Mud City Crab House

Food was good! Had a fried oyster sandwich. Turned away the she crab soup, only bc it was tomato based. Had the NE clam chowder, it was ok. Dessert was the pecan pie, not really good. Nice decor inside, cool old clam rakes and great old photos. Nice seafood market right up front. Service was ok.

Sometimes you stumble on a place and it's the best thing that could have happened. We were nearby and found this spot after a quick search. Wow. The food is beyond good, especially the seafood bisque, the calamari, the garlic butter clams, and their famous crab cakes. Our server was so helpful in selecting items that showcased the restaurant's variety, and the outdoor patio with a revamped trailer for a bar was cozy and perfect. One of my favorite dining experiences. Go here every chance you get.

Mud City Crab House is one of those rare places that makes you feel instantly at home the moment you pull in. The staff are genuinely friendly — not the rehearsed kind of friendly, but the kind that makes you feel like you’ve been coming there for years. The whole place radiates warmth, from the cozy dining room to the outdoor waiting area that feels like a laid-back beach food truck hangout. You can grab a drink, relax by the outdoor fireplace, and soak in the buzz of happy diners before your table’s ready. Inside, the seafood is fresh and perfectly prepared, the energy is upbeat but unpretentious, and the people make it feel like more than just dinner — it’s a local ritual done right.

Great seafood restaurant on the way to LBI. Unfortunately, we stopped by when blue claw crab was out of season. So we had the linguine with shrimp and scallops & shrimp skewers. Both were excellent as were the side that we picked. We had the jalapeño bombers for an app. Didn’t really tasted the crab it out is season too?). But they were excellent as well. Will return.

Fantastic inexpensive seafood place , not to be missed! Erica was our server and made great suggestions. Food was quick! Twin lobster tails are a home run. Can’t wait to go back! Almost forgot, stuffed jalapeño peppers are a must. Also stuffed shrimp hit a home run.

This restaurant exceeded all expectations! The food was absolutely outstanding, and the service was just as impressive. A special thank you to Marissa and Ryan, the bartenders who took care of us—they were attentive, personable, and truly enhanced our dining experience. Our food came out quickly, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. Reservations are highly recommended, as this restaurant is always full—and for good reason. If you do arrive without one, be prepared to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, yet they do offer a bar cart on the patio where you can enjoy a drink while waiting. We were fortunate to find two seats at the cozy four-stool bar, which made the experience feel even more special. One of the things that impressed me most was learning about the restaurant itself. The owners operate several successful establishments across Long Beach Island and maintain an exceptional retention rate with their staff—a testament to the culture they’ve built. They’ve also had the same executive chef for over twenty years, which speaks volumes about consistency and quality. Now, the food: Baked Garlic Clams – A must-try for garlic lovers. Perfectly balanced, flavorful, and made even better when enjoyed with the crusty bread to soak up the garlic butter. New England Clam Chowder – Creamy, hearty, and seasoned to perfection. Each bite was packed with flavor. Jalapeño Slammers – My husband ordered these, and even though I’m not typically a fan of spicy foods, he insisted I try one because they were that good. To my surprise, they weren’t spicy at all—in fact, even with my very sensitive palate, I found them to be incredibly flavorful. Juicy, well-balanced, and absolutely delicious, this appetizer is sure to please! Cioppino for Two – Generous beyond belief, with a plentiful variety of fresh seafood. I requested it in a white wine garlic butter sauce with lemon instead of the traditional red sauce, and it was phenomenal. The portion was so large that it easily became three more meals at home. This dish is perfect for anyone looking to experience multiple different types of seafood and not break the bank at the same time! During our week-long stay, we tried four different seafood restaurants, and this one stood out by far as our favorite. Between the flawless food, welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding staff, it has earned a permanent spot in our yearly LBI vacation tradition. If I could give this restaurant ten stars, I would. Bravo to the entire team—you’ve truly mastered both the kitchen and front-of-house experience. We cannot wait to return next year! 🦪🦞🍋🥂

Maureen was really helpful with our choices which made our first time visit in this cool restaurant a nice experience of flavors! We had the the steel garlic sauce clam as and appetizer ( superb!!) fried flounder, lobster tails (really good) and an amazing bread pudding!

Mud City Crab House 1185 E. Bay Ave. Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Caesar Salad Seafood Bisque Soup Dungeness Clusters Cioppino Located in Ocean County just minutes away from Manahawkin Bay is a local seafood restaurant. In addition to having indoor and outdoor seating, this business also has a fish market where you can purchase cooking ingredients and a variety of marine life. The caesar salad was an excellent starter with the right amount of dressing and croutons. The seafood bisque was hot, thick, and creamy with the perfect ratio of salt and seasonings. If you are looking for a variation from snow crab legs, scope out the dungeness clusters. This version of crab has a rich, buttery taste and a dense texture. Make sure you have your tools handy to get cracking! I never really considered combining linguini with seafood toppings. As soon as I tried the cioppino, I instantly realized I been missing out. This dish has an assortment of clams, mussels, and other seafood mixed with homemade spicy red sauce. The portion size is huge, so don’t be afraid to ask for a doggie bag. Overall, it was truly a fantastic experience eating fresh seafood straight from the ocean. The only drawback is that I live across the state; otherwise, I’d be dining here more often! #mudcitycrabhouse #seafoodrestaurant #manahawkinnj #seafoodbisque #dungenesscrab #dungenessclusters #cioppino #njfoodie #foodspots #foodreviews #foodstagram #localspot

Food is good, fresh and delicious! Service is good. Nice environment and nice people. Will be back again.

10/10!!! On the island for the week and was craving seafood, so dialed up the old Yelp on a cool rainy night and found this gem. Crab cake was loaded with meat and very little filler. It was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. Fried oysters were sweet as candy and the scallops were fantastic. Maureen our server was a love. She was very attentive, jovial and extremely professional. You can tell she loves her job!

M & I have been driving ~1.5-2 hrs from NYC to Manahawkin NJ just for their fresh & reasonably-priced, no-nonsense seafood for the last ~12 yrs...YES, MCCH is that good! To this date - as I know of - this is the most Northern place on E Coast closest to NYC (without having to drive all the way down to MD) that has MD-style Live Blue Claw Crabs, MD-style Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes & Crab soup all done the MD way! Not only is their seafood always good & locally-sourced but their outdoor atmosphere is also another reason to make MCCH a dining destination. Know before you go...MCCH prides themselves on using only the freshest & finest seafood. Therefore, their daily fish supply is constantly fluctuating. Always refer to their Daily Board to see their locally-sourced seafood options & what's available. And since it's a LBI community haunt, there's always a full house + longer waits...but definitely worth it, especially when you don't have kids! Simply put your name on either the indoors or outdoors waitlist. Head outdoors to grab some of our fave cocktails - eg. refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonades, Moscow Mules, Honey Palmers or Mai Tais - from their cool Airstream Trailer-converted bar & settle back in one of the Adirondack loungers around either 1 of 2 fire pits to chillax under their shaded front patio. Waits are anywhere from 30 min - 2 hrs, but M & I don't mind them since they go by quickly & we truly enjoy their cocktails, live music (during weekends whenever we've gone during the summer) & the occasional breezes from the bay / ocean. The relaxing & lively outdoor atmosphere not only makes it a cool place to kick back w/ drinks but it also is our preferred dining area (before ~8pm...when the bugs come out to bite!). Whether you sit inside or out...service is always friendly & attentive in both dining areas. However..before you order, you should know what you're getting...ask your server to show you the #1 (larger) vs #2 (smaller) Blue Claw Crabs to compare their sizes...which may vary depending on their daily haul. Order crabs by singles (we usually get 5-6 #1's). Then, have them steamed in 1 of 3 styles: Garlic, MD-style w/ Old Bay seasoning OR MY WAY: plainly steamed w/o Old Bay & dipped in (BYOB) Chiangkang Black Vinegar (a Chinese Shanghainese-style way of eating steamed crabs)! Along w/ the Blue Claws, I also order OUR OTHER FAVES... depending on our appetite: MUST-TRY MD-Style Crab & NE Clam Chowders chocked full of fresh crabmeat & clams, respectively, + the MD-style Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes (2) w/ little filler + fresh Jumbo lump crabmeat OR the Broiled Seafood Combo w/ 1 Jumbo Crab Cake, Filet of Flounder (or Grouper..really, any choice of their fish), Shrimp & Scallops OR the Blackened local Flounder or Grouper, which are fresh, tasty & not too oily. All fish can either be blackened, baked or char-broiled & topped w/ 1 of their homemade sauces. And all entrées come w/ 2 sides. So, we almost always order fresh corn on the cob (when in season July~early Sept), Coleslaw, Potato Salad and / or a House Salad w/ their homemade Ranch, Balsamic Vinegar or Oriental Sesame dressings. Depending on who's in the kitchen that day, the soups, potato salad & coleslaw can sometimes slightly differ but are usually very good. For eg., I love my Clam Chowder w/ less cheese & bacon but sometimes it has more & can taste smokier (because of cheese + bacon) & I love my Coleslaw + Potato Salad w/ less mayo but sometimes it has little more. In addition to all of the above, the "House Specialty" Cioppino is also a MUST-TRY. There is a generous amount of shrimp, clams, crab, mussels & fish in a spicy & unctuous red sauce served over linguini. M & I have our many FAVES here, but IMHO, if you're a seafood purist like I am & love no-nonsense fresh seafood, you can't go wrong w/ anything you order here & will love it as much as we do! Other fresh seafood items that we've tried on their menu: 1.5 lbs Steamed Ipswich Clams in a bucket (or local Top Neck Clams); Extra Large U-Peels (1/2 lb of Shrimp boiled in crab spices), Fried Oysters (w/ my home-brought Japanese Tonkatsu sauce), (1 jumbo leg) Alaskan King Crab (from a Cali supplier) which is pretty decent except meat was brinier vs sweeter; Dungeness Crab, local fried scallops, tuna & Mahi Mahi (seasonal), PEI mussels, Calamari, Oysters, snow crab, live Lobsters, Jumbo Caribbean Pink Shrimp & Atlantic Cod. As noted above, MCCH's supply of seafood is based on availability & what's freshest of the season. The resto is closed ~Nov-Jan & there are NO live Blue, Soft Shell & Dungeness Crabs off-season mos (eg. Oct, Nov, Mar & Apr). For a free ride on their Mud Shuttle (within a 5 mi radius), call (609) 713-0451 for pick-up to & from MCCH & sister resto Old Causeway next door (thru Labor Day). MCCH's sister restos are: -Parker's Garage -Bird & Betty's -Black Whale Bar & Grill -Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House -Ship Bottom Shellfish

This place is worth the hype. It can get to be a pretty long wait, but you can have a drink outside and enjoy the scenery will you hangout.

One of the best meals I've had down here! 10/10 recommend! We started with the watermelon feta crab special which came with creamy feta that was so good, we were basically licking the plate clean. We also had the baked clams which were perfectly delicious and we also couldn't get enough of that yummy sauce. We also split the crab cake a la carte which was so good. There were so many things on the menu that looked good so it was so hard to pick! I ended up with the mussels and linguine which came with so many mussels! My friends got the scallop special to share which was a perfect portion size for two. The waitress said that it was basically a half pound of scallop in the entree! My other friend got the linguine with claims which is always her favorite. All of the entrees came with a salad and they made their dressings in house. The balsamic dressing was so tasty and delicious! We came in with no reservation so had a drink outside by the fire pit while we waited. The pear martinis were very good and strong. Definitely pay this place a visit if you're in town!

Great outdoor area with fire pits and Airstream trailer that's a walk up bar. Drinks were really good- they had live music on July 4 evening. We watched others enjoying their dinner but we had eaten next door already. We would like to go back and try the food. Menu is heavy on the seafood but also had land options. Ambiance- very rustic casual inside and outside on the patio. The indoor dining was very crowded and loud.

There's no LBI without Mud city. If you're on the island you have to make a trip here. There no where more fresher then here for fish and seafood.

Mud City had a wait on a Friday evening but it was worth the wait! We grabbed drinks (very refreshing) and chilled on the patio area while we waited for our table. And when we were seated, service was awesome. We shared the crab artichoke dip appetizer- delicious! And I got a side salad to start - fresh, simple. And for my main I got the twin lobster tails. It was so hard to choose from all the options that sounded delicious. My friend got a crab cake that was amazing too. We also got a coconut custard cake slice to split for dessert - it was light, creamy, and delightful! Thanks Mud City!

Plan ahead -- this place is packed all summer! Your best bet is going in the off season or for an early (like 4pm) dinner. The food is delicious! We got to sit outside by the bar and enjoy the nice weather. For an appetizer we got the she crab soup, crab cake and the jalapeño slammers. I had the crab imperial for dinner and didn't know what to expect but it was good! Would definitely recommend!

Mud City Crab House 1185 E. Bay Ave. Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Caesar Salad Seafood Bisque Soup Dungeness Clusters Cioppino Located in Ocean County just minutes away from Manahawkin Bay is a local seafood restaurant. In addition to having indoor and outdoor seating, this business also has a fish market where you can purchase cooking ingredients and a variety of marine life. The caesar salad was an excellent starter with the right amount of dressing and croutons. The seafood bisque was hot, thick, and creamy with the perfect ratio of salt and seasonings. If you are looking for a variation from snow crab legs, scope out the dungeness clusters. This version of crab has a rich, buttery taste and a dense texture. Make sure you have your tools handy to get cracking! I never really considered combining linguini with seafood toppings. As soon as I tried the cioppino, I instantly realized I been missing out. This dish has an assortment of clams, mussels, and other seafood mixed with homemade spicy red sauce. The portion size is huge, so don't be afraid to ask for a doggie bag. Overall, it was truly a fantastic experience eating fresh seafood straight from the ocean. The only drawback is that I live across the state; otherwise, I'd be dining here more often! #mudcitycrabhouse #seafoodrestaurant #manahawkinnj #seafoodbisque #dungenesscrab #dungenessclusters #cioppino #njfoodie #foodspots #foodreviews #foodstagram #localspo

It's Been a Loooong time since I've been @ Mud City and that's when our oldest was little and shes just over 20 now! We used to come for the awesome garlic crabs you'd have on the brown craft paper with wooden mallets crack! It was BYO then. Generally, we go next door at The Old Causeway steak and oyster House, which is usually our Go-To. But, wanted to give this a go once again! They even have an gulfstream trailer outside serving food especially weekends, and some beer and wine available! We came for a quick lunch as we had to get the house and pool Closed up (sad!) for the season but it was so nice out we wanted to fuel up a bit first! I ordered a dozen and a half of fresh local oysters on the half shell (Piney Briny are my faaaaves for their size and clean liquor and flavor!). So good! And then the crab chowder which was tomato based and had a tiny kick with loads of veggies too. It was hard to choose between that and the regular New England clam chowder! Also ordered some Plump a la carte fried oysters! Delish!! Dad ordered fish and chips and it was plentiful along with fries and cole slaw which we took back leftovers of! We didn't order the lunch specials, but there were some nice choices. Nice, clean and fresh inside and Wendy was our server, who was terrific! Recommended.

We sat outside on a cool, cloudy day which we appreciated after the recent heatwave. We got the last parking spot at 3:30 on a Friday. We started with the appetizer special of bang bang calamari and stuffed jalapeños with crab and cheese. Both were delicious. For entrees, we picked the broiled seafood platter with jumbo lump crab cake, shrimp and scallops. All I can say is the plate was wiped clean! We also had the jumbo lump crab cake entree served with a side salad and baked potato. It was delicious. I wish I took pics of the food! Service was excellent and the atmosphere was outstanding. They have a vintage airstream trailer serving drinks outside and two nice fire pits were lit on this cool day. Can't wait to go back. Easy 5 stars!

Amazing! I sat at the bar by the front door and was not disappointed. I had a few Narragansett drafts and a bowl of Maryland style crab chowder - the best I've ever tasted, which kinda filled me up. I then ordered half dozen of the baked garlic clams which were baked with garlic herb butter & a dusting of bread crumbs. My taste buds are saying thanx! The staff couldn't have been more accommodating, answering all my questions. They sell fresh seafood for take away, and have a window into the parking lot. It was everything I'd imagined. So frickin good.

Had lunch the other day. Sat outside before the crowd. Was great. The food drink and service were wonderful. Love going there.

There is always a wait when we come here to eat but there is also always good food - have never been disappointed. Staff and servers are friendly and helpful. The feel is 90s seafood restaurant inside, and a chill west coast vibe firepit scene outdoors. A staple.

Awesome service! Good food, good vibes! Definitely recommend, and right on the water!

a fantastic seafood spot by the shore, this place has every fish on the planet you can think of! And every which way you can cook it. Started out with some great clams, almost oreganata style, perfect bread for dipping. I also had a no filler all meat crabcakes, which I truly appreciate it, I actually ended up putting it on top of my Caesar salad. For dinner I had salmon with wasabi sauce. My fiancé had the fried shrimp with french fries. Will definitely be back to try some cocktails! fantastic service as well. Our waiter was quick, efficient and kind.

There aren't a lot of legit sit-down eating options in this area, but I had a good feeling about this one in the day leading up to our visit. I saw several vehicles with bumper stickers for Mud City, and our taciturn Uber driver to the restaurant brightened up the minute we pulled into the parking lot, exclaiming, "This is my favorite place in the area." It's clearly very popular amongst tourists and locals, and I can understand why. I came here with my top-tier chums on the 4th of July for dinner around 4:30pm. (That was partially because we wanted to have plenty of time to get back to our Airbnb for fireworks, but also because we have the sleeping schedules of 90-year-olds. No shame.) Despite the slightly off hour, Mud City was hopping both inside and out, and we had a short wait of less than 10 minutes before we were seated. If memory serves, we were told the wait was roughly 20 or 25 minutes, but it was dramatically shorter than that - love a solid overestimate. While we waited, we grabbed drinks at the makeshift Airstream bar outside - super cool setup. There's also a decent-sized firepit right next to the Airstream that would have been a perfect place to hang out for a while if it wasn't occupied the entire time we were there. Solid viewpoint of the nearby marshlands as well (we were right by the causeway that goes onto LBI), which will always remind me of Dawson's Creek. I got the Honey Palmer, which was basically a boozy Arnold Palmer. Very much a Shore drink; you're not getting edgy mixology or anything like that, but it's a sweeter, refreshing beverage. Definitely hit the spot. We secured a table close to the entrance and right near an obligatory lobster tank. Morally, I didn't see a choice here - I went with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake entree, touted as the best in NJ. Delicious and I think safe to say the best crab cakes I've ever had. With my texture-based palate, I tend to shy away from the crab cakes that have crunchy shizzle in them like celery, so having ones like this that have tons of crab and a bit of breading is perfect for me. It came with both tartar and cocktail sauce (which I thought was a subtle flex as well - usually it's one or the other and my preferred cocktail sauce is on the backburner), but honestly didn't need either. The only downside was that it was so filling I barely went after my sides, corn and a baked potato, respectively. One of my chums got an a la carte crabcake as well. She wasn't quite as over the moon about it as I was. What was strange though about that situation was that her crabcake came on an extremely small plate - there was literally no room to move the food around on said plate, and it was awkward to cut up and consume. I would definitely serve that on a medium-sized plate, even if you don't really have any accompanying sides to fill it up - odd optic. The service was okay, but ultimately uneven. Our waitress was around more often at the beginning of the meal and was professional/efficient, but as the experience went on was harder and harder to track down. We weren't in a hurry - shore time is slow time - but some of the waits were very noticeable and caused delays in ordering, getting the check, etc. But again, if you're staring impatiently at your watch on vacation, you're not doing this right. One of the better places we ended up at, and would definitely go back to at the very least hang out at the edgy fire pit. And the crabcakes are worth it.

This is our go to seafood spot to order from! We usually get a variety of options such as the blue crabs, snow crabs, calamari, ferries, Caesar salad, & peel & eat shrimp! Everything is extremely fresh and tasty! The blue crabs are always cooked to perfect. The calamari is fresh and perfectly fried. This place might have the all time best Caesar salad, the dressing is so yummy! I wasn't able to give all 5 stars because i have not been to this restaurant to sit down & eat! Will revisit my review when i do!

We stopped here on our way to LBI and also leaving LBI. Not sure what to expect but it was fantastic! The best fish and chips I've ever had. The fried clams were amazing and so were the Dungeness crab legs. Even the desserts were great. We will definitely be back.

I stopped by here last night for dinner. Our family was looking for dinner whenever we consulted with Yelp and found Mud City Crabhouse. After looking through the menu on their website we decided to order by phone and were told that our meal would be ready in 15-20 minutes. My father in law and I arrived to the restaurant about 30 minutes later and it was good that I brought someone else. The parking lot here is fairly small and it was bursting to the seam with cars. Not only that but cars were parked along the road and down side roads as well. As you can imagine the place was packed and people were waiting which was impressive for a Monday at 5:30. In any case my father in law ran in and got the food and a short time later we were headed back to our place. For dinner on this evening my wife and I decided to split the cioppino for two and we ordered a chicken tender and fries for our twins and then both of my in laws had the broiled seafood combination. Both my wife and I thought that our cioppino was delicious. It came packed with mussels, clams, shrimp and crab. All of the seafood tasted great and the only problem that we had was trying to get into the crabs. The sauce that came with it was also tasty and then the linguini was cooked nicely as well. Our twins also loved the chicken tenders and fries, demolishing most of the meal between the two of them. The bottom line for me is that I would stop by here again in the future. My wife and I both thought that our cioppino for 2 was massive and tasty, so why not.

Mud City is absolutely worth the trip off the island. First of all, have you seen the adorable Oysteretta outside?!? They have a pickup window and dine in options. We went on a Saturday night and the wait was around 30 minutes which was totally fine because we got a drink and hung out outside by their gorgeous fire pits. It was a chilly night and the fire warmed us right up accompanied by sips of the tasty Honey Palmer I opted for. I definitely recommend that drink - refreshing and light. We started with the Maryland crab chowder - which I had never heard of. It was delicious, lots of crab and loaded with veggies. We also shared the fried shrimp to start, super fresh and tasty. For mains we got the stuffed flounder and the broiled seafood combo. Both absolutely fantastic. The star of the show here is their crab cakes. Buttery, soft, loaded with fresh crab. Just get them. My regret is not getting that as an entree. My flounder was great too - stuffed with a generous amount of crab imperial. No complaints here. Though we were full, we still got the apple crisp for dessert and wow, it was worth it. Swimming in a caramel sauce, hunks of apple married toasty oats all with a side of vanilla ice cream. Yummmm. Mud City is definitely on the top of my list with their crab cakes. Absolutely phenomenal!

Appetizers started the meal off great. The crab dip was delicious and the calamari was seasoned perfectly. It is definitely not a place for a great seafood dinner, it's way too noisy and judging by what you get a little pricey.

Always a great meal at Mud City! Definitely easier to get in during the off season, but always worth the wait. They recently started serving drinks and they were delicious! You can tell everything is so so fresh and homemade. You can never go wrong with the crab cake entree as it's FILLED with crab meat. They have fire pits out front which are great to wait at when it's busy since it's not that big inside.

i am one of the few who actually think mud City is not worth the hype. way over priced and every time we try it the seafood is overcooked.

When you have an issue, you should not be interrogated and be asked to give a description of what you ate, where you sat, describe the server, etc. I will review this restaurant at every place possible as the "interrogation" should not of happened to a customer.

Mud city - what can I say...you can't go wrong. Consistently good food. The servers are smiling and helpful. Love this place!

Crab cakes and fried clam strips are the best I've ever had. We were seated right away and the service was great. This is a great place off the island but it's no secret and does get really busy.

Disappointed in the selection. Prices were high and the service was minimal. It may have been because it was off season and the place was empty.

For a beach seafood restaurant this is ok, and the staff is always nice. When the waitress came by to check on us I told her that the special I ordered was not good. When we paid she asked again and I told her it was awful. The fried rice was smothered in oil and the taste was so strong an hour later I asked for gum to get rid of it Worst of all I sent the restaurant a message without asking for anything and they couldn't bother to respond

Mud City is an absolute must visit if you're craving fresh seafood in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. From the moment we walked in, the service was friendly & attentive without being overbearing. The food was incredible! Definitely would recommend the crab cakes and oysters on the half shell. Everything was packed with flavor. You can tell they take pride in serving the freshest catch. Even the sides were impressive! Portions were generous too and everything was reasonably priced, considering the high quality. It's beachy- casual, fun & delicious ... even for my picky kids! it's everything you want in a seafood spot. We'll definitely be coming back with our family again & again!

If you desire FRESH seafood it doesn't get much better than this. Entrees are straight up, no fancy seasoning or sauces , they are provided on the side. The fish is the star. Now for the best part... our server, Maureen, made it a point to come back to our table to thank us for the gratuity! Special! I'll say it is load and you may have to wait for a table.

Not impressed at all. Haven't been here in years, and decided to check it out. It's still the same overcooked crab (that is cold within a minute of receiving) with small portions for too much money. It's hard to want to go back when you can get better crab for cheaper at the store. Only good part of the experience was the service. The hostesses and servers were pleasant, as well as the bussing staff. Other than that save your money or go next door to their other restaurant.

The food was amazing! The jumbo lump crab cakes was supposedly voted the best in NJ and I have to say, it was one of the best I've ever had. My friend had the clams and linguine with garlic white sauce and she finished the entire plate, almost slurping up the sauce at the end. Our companion had the scallops special and that was absolute perfection. Everything was perfectly seasoned and the seafood was fresh. We got there at a little after 5pm, put our name on the list, was told it would be a 30-40 minute wait. It ended up being almost an hour. All the wait staff was hustling but it still felt very long for our order to be taken, and for our food to be ready. None of this diminished my enjoyment for the food, though. Just be prepared to wait (but as we are on vacation, we were not in a hurry).

Take out crab spots for steamed crabs aren't plentiful these days, so I was grateful to find a place to purchase steamed crabs in late August. The price went up 6 bucks a dozen in a few weeks though for #2 crabs . When we brought them home, one was so light / empty I suspect it may have been dead before it was cooked so at 17 bucks for 6 that was very disappointing! However the other 5 were perfectly cooked- service was great and we will return. We have been here before and the trailer outside bar is really cute . Cool atmosphere.

Wonderful, popular, seafood spot with excellent seafood. First visit here on an off season spring Saturday afternoon and the place was full. We were told it was a 40 minute wait for a table and just as we were about to leave we spotted a small bar off the entrance and were able to snag a couple of seats. Boy were we glad we didn't leave. Everything we tried was excellent. Started with a couple of martinis and a dozen Mullica Bay Oysters grown in one of their own farms. These oysters were so fresh and so delicious, we could have easily eaten another dozen. In front of us were premade Crab Cakes that looked filled with crab meat so naturally we had to try them. Well these Crab Cakes were amazing, baked perfectly and every bite loaded with fresh crab meat. Next we tried the Fried Clam Strips, tender, plump and fried to perfection. My wife and I then split a Blackened Tilefish Sandwich and fries. Well, we never tried tilefish before but you can be sure we will be having it again. It was delicious, firm flaky and tasted like crab or even a bit like lobster. Finally, since this is a crab house, I had to try a couple of Blue Claw Crabs. These were also excellent, meaty, flavorful and seasoned perfectly. Our waiter/bartender was great, friendly and attentive, always at our disposal, which was an added perk of sitting at the bar. We will definitely be back here although I hear it's super busy in the summer and nearly impossible to get in without a long wait.

Go here for the garlic sauce baked clams appetizer and snow crabs! Also had the garlic muscles and they were probably the best muscles I ever had. So fresh and not Sandy/gritty as I have come to expect over the years of ordering them. These were perfect! The wait is always long but you can grab a drink at the truck under the patio. It's worth the wait. Sat inside for the first time and it was a little tight but still a great dining experience. I had 1.5 lbs of snow crab and the price was $48 vs yesterday paying $50 for 1 lbs at a sister establishment! So that's a bargain! The fire pits were going outside and they put up a new cover/awning outside instead of just having umbrellas like they had 2 years ago. What's new is they are no longer a BYOB. But they have peach highnoons so I was good to go! Go here, it's worth the wait and the prices are fair for the freshness you get!

Awesome place to eat. Very friendly service that has a quick turnover. The food is awesome and I would highly recommend the stuffed jalapeños and the crab cakes. Very quaint inside and really relaxing outside.

Awesome food and atmosphere! Don't know how we have never tried Mud City but we were out at another seafood place and the table next to us recommended Mud City, stopped stopped in the next day for lunch and we were so glad we did! There was no wait on a Saturday afternoon which was nice. Had the halibut, fried clams, scallops and a few sides. Everything was delish but would have preferred a sear on the broiled scallops. Fried clams were the fav! We will be back.

Jenna is an excellent waitress. Friendly, attentive & offers great suggestions.. Great crab cake. Loved the Jalepeno smashers. Chilled wine glass is chefs kiss

Possibly the best thing ever ate was their jumbo king crab leg. Totally worth the market price. Service was great. Friendly and fast. Motif was that of a fisherman's wharf and set the mood. I would suggest against "the Original" crab cake if you're looking for something you're familiar with. It's not like any I've had before. Very juicy and almost pate.

A funky seafood place with very good service and quality seafood. Friendly staff who know the menu well. Drinks are good and filling. All of the food is extremely fresh. A tad disappointed with risotto under the sea scalllops, only because the olives overpowered the rest of the ingredients. But our waitress was great, she offered to let the kitchen know they may want to reconsider those on the risotto. The shrimp skewers are tasty and all the fish is really good. Come early, they fill up fast.

Just outside LBI near the bridge off Rt 72 is a great seafood bistro. The seafood is super fresh and the lunch specials are reasonably priced. The restaurant recently re-opened last week. I hear they always close during the winter months. The place was quite busy due to the gorgeous March day. If you enjoy seafood at its freshest, "get muddy"

Food: soft shell crab sandwich is flavorful Service: no nonsense, friendly, quick Ambiance: crowded, noisy, yet fit for LBI vibe

Had a great time at Mud City Crab House last night 7/14/2023. We arrived at about 5:30 and were told that it's going to be about 1 to 2 hours wait...they don't take reservations. We were seated at about 7:30 and I think it was a long wait. That's my only problem with the place. Our server was really nice and answered all our questions and took care of any requests. I had the garlic mussels appetizer and it was great! My partner had the seafood bisque and it was so good. For our entree's we had the cracked cod and salmon. Both are excellent. If not for the 2+ hours wait I would give it a 5 rating. Ambiance is fine for a shore crab house.

My husband and I were going to Mud City regularly. I would always order fried scallops until they weren't fully cooked anymore. I asked the waitress if they could be cooked fully as the were very mushy. She said no that's the fat inside of the scallops??? I have been eating scallops for yrs and never had this happen. Well, my husband and I did not go back for a year. When we did, it was the same thing. This time I insisted that they be fully cooked. They weren't so I took them home and cooked them. We have not been back there in 2 yrs. Scallops there are market price and expensive. I don't mind the expense as long as my meal is good. Never going there again. One star so my experience can go through.

We've been coming here and to the sister restaurants -- Shipbottom Shellfish and Black Whale -- for years. The main draw has always been the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Our tradition is to stop here en route to our rental on "check-in" Saturday. We get jumbo lump crab cake sandwiches as the "kick-off" to our annual week at the shore. This trip, we've been here twice (an overcast windy day is a good excuse to drive back off island for lunch and shopping), to Black Whale once (where we always get the jumbo lump crab cake dinner) and to Shipbottom (for take out) once.

The food was delicious. The service was great, we had some drinks from the outside airstream bar while we waited for our table. The restaurant was clean and charmingly decorated. A great night out.

It was a dark cloudy afternoon and gale winds were crossing the bay stirring up the tall weeds and sending the seagulls in search of shelter. A beacon of hope and possibility sat awaiting those seeking comfort. The wheels of cars splashing the salty bay waters across their undercarriages ... cars whose wise drivers pulled into this place of comfort called the Mud City Crab House! And, on this visit the storm winds were tossing debris in the air and the clouds were darker than the darkest gray but we had already decided we wanted one of the very best seafood dinners within a short drive of home and a seagull glide from the Atlantic Ocean. Mud City is a classic crab house that exudes a sense of welcome whether it is a stormy "off season" day or on a day when weeklong tourists cramming the Jersey Shore have discovered just across the bridge is this ideal location for a meal of the sea. The paper covered tables await and you'll be greeted with a smile! Gotta have the 'CHOWDA!' Get me a brew or two! Streamers or raw ... top notch all the way! Seriously, every visit has verified that the food is top quality fresh from the sea (When possible)! Fresh applies here! This time I went for the Cioppino, which is their house speciality for good reason. I had to bring some home with me. There was a delicious fish on the other plate ... we both were very happy! If you are a "tourist" and this is your one escape ever to the Jersey Shore or LBI .... then Mud City is a must! If you are local and within 30 miles this is a must for you too (We are right in that 30 mile range.)! And, frankly it was darker and stormier and the bay waters were crashing over the roadway as we left and headed home. But we had clear sailing with happy bellies and smiles on our faces!!