Took my family to Sandgates for graduation seafood dinner on the water. Note. I have been to Sandgates many times over the years. Tonight the food was horrible. Crab dip was more like a garlic sauce with some crab meat thrown in. NOT cheesy, baked bubbling deliciousness. The crab cake was yellow from apparently too much mustard and eggs so NOT mixed well. What made this worse, when my sister told the wait staff and asked to replace with the crab balls (which were much better than the tasteless crab cake), the manager/cook came to the table because she has used the same recipe for 45 years and the crab balls are made from the same recipe. She talked to my sister like she was crazy. She was rude and aggressive. Fried onion rings and clam strips were soggy with old grease. The $76/dozen crabs, while cooked good, had so much SALT on them, you needed to brush the salt off, remove the shell then wash the salt off your hands before you could pick and eat the crab meat. They were out of scallops, fried chicken. We have always had good food and service in the past. We even asked if there was new management or cook, apparently not! Needless to say, we were all disappointed. I'm only upset at the final bill, because in this case, we didn't get what we paid for. Sitting on the waterfront de k does not make up for the lack of good food and customer service. We will not be going back. read more

I have been coming here for decades. The crab cakes are always tasty. The staff is always friendly and provides great service. A great place to take the whole family. Beautiful waterfront views. read more

Sandgates has been an icon for Crabs and Seafood related dishes since forever. Overlooking the Pax River this spot is a no frills Southern Maryland Crab House, brown papered tables filled with Chesapeake Blue crabs, cold Beer,Crab soup, soft shell crabs and lots of Old Bay. A full bar is available. Access can be made by boat tieing up on their pier also. It's a family adventure for many. Staff is pleasant and the experience is unforgettable for those who are not familiar with the palates of Southern Marylanders. Give it a try you won't regret it. read more

Fresh seafood especially crabs!! Great Patuxent River view. Use the Ramp at Len's Marina in Calvert and cross the River to enjoy an entire day!! read more

Best crab cake sandwich and crabs bar none. Takes a few minutes so enjoy a drink. One of the few old school Saint Mary's County places right on the beautiful Patuxent River. read more

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Had crabs, crab cakes and sides today. Crabs (70.00 dozen) were very small and over cooked (mushy). Crab cakes (25.00) were not crab cakes. They were crab omelets. Tasted like crab meat and scrambled eggs! Either they are having severe kitchen trouble or don't know how to cook crabs properly, also need to read about a proper Maryland crab cake. Save your money and disappointment. Go elsewhere. read more

I wish I could eat seafood every meal, and I would eat every meal at this place if I lived in the area. Not much to say besides extremely friendly service, great location (right by the water), and no nonsense quality seafood! Come here for a dozen crabs and their fried seafood platter and you won't leave disappointed. The boiled crabs were seasoned well and the fried seafood platter allows you to sample much of the sea in its best form - fried! Will be looking to return on future trips. read more

Sandgates Inn - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

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We visit this area frequently but had never stopped in here or the place next door. We went next door for happy hour at the tiki bar and to see music. Had a great time and met some awesome locals. Then we moved next door to Sandgates Inn for some dinner. It was perfect weather so we seated ourselves outside on deck where the view is spectacular. More people were inside in groups. Our server was prompt and very nice and took good care of us. Menu has all kinds of things seafood and sandwiches but we are from MD and know what is local here. That means anything crab and fish this time of year. Trying to decide between crab cake and soft shells, we both opted for crab cake sammy and I also ordered fries and slaw. Cakes were a little different than normal in that they are grilled on flattop and had more egg than normal as binder and served on potato roll. They were made with really fresh crab that was not all backfin but tasted delicious. Sides were good. I will return and have other local treats like clams and fish. Side note: some obvious tourists who ordered non local food like scallops and mussels were complaining about food and portions. The wife was a total idiot but our server handled her with grace and respect. We thanked her on the way out for our service and told her how well she handled the asshats. The entire staff came over and thanked us and gave us hugs. As I said, my kind of place and my kind of people. read more

We arrived by boat at this unassuming restaurant on the water. Basic waterfront menu with good food. Wait staff was really diligent without being overbearing. Crab cake sandwich was huge and delicious! Fried rockfish good and flaky. Entees included an awesome biscuit with butter. They brought everything we needed with a smile and waited patiently while we hung out and finished our crabs and meal. I was glad I brought my out of town company here! It's the best of SoMD, good without having to be fancy. read more

Sandgates Inn - chunky crab cake sandwich! - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

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After having a couple of decent meals at the Sea Breeze, the wife and I decided to branch out and give the neighboring Sandgates Inn a try. Boy, that was a mistake. To be fair, we went in for lunch and we not sure if they were even typically open for lunch. I could not find any hours posted online or at the establishment itself. We pulled into an empty parking lot at 11:30 am and walked right in. The helpful host/server told us to have a seat and informed us that the cook sometimes runs late on Fridays. She added that it is usually between 11:30 and noon before the cook shows up. No worries, they had a bar area which we could occupy ourselves with pinball and novelty bowling machines. Well, noon came and passed before we were given an update on the cook. The host/server let us know that she had called the manager for the cooks phone number and she assured us that they were on the way. "... unless you you want crabs. Because I can call call the crab guy... and he should only be about 20 minutes or so." Having gone there specifically for crabs, we put in an order for a dozen crabs, pending the arrival of this "crab guy". Finally, sometime after 12:30 (an hour after we walked in the door) the cook arrived, so we also put in an order for the seafood chowder. About 20 minutes went by after this. What is bazaar, is that by this time, the restaurant had other patrons sitting at empty tables who had also been waiting patiently without a cook on premises. We began to have doubts about this place, and when the chowder finally arrived, we requested to reduce our crab order to half a dozen. Although, there was no crab guy in sight, this was somewhat of an ordeal since the host/server was not sure if they could change an order in the system once it had been placed. Eventually, she figured out how to change the order for us. The chowder was decent, nice flavor, but was more crab than seafood. The thickness was a bit much, with too much flour. Finally, the host/server had an update for the crab guy! He was on the way, and would be there in "three shakes of a lambs tail" (whatever that means). Because of the wait, the crab guy wanted to let us know that he would pick 6 "better ones" for us when he arrived. By this time, it was after 1:00 pm and we had been there and hour and a half! Having finished the chowder, we decided to cut our loses and settle out the check. "I should have told you, the crab guy is here, and your crabs are cooking." Finally, at about 1:15, we had our crabs. Although there was seven in total, I would not grade them as "better ones". They were mostly mediums, and two had front claws missing. There was only a light dusting of old bay on them, but there was more on the table for seasoning yourself. To add insult to injury, they where over-cooked! Yes, we waited almost two hours for over-cooked crabs. Hey Sandgates, you are a crab house... you had one job and you managed to screw it up. Next time we are sticking with the Sea Breeze. read more

Sandgates Inn - These poor folks are waiting a very long time for the cook and crab guy to arrive to work. - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

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Been coming here for years to eat crabs. Usually come by boat with friends which is nice. The Crabs are always hot n tasty n fairly priced. If you like creamy coleslaw, this is the place to have it. Friendly service. A nice place to kick back while enjoying a simple meal in SO MD. read more

Sandgates is delicious! The seafood offerings are off the charts, and the portion sizes are generous for the prices. You can't beat the setting either, right on the water. My favorite item is the hush puppies, which were delicious with the honey, or with the melted butter intended for seafood if you wish to try some artery-clogging goodness. Sticking to seafood and related sides on this menu is key, since the other menu items (pizza, burgers, etc.) are not as fresh and focused on in this seafood restaurant. This is a good stop for seafood, especially if you want to introduce someone to the Maryland tradition of breaking apart a crab. read more

I shared the seafood platter with another person and it wasn't that much food. It had 4 fried shrimp, 3 fried scallops, 2 fried oysters, 1 soft shell crab, 3 crab balls, 4 corn fritters, and 1 fried grouper fillet. It was all fried so it all tasted the same. One of the items on the platter were mashed together: shrimp and crab ball. It didn't taste fresh either. It tasted like it was kept in the freezer then thawed then fried. It may not be in season yet but it wasn't worth the $32 for that platter. Our server was very polite though. The stars must be from the crabs when in season from locals so we'll try this place again when it's crab season. read more

Sandgates Inn - Seafood platter - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

If you want crabs and beer, in a religion-of-the-fish setting, then this is your place. Probably one of the last dozen or so, mom--n-pop operations serving thousands and thousands of fresh local seasoned crabs in the Chesapeake area. Tables upon tables, in squared lines of carnivore....ah I mean crustacheon-eating bottom dwelling devouring landlubbers you ever saw----150 of them--in and out. Beer, crabs, fries. Ain't nothin but the real thing baby. And ask for Monkey, the spitfire daughter of the creators. She's a crabby dick if I ever saw one, and right nice too...did you hear me sailor? Sponge Bob sent me. read more

Food was delicious and experience was excellent. I would definitely return. The blue crab was good and fun to eat. The fish was utterly devine read more

This is my favorite place to relax by the water and eat crabs. Service is always the best. Their crabs are always great. We love their hush puppies and coleslaw also. read more

Sandgates Inn - Hot crabs at Sandgates - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

Soft Crab Seafood ChowderSteamed Shrimp The food was delicious and the service was great! Very friendly staff. I'll go back! read more

We had lunch there on Saturday, 9/30 and it was so good! The crabs had so much meat in them! Then the softshell crabs were huge! We love this place and cannot wait to go back! The crab cakes are the BEST! We purchased an additional 8 to take home with us! Looking forward to the first snow and then eating a crab cake! read more

Sandgates Inn - Now that is a huge soft shell crab!! - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

There are several seafood restaurants and Inns that we frequent when we are in town, but this one seems to be the most consistent. Service is usually pretty good. Food is always hot and cooked correctly. We almost always get crabs when we come here, so I can't say much about the other menu items. Other than the crabs, we usually get the crab and vegetable soup and/or the crab balls. Both are great appetizers. read more

ahhhhhh Sandgates! Maryland Blue Crabs at their finest! They reopened for the season this week, and not expecting it to be totally on its game we returned. SURPRISE! It was just as amazing as if they had never closed over the winter..FANTASTIC as always!! They only had two dozen crabs left so we got them..YUM! As always, steamed to perfection!! Sandgates NEVER precooks crabs and holds them under a warmer like most places do, NOT EVEN when they are slammed. Crabs are steamed and brought to you upon order. You will NEVER EVER be disappointed at Sandgates. Looking for Crabs at their absolute best...SANDGATES IS YOUR BEST BET! read more

Sandgates Inn - a pile of crabs - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

Love love love. Amazing staff and food. We will definitely be returning for more crabs!

1 hour waiting for a seafood platter in a seafood restaurant? The wait staff is weak in the table attentiveness. The portions were small. If you order scallops, you won't get a whole one because they cut them in quarters. Crabcakes are more filler than meat. This is but one review but its a surety i will NOT be back! I am extremely disappointed! Fix the problem! read more

Well it's Sandgates I guess they think they been there so long they can serve whatever and people will still go! Crabs were ok For $48 they were not that large! And I have never liked the way they season them! There seasoning is like all Salt! For the dozen we had was worth $30 a doz. at best! They were between small & mediums! And Those Ziccucii Sticks on app menu over cooked and over priced! They were freezer burnt taste! And the Soft crab sand was a joke even Waitress calling them Spiders! Lol my hubby order one with lettuce tomato & mayo and you should of seen the slice of tomato its summer people use local produce! Gonna charge $12.95 for a fried Spider then comes with Chips! Really! I ask to change his tomato and waitress said I need that one back to show the cook! Lol lol really she brought out new slice and it was a joke too! Gave up at that point! Should of brought my own tomato from my garden! Then waitress said what side you want with Softcrab so he said cole slaw! But it didn't come with side after got bill she charge him 2.25 extra she should of said it comes with Chips when he ordered and then never gave him the Chips he should of gotten Chips too since he paid for cole slaw! That place gone down hill it use to be packed no more all those long tables empty and waitress said no can't sit at them! Lol cause we wanted to sit outside but only long tables were open! Waitress are not friendly anymore either! Since the little girl use to wait on us for years must of died or quit that place have not seen her the last two times we been there! Sand gates better change something cause looks like SeaBreeze took all there business away! It was packed over there! Couldn't find parking space! And I have to say the last time we went to SeaBreeze it was delish! Crab cakes were delish! And soft crab was large and only $7.95 came with Chips! So Sandgates needs to change that menu it's boring! Oh the menu always say it sells Micoleb lite beer and they never have it! Too funny! And I ask waitress for coffee she said honey this is a Crab house we don't have Coffee! I couldn't believe that! It's on the menu under drinks! And they sell dessert ! So we decided to go else where for dessert! Where we can get a cup of coffee! The waitress was too funny really one of those types that tells it like it is! She was lucky I gave her tip cause she told us her last table didn't leave her a dime! I can see why! Our Bill was $105 I left her more then she deserved but we did leave a mess and she did wait on us and I use to be a waitress many moons ago so I do try to leave decent tip when I go out but she was very lucky she got $21 tip cause she really had a lot of crap with her!! Lol she did take our picture which that was nice but we won't be back unless Sand Gates changes menu! It's in need to change and maybe some new cooks! Oh my dad got Crab soup no crab meat! My hubby & dad got side salads nothing to write home about! Glad I did not get one! Lol oh we had two pitchers of Coors lite and I have to say the beer was Very COLD!!! Best thing we had!!! You really need to make changes cause you losing business to SeaBreeze right next store!! read more

Sandgates Inn - My 95 year old Dad been coming there for years and even he said no more!! - Seafood Near Me - Mechanicsville, Maryland

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My family has been going to Sandgates for years, it is one of our favorites. Southern Marylanders tend to be territorial with their seafood places and this is ours. We don't usually get crabs here since we cook them at home but I can't imagine they are bad. Seafood chowder is awesome, crab cakes are large and have plenty of meat in them, soft shells usually come 2 on a sandwich. It is a seafood place so meals come on paper plates and there is brown crab paper on every table, the dining room is loud but that is typical for this kind of place. The prices are decent and the beer is always cold. You can't go wrong at Sandgates... unless of course you eat pizza. Recommendation: Pitcher of beer, seafood chowder and a crab cake. read more

Can't speak on food as we never got it. Not that busy but a 30 minute wait turned into 2 hours with only steamed shrimp ready and now cold. Management very accommodating about canceling me and several others. Come here frequently but won't be back until fully open. read more

My favorite crab house on the Patuxent River. Has a dock you can tie your boat off at with inside or outside seating. Absolutely the best steam shrimp in southern Maryland. read more

Awesome food!!! The crabs were definitely worth $40 a dozen!!! The shrimp was awesome too!!! Very friendly waitresses!!!! I will definitely be coming back to eat!!! The view was amazing too!!!! read more

Service wasn't the best but maybe it's the area.. food was gross and bland. I left with stomach issues. The place smelled and was dirty.

Best place in town to go for beer and crabs .Nice to be able to sit outside at the Tiki Bar aka Swampys to listen to music ,band or just enjoy the atmosphere . read more

Top notch food. Service is understaffed. Everyone wants to eat here but they need twice as many servers as they have.

I am a native Southern Marylander and this is a fine Southern Maryland restaurant. The crab cakes were large and cooked on the pan. The stuffed shrimp was tasty. The crab dip and hush puppies (with corn kernels fried in) were excellent. Our waitress gave us the rundown straight away. And who doesn't like peering out on the Pax river on a crystal clear day? If you get Southern Maryland you will get this place. read more

Food( seafood chowder, fried shrimp and crab cake sandwich ) is good, service is bad - our waitress paid no attention to us.

decided to take a long ride on a beautiful day , so I went to sandgates. reviews were good for crabs, so I wanted to see for myself. after a 4 hr ride, my girlfriend and I arrived. staff were very friendly and the crabs were very full and good, a little small , but for the beginning of season , not bad. we had a bowl of seafood chowder, wow that was the best chowder I ever had, a must get. great place to go, will stop back if im in the area again read more

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This restaurant is about as close to the water as you can get! I was wondering what they do when there's high tide because the whole place would definitely get flooded without the proper protection. But anyways, there's a beautiful view, the scene is peaceful, and there was little to no crowd when we went (although we did go around 3pm for a late lunch). The food was delicious and steaming hot when it came out. The blue crabs were so fresh and steamed just right so that the meat was succulent and delicious. The snow crab legs were good too but not as amazing as the blue crabs were. If you like the saltier side, I would recommend the snow crab legs. The snow crab legs are also in general better for people who don't like picking apart crabs to get to the meat, since the snow crab legs are so huge and much easier to eat. But if you want to tone it down with the seasonings, the blue crabs were delicious without being doused in salt and old bay. We also tried the coleslaw and applesauce, both were good but there was nothing particularly amazing about them. I would still recommend them though because your mouth can feel very salty after eating all that crab. My sister described it as the best meal she's had in a long time and the best crabs she's eaten. My mom described it as Annapolis quality crabs without the crowd. I would definitely recommend this place and their blue crabs and would no doubt be going back often if it wasn't so far from where I live. read more

Great place for crabs on the water in So. MD! Friendly, helpful, staff, great crabs, family-friendly, and beautiful views. What more can you ask for? Cantler's is still my fave, but in southern Maryland, this is the place. Wonderful day spent picking crabs here. read more

Love that it's on the water, the food is pretty good however the wait for it is a Lil extensive, the service is great our server last time was Amanda she did a great job, very friendly and helpful. The only complaint I have is there was a extra beer on our check and apparently no manager on duty to fix it and I believe the waitress ended up paying for it out of pocket and being a restaurant there should be a manager on duty at all times. Other then that great place to dine on the water definitely better then the place next door!! read more

This place is awesome as a local St. Mary's county boy I know good seafood and this is where its at. I usually get a soft-shelled crab sandwich which I get hooked up with 2 soft shells on my sandwich and always the crab chowder. The waitress's are friendly and the cooks here as amazing. This is a family friendly place if you want to sit down with your family and have a nice meal go here if you want a bar and a party go next door. read more

Great crabs late in the season. Soooooo sweet! Oysters were very good too. We had fried and raw. Not busy at all in late October. Perfect time to come. Hush puppies were good too. read more

Went here with some relatives and we all loved it. The steamed crabs were great, but the crab chowder was to die for! Went back the next day for more. The atmosphere was rustic and charming, and the service was friendly both times. Highly recommend! read more

Typical Southern Maryland crab restaurant. Great view of the Patuxent River. Gets crowded and sometimes roudy as the night progresses. Friendly staff. read more