The Crab House
The Maryland blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) in 1989 was designated the state crustacean, its name honoring Mary Jane Rathbun, the scientist who described the species in 1896. The blue crab’s scientific name translates as “beautiful swimmer that is savory,” but given how blue crabs are caught, dropping a trap into brackish water with chicken bones, being a savory swimmer doesn’t mean they are savory intelligent, as no crab simply exits the trap once inside. What makes Maryland blue crab desirable over most other crab meat is its sweet lobster-like taste and the fact that it can be prepared in innumerable ways, steamed or sautéed, as crab cakes or Imperial, or in crab soup and crab dip. And Crab House, owned by the Fins Hospitality Group, prepares crabs, steamers, and most other shellfish all of those ways and more, offering the well known but not very desirable (to a discerning diner) all-you-can-eat seafood and crab buffets, a sucker’s cafeteria-style order at any restaurant, especially given the two-hour eating time limit. Crab House includes on its menu the usual burger, chicken, and salads, but crab and seafood is its specialty, along with a welcoming bar offering plenty of variety of suds and crushes as you await your table.
It is not difficult to steam crabs and dump imitation Old Bay seasoning on top, serving them with a hammer and knife, leaving you the work of breaking and picking – all crab houses prepare hard shells essentially the same way, so no special accreditation is warranted for offering genuine Maryland blue crabs. If you prefer to avoid the chore, Crab House offers other crab dishes and crab cakes, a kitchen working overtime to bring you every conceivable seafood and the usual land option dishes, and with splendor, at least for a crab house. Crab pricing based upon size changes daily, and, unlike many crab houses skimping on sizing, Crab House is usually fair about serving you the size you ordered, although don’t expect much size with the all-you-can-eat variety.
For a crab house, Crab House is relatively clean, taking care not to overwhelm you with the sound and smell of a full house of cracking hard shells, and the lines move quickly, especially while you are enjoying a libation or three. With plenty of parking and easy access off Rt. 1, Crab House is a popular seafood option for the family and for groups looking to have fun and get messy while you eat. Among the ubiquitous crab houses in Delmarva, Crab House is among the better options because its non-crab offerings are better than the pub-style food often offered at other crab houses, and Crab House presents itself as a restaurant first, rather than a crab house, allowing for a more enjoyable and less down-and-dirty hardshell experience. Beware, crabs of any desirable size are not inexpensive, and a family dining experience will set back your wallet almost as much as the generously applied crab seasoning sets back your hydration.
