Margie & Ray's Crabhouse and Restaurant

I came across this place going into Sandbridge and my friend and I decided to give it a try on our way out. They looked busy so we took that as a good sign. Then I looked up the reviews and saw how great they were. The place was just as busy as we left the beach for the day and I thought we'd have a wait, but we didn't. We were seated immediately and the service was exceptionally fast. The food portions were generous and everything was delicious. It was Definitely a great place to stop after a day at the beach and I'm sure we'll be back! Our server was Mel and she was friendly and efficient even as busy as they were.

It was crowded, but they moved fast in this restaurant. Oh, server Billy, she was very attentive, friendly and down to earth. We had some blue crabs, they were the biggest crabs. I've seen in a long time. Oh my goodness. The food was really good.I really enjoyed the atmosphere. This was our first time

Amazing seafood spot! The she-crab soup was rich and flavorful, and the fish dishes were absolutely fantastic. As a European visitor, I really appreciated the authentic taste and generous portions – a must-try for anyone who loves quality seafood!

We split the hurricane Margie's platter. The clam strips, oysters, shrimp, fries, and hush puppies were good. The scallops were a bit tough and the flounder was REALLY fishy! These days we prefer to eat broiled seafood which they didn't offer many choices. They offered good fried seafood with decent portions. The service was pleasant and quick.

Ok. If it wasn't for the hostess, bartender and server. I would not even given a 3 star. Because they deserve 5. The food was the issue here. 😒 appetizers were fine. Shrimp cocktail and fried seafood medley. Can't mess that up so much. However the entres were all over cooked. Even my hush puppies were so over fried I couldn't pierce them with my fork. My crab cakes were dry, overcooked and not even tartar sauce could save it. My wife had the stuffed flounder with crab meat and it was also dry 😒. The service was too fast. The entre was served before we could finish the appetizers. That's just not acceptable. I was especially disappointed because this place was recommended. I say skip this one, unless you're in a hurry to get some food. The orange crush was really good though.

Good stop for a meal after a day at the beach. Very casual dining. The Fish & Chips & Bang Bang Shrimp were really good & our server Mel was great.

Such an inviting atmosphere, kind attentive service and delicious food. We visited twice during our Sandbridge week stay. Highly recommend-will definitely return!

Hush puppies are killer! Applesauce is the bomb! Crab soup is amazing, as advertised! Scallops were delicious. Crab cakes are the bomb! The Hurricane Platter is great for two guys! Come here!😏

Loved this place, starting with the rum cocktails served in old school plastic cups. Our server was great and let us try the Hatteras clam chowder, which was broth based and full of clams and bacon. Delicious. The she-crab chowder was thick and heavy and no match for the Hatteras. But our server also suggested the steamed seafood platter and we split it. I'm glad we did. It was filled with steamed shrimp doused in butter and old bay, Alaskan crab legs, local Oysters and clams. The restaurant does get pretty crowded in the summer, and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, but they keep things moving, and there is a big seating area in the back room as well. I'm glad we sat in the front - and the outside seat seating is cool too. A great experience. Try the signature rum drink!

Visited Margie and Ray's while vacationing in Sandbridge based on the Yelp reviews. Our party of 5 got there around 6:45 and were given a wait time of 60 minutes. It was a beautiful night so we were happy to sit on the front deck with drinks from the bar while we waited. The waitlist was online so we probably could have left the premises if we wanted to. The list went fast and we were seated within 40 minutes. The tables have your traditional crab house look with white paper as tablecloths and a roll of paper towels on the table. (That's how you know it's going to be good!) Our server was Mel and she was quick to get us drinks and take our order. We ordered mainly steamed seafood and it came out quickly and hot. Everything was cooked perfectly. I'm picky about my crab legs and they were easy to crack and deshell. We were full but took a slice of coconut cream and bananas cream pies to go. We enjoyed them later that night and they were as delicious as advertised!

We're staying in Sandbridge for family vacation. On our last day, we just wanted takeout so we could enjoy the pool for the longest possible time. Everywhere we called was not taking to go orders so we finally threw clothes on and went to Margie & Rays. We had taken them off our list earlier in the week because we weren't sure of them based on the online menu. We got lucky-everything was great and everyone enjoyed it! Our servers were quick and pleasant with our group of 16. The food came out quickly for being busy and we enjoyed a nice last night out! It's a casual place with folding tables and paper covering them-to clean up easily from the seafood but the food is next level! We also got to meet Thomas-Ray's son who now owns and runs the place.

Service was barely OK. I had to get takeout because they don't allow dogs even on the outside eating area. They acted like they couldn't care less if I were there or not and my order got interrupted about three times before somebody else finally came and finished taking it. The food was just OK, but it's supposed to be a crabhouse and they didn't have any crab today. I would never go back.

Service was amazing! Everyone enjoyed their meals! The fresh catch of the day: mahi was fantastic! But the deserts- Apple dumplings and coconut cream pie were very good!

Down in Virginia Beach on vacation and passed this restaurant driving to the Airbnb. This place is a hidden gem. The portions were large and the dishes were cooked to perfection. I was disappointed that they did not have Maryland Crabs but I made die with snow crab. My wife had the Fried Shrimp she could not stop raving about the freshness and it they were fried perfectly with a golden brown and crispy.

The "she" crab soup came as advertised. The crabcakes were very good as were the stuffed shrimp. The key lime pie was excellent. The only thing average was the banana cream. Mandi our server was very friendly and prompt.

We've been fans of Margie and Ray's for five years and we have never been disappointed with a meal. Unfortunately, it looks like they had a really bad day this past weekend, at least in our case, For lunch, the fried flounder came out completely tasteless, flat, dry and half the usual potion. I don't know what happened, but this was a major disappointment and it will be a while before we return.

Food is always on point! Service is amazing! Joy was our server last Friday and she was very attentive to our every need/wants! The atmosphere was and always is very comfortable, clean and family oriented! Definitely the seafood restaurant of choice!

Excellent food, excellent service & a great amount of space indoor and outdoor for seating. Restaurant was clean and service was top tier from start to finish. Our waitress Grace was awesome! That She Crab Soup was so thick and full of flavor! You could taste the homemade in it. The blue crabs were so good and sweet and paired great with the butter and vinegar dip. Hush puppies? Also delish. Hot, crispy and soft. Next time we visit VB, we will be returning!

Came here a year ago when we moved to the area and loved it. Kept saying how we have to get back to Margie and Ray's and when we finally did, we walked out five minutes later saying we will never be back. Don't you dare sit in the bar area if you're not a regular or a local.

This was our first time to visit Sandbridge beach and this restaurant. Every time we have driven by this restaurant, it appeared busy. At lunch time, midweek, we were welcomed and seated almost immediately. The hush puppies were served with every dish, along with one other side. One of us had catfish and the other had shrimp. Both were excellent. This was a great meal at a reasonable price. We plan on returning.

Our absolute favorite place to eat when in Sandbridge. They have service, quality and speed all figured out and the food is delicious. On a busy weekend, you can count on Margie and Ray's to be able to handle the crowd and turn the tables. The food is always delicious quick and my kids look forward to a stop each and every summer we can't wait to visit again next year.

Food was delicious and the service fast and very attentive. It is loud in there a lot of folks talking at once and you kinda have to talk louder than some. But the food was definitely worth it the noise.

There are some spots you find and don't want to go somewhere else after. This place is one of those. It may not be the fanciest spots. But it's good east coast seafood. I love the shecrab soup. I always have a cup of it. This is the first spot I really fell for it. This time I also tried the clam chowder which was good. The crabcake was meh this go around. I am glad I had the grilled shrimp and scallops. I believe in the future Id skip the crab cakes. The service was decent. The spot can be a tad loud. However it is good with large groups.

Haven't been here in a while so we decided to stop in on this nice day. Sat outside. Service was great, and our food was excellent. My husband got the tuna steaks and enjoyed them. I got the steamed sampler but asked for no oysters so they gave me more shrimp instead. Fresh food, you won't be disappointed.

This is the third time I've been to this place but the first time that I've had breakfast. The selection was great and prices were very fair. I had the biscuits and gravy and my wife had the pancakes. Both were delicious. Also great service and always a friendly atmosphere.

I cannot see how anyone would think this is nothing but a sad local dive. The food was a joke, over priced, bland and small portions. Eggs were cooked in a Teflon pan with no seasoning using non-stick spray like PAM. They also had to be the smallest eggs I have ever seen. I can understand cutting back on hard times, but using small eggs and charging full price? If you advertise that your dish comes with sausage gravy, cheap plain white unseasoned gravy is not the same. My wife ordered a hot chocolate. All they did is dump a package of Swiss Miss or similar instant hot chocolate into hot water and bring it to the table. We had to stir it. I guess that would have been an extra charge. Any simple diner would be leaps and bounds above this place.

Absolutely delicious breakfast of softshell crab Benedict service was phenomenal with Abigail. Wonderful iced tea and great atmosphere!

Love Margie and rays! The vibe and atmosphere is so relaxing and cool. The food is amazing too. My husband and I stumbled across this place one day when we were riding our Harley. So glad we decided to stop and grab some lunch! Seafood is on point and the apple dumplings are a must have!! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Food was average seafood, nothing amazing. Service was good, waitress was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was ok. We were seated near bar and it was very loud and hard to carry on conversation. Try Blue Pete's restaurant. Better for the money!

Came here for breakfast or brunch this Morning. We had a party of 11. I didn't really care for my Bloody Mary. Not enough tomato juice. The food all looked good. I ordered the lump crab Benedict. Not a whole lot of crab. Egg was cooked too much for my liking. I would have liked the egg yolk runny. What stole the show was the grilled cheese on tomato. I had asked for raw tomatoes but the waitress asked if I wanted grilled cheese on it. I didn't know what to expect but it was melted crusty cheese on top of raw tomatoes. I devoured them. The grilled cheese tomatoes weren't on the menu so I was pleasantly surprised.

This restaurant is cozy and if you like local places to go and they have good food make sure to put it on the list! It has been open for a loooong time!

Don't bother. I can't speak to the taste of the food but their service is to be desired. In fact they were so rude and disrespectful that we didn't stay. They lost a huge order.

Disappointment, understaffed, everything fried, outdated old tables and chairs. This place could be so much more.

Food and service were excellent I had the she crab soup, flounder & ended w a dessert of some crazy good banana cream pie. Service was friendly. It was a little unnerving to sit under a tv w the news on and have customers staring at the tv screen above your head but the food & service were great so don't let that stop you.

Daily lunch specials are delicious! Service id always fast and friendly. Highly recommend the Pies and cakes are amazing.

My son and I stopped there on recommendation one our way home from his A-school graduation. Very good food. The wait staff was pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere is open and a bit loud but not out of character for this type of restaurant. We had the steamed combo for two, a cup of crab soup, hush puppies and key-lime pie. All of it is recommended. If I'm ever back in Norfolk I'll be back.

My wife and I went to Margie and Ray's for dinner on 10SEP2024 in Sandbridge. We arrived a little after 5 to beat the dinner rush and we were seated inside. It was so loud that I requested an outside table and we were moved outside. Samantha, our waitress, was very sweet. I had the blackened crab cakes, which Sam recommended as the best style and she was right, with slaw and baked potato. My dinner was very good. My wife had grilled shrimp, green beans, and baked potato. I know that it is a restaurant trend to leave the tails on shrimp, but it makes dinner more messy! Since we were outside, the flies were numerous. However, the worst part was that as the sun was going down, the shade on the deck was gone and it became very hot. We got dessert to go because it was too uncomfortable in the heat. When we left, there were only 3 of the 8 outside tables being used because of the sun, which was a missed revenue opportunity.

Margie & Rays has been a Sandbridge staple for as long as I can remember. Here are my thoughts : +Parking: They have a very spacious private parking lot. Unfortunately there are random giant pot holes that you have to dodge. Watch out. Rating: 2/5 +Service: Our waitress was great. She was attentive, pleasant and took her time to make great suggestions for us. Rating: 5/5 +Food: our party of 7 opted to get a cold platter and a fried platter. We thought the tidal wave platter might be a little too much food for our group. We also ordered she crab soup and burgers for the kids. The soup was thick and creamy. The kids liked their burgers. The seafood was just ok. Shrimp weren't deveined. The oysters had sand in them. Rating 3/5. Ambiance: dark and dingy. Rating 1/5 Overall my visit here was just ok.

Great spot for a post-beach feeding. Like most, we stopped by Margie & Ray's after soaking up some sun and water at Little Island. Overall, we had a pretty kick a** experience here. Our waitress (Cindy or Sydney) was amazing! Put it like this, we did not have to wait very long for anything that we wanted or needed. She even made a few recommendations regarding the food and cocktail menus. For my feeding, I went with a bowl of she crab chowder and the blackened catfish with fries and cole slaw. Both items were pretty on point. While the blackened catfish was not the best that I've ever had, it was pretty high in my personal rankings. On the outside, the restaurant looks kind of small; however, there is a huge dining area in the back of the restaurant. Due to the number of cars in the parking lot, I almost decided to pass on this place thinking that it would take forever and a day to be seated. Fortunately, the restaurant has a huge amount of seating that can accommodate many hungry folks, and we were seated within minutes of arriving. I definitely see myself returning to try some other things on the menu after another beach adventure at Sandbridge.

Don't skip the scallops and she crab soup! So good! I would get both again. We called in our order to go and they let me know they sometimes don't do that for dinner because it gets too crazy so good thing we were ordering for lunch. We also tried their fish tacos and bbq plate which I'd skip. Coleslaw was pretty great as a side. Their parking lot is all gravel which was a little Annoying but I'd still come back for the soup and scallops. Would want to try their other menu items next time we are back here.

We had heard good things so we stopped despite it having a parking lot that was perforated with chuckholes. The service was friendly and welcoming at this cozy diner. We were hungry and in a rush to get on the highway and head home so I did not complain when my breakfast of biscuits and gravy was served at room temperature not even lukewarm. The flavor and taste were good despite the biscuits being tough (overcooked?). It's the first time in my life I had to use a knife to saw off bites of the biscuit to eat with the gravy. My husband had scrambled eggs on biscuit. He agreed the biscuit was tough although he said his eggs were great. Not sure what was going on this morning. The dining experience had so much potential but did not encourage me to return.

It is not worth the hype. Basic baked potato, canned green beans and the shrimp was....ehhh, Okay!!

The prices are out of line with the quality of food and atmosphere. Not environmentally friendly with all of the disposable tableware and containers that they use. Food portions are good. Food quality is ok. Margie and Rays offers fried and baked seafood options.

We've been coming to Margie and Rays Crabhouse since we bought our two investment rental homes in Saandbridge over twenty years ago. We've never had a bad meal there...the food is always fresh and there's no better SheCrab soup anywhere without a doubt. Our server is always Kayla who pretty much knows what we want to order...our iced tea glass never gets empty. Ask for Kayla, you won't be disappointed. This past week we've enjoyed a wonderful lunch ther on three occasions...Thomas Blanton, the owner, is always happy to see us! Jim and Paulette Fulmer Sandbridge Beach, a premire vacaton destination

Delicious!! I like this place and food plus the service is great!! Lots of choices & friendly staff.

Service was excellent and the food was as good as the service. We will be back not just because it's convenient but the place is great. They accommodated our large party (15 people) quickly and easily.

The authentic place where Popeye would have had his lunch and dinner. Sorry about the picture, the She Crab was too dam good

Love this place,Good food Good prices! Order came out fast.Food wasn't over cooked.North Carolina BBQ was good.We will be back.

Margie & Ray's Crabhouse is located along Sandbridge Rd. It's not hard to miss the place when heading to or from Sandbridge. It had been quite a while since I had been here, but recently came in for breakfast and also a lunch special. My most recent visits here were in September 2021. Margie & Ray's Crabhouse has been around since 1964, but it actually started out as a tackle shop and general store, but would later become the seafood restaurant it is today in 1997. They do have a good amount of parking, but I do want to note that the lot is not paved, and you may need to dodge a few holes. They have seating available both inside and outside. As for Covid-19 restrictions, there aren't many. Staff are using masks, etc. Guests are allowed only if they do not exhibit any symptoms of the virus, which is the norm now for many establishments in the area. My first visit in a while here was on September 5, 2021. On this visit, we came in specifically for breakfast as we had been hearing good things about it. It was busy, but not overly busy at the time, so we were seated inside immediately. Our server came to the table very quickly. She asked us for our drink orders and then gave us time to look over the menu. A few minutes later she was back and we were ready to go. For breakfast, I went with the Margie & Ray's Blanton's Hungry Man Platter with eggs, bacon, French toast, biscuit and fries (subbed the fries instead of the hash browns). My mom went with the Benedict Andy. After about 10 minutes or so, our breakfast came to the table. The food looked really good and it was nice and hot too. The meal that I had was great. Everything was cooked perfectly the way I had asked. I was definitely full by the time I was done. My mom had a similar experience with her Benedict Andy as well. Fast forward to September 14, 2021. They have daily lunch specials during the week. On Tuesdays, that special includes shrimp, so we came in to check it out that day as well. Service and the overall experience were the same as the one for breakfast a little over a week before this. We were both ready up front since we knew what we were doing before coming in. After ordering, it was about 5 to 10 minutes when the food came out. Much like the breakfast visit, the food came out hot. Even though the size of the shrimp were small, you got quite a bit of shrimp, so it was definitely worth the lunch special cost. Overall, things are much better now than when I had been here several years ago. As time changes, things change too, and this change was for the better. The food and service are great. Be sure to check out the daily lunch specials too, which are available until 4 pm. If you are headed down to the Sandbridge area and looking for a seafood place, or even a breakfast, this place is worth checking out.

My husband and I went here on our first outing after having our baby a week prior. Food was great, we got the hush puppies and the seafood trio - they also have a full bar. Definitely would recommend!

This was the best all you can eat crab legs I nearest to Virginia Beach. I went all out and had about 6 plates of crab legs. They gave 4 clusters on the first place and then 2 clusters after per plate. I also tried all their side dishes: apple sauce, green beans, broccoli, red beats, hush puppies. Avoid them if you don't want fillers but it was nice to nibble to change your taste buds as you are grubbing and cracking the crabs. The quality of the crabs were great and not salty like most places. If you are thinking about going to the tourist trap Captain George's for seafood, just come here instead. The scallops were actually a decent size and filling, they are not the small ones. Steph's customer service was top notch which elevated the experience here. We sat in the back corner near the restrooms and enjoyed the secluded area away from the entrance bar. If I am ever in the area again, I will for sure stop by. I also can't wait for the blue crabs when they are back in season!!!! Bring your family and friends here, you wont regret it!

They are always busy which is a good thing. Once seated you order and in no time you have your food. It is freshly prepared and hot! Nothing can beat fresh seafood for sure. Can't wait to back

Finally trying this Sandbridge Seafood institution. My dad is in town for his birthday and I knew he would absolutely love it after browsing the menu. I've driven past a million times and they're typically pretty busy but we were easily and quickly sat immediately with a smaller party of three right inside past the host station and had a very efficient and friendly waitress who easily took care of us for the entire meal. She arrived just enough to ask if we needed anything and our food was out lightning fast with piping hot hush puppies and fresh drinks. We didn't order any starters because we all ordered a pretty good amount of seafood and we also knew we'd be trying some of the pies for dessert. I chose the stuffed shrimp platter with two sides and hush puppies with a sweet tea. The sweet tea was very sweet and very good, traditional southern style. For my sides I chose the loaded baked potato with cheese and bacon and chives and the side salad. Both were upcharges. $29.99 standard and I think my two sides added $5 to the plate. My boyfriend chose the pick two seafood platter for $27.99 and got a crab cake (all crab meat almost no filler) and the scallops. My dad chose the same and got flounder and shrimp. Their sides were onion rings, fries, and Cole slaw. I enjoyed the scallops and flounder the most and loved the side salad which was a very good size with fresh cucumber and tomato and delicious ranch dressing. The Cole slaw was also amazing once we added some of the malt vinegar from the table. Big hit will order again. Everything was fresh and delicious and perfectly cooked. I was very pleased with everything we had and ate more hush puppies than intended... We finished with a slice of fresh key lime pie and the carrot cake. Both were good and the carrot cake was on par with my grandma's! So, that means it was GOOD. I will be adding this into my seafood rotation. It's only 5 minutes down the street and it had an authentic local feel to it that I loved, plus, the seafood was some of the best I've had in a long time. They have specials and lower cost items they feature daily and also serve Sunday brunch featuring, you guessed it, tons of seafood. I want to come back and try that coconut pie! And eat more hush puppies. Noms!

We had a good experience here over our summer vacation. We had a large party but they were able to accommodate us fairly quickly- much more than they said, which was a positive. The restaurant is tight but the staff is nice and was very patient with the kids in our party. The food was overall good- we got several of the seafood platters and everyone was mostly happy. The distance from our beach house was the major positive here, that we didn't have to drive too far inland. I wouldn't say that the food is amazing but it definitely wasn't bad either. I would try this again the next time we come to Sandbridge.

This place doesn't look the nicest but wow the service is so good and friendly!!! The food was really good. 5 adults and the giant platter we got to share was huge!! All prepared very well. The She-crap soup was so rich and full of crap. Wow!

A local staple serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What started out as a bait shop more than 60 years ago has grown into a locals paradise to mingle, eat, and enjiy some libations. Service is always great. The ambiance is nice also. The times they are a changin' but Margie & Ray's, while keeping up with the times seems to stay the same resturant to visit if looking to enjoy your meal away from home.

I'm hungry and what else is new? It's a nice day out before the crappy weather comes back again. Got to this hidden spot before the crowds came in, and it was still lunch time! Hooray for lunch specials! I like that they sell lunch until 4 pm. At $10-$12, you can get a lunch plate with sides. Not bad at all! And since I'm greedy, the she crab soup is delightful. I wanted a fried catfish sandwich but it came out grilled. I think the universe is trying to tell me something. Overall a good place to get something to eat.