Goings On
January 12, 2015Aline Loupe
January 12, 2015
After hearing others rave about Crabby Crab in Lockport, it was time to take the drive.
Situated along La. Highway 1, the blue building is easily distinguishable by the protruding crab hanging over the porch door. The packed parking lot is also a telltale sign of the restaurant’s popularity.
Jackie Lara and Wendy Alonzo, who also run Crab Express, opened the restaurant in October 2014. Working with live crab and crawfish and fresh shrimp and alligator, the pair has infused family recipes and Cajun favorites to create an abundant, diverse menu.
Step inside Crabby Crab and immerse yourself in family-style eating.
The walls in the main room depict underwater scenes. Wood tables and chairs, along with a few booths along the front wall, provide ample seating. Overhead, colorful pipes give the impression of dining under the sea where the crabs roam.
A back dining room, which includes a stunning swamp scene by Houma artist Hans Geist, provides plenty of additional seating.
Our waitress Nicole quickly seated us and began offering suggestions. When we asked about the most popular appetizers, she called out virtually everything listed. Our table agreed to try the Crawfish Bread ($7.95) since our meals included a couple of the other items.
Toasted French bread covered with cheese, the appetizer was good but lacking in one important ingredient: crawfish. We found only one crawfish tucked in the cheese.
Entrees consisted of a Crab Trio ($17.99), BBQ Shrimp ($16.95) and Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10.95). The picky eater among us settled for a cup of chicken gumbo ($4.95) and three crabs ($8.25).
Excluding the spaghetti sauce, which was perfectly seasoned, my guests agreed each of the dishes were light on flavor this particular night.
The Crab Trio included a soft-shelled crab, crab patty and crab au gratin. The soft-shell crab was well cooked, and the crab au gratin was a cheese-lover’s dream come true. Sadly, the patty oozed with grease the moment the fork touched it.
The shrimp were fresh and easy to peel, but a tad charred on the top.
Everyone tried a spoonful of the gumbo and a taste of the crab. The gumbo is a lighter combo, not the deep rich roux picky eater prefers, but still was enjoyable. On this particular night, the crab was light on seasoning, however.
The star of the night were the desserts – Bread Pudding ($3.95) and a piece of Strawberry Shortcake ($5.50). We’d never seen a stack of strawberry shortcake like this one, but it was delicious. Both desserts disappeared in record time.
Anyone can have a bad night, so we returned to Crabby Crab several days later for lunch.
My guests enjoyed the Fisherman’s Platter ($16.99) and Shrimp Fettuccini ($14.95), while I enjoyed a Club Sandwich ($7.99).
The seafood dishes were very flavorful. There was no sign of unwanted grease. The platter included fried shrimp, crab, oysters, hush puppies and fries. Lightly fried and well-seasoned, my guest vowed he’d return to try the other seafood offerings.
Likewise, the fettuccini proved to offer the perfect ratio of sauce, noodles and shrimp. Served piping hot with a side of French bread, it too was a hit.
We were in agreement that Crabby Crab is well worth the visit, and were glad we decided to return that afternoon. With fantastic service, its casual atmosphere and a diverse selection of fresh seafood to its credit, there’s no reason to leave crabby. Plan your visit today.
Crabby Crab is located at 5726 La. Highway 1 in Lockport. It is open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit facebook.com/pages/crabby-crab or call 985-532-2000.
Crabby Crab has been drawing visitors from across the region since its opening in October 2014. Owners Jackie Lara and Wendy Alonzo have infused family recipes and Cajun favorites to create an abundant, diverse menu.
