Hawk's Crawfish. How Good Are They?

I have been eating at Hawk's since around 2003, back when very few people knew about them. They didn't have signs and your only luck finding them was if you knew a local, because Mapquest didn't pick up the proper location. Back then the prices were much lower and the crawfish size was much better. With the popularity of the Internet they have become a hot commodity over the past 5 years or so, and because of that the prices have gone up and crawfish size has gone down. I'm sure the passing of Hawk Arceneaux didn't help matters much, either.

That being said, they are still the best crawfish I've ever had, due to their immaculate purging/cleaning process... but I haven't been in 3 or 4 years because they're just too expensive.

I plan in making my first trip sometime this season, mostly to see if they live up to the hype. If they really season the outside then most posters here will say they're only good for the trash. I'm a bit more open minded.

It's not what I grew up with so, I don't care for it because of that. That said, they are very good. I prefer C'est Bon in Mermentau over them though...

They sure make a lot of hype about their "purging" process. I wonder how many biologists they consulted.

Per LSU Ag. center, January, 2016:

"Fully purging crawfish can only be accomplished by placing them in aerated water for up to 24 hours."

Is this what theyre doing?

LINK

Well screw me then. I doubt it makes a difference, but I'd be willing to give them a try.

Because marketing.

I don't mind seasoning on the outside as long as it's not the only seasoning. Wife and I went to Gator Cove a few years ago because friends kept hyping it up. Crawfish seasoned on the outside but bland like just tap water on the inside. Never going back.

Granted, I prefer that the water be seasoned enough so that no more is on the outside; however, I've had it at a couple places where the outside seasoning had almost "melted" into the shells so it wasn't all gritty. They were pretty darn good. I think Crawfish Tyme on Verot in Laffy does it that way.

Definitely the best boiled crawfish I have ever had
When they bring them to the table they bring two trays. I take one of the trays and put it on top and shake the crawfish up and then let them sit for few minutes with them covered up
When you peal their crawfish it is the brightest cleanest yellow fat ever. So delicious

Hawk's is about 10 minutes from my house. I find their crawfish too salty and will drive further to go somewhere else