Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar — Restaurant in Lake View Township

On June 28, 2025, my friends and I dined at your establishment under circumstances that raise serious concerns, not only about service quality but also about discriminatory treatment.

We arrived late for our reservation, but your staff assured us our party of 12 could be seated as long as everyone arrived before 10 PM, conditions we met. The restaurant willingly chose to seat us one hour before closing, yet the service we received was inconsistent, negligent, and disrespectful.

Two drinks, one red wine and one beer, tasted stale and oxidized. Oxidized wine becomes sour, flat, and vinegary when a bottle is left open too long; that is exactly what we were served. We returned both drinks without conflict.

When server Juan took orders, he stood at the far left end of the long table and collected all requests from that single spot instead of confirming face-to-face with each guest. I clearly ordered a build-your-own seafood boil with shrimp, sausage, and broccoli. When my food arrived, there was no shrimp.

After I pointed this out, Juan conferred with the manager at the order screen, proof he was unsure of what he entered. If shrimp were never on the ticket, there would have been nothing to “double-check.” He returned at 10:45 PM with no apology, saying the kitchen was closed and nothing could be done. The manager echoed this, again, no apology, discount, or substitution.

When we pressed for accountability, Juan grew argumentative, saying things like, “Well, if I come to a restaurant an hour before they close…” and “I repeated your order and you said it was fine.” His attitude was unprofessional and gaslighting. Throughout service he rarely left his post, reached over guests without saying “excuse me,” and remained inattentive.

As a former restaurant employee, I recognize the harmful stereotype that Black patrons “don’t tip.” Your policy of automatic 20% gratuity effectively rewarded negligent, even hostile, service on our $300+ bill. The lack of managerial intervention only deepened our perception of bias.

I have phoned the restaurant three times requesting a managerial call back, without a single response. Your silence speaks volumes.

Given the poor service, lack of accountability, and what I believe to be discriminatory treatment, I will be escalating this matter to the following entities if it is not properly addressed:

Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) Illinois Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division

I strongly encourage management to take this complaint seriously and address the issue appropriately before formal...

Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar offers a delightful culinary escapade for seafood enthusiasts. Nestled in the heart of the city, this restaurant brings a taste of the bayou with a modern twist.

The ambiance is vibrant yet cozy, adorned with nautical accents that transport you to a coastal getaway. The staff is welcoming and eager to guide you through the menu.

Speaking of the menu, it's a seafood lover's dream come true. From the succulent shrimp to the tender crawfish, each dish is a flavorful journey to the heart of Louisiana. The highlight is, of course, the Cajun boil - a delightful mess of seafood, corn, and potatoes, all drenched in a rich medley of spices. The "choose your spice level" option caters to various palates, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone.

For those seeking variety, the bar offers an impressive array of cocktails and mocktails. The Crab King Punch is a fruity concoction that perfectly complements the spicy indulgence of the seafood.

However, the popularity of the place is evident in the occasional longer wait times, especially during peak hours. Nonetheless, the delicious offerings and the overall dining experience make it well worth it.

In a nutshell, Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar captures the essence of Cajun cuisine in a contemporary setting. Whether you're a seafood aficionado or just looking for a memorable dining escapade, this restaurant is sure to satisfy your cravings for a taste...

Had the pleasure of going with close friends.

First of all, they were playing only the best late 90's and early 00's music hits. It was epic! Now, onto the food...we all ordered different stuff and everything was JUICY and DELICIOUS! We got the Shake Special Blend as our flavor, (it is just an in house blend of the Garlic Butter, Cajun, and Lemon Pepper). My friend got extremely spicy, and I got the medium spicy and it was perfect, not spicy enough for it to burn my mouth, but you could gently feel the heat in the surface of your mouth.

Before you dig in, you can also request forks, claw breakers, scissors, plastic gloves, and plastic aprons to protect your hands and clothes. The hands-on approach to eating the food, peeling the shrimp, breaking the crab legs, and dipping everything into the delicious sauce worked best here...we had a blast!

Everything was very very yummy!!!!! We cannot wait to come back and sample some of the other sauces and try the other spice levels, maybe add some side items like boiled eggs to our bags.

And we ended up ordering the beignets. If you are thinking about it, the answer is YES, they are worth it and you get 10 of them!!!

10/10 on Flavor 10/10 on Experience 10/10 on Music 10/10...