This place had been on my radar for a while, but when I recently learned that Grappling Crab Shack…read morewas serving Crab Stuffed Deviled Eggs, there was no longer any point in delaying the inevitable.
A crabby dinner needed to happen...immediately!
I recruited an adventure buddy and we made plans to meet at Grappling Crab Shack's creekside home base on a rainy Saturday evening. We arrived around 5pm, about an hour before closing, and thanks to the rain, we had the place almost entirely to ourselves!
If you've never been, Grappling Crab Shack is a local family-owned business specializing in fresh Maryland blue crabs, gourmet crab cakes, seasonal seafood specialties, catering and a food truck that travels throughout the area. It's one of those hidden gems that feels like you've stumbled onto a local secret.
Since it was our first visit, we decided to do what any reasonable seafood lovers would do....order basically everything!
First up were the Crab Stuffed Deviled Eggs ($18 for six). Holy. Cow! These were TREMENDOUS! The filling was loaded with crab, each egg was topped with a little bit of bacon and they disappeared from the plate embarrassingly fast. If you visit Grappling Crab Shack and don't order these, I genuinely think you're making a mistake!
Next came the Cajun Jambalaya ($10) with chicken, smoked sausage, tomatoes, trinity vegetables and Cajun spices. This was excellent. Smoky, flavorful, and carrying just enough heat to let you know it was Cajun without setting your face on fire. My adventure buddy never once reached for hot sauce, which says a lot!
Then came the Cheesy Crab Bites ($15). These might actually be my favorite surprise of the evening. Homemade crab cake mix blended with mozzarella, cream cheese and garlic, rolled in panko and Old Bay, fried until golden and served with a house remoulade. I'd choose these over mozzarella sticks every single day of the week! The cheese pulls were absolutely glorious, and the remoulade added the perfect tangy finish.
Finally, we tackled the Gourmet Crab Cake ($17). This thing was HUGE! Made with fresh Maryland blue crab, it was beautifully seasoned, perfectly cooked, and held together much better than several crab cakes I've had recently. I'm actually glad we skipped ordering it as a sandwich because the crab cake itself deserved to be the star of the show.
Our total came to right around $60, and considering how much food we ordered, plus the leftovers we both brought home, I thought it was money well spent.
We grabbed one of the covered tables out back overlooking the yard and listening to the creek rush by. Despite the rain, it was a really relaxing place to enjoy dinner. I can only imagine how nice it is on a sunny summer evening. The staff couldn't have been kinder, bringing everything out to us with smiles and making us feel right at home.
This place is an absolute hidden gem and one of my favorite seafood spots to have checked out in the last few months!
I'll definitely be back, preferably on a dry evening when I can fully enjoy the creekside setting. If you love crab, seafood, or just supporting awesome local businesses, don't sleep on Grappling Crab Shack.
And whatever you do...order the deviled eggs!