One of my favorite place to frequent whenever I'm in the area since 2019. I've always had to DoorDash them until this last visit that I actually had a chance to sit in the restaurant. To start let's just say the food will NEVER disappoint. The atmosphere was pretty chill as I sat at the bar to dine, but the dining area were a perfect vibe for family or friends. The service was par, nothing special at all to write about. read more

I've been coming to Timbuktu for over three decades, so it is not easy to write this. This has long been a place I could rely on, but my recent visit was a real disappointment. The crab egg rolls were bland and the crab cakes, once a standout for me, just did not have the flavor I remember. Service was also very slow. On a quiet Sunday with just five of us dining, it took about 20 minutes to receive our drinks. When I asked to speak with a manager, I was instead directed to a supervisor who spent more time explaining the situation than actually acknowledging our concerns or offering an apology. To make matters worse, a credit card service fee was automatically added even though we paid in cash and had to ask for it to be removed. After more than 30 years of visiting, this experience was especially disappointing. At this point, I do not plan on returning. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Crab imperial - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Oh where do I start? The bad quality food, the long food wait time or the terrible management recovery? My family decided to dine in at Timbuktu Restaurant to celebrate my wife's graduation with her masters. From the first interaction I should have known what we signed up for. They are taking reservations on a pencil and clipboard. Everything other than that started off very good. The waiter approached the table took everyone's drinks and appetizers order in a timely matter. The appetizers took a little longer than usual but it doesn't equate to how long our dinner entrees took to come out. Entrees took 40+ MINUTES to come OUT. Within those 40 minutes our server never touched the table and people glasses of water remained empty until my mother in law had to get the waiter's attention by calling him over. I understand it can get busy or kitchen might be backed up but never got any reassurance it was coming anytime soon or a slight apology for the long wait. This is only the first half. The biggest thing that made me decide to write this review is the unapologetic manager named Josef. He never once empathized during the whole experience. He actually turned straight to making excuses and going back and forth with my father in law until I stepped in the reinforce the interaction. He looked to blame the kitchen being backed up due to parties. We walked in right after another tables that got sat next to us. They recieved their apps, entrees and was able to pack up the rest of their food and pay out before we even recieved our entrees. Josef's then attempted to compare what that table ordered with what we had explaining they only had apps which was untrue because I witnessed the whole service. I'm a experienced food and beverage manager and have been in the industry for 14+ years, I have never came across such an incompetent manager before. He needs to relearn how to deal with conflict resolution. Maybe start by empathizing and appolgizing for the inconvenience rather than start comparing and blaming others. After 3 separate people in my party voiced their concerns, he continued to never take any ownership but then offered two dessert as compensation which was more of a smack in the face. We just wanted some accountability and some consideration which we never received. We will never attempt to come here again. read more

I like this place. It is very nice! The food was great. Very nice size portions. I shared the appetizer platter. The platter had shrimp, scallops, crab cakes, barbecue ribs, olives, peppers, tomatoes, cheese. I had the colossal crab cakes with French fries and Cole slaw. I really liked the French fries. I forgot to take pictures. I was too busy throwing down on the food. The dining room is comfortable. They have a separate lounge. The dining room was quiet. Not full at all on a Sunday evening. I promise to take more photos next time. The food was better than average. It ranks high in the Maryland crab cakes restaurants. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - The entrance - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

My coworkers and I visited here and the experience was ok. Our waiter was cool and very attentive to everyone's orders. For appetizers we ordered calamari, bang bang shrimp, and crab egg rolls. Calamari was 8/10, they tasted fresh, well seasoned, and serving size was a good portion. Bang bang shrimp 7/10, good flavor and portion but the temperature seems room temperature. Crab egg rolls were dry, didn't have any flavor 3/10. Now to my entree, I ordered a colossal crab cake and it came with two sides and they were potato salad and coleslaw both homemade as shared by the waiter. The crab cake looks good, however, it lacks seasoning and had like a wet interior. Quite disappointing as I recall years ago, this was the place to go for crab cakes, sad to say 5/10. Well I will stop there because the sides were not good at all. I tried my best to season and make it better but a hard NO, 2/10 and this is for effort. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Colossal Crab Cake - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

Staying in a hotel visiting and this place was recommended by the front desk lady and it was close by. Went for late lunch, pretty quick service (not very busy at this time). Seated quickly and the servers were very friendly and helpful. Got the crab cake sandwich which comes with fries or coleslaw. It was a very big crabcake portion, more than I thought it would be. Tried the crab soup which was white creamy soup with chunks of crab, was very good. Also ordered chicken tenders and fries from the kids menu and those were very very good :) kind of craving those as I write. Got the spiced rum punch, $12 not bad and great start to the vacation. I recommend this place. And get the crab cakes as that is "what they are known for." read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Crab cake sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Came here to get a seafood platter. We came on a slow afternoon. The ambiance was quiet and less hectic than an evening or weekend visit. We entered the carryout area, were greeted by a pleasant lady, and ordered the Jewel of the Sea seafood platter (with crabcake, shrimp and scallops) two sides (baked potato and veggie). Timbuktu has seating in this area to enjoy your food here and also has a liquor store to purchase packaged goods. There was also a large TV for viewing and an ATM onsite. You could also purchase bagged snacks and cold nonalcoholic beverages as well. They also have a dessert case with assorted sliced cakes and pies for purchase in addition to ready to go salads and sandwiches. Our food was ready in a decent amount of time. The platter looked good and upon tasting, all of the seafood fresh: the crabcake was a smaller version of what you would get in a traditional crabcake platter, but still delicious with low filler allowing the sweetness of the crabmeat to shine; the shrimp were broiled and fresh; the scallops were cooked perfectly with a great taste. The sides were good as well. All in all, a good platter to purchase when you want to expand on a traditional crabcake platter. read more

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We hosted a dinner at this restaurant and it went great. The downstairs area was set up for a meeting and the staff was super attentive in serving about 50 people. You can probably go with a bit more people here before it gets uncomfortable. The A/V was a bit tricky at first, but once we got batteries for the controllers and an HDMI cable, we were off and running. Thanks to the staff for the help. I didn't organize the event, but while I was there, I just witnessed the people doing everything they could to tend to a bunch of hungry attendees. The food was good too! Chicken Alfredo, Ribs, and some warm crispy buns (who doesn't want that, right?). Excellent!!! read more

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Best bang for your buck if you are interested in large, quality portions of crab cake. Amazing carry out with huge menu. It's not cheap but it's good. read more

While this is a local mainstay, the prices keep rising while the overall quality keeps dropping off. Everytime I come I feel like the waiters are surprised to see people and forgot how to do seating. Last time each course took forever to come out and it seemed due to a large private party. The seafood options are large and fresh, but I can't say it's anything particularly special anymore beyond that. The bread doesn't feel fresh, the desserts are pedestrian and likewise lacking anything unique. Atmosphere the lights are a haphazard mix, the chairs are old. The bathrooms were clean but had a truly horrible fake chemical scent I could barely breathe through. There's just no sense of comfort and being cared for. If you want to splurge for takeout I could say this is good, but if I want a special dinner out I'd go somewhere else. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Dined here last night with my husband and another couple. The atmosphere was quiet there was only one other party there the service was excellent. Our server was dope. The crab dip was great. My salad was was good too. UMy virgin piña colada was very delicious. Unfortunately, when it came down to eating my entrée, I did not enjoy the broiled seafood platter. I had a huge crabcake that was broiled. I had steamed shrimp and I requested fried scallops to eat with a loaded, baked potato. Everything was bland. read more

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Decent if you want a dining room environment and seafood. Altho the menu has all types of items to order. My favorite is the sampler platter ...... just found out they're have Maryland crabs all summer . Service is always slow . No matter when or where I feel like the kitchen takes forever ... I know I raved about Ann before but she also has gotten slow was on her darn phone for about 10 minutes before acknowledging me or even checking on her bar .... read more

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My husband suggested we go on a little Sunday Funday adventure being that we were in this area. He stated this place apparently had really good seafood and with the crazy weekend I had, felt like this would bring my spirits up and it did :)))))) He recommended I try the crab cakes and he should've told me to only get one...or a kids meal- these crab cakes were HUGE!!!!! Just delicious lump crab meat and it paired well with my baked potato and coleslaw. To start we had side salads and my salad was also delicious and fresh! My hunnie ordered the broiled snapper and his meal was also delicious. I would venture back here if we are ever in the neighborhood. Plus my favorite coffee shop is literally 10 mins from here...and I'm always looking for a reason to venture there :))))) Anyhoo staff were welcoming and friendly. Our server was attentive and pleasant as well. The restaurant was clean and not really busy on a Sunday afternoon. They offer a variety of meal deals from steaks to pastas. Tuesday nights KIDS EAT FREE... I wish they had hush puppies on the menu! Anyhoo- excellent food, service with a smile and some qt with my hunnie...a perfect place for a Sunday Funday adventure if you ask me. Happy Yelping! read more

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The service was alright. The food, not what Timbuktu used to be. I ordered the steak and cake. The steak, a new york strip, had gristle. And actually tasted a little off. The crab cake was ok. It had a lot more filler than they used to have. The side dishes, salad and "whipped potatoes," the salad was served right after the steak and cake, I really don't think the server knew any better. The salad needs to be served before the entrée.The potatoes were mashed potatoes not whipped. All in all not that great of a meal and there were flies in the dining room. read more

Worth every penny! The crab cakes are ginormous and full of crab and the flounder fillet was bigger than my head, which is pretty big ( tears)-LOL. The restaurant was extremely clean, and the service was super friendly. This is definitely a spot. You should try out if you're visiting the city of Baltimore. My family and I had a great time. read more

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Sometimes have certainly changed. I used to come here with my family on a weekly basis many years ago. I went and recently had a crabcake meal. I asked the waiter was it fried cause he never asked me that I want fried broil. It seemed to be fried to me, but he promised me it was grill. Nevertheless, the crabcake is now absolute trash. Do not waste your time or your money. Customer service was also not very good. The host set us right in the service station area when the restaurant was pretty empty. Oh and all my visit should've been less than one hour. Never again. read more

Picked this place for a friends get together and so glad we did. Food was super delicious! We ordered the Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter, an awesome offering of mini crab cakes (8), large shrimps(8), scallops (8) & 2 half rack of baby back ribs We also ordered calamari, crab soups, crab cakes and a mushroom & Swiss burger & fries ( someone was craving a burger ‍) Everything was perfectly scrumptious!!! Service was good, just a couple hiccups like some of the food took awhile, had to wait for the French fries but otherwise not a biggie. Restaurant is comfortable & clean , nothing fancy but go for the food, so yummy !!!! read more

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Food was alright - we tried the platter and it was a good amount of food, but it was lacking flavor. The fettuccine alfredo and pork ribs were probably the best part of our meals even though we got seafood as well. The ambiance is a bit over stimulating - a little old school inside with the interior design, with bright lights, a large mirror in the dining room, and flies kept flying around our food. Our server was very nice and on top of things. I went back for their comedy show in the basement section of the restaurant and it was a decent experience. Very diverse comedians. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

The servers were very attentive and prompt. It's a large restaurant with ample seating and can accommodate groups. The portion sizes and variety of options is a plus compared to other seafood restaurants. We had the seafood pasta which is one if the few I've seen to have crab cake in it, a couple of shrimp would go well with it as it only comes with mussels. We also had the biggest seafood platter that comes with scallops, a stuffed shrimp, crab cake and shrimp. The scallops are ok but don't have the richest flavor so it might be better to get a different platter that has fish plus the option for fried shrimp or oysters. The crab cakes have the maximum amount of filler for me to still enjoy it, it's flavorful. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Seafood platter comes with two sides - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

I went here for lunch. It was me and my family. Charlotte was my server. She was nice and informative. I purchased the Fried Seafood Platter, Rockefeller Oysters, and a strawberry margarita. My family enjoyed their food as well except my baby sister. She unfortunately found a eyelash in her food. They did remove her order, but she didn't want anything else. I also wanted to add that the outside of the restaurant is interesting. It looks like the restaurant share the parking lot with school busses and moving trucks....interesting. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Strawberry Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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I came here alone on a Friday evening during happy hour and was seated at the bar. At first glance, the restaurant has a standard layout. The bartender immediately got me a cup of water, handed me a menu and gave me some recommendations (the bartender did an awesome job of managing the bar and her seated section). I ordered mussels as an appetizer and fried flounder, fried shrimp and a large crabcake. My sides were steamed broccoli and fries. Also a had a couple of gin and tonic because I had to take advantage of happy hour. All the food was great and I was surprised at how huge my order was. Overall I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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My experience was good. My dad had the prime rib I tried a piece it was flavorful and well cooked . The crab cakes I ordered were good as well. I do feel like they were undercooked because I did taste a lot of batter which I didn't care for but the sheer size it should've been expected. The house salad was good though everything else I'd say was typical . read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Me and my dad - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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A coworker booked this spot for us for dinner on a Monday night and while I hate giving less than stellar reviews: this is truly only worth two stars because of the great servers. The place looks very dingy and even has a hole in the wall in the waiting area, the bathroom had a very strong smell of urine and needed to be cleaned badly, and everything is in need of paint and repair. We both ordered the crab cake and it was really bland and underwhelming. The sides were also not good. Definitely not a place I would recommend. read more

Today is Monday, Lobster night. Today is our 53rd wedding anniversary. So we wanted a special meal. My bride loves lobster. So she ordered the 2 lobster special. I ordered prime rib medium rare. The waiter came out at 7:15pm stating they are sold out of lobster. THE DINING ROOM WAS EMPTY !! GO FIGURE . My prime rib came out well done. I had the waiter take it back. My wife ordered scallops. Her meal came out without cocktail sauce or tartar sauce or melted butter. My prime rib came out medium rare but tough and no horseradish sauce. What a dissatisfiding meal. This place at one time was great. SORRY TIMBUKTU WE ARE TAKING OUR $$ TO G&M. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. P.S. THEY ADD THE TIP AUTOMATICALLY TO YOUR BILL AND HAVE THE GAUL TO ADD A TIP LINE IN THE BILL SO YOU TIP TWICE. read more

Timbuktu was the first time when I landed in Baltimore. I opted to sit at the bar and did wait a little while before I was greeted and provided a menu. For dinner I chose the platter which included scallops, shrimp, mini crab cakes and BBQ ribs. Along with my order I was served cubed feta cheese, cucumbers, olives, tomato, and lemons. Washing everything down with a Hennessey margarita. Very tasty! read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

Was one of my favorite places to get a crab cake,I dunno after my recent visit. The restaurant was busy, as usual. No complaints there. We were seated pretty fast and our server was polite and pretty good. We ordered some oysters (the waitress had no idea where they came from) for appetizer. They were good. We also ordered a steak and crab cake, and a seafood platter. For the most part the food was okay. The crab cakes that came out on both plates were extremely salty. You could not taste much more then the salt. The steak was ordered medium rare (warm pink center). It came served RARE (cold dark center). I asked to have the steak redone. They threw it under a heater for a few more mins and made it edible. Sorry to say, this might be my last time at this restaurant. read more

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Fist time here, my fried and I heard about the restaurant from social media and referrals Menu attached Great service We came specifically for the crab cakes read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

You can approve with Customer. Service and Managent skills. I had a stroke and haven't been here in while. My cousins was here from Atlanta and Texas, they was flabbergasted over the food and service. 1st- it was empty when we got there and took over 30 minutes for soft drinks to arrive. It was 6 of us 2 nd- Another party of about 12 came in. Our waiter waited on them, they received food and check before us. 3rd- we paid with cash but, charged us check fee. We spoke to Manager who was unconcerned and stated they charge everyone extra. We did get it removed 40 minutes later. One guest had to wait for her 24 cents. read more

Timbuktu Seafood Restaurant will always have a soft spot in my heart. This was one of my very first "date night" spots as a young woman -- back when seafood dinners felt like luxury and I was just stepping into my fine dining era. The crab cakes? PACKED with crab. No filler, not breadcrumbs pretending -- real, generous lumps of crab that make you understand why they're known for it. The decor gives classic nautical vibes -- very traditional seafood house energy. Now, let's be honest: the wait on Fridays and Saturdays can be long, but that's pretty expected for a DMV staple. And for whatever reason, the location always confuses my GPS. I don't know why, but every single time it feels like I'm circling the block questioning my life choices. Still, it remains a DMV classic and holds such a special place in my early "fine dining" memories. I've evolved GREATLY since those days -- but Timbuktu? She was part of the foundation. read more

Timbuktu had been on my list for a while,especially since it's known around the DMV for its crab cakes So for Valentine's Day I figured it was the perfect excuse to finally try it. With so many seafood spots in this area, it's honestly hard to find crab cakes that are actually packed with real crab meat. We originally made reservations, but when we arrived around our scheduled time we realized the vibe was more casual than we expected, so we decided to change clothes and come back a little later. Parking was a bit tight ,but we still found a space. Even without a reservation, the wait was only about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad at all for Valentine's night. The restaurant itself is pretty large with what looked like three dining rooms, so there's plenty of seating. Some areas are brighter, others more dim, but overall the atmosphere is nice and comfortable. Our waitress was amazing,despite how busy it was. They start you off with complimentary bread and butter; it's standard bread, nothing memorable, but a nice touch. The Valentine's special had already sold out, but honestly I wasn't too pressed because I came for the crab cakes. I ordered the fried seafood platter with flounder, shrimp, a crab cake, and two sides (potato salad and house salad). My date got a broiled seafood platter with an 8-oz crab cake, stuffed shrimp, scallops, and two sides. Surprisingly, the sides were good! The house salad was fresh and flavorful, and as someone who's picky about potato salad, I have to admit theirs was really good. It leaned mustard-forward but in a good way. The shrimp tasted freshly breaded in-house, the fish tasted fresh, and nothing had that frozen flavor. But the true star of the show was the crab cakes. Absolutely delicious. Packed with lump crab meat, well-seasoned, and flavorful. Even fried, mine was still rich, tender, and full of crab. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Timbuktu, especially if you're serious about finding a quality crab cake in the DMV. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Fried Seafood Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

I haven't been to Timbuktu in years. Even then I used to order from the carryout. I met with some girlfriends for lunch. We dined in and our server was very nice! I ordered from the appetizer menu and was highly satisfied. I also recommend the cream of crab soup. I ordered a bowl. PERFECTLY MADE! When I tell you there was chunks of crabmeat in every spoonful. So delicious. I am looking forward to my next visit. No complaints at all with plenty left over to take home. Definitely will be returning. read more

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Hands down, best crab cakes outside of Baltimore! Came here on a date and heard it was the best little known gem, and they weren't lying. Everything was great! Our server was super kind. While the decor and ambiance wasn't that fancy, the food was solid. read more

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One of my favorite spot to go to in Baltimore. The food is always a hit. Service is great. But unfortunately the atmosphere is dated. It's time to freshen up the joint read more

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We absolutely love Timbuktu! It's our go‑to spot for karaoke nights and family birthday celebrations, and every visit reminds us why. The staff is consistently warm, attentive, and genuinely committed to making each experience special. I recently hosted a birthday celebration for my husband, and Omar was phenomenal. He worked closely with me to personalize entrées for our 40 guests--surf, turf, lots of appetizers and everything in between. Every dish was delicious, beautifully prepared, and served with care. Anne and Charles are our favorite servers, but honestly, we've had wonderful experiences with every team member, from the dining room to the carry‑out staff. Timbuktu delivers great food, great service, and great energy every single time! read more

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Extremely Disappointing Birthday Dinner We chose Timbuktu to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday because we used to drive 45+ minutes just to enjoy their crab cakes. Sadly, this was one of the worst dining experiences we've had. Our reservation was at 5:30 PM. We were seated immediately, but our server didn't greet us for 15 minutes. Appetizers took another 30 minutes, and although we ordered our entrées around 6:30 PM, we didn't receive our food until 7:30 PM. My husband ordered his entrée medium rare, it arrived well done. I ordered the double crab cakes, which were nothing like what we remembered. They were packed with filling, not primarily lump crab, and honestly, I couldn't eat them. We asked for the manager, and his demeanor was incredibly unsettling. After hearing our concerns, his first solution was dessert. My husband couldn't eat his meal, and no one at our table was satisfied with the food or service. When I asked for something to be removed from our $250+ bill, we actually had to negotiate for a 15% discount. The manager blamed the slow service on being short-staffed. My question was: Why weren't we told when we arrived? We could have made the decision to leave. We also watched three parties leave while we were there. We paid the bill and left everything on the table, no leftovers, no to-go boxes, just disappointment. What should have been a special birthday celebration turned into a frustrating and embarrassing experience. Timbuktu has lost customers who once went out of their way to come here. If you're considering this restaurant for a special occasion, I would seriously think twice. read more

Ordered the stuffed shrimp with a salad, baked potato, and crème of crab soup. It was a good meal. Nice sized crab cakes and the soup had chunks of crab meat. The unsweetened iced tea was also good. Well worth it! read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Stuffed shrimp (3) for the meal with 2 sides. - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

We visited this location for my husband's birthday dinner. My husband really enjoyed his seafood combination platter, and our daughter loved her chicken pasta. My crab cake was flavorful and delicious. My steak was definitely overcooked, but to avoid ruining the birthday mood, I chose not to send it back. Overall, we had a wonderful time celebrating my King. The service was spot on--they even brought out a slice of strawberry shortcake for him in honor of his special day. Will definitely return. read more

I had high hopes for the crab cakes at Timbuktu. Sadly they were not good. First, our server was fantastic and I would rate him 5 stars and same with the hostess. The one star was all about the crab in the crab cake! After seeing all of the rave reviews on social media, we decided to give them a try. We started with the crab stuffed mushrooms which was the same crab they used in the crab cakes. They were not good. I knew with the first bite that this was not made with Maryland Blue crab. The taste and texture are very different. I confirmed with staff that the crab meat used in their crab dishes is imported from Venezuela. The meat is pasteurized in Maryland and then allowed to pass as Maryland crab... bad business if you ask me and that is so misleading for the people looking for the real deal. Maybe their other food is good but I won't be back. Thanks for a disappointing meal. read more

Well I've been hearing about this place for several years, but because I live in VA I wasn't sure when I would be in the area to go give them a try. So a couple weeks ago I happen to be in the area and so glad I gave them a try. Now I didn't even think about trying what they were famous for...crab cakes. I decided to get oyster Rockerfella (no swine) and a lbs of the spiced jumbo shrimp with came with onions and potatoes. When I tell you those were some jumbo shrimp for real! Yas Yas Yas! They were steamed to perfection and seasoned really well. I didn't know the portions were going to be that big so I had to take a doggie bag home...lol Now the waitress put me on game and sold me a drink that wasn't on the menu. When I tell you it was on point! Oh yea! I can't remember the name but I believe it had Jameson or Jim bean in it and if you not careful could sneak up on ya! So I can't wait to give them a try again and this time try those crab cakes and get those shrimps again! read more

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If you know, you know, just in case you don't... let me tell you! Attended a birthday dinner, it was an amazing event!! It was a seafood restaurant with the best seafood!! The menu offered other food options. The food was so delicious!! I had soft shell crab, stuffed with delicious crab meat. The service was a little slow, we were a party of 12, so no worries. The decor was nice. read more

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