Best Places to Get Crabs in Maryland
In Maryland, crabs are more than a meal…they’re an event. We’re talking communal gatherings, brown paper covering the table, a mallet in one hand, a cold drink in the other, and absolutely no concern for how much Old Bay has found its way onto your clothes.
From old-school Baltimore institutions to waterfront crab houses overlooking the Chesapeake, one thing’s for sure: Maryland has perfected the art of the crab feast. And while everyone has their go-to spot, a few names deserve a place on any Maryland crab bucket list. Here are some of the best places to crack crabs in Maryland.
1. Cantler’s Riverside Inn | Annapolis
Tucked away on Mill Creek, Cantler’s Riverside Inn is about as quintessentially Maryland as it gets. The longtime waterfront crab house specializes in steamed blue crabs served the way they should be: piled onto a paper-covered table and ready to be attacked with a mallet. During the season, its Maryland crabs come from local crabbers, and the waterside location makes the whole experience even better.
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2. The Point Crab House & Grill | Arnold
Just outside Annapolis, The Point combines serious seafood with a setting that practically demands a summer afternoon. Overlooking Mill Creek, the restaurant serves steamed crabs that vary based on the day’s catch, with much of its supply coming from Maryland’s Wye and Chester Rivers. Another draw? Its custom crab seasoning is developed by J.O., another Maryland institution.
3. Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant | Perry Hall
Crab purists, this one’s for you. Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant grew out of a seafood market business, and to this day crabs remain the main event. During Maryland crab season, the restaurant sources its crabs locally and offers everything from smaller crabs to hefty jumbos. And if one form of crab somehow isn’t enough, the menu is packed with crab-forward dishes, too.
4. Harris Crab House | Grasonville
Cross the Bay Bridge and make your way to Harris Crab House, a Kent Narrows classic where boats, Bay views, and bushels of crabs set the scene. The family-owned waterfront restaurant is known for steamed blue crabs and its weekday all-you-can-eat crab feast during the season. And then there’s the neighboring seafood market, which helps keep fresh catches coming in from local watermen.
5. Fisherman’s Crab Deck | Grasonville
There are worse ways to spend a Maryland summer day than sitting along Kent Narrows surrounded by a dozen crabs and sipping an Orange Crush. Fisherman’s Crab Deck leans all the way into its Eastern Shore location, serving steamed crabs by the half or full dozen alongside a long lineup of Chesapeake favorites. Of course, its open-air waterfront setting doesn’t hurt either.
6. Costas Inn | Baltimore
Serving Baltimore since 1971, Costas Inn has had plenty of time to perfect the crab house formula. The North Point institution is known for meaty steamed crabs, crab cakes, and a menu that goes deep on Maryland seafood classics. Its crab dip also makes appearances in decidedly indulgent forms, including an Eastern Shore-inspired grilled cheese.
7. Schultz’s Crab House | Essex
Some restaurants serve Maryland crabs, and then there’s Schultz’s…which feels like a piece of Maryland crab culture itself. The Essex institution has operated as a crab house since 1969 and earned a James Beard America’s Classics award in 2017. Crabs are served first come, first served, and the atmosphere is refreshingly old-school.
8. Faidley’s Seafood | Baltimore
Not in the mood to spend an afternoon cracking shells? There’s another extremely Maryland way to get your crab fix. Founded in 1886, Faidley’s is famous for its jumbo lump crab cakes, made with big pieces of crab meat and minimal filler. Think less leisurely waterfront feast, and more iconic Baltimore food adventure.
9. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood | Baltimore
For a more maximalist take on Maryland seafood, there’s Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. The Baltimore institution has been around since 1974 and serves both steamed blue crabs and its especially famous jumbo lump crab cakes, which have helped land the restaurant multiple appearances on famed Food Network shows.
10. Kentmorr Beach Bar & Grill | Stevensville
We don’t make the rules: crabs simply taste better near the Chesapeake. Kentmorr Beach Bar & Grill proves that mantra, bringing serious summer energy to Kent Island with a bayside beach, tiki bar, and a menu full of creative ways to eat Maryland’s favorite ingredient. Think crab dip-covered tots, crab pretzels, and a white pizza topped with lump crab meat.
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11. May’s Seafood Restaurant | Frederick
This just in: you don’t have to head east for a full-blown Maryland crab feast. May’s Seafood Restaurant in Frederick is known for its all-you-can-eat seafood offerings (including steamed blue crabs), plus options to order Maryland’s signature crustacean by the half or full dozen.
12. Avery’s Maryland Grille | Frederick
Frederick earns another spot on the list thanks to Avery’s Maryland Grille, where the crab feast is taken very seriously. Its all-you-can-eat offerings pair steamed crabs with classic sides, while the larger menu ventures into crab quesadillas, crab BLTs, and other decidedly less traditional territory.
A Maryland Tradition Worth Getting Messy For
There are plenty of standout seafood states, but Maryland serves up a distinct crab culture that’s entirely its own. As any local will tell you, here, eating crabs is as much about the ritual as it is the meal. So whether you’re heading across the Bay Bridge, spending the day in Annapolis, or making a Baltimore crab crawl out of it, there’s really only one rule (regardless of when Labor Day falls): Don’t wear white.
Ready to become part of Maryland crab culture for good? Get in touch with us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 202.280.2060, or emailing connect@jennsmira.com.
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