Crawfish season has arrived on the Gulf Coast, and a string of bars and restaurants across Mobile and Baldwin counties are again running free or all-you-can-eat crawfish nights to mark it. South Alabama News checked in with area establishments to see who was boiling this spring.
This year’s crop got off to a slow start. Public radio station WWNO’s New Orleans food desk reported that last autumn’s dry weather kept crawfish burrowed longer and delayed the spring multiplication, and winter cold snaps slowed growth further, meaning early season sacks were generally small, few and pricey. By late March, though, area cooks said the mudbugs turning up on local tables were looking good.
Downtown Mobile and Midtown
The Alabama Music Box on Dauphin Street is doing backyard-style boils in its courtyard every Sunday starting around 5 p.m. for the second straight year, with handmade cocktails alongside the boiled crawfish. Boo Radley’s serves free crawfish every Wednesday from 5 p.m. until it is gone. The Brickyard has free crawfish Thursday nights, with discounted domestic beer and dollar PBR. The Ultra Lounge on Dauphin Street runs a Friday night boil on its balcony above the Spot of Tea.
Hayley’s Bar on Dauphin Street has hosted crawfish night for three years, Thursday nights from 6 to 10 p.m., followed by rock karaoke. The bar also hosts the Duel on Dauphin Crawfish Cook-Off in downtown Mobile, scheduled this year for May 15 with proceeds benefiting the Bay Area Food Bank.
Beyond the Loop and Over the Bay
Cannon Grill on Airport Boulevard cooks on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. on the back deck, while Crooked Martini on Cottage Hill Road runs an all-you-can-eat crawfish night every Thursday at 6 p.m. for a $5 cover. Silver Horse Pub on South Florida Street has free crawfish Thursday and Sunday nights. The Industry Bar on Government Boulevard boils on Tuesday nights starting around 6:30 p.m., and Taste Wine Bar at the Loop offers free crawfish Saturdays from 4 p.m. The Garage said it was working on a Sunday crawfish program.
In Baldwin County, Undertow Bar on Canal Road in Orange Beach has been serving crawfish every Sunday at 4 p.m. for three weeks running and reports its regulars are happy with this year’s batch. The bar said it was also checking reports that a nearby Bojangles was running a Tuesday crawfish special.
Regulars are advised to call ahead, since crawfish schedules can shift with the season and the weather.