Sea Leveaux spices up downtown dining scene

When it comes to lunch, downtown Lansing isn’t known for its variety. Most of the takeout options are either sandwich or pizza chains. Fortunately, Sea Leveaux opened in July to spice things up. Located in the former Grand Traverse Pie Co. on South Washington Square, the restaurant gives downtown diners a taste of Cajun-style seafood at prices cheaper than a trip to Red Lobster.

Since it’s still the early days of the restaurant, the dining area is relatively sparse. Most of the space is reserved for the bar, which was not yet operational during my visit. Instead of waiting in a regular cashier line, you use a computer kiosk to place your order. The menu is limited to three types of bowls: jambalaya, seafood pasta and seafood boil. Any bowl can be customized with any of Sea Leveaux’s specialty sauces. For an extra dollar, you can also upgrade your meal with a drink and a side of cornbread. If you want something lighter, there are three soup options: lobster bisque, clam chowder and “gumbolaya,” all of which are served in an edible bread cone.

To tell the truth, I’m not much of a Cajun connoisseur. I don’t like my seafood spicy, and I don’t care for sausage, so I decided to try the seemingly mild seafood pasta. Lobster, shrimp, crawfish and crab legs were piled on top of a generous helping of spaghetti, and everything was coated in the So F’n Creamy sauce. I skipped the broccoli, but I doubt that subtraction made much of a difference. The pasta was a perfectly delicious entry point to Cajun cuisine. 

That said, if I thought the sauce wouldn’t be spicy, I was in for a rude awakening. At first bite, it was fine. Ten seconds later came a kick that had me reaching for my water. It wasn’t too severe, just enough to make its presence known. If that’s what Sea Leveaux’s “creamy” sauce is like, I can only assume that the other selections are much more hardcore. I’m not eager to find out, but I would get the seafood pasta again.

While I’m still not sure if I love Cajun food, it’s nice to have a downtown seafood option. Judging by how many customers I’ve seen at Sea Leveaux over the past month, I’m not the only one who’s been craving something different. And I’m sure that once the bar opens, the new restaurant will reel in even more business.