The Boiling Crab

The Boiling Crab is a Cajun seafood boil restaurant in Harvard Square that brings the fun of a backyard crab boil to the neighborhood. Diners order fresh seafood such as Dungeness crab tossed in Cajun sauces, including the signature “Whole Sha-Bang,” and eat with their hands, often wearing bibs. The menu also includes gumbo, fried soft-shell crab, raw oysters and a range of dipping sauces.

The chain has been serving its boils since 2004 and lists locations in places including Garden Grove, California, and Glen Waverley in Melbourne, Australia. The brand plays up a story about fishermen who boiled their fresh catch with spices for the family, and a messy, communal style of eating, with beer and sauce-covered bibs part of the experience. The Cambridge restaurant is also listed as a bar.

What to Know

• The house motto is “Eat With Your Hands!”
• Not every menu item is available at every location.
• Raw oysters come from regions including the Pacific Northwest, East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.
• Sauce options include garlic butter, BBQ, ranch, tartar and cocktail sauce.