If you haven’t been to the new Crafty Crab near Village Square, don’t be shocked when you see your fellow diners eating with their hands. It’s not only considered appropriate at Crafty Crab, it’s actually encouraged. That’s because the eatery takes after its sister restaurants in the South, which dish out authentic seafood boils that are meant to be devoured in this way.

The first step in building your New Orleans-style seafood boil is picking the fresh catch that will serve as the star. Crab, lobster, shrimp clams, mussels, and, of course, the classic crawfish are all on the menu. Next, select a seasoning. The roster of options includes Crafty Cajun, buttery garlic, lemon pepper, and The Boom!, which is a combo of all three. Instruct the chef on how spicy you’d like your boil—from mild to fire—and add on some extra seafood if you’re up to a challenge. The chef will steam everything in a plastic bag that the server plops down right on your table, which is when it’s officially time to dig in with your bare hands.

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