Backyard Boil House

A Third Ward deep cut, Backyard Boil House is an “if you know you know” kind of spot for people looking for a Cajun-style seafood boil or a good bowl of gumbo. You could easily drive right past it, because there are no signs on the building outside except for a decorative blue crab hanging on the side of the building. The inside of Backyard Boil House is significantly more inviting—a sweet, intimate, spot with less than ten tables filled with shy couples early in the dating game, groups of friends catching up, and the occasional lone wolf who’s here to peel shrimp like they’re going for a world record. It can be difficult to choose between the different seafood dishes, so don’t. Instead, you should get the commbeaux, which features snow crab legs, jumbo shrimp, corn, and sausage, all submerged in a decadent garlic butter. And, if you’re a regular (or a very curious first time guest), strike up a conversation with the owner and maybe they’ll make you a special, off-menu drink.