The Osler Guide to Blue Crab Dining
in Baltimore

The Maryland blue crab, without exaggeration, is the greatest culinary delicacy in the world.
- Adam Spivak

A general warning from Señor M: Make sure you call ahead of time to make sure whatever restaurant you pick is serving blue crabs and not some out-of-state substitute (very common these days).

A non-restaurant alternative from Kent: Having lived in MD too long, the cheapest and best way to eat blue crabs is to go to a local seafood store and ask for a half bushel of steamed crabs (preferably medium to heavy males) with medium Old Bay. Grab a case/pony keg of beer with a couple of ears of fresh corn from the vendor on the side of the road, go home, cover the dining room table in newspaper, pull out the hammers and bang away.

Bill's Terrace Inn [200 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221; 410/687-5994]
" Best blue crabs hands down. . . . Go early because the wait can be upwards of 1.5-2 hours on a busy night. I love this place. - John Nguyen (seconded by others)

Bo Brooks [Canton]
" Has great crabs and is right on the water - Pete Johnston (seconded by many others)
" A bit more expensive, a bit more upscale…no picnic benches, beer is not in plastic cups - Spivak

Bohagers
" More of a bar than a real crab house, and the crabs are smaller anyway - Ed

Cantler's Riverside Inn [458 Forest Beach Rd, Annapolis, 410-757-1311; http://www.cantlers.com]
" They're on a river, indoor and outdoor eating, non-fancy, picnic table, messy, fun, loud, crab dinners. - Caroline
" This is an AMAZING real Maryland crab house where they bring the crabs in directly to the restaurant. If it isn't too hot, sit outside. Crabs are (relatively) cheap, but you should go early as they run out of the larger ones. Also, parking can be difficult, as it is at the end of a tiny residential road and the restaurant isn't that big. Crabs are cooked in Old Bay spice. Make sure you call to get directions, as they really are in a residential area. Est. time to get there from Baltimore is 30-45 min, but it's worth it. And you are near enough to downtown Annapolis to go and get ice cream afterwards. - Ed and Sharon

Captain James Crab Landing [Corner of Aliceanna and Boston streets, across the street from the Captain James Restaurant]
" You get to sit outside on the water, and the crabs are excellent - Spivak

Costas Inn [Northpoint Blvd.]
" Best crabs around. Good Morning America (or was it the Today Show ?) went there for crabs when they were in town. not very fancy but great crabs - Tas the Greek

G&M [Linthicum off I-695]
" Good for crab cakes - Vik

Gunnings Crab House [Brooklyn, MD, south of Federal Hill on Hanover St.]
" Is good - Jon Morrow

Obrycki's [Fells Point]
" A traditional crab house that's been around forever - Pete Johnston (seconded by Adam Berliner)
" Whatever you do, do NOT go to Obrycki's. - Señor M, of Baltimore Magazine fame
" A nice local crab house. Crabs are cooked in a Baltimore pepper spice. Get the extra large ones (around $50/dozen, but well worth it. Estimate about 4-5/person + sides). - Ed and Sharon