Crave It On Main — Restaurant in Upper Marlboro

This review is from January 29, 2020:

Note: This was originally a review for another platform. The owner responded to that review and said the register had been replaced and that if a customer says they don't want their food fried hard, the chef is willing to accommodate them.

Back to my Original Review: This truck can be found at lunchtime (Noon to 2 PM) at the corner of 6th and C Streets, SW in Washington DC each Wednesday. This area is typically flooded with food trucks, but this one always stands out, because of its clientele's steady demographic - African Americans (or Black Folks for those not politically correct!)

It's not a Pho Junkies type of line that's multi cultural, diverse and LONG. No. It's a steady, loyal crew of black folks who patronize this truck each week.

I had a taste for both fried chicken and shrimp, so I got the 5 chicken and 5 shrimp combo for approximately $12.

To avoid a very lengthy review, here are my Pros and Cons on my recent experience with the "Crave It" Food truck:

Pros: Value - For the price you pay, you get ample food. I didn't think I would finish my food and I was right. Seasoning: Another palette might likely disagree, but I found the food seasoned well. A conservative palette may find the food too salty. I am separating this distinguishing characteristic from Taste because I think it deserves to be called out given for me, the overall taste falls under my Cons list.

Location: Unlike the other food trucks around the corner on 6th Street, these folks stand out, as they're usually the only truck on C Street. It parks across from the Starbucks, so no matter which direction you're coming from, it is right in the thick of things.

Environmentally friendly: I love that this truck gives you paper bags, not plastic, and that straws are not an automatic given their adverse impact on the environment and our wild-life. This would have easily been a 2-star review, but their environmental consciousness raised it - whether intentional or not.

Condiments: I am a sauce girl. "Crave It" had plenty types and they were not selfish or stingy with them.

Cons:

Taste: This hurts me, because I wanted to love "Crave It." However, I see why the demographic is consistently us and not very diverse (not to say no other cultural persuasion visits this food truck). The food is cooked/fried hard. H-A-R-D!! A perfect example of what I mean is the shrimp. The standard for shrimp are: Juicy and tender to the taste not tough and rubbery. When they're the latter, they're considered overcooked. Now, what's overcooked for one is perfectly cooked for another. So, I don't believe there is a right way to cook anything. It's about the palette and what people like. Our community is INFAMOUS for what other communities consider "overcooking" our food or "killing it twice." A lot of us like... No, love that. Not me. Not as of lately.

Cleanliness/Hygiene: While the two male cooks had on plastic gloves while they cooked, the cashier did not. She didn't handle any food, no more than the sodas and handing the customer their bag. So, that's not the issue. The issue? As soon as you walk up to the window, there's a Square Register (popular cash register) that looks like it has never been wiped down since they got it. It. Is. Filthy. Layers of dirt, folks. I'm staring it down as I place my order and I almost cancelled, because I'm thinking if this register (see pics) is this nasty, what other hygiene issues are there? Call me Bourgeoisie, I don't care! But, first impressions are everything. As a customer, my view inside your business is quite limited. For what I can see, make sure it's clean and as presentable as it can be. Geesh!

Will I be back? I doubt it. Maybe I'll try again and just ask that my food not be cooked so hard and so...

This is a humble, small-town, Black-owned and operated seafood restaurant.

If you didn't know about the restaurant it's easy to pass by it. It's a cute setup on the outside.

The restaurant does orders via: call-in, in-person, dine in, and third party delivery (DoorDash, Über Eats, GrubHub, et cetera) methods. The menu is specific yet has enough that it's varied👏🏾, and not too much that would show they cook general, too broad of food types (which is a GOOD sign 'Crave It On Main') doesn't indicate 👏🏾.

I gotta say I bought the Crab Fries and Strawberry Lemonade 🍓🍋, and that's probably going to be one of my fave meals in rotation ☺️😅🙌🏾💯. I love the Cayenne spice zing of the crab Fries.

When I see Crab Fries on ANY menu - I instantly order it because: 1) it's rare seeing it on menus PERIOD but honestly, 2) EVERY seafood restaurant/other restaurant that makes Crab Fries 🦀🍟 does them differently 💯. So, if you find them on a menu anywhere, YOLO and see how that prospective restaurant does theirs.

I'll be back for more of those. And the Strawberry Lemonade is an amazing price-point please don't EVER change this. It could be your additional bread-and-butter 🍞🧈🌟 😅! 10/10 I love it and was happily satisfied and stuffed 💖!

Loved it 😍: The camaraderie, candor, and assumably family🤔? working relationship the restaurant staff hasvis beautiful. You can tell it was authentic and warm. I live how friendly the young Black staff guy was and how efficient he was working register and cooking. I could easily see the older staff as his grandparents or parents. The older gentleman answering the phone was hilarious with his customer service no-nonsense skills 🤣😂. (He'd probably not looking to get re-trained on this and most likely has an old skill mentality with respect to his communication style 🤔🤷🏾‍♀️...)

So, after ordering I gave a good tip to them ☺️.

Improve it 📝: • 'Crave It On Main' staff should push that they are a Black-owned restaurant using a, bold poster, same as the small sign near the register. I love supporting amazing Black-owned businesses and want to ensure you all are best presented/promoted ☺️🌟🖤🤎!

• I am pretty sure they deliver using GrubHub, Door Dash 😅✅ etc, so maybe within the delivery radius of

My sister in love recommended this restaurant. We ordered the catfish entree with string beans, two seafood rolls and the crab fries. Now, I truly go out of my way to visit another black owned spot off Central Avenue in Capital Heights, and they were on the list to visit but I didn’t want to drive as far. However, this is a close contender and probably my new local venue of choice because of the fries. They weren’t overly saucy, a decent amount of crab to not be overpowering but also not underwhelming. The fried catfish was cooked superbly with a great tender taste and seasoned simply but just right. The string beans were really simple but delicious as well. The remastered can’t be described.

Service was friendly and quick. We were in and out. Parking after 5 in downtown Upper Marlboro was easy as most government buildings were closed for the evening.

I want to give this place a 5 star but the seafood egg roll was the most disgusting thing I’ve tasted almost in my life. If I didn’t try that, I probably would have extended a 5 because the food, service, menu and execution was great. This venue will remain as a place to support. Having read other reviews, I can’t wait to try other fish options. Always grateful for more restaurants in Upper Marlboro and I send blessings to this venue and it’s owners/staff. Support with me. If you found this review helpful, please give me a thumbs...