I Tried Laughing Crab, Dubuque’s New Seafood Restaurant (PHOTOS)

Just a couple weeks ago, a new seafood restaurant opened in Dubuque. Judging by buzz on its Facebook page, it was widely anticipated, for this is an area that doesn't have a great deal of fresh seafood options. As a seafood junkie myself, I couldn't wait to try it.

So, Monday afternoon, Catherine and I drove to the NW Arterial to try Laughing Crab. The small chain restaurant, with locations in Louisiana, Wisconsin, and even West Des Moines, IA, has overtaken the building in which Carlos O'Kelly's resided for years. From the moment you walk into Laughing Crab, you realize this was not a simple repainting job. The restaurant has a completely new look and feel to it, with marble walls, fish and crab ornaments hanging from the rafters, old license plates, and is overall akin to one of my favorite aesthetics: Margaritaville.

READ MORE: Dubuque Will Soon Have a New Seafood Restaurant to Try

What is Laughing Crab?:

Laughing Crab is an expanding seafood restaurant chain that specializes in Cajun flavors, most notably a create-your-own-seafood-boil option. If you're not feeling a boil, a bib, or gloves, they have several other offerings on their menu, including fried baskets, soups, and salads.

When in Des Moines for GalaxyCon back in August, Catherine and I found a Laughing Crab in the area. This was shortly after the news of it arriving in Dubuque broke, so we both elected to try it. We weren't disappointed. The cocktails were great, the seafood was delicious, and for a spice guy like me, the "extra hot" boil burned with the perfect amount of intensity.

How is the Laughing Crab in Dubuque?:

We arrived at Laughing Crab a little after 3:30pm on Monday, an unconventional time to eat for sure, which explains the sparseness of the restaurant. That said, it afforded me the opportunity to take a few pictures without getting any strange looks.

The restaurant's aesthetic is immersive, and with Carlos O'Kelly's still fresh in the minds of many, the crew definitely made it a priority to overhaul the look and feel of the place. Our waitress was friendly and accommodating to boot. While Catherine opted for a calamari basket, I had to get a boil. I could eat these weekly if my budget allowed. Here's how I built mine:

• 1/2 pound of shrimp (head off)
• 1/2 pound of lobster tail
• Corn
• Extra potatoes
• Garlic butter seasoning
• Extra hot (the second hottest offering)

The fun part about Laughing Crab's seafood boils is they demand you be "active" in eating them. First, you take the bag itself and slosh it around to assure each piece of the boil gets acquainted with the seasoning and the juices. You can eat it out of the bag or dump it onto your silver platter.

From there, you put on your plastic gloves and get to peeling the shell of the shrimp. Using your hands allows you to tear into your lobster tail with accuracy. Boils come with corn, potatoes, and sausage (I substituted it for more potatoes). I'm not a total savage. I cut my potatoes with a fork and knife, and cut my corn off the cob.

Catherine thoroughly enjoyed her calamari basket, and I enjoyed my boil. Next time (which might prove to be next week), I am going to try the hottest offering for a boil that Laughing Crab has, which is "super hot." Ordinarily, I've found that when it comes to marinades, rubs, and sauces at restaurants, the second hottest option they have is the perfect level of heat and flavor. However, after two cracks at Laughing Crab's extra hot, I think I'm ready for the ultimate level of heat.

Overall, if you're somebody who loves seafood, spice, Cajun flavors, and fish in general, you absolutely need to try Laughing Crab. For as much griping as Dubuquers (myself included, mind you) do about the area lacking a Red Lobster, this is not a bad consolation. For what it's worth too, our bill at Laughing Crab was $52 (before tip). Consider that Red Lobster's most popular boil (the Mariner's Boil) is approximately $42 alone.

As a Red Lobster superfan, Laughing Crab is very comparable to the food you get at one of their many locations. Learn more about Laughing Crab in Dubuque on their official website, or check out their Facebook page.