Captain Leonard's Seafood Restaurant

Captain Leonard’s Seafood does not disappoint! The steamed crabs are fresh and perfectly seasoned, the local fried oysters are incredible, and every dish is top-notch. Easily one of the best seafood spots in Southern Maryland — worth the trip every time!

Out of towners, recommended to check this place out by our hotel clerk. She told us it was where the locals went for good seafood. She was right!!! We were beyond happy with every aspect of this experience! Service was wonderful, atmosphere is quaint and homey, the price was incredibly reasonable …the food….omg the food!!! Crab cakes are quite possibly the most perfect classic representation you will ever get! Sweet potato wedges were such an amazing surprise, they were so good!!! My husband got a half dozen crabs and was in heaven. Can’t wait to make another trip over there to try again!!!!

Well I'm going to tell it today,Captain Leonard's is a well kept southern maryland secret. Outstanding service, great tasting seafood and a south county laid back feel. Don't let the exterior fool you this place is were you go to get crab happy madness. When you want to get away from the chain seafood give these guys a try.

Came here for my birthday dinner. Hadn't had a decent crab dinner since I've been in MD. This was THE BEST I've had in years, if not ever. We got plenty of food and a margarita each and it totaled to about $50 a person. More than worth it!! I hesitate to write this public review so I can keep this place to myself but this place definately deserves it's flowers. I'm bringing my cousin and brother and his family back before their last day for the season. Kudos to the entire team!

Just a great local Seafood Shack!! We're from Ohio, and friends said we HAD to come here for some Maryland crabs and seafood. Well, absolutely so glad we did!! The soft crab chowder was really good, had some shell in it, but delicious none the less !! Soft shell crabs were really good too. And listen, the Crab Balls... You have to get some!! Make the trip, now I know why so many great comments from "locals" haha!!!

The seafood is always good here! My brother and I treat ourselves sometimes and come here when we do. We love seafood, and we love blue crabs. The service is always incredible, and the food never disappoints. I've been coming here with my Pop Pop since I was a boy!

We happened upon this amazing seafood gem after visiting my sister in law in the hospital. Let’s just say we will be back! The atmosphere has definite southern Maryland charm, very clean and the service is excellent! All of us had different appetizers and entrees, and we were each exclaiming how delicious everything tasted. I enjoyed cream of crab soup, fresh local oysters on the half shell, delicious fried catfish with cajun seasoning, and a perfectly backed potato with butter and sour cream. Our server, Nicky, was beautiful inside and out, shared the restaurant’s history with us, answered a myriad of questions, was super polite, professional and personable. My husband and his sister, who are our family’s expert fried oyster chefs, remarked over and over about the quality and perfection of the fried oysters. My brother in law loved his crab stuffed shrimp, and our niece visiting from California, satisfied her seafood craving with perfectly grilled crab cakes. We enjoyed onion rings, coleslaw, sweet potato wedges and green beans, and all were well seasoned and cooked to perfection. There is so much more on the menu including hard and soft shell crabs, mussels, snow crab legs, grouper, flounder, and no. Seafood items and dessert. Thank you Captain Leonard’s for a delightfully tasty and memorable experience! We highly recommend!

What a delightful and wonderful experience dining out. The atmosphere was enjoyable and entertaining as they also have a seafood market inside the restaurant where you can purchase fresh or freshly caught seafood. The meals were excellent as we had the crab cakes, large shrimp basket and the fried shrimp and steak with side orders of coleslaw, steak fries, onion rings and a beautiful garden salad. As well, their “Pimpin’” shrimp as an appetizer which is similar to the “Bang Bang” shrimp at Bone Fish Grill. Everything was prepared and or cooked to perfection! Yes! We will be thrilled to eat there again! Highly recommended for a great dining out experience.

Absolutely divine Maryland blue crab, and don't miss the fried green beans. I also recommend the cream soup, boiled shrimp, and fried flounder. The venue is comfortable and homey, with butcher paper on the tabletops and easily accessible restrooms for handwashing. Great place to come with a group!

Came here for my cousin's bday dinner when we decided crabs was the move instead of cold fish filets (Omakase) lol Searched for it best seafood/crabs spot around and Captain Leonards appeared. I double checked on Yelp and we turned around to head there. We were not disappointed! Went with half pound of steamed & fried shrimp along with half dozen of crabs and order of fries! Each dish was throughly enjoyable. The crabs were warm but not freshly steamed amd the old bay or seasoning used was sprinkled on top and they were not steamed with three seasoning. The meat was somewhat stick to the shells amd there was no juiciness in sight. The fried shrimp were juicy and seasoned well. The steamed shrimp was fresh also but the shell was on and they were not deveined. The cocktail sauce had a good punch from the horseradish and I enjoyed that. The french fries were a good size and for seasoned and extremely crunchy. You could actually eat them while they were still cold. Although they held heat for a minute. He grabbed margaritas and I had the awesome idea of putting some Old Bay in it instead of my normal tahin. So we had all day margaritas and why haven't I thought it was before? I typically do not go to crab restaurants because I love going out getting them myself and preparing them at home. It's going to be that's why . . . . We also grabbed the apple pie ala mode to take home. I love when restaurants have hand washing stations outside the bathroom. They also have a market area where you can purchase seafood and alcoholic beverages as well. My cousin loved this restaurant and vowed to come back multiple times before they closed on November 30th for the season.

Food was delicious..The employees are amazing..5 starts.nice place clean..the bathrooms nice and clean..

Our first time having deep fried softshell crab here and was pretty fantastic. The service was great. The restaurant was super busy, but we were seated right away and received service with a smile! It's a great calabash seafood type place.

Service was beautiful. I'll add the waitress' name when I look at the receipt. The drinks were tasty and strong. Our 5 children thoroughly enjoyed their 4 orders of mozzarella sticks, cheeseburger, chicken strips, and fries. The bathrooms were clean. They even had a handwashing place for people outside of the bathroom. Our experience was 100%.

Highly recommend! Thanks to Jaimie for her warm welcome and for her teams excellent service. Fabulous steamed crabs! Decent pricing. Another plus....no blaring music. Nice quiet atmosphere making this a great dining experience!

We visited Capt. Leonards over the weekend. I ordered the shrimp basket which was very tasty and a generous portions. We also had a dozen crabs that were full, steamy and delicious. Amanda our server recommended the crabby pretzel as an appetizer and it was cheesy and crabby goofy goodness. Capt. Leonards is a crab house so there's paper on the tables and it can be loud. I look forward to returning, I want to try the Capt's Scatter and the grouper sandwich, and another dozen crabs.

I've drove past this place a thousand times and finally tried it out today with a friend. Luckily I stopped by right in time, as they will be closing tomorrow until the beginning of March. Our waitress, Amanda was great. She was friendly and attentive. Make sure to sit in her section in the back. We had the crab dip, sweet potatoes fries, hush puppies and the fried shrimp. Everything was good. I can't wait to go back and get more of those fried shrimp. Also, they still had crabs. The ambiance was normal for mid day Saturday. It wasn't too loud but wasn't quiet either.

First time here on the recommendation of a friend. Apparently this is a Southern Maryland institution. Only open limited days a week and the seafood is as advertised - tasty 'n fresh. I had a soft shell crab cake sandwich & crinkle cut fries. I wish they had grilled the bread. Plain buns with nothing on them are dry. Added nothing to the sandwich so I drowned it in hot sauce. She had crab balls which are basically rolled crab cakes dipped in cornmeal. The hush puppies come with a honey glazed dip, which was particularly interesting. I had a couple of Long Island iced teas which were served in middle school 12 oz plastic cups (hard plastic, not the disposal kind). Nice condiment tray featuring real hot sauce (Texas Pete) and even Lea & Perrins Worcestershire (unusual) among assorted other condiment favorites. Everything was good and it was a nice Saturday afternoon stop. I'm sure I'll return at some point. They got crowded mid-afternoon. We arrived at noon when they opened - and the place was full and hour later. Service was quite pleasant and everything is cooked to order so the food took a while, about 30-40 minutes. Parking on-site. Spartan interiors with very "homey" feeling.

Visited for my first crab feast of the summer and had a great experience! It's got all the seafood-shack charm you want for this kind of meal. The restaurant is surprisingly large and very casual with classic Maryland decor everywhere you look. We're new to the Southern Maryland crab scene and found this place thanks to a neighbor's recommendation. We came in with a large group, but luckily you can call the day before (and only the day before!) to make a reservation. We ordered two dozen hard crabs, they were coated with Old Bay (as they should be) and medium sized but full of plenty of meat in early June. There's lots on the menu for the non-crab eaters, the hush puppies were another favorite--they're served with a few different tasty sauces and butters. Our server was great and stayed on top of the mess that comes along with picking crabs. Prices are reasonable, especially if you're used to the Delaware/Maryland beach prices like me. One thing to keep in mind - the steamer shuts down at 7:30pm, so don't come too late if you want anything from the Steamed Seafood menu. We had a 7pm res and got our orders in just in time. Great spot overall, I'm sure we'll be back!

I was in the area on business, and just wanted a sample of a few appetizers. I ordered crab balls which were mostly bread with a few pieces of crab in them, wing dings which tasted like extra breaded wingettes from the grocery store, and a side salad which I finished in 3 bites. The hush puppies were the best dish I ate from that lunch order

No frills crab house. The way a true crab house of real deal crabs should be. The service was professional and timely. No needles banter. This isn't the side of Maryland for all of the that. The servers worked timely to accommodate. A nice atmosphere to bring the entire fam. Will definitely be back.

We enjoyed the fried oysters, shrimp, and soft shell crabs, all of which were delicious. Additionally, our friend who doesn't eat seafood mentioned that the burger was also quite tasty, which was a pleasant surprise. However, we were disappointed by the unexpected credit card surcharge. It's concerning if a business can't make a profit on a $150 meal just because a credit card was used for payment. There should be a clear and prominent notice about such charges at the entrance of the restaurant. This would have been a four star review without that surprise charge.

Excellent service and food was fabulous I had the stuffed shrimp. Going to order the crabs next time when I have more time and a partner to help me eat them .

Capt Lenard's is one of many Seafood and Crab houses that dot the landscape of Southern Md. Featuring Crabs, Oysters, shrimp, soft shell crabs along with seafood soups and other dishes. The restaurant is always busy, the service is excellent and the food is great. Not much to say about the environment other than it's a crab house like most in the area it's a place to sit and pick and otherwise enjoy the Chesapeake Bays menu. Like all of the Crab houses it is not an in and out place, take your time and enjoy.

Went there based on good reviews from yelp and Google. Late Sunday afternoon and the parking lot was packed. That's a good sign. Food was excellent. I had the fish and chips, and oysters. Food tasted great and was not overpriced. Yes I plan on returning

This is an example of the Classic southern Maryland seafood restaurant, with a clean dining room and family atmosphere. Simple menu is seafood-centered, with a range of modifications for guests to select for cooking their meal. Local feature items are abundant, even the bar menu has a local distillery's product well represented. Corn (in season) is sweet, crunchy and plump. The sweet potato fries and cookie slaw are worth coming back for! Prices are fair. Highway location is convenient, but not near other attractions or destinations.

The BEST crab dip in the area! Prices are going up but it's unbeatable as they haven't gone up in over 5 years. Still a great portion for the price!

Friendly staff ! Amazing food oooh and the cream of crab soup yummmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best fried shrimp, crabs and cream of crab soup in town. Highly recommend. Good atmosphere

Freshest seafood in the area. Super nice people and always a good time. Get the fried green beans

This is a family environment with great service. The seafood is always good and fresh. During season this is the go to place for crabs.

Amazing , The cupcakes are absolutely delicious & the crabs are heavy and full! Friendly place.

We ordered steamed crabs for take out and were VERY pleased. Cooked perfectly! Just the right amount of old bay, they were good sized with great meat! They were tender and exactly what Maryland crab should be!! Definitely a favorite now.

Food was mediocre, disappointing, and sad. Nothing was fresh or "homemade" like I expected. I ordered cream of crab soup and it tasted like it came out of a can and then they sprinkled old bay on top for decoration. The crab dip was also ordered as an appetizer and it came in a bread bowl without any chips or extra bread to dip and enjoy. The kids mini crab cakes also had a hair in it, they kindly replaced it with fresh mini crab cakes, but they were so rubbery and smelled funny what was the point in eating it. My brother ordered the steak also tasted like it came from the dollar store freezer section and it was cooked well done when it was asked to be medium/medium-rare. My mom ordered the scallops and it looked like they were served in a bowl of butter, smelled rotten, and made us wonder if they were cooked in butter. My granddad ordered the steamed seafood platter and the oysters from it looked as though it was dumped from a can and not fresh. The hush puppies were made from a box mix, but were delicious. The server was also kind and attentive.

Amazing food and the crabs are always fat and cooked perfectly. The place is bit low on atmosphere and there is no real bar to speak of. There are a few bar stools but you cannot eat there. Also seating is very tight. Still if you want great crabs then do not delay this place for a perfect.

We took a wonderful ride to Point Lookout and found this gem along the way! Perfect atmosphere for a seafood restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. I had the cream of crab soup and it was delightful and a bit decadent! Packed full of lump crab and flavorful (No picture because I was starving and I forgot!)! I had crab legs and they were an absolute deal! I received three clusters in my pound and it was plenty! I added potato salad to my meal and it was the best idea ever! I don't eat everyone's potato salad but I will eat this one every time! Hubby had oysters, fried hard of course. He loved them! He had the coleslaw and we both agree it was amazing as well! Heck...even the water we drank was wonderful! If ever in the area, I recommend that you give this place a try!

Great food but the seating is cramped and the tables and chairs are all rickety. Badly needs an update.

Crab cakes are more than 3/4 filler! If you charge $30 for 2 crab cakes that are mostly filler, that is ridiculous. Basically two pieces of bread with a sprinkle of crab meat. Horrible! The others at the table seemed to enjoy their meals which were either fried fish or fried clams, so guess I made the wrong decision. The green beans also had no flavor and came straight out of the can. However, our waitress was very sweet and tentative.

Food and crabs were fantastic! Our waitress was friendly and we had zero wait for a seat on a busy day!

I've been here several times to find -Full fat crabs. Sweet corn. Decent hush puppies. A nice side salad. I've gotta go there outside of crab season to see if my rating changes but for Maryland steamed crabs I've never been disappointed.

My husband and I have been coming here for years. We usually come once or twice a summer to get crabs. It changes from year to year how much they charge for a dozen but this year we paid $48. It's a bit pricey but definitely worth it and we enjoy sitting and picking them together. They have the absolute best cream of crab soup anywhere. I'm talking...huge hunks of crab, little tender potatoes...incredible, creamy goodness!! They sprinkle a little Old Bay on top and it is just right!! We also get a basket of hush puppies and a basket of fries to round out our soup and crabs. We always get sweet tea to drink, of course. They have a great variety on the menu such as broiled or fried seafood platters, fried shrimp, soft shell crab and other standard seafood fare. Definitely our go to crab house. It would be nice if it was in a better location like on the water but the food is good and really that's all that matters.

Always awesome. Should be open year around only complaint because i begins to have withdraws!

We are visiting the area for the races at potomac speedway. Went in with a party of 8 and was told it would be 30 min we said fine. Was waiting out side they went ahead and seated a party of 6. Was told we needed a buzzer and it would be another 45 min. The worst customer service period. I do not recommend this place to anyone. Very disappointing

Overall I thought this place was great. My negative is that the breading on the seafood is not seasoned. I've been to this place 4 times already and that should speak for itself. The string beans were good also and the food came out fast. I'm not a big seafood person when I go out but this was some of the best steamed shrimp I've ever had. If my scallops were fried hard enough And not got saugey after 5 minutes of sitting I would've gave this a 5

This has become my new go-to for seafood. Oysters are often a bit saturated with oil, but are large with good breading. Crab soup is legit and lot loaded with shell. Their scallops are best in the area, however. Fried or steamed, they have great flavor and are well worth the money. Speaking of money... This place isn't cheap but they certainly aren't the most expensive. Soooooo.. Don't expect some down home mannerisms here. This is more of a "What do you want?" kind of place. Tell them what you want, it shows up shortly after, they refill your drinks and make a point to leave you alone. People will be beating crab legs and shooting pieces of shell all over. The tables are covered with paper as a crab shack should. I guess what I'm saying is.. don't be surprised by surrounding adults who bring their own bib.

Best fried seafood in st Mary's county. Or most places. Everything is wonderfully seasoned, the sweet tea is homemade - and waffle fries are a menu item! Also worth noting is how wonderfully local is this place. Before even stepping in the door it's clear that Captain Leonard's is a local favorite, and from good reason. Lastly, portion sizes are very generous so plan to either bring your appetite or share a plate if doggy bagging fried food isn't your thing. Or choose a steamed option, which is also available. I'd give this one 10 stars if I could .

The food is excellent and the service was exceptional. There were a lot of people, but the food was coming out very regularly. Lots of staff. Nice atmosphere. You will not be disappointed.

Captain Leonard's has the Best Fried Jumbo Shrimp and soft shell crabs and Crabs hands down my favorite Seafood Restaurant Thanks Alecia for the 5 Star Service

Even though it's lock down times. This place is still got good customer service. The line is busy but keep trying they will eventually answer the lines. Staff still have smiles on their faces and still doing a great jobs

Seems like it might be hit or miss. The crabs are probably on point a lot of people were inside eating dozens of crabs. We got some fried stuff to go and most was good but the fish and chips was not. Hard, dry, no flavor.

I'm fascinated. I have been, my whole trip to the US. Everything is sooooooo big Just as the dishes at Captain Leonard's. We were the last people there after eating two dozen crabs...two people eating btw. We also gay catfish and shrimp. Very thing tasted brilliant and the beer tasted quite good (we Germans are a little sensitive about the American beer ). I loooooved it and you should try it!

Looking for a So. Maryland crab house with locally sweet succulent Chesapeake Bay hardshells (blue crabs)? Look no further! Also family owned and operated. Thats just plain old good Southern Maryland hospitality! Cheers

By far the best seafood restaurant in town! If you are looking for good food and good service, this is the place to go.

The food here is excellent! Really on par! Any time I go visit family in Leonardtown, we take a trip here. The fried shrimp is to die for; large, juicy and great flavor! Their crab dip is also very good. The only reason they don't get all 5 stars from me is because they are, as many others have said, quite slow.

Love love this place! Makes my mouth water to think of their fish n chips, crab soup, crab cakes, and hush puppies! Wish I had some right now! Great cole slaw, too! You will want to return for more, I promise

Love Captain Leonards! Already had some crabs there yesterday, they were small but very tasty, sweet and full. Always have great crabs and oysters! I frequent this place lots of times during their season. Everyone very helpful!

Great Maryland seafood restaurant! Even though it was a busy Friday night and the parking lot appeared full, we we seated right away and the waitress took our order within minutes. Hot crabs were delivered to the table quickly and were perfect. The beer was cold and our waitress made several trips to our table to make sure we had what we needed. After dinner we ordered their delicious cupcakes for dessert (carrot cake and a pb chocolate). Amazing! Great food, reasonable prices, very good service.

Fantastic crab house! I've been here many times and the crabs are always heavy and full of flavor with all the right seasonings for Maryland Crabs! In addition the fried oysters are the best in the DC area! Highly recommend and will continue to go back. The only negative for this place is that they are closed every January and February for the season.