Crafty Crab Tampa — Restaurant in Citrus Park

On the 5th of October 2021, a friend and I visited this restaurant for lunch as we frequently had in the past. Looking forward to ordering our usual boil in the bag, we decided to try the fried fish and hush puppies as we sat in the restaurant. We ordered the boil in the bag to take home and eat it for dinner. While chatting with our waitress, we complimented the cook regarding the fish. It was seasoned and fried with perfection. However, when night fell and we proceeded to warm up our snow crabs, dungeons crabs, shrimp and potatoes. While we were eating, I made a comment that the cook didn’t do so well with the seasoning today. We laughed and continued to eat. The crabs were a little less seasoned than normal (No big deal), the shrimp were definitely overcooked and the potatoes looked old and dented. We didn’t notice the potatoes until we were almost done eating. Needless to say, we were both feeling sick the next day. So I decided to call and speak with the supervisor Jenny. Ohhhh boy! What a major pain she was. I started off telling Jenny about our experience with the server (excellent) as well as the fish for lunch (excellent). I then proceeded to speak about the taste, texture , looks of the food and that we felt sick the next day. I expressed that we were not satisfied with our experience. Before I could finish, she bluntly interrupted me by saying, “When were you in here and how much was your order?” (Something to that affect). I ended up giving her the time, date, server and amount of order plus the $15 tip that we left. She continued to ask me irrelevant questions and kept placing me on hold as if she didn’t know how to do her job. I am a customer with a valid complaint. Never once did she apologize. Never once did she attempt to compensate us. If she would have just offered 10% off on your next dine in, that would have sufficed. However, this less than a remorseful human being said, there’s nothing that she could do because everything is cooked fresh to order. ((((Lies)))) I was on the phone 20 minutes too long when this could have been resolved in 5 minutes. Unfortunately, this experience will cause me to NEVER return and to spread the word about Jenny and her lack of leadership at your location. You may want to re-evaluate this matter with Jenny. It’s obvious that she needs a refresher on customer service. Thank...

UPDATE ** Since last event I’ve been back twice! The food is always great and one of the the managers did advise that if there is ever a ln issue with my order to please call in 😇

Why 2 stars when the food is GREAT?!

Well, bc lately they’ve been cheating me. I love this restaurant, I literally eat there EVERY week sometimes TWICE a week for nearly 2 months now and always buy enough for 2 ppl.. so you do the math.

Well unfortunately, last week I purchased the crab 🦀 & crawfish 🦞 bag and there was literally barely any sauce in the bag & the crawfish were so tiny I know for a fact they didn’t weight 1/2 a pound. But, I didn’t sweat it. What’s 1 mistake (possibly, right?)

Well, as of today (5/25/22) I purchased 2 different bags, a crab 🦀 & crawfish 🦞 & a whole shrimp 🦐 bag separately. With each bag should come with 2 potatoes 🥔 & 1 corn 🌽 (unless you select otherwise). My shrimp 🦐 bag was missing the corn 🌽(only 2 baby size potatoes were given) & I feel in my soul I was not given a full half of a pound, & again my crawfish 🦞 were tiny, ESPECIALLY the corn 🌽 this time around.

I’m disappointed ☹️ in Crafty. If I pay for something that’s exactly what I expect to get. Twice already I’ve been cheated, which is irritating 😠 bc I spend good money there EVERY week and I’m not exaggerating about how often I go, so I expect the same amount of food every time. (Check out the post below mine, you’ll see how small their corn 🌽 is, it’s like that EVERY TIME)

In reality this restaurant doesn’t give any coupons, customer reward points, or more food when the pickings are slim. But yet will not give a customer ALL of the food that was paid for & give the tiniest crawfish 🦞, potatoes 🥔, & corn 🌽 I’ve ever seen in my life.. where’s the customer appreciation & respect here? At this point I have to bring in a scale and weight my food and count how many corn 🌽 & potatoes 🥔 are in the bag.. Really Crafty??

Now I’m not saying to NOT visit, bc the sauce (BOOM SAUCE) is great, but pls bring a scale and count your food bc they will cheat you.. or better yet, buy their sauce and cook your own seafood 🤷🏾‍♀️ That’s my next option..

Crafty, Please do better.. like you were when I first started coming, or give some type of customer...

My recent experience at Crafty Crab in Tampa was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, the warm and friendly service made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was lively and casual, yet perfectly suited for a memorable night out.

Exceptional menu variety and freshness The menu is a seafood lover's dream, filled with an impressive variety of fresh and flavorful options. We dove into a spread of their signature dishes, and each one was a testament to the kitchen's mastery.

Exceptional crabs and lobsters: The crab and lobster boils, featuring the signature "Boom" sauce, were the star of the show. The seafood was incredibly fresh, and the meat was sweet and tender, soaking up all the delicious, spicy-garlicky flavor.

Perfectly fried catfish: The fried catfish was a revelation. It was perfectly cooked, with a crispy, golden-brown breading and a tender, flaky interior. A complete hit with our group. Delicious oysters: We started with a half-dozen raw oysters, and they were the picture of freshness. Plump and briny, they were the perfect beginning to our meal.

Outstanding service Our server's knowledge of the menu and attentive nature elevated the entire evening. They were genuinely passionate about the food and provided fantastic recommendations, making sure our drinks were always full. The entire staff worked seamlessly to create a welcoming and flawless dining experience.

The final verdict It’s rare to find a place that delivers so consistently on every single front—food quality, exceptional service, and inviting atmosphere. Crafty Crab has set a new standard for seafood dining in Tampa. We left with full bellies, happy hearts, and already planning our next visit. If you're searching for an authentic, messy, and absolutely delicious seafood boil experience,...