Almonaster Ave., 504-945-5447.
- 7020 Read Blvd., 504-241-1396.
Beyond the boil: The Nguyens' beloved restaurants serve up poboys and platters year round, so for something different, ask for the family's fried rice instead of fries, or cure a hangover with a hot bowl of yakamein.
Seither's Seafood
Location: 279 Hickory Ave., Harahan.
Order ahead: Call (504) 738-1116.
Beyond the boil: Beyond the boil, there's plenty on chef Jason Seither's menu to keep you entertained. Try the shrimp remoulade Pee-Paw poboy or the Delacroix nachos, with housemade chips piled high with blackened Gulf fish, boiled shrimp and snow crab salad.
Deanie's Seafood
Locations:
- 841 Iberville St.
- 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie
- 2200 Magazine St.
Order ahead: Order online through ChowNow links on the restaurant site.
Beyond the boil: Look for the New Orleans classics at this Bucktown-born legend, like barbecue shrimp or blackened redfish topped with crawfish etouffee.
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