Crab House Brooklyn — Restaurant in New York

Okay you obviously came for the real review about this place. You know I don't hold back any punches and I give accolades to all places people and locations that really do wish to do their best and present their best. As far as this place, it is not it. Firstly let me start by saying that I noticed through the duration of my meal they played nothing but R&B or hip hop. This is not cool this is not cool because it tells me you're looking to gain and satisfy only a certain ethnicity and that's not cool at all. I thought for sure it was just me until my buddies which were of different ethnicities White asian and Latino they noticed the same thing. And certainly the people who were dining yes they may have been of African descent but some may like Bach! Or Andre Bocello, I got the idea you want to try to cater to the people who you deem listen to this type of music well I'm here to tell you not everybody listens and enjoy hip hop and R&B continuously while they're trying to enjoy their meal and Converse with the person next to them. I didn't like that from the beginning why don't you switch it up why don't you put some pop music? Or are you making a blanket statement that bCuz black folks patron your place they have to love hip hop & R&B? To get inside you have to go through a dingy hallway you'll see the picture it's kind of scary looking actually. Youll take an elevator upstairs now if you're traveling here and you don't know what this place is and you go into this hallway where there's no concierge downstairs or anything during the time I was there. you may become a little spooked. Remember certain parts of Brooklyn specifically around Tourist areas can be challenging to people who come to enjoy the dining as well as just tourism. This does not downplay Coney Island because a lot of great people come out of Coney Island and Coney Island is one of the places wheretourist do enjoy especially when you have kids. Let's cut to the chase when I came upstairs I was immediately asked do I have a reservation. I answered no do I need one? The woman once again asked do I have a reservation I said no as I began to leave she says no come come sit down are you here for the buffet I told her yes I don't know why you're asking about a reservation if one is not needed especially when you have an empty restaurant? Nonetheless getting down to the food don't let colors fool you because the fish was not all that look at it it was DRY they said it was sea bass what kind of sea bass I don't know I go fishing and I've never seen black sea bass look like that even if it's friedhard. The head was just shaped differently. The food was not arriving piping hot.WHY? I don't know because it was early morning it doesn't make any difference the food should remain piping hot if sat on the table for a minute. The only thing that was piping hot was the fried rangoon, the fish wasn't even hot it sat on a black hot plate as you see in the picture it was medium temperature with a steamy hot sauce poured over it. I must admit the crab legs were good a little dry but not the worst of the worst. There were workers who continuously went outside to smoke a cigarettes on the patio this is not good when you have people you're serving. I think the board of health should really check this place out because I witnessed two times the server go outside smoke a cigarette and come back in without washing his hands or going towards the restroom. You're removing a cigarette which has your saliva on it from your mouth back and forth and now you're coming in to touch plates and service tables? This is definitely not sanitary I'm glad he wasn't my server. But as I said more than one employee I witness something should be done about this immediately. The decor of the place was not that great a bit drab. You would want to be a lot more alluring if you're trying to get the ambience. This place shouldn't even get a three-star from me but I think I'm being gracious because I did like the crab. Will I try it again not this place...

These types of restaurants always confuse me, so here's how my experience ran - Here we go: Place is right on Surf Ave so be prepared to walk among the crowd of shady individuals to get to the front door.

•Check in with Hostess #1 to confirm reservation. Next step, take the elevator, up •Hostess #2 re-confirms your reservation and finds and leads you to a table. •A gentleman hands you menus; One for food, one for drinks, along with a tiny pencil. He comes back to bring wet wipes, bibs, claw/shell crackers and our water. During all those trips he makes, he hopes you'll make an order. •Final trip, he picked up the menu paper that has our choices and took off towards the kitchen. •3 minutes pass and a lovely lady drops off Garlic bread and our drinks •2 more minutes pass and platter after platter after bamboo steamer after bamboo steamer get brought to the table; More than the table could hold. We were 3 bamboo steamers high filled with food.

(Good lawdy, I need a break from all this food!)

We start eating. Crackers in hand, napkins at the ready, butter ready to be dipped in - I'm set to go.

(10 minutes pass)

•A gentleman walks by with a FRESH, NEW menu, to place another order.

(Lawd Haft Mersey on our souls)

(15 minutes pass)

•"Wanna order more?" Inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Decór is minimalistic and modern. Clean. Bathrooms were spotless. Ambiance was calm. Background music playing was "Easy Listening". And most importantly, Cuisine: Super fresh fish. I am so serious. This stuff does NOT sit in the freezer for a year. I don't think this fish gets frozen, ever! It's crazy fresh, and very enjoyable. The items on the menu that were NOT "fish" (such as the chicken wings, the shrimp and garlic pasta, etc ) were not the best. And finally, we did not receive everything we ordered. We marked down on our order list 2 items that we never saw. If they didn't have anymore of those 2 items, we were never informed. We were just not served them.

By the way, YES - You DO have to tip the wait staff a MINIMUM of 10% of your bill.

End result: We WILL return in the future.

Loved the fish, loved...

Let's just say, If I could leave no stars I would. A group of us excited to go out and enjoy some food and alcohol but never got the chance. Called made the reservations, informed the person on the phone that we have one meat allergy and one seafood allergy in the group, they said okay informed us that we are good and have the options for both guests. We get to the restaurant and sat down while trying to decide what we should get. We are preparing our questions to make sure they know of the allergies at the table. We ask to make sure that the seafood and land food does not get cross contaminated. We are then informed everything is cooked separately except the ribs and shrimp which is fried in the same oil. We inform them that, that is not safe for people who have allergies. The manager responds and asks "is it a severe reaction?". I then tell him it does not matter an allergy is not to be played with, you do not cross contaminate the food you prepare because of the fact that you offer land and sea. His reaction was not one of concern he then said that the kitchen is very busy so they cannot change the oil to make sure the shrimp and ribs do not use the same oil. WHAT? First: you are serving both options to people which means you never mix the oil and surfaces. Second: your customers who bring you business is informing you of how dangerous that can be. And Third: Your reaction is to say your kitchen is too busy so you cannot change that one thing?. Is RIDICULOUS!!!!! That's a lawsuit waiting because some people have life threatening reactions to seafood and also to meat. So, we had to leave and get somewhere else to eat. And the manager walked away still not noticing how serious that situation iSo to anyone going there, that has allergies, please I suggest you ask a lot of questions on the preparation of the food. The way the manager reacted is very shocking and displeasing. Considering that someone's life can be be dangerous and they have no idea. GUARANTEED I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN AND I DO NOT FEEL THE LOSE OF NOT GETTING TO TRY...