Steamboat Bill’s

Great crawfish y’all. Roll up those sleeves, get down and dirty and tear these guys apart. You won’t leave disappointed. I felt like a Cajun caveman ripping these apart barehanded. What a restaurant!

We ALMOST walked out. Within the first 2 minutes, a young female employee told the door greeter very rudely to mind his own business after attempting to help her look for something, and then the cashier wouldn’t make direct eye contact with us, but instead of being helpful to us (it was our first time there) really had came across to us as though all these customers were just a huge inconvenience to her and please hurry up and make a decision so she can be done with you. Seriously wanted to go somewhere else at that point. But we stayed and had a fabulous waiter named Jeff who said he never heard of Unilocal and didn’t even have a Facebook account! When they say fast service, they mean it! I didn’t even get settled enough to look around and the food was on the table. We tried the alligator bites. not great, only because it wasn’t what we thought. I would try them again. The catfish tenders were exactly that, really good. We never ran out of drinks. The atmosphere is good for a quick bite and it’s a good place to eat when you’re out and about.

This place is great. My wife and I missed the all you can eat crawfish at the coushetta so we drove all the way back to Lake Charles to eat crawfish at Steamboats. Time well spent

Best crawfish ever! I’ve ate crawfish all over the United States, and there’s no comparison! You can even buy the seasoning to go! It’s not too spicy, but it’s got plenty of it! Just right!

They know how to get people in & out. Food was good. Quick service. Red beans & rice were well seasoned. Fried dinner rolls are fantastic. Great choice for an out of towner who doesn’t get Cajun food often.

Our meal was delicious. I had the Crawfish étouffée which was thick and seasoned perfectly. My friend had the shrimp étouffée which was equally delicious. Also, the fried rolls that they serve with it are so addicting! They are warm, Iight, and fluffy. The waiter says the secret is that they are fried in peanut oil!

This food was so wonderful but honestly, the thing I was the most impressed with was the way they have organized the ordering and seating arrangement. What a creative and effective system. Loved the entire experience and enjoyed the seasoning.

First time here and I had no regrets. Hubby and I shared the Captains Platter and loved it all. The oysters, catfish and shrimp tasted fresh. The batter is light so you dont feel stuffed or heavy. Also a must the chicken and sausage gumbo. Its to die for! Might come back before we leave again and try the crawfish!

We were here yesterday as we were road tripping, and decided to stop in for some seafood. So glad we did. I found them through Unilocal,and the Unilocalers did not steer us wrong!
As others have mentioned their ordering situation is a bit different than I’m used to, but what the hey! It was part of the experience.
Had a non seafood eater, and a vegetarian with us, and everyone found something good to eat! I had two pounds of crawfish, with a half pound of spicy boiled shrimp. These were my first crawfish of the season, and I was so, so pleased. They had the right amount of spice, only thing is they weren’t served with corn or potatoes. Not sure if I had to order those extra, but I didn’t really trip, as we were all eating out of each other’s plates. Side of potato salad was plain, but a good side to my meal.
The vegetarian got a baked potato which was ginormous. That thing alone was a meal in itself. She also got some fried mushrooms which I sampled, and I have to say they were some of the best I’ve had. Another friend got the fried shrimp plate, and the non seafood eater had red beans and rice, with a grilled chicken breast. Both were very happy with their meals. For anyone worried about allergies, and we had one person that was – they fry in peanut oil. So if that is an issue steer clear of the fried foods.
Service was prompt and very friendly, even a bit unconventional. One waiter forgot who asked for a to go box and he loudly yelled in our area, «WHO ASKED ME FOR A TO GO BOX?!» We all laughed, and the lady who needed one, yelled back. Great entertainment. Even offered us to-​go cups for our sweet tea. Little touches that go a long way.
If I’m ever in the area again, I’ll most definitely stop back by this nice little place on the side of 1 – 10.

Everything here is amazing! This is my favorite place to come when I’m in town. The baked potatoes are the best! It’s great for the whole family and they are always walking around checking on the drinks.

We stopped here on the way to New Orleans, and it was amazing! I split the crawfish étouffée and the spicy boiled shrimp as well as a few bites of popcorn shrimp and the gator bites as an appetizer, and everything was delicious.
Our server, Jeff, was very attentive and kept our drinks filled the entire meal.
We also loved the crazy décor!
The only slight downsize was that they were crazy busy, but I can definitely see why.

love the fast food/​restuarant service
great fried home cooking seafood
whatever you eat, you rave about

If you’re in the area or passing by, I’d say this place is worth stopping for.
I enjoyed their boiled shrimp, though I’m disappointed that it wasn’t season for boiled crawfish. Their fried shrimp, stuffed crab and seafood platter (s) were tasty.
Get their shrimp pistolette, boudin ball, and a side of corn!
Order at the front, and feel free to sit wherever there’s a spot.

Worth a stop! We weren’t even hungry but read the reviews and had to stop for a cold Abita beer and appetizers We got a crawfish pistolette (big spoon of crawfish «stew» in a light and happy bun), gumbo and a boudin ball (giant)
Staff is awesome… friendly and organized. A shout out to the parking attendant, Michael, who gave us an easy spot to park with the RV.
Heads up.,.they are busy and pack the cars in during prime lunch and dinner times
Look at the menu ahead of time as you are handed one at entry then once you are ready to order you go to a register then they bring the food to you. Fast and efficient We will definitely be back

I love Steamboat Bills! When I’m in Lake Charles, its turned out to be my go-​to place.
I got the captains Platter. Stuffed Shrimp, Catfish, Oysters, Stuffed Crab and shrimp with the idea to pass it around and share it. I’ve been here with a couple of groups, and everyone seems to have a good time. The gumbo is pretty good!
The food isn’t the best in the state, but they have a nice variety and the service is fast and friendly.
You can’t go wrong here it seems.

There is no doubt in my mind why this is the #1 restaurant according to
. I have not visited the other location, so I cannot compare, but I have been here several times. When crawfish was in season, it was $ 4.99/lb and absolutely delicious. Yes, I am from Houston, so you may take my word on that with a grain of salt, but I have had bad crawfish in Louisiana before, believe it or not.
I returned earlier this week and for the first time, when crawfish was not in season. This restaurant does not have year-​round crawfish. Instead, I ordered the crawfish étouffée, red beans and rice, and fried mushrooms. The fried mushrooms are the best I have ever had. They’re expensive at $ 8.99 but totally worth it. They’re spicy, not overcooked, and even if you don’t like mushrooms, you will like these. These mushrooms don’t have a mushroomy taste. The batter used is excellent. I can easily eat the whole portion by myself, which is sad.
I ordered too much food as usual. I took about five bites of the crawfish étouffée, and I was stuffed since I had already eaten the mushrooms. The étouffée was creamy, spicy, and came with some deliciously soft but crispy bread. Yum! The red beans and rice were also very good. I only took a couple of bites because I was so full, but I had to try! They also contained sausage. Both dishes had your typical Cajun spices, so if you have a cold, you’ll be able to flush out your sinuses. Don’t worry though, they’re not overly spicy.
I would give four stars alone for the food, but the service is why this place gets three stars. The first time I walked in, I didn’t know where to go. There are signs saying «Place your order here,» but nothing about pickup. It turns out you pick up your food at a ledge about 3in wide around the corner from the cash registers. You stand there, waiting until someone even recognizes your existence. The first time, I waited 5 minutes. There were staff working less than 10ft from me but didn’t give me the light of day. It wasn’t until I went to the cash register a third time to ensure I was in the right place that the cashier ended up taking care of my to-​go order.
When you stand at the ledge for pickup, you are RIGHT over two trash cans. This is where the staff scrape food off of dirty plates. It’s quite revolting. They scrape the unwanted food into the trash can and then place the dirty dishes in a bin to be washed. Can’t the trash cans be moved elsewhere, at least, not right under my nose?

Really good food and a small diner on the lake kinda feel.
I gave this place 4 stars instead of 5 because, honestly, their ordering system is stupid and they didn’t have any beers on tap. But, whatever. The food was good.
We stopped here on the way back to Slidell, La from Austin and saw the billboard that said «voted #1 Crawfish in Louisiana»! I’m from Southeast La, so I thought, «Oh, we’ll see about that!». They seemed to be quite popular, so we stopped in. When you go inside, you’re given a rather limited menu and asked to wait in line while you look at the menu and decide what you want, and THEN you go up to the counter to order, you are given a card with a number and you go find a place to sit wile you wait on your food. The server brings the food to your table based on your number. Meh. A little stupid, but whatever.
My woman and I both got the crawfish étouffée. I’m a HUGE fan of étouffée and I was absolutely thrilled that their large, although seemingly pricey, came in a humongous bowl. It was a brown étouffée, which I like and when I first tasted it, I was hooked. Honestly, it was some of the best étouffée that I ever had EXCEPT… it was lacking one thing; crawfish!
They could definitely put some more crawfish in that étouffée for $ 16.99. Come on. The taste is there, but the tail meat… not so much. I’m hoping that i just got a mediocre batch or something by a cook who just didn’t gaf the day he made it.
I also got a boudin ball to try and it was also among the best I’ve ever had.
IF I were to ever pass thru Lake Charles again, I know where I’ll be going to eat. That’s for sure.
Maybe I’ll ask for extra crawfish in my étouffée or something.

Steamboat Bills is one of my favorite stops along I-​10. It’s literally right off the highway and has quick service. They’ve developed a nice little process to help you park, give you a menu to order at the counter, and then seat you with your order number until your food is brought to you. I’d give them 4 – 5 stars for convenience alone.
To the food; their shrimp pistollette and boudin ball appetizers are amazing. Everything is rich, hot, and delicious… Do NOT order these if you are counting calories.
Their shrimp étouffée is seriously some of the best I’ve ever had; top 5 no doubt. Crawfish is very good but I do prefer mine very spicy, however these are cooked perfectly.
If you ever find yourself on this part of I-​10 or staying in Lake Charles, do your palette a favor and stop here.

Not a fan of the ordering at the counter, but it is done in an efficient manner. Also if you want something else while you are at the table, you can have someone bring it to you and just add it into your bill.
I had the red beans and rice and the boudain balls. Always good.
My companion orderd the pistolettes and she loves them. Gets them every time.
I do know for sure the servings at this place are humongous. I see those big huge platters of fried shrimp and fish coming out and woah it is a lot of food!
This is always a stop we make before going to the Casino!

Have some friends who have family down in this area of Louisiana. Asked them what we shouldn’t miss. Every one of them said we had to go to Steamboat Bill’s. They also mentioned that we had to try the Boudin Balls and Pistolettes.
First of all, we are passing through in a 40′ motor home towing a jeep. I called ahead to find out if their parking lot could accommodate us. I was told «yes», that they have a parking lot attendant outside from 10:30 am. Okay, this was weird and new to us.
A couple of hours later we arrive, at about 11:15. And yes, there was a parking attendant. She directed us to a spot where we would have easy out access.
In we went. Not sure what I expected but it was a neat little place. Not huge. They hand you a menu, you order at the counter and then they seat you.
After we were seated and as we were waiting for our food, the people started rolling in. Huge lunch crowd. Glad we go there when we did, parking for the RV would have been extremely difficult if we hadn’t arrived first.
We both decided to have a Po Boy. Hubby had the grilled chicken with coleslaw as his side and I had the popcorn shrimp also with coleslaw. We also ordered one Boudin Ball and one shrimp Pistolette.
We have had Boudin balls before on our journeys, but this one was huge, spicy and very good. Had no idea what a Pistolette was, for some reason I thought it would be like a taquito. Wrong! It was a wonderful bread/​roll with a dollop of shrimp etouffe in it. It was excellent. I could have had a few of these alone for my lunch.
I had tried etouffe before, but was not impressed. The etouffe in the Pistolette was wonderful, you could taste the shrimp, but it wasn’t fishy tasting. If that makes sense.
This was also our first time having Po Boys. They were yummy! Loved the bread, the tarter sauce, all the crunchy lettuce and tomato. The popcorn shrimp were some of the best I have ever had. They were moist, breaded in a batter that was very light and perfectly seasoned.
Excellent staff. The counter waitress was very friendly, as was our server.
We left extremely full and satisfied. My waistline is very happy we do not live around here. I would be eating here all the time.
Definitely worth a stop!

A melhor saída de estrada que se pode encontrar na I-​10. Aproximadamente a 230 km de Houston.
Atendimento rápido. Porções generosas. Gosto inconfundível da comida do Sul dos Estados Unidos.
O Gump de camarão, comida creola, é delicioso. Uma ótima pedida para fim de tardes. Os cogumelos à milanesa tb são deliciosos.
Recomendo muito.