Weekly reviews of crab cakes around the MD and DC area

The Mallet

The Mallet is a fairly large crab house and sports bar, located on the corner of Rt 1 and Mountain Rd in Fallston. Many other restaurants have been at this location, but the Mallet has been going strong since it took over the spot in 2011. There is something for everyone, ranging from enjoying a meal in their fancy dining room, to the inside Tiki Bar with 2 bars and live music, to cracking crabs and sippin' Bohs on the outside patio.  Whether you're brining the family or going out with your friends, The Mallet seems to offer something for everyone. And as any Maryland crab house, crab cakes are on the menu. How were they? Let's find out!

DuClaw Brewing Company

If you're a fan of beer, and an even bigger fan of real beer, then you probably already know about DuClaw. If you don't (or you're not from the area), DuClaw is a local chain of brew pubs, priding themselves in real beers since 1996. Most people know DuClaw for their beer, but they also have food! The menu ranges between brewpub classics to culinary delights. And one of those culinary delights happens to be their Caribbean Crab Cakes. Did a Jamaican band come out of nowhere and sing us a song about eating crabs and cheering for beer, or should we send the dish down to the Bermuda Triangle? Only one way to find out. Read on!

Silver Spring Mining Company

The first "Mine" in the Silver Spring Mining Company started back in 1995 when the Silver Spring Inn in Perry Hall was for sale. Focusing on their service, in addition to the quality of their food and family atmosphere, the success of two hockey camp buddies grew into two more locations, in Hunt Valley and Bel Air. And while you can't go underground and dig for gold, you can go table-side and and find gold on your plate. No, not in rock form, but in crab cake form! Did we strike it rich, or end up with fool's gold?  Only one way to find out!  Dig in and read on!

Ram's Head Tavern

The Rams Head Tavern in downtown Annapolis has a long history dating back to the early 1700's. You can feel that history as you make your way through the downstairs Tavern, past the Tea Room and out to the patio. And as you walk through the downstairs, check out the plaques bearing the names of the many members of the World Beer Club (of which, yours truly is a member). While known for their immense selection of beers, as well as being home of the Fordham Brewing Company (where they brewed the beer until the moved to a larger facility in 2003), you may not know that they also have some pretty decent food. Crab cakes are on the menu, so we're out to see if they pair well with the beer. Did they? Read on!

Lures

Lures is a local watering hole that prides itself on its extensive craft beer selection and regional cuisine, and has been around since 2008. They were even voted Best Hidden Gem by the Annapolis What's Up? Mag in 2011 (and we also reviewed their Chesapeake Chachos back in October 2011). Just glance around the place, and you'll wonder what they love more -- beer or fishing. The two naturally go hand-in-hand, so for now we'll call it even. But where there is beer and fish, there are crab cakes. And Lures provides. How were they? Let's find out!

Christopher's

Christopher's bills itself as serving contemporary American cuisine, where personal touches and quality cuisine are the cornerstones of their restaurant. When you first enter, you'll walk through the bar, and come out the other side in a cozy dining room. The atmosphere fits any mood, whether you're feeling social, entertaining friends/family, or bringing a date. But we're not here to bring a date.  We're here to sample their crab cakes.  How did they fare?  Continue on and see for yourself!

Jerry's Seafood

Jerry's Seafood has been seen on the CCR before, back in March when we reviewed their famous Crab Bomb.  But there were more tempting treats on the menu that drew us back.  In case you missed their first review, Jerry's Seafood has been serving seafood to the DC area for over 25 years.  Instead of serving everything that swims in the sea, they instead concentrate on providing quality instead of quantity.  While the Crab Bomb didn't exactly blow us away, we gave them another chance for redemption.  Was it worth a return visit?  There's only one way to find out.  Read on!

Crab Cake Cafe

The Crab Cake Cafe brings a new twist to a Maryland favorite.  Located across from Annapolis High School, this establishment combines the tradition of Maryland crab with different flavors found around the country.  Everything is made fresh on the premise from scratch, ensuring the best flavor and highest quality.  Their slogan says it all "Local flavors....twisted".  Crab cake flavor inspirations come from places such as Texas, Hawaii, and New Orleans.  But fret not, the Maryland classic is still available, which is where we decided to start.  Do they truly capture the flavor of the Chesapeake?  Let's read on and find out!

Bobby Chez's Famous Crabcakes

If you're a fan of QVC, then you've probably already know about Bobby Chez.  Back in 1997, Bobby (real name Robert Sliwowski) took his late father's crab cake recipe, and along with his mother, created the lightly breaded 4oz crab cake that made them famous.  Years later, they're the #1 selling crab cake on QVC, alongside a thriving mail order and wholesale business, and have multiple restaurant locations featuring a wide range of culinary delights.  A quick internet search proves that people love them.  So what did we think?  Read on and find out!

West Kitchen and Tavern

Annapolis has lots of small shops and restaurants that add to the quaintness of this harbor town.  And what a better way to enjoy the charm of Annapolis than by relaxing in a luxury hotel?  West Kitchen & Tavern is a "scratch" kitchen located in the Lowes hotel, offering a wide selection of delicacies celebrating the Chesapeake flavor that has made the area famous.  Using only fresh, local ingredients, they offer a wide variety of plates that you can share or keep all to yourself.  And what Chesapeake menu isn't complete without crab cakes?  Continue on to find out how they turned out!

Subscribe to this RSS feed