Brooklyn Crab

"Sure, Red Hook is more than a stone’s throw away from Cape Cod, but for a moment at Brooklyn Crab, customers might just feel that New England breeze. This beachy, multi-level bar has a little bit of everything to make it an ideal rooftop in the warm weather months: games, frozen drinks, and, yes, buckets of crab." - Eater Staff, Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

"There is nothing like Brooklyn Crab in NYC. It’s an anomaly in this city for a number of reasons. The first of which: crabs. No one else moves buckets of crabs around these parts on the regular. Strap on a bib and get those crackers ready, you’ve got work to do. Second, the rickety, beach-themed bi-level indoor/outdoor restaurant looks like it belongs on a boardwalk, in the sand, or on a dock. Not steps from the Hudson River in the flourishing industrial capital of Red Hook. It’s a fish out of water in the best possible way. Third, it has a mini golf course. That’s right, mini golf. In NYC. We like Brooklyn Crab a lot more as a place to hang out than as a culinary destination - sometimes, the idea of eating buckets of crabs can seem more exciting in theory than in practice, and that’s definitely the case here. But it’s still a fun activity, especially when you consider this place is more about than experience than it is the food anyway. Keep in mind that it can get bananas during prime time summer days, and you might have to wait a lonooong time to actually get a table. That’s fine by us, as the bar space is plentiful and there is always a cast of characters around to keep you entertained. Just prepare accordingly and make a day of it. While you’re killing time, have a drink around the corner at the historic Sunny’s Bar, one of the oldest and most storied in all of New York. This isn’t a See And Be Seen sexy summer hot spot, although Brooklyn Crab does have a bit of a Montauk vibe. It’s kind of like the Sloppy Tuna, but with kids, and without all the sloppiness. Food Rundown Streamers Because nothing says summer like a beer and big ’ol pot of clams. Peel & Eat Shrimp Peel ’Em, eat ’em, avoid the heads. The shrimps come with some spicy Cajun boil sauce, which is quite tasty. Crab Rolls Take a break from the lobster rolls for a minute and get down with a roll of the crab variety. Brooklyn Crab has a bunch of different options, from an affordable Jonah Crab roll to the consistently tasty Blue Crab roll. Snow Crab Steampot A bucket of snow crabs ready to be taken down. The reward on snow crabs isn’t all that great though, as they’re a lot of work for minimal meat. Treat yourself to Alaskan King crabs instead. Alaskan King Crab Steampot We love the Alaskan King. The meat is so decadent and smooth, and these big claws are so easy to crack and extract the goodness from. Definitely get a pot to share. Brooklyn Crab Royale For Two There are lobsters at the crab palace too. Go big and feed the whole crew with a Royale For Two: all the crabs, and a giant lobster." - Andrew Steinthal

"Brooklyn Crab is right next to Hometown BBQ, which means a game of cornhole in the sand can occur within 30 seconds of your last bite of pulled pork. Sunny’s is also around the corner, so on the weekends, this strip feels like the most serendipitous food crawl. Bring a group during the day and order crab, specifically in the form of crab rolls and steampots. In addition to cornhole, they have two separate bars, arcade games, and more fisherman-themed decor than an actual boat." - willa moore, hannah albertine

"You're seeing a trend -- feeling like you're way out of NYC when you're still so close, and Brooklyn Crab is really the epitome of this. Welcome to a huge, expansive, multi-floor... basically theme park for adults and kids alike. Get involved in the snow crabs while playing some corn hole, air hockey, mini-golf, have at it. Yes this place is real." - Michael Ciancio

"Brooklyn Crab is right next to Hometown BBQ. So, on the weekends, this area feels like a socially-distanced summer block party. This seafood spot is known for (resist the urge to scream) crab, specifically in the form of crab rolls and steampots. Each of Brooklyn Crab’s outdoor tables have a little flag that you can use to indicate to your server that you’re ready to order. The restaurant is asking that you put on your masks while interacting with their staff." - hannah albertine