Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ciao Osteria

    4.4 (2.4k reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Ciao Osteria Takeout or Delivery

    Ciao Osteria Photos

    Business Info

    CIAO OSTERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Ciao Osteria

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Scallops with pasta
    Maitrayee D.

    My birthday so my hubby made z reservation for 7:30 pm. We ordered items off the menu .GLS Cacciato wine and Gls Pecorino Burrata Pomodoro, Polpett Granchio, Cairsanti Tartud, Tiramisu, Cannoli. Loved both the fine smooth and enjoyed it a lot. Burrata was just too good . Display itself was very appealing .My pasta with that fancy name was full of flavor and perfect al dante. I didn't quite like the scallops it was too salty .My husband ordered crab cakes they were very good . Vegetables cooked to perfection .He hot pasta as one of the side instead of roasted potatoes. Our dessert what can I say was perfect . Light and full of flavor both Cannoli and Tiramisu.

    linguini vongole
    Brina T.

    We came around 6-7 PM, and the restaurant was absolutely packed, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if you're planning to visit during dinner hours. I'm usually not a white wine drinker, but my fiancé ordered a glass of Terre d'Abruzzo Pecorino, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was incredibly crisp, bright, and refreshing--one of the rare white wines I'd happily order myself. For dinner, we had the Il Misto in garlic sauce and the Linguini Vongole in garlic sauce. A fun touch was that they come around with freshly grated Parmesan and will keep sprinkling it until you tell them to stop. The Il Misto was loaded with a generous variety of seafood, and the garlic sauce leaned creamy without feeling too heavy. The Linguini Vongole was equally enjoyable--the clams tasted fresh with a pleasantly briny flavor that wasn't overly "fishy," and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. Overall, this was a satisfying Italian dinner with quality seafood, attentive little touches, and a wine that unexpectedly won me over. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

    Short Rib Ravioli
    Steven T.

    Got the Margherita Pizza, Carbonara, Chicken Parmigiana, and Short Rib Ravioli. This place is serving up some of the best Italian food in the DMV. The pizza was super thin and light, with a perfect crisp. The pastas were all very good, but I think the carbonara was the best (the best carbonara I have had so far).

    Chicken Parmigiana was super cheesy and delicious
    Joe S.

    Good. Italian. Food. I was here with some co-workers who live in the area and we enjoyed our meal. We shared a bunch of things including a Margherita Pizza with this amazing San Marzano sauce, A Milanese which was hidden under a bunch of green stuff, chicken parm which was huge and cheesy (like Gabriel Iglesias), and a side of meatballs (it was sunny that day, though). I wish that San Marzano sauce was on those balls, though! The atmosphere was more "Italian diner" than "nice restaurant", but the food was good enough to please everyone. Tables were kinda jammed together. Service was great though as the waitress was always stopping by to see what else we needed for our meals. Our table got a bit crowded for 3 of us, but that's probably because we're pigs.

    Christine H.

    Ciao Osteria goes beyond a neighborhood Italian place to be a solid establishment that I would drive a bit to. We ordered three types of pasta and they were all solid. The vongole was distinctly different from the other two pastas with the brininess going perfectly with the pasta. The pasta themselves were cooked perfectly al dente and I'm sure if we had more people, we would've ordered non-pasta dishes to see how they manage their protein. A couple tips -- Try to get a reservation if it's at a popular time. Also, take a look at the specials and go out on a limb with something that you haven't tried! I'll definitely be back.

    Lasagna di Carne
    Joyrina H.

    Amazing fresh and authentic Italian food. The lasagna was insanely delicious and the chocolate gelato I indulged in was fantastic. Everyone was pleasant including our waitress Hannah and the owner Sal was such a delight. I highly recommend eating here.

    Dante M.

    It's always so good here and the servers take such good care of us! This time I had the vela parmigiana and it was amazing!! Definitely will continue coming back here!

    Candice F.

    Amazing food. Seafood dishes are exceptionally fresh with just enough lemon, capers and balance. The cheese is fresh and pasta sauce is a delightfully balanced ratio of tomatoes and spices. Came during the lunch hour and the atmosphere had a great energy. It's worth the drive to come to a place that just treats you like family. The serving team clearly enjoys their jobs and it shows. Enjoy this hidden gem!

    Niki T.

    It really does feel like "Good" Italian restaurants are impossible to find these days... people have gotten lazy and don't bother with quality ingredients.... It sounds silly to say, but this place uses good cheese, so much so, they make a really good Caesar salad! Was very impressed with everything! Cute little ball rolls my kid loved! Nice fluffy airy! Gluten free pizza was very doughy and undercooked but my kid loved it still and really liked it the next day! Gluten free pasta seems to be fettuccine, I wish that was noted, it's my least liked pasta.... But I still ended up really enjoying it so it worked out. Lasagna was a really good one too, amazing variety of cheese, flavors really came together. We will come back.

    Special garlic bread
    Michelle Y.

    One of my all-time favorites. I've been going here for years. This is our go-to for friends' birthdays (among 6 of us); and anytime we want good Italian, we say Ciao! The food never disappoints and the service is always top tier. I've never had a server I didn't like! The ambiance is cute little Italy - love that you can see them make the pizza.

    Calamari
    Shawn H.

    Took the 20 min drive to centreville to try out this place. It's one of the sole Italian places with relatively higher ratings I hadn't yet tried and I didn't want the typical brunch- I wanted an all out Italian feast at 11am. I thought we'd be the first in but there was already a family of 6 seated. It quickly starting filling up shortly after our arrival. We started out with the $1 bread basket- it came out warm with a side of oil & balsamic with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. It's for a good cause, so why not. We then ordered grilled calamari- delicious and well cooked. I ordered the farfalle salmon dish which was good as well. I didn't want vodka sauce so I got regular red sauce. Everyone else was happy with their food as well. The pizza also came out of piping hot and was a hit. I usually don't like white pizza but it was a hefty slice of love. The music was interesting- who doesn't like godfather? lol. Service was par and we were overall pretty happy.

    Fettuccine Alfredo, add Chicken
    Jessica F.

    Food - 2 stars Service - 5 stars Honestly not sure what all the hype is about. The fettuccini was not fresh/hand made, the sauce was mid and extremely one note - no depth or layers of flavor and def lacking salt. My husband's food had good flavor but the sauce was extremely greasy and his food was not hot- lukewarm warm at best. I would choose North Italia or L' Ardente 100 times over this place. Our sever was good. The pasta came so quick they didn't deliver (maybe forgot, not sure) the focaccia before we were done eating. The server apologized, didn't charge us for it and sent it home in a Togo box for us. Tiramisu was ok, I've had better. We didn't try the pizza but it looked good and there were a ton of pickup orders for the za. Maybe that's where the hype is.

    Prosciutto e Funghi Pizza
    Vincent M.

    Ciaos never disappoints. This is my second time coming here and the service is great along with their Italian dishes. This time I got their prosciutto and mushroom pizza because my friends recommended it (and the fact they've won awards for it) and I could not stop thinking about how GOOD the crust was.

    Smoked burrata with garlic flatbread for dipping.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 54
    Thanks 20
    Love this 47
    Oh no 0

    16 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M P.
    0
    4
    0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J E.
    132
    3806
    13637

    9 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jessica F.
    113
    145
    108

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul K.
    105
    57
    18

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric P.
    12
    26
    3

    4 months ago

    Over $20 for a little average tasting pizza and lasagna was just a slab of pasta covered in bland sauce.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 3

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    This place is great Italian food, great service, and top quality. Best Italian I've had in Nova.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great food ... I specially life the octopus dish have eaten here several times over the years. Never disappointed

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 62

    Ciao Osteria Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ciao Osteria

    How are they with nut/sesame allergies?

    We do not have any sesame products in the restaurant, and we can accommodate any allergies. Please inform your server prior to ordering.

    Is take out available during weekends?

    Yes, take out is available during their regular business hours. Sunday through Thursday from 11am - 9:30pm and Friday & Saturday from 11am - 10:30pm.

    Is the pasta made in house?

    Some yes, some no.

    Is there outdoor seating?

    No outdoor seating.

    What is your corkage fee?

    Hi, thank you for reaching out. Our corkage fee is $35 per bottle.

    Are you open on memorial day?

    Thank you for inquiring. We are closed on Memorial Day.

    Is any of the meat halal? Hearing it is!

    Anybody know what the outside seating situation is? Are you out back adjacent to dumpsters or out front?

    Out front seating!

    Do they sell Zeppoline di Alghe? I've not seen that anywhere other than in Napoli ...

    Chef periodically puts this on the specials menu.

    Are there vegan options?

    Yes! However, it may be limited. I would ask your server for specifics because they will make dishes that are not on the menu if they have the ingredients. I'd also check to make sure their pasta isn't all premade with eggs because that's pretty… 

    Is there a kids' menu, if so where can I find it?

    I think there is a kids menu, but it's on one of those coloring sheets. You would probably have to call them to find out the menu items.

    Are there gluten free options?

    Almost our entire menu can be made gluten free!

    I've heard they have a cheese and lobster dish that's amazing but not on the menu, does anyone know what this is called?

    If you're looking for the one with penne pasta, it's called lobster mac 'n cheese...I had it once when it was listed as a special, then returned the following week and although it was no longer a special, they had the ingredients and made it--just… 

    Are they open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

    Yelp reservations show tables available Christmas Eve but not Christmas Day. Suggest that you call to confirm.

    Do they serve cacio e pepe (cheese wheel pasta)?

    if this is the pasta where they bring a flaming cheese wheel to the table and then proceed to mix your pasta in front of you with the newly melted cheese, then yes they do this. i'm not sure how many dishes they do this for, but they do it for the… 

    Do you deliver?

    No they don't, but you can do pick up!

    View All 24 Questions

    You might also consider

    Ocean Crab

    Ocean Crab

    4.0(275 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    •$$$

    We usually go for the all-you-can-eat option here for my parents' birthdays, and everyone always…read moreleaves happy. This place is reliable. We've had plenty of bad experiences with Chinese buffet seafood making us feel sick--pretty sure I'm not the only one--but that has never happened here. The food is always freshly steamed and served hot when you order. I'm not a big fan of overly salty, heavy American-style seasoning, so I really appreciate that they can prepare it without all that. Also, my daughter doesn't eat much seafood, but they're flexible and let us order something simple like a mozzarella stick for her, which is a huge plus. Yes, there's an 18% gratuity for parties of 5 or more, but it feels fair for the quality and service. The gumbo you can order on the side is amazing, and the crab legs, mussels, clams, and shrimp are all fresh and delicious. It's $58.99 per person, which isn't cheap, but definitely worth it. Highly recommend.

    Had a really good first experience at Ocean Crab! Their AYCE menu is a great deal with so many…read moreoptions and a LOT of food. You get 3 appetizers first. We started with the hush puppies, sweet potato fries and chicken wings. All were perfectly fried and tasty. The hush puppies were the highlight. Then we moved onto our seafood. We got a huge platter of snow crab legs, a lobster tail, shrimp and mussels. The seafood came out piping hot and cooked well. I wish the seafood had a bit more seasoning and less chunks of garlic. But, overall enjoyed it! They give you gloves and a bib so you can dig in without worrying getting too messy. One special thing they have on the menu is their ramen side. I've never seen this at other crab boils. The ramen is so tasty in the garlic butter sauce. It was my favorite part and I kept going back for more! We ordered another platter of seafood and were stuffed! The service can be improved. Our waitress came by a few times but not enough to get refills on our drinks or other things we needed. But, overall a good experience.

    Photos
    Ocean Crab - Oysters

    Oysters

    Ocean Crab - AYCE

    AYCE

    Ocean Crab - All you can eat crab legs shrimp and mussels on our first order

    See all

    All you can eat crab legs shrimp and mussels on our first order

    Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar - Shrimp platter with mixed veggies and rice

    Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar

    4.3(295 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    •$$

    My mother and I went out for lunch to this place today, and we specifically ordered the…read morebranzino/lemon caper entree with a side of the cream sauce from the Chilean sea bass. We were unfortunately served the branzino topped with only the Chilean garlic sauce and not the lemon caper sauce at all. The server wasn't seeming to know what to do with our dissatisfied reaction, so we decided to salvage the fish and ordered the lemon caper on the side, it tasted bland at best. Fish was fine, but unfortunately there was nothing worth mentioning positively about it for its $37 price point. *Neither sauce was worth ordering and unfortunately neither tasted how they were described, more like plain aioli. In our ignorance, we didn't realize branzino meant the whole fish would be served versus a filet. It would have been nice to have been able to read that fact on the menu prior to ordering. We ordered the truffle fries, which had probably zero amounts of truffle on them. Overcooked. We ordered the tropical mojito mocktail, and it was either poorly made or the recipe could use a complete reset. The crab stuffed mushrooms and sauce, amazing. Server, kind. We were asking quite a few questions of him, trying to decide between the Chilean with lobster or the branzino, which showed our ignorance in the fish choices, I believe. A good server would have picked up on this, and went into a much more detailed explanation of both dishes to educate and inform us on making the right decision. So I think it's pretty accurate to say that a good majority of the problems we had could have been salvaged had he been a little more seasoned at reading the individual needs of his customers. Although, with ordering either of these entrees or the truffle fries, we would have been disappointed as the flavor was just not there. Being out of towners used to seafood from California, we were excited to try a new place on the east coast. I read multiple positive reviews from other customers, and unfortunately we are leaving disappointed in the $80 spent. We joked that perhaps the usual chef called in sick and the bus boy took his place. Underwhelming. Overcooked. Bland. But, they had pretty tables.

    We were in the mood for seafood and found Ocean Paradise nearby! The decor is very nice. Classy…read morebut not stuffy where you feel like evening wear required. We were happily greeted in and seated. They weren't too busy on this Sunday evening. For apps we decided on the crab guacamole, peel and eat shrimp, and the fried trio- Oysters/Calamari/Shrimp that came with marinara and a roumalade. I noticed a Chipotle sauce that came with another shrimp dish and asked for that instead. The chips were fresh and tasty. Guac was also good the crab sat on top the guac. Peel and eat shrimp well seasoned with old bay. The fried trio was amazing as well. Everything perfectly fried and the Chipotle sauce delicious! For mains we went with the Chilean sea bass and lobster special. Fish and lobster was well prepared in a creamy sauce on top of mashed potatoes. Delicious and the potatoes were plentiful. We also tried the Chef's Ocean Elegance - Seared scallops and crab stuffed shrimp on top of garlic mashed potatoes topped with green onion and mushrooms in a lemon caper sauce. Everything was pefect!!! We noticed the happy hour menu with lots of delicious items. We may be back before we leave to try it out!

    Photos
    Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar - Interior

    Interior

    Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar - Mediterranean pasta with shrimp added

    Mediterranean pasta with shrimp added

    Ocean Paradise Restaurant & Bar - Chilean Sea Bass

    See all

    Chilean Sea Bass

    Ford’s Fish Shack - Fish taco platter

    Ford’s Fish Shack

    4.1(99 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    •$$

    The oysters were fantastic. Clean, sweet and delicious. The lobster bisque was delightful…read more My husband had the clam steamers and he thoroughly enjoyed them. He also had the shrimp and scallops combo. But best of all was the service. From the front desk, our waiter, the runner staff and the manager checking on us was superb.

    Came on a Saturday about 6:30 and were seated promptly for 5. The place reopened in this new…read morelocation about a year ago so still looks great and new. Love the concept of open windows however in front of it is a parking lot. Food included steak and crabcake, oysters, and fish and chips which they are known for. 5/5 on the fish and chips, and the oysters were out of this world - tasted fresh, lightly fried to perfection. The steak and crab cake was more 4/5 - not a complainer, but when the steak came out well done rather than medium well, I did say something. So I could eat with the party, just sent the steak back, and to my surprise they did not come back with just a steak but a whole replacement meal which I had the next day. Between that and attentiveness to drink refills and knowledgable recommendations, the service was 5/5. The overall rating reflects the excellent service and very good food, while also taking the price point into consideration. With prices continuing to rise, patrons expect exceptional flavor across the board for those extra dollars. There were a few areas where I felt the food could have delivered just a little more, so I'm not quite at 5 stars yet.

    Photos
    Ford’s Fish Shack
    Ford’s Fish Shack - Oysters

    Oysters

    Ford’s Fish Shack - 1lb crab legs. Comes with two sides. The butter was yummy!!!

    See all

    1lb crab legs. Comes with two sides. The butter was yummy!!!

    California Fish Grill

    California Fish Grill

    4.0(87 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    •$$

    We were introduced to California Fish Grill through a Yelp event and now my family are regulars!…read more Where else can you get fresh, tasty, healthy sustainable seafood options at an affordable prices. The answer is ... nowhere but California Fish Grill! Their menu is super varied so it is one of the few fast casual places that our entire family can enjoy. Husband goes for the protein bowls, kiddos go for the battered fish / chicken tenders, and I love the grilled rockfish, cauliflower mash, and extra crispy/seasoned fries. We took our in laws here and they loved it so much that they ended up going back the next day by themselves. Service is super friendly as well. Pro-Tip: Download the app to get extra deals added to your account.

    Had their catering for dinner and had the chance to try a little of everything- overall food was…read moregood and made me want to come to their restaurant. Swai- tender flavorful white fish. Cooked well Salmon- also cooked well and seasoned well Grilled chicken tender- a little dry. Under-seasoned but was good with their sauces/ dressings Cajun Shrimp- cooked well not rubbery or overcooked. Seasoned well Cajun Fish- seems to be swai in Cajun seasoning. Yum. Brussels sprouts- my favorite!! Flavorful Fire roasted corn- second favorite. Tasted buttery Diced zucchini and rosemary- cooked well but rosemary heavy- rosemary is my least favorite herb lol Fries were underwhelming but I know they were probably sitting in the catering tray for some time Cauliflower rice- delicious!! Wouldn't miss rice at all Rice- fluffy and yum Cajun sauce- salty Greed goddess sauce- delicious. Tasted like some herby mayo

    Photos
    California Fish Grill
    California Fish Grill
    California Fish Grill

    See all

    Paella Deliciosa - Rehearsal party at a winery in lucketts

    Paella Deliciosa

    4.8(10 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    We had an AMAZING experience Chef Jesus for our at-home rehearsal dinner! We got empanadas, corn…read morebread, and chicken & seafood paella. We loved having Chef Jesus on site cooking up a storm. It was a rainy day but luckily we were able to convert from cooking on the patio to cooking in the garage. The food was amazing and it was the perfect get-together of friends, family, and amazing food. The best part was the crispy rice stuck to the pan afterwards. We will definitely be inviting Chef Jesus back for future events! It was great to hear how his family started this business, perfected the recipe, and how proud he was to share it with us. We definitely will keep PaellaDeliciosa and Chef Jesus in mind for upcoming events! There's an option to pick up the paella or have it cooked on-site. We loved the on-site option for us (he brings all the necessary equipment) but we'd definitely look into picking it up as well. We had about 20 guests, and despite people going back for seconds, had plenty of delicious leftovers afterwards.

    9/2025 - not just delicious, but an amazing experience! Decided to host a small dinner at our…read moretownhouse for 6. I'm not much of a chef and it's hard to cook and entertain, so I needed something new and fun - paella and empanadas! Ordered beef and chicken empanadas which were served before dinner with chips, salsa, guac, and queso. Great start- yum! My favorite were the chicken, but the beef were also tasty. Jesus set up on our deck to cook the paella. He came with everything needed (i.e. propane, burner, giant pan, table, etc) and got right to it. Watching him put everything together white we were enjoying empanadas and some wine was completely enjoyable. Not only was the experience fun to watch, but the paella was delicious! I think he had everything in there from seafood, chicken and sausage to veggies and of course rice. It was a great balance and I don't know what's in the broth, but it all came together beautifully. We all completely enjoyed the food and experience and what fun to have everything prepared right in front of us on our deck! Jesus cleaned everything up like he was never even there. If you want something a bit more unique that I can almost guarantee everyone will enjoy, give this a try. Oh, of course there was too much food so we have leftovers which re-heat perfectly! Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Paella Deliciosa
    Paella Deliciosa - 50th bday party at a beautiful property

    50th bday party at a beautiful property

    Paella Deliciosa - Initial paella prep!

    See all

    Initial paella prep!

    Shakin Crab - Fresh from the bag

    Shakin Crab

    4.0(308 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    •$$

    Ordered a to-go meal ahead of my arrival. The restaurant was slightly busy, but appeared clean. One…read morething I wasn't a fan of was the graffiti on the doors and walls - It just feels like vandalism that the owners didn't care to clean up! Not sure if this is part of the chain's aesthetic, and if it's like this at every location or not... It was even in the bathroom, and clearly people took it too far, because next to the only urinal was a giant "F*** YOU", and it was crossed out by one big line, and not at all removed or attempted to be removed. To me it just seems too chaotic and encourages deviant behavior... This is not somewhere that I would bring my kids or family members, because of stuff like that. The food was ready when I got there, but I still had to stand around for a few minutes before someone finally came along and handed my order to me. I got the Catfish Basket with onion rings. It was about $16. I took the meal home and surprisingly the food was still piping hot when I sat down to eat it. The fish was excellent. There is the comment being made that the food is 'greasy', but I mean, it's fish - and it's fried... what do you expect? ...So, yes, the food was greasy, but that's part of the joy to it. If you want to eat healthy, go to Wegmans or Kroger. The fish was excellent. The breading was crunchy. The fish was soft and tender. No odor. Great seasoning - not too much, not too little. Not spicy at all (trust me, I'd be the first to tell you!) The onion rings were a bit on the less crispy side, not quite soggy, but still delicious none the less. The inner breading was just a bit spongy. They aren't like Outback's fried to a crisp onion rings/petals. The bag contained two moist towelettes and a pair of food grade disposable gloves, for those who indulge in the messiest of foods from here - not for simple fish. Also, when at the counter they wanted to know if I wanted any sauces. I did not, but I appreciated the gesture. I was happy with my service here and with the food overall. The restaurants appeal and decor gets a 5/10, because while the decor was nice and the wood facade of the furniture and structure were great, they were caked in a myriad of profanity and anarchy, as mentioned before about the graffiti-like markings. The food gets a 9/10, while it did have minor issues, it was overall an amazing lunch! The staff gets a 9.5/10 as well - While I was acknowledge once by a passing staff member running food to a table, I still had to wait a little while to be serviced, at the busiest time of day. I appreciate their time and efforts.

    Great food as always. Service was a little rough (on the…read morephone leading up to it). But...good when it came down to picking it up

    Photos
    Shakin Crab
    Shakin Crab - Onion rings

    Onion rings

    Shakin Crab

    See all

    Ciao Osteria - italian - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...