If you're craving authentic Cajun seafood in NYC, you honestly don't need to fly to Louisiana or even head out to City Island--Aqua Boil brings that bold, fresh, and flavorful experience right to the heart of Hell's Kitchen Every bite delivers the perfect balance of freshness, spice, and deep umami flavor--you can tell the ingredients are high quality and handled with care. Huge shoutout to the chef and especially Bas Chatchawan for maintaining such a high standard. It really shows in every order What impressed me even more--tonight I ordered delivery all the way to Uptown Manhattan (over 30 minutes away ), and the food still arrived tasting just as fresh and delicious as dining in. That's not easy to pull off, but they nailed it. That said, if you can dine in, I highly recommend it--especially the Combo 5 lbs seafood platter for $130 . It's perfect for sharing and gives you the full experience of what they do best. From flavor to consistency to service, Aqua Boil and their team truly stand out in NYC's food scene. Give them a try--you won't regret it! #AquaBoil #NYCFoodie #CajunSeafood #HellskitchenEats #FoodDeliveryDoneRight read more

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Overall rating: 4.4 I've been wanting to try Seafood boil for awhile and heard this place was really popular for it. My friend and I shared the Snow Crab Leg and Shrimp with Cajun Mix and corn and potatoes. The service was very responsive and available for any questions. The decor of the restaurant was very pretty as well. The only thing is I live in Brooklyn & I'm not sure if it was worth the trip for me. I definitely recommend to those that live in the area. read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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If you know me, you know, I absolutely love a good seafood boil. So when my husband surprised me with an itinerary to New York City, and it had a seafood boil on it, you can imagine how excited I was. I waited most of the day to have a full meal as I knew how much we would eat in the evening. He made a reservation, which was very helpful because the restaurant itself was bustling and busy. We were seated right away and provided the utensils to succeed when our food came. We decided on 3 pounds of seafood - crab, mussels, & shrimp. We ordered the Cajun seasoning in a more mild fashion because my husband doesn't like a ton of spice. As we waited for our food, I took in the effects of the restaurant and how busy it was getting. It was decorating very nautical & the energy was a highlight. We received our food and it was hot! The seafood itself was fresh. The potatoes were well cooked. And the server continued to check on us throughout the meal to ensure that we were happy. When we received the bill, the price was typical for what it should be and even more positively surprising in New York City. If you are in New York and looking for a seafood boil, do not skip this place! read more

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Wow - the seafood boil here is SO good! My partner and I devoured 3 lbs of seafood, and it came out quick and piping hot. We ordered the shrimp and snow crab combo with Cajun seasoning and added an extra pound of mussels. The shrimp were incredibly plump and meaty - the star of the meal. The snow crab legs were a great size, and they give you scissors to help crack through the shells. The mussels were on the smaller side and didn't taste very fresh - I'd skip next time. We added broccoli (to feel a little healthy) and a side of white rice. I'd skip the rice, but the broccoli was a pleasant surprise! Even though it's cooked in the boil, it wasn't soggy - still had a nice crunch and served as the perfect vehicle for soaking up all that sauce! I was initially skeptical because some reviews mentioned there not being enough sauce. As a true sauce lover, I can confidently say there was plenty - enough to coat all the seafood and potatoes and fully satisfy my sauce needs. Will absolutely be back for the shrimp and snow crab combo. Highly recommend! read more

Aqua Boil - Snow Crab Legs, Shrimp, Mussels - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Nice vibe, good, quick service. Food was excellent. Service charge was included for party of 4 - just an FYI. Would come here again.

Went for lunch: We had a reservation but it was empty when we went on a Friday at noon. I got mild cajun style with crawfish and corn, it was great! Sauce was slightly tangy however I do wish there was more to cover all the seafood. My bf got a lychee margarita and they have happy hour M-F 12-6 $9 drinks. Lychee margarita was nice and strong, and came with a lychee. Definitely decent! They give a generous amount of potatoes which come with the seafood (sides such as corn or sausage are an added cost) which I loved! The andouille sausage was good, more on the thinner side rather than a thick cut sausage. Service was great, very attentive and we had our shell bucket emptied rather quickly once it was full. At lunch the music is not too loud, I was still able to hold conversation and hear my bf. Overall, a decent seafood boil spot, lunch is pretty empty but I'm sure this place is busy for dinner! read more

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Delicious!! I look forward to going back to AQUA BOIL, on Ninth Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets. I enjoyed a SEAFOOD BOIL OF one pound of Snow Crab Legs ($38), (Aug 2025) which comes with potatoes. I chose the "CAJUN MIX SAUCE", and I wanted it mild. You can select how spicy you would like it. So, the menu guides you in 3 steps to order your chosen seafood boil. You may add other sides to your boil, too. Your seafood boil is brought to your table in a clear plastic bag. Your sauce is mixed in with your selected seafood boil. You are provided with A BIB, plastic gloves, a scissors, and other utensils you will need to enjoy your seafood. I did ask for a "picker"--the thing to pick the seafood out of a small space. And a plastic lined beautiful bucket, --reminded me of a champagne bucket-- is brought to your table and this is where you put the seafood shells. The shocker for me, and my friend, was that you are not given a plate LOL, no plates. I was not used to that. But, it helps the environment because you are not using water to clean the plates, and, I am guessing that perhaps it may also help to keep restaurant costs down, so that would be good too. Your seafood boil bag acts as your plate. There is a white paper tablecloth on your table. Our seafood tasted fresh and delicious!! My friend enjoyed her pound of shrimp (head off). She had the Cajun Mix Sauce in a medium spice level. She enjoyed it. Our service was nice and friendly. The restaurant is light and airy. The natural light comes in. There is a clean, unisex bathroom. AQUA BOIL has a nice menu, including lobster rolls, soups, Mac 'n cheese, and fabulous looking huge boils, with a beautiful variety of seafoods, including lobster. A table near us had the huge seafood combo boil, and it looked FANTASTIC!!! See my photos. Next time, I'll take more photos of my seafood boil...Because this time I was very hungry, and could not wait to get started with my snow crab legs, and once those gloves are on, I am not taking them off during my DELICIOUS meal. LOL I do not answer my phone when I'm involved with a seafood boil !! And, you won't want to either! The gloves stay on!! LOL. You can put all phones away!! Enjoy your meal. Savor the meal. :) I'm sure I uttered 'THIS IS SO GOOD' during my meal. :). I look forward to my next visit. I can tell you, I was thinking about, and craving, that yummy seafood boil, that yummy Cajun Mix SAUCE for days after. I look forward to going back to AQUA BOIL. Very soon!! (I might go today!! For real) read more

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The tables were very tightly packed which is not really ideal for this kind of food - where you need to go all in with your hands. And to add to the inconvenience, a two-person table was also very small for two servings of boil, a drink and the dump bucket. Not sure how you'd manage with more food on a small surface like this. Service however, was good. Coming to the food: - Whole Lobster boil with the medium-spice Cajun-mix Sauce (3/5) - good flavors but could have been spicier than what was described to me, and the lobster was cooked well for the most part - occasionally encountered overdone sections. The lobster as a whole however didn't seem to have been cleaned well as I could see gunk inside it which thorough cleaning would have solved. - Crab Legs and Shrimp Combo with the same seasoning/sauce (3/5) - the shrimp was plump and cooked well, but again, not thoroughly cleaned... The price of this combo was also $20 more than advertised on their website so be warned. Overall just an okay experience. Had the seafood been cleaned better and the table been more spacious, it could have been a much better experience. Both of us came out with slight digestive issues, nothing serious, at the end of the meal, so something was questionable about the quality of the food. read more

Aqua Boil - Lobster Boil and Combo of Crab and Shrimp Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

We came on a Saturday afternoon and were seated pretty quickly, which was a great start! We ordered the Mad Ocean combo (5 lbs of seafood) and added garlic bread plus broccoli in the boil. The broccoli soaked up all that sauce and was honestly so good. We upgraded to include lobster (+$20), but in hindsight, it might not have been the best choice since splitting one lobster between five people doesn't get you very far, and lobsters don't have a ton of meat to begin with :( The sauce was very buttery with a solid Cajun flavor. It didn't totally "wow" me, but the overall experience was super fun, everyone digging in with their hands, sharing food, and just enjoying the moment together. Plus, holding up 5 lbs of seafood made for some pretty goofy pictures :)) read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

The food is good, the service is fast, but ambiance is hectic. They blast electronic music so loudly that you can't hear yourself think, nonetheless hear yourself eating. The turnaround is fast so you don't have to wait long. I'm impressed by how quickly they can churn out food, but it's minimal cleaning because you wear gloves, everything is served on disposable ware (gloves, paper plate, bib, table paper covering, etc.). The crawfish were small, but it's because it wasn't particularly crawfish season. The 1lb crawfish + 1lb shrimp combo is enough for two people ($40). It comes with potatoes, but you have to add corn or other items on the side. read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Social media food influencers brought me here and IMO this place is overhyped. Setting: Nautical-themed decor with café seating and a small bar. The atmosphere had a rushed energy, with music playing in the background. Staff: The staff was kind but seemed rushed and a bit nervous. No one checked in with me while I was dining, which felt impersonal. Food: I got a crab leg boil. The portion size was underwhelming. They had to clarify for me that "two claws" didn't actually mean two full claws. It ended up being one full claw with five legs and a second with only three to four legs--odd and a bit disappointing. Shrinkflation, maybe? The potato was overcooked, and the garlic sauce had a heavy, chalky dairy taste that I didn't like. Drink: My lemon drop was basic. I've had better. Online, the plates looked overflowing and generously portioned--definitely influencer treatment. What I got felt average, even mediocre by comparison. I came, I saw. read more

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Ok, Now this Aqua Boil was sooooo good. The food fresh and Tom our host had the drinks on and poppin. The service was great and ambiance was a very nice cool setting. I do recommend Aqua Boil. Come and try if for yourelf read more

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Was in the mood for a sea boil or po' boy but the usual place we go to was close. Daughter found one near our house on 9th Avenue, and must admit we were a little apprehensive about trying a new place. The place was packed so couldn't grab a table to eat so we took it home. We ordered two shrimp po' boys and one shrimp basket with regular fries and one shrimp basket with Cajun fries. When we got home and opened the box of the po' boys - OMG THE SMELL WAS MOUTH WATERING. That first bite was speechless, look at my wife and said oh yeah. It was DELICIOUS!!!! The shrimp was nice and tender and not overcooked. The sauce was magical. The veggies were smooth. And the bread - thick, toasted and absorbed the sauce to make elevate to a wow. I ate mine and I was eyeing my wife's because I wanted more but she ate it too. Daughter loved her baskets. The Cajun fries were good too but nothing like that po' boy. Want to go back and sit there to eat. I recommend the things I got because they hit the spot and keep you wanting more. Plus, it's filling and will have you set for a few long hours on it. Go get those po' boys! read more

Let's start with the fact they offer happy hour 7 days a week! $9 martinis, margaritas, wine, etc. We ordered seafood boil, and catfish basket. The food is really good! The time we went, the place was pretty empty and the service was quick. read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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My family and I visited this restaurant over the weekend, and everything was absolutely delicious! My daughters dad recommended it since he is a regular, and I can confidently say this place did not disappoint. The service was exceptional--thank you, Perry and Bell; they were the sweetest! The vibe was relaxed, and they played a great playlist. For an appetizer, I ordered the crab cake, which was fantastic! My daughter had a 3-pound seafood boil and ordered garlic noodles, which were incredibly tasty. The boom boom shrimp had a nice kick and was really good. My husband and I were craving catfish, so we ordered the catfish sliders, and they were amazing! The catfish was perfectly seasoned and crispy. Oh, and they have happy hour every day--yes, every day! I'm definitely going back because the food was delicious, and the service was outstanding! read more

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The food is best thing about this place but what won me over was its friendly customer service, Perry, is the best and sweetest person. The ambiance is great, with nice music and it isn't too loud. I definitely recommend to every friend I have. read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Some dishes were great, while others were just meh. The food is a bit overpriced for the ambience and the restaurant's approach. The staff was really kind, fast, and friendly. read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Love this spot - we find ourselves regularly going back. Quick service and the different levels of spice are great. Try their pasta, it's worth it. read more

Delicious every time without fail. Quick and easy and fresh. Service is fine, nothing to write home about, but more than adequate. It's not much for ambiance, but that's my overall experience at the crab house. Still deliciousness I'll still be back read more

I love a good seafood boil, and Aqua Boil's got the ticket! Unbeknownst to me, we came during restaurant week. I'm not a dessert/sweets person so ordered a la carte from the menu (1 lb each of mussels and head-on shrimp + a fried calamari appetizer), while some of my group opted for the RW menu. We were pleased to see that the RW portions were the same as the regular orders, not a smaller size like at some restaurants. This is how it goes: you pick your choice of seafood(s), sauce flavor, and heat level. They bring you a bib and a bucket, and you get ready to get messy! The Cajun sauce is AMAZING! I asked for the highest spice level, raging hot (5 fire emojis!), and they delivered. It was pretty damn spicy but did not obscure the taste. This bonafide spicehead approves. I might have even teared up a little. I absolutely recommend getting the shrimp, which are large and plump - 1 lb is about a dozen shrimp (heads on, which is the only way to eat them in a boil IMO). Unfortunately the mussels were rather anemic and stringy on my visit. My friends variously ordered crawfish (good but not the meatiest), lobster, whole dungeoness crab, and snow crab legs in various sauces, and were pleased with their meals. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, so I took some food home, but I'd say 1-2 lbs of seafood are sufficient, depending on your appetite. There are some potatoes included in the boil bag. Service was diligent but the one waitress on the floor was very busy and working hard. So attentiveness was a bit lacking (like no automatic refill of waters) but when we needed something they always brought it. read more

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Came on a Tuesday nite with a 530pm reservation. It was just the 2 of us. At 530 it was empty; maybe 3 tables only. The hostess guy and the waitress conversed a bit and seem to struggle with where to put us despite we had a reservation and despite the restaurant being empty. They then shuffled a few tables then decided to squeeze us in a 90 degree cornered wall where we would be sitting in a L formation and each of us facing a different wall. Why do stingy with the table?.....Perhaps you'd like us to stand and eat instead? Of course I spoke up and requested another table. Now on to the food; We knew from the other reviewers to stay far away from their shrimps.. We got; Lobster Mac N Cheese ~ Terrible. Never mind the lobster was rubbery it was also extremely fishy and stinky not fresh. The Mac N cheese itself was dry dry dry. The crumble was just floating on the top. Gross lobster aside, how does one screw up on a Mac N cheese but this place accomplished the impossible. . Softshell crab basket 2 deep-fried softshell crab on top of Cajun fries. The crab was pretty good. a bit on the small side and oily side but flavor was good. Cajun fries was fine. Boil... Our first choice was Dungeness crab; they were out. We got snow crab instead. It was good. We got it with the Cajun sauce spicy and the spice level was good. Wish them the best of luck but definitely would not return. ....and p.s. when we left around 7 it was still empty with plenty of of empty tables.. read more

It's very good seafood in here. The service was great I recommend get the combo special seafood 5lb so good don't forget to get something to drink read more

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My go-to for seafood boils in Manhattan. They are so filling. Staff is friendly. Drinks are good whether alcoholic or not. Price is pretty good as they also have happy hour AND lunch specials. This spot is pretty much a hidden gem read more

I LOVE a good seafood boil so I had to check out this place after reading all the raving reviews. Upon arriving, they were able to seat our large party almost immediately which was nice. The inside was cutely decorated even though the place wasn't too big. Service was fast and timely. Unfortunately, the seafood was not up to par at all. The crawfish was bitter, the mussels were just shells (only a few had meat), and the sauce was very lacking in quality and quantity. We all left unsatisfied with the flavors which was a shame since this place had such good reviews! read more

Very cute place with awesome Happy Hour drink specials! Even the regular drinks on the menu looked like they'd be DELICIOUS and right up my alley, but $6 Mango and Peach margaritas were hard to pass up. Me and my girlie split a 1lb snow crab leg and 1lb shrimp combo. Something to note, though the menu says "head-on" for the shrimp, the waitress offered a head-off option for just a $1 more. SCORE. We also split a clam chowder pasta, something I've never had before, but I loved the concept. A little salt and pepper at the table to add to it would have been boss, but the sauce from the crab and shrimp boil was DELICIOUS (we got the garlic butter though the waitress highly recommended the cajun mix). Staff was super attentive, checked in on us regularly, you get plastic bibs, wet naps, gloves, all that. The boil itself comes in a transparent plastic bag that they set on the table for you. Also, the bathroom in the back is nice and big and clean. We got there around 5:30 and it was pretty empty, but by the time we left 2-3 hours later, it was packed. I would 100% come back here because the happy hour is priced CRAZY good, the drinks are strong and tasty, and I still need to try more stuff like the cajun fries and lobster roll! read more

Aqua Boil - Clam Chowder Pasta! - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Really great food! Go with the Lobster Mac! Crab cake was a little dry, but still tasty! read more

Aqua Boil - Lobster Mac N' Cheese - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

ive been here twice now and feel like i can trust this place to consistently deliver solid seafood boil! ive only had the head-on shrimp and crawfish and both are good but I prefer the shrimp. I also prefer the garlic butter over the cajun mix. The waitstaff are attentive and friendly and love the $6 drinks. also a big plus that its very clean and I can eat and leave without feeling like i smell the rest of the day. read more

Aqua Boil - 1 lb head-on shrimp in garlic butter - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Great Cajun seafood boil! Got the 1lb crawfish + 1lb shrimp combo with potato, corn, and garlic bread. The crawfishes were a bit too small for my liking but everything was great. Highly recommend getting the garlic bread as an add on and dipping into the sauce. read more

Smaller portions than expected. It seemed awkward when we entered, not sure why but all of our drinks were served in plastic including cocktails. The $23 fried seafood basket and $58 boil didn't seem generous or enough to share between 3 people. Manhattan prices, we get but at least supplement with good energy and serving sizes read more

Aqua Boil - The closest plate in the first photo is the $23 calamari, catfish and shrimp combo basket, the portions are small for the baskets. - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Came on Sunday evening during the Labor Day holiday weekend, and there were a few tables left when we arrived. The tables are pretty close to each other. We ordered some crab legs, fries and a soda; the food came out within 10 minutes. The seasoning is ok, nothing special, but the crab was bland as it was not in the seasoning long enough. Also, might just be a personal thing, but we were only given one cracker for two people, and no picks but plastic forks, which made it a struggle to get the meat out of the thin legs. For a total of $80 before tip, we felt just ok from our experience here, food-wise. Service was good. read more

Aqua boil is one of the few Cajun boils open for brunch and probably the only one with an all day happy hour on the weekends. My friends and I stopped by without a reservation on a Sunday around 1pm when they opened. We got a corner seat by the door for our party of 5 and started with a round of happy hour drinks. I wanted a Cajun boil with head off shrimp, mussels and clams and found out that they didn't do a mix of sauces like the other Cajun spots. If I mixed sauces it would've been an extra $3 per sauce, but if I ordered each item as a separate boil, I can then pair them with different sauces. This concept made no sense to me but that's the route we went. I got the mussels in tom yum, the shrimp in garlic butter, and the clams in lemon pepper. I also ordered a side of andouille sausage and spaghetti to mix in the boil. When the 3 bags arrived, I combined them together. The boils were flavorful and spicy just how I wanted it. Spaghetti is one of my must haves for Cajun boils because I love the way it soaks up all the sauces and it definitely didn't disappoint. Overall the food was good but the service and prices could be better. We had to flag down our waiter multiple times for drinks, water, napkins, etc. I would definitely return for their $6 happy hour drinks. read more

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I purchased snow, crab, and head of shrimp boil to go. I'm sorry, but I have a problem with shrimp not being clean. I don't like having shrimp with the digestive track still attach. So it was a total turn off for me and wasn't able to fully enjoy my meal. read more

The catfish filets we ordered were very small and mostly batter. The shrimp were OK but they weren't fried as i expected but just steamed with the shell still on. The biggest disappointment was the clam chowder. It was mostly devoid of clams and for $10 for an 8 oz portion was not worth it. read more

Not my first time coming to this amazing spot, but decided to leave a review this time since it was such an amazing experience. I was having a mini panic attack on this day attempting to find a spot that delicious and open (Labor Day Problems) and remember this spot that we came to for my birthday last year. I was so pleased to find reservation for the day of, and even more please to be seated earlier... especially since I was STARVING. Now this is my first time reviewing but let me tell you their menu is top tier. The sauce is KEY, whew I would drink their cajun sauce that sit in the bottom of the broil, it just that good. Mac and cheese is delish as well. Now hunny, if you coming here for happy hour... UBER is a must. The drinks are strong but taste so good and secretly get you "lit." Def a spot to come have a few drinks on a nice summer night. BTW they have specials and their happy hour is extended hours so check them out! Love Love Love ... and Deff will be back again. read more

Aqua Boil - Under The Sea - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're craving seafood boil in NYC, this is the place to go! We came in on an early friday evening and were able to get seated without a wait. We had the seafood boil combo with shrimp, crawfish, and clams. The seafood was fresh and well seasoned with cajun. We also had the fried soft shell crab, which was nicely fried without too much breading. It came with fries which were great for dipping in the cajun seasoning. The place is fairly casual, and has some nice happy hour drinks. Can't wait to come back! read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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AMAZING crawdads! I'm from the south & they tasted like mom's! The Cajon sauce on the side was delicious & the corn & potatoes were really traditional!! THANK YOU chief ! JoDe read more

Aqua Boil - CRAWDADS - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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As a frequent visitor to this restaurant, I was disappointed at the experience today. The service was slow, and we had to ask two different servers before getting water. We got the 1lb shrimp and 1lb crawfish combo with the garlic butter sauce. When we asked the server if we could add some spices to it as it wasn't too flavorful, she responded, "That would be $4 for the extra sauce". Well, the funny thing was, we went over to Shaking Crab after this meal, and the restaurant there offered us the additional Cajun sauce to try on the house. The crawfish here was much smaller than the ones at Shaking Crab, and everything felt like an uncharge. If you do end up here, get the soft shell crabs basket! The happy hour here is not bad. read more

Aqua Boil - Soft Shell Crab Basket and 1 lb. Shrimp & 1 lb. Crawfish Combo - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Aqua boil has become a must-have seafood on the weekends for my family and me. You can't beat the prices and the food is absolutely amazing. Their consistency is very much appreciated. Their service is always top-notch as well, it's the same familiar faces that work there. Everyone is hospitable and knowledgeable about the menu. Perry is one of the fan-favorites she always has a contagious smile and she greets us at the door. She checks on us always without being overbearing. If you are looking for well-season seafood and great service with good prices please stop here, Oh and their happy hour is fire! read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with some friends because we were craving seafood boil. This one just hit the spot. Another plus was that we came during happy hour, so we were able to grab some margaritas for $6 (warning: they're pretty strong!) To start, we got a basket of cajun fries. They were good. I don't think I would pay $10 for that again though. We ended up getting the 1.5 Lb Whole Dungeness Crab and 1 Lb Crawfish, and added corn and sausage. All seafood boils come with potatoes, so that was great. We got the Cajun Mix, though I wish it packed a little bit more flavor. Overall, I enjoyed the seafood boil and I would definitely come back another time read more

Aqua Boil - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious food - I got the happy hour menu which you get lots of food. 3 course for only $60 . Fast service and very friendly staff.