Where to crack crabs around D.C.
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A feast at the Crab Claw in St. Michaels. Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images
It's crab season and there are tons of ways around D.C. to get cracking.
Why it matters: Chesapeake crabs are on menus now through early fall — and you can't let summer slip by without a feast.
What's new: The Kentmorr, a longtime favorite near Kent Island, is now under the ownership of D.C.-based Atlas Brew Works — and that includes the restaurant/crab house and revamped beach area overlooking the Bay, complete with sand, cabanas, and a tiki bar.
Threat level: The Chesapeake crab population declined slightly this year, but it's better than 2022 when the population hit record lows.
The intrigue: Crab feasts have become less common in D.C. proper. Chef Alex McCoy, who ran popular summertime crab pop-ups for years, tells Axios he paused them due to high crab prices and staffing costs.
- Also: "People just don't want to go out and spend $90 on a dozen crabs that isn't on the water."
Zoom in: If you want to enjoy a Bay-side crab feast during the peak summer months, expect prices around $100 for a dozen large crabs. A few favorites within a 1.5-hour drive of D.C.:
🐟 The Point: More upscale than your average crab spot, this waterfront restaurant tucked inside an Annapolis-area marina serves steamed crabs alongside stellar seafood dishes.
🍻 Cantler's Riverside Inn: The roadhouse-style classic outside Annapolis still packs in regulars and tourists for steamed crabs and no-fuss seafood.
⛵ Mike's Crab House: Go by boat or car to the decades-old crab house in Riva, which has a big river deck for crab feasts.
🦀 The Crab Claw: One of the Eastern Shore's most classic crab houses overlooks St. Michaels harbor. You may want to go soon — a sale is underway to the neighboring maritime museum, and the restaurant's future is TBD.
No car? No problem. The best District option is Ivy City Smokehouse, which serves steamed blue crabs on its outdoor deck alongside tasty eats including shrimp baskets and smoked fish platters.
- Arlington's Quarterdeck is always popular (and even takes reservations). Ditto for the stalwart Bethesda Crab House.