The Crab Trap
31 North 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034
The Crab Trap Menu
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Address :
31 North 2nd Street
Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034 - Phone (904) 261-4749
- Website https://www.ameliacrabtrap.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Vincent E.
Speedy friendly service and short wait times, although I'm to understand tourist season is summer not winter so I can't say if they'll keep up with demand once it gets busy. Place was clean. Food was average. They did have a very tasty complimentary fish spread and crackers we enjoyed very much. Overall good...
(4)Micah W.
Surprised by low reviews. The key with the crab trap is to stick with fried foods. Fried shrimp is great. Hushpuppies are amazing. Devil Crab is fantastic. Last time in, they sent us a complimentary fish dip, which was delicious. As far as fried seafood & beer, you can't beat the crab trap on Amelia Island in my estimation.
(4)Tina H.
Had dinner here while on a long weekend get away. Definitely a tourist trap; over priced and not too tasty. Hush puppies were off the chain but onion rings were over-battered and under cooked. Sent them back and received another order only marginally better. Took forever to get our food. There were 10 of us - 6 adults and 4 kids and we specifically asked for the kids food to be out in first but it came our dead last. Staff are very friendly but it doesn't make up for the pricing and quality. The place needs help from John Taffer Big disappointment.
(2)Lauren A.
Coconut Shrimp is delicious! The sauce makes it. This is a great casual dining experience when at the beach. Yes most of this is your typical fried beach fare, but there is something so comforting about the laid back easy going dining experience. We haven't ever had issues with service and the biggest complaint about the food would be that the portions are so big, which is not really a complaint! I'm sure this place can get crowded but I dont remember ever waiting for a table because there is a ton of seating. Great for groups, a date, or families. Enjoy!
(4)Caren T.
Ignore those folks who call this a tourist trap. We had a blast, and the food was good, good, good. We went upstairs to the bar and ate there. No loud kids and a great view. Service was fast and friendly. And, as people say, the hush puppies are to die for.
(5)Jenny H.
Great location and great atmosphere. The building is a huge old brick building with great seafood ambience. I had the corvina which was the fresh catch of the day. It was stuffed and something I would not normally order. It was fantastic. My husband wanted the crab special. It was actually not the night for the special as they change them each week. However the manage said she would let him order it anyway. Great friendly service. Our server Jody really knew what he was doing. We ate on the second floor. There is a nice view, but since it is an older building the windows are not huge. The service was great and I would go again.
(4)Bob D.
Had visited the Crab Trap at St Simons Island Ga so when we saw this place at Amelia (with the same logo) we thought we couldn't miss. Our server was very new but tried very hard to take care of us and did a good job at it. Food was great! Calamari was the best we've had. Manager came over and my wife asked him if they were related to the one at St Simons. He said they were run independently but were of the same ilk. Later the owner came by and my wife asked him the same thing and he went off about "not being involved in any way with the restaurant in St Simon" , turned around and walked away. He turned a lovely evening into a "grumpy" event. Maybe he and the owner of the other Crab Trap aren't buddies, but he shouldn't disparage the reason we came there in the first place.
(3)Murr P.
Just went there to try it out. Service was goood but the food was underwhelming. Pretty bland and pricey.
(2)Kenny S.
Had smoked crab dip & 50 cent wings. Both good and hot. We had fired shrimp, fresh & seasoned well. Fries, baked potatoes & slaw were all good. Tarter sauce good. Prices on lunch plates good. $12 for shrimp plates with hush puppies, slaw & side. Will go back.
(4)Duffy J.
Great place. We had a party of 24 and 15 were kids and they got us seated right away. This place is great! Love this place.
(5)Pam F.
Classic, tourist restaurant. Old building with charm. Can see sunset from some tables. Food is ok. Service wasn't good this visit. Lots of better restaurants in downtown Fernandina Beach. Of course, they all had a wait list
(3)Ronnetta W.
the food at the crab trap is really nice. I've visited 2-3 times since moving to the island. they offer free seafood dip with meals. the dip is wonderful! the service is always great with friendly and prompt staff. the atmosphere is comfortable, and the prices are good! good drink specials. check out the crab trap!
(4)Fandza R.
Food is good. You get 10% discount if you stay at Amelia Hotel and Suites. Juan was a fantastic waiter, suggested the White Russian ^^ and made sure we got eth okay.
(4)Ted S.
The Crab Trab, in downtown Fernandina Beach, is a middle of the road restaurant with a customer base most likely made up of people who want seafood but don't want to drive to get it. We decided to have our Sunday lunch here and I was satisfied but not overly impressed. My wife got grilled salmon over a bed of rice which she said was delicious. My daughter had fried shrimp and what seemed to be French fries with extra batter on the outside. The shrimp were pretty tasty and cooked well. We also ordered a cup and a bowl of the crab soup which wasn't worth ordering. WAY too many green peppers which completely put the taste of the soup out of balance. There was shredded crab meat in the soup but it left a lot to be desired. The restaurant building is located in what looks like "old town" Fernandina Beach. The location seems to be alright, but with other places available close by, I don't think I would come again.
(3)Larry L.
Horrible experience. Our family of four had the seafood platter for two (looked terrible), wife had the fish platter (swai was the fish) and looked very average, I had the deviled crab (go to Captain D's). All in all I'm out $100 bucks for a lousy meal. To add to the experience we had to wait an hour after being told it would be 30 minutes and had to wait another hour to get our dinner. The slaw was soupy and mine had sugar in it and green beans had to be from a can. I vote to rename this place the Crap Trap.
(1)Katie L.
We fell right into the typical tourist trap. Frankly we had better food after our Triathlon!! We were greeted with a "just the two of you?" Yes I'm sorry I don't have a larger party therefore guaranteeing a larger tip. Then seated. We sat for FIFTEEN MINUTES with several people passing by before we were even acknowledged. When we were acknowledged, it was by a young man who was not our waiter but who didn't mind getting us drinks. Happy hour has great prices BUT the bar tender is by himself. By himself. At the busiest time of the day - dinner time. Good luck getting a martini before happy hour ends at 7. My husband had two bourbon and cokes and I had to ask FOUR times before I ever got my martini. The martini was poorly mixed and seemed to just be a little sour apple mix with a ton of vodka on top. Should not have been that difficult for them to make and make well! But it was only $3..... The Blue Crab Soup had quite a bit of crab but was very watery (where was the cream????) and lacking salt. Not worth the $$$. The fish dip was mostly mayonnaise with one large chunk of fish found at the bottom of the bowl. The fish was over-cooked and rubbery. For $24.99, I expected it to fall right apart and melt in the mouth. The seafood casserole was cheesy but only contained five measly shrimp and I could not find the crab meat in the casserole and it was $18!!!!! Will never go back. My husband and I have come to Amelia three times a year for several years now and have yet to find a restaurant where we didn't feel taken advantage of. Poorly run and the owners are clearly maximizing profit and over working the staff. And the quality is less than acceptable. My husband and I both live in Jacksonville, we know seafood, and we cannot believe we fell for this total trap!! We should have left when we sat for 15 minutes with no service. That was the first clue that the experience was going to be awful.
(1)DeAngelis F.
Some of the most average food I've ever had. I got the fish sandwich with fries and grits and the only thing I liked was the grits. The fish was flavored but the bun was so average that I just ate the fish by itself. The fries were very strange; they looked and tasted like fried grease. It was really odd. Lastly, waiting for the food took forever and that's just acceptable when you're served below average food.
(2)Ajit K.
Service: Really slow service on the food. Waited for 45 mins to get food from order even though place was not full. They did try to make it up to us. Food: quality was poor. Don't order the Filet Mignon.
(1)Bill F.
Great value and food. We got the seafood platter for two. Very tasty and sizable portion. Eppa Sangria special going for $6 per glass! Ambiance is casual seafood and friendly. Robyn our server have really good...prompt and efficient. 4 stars but only caution is that they use MSG in some items...deviled crab, green beans, rice and steamed veggies that we had.
(4)Lilly M.
The food and service is amazing!! Carolyn was a great waitress and very attentive. The owner came by and talked to us several times. Would recommend to anyone that is looking for a local seafood joint.... The using crab is a must...
(5)Bruce S.
We went there with a group of 21people. We had called for a reservation about 2 hrs prior. Our table was waiting for us and we were promptly seated. Jody our waiter took excellent care of our entire group. 5 people seated near me ordered the king crab and they were very good ! I thought the food was very good and Jody gave us great service. I would recommend the Crab Trap.
(4)Theia B.
Yummy! What great service we had they were so friendly. We ordered the crab soup blackened fish sandwich and a cheeseburger I got coleslaw as my side because I don't think it is necessary to batter "French fries". The crab soup was very crabby so much so that I could excuse the unnecessary use of green bell peppers (why?!!!). The cheeseburger was very tasty, only problem is that I ordered it well done and it was medium. The coleslaw was the best I can ever remember tasting. Oh and the blackened fish sandwich was awesome! My boyfriend just squeezed lemon on it. No tartar necessary! Everything was so good that as full as I was I couldn't leave a single thing uneaten--well except for the "battered French fried" I tried one just not for me. The prices were really good and they have great happy hour drink specials.
(4)Michelle M.
Stopped in for a few drinks and some apps. Oysters were HUGE, shrimp basket was delicious. Cup of Blue Crab Claw Soup was tasty, tho a bit oily. Delicious on the house homemade smoked fish dip was awesome.
(4)Stacey J.
Average taste and price. Good salad, hushpuppies, fried shrimp. The cheese grits are good but over the top cheesy. Hot wings for happy hour were the best food on the menu.
(3)Pam S.
Delicious fresh seafood served with fast friendly service. Best hush puppies & conch fritters in town. And the smoked fish dip appetizer is to die for !!
(4)Christina C.
Every time we come to Fernandina, we eat at the Crab Trap. In past years, the service and food have been so-so. This year we had a wonderful waitress and the food was outstanding! I had the seafood casserole and it was wonderful, my husband had fried shrimp, my mother-in-law had grilled shrimp, and my father-in-law had the seafood platter. We were all very happy at the end of the meal.
(4)Cec C.
After a few disappointing meals in St. Augustine, I was determined to have a tasty seafood dinner on Amelia Island. Enter Crab Trap. Just a block off the charming main street, it is has the charmingly tacky decor of fishnets and mounted fish on the walls. The tables all have holes in the middle with trash cans underneath. That way you can wreak havoc on a family of crabs and toss out their meatless carcasses so you can clear space for your next serving. Genius! My mom enjoyed a bowl of the crab soup, although she said she would have preferred it chunkier. I indulged and got the all-you-can-eat snow crab. It was delicious! Cheesy grits, a couple hush puppies, and cole slaw rounded out this heart attack of a meal. Mmm. The waitress was friendly and encouraged me to get my money's worth of crab. She also mentioned that the chef has been there for 17 yrs and creates the cheesy grits and various dips from his own recipes. Nice. Driving back to our hotel after dinner, it was easy to imagine spending summers around here and dining regularly at the Crab Trap.
(4)Kathleen K.
Foods not great (although hushpuppies are memorable) but the fun and exciting atmosphere pleases my kids year after year so we come back and enjoy it every time we're in fernandina or amelia island.
(3)Eric L.
Went here on a sunday night it was pretty packed. We had a party of 6 and only had to wait about 10 minutes without a reservation. Not bad. We had the sampler appetizer which was a bunch of fried seafood. People liked the gator tail, other items were just okay. The entrees took forever to come to the table, wait times were terrible. The food is just okay, most of it is fried I had the crabcakes and they were pretty meaty, I could only eat one. However they were deep fried which is a bit different and not very healthy. My wife had a piece of blackened fish which she enjoyed.
(3)Steve D.
Typical tourist fare. Crab cake was burned and was more filler than crab. Shrimp were over cooked and tough. Rice under the shrimp must have been cooked two days ago.
(1)Jess F.
I was really disapointed with my meal here, the food is pricey so I was expecting a great meal and service. Our server was one of the least attentive I've ever had anywhere, and when the crab came out it certainly was not a pound, and when I asked the waiter about it he just shrugged.
(1)Robyn B.
Came in on a rainy day for lunch and really enjoyed ourselves. Great shrimp no matter how they serve it. Fantastic waitress Megan really made our lunch special with her great descriptions of the food. Top notch hush puppies too.
(5)A J.
I don't know what these people are talking about. The food was delicious and the service was great. I would recommend this place :-) I had blackened white fish, deviled crab, oysters and shrimp. Yum yum.
(4)Jake E.
OK selection of beers. A few fresh catch choices. Lots and lots and lots of fried seafood. Nothing special. Nothing bad. Good service.
(2)Chelsea I.
Worst food & service. My coleslaw was warm, the hush puppies were hard as a rock and flavorless. The shrimp was slimy and the French fries were battered. Why on earth would you batter French fries? The service was slow. It took over an hour to get dinner for 2. Then the manager made excuses for the poor service and food. I wish the whole experience could be wiped from my memory.
(1)Steve W.
Pretty good place. Food was well priced and friendly service. Of all our meals on Amelia this was the best place we are.
(4)Josh B.
An Amelia Island staple since 1979 apparently and now i can see why. Here are three words that are awesome, deviled, crab, and sandwich. How cram all of them together and add a side of battered fries and you have a lunch you can't beat. We had a party of 8 and we were out exploring downtown Fernandina Beach when it started to rain. We ducked in here for lunch and lingered far longer than we expected. The service was prompt and friendly. Everyone that came to our table was excellent. The little ones in our group enjoyed the chicken tenders and fries while the adults had everything from the a fore mentioned Deviled Crab Sandwich to grilled chicken. The food was great, the beers cold, the bathrooms clean. This place is great. I'm going to be adding this to my list of "must go" places whenever i'm in town.
(4)Emily V.
We stopped in for a quick lunch our first day in Fernandina Beach. My dad and I split the fried shrimp entree. The shrimp were huge! And there were a lot of them, cooked perfectly. We both really liked the coleslaw too; the sweet gherkins in it made it. The cheese grits were underwhelming, but still pretty good. Service was quick and friendly. It's in a pretty cool, old building too. I'd go back.
(4)JaneAnne F.
We have been here a few times since staying in Fernandina Beach and each time we left completely satisfied. The fish dip appetizer is delicious. The oysters on the half shell were fresh and delicious too! We have enjoyed all of our entrées as well, especially the sword fish and grilled shrimp. If you just want to stop by for a cocktail the full bar has everything you need. We look forward to each visit. The staff is friendly and the manager always gets in a visit to your table to make sure everything is going well for your Crab Trap experience.
(5)Aleida S.
The food is always great and loved the crab legs and lobster but don't let's them sit you upstairs. It was hot and they only have one guy for the bar and to wait on tables. And it was so hot!!
(3)Keely P.
Decent-at best..its hit and miss, we eat here once or twice a month because my hubby loves it, but im way more picky about food and i dont think this place is that great..tooday our shrimp were WAY over boiled, they forgot my soup, which wasnt good anyways(crab soup) and they forgot my sons fries..and they werent even busy! But the Mahi lunch special was yummy and so is the smoked fish dip..so i guess it depends on whos in the kitchen and whos working the floor!
(2)Heather K.
Fried alligator tail was good, overall good experience. Would have been four stars if the price point marched the atmosphere and food better (seemed over priced).
(3)J. S.
I little disappointing for the price. The boys enjoyed their crabs but the sampler platter did not hit home for the parents. Hopefully our next visit over to Cumberland/St. Mary's/Amelia will have a much better seafood treat.
(3)John S.
The best thing about The Crab Trap is the bar downstairs. Although cramped there is a colorful crowd that comes through. The food was acceptable, but nothing special. I had fried shrimp and a crab cake. The crab cake was one of the worst I've ever had. The shrimp were a decent size, but nothing more can be said. The salad dressing should be avoided. Not sure how you make ranch or blue cheese dressing thinner than water, but they did it.
(2)Melanie H.
We went to the Crab Trap several years ago and really enjoyed ourselves, but unfortunately, two years ago, we decided against going because of all the "meh" reviews on Yelp. We figured that maybe it had changed in the time that had passed. This year we decided to go despite the reviews and I'm so glad that we did! How could this place have received negative reviews?! Out of the seven people in our group, there wasn't a single complaint! Those are pretty good odds. When you arrive, you have the option of sitting on the first floor or you can go upstairs to sit too. We chose to sit upstairs. Take note that if you sit upstairs, the restrooms are downstairs. They made sure to tell us that beforehand. The ambiance here is very "beachy" and it's in an old building so it's very classic. Our waiter was Jodi (male) and he was excellent! He was very prompt and came back to see us multiple times to give us refills and just to make sure we were doing okay. He was also very informative. He told us all of the day's specials and he also gave us some tips on the really good dishes. It didn't seem pushy like he just wanted us to spend more money; he seemed like he really cared about us enjoying our meal. I ordered the small coconut shrimp dinner. It was absolutely delicious! Loved the coconut rum sauce that came with it on the side. It came with 9 large shrimp, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a side of my choice, which were the cheese grits. The meal was $18, plus my drink. With a tip, my meal came to $25. I thought that based on our excellent service and the delicious food, it was money well spent! I loved it and am so glad that we didn't take those negative reviews to heart. Go to the Crab Trap! You'll be happy you did. Update June 28, 2015: We visited this restaurant again and were not disappointed at all. Our waitress Melaney was attentive and very personable! :)
(5)Benjamin T.
Lunch on Friday. Poor, slow, and inattentive service. Onion rings were decent. Grilled fish was dry. Fried shrimp was ordinary. Battered fries were soggy. 1 hr and 20 minutes for lunch for 3. Tourist trap
(1)Frank I.
After reading the review by Corinne S on 7/20/12, my wife and I will NEVER again dine at The Crab Trap. The treatment that Ms. S and her daughter received from the restaurant management was HORRIBLE. We have been frequent diners at The Crab Trap, although the food is just average. It has been a convenient place for us to go because of its location. However, after reading about how the restaurant staff conducted themselves during what must have been a very difficult time in two human beings lives as they grieved the death of a loved one, we WILL NEVER AGAIN eat at The Crab Trap. In fact, after hearing about the way they treated Ms. S, we will let everyone we know about this - - - and we know quite a few people! TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE.
(1)Matt C.
Been coming here for years on vacations of all types.. with family, friends, and now my girlfriend. The menu has changed slightly over the years, but not much, and the experience remains the same: super casual, big portioned and delicious seafood in historic Fernandina Beach. I'd never thought to review it on Yelp, or look at their reviews here, until we just got back from a trip this past weekend. I'm shocked to see so many sub-par reviews.. Though I'm sure any restaurant can have an off night, I've been probably 20 times over the years (and twice this past weekend) and never been disappointed. It's pretty much your standard beach town menu, but that's a good thing. All the food is great.. we tried coconut shrimp, king crab legs, blackened mahi, blackened grouper, and boiled shrimp. As I said, portions are large, and it'd be difficult to leave this place still hungry. Hushpuppies are fantastic as well. My top recommendation... the blackened fish dishes. Prices are not super cheap, but not outlandish. Highly recommended for a casual dinner in the area.
(4)Moki C.
This just in...The Crab Trap is being renamed The Crap Trap. We made the mistake of eating here the first night of our weekend and it ruined our stomachs for the rest of our trip. The Calamari $8 was over breaded, over peppered, and the marinara was super thick and tasted a bit old. Garden Salad $5 was literally a 3" bowl with 3 pieces of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, 3 slices of onions, 3 slices of cucumbers, and 2 little take away containers of Thousand Island dressing. Seafood Casserole $17 described as creamy and cheesy was the most laughable dish. It was anything buy creamy. I think the "casserole' part of it was made from hushpuppie batter and it was incredibly undercooked. It was rainy, lumpy, and raw. Why my husband didn't send it back, I can't understand. Chicken and Shrimp fried platter $18...the shrimp was fresh, but the batter was tasteless, and the oil tasted as if it was getting old and needed to be changed. The Chicken was hard and overfried and I'm pretty sure it was older than I was. The hushpuppies were remarkably good and the baked potato was decent. The best thing about this restaurant was the owner Choo Choo. He was pretty sweet and clearly has no idea how bad the food is in his restaurant.
(1)Pizza B.
Went here a little after 9pm on a weekday. Establishment closes at 10pm. I understand you're closing but service was abysmal, slower than molasses and rude. Food was overpriced and mediocre. "Crap Cakes" = more filler/stuffing than offered at Thanksgiving. Yes, I typed crap not a typo. Will never be back.
(1)Jeff G.
Overrated, overadvertised, and overpriced pub food that was bland.
(1)terry r.
Local business that has been in place for years. We went there for lunch on the recommendation of a friend who said they buy local shrimp from (what's left of) the Fernandina shrimping fleet. Had the shrimp wrap (broiled shrimp) and battered fries. Service was quick and very attentive, the manager stopped by several times to make sure we had everything we needed. Casual dining, decent food, and good service; plus in my book is that it's a local business. Would definitely go there again.
(3)Danny H.
I attended the Crab Trap with my family, so there was around eight of us with ages ranging from 60 to 15 with some folks that didn't even like seafood (we managed to drag him there and he didn't put up enough fight for us to stop). The place was slammed, as there was an event going on down the street, however, they managed to get us in in less than 30 minutes. Very impressive for having a larger group in such a busy scenario. Several of us split a bucket of beer (Six beers for three people, its about time a buckets numbers work out evenly!) and we got our food ordered. The food is a bit pricey, but whatever, I love seafood, so screw it and bring it on. I ordered the combination of blackened mahi mahi and fried shrimp with the battered fries, cole slaw, and hushpuppies. The hushpuppies were a little chewy, but tasty. The cole slaw was good, as were the fries. The mahi was a bit salty, but overall rather tasty. Overall, everyone enjoyed their meal. The one big surprise was one of the family members got a bucket of oysters. There must have been three to four dozen oysters in the bucket, because we just kept on eating them. He didn't get them raw (thats how i like em), but they were good and plentiful as it was. They also let you (or make you, however you want to look at it, as shucking raw oysters is a bit of a pain) shuck them, which was fun watching the family attempt to do as well. I would go again, but would probably try some of the other seafood places in the area before making that decision
(3)Melanie E.
The trap is right... Tourist trap. Service is excellent unfortunately we could have gotten the same meal (better, really) @Long John Silvers. I hate to say this, but I kept trying to find another way to describe it. Oh well, it is what it is. You can do better though.
(1)m s.
The service was excellent and very friendly. This is a very good place for kids (my oldest daughter loves the kids crab leg meal). The food for the adults was good, not great. I will say however that they have the best hush-puppies I've ever had. We'll go back again because the kids love it.
(3)Wm H.
Basic beach food! Great for a group!
(3)T S.
I was suspicious that this place was a tourist trap. Then I read the Connine S review from July 2012 and that was all I needed to hear to confirm my fears. There are plenty of other options in this part of town. NEXT!
(1)Kim G.
Long wait for food. Over priced menu just ok. A lot of cover up with cheeses. Skimpy with the seafood.
(2)Jared S.
2 words - NOT GOOD The place is somewhat full but there is not a wait for us to sit down. My wife and I had high hopes coming in I guess it's supposed to be an institution for Amelia Island but they must use that word very lightly around town. We order the coconut shrimp app and it was actually good so we thought this was going to workout! Then after we wait for another 45 minutes we finally get out entrees and it looks like a good mound of food, BUT it was completely cold. We tried not to be picky but it just wasn't edible and we wanted hot food. So we told the waitress and she says, and I quote here, "Yeah I was worried about that I thought that it might be." Really? You thought the food might be cold so you brought it out anyway? So we send it back and she apologizes. 5 minutes later it comes back out. My wife got a whole new plate mine on the other hand was not. They just threw the fish which was already over cooked back on the grill and threw the shrimp back in the fryer. The shrimp were so hard from being over fried you couldn't even eat it and the fish was just a piece of hard rubber. At least they took it off the ticket but I have never in my life had my food thrown back on the grill before unless it was a raw steak. Then after all is said and done they wound up charging us for grits that were cold as well and sent back but we never saw again. What a let down this place was. Another little place we went for lunch the day before that was half the price was far superior to this "Institution"
(1)David L.
This place is TOTAL crap! Waited an hour. Spent over $75 for two people to have over fried, over cooked, and over hyped food. Cockroach ran by our table and up a guy's leg at the table next to ours. Crab soup was luke warm milk with crab in it. Should have been named cream of salmonella soup. Best part of this meal were the nachos at the Mexican place across the street.
(1)Michael N.
We spent a couple hours exploring Old Fernandina and really enjoyed the scenery, the architecture, and the couple shops we visited. For lunch, we decided to find some classic beach cuisine--and we found it at The Crab Trap. We started with the lobster bites--small, deep-fried pieces of lobster. Not something we'd order again. I had the Captain's Platter, which provided a sampler of blackened shrimp, roasted oysters, a Southern crab cake, and excellent piece of grilled fish plus a couple hush puppies, cole slaw, baked potato, and some Spanish rice. A couple things were exceptional (the oysters and the hush puppies) and the crab cake was more spicy and tasty than what you get up north in Maryland. If you choose to go here, I'd recommend going for the non-fried fish--grilled or blackened. Or get what they are known for: crab. The service was friendly but a bit disorganized. We seemed to have two waitresses, who both checked in on us.
(2)cj h.
Just read a renaming suggestion, Crap Trap. Agreed! I don't know why I feel the need to point this out, but I ordered a burger. Really, you can screw this up? I was sick for 2 days, they must cook them at about noon and warm them up all night. Gheez was it terrible. Tried everything else delivered to table, it wasn't special. Love Yelp for finally having an outlet to voice opinions for these tourist traps. Put in some effort and find another place to go.
(1)Corinne S.
My ex-husband died in June, and I accompanied my daughter to the island to help with burial activities. We modestly stayed at the Day's Inn to be conversative with your expenses, and we ate at moderately priced restaurants. However, after viewing the body and meeting with the funeral director, we decided we needed a good dinner in a nice environment. We selected the Crab Trap. Mind you, its was during the tropical storm inJune when we were there, and the dark, gray wet weather exemplified our moods. We braved the weather and drove to the Crab Trap. A friend of my ex-husband accompanied us, and she knew the island well. My daughter wanted seafood. After we ordered our drinks and dinner, our conversation turned to complete sadness. My daugher had broken down many times that day. When the food came, we could not eat. We did not touch the food, and we explained the situation of the death. Two managers conferred, and they brought us a check for $75. They said that we ordered and they wanted payment. I was too exhausted to argue, but the other woman went to the reservation stand and explained. She got angry and said a curse word. That was wrong. I wish she had not done so. Anyway, I took my credit card and paid the bill. Every emotion in me was drained. Let them have the $75. I lost an ex-husand and a friend. The managers were very unkind, uncaring, and cruel. I don't know how the food is at this place because I did not taste it, but I do know that the people who own and run this place are uncompassionate and money hungry. Who would treat a young gal who lost her father like that? I am not made of money, but I am not the type to yell and scream at the manager, I paid the bill. I paid the price for going to the Crab Trap. Maybe the word trap is more appropriate to the place than I had known. I have always beleived that how you treat people speaks volumes about a person or place. Maybe the pen is mightier than the sword. I would not spend hard earned money at this place. Go to a place where the food is good and the management is compassionate. Everyone deserves that.
(1)Chris G.
our group of 6 bum rushed the crab trap no real reason to describe the meal as all that needs to be shared is that the best hushpuppies ever were had
(4)Gerri W.
When I went to the Crab Trap, I ordered the Chicken dinner. I thought the chicken was good, but I especially liked the battered fries. And I usually don't like calamari, but I thought here it was better than where I usually have it. Auntie here I had the broiled scallops. Not much flavor sort of undercooked but edible. Alligator bits were battered and fried and good. Another in our party had the grouper with the hush puppies and cole slaw he enjoyed it very much. Son had a burger said it was too spicy but he also like the calamari. All in all an enjoyable evening.
(3)Andy M.
Just a rare exceptional visit where everything fell into place. Service was outstanding. We ordered the seafood platter for two, which is really enough for one sitting meal and a second in your hotel. I'm from up the coast in Georgia, where fresh seafood is a specialty, and this blew us out of the water. Every bite of everything was delicious. Great food, decent price, amazing service. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Alex B.
We chose the Crab Trap because they were the only place in the area that had crab legs on the menu, and it was a great decision. Even though the reviews were lower than we normally go to, this was a hidden jem, and definitely worth a try. Our waiter Jodi was very timely, gave great suggestions, and super hilarious! The Bloody Mary was fantastic, and came out with a shrimp in it, what a great surprise! All of our food was so delicious! The king crab was definitely the way to go, they were so full of meat and some of the freshest crab we have ever had! Oh and the hush puppies, so crispy and delicious we ended up putting in 2 extra orders! Overall our large family party of 9 had a wonderful experience in this establishment and we will most definitely be coming back again next time we are on vacation!
(5)Joe E.
Just what we needed. Friendly atmosphere with a storied building in the heart of the area. The bartender was very happy to see us and made some spot on recommendations. A blackened shrimp wrap and a shrimp po'boy were fresh, tasty, and perfectly portioned. Stop by and you won't be disappointed
(5)Katie L.
We fell right into the typical tourist trap. Frankly we had better food after our Triathlon!! We were greeted with a "just the two of you?" Yes I'm sorry I don't have a larger party therefore guaranteeing a larger tip. Then seated. We sat for FIFTEEN MINUTES with several people passing by before we were even acknowledged. When we were acknowledged, it was by a young man who was not our waiter but who didn't mind getting us drinks. Happy hour has great prices BUT the bar tender is by himself. By himself. At the busiest time of the day - dinner time. Good luck getting a martini before happy hour ends at 7. My husband had two bourbon and cokes and I had to ask FOUR times before I ever got my martini. The martini was poorly mixed and seemed to just be a little sour apple mix with a ton of vodka on top. Should not have been that difficult for them to make and make well! But it was only $3..... The Blue Crab Soup had quite a bit of crab but was very watery (where was the cream????) and lacking salt. Not worth the $$$. The fish dip was mostly mayonnaise with one large chunk of fish found at the bottom of the bowl. The fish was over-cooked and rubbery. For $24.99, I expected it to fall right apart and melt in the mouth. The seafood casserole was cheesy but only contained five measly shrimp and I could not find the crab meat in the casserole and it was $18!!!!! Will never go back. My husband and I have come to Amelia three times a year for several years now and have yet to find a restaurant where we didn't feel taken advantage of. Poorly run and the owners are clearly maximizing profit and over working the staff. And the quality is less than acceptable. My husband and I both live in Jacksonville, we know seafood, and we cannot believe we fell for this total trap!! We should have left when we sat for 15 minutes with no service. That was the first clue that the experience was going to be awful.
(1)DeAngelis F.
Some of the most average food I've ever had. I got the fish sandwich with fries and grits and the only thing I liked was the grits. The fish was flavored but the bun was so average that I just ate the fish by itself. The fries were very strange; they looked and tasted like fried grease. It was really odd. Lastly, waiting for the food took forever and that's just acceptable when you're served below average food.
(2)Bill F.
Great value and food. We got the seafood platter for two. Very tasty and sizable portion. Eppa Sangria special going for $6 per glass! Ambiance is casual seafood and friendly. Robyn our server have really good...prompt and efficient. 4 stars but only caution is that they use MSG in some items...deviled crab, green beans, rice and steamed veggies that we had.
(4)Bob D.
Had visited the Crab Trap at St Simons Island Ga so when we saw this place at Amelia (with the same logo) we thought we couldn't miss. Our server was very new but tried very hard to take care of us and did a good job at it. Food was great! Calamari was the best we've had. Manager came over and my wife asked him if they were related to the one at St Simons. He said they were run independently but were of the same ilk. Later the owner came by and my wife asked him the same thing and he went off about "not being involved in any way with the restaurant in St Simon" , turned around and walked away. He turned a lovely evening into a "grumpy" event. Maybe he and the owner of the other Crab Trap aren't buddies, but he shouldn't disparage the reason we came there in the first place.
(3)Murr P.
Just went there to try it out. Service was goood but the food was underwhelming. Pretty bland and pricey.
(2)Kenny S.
Had smoked crab dip & 50 cent wings. Both good and hot. We had fired shrimp, fresh & seasoned well. Fries, baked potatoes & slaw were all good. Tarter sauce good. Prices on lunch plates good. $12 for shrimp plates with hush puppies, slaw & side. Will go back.
(4)Duffy J.
Great place. We had a party of 24 and 15 were kids and they got us seated right away. This place is great! Love this place.
(5)Ajit K.
Service: Really slow service on the food. Waited for 45 mins to get food from order even though place was not full. They did try to make it up to us. Food: quality was poor. Don't order the Filet Mignon.
(1)Stacey J.
Average taste and price. Good salad, hushpuppies, fried shrimp. The cheese grits are good but over the top cheesy. Hot wings for happy hour were the best food on the menu.
(3)Lilly M.
The food and service is amazing!! Carolyn was a great waitress and very attentive. The owner came by and talked to us several times. Would recommend to anyone that is looking for a local seafood joint.... The using crab is a must...
(5)Fandza R.
Food is good. You get 10% discount if you stay at Amelia Hotel and Suites. Juan was a fantastic waiter, suggested the White Russian ^^ and made sure we got eth okay.
(4)Pam F.
Classic, tourist restaurant. Old building with charm. Can see sunset from some tables. Food is ok. Service wasn't good this visit. Lots of better restaurants in downtown Fernandina Beach. Of course, they all had a wait list
(3)Ronnetta W.
the food at the crab trap is really nice. I've visited 2-3 times since moving to the island. they offer free seafood dip with meals. the dip is wonderful! the service is always great with friendly and prompt staff. the atmosphere is comfortable, and the prices are good! good drink specials. check out the crab trap!
(4)Michelle M.
Stopped in for a few drinks and some apps. Oysters were HUGE, shrimp basket was delicious. Cup of Blue Crab Claw Soup was tasty, tho a bit oily. Delicious on the house homemade smoked fish dip was awesome.
(4)Christina C.
Every time we come to Fernandina, we eat at the Crab Trap. In past years, the service and food have been so-so. This year we had a wonderful waitress and the food was outstanding! I had the seafood casserole and it was wonderful, my husband had fried shrimp, my mother-in-law had grilled shrimp, and my father-in-law had the seafood platter. We were all very happy at the end of the meal.
(4)Robyn B.
Came in on a rainy day for lunch and really enjoyed ourselves. Great shrimp no matter how they serve it. Fantastic waitress Megan really made our lunch special with her great descriptions of the food. Top notch hush puppies too.
(5)A J.
I don't know what these people are talking about. The food was delicious and the service was great. I would recommend this place :-) I had blackened white fish, deviled crab, oysters and shrimp. Yum yum.
(4)Jake E.
OK selection of beers. A few fresh catch choices. Lots and lots and lots of fried seafood. Nothing special. Nothing bad. Good service.
(2)Theia B.
Yummy! What great service we had they were so friendly. We ordered the crab soup blackened fish sandwich and a cheeseburger I got coleslaw as my side because I don't think it is necessary to batter "French fries". The crab soup was very crabby so much so that I could excuse the unnecessary use of green bell peppers (why?!!!). The cheeseburger was very tasty, only problem is that I ordered it well done and it was medium. The coleslaw was the best I can ever remember tasting. Oh and the blackened fish sandwich was awesome! My boyfriend just squeezed lemon on it. No tartar necessary! Everything was so good that as full as I was I couldn't leave a single thing uneaten--well except for the "battered French fried" I tried one just not for me. The prices were really good and they have great happy hour drink specials.
(4)Chelsea I.
Worst food & service. My coleslaw was warm, the hush puppies were hard as a rock and flavorless. The shrimp was slimy and the French fries were battered. Why on earth would you batter French fries? The service was slow. It took over an hour to get dinner for 2. Then the manager made excuses for the poor service and food. I wish the whole experience could be wiped from my memory.
(1)Steve W.
Pretty good place. Food was well priced and friendly service. Of all our meals on Amelia this was the best place we are.
(4)Ted S.
The Crab Trab, in downtown Fernandina Beach, is a middle of the road restaurant with a customer base most likely made up of people who want seafood but don't want to drive to get it. We decided to have our Sunday lunch here and I was satisfied but not overly impressed. My wife got grilled salmon over a bed of rice which she said was delicious. My daughter had fried shrimp and what seemed to be French fries with extra batter on the outside. The shrimp were pretty tasty and cooked well. We also ordered a cup and a bowl of the crab soup which wasn't worth ordering. WAY too many green peppers which completely put the taste of the soup out of balance. There was shredded crab meat in the soup but it left a lot to be desired. The restaurant building is located in what looks like "old town" Fernandina Beach. The location seems to be alright, but with other places available close by, I don't think I would come again.
(3)Jenny H.
Great location and great atmosphere. The building is a huge old brick building with great seafood ambience. I had the corvina which was the fresh catch of the day. It was stuffed and something I would not normally order. It was fantastic. My husband wanted the crab special. It was actually not the night for the special as they change them each week. However the manage said she would let him order it anyway. Great friendly service. Our server Jody really knew what he was doing. We ate on the second floor. There is a nice view, but since it is an older building the windows are not huge. The service was great and I would go again.
(4)Larry L.
Horrible experience. Our family of four had the seafood platter for two (looked terrible), wife had the fish platter (swai was the fish) and looked very average, I had the deviled crab (go to Captain D's). All in all I'm out $100 bucks for a lousy meal. To add to the experience we had to wait an hour after being told it would be 30 minutes and had to wait another hour to get our dinner. The slaw was soupy and mine had sugar in it and green beans had to be from a can. I vote to rename this place the Crap Trap.
(1)Vincent E.
Speedy friendly service and short wait times, although I'm to understand tourist season is summer not winter so I can't say if they'll keep up with demand once it gets busy. Place was clean. Food was average. They did have a very tasty complimentary fish spread and crackers we enjoyed very much. Overall good...
(4)Micah W.
Surprised by low reviews. The key with the crab trap is to stick with fried foods. Fried shrimp is great. Hushpuppies are amazing. Devil Crab is fantastic. Last time in, they sent us a complimentary fish dip, which was delicious. As far as fried seafood & beer, you can't beat the crab trap on Amelia Island in my estimation.
(4)Tina H.
Had dinner here while on a long weekend get away. Definitely a tourist trap; over priced and not too tasty. Hush puppies were off the chain but onion rings were over-battered and under cooked. Sent them back and received another order only marginally better. Took forever to get our food. There were 10 of us - 6 adults and 4 kids and we specifically asked for the kids food to be out in first but it came our dead last. Staff are very friendly but it doesn't make up for the pricing and quality. The place needs help from John Taffer Big disappointment.
(2)Lauren A.
Coconut Shrimp is delicious! The sauce makes it. This is a great casual dining experience when at the beach. Yes most of this is your typical fried beach fare, but there is something so comforting about the laid back easy going dining experience. We haven't ever had issues with service and the biggest complaint about the food would be that the portions are so big, which is not really a complaint! I'm sure this place can get crowded but I dont remember ever waiting for a table because there is a ton of seating. Great for groups, a date, or families. Enjoy!
(4)Caren T.
Ignore those folks who call this a tourist trap. We had a blast, and the food was good, good, good. We went upstairs to the bar and ate there. No loud kids and a great view. Service was fast and friendly. And, as people say, the hush puppies are to die for.
(5)Bruce S.
We went there with a group of 21people. We had called for a reservation about 2 hrs prior. Our table was waiting for us and we were promptly seated. Jody our waiter took excellent care of our entire group. 5 people seated near me ordered the king crab and they were very good ! I thought the food was very good and Jody gave us great service. I would recommend the Crab Trap.
(4)JaneAnne F.
We have been here a few times since staying in Fernandina Beach and each time we left completely satisfied. The fish dip appetizer is delicious. The oysters on the half shell were fresh and delicious too! We have enjoyed all of our entrées as well, especially the sword fish and grilled shrimp. If you just want to stop by for a cocktail the full bar has everything you need. We look forward to each visit. The staff is friendly and the manager always gets in a visit to your table to make sure everything is going well for your Crab Trap experience.
(5)Aleida S.
The food is always great and loved the crab legs and lobster but don't let's them sit you upstairs. It was hot and they only have one guy for the bar and to wait on tables. And it was so hot!!
(3)Keely P.
Decent-at best..its hit and miss, we eat here once or twice a month because my hubby loves it, but im way more picky about food and i dont think this place is that great..tooday our shrimp were WAY over boiled, they forgot my soup, which wasnt good anyways(crab soup) and they forgot my sons fries..and they werent even busy! But the Mahi lunch special was yummy and so is the smoked fish dip..so i guess it depends on whos in the kitchen and whos working the floor!
(2)Heather K.
Fried alligator tail was good, overall good experience. Would have been four stars if the price point marched the atmosphere and food better (seemed over priced).
(3)J. S.
I little disappointing for the price. The boys enjoyed their crabs but the sampler platter did not hit home for the parents. Hopefully our next visit over to Cumberland/St. Mary's/Amelia will have a much better seafood treat.
(3)John S.
The best thing about The Crab Trap is the bar downstairs. Although cramped there is a colorful crowd that comes through. The food was acceptable, but nothing special. I had fried shrimp and a crab cake. The crab cake was one of the worst I've ever had. The shrimp were a decent size, but nothing more can be said. The salad dressing should be avoided. Not sure how you make ranch or blue cheese dressing thinner than water, but they did it.
(2)Josh B.
An Amelia Island staple since 1979 apparently and now i can see why. Here are three words that are awesome, deviled, crab, and sandwich. How cram all of them together and add a side of battered fries and you have a lunch you can't beat. We had a party of 8 and we were out exploring downtown Fernandina Beach when it started to rain. We ducked in here for lunch and lingered far longer than we expected. The service was prompt and friendly. Everyone that came to our table was excellent. The little ones in our group enjoyed the chicken tenders and fries while the adults had everything from the a fore mentioned Deviled Crab Sandwich to grilled chicken. The food was great, the beers cold, the bathrooms clean. This place is great. I'm going to be adding this to my list of "must go" places whenever i'm in town.
(4)Emily V.
We stopped in for a quick lunch our first day in Fernandina Beach. My dad and I split the fried shrimp entree. The shrimp were huge! And there were a lot of them, cooked perfectly. We both really liked the coleslaw too; the sweet gherkins in it made it. The cheese grits were underwhelming, but still pretty good. Service was quick and friendly. It's in a pretty cool, old building too. I'd go back.
(4)Jared S.
2 words - NOT GOOD The place is somewhat full but there is not a wait for us to sit down. My wife and I had high hopes coming in I guess it's supposed to be an institution for Amelia Island but they must use that word very lightly around town. We order the coconut shrimp app and it was actually good so we thought this was going to workout! Then after we wait for another 45 minutes we finally get out entrees and it looks like a good mound of food, BUT it was completely cold. We tried not to be picky but it just wasn't edible and we wanted hot food. So we told the waitress and she says, and I quote here, "Yeah I was worried about that I thought that it might be." Really? You thought the food might be cold so you brought it out anyway? So we send it back and she apologizes. 5 minutes later it comes back out. My wife got a whole new plate mine on the other hand was not. They just threw the fish which was already over cooked back on the grill and threw the shrimp back in the fryer. The shrimp were so hard from being over fried you couldn't even eat it and the fish was just a piece of hard rubber. At least they took it off the ticket but I have never in my life had my food thrown back on the grill before unless it was a raw steak. Then after all is said and done they wound up charging us for grits that were cold as well and sent back but we never saw again. What a let down this place was. Another little place we went for lunch the day before that was half the price was far superior to this "Institution"
(1)Melanie H.
We went to the Crab Trap several years ago and really enjoyed ourselves, but unfortunately, two years ago, we decided against going because of all the "meh" reviews on Yelp. We figured that maybe it had changed in the time that had passed. This year we decided to go despite the reviews and I'm so glad that we did! How could this place have received negative reviews?! Out of the seven people in our group, there wasn't a single complaint! Those are pretty good odds. When you arrive, you have the option of sitting on the first floor or you can go upstairs to sit too. We chose to sit upstairs. Take note that if you sit upstairs, the restrooms are downstairs. They made sure to tell us that beforehand. The ambiance here is very "beachy" and it's in an old building so it's very classic. Our waiter was Jodi (male) and he was excellent! He was very prompt and came back to see us multiple times to give us refills and just to make sure we were doing okay. He was also very informative. He told us all of the day's specials and he also gave us some tips on the really good dishes. It didn't seem pushy like he just wanted us to spend more money; he seemed like he really cared about us enjoying our meal. I ordered the small coconut shrimp dinner. It was absolutely delicious! Loved the coconut rum sauce that came with it on the side. It came with 9 large shrimp, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a side of my choice, which were the cheese grits. The meal was $18, plus my drink. With a tip, my meal came to $25. I thought that based on our excellent service and the delicious food, it was money well spent! I loved it and am so glad that we didn't take those negative reviews to heart. Go to the Crab Trap! You'll be happy you did. Update June 28, 2015: We visited this restaurant again and were not disappointed at all. Our waitress Melaney was attentive and very personable! :)
(5)Benjamin T.
Lunch on Friday. Poor, slow, and inattentive service. Onion rings were decent. Grilled fish was dry. Fried shrimp was ordinary. Battered fries were soggy. 1 hr and 20 minutes for lunch for 3. Tourist trap
(1)Frank I.
After reading the review by Corinne S on 7/20/12, my wife and I will NEVER again dine at The Crab Trap. The treatment that Ms. S and her daughter received from the restaurant management was HORRIBLE. We have been frequent diners at The Crab Trap, although the food is just average. It has been a convenient place for us to go because of its location. However, after reading about how the restaurant staff conducted themselves during what must have been a very difficult time in two human beings lives as they grieved the death of a loved one, we WILL NEVER AGAIN eat at The Crab Trap. In fact, after hearing about the way they treated Ms. S, we will let everyone we know about this - - - and we know quite a few people! TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE.
(1)Kim G.
Long wait for food. Over priced menu just ok. A lot of cover up with cheeses. Skimpy with the seafood.
(2)Danny H.
I attended the Crab Trap with my family, so there was around eight of us with ages ranging from 60 to 15 with some folks that didn't even like seafood (we managed to drag him there and he didn't put up enough fight for us to stop). The place was slammed, as there was an event going on down the street, however, they managed to get us in in less than 30 minutes. Very impressive for having a larger group in such a busy scenario. Several of us split a bucket of beer (Six beers for three people, its about time a buckets numbers work out evenly!) and we got our food ordered. The food is a bit pricey, but whatever, I love seafood, so screw it and bring it on. I ordered the combination of blackened mahi mahi and fried shrimp with the battered fries, cole slaw, and hushpuppies. The hushpuppies were a little chewy, but tasty. The cole slaw was good, as were the fries. The mahi was a bit salty, but overall rather tasty. Overall, everyone enjoyed their meal. The one big surprise was one of the family members got a bucket of oysters. There must have been three to four dozen oysters in the bucket, because we just kept on eating them. He didn't get them raw (thats how i like em), but they were good and plentiful as it was. They also let you (or make you, however you want to look at it, as shucking raw oysters is a bit of a pain) shuck them, which was fun watching the family attempt to do as well. I would go again, but would probably try some of the other seafood places in the area before making that decision
(3)Melanie E.
The trap is right... Tourist trap. Service is excellent unfortunately we could have gotten the same meal (better, really) @Long John Silvers. I hate to say this, but I kept trying to find another way to describe it. Oh well, it is what it is. You can do better though.
(1)m s.
The service was excellent and very friendly. This is a very good place for kids (my oldest daughter loves the kids crab leg meal). The food for the adults was good, not great. I will say however that they have the best hush-puppies I've ever had. We'll go back again because the kids love it.
(3)Wm H.
Basic beach food! Great for a group!
(3)T S.
I was suspicious that this place was a tourist trap. Then I read the Connine S review from July 2012 and that was all I needed to hear to confirm my fears. There are plenty of other options in this part of town. NEXT!
(1)Moki C.
This just in...The Crab Trap is being renamed The Crap Trap. We made the mistake of eating here the first night of our weekend and it ruined our stomachs for the rest of our trip. The Calamari $8 was over breaded, over peppered, and the marinara was super thick and tasted a bit old. Garden Salad $5 was literally a 3" bowl with 3 pieces of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, 3 slices of onions, 3 slices of cucumbers, and 2 little take away containers of Thousand Island dressing. Seafood Casserole $17 described as creamy and cheesy was the most laughable dish. It was anything buy creamy. I think the "casserole' part of it was made from hushpuppie batter and it was incredibly undercooked. It was rainy, lumpy, and raw. Why my husband didn't send it back, I can't understand. Chicken and Shrimp fried platter $18...the shrimp was fresh, but the batter was tasteless, and the oil tasted as if it was getting old and needed to be changed. The Chicken was hard and overfried and I'm pretty sure it was older than I was. The hushpuppies were remarkably good and the baked potato was decent. The best thing about this restaurant was the owner Choo Choo. He was pretty sweet and clearly has no idea how bad the food is in his restaurant.
(1)Pizza B.
Went here a little after 9pm on a weekday. Establishment closes at 10pm. I understand you're closing but service was abysmal, slower than molasses and rude. Food was overpriced and mediocre. "Crap Cakes" = more filler/stuffing than offered at Thanksgiving. Yes, I typed crap not a typo. Will never be back.
(1)Jeff G.
Overrated, overadvertised, and overpriced pub food that was bland.
(1)Cec C.
After a few disappointing meals in St. Augustine, I was determined to have a tasty seafood dinner on Amelia Island. Enter Crab Trap. Just a block off the charming main street, it is has the charmingly tacky decor of fishnets and mounted fish on the walls. The tables all have holes in the middle with trash cans underneath. That way you can wreak havoc on a family of crabs and toss out their meatless carcasses so you can clear space for your next serving. Genius! My mom enjoyed a bowl of the crab soup, although she said she would have preferred it chunkier. I indulged and got the all-you-can-eat snow crab. It was delicious! Cheesy grits, a couple hush puppies, and cole slaw rounded out this heart attack of a meal. Mmm. The waitress was friendly and encouraged me to get my money's worth of crab. She also mentioned that the chef has been there for 17 yrs and creates the cheesy grits and various dips from his own recipes. Nice. Driving back to our hotel after dinner, it was easy to imagine spending summers around here and dining regularly at the Crab Trap.
(4)Kathleen K.
Foods not great (although hushpuppies are memorable) but the fun and exciting atmosphere pleases my kids year after year so we come back and enjoy it every time we're in fernandina or amelia island.
(3)Eric L.
Went here on a sunday night it was pretty packed. We had a party of 6 and only had to wait about 10 minutes without a reservation. Not bad. We had the sampler appetizer which was a bunch of fried seafood. People liked the gator tail, other items were just okay. The entrees took forever to come to the table, wait times were terrible. The food is just okay, most of it is fried I had the crabcakes and they were pretty meaty, I could only eat one. However they were deep fried which is a bit different and not very healthy. My wife had a piece of blackened fish which she enjoyed.
(3)Steve D.
Typical tourist fare. Crab cake was burned and was more filler than crab. Shrimp were over cooked and tough. Rice under the shrimp must have been cooked two days ago.
(1)Jess F.
I was really disapointed with my meal here, the food is pricey so I was expecting a great meal and service. Our server was one of the least attentive I've ever had anywhere, and when the crab came out it certainly was not a pound, and when I asked the waiter about it he just shrugged.
(1)Corinne S.
My ex-husband died in June, and I accompanied my daughter to the island to help with burial activities. We modestly stayed at the Day's Inn to be conversative with your expenses, and we ate at moderately priced restaurants. However, after viewing the body and meeting with the funeral director, we decided we needed a good dinner in a nice environment. We selected the Crab Trap. Mind you, its was during the tropical storm inJune when we were there, and the dark, gray wet weather exemplified our moods. We braved the weather and drove to the Crab Trap. A friend of my ex-husband accompanied us, and she knew the island well. My daughter wanted seafood. After we ordered our drinks and dinner, our conversation turned to complete sadness. My daugher had broken down many times that day. When the food came, we could not eat. We did not touch the food, and we explained the situation of the death. Two managers conferred, and they brought us a check for $75. They said that we ordered and they wanted payment. I was too exhausted to argue, but the other woman went to the reservation stand and explained. She got angry and said a curse word. That was wrong. I wish she had not done so. Anyway, I took my credit card and paid the bill. Every emotion in me was drained. Let them have the $75. I lost an ex-husand and a friend. The managers were very unkind, uncaring, and cruel. I don't know how the food is at this place because I did not taste it, but I do know that the people who own and run this place are uncompassionate and money hungry. Who would treat a young gal who lost her father like that? I am not made of money, but I am not the type to yell and scream at the manager, I paid the bill. I paid the price for going to the Crab Trap. Maybe the word trap is more appropriate to the place than I had known. I have always beleived that how you treat people speaks volumes about a person or place. Maybe the pen is mightier than the sword. I would not spend hard earned money at this place. Go to a place where the food is good and the management is compassionate. Everyone deserves that.
(1)Chris G.
our group of 6 bum rushed the crab trap no real reason to describe the meal as all that needs to be shared is that the best hushpuppies ever were had
(4)Gerri W.
When I went to the Crab Trap, I ordered the Chicken dinner. I thought the chicken was good, but I especially liked the battered fries. And I usually don't like calamari, but I thought here it was better than where I usually have it. Auntie here I had the broiled scallops. Not much flavor sort of undercooked but edible. Alligator bits were battered and fried and good. Another in our party had the grouper with the hush puppies and cole slaw he enjoyed it very much. Son had a burger said it was too spicy but he also like the calamari. All in all an enjoyable evening.
(3)J M G.
Surf n Turf is my all-time favorite entree. So when I see it on the "Special" board, my experience and ultimately my review starts with a very good mood. Crab Trap would have earned my 5 Star review even if I started grumpy, for the following reasons: 1. Management is active, alert and engaging guests at the door and at the table. 2. Our server, Robin, was prompt, continuous, conversational, knowledgeable, and lots of fun. 3. The food quality exceeded my expectations. My medium rare sirloin was cooked perfectly, as was the blackened style shrimp and scallops, sided with cheesy grits. All four elements require careful timing to deliver hot, moist and tender. The chef has skills! 4. Excellent value for the price. Generous portion sizes, quality beef and seafood, and priced reasonably. 5. Light, family friendly, pub-style atmosphere with all guests around us being engaged by servers, bartenders and management. Several elements were a nice bonus: 1. The Crab Claw seafood soup is right! Loaded with crab, peppery cream-based broth and a stir-in separated buttery top, I wanted this recipe. 2. Our server, Robin, brought us a complimentary side of seafood dip that I had never tasted anywhere before. Kudos to a creative kitchen. 3. If you like thick cut, crisp, flavorful batter-coated fries and O-rings, this is the place. 4. Happy Hour Crab Trap Punch. Ordered two! Finally, Crab Trap has a great story in a historic building only a few steps from the heart of Fernandina Beach. You do need to bypass a few other attractive restaurants to find Crab Trap, but this one is worth it. We visited while vacationing at a local resort and will definitely plan to return.
(5)Pam S.
Delicious fresh seafood served with fast friendly service. Best hush puppies & conch fritters in town. And the smoked fish dip appetizer is to die for !!
(4)Morgan S.
The crab trap is probably my favorite seafood place, and that says a lot from how many seafood places I've been. The clam chowder was amazing and it was the best clam chowder I've ever had. My dad and brother got the grouper and they ate every bite. Me and my little brother got the crab legs, they had three kinds of crab legs(king, dungeness,and Alaskan snow crab) and they were awesome. My sister got a cheeseburger and she loved it. My mom got the 50 cent wings the flavors they have you might have doubts but they were amazing. The Crab Trap has been running for over 25 years. Just with that news you know it has to be good. The manager is always there from when it opens to when it closes, and to run a good restaurant the manager has to be there. With all the stuff I wrote my family and I will defiantly come back when we're in the area.
(4)Jamie D.
Crab Trio & Bloody Mary's were amazing. Service was perfect. Key Lime pie on the house to celebrate our anniversary. Great experience. We definitely recommend this place.
(5)Karen L.
I don't know why people are complaining about this place begin a tourist trap everything in this area is touristy. The food was really good I had the coconut shrimp which was some of the best I ever had. The other members of my family had the lobster tail which was on special and they all said it was amazing. The only complaint was the french fries they where kind of weird they actually battered and fried it did not add anything. We will definitely be back.
(5)Joshua J.
Service was great but when I got my food, which was blackened oysters they were horrible.
(3)Becky C.
Had crab stew-delicious. Shrimp are large and light batter. Prices reasonable. Happy hour 11-7. That is nice. Have not eaten here for many years but will b back
(5)David L.
This place is TOTAL crap! Waited an hour. Spent over $75 for two people to have over fried, over cooked, and over hyped food. Cockroach ran by our table and up a guy's leg at the table next to ours. Crab soup was luke warm milk with crab in it. Should have been named cream of salmonella soup. Best part of this meal were the nachos at the Mexican place across the street.
(1)Michael N.
We spent a couple hours exploring Old Fernandina and really enjoyed the scenery, the architecture, and the couple shops we visited. For lunch, we decided to find some classic beach cuisine--and we found it at The Crab Trap. We started with the lobster bites--small, deep-fried pieces of lobster. Not something we'd order again. I had the Captain's Platter, which provided a sampler of blackened shrimp, roasted oysters, a Southern crab cake, and excellent piece of grilled fish plus a couple hush puppies, cole slaw, baked potato, and some Spanish rice. A couple things were exceptional (the oysters and the hush puppies) and the crab cake was more spicy and tasty than what you get up north in Maryland. If you choose to go here, I'd recommend going for the non-fried fish--grilled or blackened. Or get what they are known for: crab. The service was friendly but a bit disorganized. We seemed to have two waitresses, who both checked in on us.
(2)cj h.
Just read a renaming suggestion, Crap Trap. Agreed! I don't know why I feel the need to point this out, but I ordered a burger. Really, you can screw this up? I was sick for 2 days, they must cook them at about noon and warm them up all night. Gheez was it terrible. Tried everything else delivered to table, it wasn't special. Love Yelp for finally having an outlet to voice opinions for these tourist traps. Put in some effort and find another place to go.
(1)terry r.
Local business that has been in place for years. We went there for lunch on the recommendation of a friend who said they buy local shrimp from (what's left of) the Fernandina shrimping fleet. Had the shrimp wrap (broiled shrimp) and battered fries. Service was quick and very attentive, the manager stopped by several times to make sure we had everything we needed. Casual dining, decent food, and good service; plus in my book is that it's a local business. Would definitely go there again.
(3)Matt C.
Been coming here for years on vacations of all types.. with family, friends, and now my girlfriend. The menu has changed slightly over the years, but not much, and the experience remains the same: super casual, big portioned and delicious seafood in historic Fernandina Beach. I'd never thought to review it on Yelp, or look at their reviews here, until we just got back from a trip this past weekend. I'm shocked to see so many sub-par reviews.. Though I'm sure any restaurant can have an off night, I've been probably 20 times over the years (and twice this past weekend) and never been disappointed. It's pretty much your standard beach town menu, but that's a good thing. All the food is great.. we tried coconut shrimp, king crab legs, blackened mahi, blackened grouper, and boiled shrimp. As I said, portions are large, and it'd be difficult to leave this place still hungry. Hushpuppies are fantastic as well. My top recommendation... the blackened fish dishes. Prices are not super cheap, but not outlandish. Highly recommended for a casual dinner in the area.
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