Washington Crab — Restaurant in Washington

We dined at the Washington Crab on John Small Avenue for the first time because locals recommended it, but most seafood was fried. Though they do have some lump crab roll options and steamed oysters. It was a Saturday around 6pm. I ordered the steamed crab 6 count. My husband, son and daughter all received their fried seafood and bbq meals, but mine never came out. When it did, the temperature of the crabs was room temp. Not cold, not hot. I noticed one crab had a cracked shell. Cook said they are steamed fresh and he will bring out new crab. Well they brought out “another” platter with hot crabs but the same cracked crab was in this set. Same pattern of cracked shell, so not a different cracked crab. Seems like they just reheated the original. I ate one crab and it was ok. I opened the one cracked crab and inside the gills were slimy and green, not white. Smelled like ammonia. I lost my appetite and didn’t trust eating the rest. The staff was super friendly and nice and offered store credit, but we live a ways away and probably would not eat there again. So he kindly gave refund. When I was leaving, two older ladies had just received their orders of steamed crab and one of them commented “we came a long way for some crab and something just ain’t right about these, too soft”. So idk. Hopefully I don’t get sick from the one I ate. I’ll stick to buying live crab and steaming them myself. I gave a two star instead of just one because the staff was super nice. It’s my only experience there, I hate to give low ratings, especially when they were so nice, but the food was “eh”. I grew up in Florida and always eat fresh caught blue crab since I was a kid. I’m in my 40’s now. Maybe I’ll give crab cakes a try one day, I’m sure they have some other good stuff, but the experience today made me leery. Maybe we should try the Pierce Street...

The WASHINGTON CRAB SHACK is a MUST! Food is always hot and they always use the freshest Seafood!!! We eat here about once a week and have NEVER had anything but excellent service and AMAZING food. Take advantage of their super low priced daily specials and 1.00 oyster day- no limit on FRESH 1.00 Oysters! Kids meals are plentiful and will fill your kids bellies no problem! Unlimited soda and tea and super cold beer! The oyster and clam baskets are huge and they even have fried salmon! Food is made when you order and the kitchen is fast and they always make sure to meet your needs offering different levels of frying and the AHI-Tuna and also the CRAB CAKE BURGERS ARE 12 out of 10. You can get anything grilled if you’re not wanting it fried! Once you’re done eating here head over to their store front and pick ya up some of the freshest fish, oysters, crabs and lobster Eastern North Carolina offers… Some would say maybe in the U.S. We love the store front and get whole flounders and locally sourced shrimp, oysters etc!!!The bags of oysters have a harvested date and we have always gotten oysters harvested in 72 hours or less! Perfect on the half shell or our favorite on the bbq grill!!WE the Davis family would like to thank the owners for keeping a super clean restaurant, super amazing staff and always having super fresh and locally sourced seafood as well as it being very affordable. Seriously we eat here once a week! Btw get the Crabs here… HUGE, Succulent and piping hot!!! Can’t wait to try the FarmVille location soon! Also VETERAN OWNED AND OPERATED!!! Fried oysters are also always on point and perfect and you can taste the freshness!!! Hush puppies and slaw are amazing and the green beans have a Smokey favor to bring you back to when...

One of the best local food places I have been to In my travels around the US. For work and leisure. i always search out the the different local food establishments. ( every state so far other than Alaska). Service to me rates as high as the taste of the food. Even though I entered was seated and immediately recieved a facetime request from my grandchildren, ( they come first) The waitress didnt get lost. ( which does happen more often than not if you turn your attention to something else). I had her and another alternating their attention to make sure I recieved the attention I needed when I was ready. ( I dont know if the waitresses only work the floor on the weekend)..with a choice of inside or outside. I choose the newly expanded outside seating. Covered, fans circulated the air and there was a young lady singing accompanied by a guitarist. I had the Ahi tuna, Seared and seasoned perfectly and as fresh as it gets. Before I left I asked another group close by on their recommendations of non chain local eateries and was given recommendations on various places. Which is how I have come to find many great spots.. come to find out it was a party which included the owners of the establishment. I'm always grateful when an owner of a business will take the time to recommend another establishment that is also in the restaurant business. Its speaks volumes about them. I try to eat someplace new every day that I'm away from home. I will return here again before hitting the road next week to try more...