Last time we wrote about crawfish here on the blog, we had mixed emotions.
On one hand, we were exited to welcome mudbugs back to our plates and bellies for the season after an unusually cold winter. On the other, we were somewhat flabbergasted by the prices and the short supply of our favorite springtime indulgence. Due to the chilly weather that kept the crawfish from growing big and strong (and juicy), many local restaurants were selling them for higher-than-usual prices and were running out at an alarming rate.
Following various restaurant Facebook pages is a good way to find out if a certain spot is out for the day, but who has time to call and shop around for the best deals?
Actually, we do. And we realize that this list isn't exhaustive, but it represents a good cross-section of all the city has to offer, from Vietnamese to Cajun and hole-in-the-wall to fancy-schmancy.
Here's the rundown on some of your favorite crawfish spots, now that the costs are smaller and the bugs are bigger.
Bayou City Seafood & Pasta Every week day, Bayou City has crawfish on special from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you're dining in, you can get crawfish for $6.99 per pound. Otherwise, it's $7.99 per pound. This is a traditional spicy Cajun boil, and the mudbugs are pretty darn big.
BB's Cafe For $7.95, you can get a pound of crawfish as well as one serving of corn and one potato at all BB's locations. BB's isn't running out of crawfish anymore (some of the locations were earlier in the season), and a person I spoke to expects that the prices will continue to drop into the summer, even though crawfish season officially ends June 1 with the start of hurricane season.
Blue Water Seafood The mudbugs at Blue Water Seafood are currently $6.99 per pound and come with corn and potatoes. A representative tells me that they rarely run out of boiled crawfish, but they also sell it live by the bag, and sometimes they run out of that. Right now, the critters are on special: Buy four pounds and get the fifth pound free.
Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar Boheme might not be the first place you think of when you crave crawfish, but the bar and restaurant has the best prices in town. Sous chef Jordan Economy cooks up Cajun-style mudbugs for $5.99 for one pound or $17.97 for three pounds. The boil includes crawfish, corn, potatoes, and andouille sausage, but it's only happening on Saturdays. Check the restaurant's Facebook page to make sure it's still scheduled when you make your weekend plans.
The Cajun Stop At The Cajun Stop, my favorite dish is the étouffée, but the crawfish boils are pretty darn good too. For $7.50, you can get one pound of bugs with potatoes and corn. Bags of live crawfish are sold separately, and the price changes frequently, so call ahead to get exact numbers.
Calliope's New Orleans Style Seafood & Po-boys Right now, get one pound of crawfish with potatoes for $6.99 at Calliope's. They're big and spicy, and unlike many other places, the potatoes are included in the price!
Cedar Creek Cedar Creek serves crawfish on Thursdays and Fridays starting at 4 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at noon for $8 per pound. Go enjoy the lovely outdoor patio as you pinch the tails and suck the heads. The boils come with corn and potatoes, but a representative for Cedar Creek cautions that they do run out sometimes, so get there early.
Crawfish & Noodles The Vietnamese crawfish joint cooks its mudbugs up in the traditional garlic butter sauce, and is currently serving them for $8.99 a pound. Diners get one serving of corn and one potato with every four pounds purchased.
Crawfish Shack The Crawfish Shack in Crosby is BYOB, and the crawfish are only 6.95 per pound, making it a hot spot for dining on the seasonal fare. The boil contains mushrooms, potatoes and corn, and sometimes the critters go on special, so check the Facebook page for news of lower prices. The Crawfish Shack also sells live crawfish for $3.25 per pound by the large sackful, but you must call and reserve a sack ahead of time.
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