Shakin Crab — Restaurant in Manassas

Valentine's Day dinner at Shaking Crab in Manassas was a unique mix of a warm family environment and delicious seafood, different from the typical romantic setting. In spite of the busy atmosphere, the friendly crowd and the warm reception we got when we arrived created a welcoming ambiance for the night.

The exceptional service stood out, as our server was patient and helpful, expertly navigating us through the menu without any sense of rush—a rare find in the busy Valentine's Day dining atmosphere. The restaurant displays a special charm with walls and surfaces covered in signatures and messages from past customers, showcasing the memories made here. Even though marker contributions are no longer possible, the tradition continues to thrive.

Although there isn't an unlimited dining option, the prices of the dishes seemed fair considering the quality and portion sizes. We opted for the seafood platter, which was a delightful assortment of oceanic treats: one pound of snow crab legs, headless shrimp, crawfish, and mussels, accompanied by half a pound of sausages, four corn cobs, and four potatoes, all for $70.99. We included boiled eggs in our meal to fully immerse ourselves in the Shaking Crab experience.

Each bite was a delightful surprise—the dishes were served piping hot, seasoned to perfection, and to my pleasant surprise, the mussels were free of any sand, a detail that seafood lovers will surely enjoy. It's evident that Shaking Crab offers more than just food; they provide a culinary experience that is difficult to criticize.

The only hiccup in an otherwise flawless evening? The open jukebox policy that allowed for a mix of hip-hop tracks clashed with the mood I had hoped for. I felt a jazz or blues backdrop would have complemented the ambiance and culinary delights more fittingly.

Valentine's Day at Shaking Crab was truly unforgettable: exceptional service, a welcoming ambiance, and seafood that was simply perfect. Although the music wasn't to my taste, it was a minor issue in an otherwise fantastic dining experience. Shaking Crab is a standout destination in Manassas for anyone craving a seafood feast, whether it's a special celebration or a laid-back meal with family...

I've been coming to this restaurant for a couple years and unfortunately it seems to have gone a bit downhill recently. The seafood boils are good (fair portions, flavorful, a few dipping options to choose from). Nothing that will blow your socks off but a good spot to get your seafood fix. You are given complementary popcorn, a sanitary wipe, gloves, and a bib for eating which are nice as well. However, the service has seemingly gone downhill in my experience.

I was recently here for an event which had been reserved and notified ahead of time. Upon arrival, it was easy to tell that they were understaffed as the waitresses were running around having to balance a larger party as well as several other tables. I noticed that there was also a manager at the bar who instead of helping his busy employees, was seen on his phone and lounging around several times. Due to our service being slow, we asked the manager for a few items and he immediately scolded at the already stressed waitress for not tending to us. While he did get us our items afterwards, his reaction prompted the waitress to do the same which she later found out was not necessary. And you can take a good guess as to what the manager was up to several minutes later.

While this was not the only observed incident, it's a classic case of poor management and communication. Not sure if the owners of the restaurant have changed but definitely a poor experience after having no issues with this establishment in the...

The music is too loud, the waiter said he would turn it down. It still was too loud. The clincher of the night was when I only ordered a pound of crab legs and a half a pound of sausage. Well, the waiter made a mistake and put me down for the crab leg and shrimp bag which was about 15.00 more expensive. I did let him know halfway through eating it that they were shrimp in my bag and he goes oh he goes let me go back and check the ticket, I said, I never ordered the shrimp. he did come back and say he made the error. However, he proceeded to tell me that since I still ate it, that I still have to pay the price of it. I said you made the error, I said, why should I be charged for some thing that I didn’t order? He ended up giving me 10% off which was only five dollars off and he didn’t charge me for my iced tea which is about three dollars. so I ended up still paying $15 more than I should have. they refused to take responsibility for their error and would not charge me what I originally ordered. The waiter said, since it was his mistake I didn’t have to leave him a tip. It was extremely awkward, and even the waiter said, it’s not even busy in here, I’m not sure how I made that error. Anyway, I know mistakes happen. But why would I give back my food when I was already started eating it, just to wait another 10 or 15 minutes? They would’ve thrown away the bag anyway. I cannot believe how unprofessional this restaurant is and I used to come here...