Sabine Pass Crab Shack is located a block off Ryan Street at 345 Broad St. (Ken Stickney / American Press)
Sabine Pass Crab Shack’s grilled shrimp salad costs $8.99. (Ken Stickney / American Press)
Crab Shack does seafood right
Last Modified: Monday, October 15, 2012 10:38 AM
By Ken Stickney / American Press
Two daughters with the day off, short lunch break and a hankering for seafood. Where to go?
We tried Sabine Pass Crab Shack, 345 Broad St., downtown. It was a good answer.
Located a block off Ryan Street, Sabine Pass is a comfortable restaurant decorated with fishermen’s tools and Louisiana posters to complement the restaurant’s mostly coastal fare.
We started our meal with two delicious appetizers: crawfish kickers and alligator bites. The kickers are described on the menu as “like a hushpuppy filled with crawfish,” but I think the menu sells the cook short. Hushpuppies can be delicious but can also become dry too quickly. Not these crawfish kickers. They were moist and tasty.
The alligator bites were also a treat. Usually, I’d leave the gator in the swamp, but the gator bites were chewy and spicy. Served warm, they helped us transition well into our main dishes. And for out-of-state guests, who wouldn’t want to sample some gator?
Erin opted for the grilled shrimp salad for $8.99. The salad was of ample size, and she said she especially appreciated the egg and cucumber that helped dress the meal. She said her shrimp was seasoned well, and this choice made for a full and satisfying meal.
Tess chose the three-filet, small catfish platter, also $8.99. It was served with potato salad and a generous portion of French fries. (Poor Tess: Erin and I finished before her and mooched her fries.) The fish, which Tess said was plentiful on her plate, said “home-cooked meal” to her. Good thing, too: Her mom is a great cook.
Both girls enjoyed the potato salad, Erin offering the opinion that it would go well in a gumbo. Maybe for some of us, but I think potato salad does fine in its own bowl.
I chose the crab burger for $6.99. I needed to have something with crab — after all, this is a review of a crab shack — and I was delighted to have it served with sweet potato fries. Nowadays produced in Richland Parish, sweet potato fries have become a Louisiana offering. It should become a more frequent offering on restaurant plates.
The crab burger was fine, fully satisfying in size and taste.
Service was quick — our meals followed closely on the heels of our appetizers — and very kind. The atmosphere was pleasant, the ceiling fans fully functional.
With appetizers, our bill came to $33.74.
Prices are reasonable across the menu. Meals mostly fall under these headings: catfish, shrimp, oyster, salads, po’ boys. There were almost 20 options for under $10.
The menu cover bore this boast: “Once you’ve been ... I bet you’ll be back.”
Good bet.
If you go
• Sabine Pass Crab Shack is located at 345 Broad St.
• Hours are: 11-2 Tuesday; 11-2 and 5-until, Wednesday through Friday; 5-until Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays
and Mondays, but will open for private parties of 25 or more.
• Contact 337-721-2777.
Posted By: Micki On: 10/16/2012
Title: Great atmoshere!! Support Downtown Lake Charles!
We have eaten here ofen, and they consistantly have tasty food at great prices. They often have live music too!
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