Perino's Boiling Pot

We were in the midst of Saturday chores, me writing away for Sunday on the laptop, and jumping up to do laundry, and Big Man diligently practicing trumpet when late day hunger pangs rolled around. "What do you want to do for lunch?" Big Man asked me. I think he was thinking something quick and cheap and close-by, like Please You or something, but instead I replied, "I feel like a big ol' mess of boiled seafood."

We consulted on where to go and I held out for Perino's Boiling Pot, a local favorite in Marrero on the West Bank. I had heard great things about it, about how it was almost like West End in the old days, with spicy fresh boiled seafood served hot from the pot at family-style tables (only air conditioned and inside, instead of hot and outside like out at the Lake back in the day). And I had heard they were inexpensive.

Today was another beautiful day, clear blue sky, warm mild temperatures, and we enjoyed our little drive across the River and over the West Bank Expressway to Barataria. We exited, crossed over, and found Perino's, a large brick hall with ample parking in front and behind. Being as we woke late and were now having a late lunch, it was not very crowded.

Inside, it was the typical old-fashioned arrangement with a bar as you come in, gaming area to your right, and the dining room with the long tables (to be shared if things get crowded) to the left, seat yourself. It's telling that there is a big sign over the bar marking where folks who've phoned in their orders can pick up their big sacks of "berled" seafood to eat at home or take on a picnic.

As I say, it was not crowded -- there an older white lady sitting by herself, an African-American couple, a white dad with lots of tattoos and his two teenage children, and a Latino couple. Every single person there was scarfing down big round trays of crawfish, crabs, shrimp, and oysters. We took our seats at the end of a long table and told the waitress what we wanted. (There are menus to be looked at, but there's also signs posted up on the walls.)

We got three pounds of boiled crawfish (to give you an idea, they advertise 5 pounds of crawfish for $19.99, but we knew we didn't need that much), 1 pound boiled shrimp, an order of boiled new potatoes, 2 ears of corn boiled with the seafood, and one large hot sausage ditto. We also got 2 diet Barq's in bottles (but if you order fountain drinks or iced tea, there's unlimited refills). They have these cool metal thingys on the tables, sort of like in a pizza joint, so that they can layer the tray for the shells and waste under the tray with the seafood on it -- very convenient.

Everything was beautifully spiced -- after a while, my lips got that tingly, almost swollen feeling that is desired by all true New Orleanians when eating boiled seafood. The new potatoes were tiny, almost one-bite sized, and had soaked the perfect amount of the pot spice. The corn was sweet and spicy at the same time, and the sausage was long enough to split evenly and generously for two. The shrimp were large and perfectly cooked, and very easy to peel. Perino's makes its own delicious shrimp cocktail sauce, available on every table (along with three different bottles of hot sauce for the discerning diner). We ate and ate, sucking heads, squeezing tails, and getting delight and satisfaction form every single bite. Big Man said, "Where's this place been all my life?"

We'll even give a positive review to the restrooms, which have deep stainless steel sinks and those neat Dyson hand dryers that take like 10 seconds to dry your hands completely. (That guy is amazing! What will he think of next?) I noticed that every woman on her way into the Ladies Room held her messy hands up stiffly and awkwardly, like surgeons on their way into the OR.

We were fully satisfied and perfectly happy on leaving, paying a mere grand total of $40. You can be assured that we've added the Boiling Pot to our list of "return often" local restaurants. We recommend you go too.