Hot Lunch: Crawford’s Two

The Crawfords are best known for their catfish, which they’ve trimmed and deveined daily since 1984. The original Crawford’s in Denham Springs may have closed its doors, but Crawford’s Two on Staring Lane is still kicking—battering up the best in fried seafood. Start your taste buds reeling with a Crawfish Pirogue ($3.99), which includes crawfish, cheese, onions and peppers in a roll of hot French bread; or go for another customer favorite, the Stuffed Crab Balls (two for $2.99). The lunch portion of Crawford’s trademarked “C-fish” is always a sure bet ($7.99 with two sides), but if you’re feeling fancy, order Ken’s Creole C-Fish ($9.99), which is smothered with crawfish étouffée. The supporting actors are worth mentioning, as each lunch special comes with two sides (they’re $2.99 on their own). You can pick from a variety of fried vegetables (okra, corn, sweet potatoes), green vegetables (green beans, mustard greens and salad), and non-vegetables (rice & gravy, mac & cheese). Crawford’s is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, and for dinner—with their famous seafood buffet—Friday and Saturday. —Mary Wall