The past few weeks have been very work-centered for me, so when a good friend asked me to catch up over dinner this past weekend, I jumped at the opportunity. She was craving crab, so after she conducted some internet research, we decided to hit up The Boil, a seafood restaurant in the Lower East Side.

This local spot’s core competency is that after “boiling” your critter (i.e. shrimp,  lobster, clams, etc.), they combine it with a sauce and spice-level of choice, shake vigorously, and serve it in a plastic bag. The real fun is in sloppily maneuvering through your sauced-up friend(s) with plastic gloves and de-gutting them before eating. It’s very hands-on, a little murdery, and probably not the best first date joint — unless you have absolutely no inhibitions in which case I’m indefinitely envious.

If these official Yelp reviews don’t sell it for you; Go. For. The. Garlic. Bread. But, seriously. That bread is heaven-sent and like $2. Done and done.

The Boil is definitely a one-of-a-kind seafood joint, even in the plentiful land of restaurant options that is NYC. My friend and I both really enjoyed ourselves, and although beheading two pounds of shrimp isn’t something I see happening again my personal near future, I’d go back sooner rather than later for the experience alone.