Crab House Café

We travelled from Swansea to see what all the hype was about, and boy was it worth the drive. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by welcoming staff who gave us a choice of seating, including a view of where the magic happens in the kitchen. We were offered water straight away and even got a bit of the restaurant’s history, including how the fresh seafood is caught. A great start. We went straight in for the famous crab — both the classic and the Chinese style. At first, we eyed the tools in front of us like a pair of confused cavemen wondering what on earth to do next. But after a moment of hesitation, we embraced the chaos and got stuck in, enthusiastically bashing away at the shells. Any shyness quickly disappeared — we attacked those crabs like absolute savages. Honestly, they didn’t stand a chance. There’s no classy way to eat this, and that’s exactly the fun of it. Bib on, tools in hand, dive right in and accept the delicious mess. The staff checked on us throughout the meal and made sure everything was spot on. The bib definitely earned its keep! We absolutely loved the whole experience — it’s something we just don’t get back home. Fantastic food, great atmosphere, and a lot of laughs along the way. We can’t wait to come back and do battle with another crab soon.

Don't really want to tell you how excellent this place was and if you like seafood this establishment will not disappoint you. Everything about the place leaves you in awe. Please do not miss out on the culinary experience that will leave you wanting to go back for more. You can see the chefs at work whipping up each corse with fresh locally sourced fish and shellfish. They even farm their own oysters and you can even see the oysters in the next room. Everything is on show and there is a story everywhere you look. I will let the photos tell there own story with tastes and flavours that you will have to try.

Fresh, brilliant and delicious seafood on offer at a reasonable price, all with immaculate presentation. Service was great, atmosphere was cozy, brilliant ocean views. Reservations in advance are highly recommended (especially for good seats)!

What a fantastic spot. The food was amazing and the service exceptional. We ordered a number of starters to share with a couple of sides and they moved us to a bigger table so we could fit it all on. The crab 🦀 starter was my favourite and the sauce the mussels came in was delicious.

Great and interesting food. Good service. Only slight gripe was that we had to sit in the covered terrace area as we had a dog and despite the overhead heaters it was very drafty and cold. We would take blankets for our knees next time.

Honestly, 3rd year in a row we have been here and it never disappoints. Once again we were lucky enough to get the table for 2 next to the pass, so we saw everyone else’s dishes as well as our own. Crab and sardine starters were superb, my wife’s stuffed sole was great, my lobster came in a bowl of the most delicious liquid I have ever tasted. It’s great to find a seafood restaurant that just does seafood, and there are always multiple things that temp on a changing menu. You will need to book ahead (we took a guess when we would be sailing in to Portland and adjusted our trip to make sure we could be here). If you love seafood you will love this place. And every single person we interacted with here were professional, enthusiastic and friendly.

Been coming here for over 20 years, since it was Abbotsbury Oysters, love the food, the oysters, the atmosphere and great service too. Friendly atmosphere, I recommend booking to guarantee a table. Plenty of seating areas to chose from and some are also dog friendly. The menu is full of choice which makes decisions difficult!

My wife and stepsons took me out for my birthday dinner. Fantastic food, great service and absolutely perfect ambience. Lovely rustic chic and brilliant food. The only disappointment was my wife's bellini. Tasted great but presentation was a bit off. Food still gets 5 stars because it was absolutely phenomenal. We came all the way from Southampton just off this meal and we were not let down at all.

Can't fault this place! Staff are very friendly and accommodating, the chef can be seen moving about prepping dishes, ordering daily fish and checking on patrons. The ambience is lovely, quaint and warm. Fresh fish of the day can be seen in the front window, skilled chefs are working away and a couple of water tanks for the live seafood are visible from the dining room. I had a crab soup which was surprisingly delicious, similar to a lobster bisque. Fresh bread started us off, warm from the oven and soft inside. I chose a special of the day, the fish was tender and flavourful, melting off the bone and infused with lemon and capers. My partners dish of hake with risotto was absolutely delicious, something I'd order if I were to go back. All In all a lovely dining experience in a scenic location. Make sure you book to avoid disappointment!

Just fantastic food. You need to eat here.

One of the best crabs I've ever had, with delicious samphire and twice cooked chips. Loved trying my father's curry - light heat, delicious fish and perfect portion size. We had 15 for lunch, and everyone loved it.

I have often wondered, living in the south west, why there are so few seafood restaurants around our coast? There are a few yes, like the Oyster Shack at Bigbury and Riverside Restaurant and the Hive beach cafe further down the Dorset coast and Porthminster in Cornwall but generally far too few, which is an odd thing. Is it to do with the English reserve or dislike by too many of fish and seafood, or is it the climate? Anyway, here is a really good example of what I mean and what we need more of around here. It's moved on from the small shack of a few years ago on the edge of Chesil Beach and is now a bigger place altogether but they have managed to retain the charm and character of the old. Fish and seafood is served simply, fish is often whole, oysters, crabs, scallops are available and more with late catch items on the blackboard. Plenty of outdoor tables and car parking. Mediterranean feel and good for a day out when the sun is shining. Does what it says on the tin and does it brilliantly.

Superb views, food, staff. Speacial place. All fish locally caught and the menu changes daily

Very good, fresh fish. Lots of variety and always something a bit different. Chef and staff are all very friendly. Quite expensive but deffinately worth it!

I cannot believe we had lived in the area for 5 years before we discovered the Crab House Café, thanks to a Sunday supplement review of the 10 best beach cafes in the UK. Apparently, it has been an oyster farm for many years and the café was added around 2005. We booked for lunch and had a fantastic fresh cooked seafood meal and have been back for more, plus recommended it to others who have had similarly good experiences. It is not posh outside or inside, looking like a beach shack outside and a café inside, but that adds to its charm and means you do not have to dress up to eat there! The staff are friendly, the presentation on the plate is delightful and the food superb. Last time we were there we met a couple who drive from Bath several times a year to eat there. The menu is changed on a daily basis and is dependent on what fish and shellfish has been caught/brought that day. You need to book well in advance during the holiday season, particularly at the weekends. There is outside wooden seating for sunny days. In terms of price expect around £40 per head for two courses including drinks.

Absolutely amazing food the best seafood i have ever had !!! Any one who likes seafood should go its worth the travel