Weekly reviews of crab cakes around the MD and DC area

Garry's Grill

Taking fresh, available ingredients and making them into an unexpected, unique dish. Sounds fancy, huh? What if we told you that it's from what has been described as an 'upscale diner' that also has a full bar and offers baked goods and desserts? Enter Garry's Grill. Since 1991, Garry's Grill has been delighting locals with their seasonal menu, as well as taking their cuisine on the road with their catering business. Garry may have retired and headed south, but the restaurant lives on. Were their crab cakes as worthy as their other menu offerings? Read on to find out!

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Captain James Landing

So, you're driving up Boston St in downtown Baltimore, or maybe you're just riding along on the Water Taxi, when suddenly, there on the corner, is a building shaped like a boat. Yeah, you know the one. Since 1978, the Captain James Landing has been serving crabs and quality seafood to residents and visitors alike. Steamed crabs always hit the spot, but if it's nice out, then you can just cross the street and enjoy them on the Crab Deck. But we're setting sail for crab cakes. Should we set sail, or abandon ship for them? Let's find out!

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Sunny Day Cafe

The Sunny Day Cafe is a family-owned restaurant located in the heart of downtown Bel Air on Main St. Priding themselves on excellent service and fresh ingredients, the line out the door on any given day should speak for itself. They're only open for breakfast and lunch, though. So if you turn up after 3pm, you'll be mighty disappointed. We were lucky enough to grab a table outside on one of these last summer afternoons to sit down and try their specialty -- crab cakes! Read on to see what we thought!

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Don's Crabs

We could make a stupid dad joke here about Don and his crabs. But we're not. Instead, we're going to talk to you about Don and his crabs. Since 1973, Don's Crabs has been serving fresh, local seafood year round. With locations in Parkville and Bel Air, they're close by! Just plan on eating them elsewhere, because both locations are carry out. Read on and see what we thought about Don's crab cakes!

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Gypsy Queen Cafe

The best thing about food trucks is that, besides the potential for inventive, high quality food, but the fact that they come to you! Well, maybe not to your front door, but at least close enough that you could more than likely walk to them. Enter the Gypsy Queen Cafe, voted Baltimore's best food truck for the past 6 years. While the name implies they are a brick and mortar restaurant, they are, in fact, a food truck. There used to be a restaurant, actually, if you remember Helen's Garden. But that was then and this is now. And when funky street food involves crab cakes, you know we're there! Read on to see what we thought!

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Lancaster Brewing Company

What's the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Lancaster? That's right, you think about the Amish, who do influence a lot in the area. Which brings us to beer. What the Amish Country is known for goes into every Lancaster Brewing Company beer. Which is, according to their website: fresh country air, clean water, and rich, non-irrigated farmland. What results is incredibly fresh, quality beer made according to German purity laws. Lancaster is a bit out of the way to go for crab cakes, yet there they are on the menu. Do the same attention to quality go into their crab cakes that they put into their beers? Let's find out!

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Towson Tavern

Usually when you think of a tavern, you think casual. But when you walk into the Towson Tavern, you step into an environment where casual meets upscale. Located where the Reicher Theater and Rec Room used to be, the Towson Tavern creates a sophisticated, but casual, environment serving regional American cuisine. And what's more regional than crab cakes, right? Follow along and see how the Towson Tavern represents Maryland!

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510 Johnny's

510 Johnny's is one of Bel Air's newest dining and nightlife locations, taking over where Bellissimo used to be next to Target. While the space is mostly the same layout, it definitely got a makeover and no longer sports the inside of a ships hull, but rather a grungy, but classy, restaurant where good food and music meet. So with new owners, a new look, and a new menu, there's only one question on our mind: how are the crab cakes? Read on and find out!

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Bayard House

The Bayard House in Chesapeake City, MD has a long standing history. Considered to be the oldest building in town, the original building, which was a manor, was built in the 1780's. It wasn't until 1829 that the location was first used as a public building, being converted to a tavern and an inn (then called Chick's Tavern). Since then, the building has changed owners, at one point in time being sold to a descendent of the original owner. Not until the early 80's did Allaire du Pont purchase the property and restore it, along with much of the village, and can still be seen today. But we didn't turn out for a history lesson. We came for crab cakes! Read on and let us let you know how they were!

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Ocean City Brewing Company

This week, the CCR continues their vacation coverage of Ocean City, MD. A town certainly known for crabs, and where there are crabs, you will find crab cakes. But you'll also find beer. And what better way to enjoy a beer than to go right to the source. That's just what we did when we went to visit the Ocean City Brewing Company. Relatively new to the area, they opened in May 2014 and have enjoyed success since then. The easy formulas are always winners: good beer, good food, good people. Were the crab cakes the perfect accompaniment to their craft beers? Let's find out!

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