Grinder's Seafood

Crab house · Indian Head

Grinder's Seafood

Crab house · Indian Head

2

4665 Indian Head Hwy, Indian Head, MD 20640

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Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
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Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null
Grinder's Seafood by null

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Steamed, fried, or all-you-can-eat crabs and seafood  

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4665 Indian Head Hwy, Indian Head, MD 20640 Get directions

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4665 Indian Head Hwy, Indian Head, MD 20640 Get directions

+1 301 743 7344

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Last updated

Oct 25, 2025

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@eater

15 Best Places to Pick Crabs Around D.C. | Eater DC

"Depending on availability, this longstanding seafood shack doles out crabs by the dozens, half bushel, and full bushel. Keep an eye out or announcements about all-you-can-eat deals. Reopening for the season on Thursday, April 20 at 11 a.m." - Tierney Plumb

https://dc.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-best-crabs-closer-to-home-dmv
View Postcard for Grinder's Seafood
@eater

14 Places to Pick Crabs Around D.C.

"Depending on availability, this longstanding seafood shack doles out crabs by the dozens, half bushel, and full bushel. Keep an eye out or announcements about all-you-can-eat deals. Reopening for the season on Thursday, April 20 at 11 a.m." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

https://dc.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-crabs-closer-to-home-dmv
View Postcard for Grinder's Seafood

Sam White

Google
I have to go back to see if my service will be the same. I felt forgotten. This was my 1st time here. Maybe that's how it is. IDK. I did feel like I was home in NC at a crab shack with the wooden booths and butcher paper all over the tables. The crabs were delicious. The sweet tea was too. Wish I'd found this place earlier in the season.

Earlene Howard

Google
Grinders light crabs are delicious. The seasoning was consistent my first 2 visit. 3rd visit, not so much. The Crabs were not light they were old and cold! I’m sure there is a recipe to follow, please follow it. If you don’t have the lights, just say so. Don’t force the sale by charging for something you didn’t order. Next time this happens I will be returning the crabs. Had to haggle over a soda I paid for but didn’t get. The child questioned me as if I was trying to get a free soda. If he didn’t believe me, just look at the receipt or get an adult. I think the 10yr old is the manager. Get it together please I will be back because when it’s good, they are really good. Perhaps Thursday, Friday and Saturday is the best day to visit. I won’t go there on Sunday again. Enjoy!

Priscilla Mitchell

Google
I love coming here. Crabs are delicious and the shrimp. Waiters are nice, friendly, and helpful. Can't wait to come back.

M B

Google
I love a locally owned and operated restaurant. They family catches, cooks, and services the restaurant. They are the food is always cooked fresh and hot. The food and people are always friendly and helpful. The restaurant is clean and well kept. They do get crowded and sell out sometimes. Definitely one of my favorite seafood spots to go by.

Dovey G Abstract N Flow

Google
My ladies' group visited on a Sunday afternoon. Way down 210 in Indian Head. So be ready for a drive and watch out for several speed traps along the way. Geat idea to use lighted warmers to keep the butter hot. The crabs were cooked to perfection and meaty. We ordered the All You Can Eat crabs, which came with fries and hush puppies. This is a family owned business, and everyone was super friendly. The wait staff were young ladies who were very attentive and kept the crabs coming. I can not speak on other items, but they do more than just crabs. One of my friends ordered the crab cakes, and she said they were good.

Ava Gebel

Google
Great, well-run family spot. Lots of folks enjoying good looking crabs at great prices, though we were just there to grab quick sandwiches and be on our way. We enjoyed the fried oysters, crab balls, popcorn shrimp, fried shrimp, softshell crab sandwiches, and hush puppies. Their sweet tea is also made in house and very good! All the staff were so friendly and the decor in the backroom was a nice touch. I recommend this place if you are looking for good seafood from even better people.

Rhea Suarez

Google
I discovered that there’s all you can eat crabs 9 minutes from my house, now I’m addicted to this place!!! I dine alone almost every week. 😩 The service is always good and they move so fast!! The crabs are so MEATY and tasty!!! So glad I found them. Worth every penny!!

Bill Wright

Google
Loved this place! Great food, friendly service, lots of seating, family-run feel to it. I didn't have the crabs, but many i saw were, and they seemed happy.
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Kaylyn D.

Yelp
The crabs are good... The whole crabs are good and fresh. The best I've had in a very long time in the DMV surrounding area. One of my family members ordered the fried whiting dinner - the whiting was also extremely fresh. The seafood does not rank of that horrible seafood smell like most places so that was pleasing. Do not come with expectations of anything else other than fresh whole crabs. The establishment itself is a shack with wobbly tables and cookout style chairs. It lacks cleanliness in ordering, eating and bathroom areas. Service is meh. Parking is tragic. But the crabs are good! I did not take pictures because I just couldn't get a good one.
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Brittany S.

Yelp
Yall keep asking me where I get my crabs and I won't gatekeep so the answer is Grinder's Seafood located in Bryan's Rd, Maryland in Charles County near the Naval base. This family owned restaurant has been running for years and they give lots of crab spots a run for their money They have All you can eat crabs (mixed sizes) for $40 when you dine in There is plenty of space for parties And they have competitive pricing for crabs Plus they have a regular seafood menu if you don't want crabs.. This is my favorite spot Walk in or call ahead to place your crab order
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Reginald G.

Yelp
My buddy asked me to take him down the road to get some crabs. I obliged, and we went there when they first opened. But the door was locked and they didn't have the key. So one of them came outside and took our order. I ordered a dozen females and a pound of large shrimp. It took about a half an hour to finish the order. Customer service was very good. When I got home the taste of the crabs were very good. And the shrimp were cooked perfectly. The females were a little small though. It's still a little early in the season, so I get it . But once the season gets started I may try them again. My order ended up costing $52. $32 for the dozen of females and $17 for the pound of shrimp. The picture of the half bushel was from another customer and she said they were $160, which I thought was a little pricy considering that they haven't gotten up to size yet!
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Donna A.

Yelp
The crabs and hush puppies were good. I did not like the fried shrimp. The service was great! It is a good place to enjoy eating crabs with family and friends. The restrooms were not clean. I will not visit again.
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Erica G.

Yelp
I've been to Grinder's many times and my go to favorite is the Jumbo Fried Shrimp! Talk about fried to perfection. I absolutely loved them. However, this particular day I wanted crabs. Myself and friend went for the all you can eat crabs that included fries and hushpuppies for $60. I think that's a pretty good deal! I would definitely check them out. The staff is super friendly and attentive and it's always a chill vibe.
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Jake S.

Yelp
Stopped in right on Mother's Day to try for our first time. We called and asked a few questions, and when we called back, the line was busy. So, know what you are getting while you are on the phone and actually place your order. Otherwise, you have to wait for your pick up when you place your order. We tried the rockfish combo/platter and the rockfish sandwich. Both were decent but slightly overcooked when fried. It needs a little seasoning, too. Both came with a small side of fries. We ordered the potato salad, which was mustardy and delicious! The mac and cheese, again, needs seasoning and depth in flavor. You just taste butter (even more than the cheese). Steamed shrimp with JO seasoning, but we were told they had old bay and would put it in the bag. Unfortunately, I don't think they have it even after telling us on our first phone convo. Maybe it was just busy and that's why we had subpar food. Jake n kev

Edwina W.

Yelp
Owner and entire family for years don't care for black people but yet 80% of her customers are BLACK! I constantly give them the benefit of doubt and you would think she would be willing to accommodate her customers that support her business frequently. After today's service i would never step foot in that place again. my family and I have been supporting for over 15 years. I ordered a dozen of Jumbo crabs for $100 dollars. Four crabs had no claws at all and when I spoke with the owner about it she had the audacity to get rude and state if the crabs doesn't come with claws it's nothing she can do about it. I suggested she swap my crabs out for 4 crabs with and she refused to do that. I have never had any issues with her or them but my mom did many years ago. It took everything in me not to throw the crabs in her ugly big fat ass face but I didn't because I had my grandson with me. I have never been to any crab restaurant that would give you 4 crabs with no legs or clawspictures uploaded.
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Candice L.

Yelp
I can tell that someone is reading the reviews , lol I went with my family and the service was really good, the young ladies in our section were very attentive. The food was good, definitely try the soft shell crab. They seem to be college students so give them grace , they were running back n forth and it wasn't that busy . I would def recommend this place and be back . My friend is a regular and even had some past experiences that weren't great but she also notice the service was better

Regina S.

Yelp
There is a young lady, appears to be biracial who has a very nasty attitude, which leaves me with no desire to ever go back to Grinders Seafood again. She should definitely not be out front, instead somewhere in the back without any interactions with customers. I have been to Grinders Seafood for the past two days. I am done. The crabs were cooked without any seasoning at all.
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Talika B.

Yelp
We had a good time cracking crabs and laughing and talking. The owner was super nice and friendly. The crabs were the bomb. They are only open on the weekends. Best all you can eat spot in the area. You have to get there early to get crabs because they sell out fast!!!
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Chantal B.

Yelp
Sunday 5/28 I stopped by at 11am to try and get female crabs but there were none. I purchased a dozen regular males and a half pound of Jumbo shrimp. What a joke! Don't come here early to beat the crowd or you'll end up with leftovers from the night before. And baby shrimp passed off as jumbo. Crabs were ok but not hot at all.

Michael M.

Yelp
The best steamed crabs in this area. The waitresses are all very friendly and always do their best to satisfy the customer. It's a crab house so don't expect a 5 star restaurant. I wish they had cushions on those hard wooden seats.
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Breanca D.

Yelp
Good food / service . Prices alittle high but for amount of food it's okay. Ambiance is good as well can sit inside or take it Togo

John F.

Yelp
I I am baffled by the negatives reviews. All of my experiences over the past 6 years has been 5 stars. I always stick with the seafood menu. My typical order is a dozen jumbo male crabs or large males and the fried seafood platter with the soft shell crab. My family members enjoy the All you eat Special and dining in at the restaurant. The waiters are high school/college students and the need a small amount of grace as they grow into their first summer job. However, they tried hard and have a good attitude. I dropped by today 08/05/2023 to get my usual order. The place was slammed! The parking lot was full and customers were parking on Rt. 210. The young lady who rang up my order, noticed that I had mobility problem. She volunteered to bring my order to car! A nice customer service touch
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Trina R.

Yelp
I had the seafood platter. The biggest excitement for me was the clams. It's hard to find fried clam strips, and Grinder's has them!!! The platter was good with the exception of the fish. The fish was off color but and too fishy for me.

Cathy B.

Yelp
Best seafood available in Indian Head. If you like crabs this spot is the place to be. Family owned establishment.
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Donta V.

Yelp
Whole menu is trash and nasty customer service is rude as ever I will never step foot into theirs at all
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Jenny N.

Yelp
This was a great local spot near the river (about 20 minutes out). I'm not local so we were impressed that we could find anything in this area. They were super nice to us even though we came with a large group and food came out for the entire group within 10-15 mins. Impressive. They were one of the few shops around here we found that had enough seating for us. They messed up an order and gave us free hushpuppies. Great service! Scallops were good and so were the crab cakes. Corn fritters were not as sweet as I thought they would be, but still good. Everything was fried very well. Tip: If you're getting the steamed options, just know that they already season it. My friend got it because she's allergic to fried foods, but forgot to check to see if there were other seasonings.
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shan j.

Yelp
My go to seafood spot in my area! Have been going here for years! The entire staff/team is amazing and sweet, but Shannon is my favorite person! Oh and the seafood is always fresh, crabs are always heavy! It's just a really great family run business!!

Hannah I.

Yelp
What's not to love about this restaurant! They're always packed to capacity for a reason. I love her business acumen because she understands demand; that's why they're not open everyday. I suggest patrons arrive early or make reservations because the food and customer service is so good, you won't find parking. Everything on the menu is tasty, even the sweet tea. The owner is super nice and the employees are true professionals.
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Jenique M.

Yelp
I love me some Grinders. The food is always great and the staff is always awesome. I always look forward to seeing them every crab season

Aprilluvnherfam G.

Yelp
Food was average nothing to get happy about Mac cheese made with cheese sauce. Ribs wh
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Francine C.

Yelp
Seafood is their specialty! I thoroughly enjoy the fish and crabs and the prices are reasonable.

Terry B.

Yelp
First time getting some crabs here and I will definitely definitely be coming back for some more. I thoroughly enjoyed the crab, heavy, meaty and delicious. I think I will try other menu items next time.

Teresa K.

Yelp
Service was very good. Food was not warm enough for my taste. Ambiance was excellent!

Alisha B.

Yelp
Wooooow, found a new spot on the humble. Walked into Grinder's on a Saturday evening around 6:00pm. I was greeted by everyone working there that was remotely close to the order window. I checked out the menu, the cashier ran down the pricing for crabs and I settled on a bushel of "lights". Thinking lights meant I'd get some decent crabs with a little bit of meat. I was gratefully mistaken. I got some huge crabs that were meaty, seasoned well, and steamed to perfection. I also ordered some fried oysters that were seasoned and bettered just right. Impressive customer service and delicious food!

Char V.

Yelp
Crabs were dry. Price is okay. I am really a crab eater so I was disappointed after looking at all the "good" reviews.
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Jasmine N.

Yelp
I live in Bryan's Road and it is a really a town where there is not much to do, see it shop. My neighbor recommended Grinder's 2 summers ago for crabs and it has been my go-to place for crabs. They are always honest about what your getting and the prices are always amazing! Any weekend I'm home, I have to get some crabs for myself lol and Grinder's is always there for me!
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Nic F.

Yelp
Fresh, heavy and meaty crabs! Sometimes it is hard to reach Grinder's by phone because of the high demand for their great service and food. Curbside service during the COVID pandemic worked well and staff promptly acknowledged customers upon arrival and speedy delivery of food to trunk or back seat of car as requested. Looking forward to 2021 crab season!

Denise H.

Yelp
Everything!! Crabs were great and the service superb!! Couldn't ask for anything more!
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Cheyenne A.

Yelp
We walked in and saw flies swarming around and a sign that said no sharing. I don't understand why you weren't allowed to share food with your family. A lady yelling for a coke isn't a nice greeting when you walk in as well. I get the flies but, there are ways to take care of flies.

Audrey V.

Yelp
Best crab soup! Love the crabs and the prices are always good! Can't wait to the spring when they reopen!
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Susan D.

Yelp
Stopped by for curbside pickup and enjoyed absolutely delicious crab cake sandwiches at home. The food runners were very polite and attentive. We will be back soon! We really appreciated the excellent curbside service.
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Chelley S.

Yelp
Hmmmmm, I stopped here because they have great reviews and the place is really close to where I work. I ordered the shrimp dinner that comes with two sides and a role ( I had mac n cheese and coleslaw). The mac n cheese was sort of edible. The coleslaw was too sweet for me and I don't know something else was off with it ( the color and the temperature) it wasn't cold enough. But it's my fault, coleslaw is a hit or miss kind of dish.... so is mac n cheese. On to the good parts... I can see why they have great reviews for the crabs because if they taste anything like these shrimp, they MUST be great! The shrimp were deep fried with the shell on the tail only. Cooked to perfection and seasoned to perfection. The young lady who prepared my shrimp was very polite and accommodating. She gave me a cup of ice (after my request to purchase one). I am not really a shelled crab eater (too much work for me) buuuut, I will probably recommend them to my friends who eat crabs. I may return just for the shrimp and cup of ice. Purchase price for dinner was just under $14.00. The sides were enough for two.
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Hope L.

Yelp
The staff was friendly. Crabs were awesome! I got a dozen large and they were really good!! Price point was average for the area (ranging from $30+ a dozen depending on the size). They had regular, medium and large size crabs. Seasoning was delicious (yummy mix of there own seasoning, not just old bay throw on it!) AYCE available for $38 per person which includes hush puppies and fries. Wide range of seafood to include oysters, snow crab legs, shrimp, scallops, etc. Check out the fried Alligator if that's your thing. I didn't try it but heard quite a few orders for it while I was waiting on my food. Enough booth and table seating for you to eat there comfortably if you choose too. I got carry out but definitely plan on going back soon to dine in. One of my new if not the go to spot for my crabs this season!! Speaking of season, they are so serious about there crabs that they are only open for crab season! That's always a good sign to me! ;-) I will be back soon!
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Wesley H.

Yelp
This is a hidden gem. They have great crabs, and great service. The service is so good you almost get tired of them asking are you ok or if you need anything, ha! All you can eat crabs for $34 is a steal, w/ unlimited hush puppies and fries. I will certainly return.

S.L. H.

Yelp
I discovered this place summer 2020. My favorites were the fried and steamed shrimp and I love the staff there as well. Their steamed and fried jump shrimp are great. The crabs were good but more than anything well priced. I called 3 other places before heading there. I also love the hush puppies.
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Ein O.

Yelp
Pretty good crabs and seasonal prices. Never a line or wait. Able to eat inside. Never had over cooked crabs here.
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Lita C.

Yelp
A friend told me about this place, so my boyfriend and I had to check it out. We LOVE crabs, and were pleasantly surprised by what we were served at Grinders. He added on the all-you-can-eat shrimp option, and the waitress reminded us of the "no sharing" policy while I was helping him remove the shells; not eating them. But, I understood, no problem. The small folding table that holds the tray of crabs was FILTHY! It has to be a chore to keep a restaurant and service items clean, but this was a little too much. I asked the waitress to just place the crabs on our table instead. The hush puppies were very good, but the fries were a waste. I looked around and no one who was eating crabs, were eating the fries. They may want to re-think serving this as an all-you-can-eat side item. Fresh corn-on-the-cob would be a winner in my book! Grinders is a no-frills, not-so-bad spot that is ideal for crab lovers who are looking for great crabs at a good price.
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Jen H.

Yelp
Stopped in here for lunch while traveling. They specialize in crab and judging by the tables around me, people love it. They bring a tray full of crabs to your table and give you a mallet. It looked like hard work but people obviously think it's worth it. I got the fish of the day which was tilapia. The dinner comes with two sides and I got the Mac and cheese with some mustard slaw which were good. Over all if you want some good crab this is the place.

Claire D.

Yelp
Waited a long time to get my Jumbo shrimp basket and the fries were cold. Asked for fresher, hotter fries - never got them. Ordered cole slaw, got potato salad - no explanation. Asked for anything else, had to ask again and again.

Lapayswa N.

Yelp
Ordered a half dozen large males and a half dozen fried oysters. The crabs were so heavy and big I only at 3!!!! Can't wait to order some more crabs!!! Now I can only do large.
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Amy C.

Yelp
Thank you to Grinder's for saving the day! We had ordered crabs this past Wednesday from another place only to arrive and be told they were out of what we ordered and they would just give us females. We called around and were able to get a half bushel of regular crabs from Grinders at 4 pm in the evening (Sunday 5/26) Memorial Day weekend. The crabs were meaty and the lady helping us was very friendly. We will definitely be keeping Grinder's in mind in the future.

Niya L.

Yelp
Love close and love crabs Good crabs. Fair price. And sizes are tru to size. Order is always ready when I arrive even during pandemic. I would recommend giving them a try!

Gwenni W.

Yelp
I went to Grinder's based on the reviews and because they are fairly close to where I live. I ordered the all-you-can-eat crabs since I love crabs. The crabs had a good taste and were cooked okay except one batch. However, my only gripe was that it appeared they picked the smallest crabs to give me for the feast. I frequently eat at crab houses for all you can eat and this is the first one that actually gave me small crabs. They probably gave me 3 nice size ones. I was disappointed when I left and I didn't leave full at all. I think this establishment is great if you buy the crabs by the dozen. I saw a few tables who ordered by the dozen and the sizes of the crabs were huge. I understand you don't get huge crabs during the feast but I have been to several crab houses where there is a great mix of sizes. I would definitely go back to buy the crabs by the dozen because they looked cooked well and the size was worth the price. I would skip the all you can eat crab feast.
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Holly T.

Yelp
Great local seafood spot near the river. Large crabs, crab cake, jumbo shrimp and fried oysters were delicious. Not fancy, but comfortable and football was on the tube. Oh, and they have beer. Highly recommend.
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La Shawnna S.

Yelp
During the season if you're looking for all you can eat crabs near Indian Head MD this is the place. They also have a lot of other options.

Ayla M.

Yelp
I was extremely disappointed in the way I was spoken to. I asked for my order that I had already paid for that was sitting behind the counter and the woman behind the counter immediately got nasty with me. She cussed me out for asking for my order. I know that sound crazy and hard to believe but I asked for my order, she said "we're busy" I calmly asked again to have my order that I already paid for and she raised her voice louder and shouted "we're busy!" I said ma'am I heard you but can I please have my order it's right there behind the counter and she shoved it towards and said "here it is, have a nice day'" in a sarcastic, nasty tone. I said to her "I have to tell you, I don't appreciate being spoken to that way. I'm a customer, I know how to run a restaurant, I owned one" she cut me off and said "I don't care, I've been working here 20 years. What do you want? do you want your money back or something?" I told her that I did not and she said "then get the fuck out of here." I was in complete and utter shock. I wish I had a video of it. Although the crabs were good, I would NEVER come here ever again even if they sold the only crabs in town.
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Vicky L.

Yelp
Ordered a combination lunch basket with rockfish and jumbo shrimp. Cost a whopping 10 dollars plus tax. The four tiny shrimp were far from jumbo (I fry jumbo shrimp all the time), and there was one tiny piece of rockfish in the box! They should have used a box one-fourth the size if they were looking to make even more money. Very sad. I will not be back!