Taste Buds take on Kickin’ Crab
Ian and Allen take on local seafood restaurant Kickin' Crab
Design by Ian Sands & Allen Liu
Allen Liu, Copy Editor & Ian Sands, Photography Editor
It's the end of winter, and it's getting warmer by the day. In this time of change, we need to find something flavorful and appropriate to eat. That's why for this edition of Taste Buds, we decided to take a journey down south to try the Cajun cuisine of New Orleans right here in Johns Creek, at a lowcountry restaurant called Kickin' Crab.
The first thing you notice when you walk into Kickin' Crab is the unique smell that wafts through the entire restaurant. The scent of Old Bay and a plethora of Cajun seasonings overtake you before you even sit at the table. The smell alone, whilst satisfying, is nowhere near as delectable as its source: the iconic Kickin' Sauce offered with every seafood item. The establishment offers a variety of sauces with a variety of spice levels, but the Kickin' Sauce is something special. It contains all other sauces and mixtures combined to form one flavorful concoction. When our seafood boil came out, all the food was drenched in this liquid gold. The combination of Old Bay and Cajun seasoning made it irresistible, and it quickly became the dipping sauce for the entire group, no matter what item they purchased. It's a great start to the meal, and quite frankly, could save even the blandest of shrimp with its savory punch. We rate it a 9/10
Aside from the sauce, the key feature of our platter was the massive lobster placed smack dab in the center. Akin to a turkey at a Thanksgiving dinner, it sat adorned by shrimp and crawfish on all sides. The restaurant may be called Kickin' Crab, but when it comes to lobster, they spare no expense. Despite the presumably long voyage this crustacean made from ocean to plate, it still tasted fresh and juicy, as if a sailor plucked it right from the sea. The ocean-braised, succulent flavor was amazing, exactly as a lobster should taste. The only slight downside was the texture. The meat, while tasty, was a bit chewy, but this doesn't substantially detract from the quality. 9.5/10.
After indulging in the lobster, we made a trip to the sidelines to partake in the assortment of crawfish laid out before us. Having never eaten one before, we were confused, but the staff was very kind in showing us how to properly peel and eat it. This being our first time, we were slightly underwhelmed.
Its no fault of Kickin' Crab, but we expected there to be more meat on each crawfish. Despite the small portion, it was still very flavorful, and the texture was great: a perfect balance between firmness and softness, with a subtle bounce. Overall, we may get a different option next time due to the small portions, but Kickin' prepared the crawfish as well as they reasonably could have been. It's a solid 7/10.
The last item in the Combo Deal that we had yet to crack was the shrimp. We wasted no time getting to work. They immediately fell into flow state, peeling and de-tailing like nobody's business. After a generous dunking in the buttery, Cajun sauce, the shrimp delivered an explosion of flavor that made our eyes water. Plump, sweet, salty, savory, and generously coated in signature Kickin' Sauce, the shrimp made Ian want to get "Kickin'" with joy. The texture was firm with a clean snap, but tender enough to melt in your mouth only seconds later. Practicality-wise, these were certainly the easiest crustaceans to open on the platter with the most bang for their buck.
Of course, seafood at market price always raises an eyebrow. Allen and Ian's brows certainly shot up when they received the bill. But Kickin' Crab follows the standard model for boil-style restaurants: prices fluctuate based on the season and availability. While lobster and shellfish can quickly run up the bill, Kickin' Crab offers combination deals and specials that make the experience monetarily manageable for larger groups. Since it was split three ways, the cost became far more reasonable for our measly pockets. While certainly not an everyday lunch, Kickin' Crab presents itself as more of a celebratory dinner or weekend outing.
Beyond the food itself, the overall setting and atmosphere enhance the experience. Located in a bustling plaza just off Medlock Bridge Road, complete with a Regal movie theater and Cold Stone Creamery, Kickin' Crab stands as the cherry on top. It's easy to imagine a night out watching "Marty Supreme," washed down by layers of Cajun butter and coffee ice cream.
The restaurant interiors embrace the traditional seaside, sailing boat-esque design with paper-lined tables, plastic bibs, and a pirate's skull and bones adorned at the head of the table. Kickin' Crab succeeds not only because of its fantastic Cajun spice or its hefty portion sizes, but because it leans fully into what a seafood boil is meant to be. Our experience at Kickin' Crab was messy, chaotic, and memorable. It's exactly the kind of place that invites you to gather a group, roll up your sleeves, and accidentally spray lobster juice all over your friend.
