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    Ben's Crab

    3.9 (605 reviews)
    Open 1:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Ben's Crab Takeout or Delivery

    Ben's Crab Photos

    Business Info

    BEN'S CRAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ben's Crab

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    Seafood bowl
    Sherry S.

    I haven't been to Ben's Crab in a long time but this is my favorite place to get great seafood. For my appetizer I had the BBQ Honey Garlic Wings with the Cajun fries and for my drink I had the Lychee Martini. They were both very good. For my entree I had Combo F which consisted of lobster, crab legs, shrimp (head off) with potatoes and corn. I chose the Ben's Special Blend Sauce and the spice level was medium. The boil was delicious but it definitely lacked corn and potatoes. Also it was very oily. The service was excellent and the waiter was very attentive. The restaurant was pretty quiet because it was early on a Saturday afternoon. Ben's Crab will always be my go to place for delicious seafood.

    Soft shell crab n fries
    Ramir E.

    Love the food n drinks are strong. The customer service is great and the atmosphere is nice

    Snow Crab Legs
    Stephen- Phillip I.

    So let's start with ambiance. It feels like a seafood boil space so that's a good start but the boil is where it goes flat. It tastes like they boil the seafood in water. Then rely on the sauce on top so it's not a deep flavor. I ordered the crawfish which I had to sent back because not only was it bland it wasn't fresh. I got the snow crab legs which was fresher but again relied only on the sauce, but it was decent. I thought boils were really seasoned and the sauce was just the added kick. I might be wrong. The service was ok.

    DELICIOUS catfish and fries and garlic bread.
    Quandra T.

    A friend suggested we go here and we were NOT disappointed. First of all, the price is EXCELLENT, ESPECIALLY for their drinks. The menu is full of fruity-flavored stuff, just the way I like it, but they are STRONG. And the waiter/bartender even came over to check with us to MAKE SURE THEY WERE STRONG ENOUGH, and even brought over some lemonade chasers for the ladies. Service was amazing and attentive, and this place blends a quality, classy decor (we expected a Joe's Crab Shack feel, but it was notches above that) with a party vibe. Another table was celebrating a birthday and they were having a grand time. The music was club-worthy, but not so loud that we couldn't enjoy our conversation. The food came out QUICK and we tried to order a buffet variety. I got the catfish and fries and this place absolutely nails the crispy outside, juicy inside factor with this fish. Somehow the moist, white, well-seasoned fishy inside managed to stay light and fluffy. I also got a side of garlic bread, cause it was there, and they top it nicely with cheese. My cousin got the shrimp basket and crab cakes and both were equally delicious. I got the chocolate cake to go and while I didn't eat it until a day later, I was impressed by the rich frosting and moist decadent flavor. Don't hesitate to come here! :D

    Creamy pasta with lobster
    Chantel S.

    10/10 the food was so great! That creamy pasta was made with so much flavor! The lychee martini was made just right and my daughter enjoyed her seafood boil and finished her bag, I know it was filled with so much flavor.

    Fried Calamari
    Jackie S.

    Pleasantly surprised with this place. I usually don't like these kinds of restaurants but Ben's Crab was very good. I recommend ordering a bunch of dishes and sharing them. We had the fried calamari and liberty oysters to start. Both delicious. My favorite dish of the evening was the oysters. For the entrees we had the lobster mac, large shrimp creamy pasta, fried catfish, and a seafood boil with king crab and shrimp in a spicy garlic butter sauce. As sides we had the hush puppies and brussel sprouts which were both very good. I'd say the weakest dish was the catfish but it was by no means bad. The boil was delicious as was the pasta. The mac had a lot of lobster. Usually places skimp on lobster meat but they didn't. Service was decent. The staff is really friendly. They did forget one of our cocktails but brought it out very quickly when we asked again for it. Considering it's seafood, prices were decent as well.

    So yummy, everything was cooked to perfection. Snow crab legs pulled perfectly, the crawfish, fried cat fish, hush puppies, lobster roll all fantastic ! 10/10. The sauce they used for the boils was also fantastic. Will be back!! Great attentive service

    Kat E.

    I like coming here because it is my favorite to get crap legs. The staff is always nice and the quality of the food is good but this time while eating I happened to see a roach crawling on the wall. We immediately notified staff. They offered to give us an extra meal but after seeing the roach crawling on the wall, I didn't want anything more. I lost my appetite and wants to run out of there. It's a shame because I like this place. I don't think I will be coming back here anytime soon.

    Char Broiled oyster
    Anessa O.

    I actually enjoyed all the food except the charbroiled oysters here . Idk if it was happy hour or what but the bar was loud , extremely loud . The people were sitting right next to each-other but screaming at the top of theres lung's to communicate with one another, annoying. besides that everyone was friendly and the food wasn't bad AT ALL . They lost stars because the bathroom on the ground floor . If Im in the area I would return tho .

    Bernie A.

    This review is long overdue! I've been to Ben's Crab twice--once with my daughter and once with the bros--and both visits were a blast. The servers were super communicative and made my daughter's day by offering her all kinds of juices, which I appreciated. When I went with the bros, we all tried different seafood boils, and none of us had any complaints. I always go for the garlic butter--it's so good I want to drink the whole bag, despite knowing the health risks! Drinks were also on point. I definitely need to come back soon before the weather gets crazy. Highly recommend!

    Lobster Mac & Cheese
    Donesha T.

    Good music. A bit loud though. Tip: Check in with Yelp and receive free Cajun fries Lobster Mac is good. Doesn't look that great, but taste is amazing. The lobster is served on the side and not baked in. Has a good flavor. As an appetizer, it's enough for 2. But can be an entree for one. I tried the mussels and shrimp with Cajun blend sauce (mixture of all of the flavors) spicy. I think they put to much old bay as it was salty. Sauce: love that it wasn't overly oily. The sauce is thick. It has A LOT OF GARLIC. Tasty. Tip: tell them less old bay in mix Large portion

    Fried Lobster Tail..

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    3 years ago

    Never disappoint. Food and drinks always satisfying and the staff is pleasant and very helpful

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    Love the food, enjoy the music. Drinks are good also. Very friendly. No long wait. Parking is good.

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    Page 2 of 16

    Ask the Community - Ben's Crab

    Is outdoor dining open as yet?

    no but there is limited indoor dining!

    Is there happy hour?

    I think so I can't recall what day and time but u can call. This place is hands down one of the best place I have been to and their cocktails are excellent

    Do you still have oyster happy hour for 1 dollar?

    Yes, I found out there is happy hour Mon-Fri 3pm-7pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-5pm. $1 oysters or clams plus drink and food specials. The happy hour menu is in the pictures in Yelp.

    Do they have hookah?

    Ben's Crab in Oceanside don't allow hookah anymore.

    Can you walk in?

    Yes.

    View All 6 Questions

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    From start to finish, Haviland never disappoints. We were seated by Don the owner. Sat and chatted…read morefor a bit since we had been there a few times . It was our anniversary and we were delighted with 2 glasses of champagne . My advice , get the steak , it was out of this world ! I had a few glasses of Cabernet and my wife had the Moscow mule. Dessert was nothing short of amazing as well , I had the cheesecake and my wife had the apple cookie. The wait staff was always checking to see how we were doing and Don would come around to see how anniversary dinner came out . Great restaurant for any occasion but try to make reservation ahead of time as it's a very popular place to eat near water. Thanks for a great night Haviland !

    Small, cozy spot with a great vibe !…read more Definitely recommend making reservations because it fills up quickly. The owner and his wife are usually there working and they're both so warm and welcoming. They always take the time to stop by each table to say hello and make sure everyone's happy, which really adds a personal touch you don't find often anymore. The food is consistently amazing, one of my absolute favorites is the fried burrata with honey drizzle (trust me, it's a must-try!). The cheeseburger, pasta dishes, and chicken are all incredible -- everything I've had has been a solid 10/10. You can really tell they put care into every detail, from presentation to flavor. Whether you're coming for a date night, dinner with friends, or just a nice meal out, Haviland Kitchen & Bar never disappoints. It's one of those local gems you'll keep coming back to. Thank you for the outstanding service, each and every time.

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    Joey’s Bold Flavors - Prawns with corn risotto

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    We've been wanting to dine at Joey's Bold Flavors, in Oceanside, for quite some time, and finally…read moregot there. From the outside, it's a very unpretentious looking establishment, but in the inside the food says it all. We began our meal by ordering one of the evening unique specials: artichoke hearts stuffed with chopped lobster, bread crumbs & smothered in a sublime lobster sauce. The dish consisted of 3 pieces, unfortunately, two of them were quickly devoured, and the photo only shows one piece. This delicious, and unique dish, was the opening act for what truly began a great meal at Joey's Bold Flavors. For entrees I ordered a melt in your mouth Pork ossobuco accompanied with a creamy broccoli rabe risotto, and grilled asparagus. The ossobuco was so soft & tender it just fell off the bone. I need to comment further on the broccoli rabe risotto. I've had risotto many times, but nothing as tasty as this combination. My wife had a delicious order of Chicken Parm w/angel hair pasta. She loved the dish, and commented that it was very tasty. It should be noted, that both entrees were very large portions, and can provide leftovers to be enjoyed the next day. Of course, we can never end a great meal without dessert. We always look to have something that is not the norm. After asking our waiter (by the way, who outstanding throughout) for suggestions, he suggested the house made tartufo. The dish consisted of pistachio ice cream, coated with pieces of chocolate & pistachios, and tasted as good and decadent as it sounds. A few last items of note: * There is a $42 daily, before 6 PM, prix fixe; * They have a BYOB policy, with no extra charge, although they do have a nice wine list along with a number of interesting cocktails; * They offered a 10% cash discount; * Finally, Joey is in constant motion, visiting tables to make sure all his patrons are satisfied. He's a charming individual who clearly has worked very hard to develop this fabulous and unique restaurant experience, and he and his restaurant deserve all the accolades it receives.

    Joey's Bold Flavors deserves all the hype! From the moment you step inside, you're wrapped in that…read morecozy, mama & papa neighborhood vibe that makes you feel like you've been coming here forever! We've visited with our kids, friends, extended family from abroad, intimate dinners & larger celebrations -- you name it -- and every single time, Joey himself goes above & beyond to make every guest feel special! You can see how he genuinely loves what he does & takes great pride in seeing people fall in love with his inventive, creative dishes! Food & drinks: Some of our absolute favorites include the Watermelon Margarita, fresh crispy calamari, Joey's Signature Filet Mignon appetizer cooked to perfection, special truffle gnocchi, the incredibly juicy pork chop, fresh daily caught fish specials, linguine with clams & tender sausage-- and of course, the irresistible Nutella empanadas for dessert. Every dish is beautifully prepared & full of flavor! Beyond the incredible food, the service is second to none. Always exceptional. Every member of the team is warm, attentive & welcoming, and they treat us like family every time we walk in : ) We're already counting down the days until our next dinner reservation & happy hour escape at this absolute gem! This has become our favorite spot, we can't recommend it highly enough!

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    Ben's Crab - seafood - Updated August 2026

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