Since the reviews aren't great I didn't have high hopes. The beer selection was pretty lame and the Guinness came out in a plastic cup so I was really not expecting much. I but the food was great! Between us we got a chicken sandwich topped with crab imperial which my husband loved, crab cakes which were meaty and delicious. The kids got a burger that they loved and fried shrimp which was not greasy and big and my daughter loved that. I also got an orange crush to drink and it was so good! We sat outside on a nice day and it really turned itself around. The food took a while to come out is my only complaint and with kids it got a bit iffy. They got my sons burger wrong and the fix had him eating way after everyone else. They comped a drink so that was nice but like I said the kids were melting down at that point. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Outside seating - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore City Restaurant week, I love you! I picked this restaurant for Winter Restaurant Week Lunch and I was very happy I did. Overall I had a very very good visit. I walked in and I was greeted immediately by Kelsey. I was informed I could sit where ever I wanted to sit and on which ever level floor I chose to and they would find me and take care of me. They did just that. I chose to sit on the 2nd level because it was a little warmer up there and I was able to have time to myself to catch up on my Yelp. I was given menus immediately although I already knew what I wanted. I ordered immediately and was informed that I made great selections and great selections indeed. I ordered their Firecracker Shrimp appetizer and B.A.L.T. Sandwich as my entree. The appetizer was plated lovely! It was so tasty and good. The B.A.L.T. is where we ran into some problems, but before I get to that let me finish out the greatness. The French Fries that I received with my sandwich was so good that I stop eating my Shrimp Appetizer because I had to eat each and every one of those curly seasoned fries. They were so so so good! They didn't even need ketchup! Now, this B.A.L.T. Sandwich was so sad I think I saw it crying on my plate. I got 1 scrawny piece of bacon for each half. They gave me the entire head of lettuce and I opted not to get the avocado and mayo but 1 miserable piece of bacon on each half... heartbreaking. For that reason this place gets a 4. Only reason I didn't give them a 3 is because the young lady that assisted (Kelsey) was fantastic! She was so sweet and kind. She came at the right time all the time and each time she needs to see me she had to run upstairs to check on little old me and appeared to have no problem with it. I would definitely eat there again but no way in hell would I order that B.A.L.T. sandwich. Ultimately worth a visit Yelpers !! read more

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We came on a busy Saturday night with a large group of 10. We wanted a quick dinner before heading out in Fed Hill and found this place. There was a good amount of seating outdoors for our large party - they have blue picnic tables on top of a section with fake sand, very cute and beachy. The food was, at best, average. Most of it was overpriced, not particularly tasty, and sometimes cooked incorrectly. We got a variety of drinks as well - the orange crush seemed decent and not too expensive. Also, if you ask for a burger well done, be ready to receive a burnt one instead (see picture below). The crab dip was also ok - not terrible, not the best. I don't have too many stellar things to say - I think there's something for everyone on this menu, if you're willing to pay a little extra to receive subpar food. read more

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Horrible on soooooo many levels. We're black. Stood at the bar for 5 mins without so much as a hello with the bartender stand 4 feet away . They chit chatted off and on with white ppl at the car tho. Finally a hostess manifested after 5 mins and we had to verbally greet her to get her acknowledge us and tell her we had a reservation. Overpriced. Wasn't serving their brunch menu, DURING brunch times but it's still up on their website. We got two different menus so I couldn't even read about some items on the menu that my friend had. Had no idea until they were ordering things that I didn't have on mine. Ordered the blackened chicken sandwich. It tasted like it had been frozen before they started cooking it. The middle was soooooo tough. Did they take it off the bill, even after it was brought to the manager? NO Asked for fries with my sandwich. Didn't come. Asked for the fries again- took ten more minutes after asking both the waitress and the food runner. No ketchup offered- had to get up and go get it Inside from the bar. My friend ordered crabs and we waited AN HOUR FIR CRABS. There was a few ppl at the bar and 4 tables total outside and somehow my friend couldn't get their crabs. Then they had to find a crab cracker- COULDN'T FIND ONE! Waters were empty for 20 mins. Had to walk to the bar to get water. They NEVER came to refill waters, not once. They tried to pacify us w shots. Shots took 10 mins! Had to ask for the bill twice. read more

I have came here a couple of times. The food is cold, and the service is not up to par. At night they have a lot of fights and drug usage. The owners seems like they part take in the drug activities and they are rude . Plus there was a shooting there not to long ago. Do you like anybody in the establishment including minors. The place is hot packed and small. I definitely don't recommend you patronizing this establishment. read more

Wish I could give them a zero star! We came down to visit and decided to try a place right near the bay. We saw that this business looked decent and had ok reviews. Once we sat down the server just looked at us and walked by us and seemed agitated. The table we sat at was dirty, so we decided to clean it ourselves since no one was coming to our table. The table was wobbly and the bar stools kept feeling like we were going to fall over, so we moved to a better table that was being cleaned. Once we sat there the server cleaning didn't even finish cleaning the table and left the plates there and then still no service. We then contacted an individual working there and asked for service. He then apologized and cleaned the table and told a waiter. We then sat there another 10-15 minutes with no service. We were there a total of about 25-35 minutes without being acknowledged or helped. Horrible service! I would recommend no one to come to this location, with the attitude and the horrible service I wouldn't let anyone try this place out. It's just SAD! read more

Riptide is a solid casual option for seafood with boiled crabs, crab cakes, shrimp and the like that won't break the bank. There's 4 tables on the front sidewalk which can be good for getting some sun and people watching. On the downside it's tougher to get staffs attention when you need a fork. Crab cake sandwich was solid. Mostly picked crab meat, as it should be, with a something akin to a spicy mayo in the binder. Fierce competition in Baltimore for crab cakes means means there's better specimens elsewhere in town, but it's probably better than you can get out of town. Ultimately to tide is a decent spot for a casual lunch. read more

Riptide By The Bay - $1 oysters Thursdays - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We traveled down for a family event and then decided to visit the area to explore and grab bite. We ended up at this place and was a great choice. Service was good and so was the food ND drinks. I'm not a big blue crab person as it's so much work for little meat but this place was cool. read more

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Terrible Food Experience I recently had the misfortune of dining at RIptide in Fells Point, Baltimore, and I must say it was a truly terrible food experience. From the moment I walked in, I had a sinking feeling that this was not going to be a pleasant meal, and unfortunately, my instincts were right. Let's start with the menu. It was incredibly limited and lacked any sort of creativity or variety. The options seemed hastily put together. My friend ordered a chicken Caesar salad that looked and tasted like you could get it at any local 711, and I ordered the firecracker shrimp that tasted like a fried paste on top of a giant pile of wet cole slaw. The whole time we were eating I felt nauseous, and wondered how a place like this could even still be open. They obviously don't care about their customers, because if they did they would get a new chef to revamp the whole menu. I pray this review prevents you all from wasting more than 11 seconds in this place. The only plus I can say is that is within walking distance from my job and our bartender was super sweet. read more

You can't expect anything from Riptide other than a fun time and great service. Can it get crowded? Yeah. But the owner and staff are always great and they're always playing the best music to put you in a fun nostalgic mood. I've come here with everyone from my 21 yo sister to my in laws and everyone has always had a great time. read more

Full disclosure: we did not eat here. A couple people recommended this spot for day OR night so we thought it would be cool. We walked by our first night and it was POPPIN'. It's definitely a college type bar. We stopped in the next day for a quick drink, and you could probably imagine what the experience was like considering it's a college bar feel. Standard well drinks, nothing special. Sticky bar. Smelled like a party. Bathrooms were filthy. Service was good, so that's a plus. But just a mediocre spot. If you're 21 and looking to party, this is it. If you're a little older and like quality things, this is not. read more

Great place to gather for drinks. Music is great for a mixed crowd. Bartenders are cool for sure

Location really outweighs the quality of the food when it comes to Riptide. As the name suggests, it's by the water and that's a HUGE draw in fells. If you snag a table during a cool, sunny day, then you're in for a treat! Especially on a hot day (or really any day), you have to order one of the crushes (alcoholic slushy goodness). We didn't go at a busy time so service was probably at its best and I'm very grateful for that but I could see this restaurant quickly becoming overwhelmed. When it comes to the food, the most consistent quality here is salt! Both the crab pretzel and the wings were really delicious but also fell on the salty side, almost to the point that they became difficult to eat. Overall, I really enjoyed my time here but with some great restaurants around the Fells area, Riptide needs to boost their food to compete! read more

Riptide By The Bay - Old Bay Wings - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Beach themed college dive bar. I had to double check when I was writing my review due to the bar looking so different at night. This spot had cool neon and fluorescent lighting. I went on a Sunday night and was surprised there was a DJ until close, but the music was great. Drinks were very watered down , so I would suggest ordering beer or a canned beverage. If you're looking for a sophisticated bar this is not it. I would probably recommend this for 21-26 year olds or anyone young at heart lol My tab had an extra shot I did not order, but I was too tired to complain. Last thing to note is that there was an automatic gratuity of 20% even though I was only 1 person. read more

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Get the crab pretzel!! It was good good mhmm ... We also had the Housemade Linguini Pasta and honestly it was nothing worth writing home to. The cocktails were pretty good tho and they had some live music playing too, music wasn't my type but the music bought a good vibe. It was a nice Sunday so we sat outside, not bad for an early Sunday chill & relaxing evening. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Get the crab pretzel!! It was good good mhmm ... The cocktails were pretty good. - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Pulled up on this place because my apartment complex was having an event. Not gunna lie, it took me 20 min to find a parking spot! Im new to the city so im still trying to get a handle on where to park. But after circling the block 20 times i found one lol. Its smack dap in the inner harbor right across from that huge hotel. Food was very good. We had pulled bbq pork, Cajun Alfredo, salad, roasted veggies and more! All of the dishes were really good, and i ended up taking lots of leftovers! There were two bars upstairs and on the first floor. Might stop in during a happy hour one day to see what it gives read more

Good food once you actually get it. Oh, the food we ordered was partially wrong but it would have been another 45 minutes to adjust what was wrong. The "waiter" thought he could memorize it (love when they do that) That didn't work out too well. Two other couples and one person sitting at the bar but still took at least 45 minutes once we ordered our wings and a burger. Poorly managed for sure and service was a joke but the food was good! If you're not in a rush and feel like being ignored, this is place for you. read more

place has gone down hill in the past year or 2, Last month I stopped in for a beer and something to eat and everyone was vaping, including staff/excluding the guy who was spitting tobacco juice into a cup on the bar - place smelled terrible. Bartender seemed strung out, didn't know what a 'Budweiser' was until she remembered they were out. Asked for a menu 3 times and never got one, she would wander off and never bring it. Gave up and went elsewhere after pounding a single beer. AVOID and beware of them slipping 20% gratuity on to EVERYTHING and charge an extra Credit Card fee too. read more

Order your food on Thursday. Come back Saturday. Might be ready. Get the plate. 46 bucks. My 10 year old ate it in 37 seconds. 22 bucks for casamigos? Did Clooney himself pour it for me? Wait for food was beyond outrageous. Guy selling oysters in front ate more oysters than he sold. How's that profit margin workin' for ya? Oh yea, my bad. you make that up in the food and liquor cost. Music was awesome, but obnoxiously loud. Didn't know this was part of the infield for the Preakness. Where are the horses? Never mind. Saw a couple trotting by... Server was friendly, but you could tell, she was BEYOND frustrated as were the other servers outside. They were apologizing to everybody. I don't mind if food is late, but DON'T LIE TO ME. It's coming. Couple more minutes. Your food should be right out. Any time now. I think I saw it in the window. Really? I'm starting to see the Easter Bunny in my reflection of the mirror. Didn't go inside. You would need the noise cancelling headphones they use at BWI airport. If you have deep pockets, are really fat and don't need to eat and have performed live on stage with Tool and Megadeath, then yes, this place is for you. read more

We went here over the summer after a Volo volleyball game. It was so good! The portions were big enough! I got the crab fries and they were so yummy and full of crab meat and cheese. Can't wait to go again. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Crab fries - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Let me start like this...I am heart broken. I've ate here before; had a sweet time. Got drunk, ate tacos, cooled out. Super. Now this is where my sentiments for this "restaurant" goes straight to hell in a hand basket. Simply because their service is complete garbage. It's like the staff is high on fentanyl. Since this is Baltimore; there's a high probability. It's like their remedial or don't wanna work. They take almost 30mins to even realize you're sitting there waiting to be acknowledged. I'm warning you! Don't even try to sit outside. You'll end up looking like a complete Jack ass. Utter futility!!! You try and get service by asking for help; you're doomed. They'll scoff like a toddler then wander off into an abyss -- never to be seen again. It's like pulling teeth to get a waiter/waitress. If you're in that hell hole they call Fell's point, at least don't descend into the ninth circle they call, "Rip Tide" read more

Don't ever come here! They lie about their crab sizes. We ordered XL crabs and they passed off small and mediums for XL crabs. This place is a scam and crooked! Do yourself a favor and stay away! Some of the people that work there agreed that the owners and managers are scammers. read more

Delicious seafood and drinks. Fine assortment of oyster options. We did a dozen oysters and some lobster rolls. Nice ambiance and service was good. read more

We had a pleasant meal here on the way home from New Hampshire. Having found free street parking a few blocks away, we picked it after wandering along the whole strip because it had a table available outside and the reviews here were decent. Unlike what many other reviewers here have said, for us the service was just fine (maybe because it was a Tuesday evening) (not surew how crowded it was inside, but they have a "crab room" on the side that was completely empty. The menu had a number of attractive choices, including a reasonable beer list, especially at happy hour pricing for which we qualified at the beginning of our meal. We chose the flash-fried calamari (which included flash-fried pickle slices, a new one for me), the peel and eat shrimp, and the pan-seared scallops, which came with a nice mushroom risotto and a few slender but tasty spears of asparagus across the top. All the food was good for me although my wife thought it too salty. They seems to be setting up inside for a band but sadly we finished our meal and headed off for DC before the full band arrived. Nice view of the waterfront and a fancy hotel built into a Beaux Arts building across the street. I could easily go back, read more

When in MD we usually gorge ourselves with crabs but since it was the off season we were in search of the next best thing. We came across Riptide and found the Shellfish Combo - a steamed platter containing a dozen clams, a dozen mussels, a dozen shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn and all seasoned with their signature Old Bay-esque seasoning. Everything was dumped on our table for us to pick, peel, and dissect. The clams and mussels were on the small side but the shrimp were jumbo. All the seafood was fresh and the seasoning was flavorful and had the right amount of heat. The platter fed both my husband and I very well. The place itself had a tasteful and comfy seaside theme and service was super friendly. Would recommend. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Shellfish Combo -clams, mussels, shrimp, sausage, and corn - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Stopped by for a late lunch with two friends on Saturday afternoon while walking around the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. We were looking for a place with reasonable prices and crab on the menu, and we definitely found a great establishment! My friends started off with the $3.50 brunch-priced mimosas and Bloody Mary's, which I was informed were delicious. We then ordered our food; I got the crab omelet, and my friends got the crab cake benedict and the crab cake sandwich. The biscuit side that came with my omelet wasn't burnt, really, but it was pretty dry and the server forgot to bring butter on the side. However, it didn't matter much because the rest of the meal was excellent. The rosemary breakfast potatoes were perfect and flavorful, and the crab omelet was delicious. A lot of crab meat stuffed inside the eggs, and the Old Bay seasoning and creamy crab spread were great. I also tried my friend's crab cake sandwich and it was very good. We were all happy customers! I'd love to try the Maryland Crab Burger the next time I'm in the area and feel that craving for crab again. read more

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This is a slightly dressed up college bar. I am not arguing the merits of such a place, because I was once a college student. However, this is not really a reliable food establishment. To be fair, I'm not sure they are selling themselves as such, but there are many other solid choices in Fells Point for food. The staff is geared up and ready for drinking and support of same. If your looking for a college style drinking place with food this might be your spot read more

Yuck. I'm not sure what else goes on here as people are in and out of the kitchen- but they had one poor guy doing all the work. Everything took forever and the drinks and food were not very good. Would not recommend at all. read more

Terrible, terrible service! Our server Johnnyboy pretty much ignored us the whole time. We were getting ready to leave, when our food arrived, brought in by another server who looked out of sorts and dazed. Another group left while we were there, and yet another was asking where the servers were. Food (blackened chicken sandwich and Imperial chicken sandwich) was also pretty mediocre and we barely ate half. Guess the only reason, they're still in business is that they're right on the tourist trap and offer BOGO drinks. Avoid this place at all costs! read more

Pretty cool place. Nice people and a good crowd. The drinks are pretty good and most of the food is pretty good too. I liked the firecracker shrimp and the buffalo wings. The only thing I do have to say is be careful of the bartenders overcharging. Myself and two others were overcharged here. Thankfully, each time the bartenders fixed it with no problem. Just something to watch out for especially if you're drinking. read more

Tried this place while I was visiting Baltimore and the food was amazing! Based on the food alone I would probably give a 4 star review but the service here was so far above and beyond that I had to bump my review up to a 5. For anyone visiting Baltimore, seafood is a must have. It's literally what this city is known for. And. Geez was the seafood amazing, especially here! We started out with the Maryland blue crabs. I've never eaten crabs, ie, like the whole crab before so it was a whole new experience. The waiter came over, sat down with us and actually showed us how to open up the crab and eat it, step by step with the mini hammer and special fork to pick out the meat. I had 1 crab and then also had the salmon entree for dinner. For someone who likes salmon, this salmon was way more flavorful than what I expect back home but for being in Maryland I would expect nothing less. Dessert was a molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. All in all, this place was great, would defintely come back! read more

Riptide By The Bay - Stone crabs - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The atmosphere was cool. I personally will not visit again. The food was not good. My crab cake was burnt and fries was cold. The sandwich was like something a kid threw together. read more

Both of these stars go directly to the hostess Ney, because she was the only positive experience at this place. Me and my spouse decided to have dinner here, we were greeted by Ney and sat at a hightop outside. After a few minutes I decided to see if we can move over to the bench table for more room and comfort. The table just needed to be cleaned off a bit so she told the server, John, that we would be moving. He didnt acknowledge us one bit lol. It would have been nice if he came over and said "Hey guys, my name is John, thanks for your patience. I'll be back in a minute to clean off the table for you guys so you can get situated." We waited for like 15-20 minutes for someone - ANYONE, to come over. It was like we were invisible. Finally Ney saw me getting antsy and swooped in. She cleaned off the table, and took our order. (wait - it gets better...) We ordered 2 apps, calamari and oysters. Two mains: crab pretzel and fish and chips. It took an eternity to come out. And Guess what came out first? The fish and chips......(why????) It's like our entire order came out in reverse. I appreciate that the fish is breaded and fried in-house, but omg the batter turned out to be rock hard!! so I spent most of my time chipping away at it with my knife. I felt like a stonemason. It was like 70/30 batter to fish ratio. Even though the oysters came out warm (??) somehow they were still delicious. I would have believed them if they told me they don't keep the oysters on ice. The calamari was tasty, breading was light and flaky. I dont know about the crab pretzel, I didnt have any but it looked good. If she's not already, Ney should be a server. She was great and the ONLY reason we stayed. We're never going back to Riptide, but thank you Ney for being on point. I was told John was a "new server". I"m sorry but John appeared to be miserable and clueless. If your new server is in the weeds, unhappy, high, or just not with it, staff should take notice and help him out. Unbelievable. If you like to go out to overpriced restaurants, wait 5 years for your food that comes out of order, and get ignored by staff, Riptide is the place for you! read more

I was starving and this was the first spot that stood out in my hunt for some grub. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. The crab cakes were decent, nothing amazing again but it was filling. The fries, OK. Crushes, OK. Mussels, actually the tastiest part of the meal. Not bad, filling but not exceptional. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Crab cake sandwich and mussels + Orange and pink lemonade crushes. - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Cool spot with outdoor seating, brunch, and an abundance of daily specials. We used the coupon from the Water Taxi for $2 off the crab dip. It was $13 with the $2 off coupon. The crab dip was mega salty, like whoa. Edible, but salty! Our server was friendly, and sitting by the window was a nice spot for people watching. This place did not feel like a tourist trap or too touristy except for that they don't actually take the coupon from the book, so it makes you feel like the price is made up anyways. Solid 3. read more

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How do I begin to describe a place where I have had numerous amazing meals, spectacular crabs, and many a black out night of drinking? Food: AmazeBalls. Seriously. Great crabs, wonderful appetizers, fantastic entrees and in particular the fish dishes. Crabs: If you order; order all you can eat. It's a better deal. And they cook them very well. Drinks: Yes please. Breezeway: Perfect for outdoor smoking and drinking and eating without being in the middle of Thames street like you are at most places in Fells. Overall: if you don't know; go and find out. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Stumbled upon this place as our 2nd choice. Typical Baltimore row house converted to a restaurant. The hostess was very pleasant and seated us after a short wait. My boyfriend and I ordered bacon wrapped wonton shrimp as an appetizer. It was average. I wanted to order the Alaskan crab legs, but was told they were all out of crabs. It's SATURDAY afternoon!!! Ok, so we both ordered crabcakes. Soon after our appetizer came, I saw an order of Alaskan crab legs go by!!! Maybe they ran out just BEFORE we were seated. Smh The crabcakes were just ok too. They were messier (kind of wet) than we thought. Pretty good chance we won't ever go back. read more

Riptide By The Bay - White peach sangria - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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So this place wasn't bad, which is why I'm resting it ok. Riptide is just off the harbor that gives you the feels of the city and the salty smell of the harbor. It's a casual spot -- with pretty ample seating and a bar -- and a menu for those who like casual or a bit fancier plate. When my family and I arrived to Riptide, it didn't appear to be super busy. We waited to be seated that took a bit of time, but were eventually taken upstairs where it was quiet and barely anyone there. I will give Riptide four stars for their cocktails (y'all know I love a mason jar) that were fresh and tasty. The food, however was ok. My crab cake caesar salad had an equal lettuce to cheese ratio that make it more of a dairy plate than vegetables. The crab cake itself was pretty good, though small for the price. (The photo I took was a close-up of my plate.) The tacos my husband got were ok, too. Nothing horrible, but nothing wow. Given this place can get pricey as it involves seafood, I'm not sure we'd come back for that -- though the ambiance is nice for a casual bite and some beers. read more

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The crabs were good, the service was pretty slow, and the entrees were alright. I would come here for a brew and to introduce someone to Maryland blue crabs. It's a fun but tedious experience to crack into them and try to get out all the meat! The mahi tacos were pretty good, the crab mac & cheese and crab cake sandwich were just okay. I wasn't too impressed with the entrees and the service, but I would come here for some beer and apps or crab if I were in the area. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Maryland blue crabs smothered in old bay - a fun but tedious experience - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My mom was at a convention in Baltimore and I joined her for the weekend. We wanted to get blue crab because that's what Baltimore is known for, so we went to Riptide by the Bay as it was one of the higher rated on yelp. We arrived around 6:30 and were seated immediately. They have converted an alleyway into a nice and quaint dining area. We asked about the blue crabs, and they told us that they only had the $70/dozen option. It was my birthday weekend, so my mom just said, "let's go for that". The waitress didn't even mention that we could get a half-dozen (I mean, between the 2 of us, she should've definitely realized that a dozen might be too much) and we realized, belatedly, that we could've had that option. Points down for that. A dozen was a LOT. We each went through 4 crabs before calling it quits and just saving the rest for leftovers. The spice mix was awesome but after 3 crabs, it was getting old. I got a number of cuts on my hands from taking the crab apart (sharp, sharp places) but overall a good experience. Mom had eaten crabs at several places already, but she said that Riptide had the best crabs of the lot. Solid 4. read more

Riptide By The Bay - Blue crab! - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland