Mama's On The Half Shell set out to provide Baltimore with a "classic" seafood house that the city was desperately missing.  A seafood house with tastes and smells that Baltimoreans can remember growing up with.  While there are still some out there, you first have to find them, and then get to them.  And they'll most likely not be anywhere near the Inner Harbor.  Luckily, Canton is accessible by water taxi, so the adventuresome tourists can leave the sanctity of the Harbor and venture out to parts unknown.  And it must be worth the trip, as this place was packed on a Tuesday afternoon with tourists and locals alike.  But a raw bar and drink specials aren't enough.  A classic Baltimore flavor is the crab cake.  How did they do?  Let's find out!

A long time ago, there was a bar tucked away amongst the windy back roads around Loch Raven Reservoir called Sander's Corner. This building has a long history dating back to the 1950s, serving once as a blacksmith shop, post office, and several restaurants. Today, it remains a restaurant, whose full name is McFaul's Ironhorse Tavern at Sander's Corner. The kitchen focuses on local and seasonal dishes, putting together items that are both family friendly and have a local twist. Our favorite local item, of course, would be the crab cakes. Are they worthy of a trip out of the city? We went to check it out, so read along and see how it went down!

On the edge of Little Italy sits Mo's Seafood.  If you have ever driven from the Inner Harbor to Fells Point, you most likely have past by this icon under the name Mo's Fishermans Wharf.  This, however, is not that Mo's.  Believe it or not, there is another Mo's in Little Italy, owned by the same restaurant group, right around the corner (there are 5 in all, scattered around the area) under the name Mo's Crab and Pasta Factory.  Tucked away behind Della Notte, if you weren't directed there, you would have probably missed it.  But the question on all of your minds is:  How were the crab cakes?

The Mt. Washington Tavern has been around since 1979, priding themselves on serving a stiff drink with a heavy hand, and providing a comfortable neighborhood eatery.  Declared a historic landmark, the interior of the tavern is filled with artwork and decorations that honor their local heritage.  You could easily get lost in this place, as there is a connected maze of unique rooms throughout the tavern (after passing through the bar area with the carved wood, you wouldn't expect the back garden room).  Always having stuck to drinks during any visit, we decided it was time to give their food a shot.  How did their crab cakes hold up to expectation?  Let's find out!

Nick's Fish House is a fairly large establishment, located right on the water in South Baltimore. It's not the easiest place to find as the roads get a little wonky over by the Hanover St. bridge, but once you find it, you won't be disappointed. Open year-round, Nick's has indoor and outdoor seating, water views, cold beer, fresh crabs, and live entertainment. Slips are available if you arrive by boat, or you can just walk over if you arrive by cruise ship. You'd expect a place that knows crabs and seafood to have a stellar crab cake. Were we disappointed? Read on to find out!