Crabs To Go or Stay - Story by Jackie Zilliox and Photography by Colleen O'Hare

Crabs To Go or Stay

Story by Jackie Zilliox and Photography by Colleen O'Hare

Southern Maryland is loaded with folks who catch and sell crabs all season long. If you are in the mood to go out for crabs or just want to buy them and cook them at home the following is a list of local restaurants that have plenty of crabs on hand during the summer. We worked hard to list them all, but we may have missed a few. If we did, we apologize and want to hear from you. Happy eating!

Abner's Crab House in Chesapeake Beach, 410-257-3689. Tucked among fishing boats on a quaint creek off the Chesapeake Bay where you can order by the dozen or a crab feast for indoor or outdoor dining.

Annapolis Seafood in Waldorf, 301-870-6800. Take out only steamed crabs.

Benedict Marina in Benedict, 301-274-2882. Park your boat and continue to unwind on their outdoor deck as you wait for your dozen of locally caught blue crabs to be cooked. Indoor seating also available.

Buckmaster's Seafood in Chesapeake Beach, 410-257-7113. If you love the water, sunshine and lively music while you eat your crabs this place is for you. Outdoor seating only, by the dozen or a feast.

Captain Billy's Crabhouse, Newburg, 301-932-4323. Come by boat, come by car to Captain Billy's. Waterfront dining on the Potomac River. A Southern Maryland landmark for crabs.

Captain John's Crab House on Cobb Island, 301-259-2315. This casual restaurant has plenty of windows to view life on the island and Neal Sound, off the Potomac, while you eat a feast, dozen or order to go.

Captain Leonard's in Mechanicsville, 301-884-3701. Don't be fooled by the fact that this restaurant is landlocked. It offers perfectly cooked and seasoned crabs by the dozen, or pick-up.

Captain Pat's in Lexington Park, 301-866-0000. Offers eat-in and carryout steamed crabs by the dozen, half bushel and bushel as well as feasts.

Captain Pat's Kitchen in Callaway, 301-994-2669. Carryout only for steamed crabs by the dozen, half bushel and bushel.

Captain Smith's Seafood Market has two locations that sell crabs to go by the dozen, half bushel and bushel. In the Prince Frederick Country Market, 410-535-9811. At Patuxent Plaza on Solomon's Island, 410-326-1134.

Catamaran's Seafood and Steak Restaurant on Solomons, 410-326-8399. Dine in or eat out on the decks that offer a nice view of the Patuxent to enjoy your steamed crabs by the dozen. Accessible by boat. Carry out also available.

Courtney's Seafood Restaurant in Ridge, 301-872-4403. Accessible by car or boat and order your crabs by the dozen as you view the Potomac.

Crab Knockers in Leonardtown, 301-475-7830. Take out only steamed crabs by the dozen, half bushel and bushel.

Drift Inn in Mechanicsville, 301-884-3470. A landmark on the Patuxent and favorite with locals for years has been re-built. Ample dock slips. Indoor dining to view the palm trees Leonard brought back from Florida. Orders by the dozen.

Gilligan's Restaurant in Newburg, 301-259-4514. An eclectic fun seafood restaurant that has a great view of the Potomac and offers crabs by the dozen, or feast, and pick-up.

H. Gass Seafood on 235 in Hollywood, 301-373-6882. Only sell local crabs by the dozen, half or full bushel, eat-in or takeout.

Leonard Copsey's Seafood Market in Mechanicsville, 301-884-9529. Take out only steamed crabs.

Rays Pier in Benedict, 301-274-3733. Inside dining on a glassed porch that faces the Patuxent is where crabs are offered by the dozen and for take out.

Robertson's Crab House in Newburg, 301-934-3300. Sit in front of the large picture windows that overlook the Potomac while you enjoy their famous "Backrub" and eat a dozen or have a feast.

Rod-N-Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach, 301-855-8351. Steamed crabs can be served indoors or outdoors on the deck of the Boardwalk Café by the dozen, half or whole bushel, as well as feasts. A special beach party can be arranged for a minimum of 50 people.

Sandgates Inn in Mechanicsville, 301-373-5100. Order by the dozen on their outdoor, full-sun or shaded deck as well as indoor seating while you watch the passersby on the Patuxent.

Scheible's in Ridge, 301-872-0028. Offers eat-in steamed crab specials occasionally.

Seabreeze Restaurant & Crab House in Mechanicsville, 301-373-5217. Eat your crabs by the dozen beside the Patuxent on the open deck featuring a Tiki bar or enjoy the view from indoors.

Stoney's Crab House on Broome's Island at 410-586-1888, Kingfisher's in Solomon's Island at 410-394-0236, and Prince Frederick at 410-535-1888. The Broome's Island location is accessible by land and sea and has shaded or full-sun dockside seating as well as indoor. Kingfisher's is accessible by land or sea with indoor and outdoor seating. The Prince Frederick restaurant is located in the Fox Run Shopping Center. All locations serve crabs by the dozen.

Thompson's Seafood Corner in Mechanicsville, 301-884-5251. Take out only steamed crabs sold by the dozen, half bushel or bushel.

Tyler's Tackle Shop and Crab House in Chesapeake Beach, 410-257-6610. Take out only steamed crabs, "extra seasoning please."

More information on local restaurants is available in our Dining Section. Be sure to rate and review your favorite restaurants! We also have a How-to Guide to Eating Crabs and Shucking Oysters.