For Administrator’s Day this year, my husband took me out for lunch and let me pick. I often get to pick, but it’s usually the same places in our “small town” of Sartell, but that day, we ventured into downtown St. Cloud.
St. Cloud has had a bad rap for being a “dying” town and nothing great there. I beg to differ. Some great things are still in this town. There is a revitalization happening in the downtown area. New shops. New restaurants. Historic buildings being brought back to life is always a great sign that spirit is alive in a town.
I picked a new restaurant, The Boil. It is precisely that: a southern boil-style eatery. Some restaurants downtown are not open on certain days, and I was pleased to see that The Boil was open every day except Mondays. Since the Pandemic, many restaurants have switched to this schedule of operation.
When we walked in, it was very clean and had an industrial feel with its vaulted ceiling and exposed HVAC. The metal stainless steel chairs also gave a cold impression, but after eating, I realized they are easier to clean than a soft material!
We decided to sit at the bar. They do not serve alcohol, only lemonade, soft drinks, and water. They offer many options for fresh seafood: crab cakes, oysters, shrimp, mussels, crawfish, etc.
We picked out a seafood shareable combo for two people. It came with two potatoes, one pound of snow crab legs, two half cobs of corn, and one pound of peeled shrimp. There was plenty of food for both of us!
Fresh roses sat on each table and at the bar. They smelled so lovely! Roses were also on the walls as decor.
The staff was very hospitable and friendly. They offered refills and gave us bibs and even plastic gloves. I was unsure at first about the bib and gloves. Then, I saw how messy the food was! We had ordered ours with the house mix, which was a little slippery! You can choose your level of spice; we are mild people.
I absolutely love crab legs. If you have ever seen me eat them, you know I don’t usually use tools. I just crack them with my hands. So I was a hot mess with these crab legs while Brian enjoyed his shrimp! It was a treat.
We often make our own family Southern boils over the firepit in our backyard in the summertime. We enjoy the process and enjoy doing this with friends or extended family. Now I know I can enjoy a southern boil even in the winter without making the mess myself not far away! And note to self: don’t wear white, and use the bib and gloves!
If you love seafood, I recommend The Boil in St. Cloud. You will not be disappointed!
Until our next Adventure,
Lizzie ❤️