Cracking Crab — Restaurant in Pensacola

decided to give this place a shot after driving past it for years. I honestly hadn't heard great things, but that was a while ago, and I saw multiple other reviews stating that the reviewer was from Louisiana, and was blown away by the place. Let me start by saying that the service was fantastic. the hosts were welcoming and our waitress was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive throughout our meal. All good there. however, throughout the meal, I couldn't stop thinking "where in Louisiana were these people from?!" Having lived on the Gulf Coast my entire life, I found absolutely nothing that stood out about this place. For starters, my fiancé and I both started the meal with a coconut mojito. Not impressed. It didn't taste bad for your typical $10 restaurant cocktail, but it was never cold and tasted as if there might've been 1.5 ozs of liquor between the two drinks--which says a lot because we drink maybe 10 alcoholic beverages each a year, so we're lightweights. next, I got the gumbo and my fiance ordered the raw oysters. she said the oysters tasted alright, but there was a piece of the shell in the first one that she ended up having to get out of her mouth mid-bite and it seemed like the portion was smaller than we're used to seeing. I thought the gumbo had nice flavor and enjoyed the level of spice, but it was a little rice-heavy and there was too much flour in the roux. For the main course, we got a 1/2 each of the snow crab, shrimp and mussels tossed in the mix of their three sauce options. my fiance thought it was excellent, but I did not like the three sauces mixed together, and subsequently didn't enjoy crab for literally the first time in my life. if I had to make a comparison, the three sauces mixed reminded me of miso soup, or as I like to call it, dish water. definitely seems like a place a tourist might enjoy, but you won't be catching a break on the bill from the beach restaurants, and will be trading a view of the Gulf for a mall parking lot. I'd say Crabs and Shaggy are comparable, but I would recommend both of those restaurants...

5 star everything! My server was awesome, 5 stars. The ambiance is awesome, 5 stars. And the food was awesome, 5 stars. Doesn't get much better than this in a boiled seafood restaurant. From walking into this place, I forgot I was in a mall. It seems like a place you'd find on a beach somewhere. The greeter was ultra friendly, smiley, and sat met wherever I wanted( they had plenty of servers this day). My waitress was equally smiley and kind and on point throughout my entire visit. She explained everything to me because it was my first time and gave me plenty time to chose. She was tentative without forgetting about me or coming to my table every 2 minutes. Spot on service. And it's like she knew what I needed and when, without me even asking. Great service. The food was amazing. Presentation was great. Mind you, my food came in a steamer bag and the food came out within 5 min. Probanly shorter and the shrimp and crab legs were hot, fresh, and very well seasoned (cajun). I'm from New Orleans, and this place actually tops most places I've been to. They give you a bucket for your trash, gloves ans a bib, a large round tray to crack your crab legs on, and the whole experience left me walking away clean (no crab smell on my clothes or hands) and belly full. It was actually enough food: 1/2 lb shrimp and a cluster of crab legs, with potato and corn. And at a great price, too. I know this sounds like an infomercial, but this place was THAT good. My only recommendation would be is to offer a dinner roll or some sort of bread. Maybe french bread to compliment the cajun dish.

Anyway, you gotta try this place. Especially if you are a seafood lover like myself. 10 stars, check the pics. Gorgeous place. They really put a ton of money into this place so I know the owners must really care because they are really trying. This is a lot of effort to be so good on all levels. Highly, highly...

I am a manager of a Cajun seafood fine dining restaurant here in town. That being said, the food was just Ok. It was kinda like a lower class Red lobster as far as the cuisine. The atmosphere was nice and it seemed pretty clean... BUT HERE IS THE KICKER!!! I had an issue with our server. As I said, I'm in the business, so I rarely complain about anything because it is such a "Karen" thing to do. It has to be REALLY bad for me to say anything to anybody. Our server was the worst I've EVER had. She was rude, inattentive, acted as if it we were interrupting her day and spoke to us as if we were unintelligent children. I asked to speak to a manager, on the way out. He came out to speak with me and I just about fell over in complete shock!! He was rude and condescending and made EVERY excuse in the book for his server. I never complain and when and if I do it is to make the manager aware so they can address the issue and improve their business or possibly retrain an employee. BUT this manager was the most unprofessional, rude, condescending person I have ever met!!! And this is a manager of a customer service industry. He is losing guest for this company and obviously hiring incompetent employees. I didn't get one smile or welcoming word from ANYONE that worked there the entire visit. I will voice my opinion about this establishment if I am asked... Just as if I would tell people how great a place is if it is. My 25 years in this town and in the restaurant industry is valued and my opinion is respected. I was the wrong guest to have such a horrible experience because I will make it known. Don't waste your time or energy on this totally unprofessional...