Wholesale clubs are definitely an experience, especially when you get to the food isles. Free samples, nuclear-fallout-shelter-sized packages, super-sized carts, and just about anything you could ever want in bulk (along with a few things that you never knew you wanted in bulk). When it comes to the food, there is the age old question, "Will I like this enough to eat it for the next 5 months?" Or maybe "Will my party guests unfriend me on Facebook if I serve them this?" Especially around the Mid Atlantic region, serving crab cakes will make you the party host of the year. The only problem is that they need to be good. Are the crab cakes they sell at BJ's good enough for your party? Let's find out!

If you can believe it, McCormick & Schmick's have been around for over 40 years. It all started in Portland, OR, when the company's namesakes purchased an old crawfish restaurant, and revitalized a 100 year old landmark. Today, with more than 80 locations, they've become one of the premier names in seafood. Quality, hospitality, and freshness are just a few of the things they strive to provide every day. With a reputation like this, we knew that we were in for a treat. Were they worth the trip? Read on and find out!

So you may have asked yourself at one point, "Was there really a Bo Brooks?" Well, the answer is yes, kind of. Bo was a nickname, but he and two partners opened Bo Brooks in the East Baltimore neighborhood of Gardenville back in 1964. Bo no longer runs the restaurant, with the current owners having run the place since 1985. But they did move to Canton back in 2000, bringing their crab expertise down to the waterfront. With all of this history, we just had to put a rest to the question, "Does Bo know crabs?" Let's find out!

P.J. Clarke's has quite a bit of history to it, with the original location in NYC having been around since 1868, and the name as you know it today since 1912. P.J.'s has only ever had 5 owners, and they all kept the place the same. The location we visited in Washington, D.C. has only been around since 2010, but sports some pretty impressive details that would make you think the restaurant has been around a lot longer. Located just around the corner from the White House, you can rub elbows with some of DC's power lunch crowd while having lunch or a late night meal. Should you stop by for crab cakes, or just go straight for the drinks? Read on and find out!

What started out as a steakhouse in Chicago in 1978 has since turned into a global chain of high-end steakhouses. Morton's is synonymous with quality, consistency, and hospitality. Constantly receiving awards for both their food and their service, Morton's is definitely an experience, whether it be for a power lunch, a special occasion, or because your in the mood for a really good steak. And what goes better with steak than seafood? In our case, that seafood would be in the form of a crab cake! Do their cakes match their steaks? Let's find out!

You may be more familiar with Little Italy when it comes to Italian restaurants in Baltimore. But up in Bel Air, the Buentempo Brothers provide a slice of Little Italy in Harford County. Located in the heart of Main Street, Buentempo Brothers has been knocking out their famous pizzas since 1991. Fresh dough and great customer service are only part of what makes this place special. So with great Italian food, we were excited to see crab cakes on the menu. Are they as good as the pizza? Let's find out!

Pat's Pizzeria, or Pat's Family Restaurant as you may also know them, started out in Pennsville, NJ back in 1974. Since then, Pat's has grown to be a regional pizza chain in the MD/NJ/DE/PA area. They've always been known as Pat's Pizza, but in 2004 they felt that they had evolved enough that they upgraded their dining rooms and altered the name to be Pat's Family Restaurant. Their pizza speaks for itself, and when the pizza is good, the other menu items tend to follow suit. Did this pattern stay true for their crab cakes? Let's find out!

The Peppermill Restaurant, located right off the beltway on York Rd. in Lutherville-Timonium, has been a local institution since they opened back in 1982. While The Peppermill has been on tour radar for a while now, it took the suggestion of Friend of the CCR, Mike A., to convince us to go. He, along with most other online reviews, warned that the clientele is made up of a mostly older crowd, but the younger generation are starting to discover what they have to offer. Will their crab cakes wow and amaze diners of all ages? Let's find out!

The Front Page has witnessed a lot of events in DC since it opened up almost 25 years ago. Not so much at the restaurant, but more so in the neighborhood. Located in Dupont Circle, The Front Page was just named one of the best brunches in America by Open Table. Catering to everyone from the causal sports enthusiast to politicians and businessmen, they have something for everyone. For us, they had crab cakes. Will we find a decent crab cake in DC? Let's find out!

The Old South Smoke House is a local BBQ joint located north of downtown Port Deposit. If it wasn't for the neon beer signs, you might actually mistake it for someone's house. That house is actually a 200+ year old house that used to serve as part post office and part something else. The house was relocated to its current location, which comprises almost half of the restaurant. It's small, it's quaint, it smells like BBQ when you step inside, and they advertise crab cakes. Of course, that just means that we had to stop by! Follow along and see how our visit went!