Ale Mary's

Ale Mary's is a family-run neighborhood tavern located on the outer reaches of Fells Point, known for huge portions of food (especially their tots!), an excellent selection of beers, and maybe even a bit of controversy. While they've been around since 2004, it was in early 2012 that Catholic groups were up in arms at what they perceived to be blasphemy. From the name (which actually stems from the owner's wife's name), and the religious relics inside the bar (often brought in by patrons themselves), and maybe the draft list on a hymn board, one could possibly take offense. But luckily we're not the easily offended type, but the prospect of a heavenly crab cake is what we live for. So say a prayer and join us as we check out Ale Mary's!

Ale Mary's offers both the Crabby Num (aka crab cake sandwich), and as a double entree. The sandwich is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a side of chips. The entree is served with fresh vegetables, and your choice of rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or tater tots. Either way, you are getting Mary's own homemade jumbo lump crab cake, it's just a matter of deciding how much you want.

The crab cake is composed of lots of large lumps of crab along with some broken pieces, all bound together with your typical mixture of mayonnaise, breading, and spices. The binder is just a tad bit saucy, keeping everything moist and tender. It's almost the consistency of crab dip, but thinner and without the cheese. The breading thickens things up while the mayonnaise keeps it smooth. A perfect balance. Some parsley is mixed in for color, along with a blend of seafood spices.

The crab meat used has a nice, sweet flavor and is consistent throughout. The binder sauce, as we've mentioned before, is perfect. Not too thick, not too bready, not too runny or eggy. The breading really doesn't have much flavor, but does add texture. Spicing is also at the perfect level, accentuating the crab without overpowering. The bun used on the sandwich is light and airy, but strong enough to contain the crab cake while you're eating it, and neutral in flavor. The lettuce and tomato brighten things up with a nice freshness that rounds everything out. Overall, an excellent crab cake that we would dare say is heavenly!

Additional Info

Restaurant Name: Ale Mary's
Address: 1939 Fleet St Baltimore, MD 21231
Neighborhood: Fells Point
Restaurant Type: Local
Website: http://www.alemarys.com/
Review Date: 10/05/2013 7:27pm
Atmosphere: Busy with a wait
Item(s) Ordered: The Crabby Nun
Cooking Style: Broiled
Other Styles Available: Yes
Available by mail order?: No
Price: 12.95
Order Type: Sandwich
Crab Content: Jumbo Lump
Filler: Average
Spice: Average
Overall Impression: Outstanding
Rating (out of 5 crabs):

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