Diners can dive into a ‘seafood boil’ when new venue launches

IT’S a culinary sensation which has gone somewhat viral online – with Americans cracking open crab legs, slurping the juice out of prawn shells and tucking into saucy potatoes, racking up millions of views in the process.

Now Birmingham is set to get a restaurant dedicated to the messy seafood meal as Brummies are invited to “get down and dirty”.

The team behind Vietnamese Street Kitchen is opening Seafood City in the Arcadian centre, in Hurst Street, offering a Vietnamese twist on the American Deep South “seafood boil” dish.

Diners will be offered a bib to wear as they “enjoy seafood in an unpretentious way”.

General manager Oliver Ngo said that he wants friends, family and seafood lovers to “enjoy the riches of the sea in the simplest way possible” when it opens in early June.

Oliver said: “The seafood boil is a wonderful way to enhance individual flavours and textures. Our concept is simple, you can boil your choice of seafood, pairing it with our signature sauce, garlic butter or our XXL sauce for those who like it hot,

“Not only that, but you can mix it up and grill and fry your favourite seafood too.

“Our signature lobster rolls and crab and prawn burger with a side of seasoned fries are a must-try.”

As well as lobsters and prawns, diners can tuck into crab, shrimp, oysters, mussels, clams and crawfish at Seafood City, which will be decorated in a “retrofuturism” style, with an “explosion of neon colour and bright lights” that are “just as bold as the menu”.

The 1,700sq ft restaurant, where Rozu used to be, will have space for 99 people inside as well as outdoor seating.

The restaurant, which has a cocktail bar in the centre, will create 22 new full- and part-time jobs.