A Ramshackle Cajun Crawfish Boil, Lee's Seafood Boil Is Hiding In Cleveland And Is Absolutely Delicious
By Nikki Rhoades|Published February 11, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Here in The Land, we locals enjoy a certain international atmosphere when it comes to dining. We absolutely love our food selections, as they hail from all over the world… and the United States. You may not expect to find Cajun food in Cleveland, but there’s one local restaurant that serves up a Louisiana staple: crawfish boils! If you’ve never experienced this cultural indulgence, be warned that it is messy, but it’s oh so worth it. Check it out:
If you've never experienced a Louisiana Cajun-style seafood boil, you'll want to pack a bib.
Yes, this experience really is that messy. But, boy, is it delicious. Cajun-style dining is a rarity this far up North, but fortunately for us, a few locals know how to do it just right.
In these traditional Cajun cookouts, fresh shrimp, crawfish, crab, and other ingredients are combined with simple spices and sauces and are boiled in a large pot. They're then drained and, traditionally, poured onto a newspaper covered table.
At Lee’s Seafood Boil in Cleveland, your own seafood boil will be served up in a bag. Don't worry, they'll provide the bibs and plastic gloves to keep you clean.
Lee's Seafood Boil quietly opened in Cleveland Heights in 2015, and since it has relied largely on word of mouth to attract its crowd. And word has spread! The food here is a gem of a find in the rust belt.
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This local eatery, formerly known as Boiling Seafood, is located in a modest storefront that previously housed a Chinese restaurant.
Even the bibs have crabs on them! You'll feel like you're dining on the seashore instead of inland off Lake Erie's coast.
If you're a little apprehensive about trying your first seafood boil, you can rest assured that more familiar eats like po' boys, calamari, and fish fry options decorate their menu.
The seafood boil options are ordered by the pound, so you'll literally have heaps of fresh and delicious seafood. No matter what you get, your taste buds will thank you.
And deep fried deliciousness only adds to the ambiance of this unsuspecting eatery.
This local eatery is open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday. On Fridays and Saturdays, it opens at noon but stays open just one hour later. Are you prepared for an authentic Louisiana dining experience?
Lee’s Seafood Boil serves up some of the very best Cajun food in Cleveland, and it is a must for any adventurous eater. Have you ever visited? What was your experience like?