Arriving during their happy hour, we first requested a few items from that menu. My dining partner began with their plump happy hour oysters ($7.50 for 6). We shared the fried calamari ($8) and added their Cajun fries ($7). Silly us. We could — and should — have stopped there, but had already ordered the main event.

The Boil’s menu reminded me of a fun, messy visit to Hell’s Kitchen’s Aqua Boil. First we selected our catch, then picked a sauce and heat level. My friend picked the head-on shrimp Boil special with a garlic-butter Cajun blend at a medium spice level; I chose the headless shrimp with the same blend but requested it spicy. Before digging into our double-bagged shrimp, we first dressed in their plastic bib and gloves to keep us somewhat clean.

Unlike Aqua, their boiled potatoes and corn came in a separate disposable tin instead of inside the bag with the seafood. To make up for that, I dipped mine into the flavorful sauce.

The high acid and residual sugar of their Riesling worked well to cut thru the spiciness. (HH prices two glasses for $9.) A 20% tip is added to all eat-in orders.

Like Aqua Boil, a fun messy meal.

The Boil
Noho
17 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10003
(646) 833-7110
theboilny.com/