Best Place to eat Crabs in Baltimore

banner1124 · #1 04-23-2007, 09:30 AM

What's the best place to eat crabs (and/or get good crabcakes) in Baltimore? I haven't been back in many years and I'm going to be there for a volleyball tournament this coming weekend. Of course, me being from Baltimore, my team wants me to take them someplace.

I tried to explain to them that my years in Baltimore were not years of prosperity, so I've never really had seafood dining experiences there cause when I lived there I just couldn't afford to eat out anywhere. Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Pasadena Girl · #2 04-23-2007, 09:49 AM

For a good dining experience altogether, go to Bo Brooks...the crabs are pretty good but the view is great! For the best crabs I'd say Seaside, but that is in Glen Burnie, not Baltimore.

Pasadena Girl · #3 04-23-2007, 09:50 AM

Crab Cakes I'd say Angelinas...that's not downtown though...not really sure IF you can get a good crabcake downtown other than Faidleys in Lexington Market, but that's not exactly the place you want to take people from out of town if you want to make a good impression

Hoot · #4 04-23-2007, 09:56 AM

PG, when was the last time you went to Angelina's? They're under new ownership, and the food (and service) is terrible.

MsTaken · #5 04-23-2007, 09:58 AM

Great crabcakes: By the Docks (Middle River) or Pappas (Parkville). Bo Brooks is good for crabs (although yes, the view is the real reason to go), but I actually like the Crack Pot better if I have to eat steamed crabs indoors.

Pasadena Girl · #6 04-23-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoot

PG, when was the last time you went to Angelina's? They're under new ownership, and the food (and service) is terrible.

Oh, poo...its been a couple of years. That sucks.

I've also heard good stuff about By the Docks, but haven't eaten there yet...

mlatoman · #7 04-23-2007, 10:03 AM

A great place for crabcakes is G&M's restaurant in Linthicum.

Crabs? You know, there used to be a plethora of crab houses in Baltimore, but now I don't know. Bo's was great when they were on Belair Rd; now it looks like a trendy seafood restaurant.

Crabhouses should be dingy, with nothing but brown butcher paper on the table (other than mallets and knives).

NO bibs, or melted butter to "dip" crab meat into. And beer should be served by the pitcher! And be a man or woman and pile your shells up in the middle of the table, not in little white plastic buckets. What the hell happened to people? Eating crabs is supposed to be a noisy, messy affair! Hopefully accompanied by a crab fluff or two, and some crab soup!

Pasadena Girl · #8 04-23-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlatoman

A great place for crabcakes is G&M's restaurant in Linthicum.

Crabs? You know, there used to be a plethora of crab houses in Baltimore, but now I don't know. Bo's was great when they were on Belair Rd; now it looks like a trendy seafood restaurant.

Crabhouses should be dingy, with nothing but brown butcher paper on the table (other than mallets and knives).

NO bibs, or melted butter to "dip" crab meat into. And beer should be served by the pitcher! And be a man or woman and pile your shells up in the middle of the table, not in little white plastic buckets. What the hell happened to people? Eating crabs is supposed to be a noisy, messy affair! Hopefully accompanied by a crab fluff or two, and some crab soup!

I agree...and it must be served with Corn on the Cob that has been steamed in with the crabs...

amyamy · #9 04-23-2007, 10:13 AM

Does it have to be in Baltimore? I like Cantlers in Annapolis.

Pasadena Girl · #10 04-23-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BELIEVE?

Do not go to Bo Brooks in Canton. Over priced crabs with horrible service.
I heard that Canton Dockside right by the new First Mariner building is good. They also have an outside deck.

Really? I had GREAT service at Bo Brooks...must just depend on the waitress I guess. The crabs I thought were expensive but no more than any other crab joint in the downtown area.

Pasadena Girl · #11 04-23-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BELIEVE?

Bo Brooks in Canton? That's really a suprise. The first time I went there, I thought that I thought it was a fluke and gave them another try. 2nd time was even worse. Actually, you are the first one that has not said the service stinks there. I personally would never recommend that particular Bo Brooks.

Yeah...actually, I used to go to Bo Brooks on Belair road and the service there was always awful...but the crabs were GREAT.

Funny thing, I also heard bad stuff about Rusty Scupper but I have had wonderful service everytime I've been there. I think alot of people complain more about the service in these kinds of places because they expect more for the price...maybe I am so used to the bad service I get at Outback, TGIFriday's, etc and that is how I compare...who knows

Pasadena Girl · #12 04-23-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BELIEVE?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not very finnicky when it comes to service but when your waitress disappears for 30 minutes at a time when you are eating expensive crabs and no one is there to refill your beers, that's a problem. Plenty of places around town that would love the business. Bo Brooks in Canton lost mine.

Oh yeah...that's not good

Sprightly · #13 04-23-2007, 10:53 AM

This place has changed quite a bit over the years but the last time I was there (maybe a year ago) the crabs were good:

http://www.obryckis.com/

amyamy · #14 04-23-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprightly

This place has changed quite a bit over the years but the last time I was there (maybe a year ago) the crabs were good:

http://www.obryckis.com/

People rave about Obryckis but I ate there last week (for the first time) and my crabcake was ok, nothing special. I found myself wondering if it would have been better to eat there with no expectations since it didn't live up to what I'd heard.

mlatoman · #15 04-23-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amyamy

People rave about Obryckis but I ate there last week (for the first time) and my crabcake was ok, nothing special. I found myself wondering if it would have been better to eat there with no expectations since it didn't live up to what I'd heard.

I just never cottoned to the black spice vs. Old Bay.

Sorry....I'm a purist!

Baal · #16 04-23-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprightly

This place has changed quite a bit over the years but the last time I was there (maybe a year ago) the crabs were good:

http://www.obryckis.com/

I went to this place a few years ago and loved it.

I'm not a crab fan though, so I wouldn't know who has good crabs and who doesn't.

VdubbauVW · #17 04-23-2007, 11:08 AM

Ok...

Ravenchamp · #18 04-23-2007, 11:09 AM

Capt Harveys in Owings Mills
top rate year round crabs

VdubbauVW · #19 04-23-2007, 11:12 AM

OK, neither of my suggestions are in Baltimore...but by far the best!!!
Winter's Run in Edgewood...on Rt 7 has awesome size crabs for the $$. The ombiance(sp?) is DEFINATELY NOT Bo Brooks tho. Winter's Run is known to be a kinda biker bar, tho during the day, not so much
Olive Tree ( And I EMPHASIZE "TREE" not "garden")...in Glen Burnie, on corner of Ritchie Hwy & Furnace Branch Road...has THE BEST crab cakes around!! I mean this crab cake is 98.9% lump crab...and seriously, JUST enough filler to barely hold the crab in cake form!!!!!!!

VdubbauVW · #20 04-23-2007, 11:14 AM

there is also an OLIVE TREE in Pikesville, same owners...right off 695, I've just never been to that one...myself