Crabby Dick's (Dolly Spanker's) — Restaurant in Delaware City

First part of this review was from summer 2019. Below is update. Honestly I also don't know how this gets 4 stars. Asked for a table for 6 from inexperienced very young host...in the shade. She brings us to a table in the sun. Asked for another table and she honored our request. Wings were good. Shrimp was a best marginal. Ammonia after taste. Nachos looked unappitizing, but did not taste bad. I believe they need an owner (John) or an experienced Manager to work on their Quality Assurance with food, service and overall server demeaner. I would not recommend to others. Sad because we have been here several times by boat and are often disappointed. Not many restaurants that you can go to by boat...asked others what they thought and no one raved about the place.

Update: Went by boat on April 17 2021. They are doing major renovations that are looking great. Arrived mid day and sat at main bar. The bar had one other couple sitting. Bartender served us in a timely manner but was completely socially disconnected. My thought is if you connect with the customers your tip will be bigger, even if you need to fake it. Bartending 101? Wife ordered broiled crab balls which were way better than having them fried. I ordered creme of crab soup. It lacked crab and was only luke warm. The overall taste was good. I hope that the major efforts that are being put into the renovation also translates in an effort to improve the overall customer experience. Then we can start raving about it to others. Right now though I will just not make the effort. Please make this into a great boater destination...as there are few in the...

Awesome spot with amazing views and history! There is indoor and outdoor seating on a patio that also had a bar. Wheel chair ramps on both sides of the restaurant and plenty of parking.

We sat outside at the bar with a view of the water and Fort Delaware. Our bartender was amazing. Handmade our drinks (muddled fruits, etc) and had no problem adjusting a signature drink to remove something I didn't want.

There was also a couple at the bar that asked for popcorn and the bartender not only asked every bar patron if we wanted popcorn too, but made a fresh batch so we all had fresh popcorn. Little things like that make a huge difference in an experience and we thought he was so awesome.

We ordered happy hour food to give a couple things a try. The crab balls were delicious and packed with lump meat. Wings were so so...kind of dry but that happens sometimes and with a little extra sauce they were good. We also got the crab claw cocktail just to try it. Honestly, as a person that eats blue crabs during the summer I wasn't impressed. The claws were very dry, almost if they had been over steamed which made them hard to bite off the claw. If they are meant to be eaten almost like a shrimp it was really hard to do. My husband got the "best of both" crab soup and it was absolutely awesome in flavor and consistency...probably the best crab soup I've had in DE in a long time.

I would absolutely recommend this spot as a stop off the beaten path with great views and a good menu. Although some of the food we tried was so so, I 100% believe eating a meal there would prove worth it as I know there were many food options that...

HORRIBLE OVERALL EXPERIENCE. Overly high prices bad service all the way around and bad food I wouldn't recommend this place!! If you read this review keep in mind they were not that bizzy or understaffed. My wife I traveled 25 minutes to this place ignoring the past reviews we were reading along the way . First we stood at the hostess desk for 10 min before anyone came up to us. It took another 25 minutes to get a table and we could see tables empty literally right in front of us. The waitress was unfriendly and rude in fact we seen her a total of 3 times at our table.we had appetizers, witch ended up being the only edible thing . We had mussels and battery dip fish .the food came out ice cold by another waiter. And we didn't see ours for atleast 15 min when we finaly flagged down one of the others. My wife sent her mussels bk in hopes for some fresh ones as waitress stated instead she got same bowl witch had been microwaved to the point that what mussels that were finally opened were nothing but mush. I attempted to eat my breaded fish but quickly gave up .at the end when the waitress finaly came to give us our bill we told her about the food she took it away and came bk with the bill that only had only the mussels and fish off they still charged us for the sides witch were not ate witch was fine at this point we just wanted to leave. I understand short staff ,super bizzy but this was not the case when we're there. I travel all around for good seafood and this is not a place I would recommend for even just...