Where the Seafood is Boiling

Fresh Louisiana Seafood Awaits You at Many Northshore Hot Spots.

BY JYL BENSON

THE ROAR OF PROPANE-DRIVEN FLAMES under a pot of steeping seafood is Louisiana's unique spring and summertime melody. It's a sound everyone appreciates for its meaning: hot, boiled Louisiana crawfish, shrimp or crabs will soon be dumped from the pot onto newspaper-lined tables; then it's time to dig in.

Seafood boils are fun, the most coveted invitation of the season, but they are also expensive, messy and a ton of work for the host. Sometimes it’s best to leave the work to the pros, which St. Tammany Parish has in abundance. You can certainly peel-and-eat your way through Northshore restaurants like Morton’s Seafood on the Tchefuncte River, Don’s Seafood in Covington, or Peck’s Seafood in Slidell to name a few. Or find your catch at one of the many seafood markets across the parish.

Locally owned Mandeville Seafood Market consistently garners high praise for the quality and flavor of its boiled crabs, Gulf shrimp and crawfish as well as its friendly staff. This spot operates as both a seafood market and restaurant where you can dine in or take out. mandevilleseafoodmarket.com

At Pearl’s Seafood Market, no shellfish specimen escapes Danielle and Jason Martin’s massive boiling pot at the restaurant and market they named for their daughter, Aubrey Pearl. On offer are blue, snow, and Dungeness crabs, crawfish, lobster, and brown, white and royal red shrimp served with all the sides (potatoes, corn, sausage) and seasoned with a spice blend that has been in Danielle’s family for generations. pearlsseafoodmarket.com

Also operating as both a seafood market and a restaurant, family-run Kenney Seafood has been in business since 1972, first as a wholesale fishing operation and later (1989) as a comprehensive spot of any variety of boiled Gulf shellfish you may crave. kenneyseafood.com

The Lama family of Italian immigrants started harvesting seafood from the Gulf around 1910 and then opened their celebrated seafood business in New Orleans’ famed St. Roch Market in 1947, which they operated for 50 years. In 2020, Anthony Lama Jr opened Original Lama’s Seafood at 304 Hwy 22 in Madisonville. This low-tech operation focuses on boiled seafood for take-out only.

Pro Tip

Get more than you think you will need and enjoy it while sitting on the nearby waterfront.