This is the sort of place you really want to visit mid-day in the summer. As in, weekdays when the midshipmen are around, or there is a Navy football game, are bonkers. We visited earlier today and it was really pleasant. Only three active tables, great service, and awesome food. I haven't been here in many years, and it feels like the crab cakes are smaller, with lower-end crab. That said, the crab cakes were great, loved the fries, and enjoyed the fried oysters. Plus it was nice sitting by the windows and watching the world go by. And the atmosphere was down to earth, which we liked. One thing of note: the restaurant is not handicapped accessible. My spouse is a double transplant patient and the steps were a challenge--as two-story staircases go, this one is a doozy. But totally worth it. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Key lime pie! Yum! - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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My cousin and I have been wanting to try this place for a while, since we frequent the area. We decided to meet here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant sits at the end of busy Main St., closest to the pier. The actual restaurant is located upstairs, so keep that in mind. Chris was our server, and he was great! He recommended the pineapple margarita ad it was a 10/10. Neither of us felt like picking apart crabs, so we tried something different. I got the rib& crabcake combo, and my cousin got the crabcake entree. The food was delicious!!! Crabcakes were flavorful and meaty-9/10. And the ribs were plentiful. It was supposed to come with a half rack, but I swear it was a full rack-8.5/10. The sides were also delicious! I opted for hushpuppies and coleslaw. Usually I avoid coleslaw at most places, but this one was actually good! More mayo-based, than vinegar. If it was a bit colder, I would've enjoyed it more, but I'd get it again. We also tried the oysters. Half dozen raw oysters for my cousin and i tried a Chesapeake (8.5/10) and a Rockefeller (7.8/10). Overall our first-time experience was great. Thanks again Chris for your service! Hope to get you again the next go-round. read more

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Not sure why this place is low rated. The service is good, the food is quality and at a reasonable price, there's meaty crabs, and great views of the water. My wife got the combo with steamed shrimp, a pound of snow crabs, half a pound of blue crabs, corn, and salad. I got half a pound of blue, corn, and we shared hush puppies. I recommend giving Buddy's a shot this crab season. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Well, we are back! This place used to be our go to spot. We would come here all the time. Then for some reason, it was either the food or the service was bad twice in a row so we stopped coming here. Will we roll the dice and took a gamble and came back. I'm glad we did! We came back from Mother's Day so they were swamped! But the wait staff was great! We came to the buffet. They kept our table clean and they checked on us more than enough times. The food was up to par. Chart House for five star dining, but this is straight up Good wholesome Maryland Food. And I must say the crab chowder was on point. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Mother's Day buffet lot - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

So stopped by this place cause I saw they had oyster Rockefeller for $2.25 each. Now it's a Wednesday at lunch time and the place isn't super crowded, but the oysters were really good. The service was good as it wasn't busy everyone was very attentive. The restaurant is spacious and overlooks the town square and water. Give them a chance the menu looks fire. read more

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Delicious! Service was to notch as well. I highly recommend. Portions are nice. I got a special with six crabs, a cluster of crab legs, shrimp, fresh corn.... It was so good. The adult beverages were awesome. I highly recommend this place. read more

Food was good. Most customers seemed to get the crab legs. To get into the restaurant you must go upstairs. I do not recall seeing an elevator so please keep that in mind. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Please do not believe the low star rating, we almost walked out after seeing the Yelp review but we decided to stay and see for ourselves. The food was amazing and our waiter was funny and polite. The crab was perfectly cook with the right amount of seasoning. Also, we thought the old bay was a little overpowering on the food but we still really enjoyed it. Definitely give it a try if you are around the Annapolis area and looking for a place to eat good crab. We personally don't like oysters but we saw other people eating oysters. Also, the view of the restaurant is gorgeous, specially as the sun sets. read more

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Well, firstly these people are so nice!! We wandered in at an odd hour on a Monday and asked for steamed crabs . This is an unusual request. The hostess went out of her way to make everything perfect. Really. These folks know crabs. The crabs were well cooked and the spice was lovely. We had a slight discrepancy with our order when we finally got it home and called the restaurant to let them know. We talked to Rick. Not sure if he was the manager or the owner but he was wonderful. He resolved the issue in the best way he could and we had a great experience overall. Thank you to everyone there. read more

So, after reading reviews we were a little nervous to try Buddy's, but boy were we wrong! From the moment we sat down the vibe was a fun filled atmosphere! The menu specials were some incredible deals! Our waiter was awesome! He was attentive and offered great ideas. We opted for the 50/50 crab soup which isn't on the menu but he said No problem! (1/2 cream crab soup, 1/2 maryland crab soup.. brothy) The soup was delicious and full of crab! Then came the steamed Large Blue Crabs. They were big, meaty and Hot! Plenty of meat to be had! 6 were perfect for the two of us. We asked for real butter... no problem. We asked for extra Old bay.... No problem. Everything was delicious, service was great! And I didn't get any butter on my shirt! Double Bonus points there! Til we meet again...... tomorrow! read more

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Fast efficient and nice service. Specials were awesome for lunch. Causal meets fun ambiance. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Chesapeake Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

I pray you find parking, but I was so lucky to find great parking. There are a lot of steps to get upstairs, so be prepared.'I'm sure they have an elevator and an alternate entry for those who need accommodations. The food was very good! I was only able to get the appetizers in the photo. Our server (I hate so much I cannot recall his name) but he was soooooo nice and was an amazing server!!! We ordered: * Wings - very good and booked to perfections * Hushpuppies - BOMB * Calamari - Fried so well and the sweet chili sauce was top tier * Ribs - tender and fall off the bone. The sides were potatoe salad and coleslaw. Coleslaw was delicious, potatoe salad needed some additional seasonings * Steampot - shrimp, potatoes, corn, garlic bread. It was soooooo good * Crabcake Sandwich - so good!! I will be back! read more

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No wait, sat at the bar upstairs and ordered a draft. Ale Alejandro was my bartender. He explained the different crab orders. Ended up with a single crab cake entree and 2 large crab. He demonstrated how to take the first crab apart for me. Enjoyed the experience, but I may just get another crab cake next time! Whole bill was about $70. Not cheap read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Single crab cake entree, 2 large crabs (super), and a draft beer $70 - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

The ambiance is rustic dock/ military feel and it's warm and inviting. The hostess is absolutely amazing she is full of warmth and amazing. Ordered the Crab dip which is a 9.5/10 with the pretzel bites. Loads of crab meat and a solid amount of pretzel bites for the order. Also ordered the cream of crab soup quart size and a side of hush puppies. So the Hush Puppies wow, full of flavor a must get and the Remoulade is great just enough kick to balance the sweet Hush Puppies. 9.9/10 hands down the best hush puppies I've had in a restaurant. Run don't walk to get these flavor bombs. The cream of crab soup I feel like I'm cheating on someone. I love the Cream of Crab soup at Fisherman's Crab Deck in MD. However, this new side soup has stolen my heart and taste buds. 10/10 I don't often give out a perfect score but this is beyond deserving of it. It's just creamy enough without being too heavy, it's loaded with crab and flavor. If you have never tried Buddy's Crab and Ribs what are you waiting for. I will be back again, I simply can never come to Annapolis ever again and not get the food here, especially this soup. Hopefully next time back the amazing hostess is working again cause she made the trip back to NY through snowmageden amazing!!! Stop reading and go run over and say hi and order their food!!! Sorry no pictures of the dip or soup as I had to eat quickly while driving and pulled over shortly to try the soup. Sorry the Hush puppies were too good to wait so some are missing in the photo. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Side of Hush Puppies with sauce - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Service was slow and indifferent. I know Old Bay is a traditional seasoning but our crabs were literally buried in the stuff. My Old Fashioned was awful. Ambience was ok at best. Can't recommend. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Upstairs - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

I was first mesmerized by this restaurant's cream of crab soup when I first attended the Maryland Seafood Festival ver a decade ago. The award winning establishment also offers all forms of seafood that can be fried, steamed or grilled. As an appetizer we also ordered, fried oysters, oysters Rockefeller, oysters Chesapeake and a crab cake to round out the starters. In the past, I remember that they used to sell cans of the crab soup and I was little disappointed to learn that this was discounted, but I guess that's an excuse for me to go back. read more

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Annapolis is so nice and quaint at night. I was taking a stroll with a friend when we stopped for dinner at Buddy's crabs and ribs. I thought this was an interesting combination so we decided to give it a try. Seating is upstairs. There is a bar in the front of the restaurant and the windows showed a view of nighttime Annapolis. All the TVs were on what ever college games was playing at that time. We had the rib appetizer and it was delicious. The meat was falling off the bone. My friend enjoyed his rib meal and my crab Mac and cheese was good. I could have used more crab and less Mac but still not bad. We were seated pretty fast and served fast. An overall good experience. I would definitely return. read more

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We arrived after work, closer to the dinner/TNF hour (maybe 7:457/30ish), and had such a good time! All you can eat crabs for $50/person (& of course, the establishment having TVs for game night) was the exact reason my table of 2 went. The crabs were good, well seasoned, and a good size! We would love to go again! The views, good food, it's local to my job so easy to walk to (although street parking is available close), and there's entertainment! Good music playing throughout the restaurant as well if you opt to go solo to sit at the bar. read more

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The location is prime. The food was okay. I'm not disappointed that I tried this place! I thought about going somewhere I'd been but in the rain this place was dry and welcoming! The views are of main street which is quality for people watching. The crab cake was all meat, very little filler. Fries were old bay seasoned and delicious. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Crabcake - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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This is a great spot in downtown Annapolis to get steamed crabs. The crabs here were delicious but they did taste different from some of the other crab spots in the area. I felt like the crabs were more hollow but I didn't mind since it was easier to get the meat out. The steam platter was really good too. It comes with shrimp, corn, potatoes and you have the option to add other items like crabs, sausage, clams, crawfish, etc. and you can choose a flavor for the sauce. The hush puppies were good and the mussels were ok. The service was great and the restaurant had a casual, relaxed vibe. read more

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I was incredulous when I saw the 2.8 average with the reviews. But I tell ya. I liked it. We went on a Saturday night and was surprised it wasn't busier. Maybe people are turned away from Yelp reviews. Not sure. The location is perfect. Right on the corner overlooking the harbor. And the food was very good. We went during MD restaurant week and for $39 you got a $17 app, a $9 soup or salad, and a $29 entree. What a steal! And everything was very good. The crab dip, calamari, cream of crab soup(which was the hit of the night) and the crab cake with two sides. Everything was great! The crab cake seemed like it was all crab and no filler. Hush puppies were good. No complaints. I like this place! The service could have been quicker. Only nit pick I have. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Crab cake entree - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

We drove from Arlington, VA to Buddy's in Annapolis expecting a great crab experience, but unfortunately it was very disappointing from the start. Before coming, we called to confirm crab availability and were told they had all sizes. When we arrived, our waiter informed us they only had small crabs. When we mentioned that we had called ahead, he said this happens sometimes because teenagers answer the phones--which honestly wasn't a reassuring explanation after we made the trip. We decided to stay and ordered food, but the experience didn't improve. The appetizers were just okay, and my husband's entrée took so long that we ended up canceling it altogether. The manager did apply a discount, which we appreciated, but the manager did not come over to apologize for the misinformation about the crabs or the long wait for the food. Overall, this was a frustrating experience, especially after traveling that distance based on incorrect information. Unfortunately, I wouldn't return or recommend based on this visit. read more

We were in Annapolis and decided we needed some seafood. We came across Buddy's. We liked that it was downtown, and looked good! We were immediately seated by our very friendly waiter. He was very easy going and polite. He smiled the whole time. He spoke of his favorite dishes and what patrons prefer. We went with the big seafood combo plate. The corn was delicious! Especially if you roll it in Ol Bay seasoning. The blue crab was absolutely delicious. The 2 soups were ok. The cream based on was very sweet and that turned us off of it. The snow crab... the first serving we got was awful. It was dry, the meat wasn't red but dark. It tasted awful. None of us could eat it. I truly think we were served either a bad crab or leftovers from the day before. Also, they were rubbery in the shell... not crisp. We sent it back. The second crackers were great. Light reddish tint, fresh crab flavor. The hushpuppies were awesome by the way. Overall, buddy's was good. I'm dining them hard for what I think was bad meat served to us. The restaurant did quickly fix the situation though. Our server was awesome. For the price I'll give food 3.5 stars, server 5 stars, but -1 star for bad meat. They are worth checking out if you in waterfront Annapolis. read more

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I am a little shocked by the low ratings, but it's also making me really eager to try more things on Main Street. My family and I had a blast eating here. The waitress was lovely and the food was phenomenal. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - The best oysters I've ever had - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Talk about a bargain. For $69.00, they provided, blue crabs, Alaskan crabs, shrimp, corn, and salad. I believe we ordered the fries on the side. They split the salad, but both portions were huge. Only issue was not much air-conditioning on a hot July day. But, this hit the spot. I've had better crabs, but otherwise could not complain. read more

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Buddy's is AMAZING. The service was top-notch. Our waiter was super friendly and constantly on top of things. The food was beyond expectations! The ribs were absolutely delicious! I will definitely be back! read more

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The dish was a bit over cooked, not a lot of flavors, the mussels and crawfish were small and not juicy at all. The service was excellent although, there was only one server, the location and restaurant was super cleaned and perfectly situated on Main Street. read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Seafood platter - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Went there with a large group and the whole process was smooth and efficient. Wait staff are incredibly nice and welcoming and we weren't waiting too long for our food. All of the food was amazing and cooked to order. Would highly recommend for a large gathering. read more

Ordered steamed crabs. Sent them back once because they were ice cold. Came out again, still cold. Waitress was more interested in looking at her phone than helping us out. Won't be back. Don't waste your money. So many other places within walking distance for a decent meal. read more

This place was quick and easy to get a table. Our server had a very dry humor, so she came off as pretty rude but we knew she was joking. Some people definitely may not have realized the humor. The food came out very quickly! We ordered fried pickles as an appetizer, they were your typical bar food fried pickles. I don't eat seafood, so I ordered the chicken tenders with buffalo sauce as my entree. I couldn't eat it, it was absolutely terrible. Frozen chicken tenders from the grocery store tasted better. My husband ordered ribs and crabs platter with fries and coleslaw. Luckily there were enough ribs for me to eat. Both the ribs and crab were great! read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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The food was very good and the service was excellent. Had an awesome server. From when we ordered to when we got our food was fast. The location is also neat, because of all the windows that have a view of the water. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a great spot with good food in the area. read more

I enjoyed my experience here, for the most part. Visiting from California it definitely an inviting atmosphere. The decor is super old and nostalgic. I love the table they prepared for the men in service... shots ready to go! I appreciated the view and the energy. The service was sub par. We def got our apps super fast, but then the waitress didn't come back until we were basically done with our apps and our cups were empty. She was honest and said she was goofing off in the back. That wasn't amusing to me, but my friends appreciated her honesty. You would have thought her service would Have gotten better, it didn't. We were sitting with empty cups numerous times, and that bothers me. Not a huge deal but, for the restaurant not being super packed and her serving a few tables (there were 4 other waiters around), she could have been a little better. Food!!! I enjoyed my meal! I would def recommend the hush puppies! Their portions were large and the soft crabs were a bit salty but bearable. I didn't take pictures because I was so excited to eat! Well I took a pic of my food, but nobody else's. I'd def come back and eat the hush puppies, crab dip (delicious!!!) and I'd try the fish and chips instead of the crabs. Stop by, and give it a try! read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Sign inside - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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The service was phenomenal and the food was good as well. Buddy's will always be a good option in the Annapolis area.

This place was highly recommended by a friend. Unfortunately it was a disappointment The restaurant hardly had anyone there, so service should have been better and fast. our waiter was very distracted and took forever to take our drink order-which was just waters and a coke. After approx. 20 minutes our appetizer arrived -the young man ( can't remember his name) that brought them -was so friendly and knowledgeable and even suggested where to go and have a boat ride! He made us feel welcome. We wished he was our waiter, he showed more in-tune with the job than our waiter. Food was average. Nothing to write home about. Again, very disappointed experience. The only thing going for this place is that is right in downtown. read more

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$30 brunch buffet for the most mediocre "seafood" and breakfast items I've ever had. The waitstaff does the best they can with what they have but this is at the top of the list of things you can skip in downtown Annapolis. In my honest opinion, you'd have a better dining experience at a Golden Corral. The chairs are uncomfortable and the seating makes it pretty difficult to walk without having to squeeze past someone. It might have better food during dinner time, but the seafood brunch buffet is a must-miss. read more

This used to be one of my favorite brunch spots while I was in college here. A lot of things have changed since then, and while Buddy's has as well its spirit is the same. This is a great seafood restaurant located perfectly in downtown Annapolis with stunning views of the water and downtown. The ambience is casual but very friendly. The food is mostly the same as it used to be, lots of good seafood especially local specialties like the crab cakes. Their Sunday brunch is also famous and definitely worth the trip. Some of the quality of the food does seem to have gone down slightly, but that just be nostalgia messing with memories. The crab cakes were still delicious, but some of the other stuff like the eggs were overcooked and a bit dry. Still worth the trip if you want a great meal with a view! read more

I spotted the signs for this place while on my own impromptu food tour. I walked up the stairs and was greeted by a nice gentleman. I sat at the bar and ordered oysters on the half shell. I try to eat fresh oysters every chance I get. The oysters were amazing!! Absolutely delicious and perfect. I only wish I had more time and a second stomach. I'm big on customer service and this place 100% did not disappoint. I believe the employee's name was Waylen. Super friendly! I felt like I was stepping back in time. People are so hurried these days and forget to smile and say hello. I was pleasantly surprised. I'll definitely be back because their happy hour menu looked awesome! If you'd like a great meal, excellent service and a beautiful view, do not hesitate stopping by. Cheers! read more

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs - Yummy oysters! - Seafood Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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We came in to grab a bite during the Annapolis Christmas Boat Parade and were not disappointed. It's not a place you visit for the ambiance--it's an unassuming sports bar type of spot but it's tidy. The service was solid. I appreciate the team effort and friendliness of all the food runners. The food, though, is the main attraction. We had crab tater tots, half a rack of ribs, coconut shrimp, and hush puppies. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone and the sauce wasn't excessively sweet which I like. The coconut shrimp may have been the highlight with a perfect blend of sweetness and spiciness. Honorable mention to the hush puppies. They didn't overcomplicate things. They were perfect. I'm not sure why the reviews on Yelp are so middling but I recommend. read more

We should have looked at the reviews instead of going off of a local's recommendation. Sadly, it was a poor choice on our part. Upon entering, there was no one at the front or atop the sky-high stairway to ask if there was a handicap accessible way to enter, so my amputee husband on a leg crutch trucked up the 30+ steps to find the manager leaving at the top, who after he made it, informed us that there is an elevator in the back. I ordered the watermelon crush, which was not good, but I drank it. It didn't have anything that resembled a "crush". I ordered the steamed shrimp platter with crab legs and sausage to share with my husband. We ordered it steamed with no sauce and Old Bay, along with butter on the side. It came to the table with the sauce, the sausage was overcooked, and the crab legs were missing. The server brought new sausage quickly, but the redone steamed platter took another 30 minutes to come to our table. A very small cluster of crab legs came, which was not worth the extra $26 charge. Butter was brought on the side but no seasonings. Overall, it was not a pleasant experience. We will not spend money there again, nor will we send anyone there. read more

Fantastic food that had us planning on coming coming back very soon. Crabs were flavorful and fairly priced, but the rubs were a true show stopper. read more