Ask George: What’s the latest on the Cajun seafood boil–type restaurants that were trending a few years ago?

What’s the latest on the Cajun seafood boil–type restaurants that were trending a few years ago? —Jan L., St. Louis

Over the past decade or so, the popularity of Cajun seafood boil–type restaurants has soared across the nation. The best-seller is typically a bag or bucket of seasoned seafood—shrimp, crab, crawfish, mussels, lobster, or a combination—plus potatoes, corn on the cob, and sometimes sausage and hard-boiled eggs, which are dumped directly onto the table, New Orleans-style. In July 2019, when the trend first caught on in St. Louis, six restaurants in the metro area were either open or under construction. Three years later, that number has almost doubled. Here’s a running tally, with some nontraditional options thrown in:

• Blue Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar: After a lengthy buildout, the new restaurant opened last spring in the Deer Creek center in Maplewood. 3248 Laclede Station.
• Broadway Oyster Bar: This weekend, the downtown staple is hosting a shrimp festival featuring nine special dishes and three boils containing shrimp: a Louisiana-style shrimp boil, a shrimp and crab boil, and a seafood boil (with shrimp, crab legs, crawfish, and mussels). The fest runs from 5–10 p.m. Friday and noon–10 p.m. Saturday. 736 S. Broadway.
• Crab N’ Go: From one of the owners of sushi restaurant Sushi Ai, the seafood spot opened last summer in Overland. 10041 Page.
• Crab’s Landing: The downtown restaurant has developed a loyal clientele. 701 N. Tucker.
• Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill: While not the traditional crab boil joint, the restaurant (with three locations in the metro area) offers “dump dinners” that include Creole spiced shrimp, crab legs, mussels, and Andouille sausage served with red potatoes and corn on the cob. See website for addresses.
• Hook & Reel: The Maryland-based chain’s first Missouri location opened in a former Applebee’s location three years ago. 4860 Chippewa.
• The Kickin’ Crab: The 11-year-old California-based chain has 22 units, including one in Olivette that does a brisk business. 9616 Olive.
• Krab Kingz Seafood: Two metro locations, in Shrewsbury and the Delmar Loop, have opened under two franchisees. See website for addresses.
• La Juicy Seafood: The restaurant came to St. Louis in early 2021 and now has three locations: Florissant, O’Fallon, Missouri, and Paducah, Kentucky. See website for addresses.
• The Mad Crab: The flagship opened in University City in 2017, followed by a second location in Bridgeton two years later. See website for addresses.
• The Peacemaker Lobster & Crab: Acclaimed chef Kevin Nashan’s seafood restaurant offers two types of seafood boils—lobster and shrimp—with potatoes, Brussels sprouts, andouille sausage, and a buttermilk biscuit. 1831 Sidney.
• Storming Crab: The Kirkwood restaurant, situated just north of I-44, continues to reel in customers. 1242 S. Kirkwood.

With all of the peeling, cracking, dissecting, dribbling, and slurping, seafood boils come with two guarantees: They’re messy and a whole lot of fun. Plastic gloves and bibs are standard issue—but wear an old shirt, just in case.

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