The Crab Shop — Restaurant in District of North Vancouver

The Crab Shop

The Crab Shop positions itself as a go-to spot for seafood, but unfortunately, my experience fell short of expectations. While the menu offers classic seafood fare, the execution was underwhelming, both in terms of flavor and value.

Clam Chowder – 4/10

A well-made clam chowder should be rich, creamy, and brimming with seafood flavor, but this version missed the mark. The consistency was too watery, lacking the comforting thickness that defines a good chowder. Additionally, there was no meat in it, which made it feel incomplete. The seasoning was well-balanced, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to appreciate.

Crab Cake Burger – 3/10

A great crab cake burger should highlight the sweetness and delicate texture of the crab, but this one was uninspired. The patty itself was bland, with no real depth of flavor. The toppings—mayo, lettuce, and tomato—were minimal and did nothing to enhance the overall taste. The result was a sandwich that felt generic and forgettable.

Fish Taco – 3/10

While the fish was cooked properly, the taco as a whole lacked excitement. The portion size was small, and the ingredients didn’t come together in a way that elevated the dish. There was no distinct seasoning or sauce to enhance the flavors, making it an entirely forgettable bite.

Service – 3/10

The service was passable but unimpressive. The staff seemed disengaged, and the pacing was slow, which detracted from the overall dining experience.

Ambiance – 3/10

The restaurant’s interior felt dated and somewhat cramped. It lacked a welcoming atmosphere, and the overall aesthetic did not add to the dining experience.

Price – 3/10

Given the quality of the food, the pricing felt unjustified. The dishes did not deliver on flavor or portion size, making the meal feel overpriced for what was offered.

Verdict

The Crab Shop failed to impress, offering underwhelming flavors, lackluster service, and an ambiance that didn’t add to the experience. With high prices that don’t match the quality of the food, there’s little reason to return. For a seafood meal worth savoring, better options are...

Called the store on Wed May 1st to order for pick up. Conversation goes like this: Me: I'd like to put in a order for pick up. Lady: sorry, the kitchen is closed. Me: I know it's 5:45 though. Lady: no, it's 5:46 and the cutoff is 5:45. Me: my phone says 5:45 as we're speaking and I know exactly what I want. Lady: no, it's 5:46 and it's too late. Me: did you just hang up on me? And she had. called back right away, fax machine sound, recalled funny high pitched beep, noise. called back again and the same lady answers, it goes as follows: Me: it's me again. I am aware of the policy to close the kitchen for orders at 5:45 and I'm sorry I'm cutting it on the line but I had my brother on the other line confirming if he was coming for dinner. Lady: it's too late we're closing the kitchen. Me: I guess I'm trying to understand why you hung up on me. I live down the street, I'm a regular customer and have been for years so I'm very aware of the 5:45 cutoff but I was on time for my order. Lady: look, the employees are entitled to leave on time and to do that we have to shut down the kitchen at 5:45 to cool down the fryer. Me: I suppose if you're ok with me posting this experience ... did you just hang up on me again? AND SHE DID, A SECOND TIME. So I go to Subway, which is next door to Crab Shack to get take out and I arrive at 5:59 (according to my phone) and the Crab Shack is closed, dark, no lights on, no employees in site, not even any cars in the area. So I suppose the 6:00 closing time means - I'm out of the building and gone, not a trace of me before 6:00. Now I get it if there's a reason, beginning of slow pitch baseball season, kids soccer game, drinks on a patio, whatever. But to pull the hard line 5:45 / 5:46 then hang up on me TWICE. Wow. Customer service at a new level. And I like the place, have been going there since they were a little cinder block hole in ground at the old location on Dollarton. My advice. Do NOT order at the end of the day. You might not like what you get because you are apparently encroaching on the employees right to leave on time (sic, I...

I have lived on the North Shore and supported this business as far back as I can remember. As a matter of fact my first memories of this shop was a small shack on the side of Dollarton Highway. They have always had good food but lately the quality has been going down. I still felt a loyalty this business as they were the little guy on the North Shore and I, aswell as my extended family, always try and support local businesses. However my latest experience here has severed my relationship with this business and I would caution anyone reading this to think twice about spending your money here. My wife and I were at the river behind Maplewood farm with our son and had decided on a fish and chip dinner. We called the shop and attempted to place a take out order over the phone. The girl on the phone was very rude to my wife in no short order informed her that they weren't taking orders over the phone. They have always done this in the past so we were a little shocked but we tried to accommodate by letting them know it wasnt a problem and that we would be there as fast as possible. She gave the woman her name and let her know we were on our way. We quickly packed our stuff and buckeled our child into his carseat and were off. When we arrived at 5:35 ( They close at 6:00) The woman behind the counter decided that she was not going to take our order. She tried to tell my wife she told her no later than 5:30 but we explained that we had a small child and it was rush hour and that we had made it there as fast as possible. She was even more rude in person than she was on the phone and my wife left there almost in tears after the way she was treated. I am shocked at the decline in service and the treatment of longtime loyal customers. I would advise anyone who reads this to spend your money elsewhere as this place has strayed far from what it once was. We wont be coming back here after this and I will be telling everyone I know about the service we received. Im quite upset but Im sure there are better places on the north shore who know how to treat customers properly and...