As a Memphis native and self-proclaimed Southern food connoisseur, one thing I noticed missing from my Wellesley experience is access to an amazing Cajun seafood boil. My friends visiting from Chicago and Detroit noticed this as well. We wanted to taste the seafood boils Boston has to offer, and wondered if we would get the lively, delicious experience we enjoy back home. I turned to TikTok for a solution to our problem. This led me to a restaurant called The Boiling Crab, just a few minutes from the Local Motion stop at Harvard Square in Cambridge.

As we approached The Boiling Crab, I couldn’t help but wonder how I had never noticed it during my many trips to Harvard Square. My question was answered upon seeing its house-like appearance: it’s the last restaurant on the edge of a cul-de-sac of other eateries. 

The customer service was wonderful. My friends and I were immediately greeted with smiles, and although we were a bit indecisive on what to order, the smiles and helpfulness persisted. As most college students do, my first question to our lovely waitress was, “Do you all have any discounts or deals for college students?” I was immediately filled with gratitude when she pulled out a sheet with all the information we needed. One of the highlights of eating at The Boiling Crab is that they offer affordable combo options for students with a taste for seafood.

I ordered the ½ pound of shrimp, which allowed me to add extra items to my bag of shrimp like sausage, eggs, and potatoes. It was like a faux seafood boil bag without the crab. Then, I added their signature seasoning, “The Whole Sha-Bang” –– a combination of Cajun, lemon pepper, and garlic butter. Overall, the order was tasty and pretty affordable, and you get your money’s worth with the amount of food they give you (there was enough for the next day). I would only suggest getting non-spicy if you’re not a fan of very spicy foods. 

My only gripe was the fact that if you want to order crab or crab legs, there is no set price. It is market price, which is unusual in comparison to other seafood restaurants. Other than that, the Boiling Crab offered a good experience for someone looking for something close to the seafood I and others have enjoyed in the South. The restaurant is a reasonable distance from Wellesley if you take the Local Motion shuttle, and the prices weren’t bad either. If you have time over the weekend, it’s the perfect spot in Harvard Square to experience something new, and get a taste of Cajun cooking.

Student Combo Options:

• Sha-Bang Bang Shrimp with a scoop of rice – $10
• Fried Shrimp with a soda – $10
• ½ pound of shrimp with fries or rice and a drink – $13