Fat Boys Crab Shack
1581 Defense Hwy, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Fat Boys Crab Shack Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1581 Defense Hwy
Gambrills, MD, 21054 - Phone (410) 721-5252
- Website https://www.fatboyscrabshack.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
John A.
I enjoyed the Fat Crab last week while driving through my neighborhood I found this local gem. The prices were just right and the happy hour was perfect. I was worried that this place might not be kid friendly until I saw the playground in the backyard. We ate outside and while you have to order your own food you can ensure that your order is 100% correct. I will certainly come back, I took some pics so feel free to check them out. Kudos to the chef
(5)Donna D.
Visiting Maryland and couldn't leave without eating some crab cakes. I found this spot while driving and so glad we did. We had to wait around for a table but it was well worth it. We ordered 2 shrimp baskets and a colossal crab cake. The salad as a side dish was pretty large... Enough to share with 2 people. The shrimp was well seasoned and fried to perfection. The colossal crab cake is what I came for and it was amazing. Huge lumps of crab and less filler. I would definitely return when I'm back in this area.
(4)Robert K.
Have been meaning to go there for years. Finally went tonight, overall a disappointment from the positive Yelp reviews. Crab cakes were not lump, mostly filler and had no taste, certainly way below average for other restaurants in the area. Fried chicken was very good in fact fabulous. Cole slaw was horrible and potato salad about average. Fried oysters were OK but overpriced and undersized as an entire'. Considering there is no place to park and pulling out on route 450 is a daredevil act I would just go somewhere else.
(3)Greg B.
Just happen to pop in here for a HH cocktail so I'll have to update this review down the line. Any review of Fat Boys has to include having their steamed crabs. Everything you'd imagine of a Fat Boys Crab Shack is in play. Plastic cups, rolls of paper, outdoor seating and beer by the bucket set the atmosphere. Keno, TV's tuned to sports and a pretty lively crowd kept me more than entertained as I sat alone eating and drinking at the bar. I'm not much of a person for mixed drinks but because of the heat I choose to have margaritas instead of my usual bourbon. Good choice. Plenty of flavor and strong enough for the winding down I wanted. I'll try the house favorite orange crush on that return visit. As for the food I know that having appetizers of mussels and wings is not why most people read Yelp reviews. Sorry. I will say both were well prepared and tasty. The wings I had were grilled which suits me just fine, while the mussels were steamed and served with a light wine dipping sauce. Plenty of others around me had the steamed crabs and they all looked pleased. All in all this quick drop in has wet my appetite, I will definitely grab a few friends and return for orange crushes, fat boy crabs and a few hours on the deck.
(4)Joe D.
ordered a large crabcake sandwich at lunch. the crabmeat had a very strong odor of ammonia and a very strong taste of garlic so I had to give it to the birds. I just hope the birds don't get sick ? I also got a side of onion rings that were really soggy and dripping of dirty grease! as you can see I wont be going back to fat boys crab shack. this was a carry-out order so I could not return it as I was on the way to a meeting in baltimore
(1)Jenae N.
I love the atmosphere of this place. My boyfriend and i went on a saturday about 8ish. When we pulled up i thought we would have to wait bc it was a little crowded. We found seating on the deck ( fine with me) right away after ordering the food first,food came very fast in an one by one order, kind of, everything was sooooo good. Thinking of returning tonight. Oh 4 stars bc the mac and cheese was nasty but everything else was great!!
(4)Alyssa M.
You have to get the colossal crab cake; the regular crab cake isn't as good. The colossal is the truth. Super fresh. Very little filler in the crab cake which makes for an awesome cake. Firecracker shrimp... yum! Everything I tried was a fire star. I thought this was a mom and pops kinda place but I found out that it is under the same management company that Buddy's and Big Fish are. I wasn't too impressed with Big Fish's management (look at my review there for details)... So I may have to stick to Timbuktu for crab cakes... because of their affliation with Big Fish.
(5)Mark D.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in the Crofton area due to its casual atmosphere and friendly staff. The only reason I did not list the food in my first sentence is because I've only tried a couple of items and I love them so much that I never order anything else! I almost always order the jumbo chili cheese dog with cole slaw as my side, and I have never once been let down. On the rare occasion where I end up at Fat Boys two nights in a row, I have switched it up to try the burger, fish and chips, and wings. All of these items were worthy of returning, as was the crab cakes that I've ordered as an appetizer. On a warm, breezy day when you feel like truly enjoying an outdoor casual dining experience in Maryland, you simply cannot beat spending some time on their family friendly deck or at the picnic tables beside the playground while man's best friend sits beside you hoping for some dropped food!
(5)Sheralee S.
Not sure how we haven't been to this place just yet. I've lived in Crofton, about 5 minutes away for 5 years now. Fat Boys is awesome! Has great outdoor seating as well as some indoor. We both ordered Fried Chicken which took a little while to come out but it was well worth the wait. It came out piping hot, crunchy and well seasoned on the outside and ridiculously juicy on the inside! I ordered the 3 piece which had a chicken breast and 2 wings, this was more than enough food. My boyfriend ordered the 4 piece and he couldn't finish it. This meal also comes with a small biscuit. So basically, we can't wait to go out and try some other things!
(5)Ebony E.
I'm so disgusted... I pulled a long@ss blonde curly hair out of my onion ring. The food was really good, but now I don't even want to finish it. TIE YOUR HAIR UP, PLEASE! First time coming and I probably won't be back... What a waste of really good food and my money :( (Update) So, I called them, and they guy was really nice and took care of it. I will give them another try because that type of customer service is hard to find these days... plus, the portion of the food I ate before the hair was freaking DELICIOUS! ! !. (Too bad I don't remeber his name.) Thanks, Fatboy's, for handling this hairy situation so quickly and sufficiently. Giving you one more star for the customer service!
(3)Aimee C.
We were just there for Sunday dinner--needed to get out of the house since we were cooped up all day because of the heat. This is a good, neighborhood, well...shack. Kind of like an upscale or college dive meets suburban neighborhood place. It would also fit in at the beach. Very casual, laid back place as in flip flops, tank top, and board shorts are all good. The colossal crab cake--like other reviews have said--is a great value. Very little binding and a whole lot of jumbo lump. Yum (though my blood pressure is not liking it because crabs are naturally high in sodium). The hushpuppies are also good. My bell is so full as a I write this (but I still want a slice of key lime pie!). My husband got the fried chicken and I wish I hadn't tried the biscuit that came with his meal because I wound up eating half of it when I really didn't need the carbs to go with my fried, salty, carb meal! But the biscuit was good. He was disappointed with the 2 smaller pieces of chicken that came with his 3-piece fried chicken meal but the breast piece was so good it redeemed the meal. He says the breading was standard but the breast meat was so tasty. We overheard an older couple say they had run out of crabs so if you want crabs it does seem like you need to go earlier. Will definitely be back to try other things.
(3)James M.
I'm still talking about this place after my visit 2 months ago. I have a picture in my phone of a crab cake we ate that my friends are tired of seeing, but I keep it because it was the best I've ever had and I want people to know. I told near strangers from Maryland about Fat Boys while I was recently in the Bahamas because they wanted a good stop on their way home from the airport. I think I've made my point...I'm a fan! I was here in July while driving through the area. I would have never found it without Yelp because it's not on the highway, but it's nearby so stopping won't slow you down. Between us, we had bisque, crab cakes, and a burger and all three were terrific! You order your food at the counter and then grab a table. We found a great spot outside and had plenty of space and a roll of paper towels. This place has a very casual vibe that seems like a great place to hang out. I'd love to spend a Friday evening here with friends and several rounds of beer and crabs. If you're nearby, go! You'll regret it if you don't.
(5)Jenny H.
Great first experience. We had a rather large order for a carry out but the food was ready within 20-30 minutes and ready to go when I arrived. The person I spoke to over the phone was very polite and helpful as was the person I spoke to when I arrived to the restaurant. They even had the entire order made correctly....love it when that happens! We ordered the plain wings, jumbo beer battered onion rings, crab dip, firecracker shrimp, cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, chicken Chesapeake, and fries. Everything was delicious. No complaints here! Will be back again once we get over this food coma.
(5)Patricia L.
Great no frills atmosphere with quick food service. We sat outside at one on the communal picnic tables, plenty of shade and a playground, which was a bonus! Good was good. We had the firecracker shrimp which I would recommend everyone try. The mussels were really good and very large. Also had the crab cake sandwich that was full of jumbo lump crab meat and very little filler. Good prices for the portions and good quality of food.
(4)A. C.
(8/29/2015) Went to visit a friend and enjoy a lovely summer day in the burbs. Met up with a group at Fat Boys for some crab pickin'. The whole place is basically "serve yourself". You order, pay, get a table, get your drinks from the bar or fountain, wait for food, eat, leave. If you're self-sufficient, this is a convenient set-up, if you want to be waited on, this place is not for you. There's a nice large deck up in the trees (so the view is the greenery and not the parking lot), makes you almost forget that you're right on Rt. 3. Looks pretty spacious, there were also many communal picnic tables on the ground level. We started with an array of deep-fried sides, just to get the juices flowing. Boardwalk Fries were crisp and hot (delicious! but a frozen product), hush puppies were piping hot, had bits of corn, served with melted butter and a cup of honey (nice touch), onion rings were very large, lots of batter on them. Tried the coleslaw (just to get a veg in), possible homemade, sprinkled with Old Bay (touch overdid it), excessively mayonnaise-y. We had 3 dozen mediums ($65/dozen), they were sized appropriately. These crabs were obviously a reheat job, likely they were cooked previously, held for some unknown length of time (possibly frozen), then re-steamed before serving (there were 3 large kettles for steaming on the deck). 5 of our 36 were mushy, the Old Bay crust had not been freshly applied. We faked some enjoyment for the sake of our host. Overall, prices were decent, the fried food we tried was very good (but you can't really mess that part up too badly, can you?). We really did enjoy the weather and deck, and the company. Fortuitously the owners must be the same age and demographic as our host, he sang along to every single song that came on over the PA (thank you, Siruis XM). Our host was happy, so we were happy.
(3)Brenda S.
I loved the casual atmosphere and the outdoor patio. The kid's play area is wonderful and obviously a hit with parents. Steamed crabs are a must but my true love was their crab pretzel. Don't know why other than it must have complimented their outstanding Orange Crushes. On a warm summer evening I could stay here all night. As for the servers, they are friendly but seemed a little disorganized and delivery of food to us was sporadic. ..but who cares? Order another Orange Crush and you won't remember you ordered the food anyway. I'm giving this place three stars but their orange crushes deserve a five.
(3)Cynthia J.
I wish this place was closer to me :) I come here for the steamed crabs and of course the alcohol beverage - Orange crushed for a considerably low price. You can definitely get loaded here for only $20. They use Stoli's Vodka and not the Flaming cheap brand that will leave you with a painful headache. LOL There is outside seating for warmer temperatures. It is also a great location to watch sports.
(4)Nicole L.
Casual place where you order up front and get a number. The food would be delivered to the bench tables. The staff were great they ran out of large and fat boy crabs but came to tell me later when a new batch arrived. We had a colossal crab cake it was good but not compared to fresh crab meat of course. The fried oysters were good and wings were ok it's slightly breaded. Was disappointed with the fat boy crabs they were as big as I imagined it was $105 a dozen. Overall fun and casual place for crabs but it aint cheap even with its inland location.
(3)Sarah S.
We just moved from Ohio and were dying to try some local seafood in a non chain restaurant. We took our friends that helped us move so there was 6 of us. The place is tiny and food came out quick. The only complaints would be that my order was wrong; I ordered the special which was a crab cake Blt and it was just a plain crab cake when it came out and there was a terrible smell outside. Like rotten garbage. Not sure where the smell was coming from though. The food was really great!!!
(4)Jeanette N.
We enjoyed our visit to Fat Boys, a late Sunday search for crabs. Alas, they had already run out. The atmosphere was so cozy, I can't wait to return. They have a good size bar and ambient outdoor seating. Big screens surround the interior dining area, so I'm sure it would be a great place to watch some football.
(4)Crystal C.
Cool place! I've been a few times on Monday nights. My husband found out about them from his rec hockey league at API (I think the restaurant sponsors API and gives athletes a discount) The decor is cozy with a nautical feel. Tons of TVs to watch whatever football game is on. The bartender already knows our usual drinks. The chicken tenders are so so but the crab dip was great.
(4)Melody C.
Well, my last visit almost makes me give this place 2 stars. It has one last chance on food. We are emailing a complaint to the owners through their website if possible. My boyfriend and a couple friends and I went here on a Friday night. We praised it to our guests as a cool local place to hang out. Unfortunately, Fat Boys really disappointed us. My bf and our friend both ordered fish and chips. One spicy, one not. The spicy one was given to the wrong person and was UNBELIEVABLY spicy, I mean BAD. Uneatable and no one could stand it. Like some idiot dumped an entire bottle of who knows what on it. The bad fish was returned for a new piece, which came out well. Inside while ordering drinks, we witnessed a strange interaction between a bartender and the cooks; she asked them for lemon slices and they shook their heads repeating "No, no." like they didn't understand..or something.. really strange. How about hiring people to cook who can communicate with your other employees? Or hiring people who can actually cook in the first place...? One bartender chick (dark hair, tan, skinny) also is a serious bitch. My bf came here for drinks with a friend one night and she was just unpleasant. He came home and told me about it. Not doing anything specifically to him but just had an attitude and wasn't providing good service. I experienced this too when we went, as she generally did not smile or seem to really care about much of anything. I've said this in another review - If you're going to be a bartender effing SMILE and be nice to people. If you can't do that, get another job. It's your tip riding on it, girl. The other guy bartender is alright I guess, but also not particularly friendly. I've never seen any of them actually talking to any of the customers. Fat Boys seriously disappoints on food and service but the deck and drinks are great... so I'm torn on this one... as I said above, one more chance.
(3)Pete Z.
A big thanks to Russell for leading me to this place! Had an awesome crab cake sandwich, large chunks of crab meat! Slaw was also great and of course did not have celery seeds so even better! Looks like a great bar to hang at for happy hour.
(4)Steve S.
So I've been here three or four times now and I have to say, I didn't want to like this place. It's a real thrill pulling into and out of the parking lot when traffic is busy on 450 and there's this feeling of sensory overload when you walk in the door and are kind of in the middle of the bar seating area. Don't give in to the temptation to roll out and go somewhere else. Go order some jumbo wings, jerk shrimp, crab legs and a bucket of beers and make some new friends. The staff is mostly young kids who seem to be genuinely interested in the customer experience. It's louder than Rafters (the former identity) and there's more bugs on the deck than in the Russian Embassy - but it's my favorite local dive. Guy Fieri, are you listening?
(3)David S.
Love this place.... some of the best food i have.... serving ... I mean look you are going to a bar... its not going to be the greatest but it is good for bar! Great bar tenders ... and great place for the family as well!!!
(4)Nee J.
My hubby decided on a whim he wanted some crabs. He asked me to check my yelp bookmarks to see if there is somewhere we haven't tried---this brings us to Fat Boys. We ordered them on the way there to pick them up. They only had medium males and large females. He ordered a doz. med males--they asked for a credit card number--but didn't ask for an expiration date, the CVC, or our name. They called back less than 5 mins. later to say they don't have a doz. males only a half doz. Would we like that and females too? The med males were $55 and large females were $75. Hubby thought this was crappy BUT he took the bait anyway. Wait was about 10mins. picked them up and he said the were delish. He'll return! #winner Coming from 301 you come up on the building pretty fast--we almost missed the turn (they actually have 3 entrances). Parking is okay--kind of tight--enough space for what the building can hold. Cozy (tight) on the inside. Crabs warm and seasoned to death!
(4)Tara G.
Strong crushes! Great crab dip and firecracker shrimp! Love the appetizers and deck atmosphere
(4)Tutti S.
As soon as I smelled the delicious crabs cooking on the patio from the parking lot, I knew this was going to be a good experience. The crab cakes were awesome! I have bookmarked this place so I can remember where it is so I can go back again to try more items on the menu with the crab cakes on the next visit. YUM!!!
(5)LeCount B.
I had dinner here w/ my family for my Birthday on Saturday March 14 and we were impressed. The location it'self is dive bar'ish but you wouldn't think so by quality of the food. What brought me here was my search on Yelp.com and the favorable reviews. The food was fresh, their Fire Cracker Shrimp was better than Bonefish Grill's Bang Bang Shrimp, and the Colossal Lump Crab Cake was just Excellent and I'm glad I ordered the single crab cake vs 2 which I would not have finished!!! Two hours after leaving Fat Boys I could still taste the Crab Cake... I can't wait to come back when Blue Crab are in season!!!
(5)Dan P.
Great place to bring family and friends. Food was regular but the best part you pay up front so went done you just leave bad part if you want more you have to wash hands to grab wallet to order food or drinks...
(4)Koven R.
A nice spot for the locals. Really good food and drinks. I had to get use to my food being served on a tray with red and white paper but the food is worth it. I had the ribs and my wife had the crab legs; both meals were really good. The drinks were wrong and well balanced. The crowd was really relaxed and the atmosphere was very very laid back.
(4)Rob S.
The good: The laid back outdoor seating environment is very nice. There are a series of decks with picnic tables that extend out into old tall trees. And there are picnic tables below, and a play ground for the kids and family's "picnicking" barefoot, or adults happy to be able to have a well behaved dog there ect. And for whatever combination of reasons there was a mix of how to say this..."clientel" that don't normally come together in a bar/ restaurant experience. The "service", that which there is....everyone is very nice. But for the bad....I dislike having no servers and so having to run in and carry drinks from the bar to the outdoor decks (and walking through a bunch of young...food delivers people......I mean I'm still going to tip the bartender (pay for service)...it's a real PITA to have to get up, walk and deal with people to flag down the bartender, weave through patrons, carry multiple drinks...and pay just as much as normally sit and order/ relax. There were people who were smoking cigarettes in the carefree outdoor area. It's amazing the area/ number of other diners effected by one person in a previously pleasant out door environment. The drinks were very tasty. Most of the food we got was good. But Holly Hell...did I have to really over pay for some barely legal MD crabs; that were then not very good. I mean I grew up here and every thing these days seems ridiculous. But if I'm paying $105 a dozen I expect them to be good and full and...they were not. And others around us agreed. We will chalk this is to a lesson and return to our stand by crab place.
(2)Kyle S.
My wife and I are pretty new to the area. Happened to stumble onto this place and were glad we did. Their crab cakes and crab dip are awesome.
(5)Crystal W.
Great spot! Have been twice on a Monday...great a Orange Crush's..loved the spice shrimp and hush puppies!!
(5)Tasha B.
Ate here last Sunday.. Found myself thinking about the food now so decided to leave a review! Soo delicious... Ordered the colossal crabs & crab cake sandwich - both were amazing. Definitely will come back!!! I like that the crabs aren't too salty or spicy. Perfect! The corn was good, too Very polite and nice staff
(5)Adolfo B.
Not too impressed. We called from the car asking if they had crabs available and they said they did 10-15 minutes later when we arrived, they were out of crabs - really?! The pay in advance for your food and beverage concept is somewhat disorganized as you stand in one line to pay for food and beverages and then go stand in another line to get your drinks from the bar and then you are supposed to tip them for serving yourself. Their famous orange crush did not live up to the hype. I ended up not eating but the food looked pretty good but it was typical bar food selection with the exception of the seafood steamers that they offered. From looking at the portion sizes it seemed a bit pricey. They do have an awesome outdoor patio and there is room for kids to run and play if you have young ones.
(2)Joe K.
Food is delicious and service was fantastic. Staff and bartenders were very friendly and helped a lot. Tvs and music and Maryland lottery. Overall an amazing place to eat.
(5)Stacie C.
I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful establishment known as Fat Boys Crab Shack. It was here that we had our first taste of Natty Boh and the Orange Crush, Fat Boys' signature drink. I ordered the jerk shrimp, my friend the fried clams and we shared the crab dip. I'm not at all a fan of seafood, but that jerk shrimp was very flavorful. The crab dip was okay, though I don't have much to compare it to. You can't miss the building as it is indeed quite brightly colored. It's a cozy little place inside with a deck out back. We were a little confused as far as ordering but were quickly informed that food can be ordered at the bar, but drinks can't be ordered at the food counter. Fat Boys caters to the local crowd but welcomes the outsider as well. It was obvious we weren't regulars but if I lived closer, I might be tempted.
(4)S P.
I tried their crab cake sandwich with coleslaw and it was delicious. It was from their lunch special menu but still was too pricy for the portion. The view to the wood was fascinating. Will try them again.
(4)Derick C.
I'm normally happy with this place. The staff is outstanding and very friendly and accommodating, but yesterday must have been a perfect storm of misfortune. I held my birthday party there on Saturday and they must have held a giant party the night prior and they ATE ALL OF THE CRABS!!!! But I refused to leave after bragging to my friends about their crabs we waited for hours for their fresh delivery and waited longer for the staff to sort through the crabs and cook them and after waiting even longer when their computers crashed my only complaint is that after all of that waiting it would have been nice for the establishment to have offered us a discount. Alas, that did not happen and most of my party left crab-less. That being said I STILL LOVE THIS PLACE! They're food is outstanding and they're staff are the friendliest, most professional and outstanding group by far! And the orange crush is the best all things considered I would have given them a 5-star rating (just call ahead to ensure that some inconsiderate group hasn't ate all of the crabs) LOL see you soon guys!
(2)Andrea H.
I love seafood. Their food was awesome. Drinks were awesome. Staff was awesome. It was crowded and they ran out of crabs but fortunately for me that wasn't my problem. Everything I ate and tasted was perfect. I'll be back! !!!! Fried oysters were just right, hush puppies were amazing, cole slaw on point, crabs cooked perfectly with a great flavor, onion rings were amazing, was feeling my margarita. .. Go on a nice day and eat outside.
(5)Lenny M.
I was not impressed. Food was over fried. Did not have crabs because at the time they were extremely overpriced. Sat outside on kinda dirty picnic tables where stuff could fall from the trees above onto you and your food. Also not a fan of places you have to order ahead at the register. Makes it harder when you have a lot of people to keep track of what everyone wants at one time. Hoped it would have been better.
(2)Karen G.
I love this place! Thank goodness my son lives in Crofton so that I can visit Fat Boys. Didn't give it 5 stars because its a bar but the food is amazing. The crab cakes are huge and filled with beautiful, flavorful lump crab meat. The cream of crab soup is above any soup in this world because its topped off with fresh crab. Its a must do on every trip to Crofton.
(4)Grace B.
Really good happy hour specials and crab cake sandwiches. Can also do take-or crab and cases of beer! Great local dive bar.
(4)T. B.
Okay did I know they had crabs... stupid me. There is no mention of crabs on the menu. When you walk in you either go to the bar or to the cashier and place your food order. You pay and the cashier gives you a number to place on your table inside or outside. Once we paid for our order and went outside, that is when I found out that they offered steam crabs. There was no posted crab price inside or outside. Since I know they serve crabs all will call and get a price before going there. As for the steam shrimp they were good. I ordered the cream of crab soup, but nothing like Gunning's. The atmosphere was nice. A word to the wise no one under the age of 21 is admitted after 10 p.m.
(3)Dayvina S.
OH MY GOODNESS! I have never been to Fat Boys until this spring and I have to say, it's a great time. The food is not to die for, but it's definitely pretty good. They have an Orange Crush that will make you and all of your friends TURN UP! Outside tables were kind of dirty, and when we asked someone to clean the table, it took them about 15 minutes. I would, and have gone back and had a good time! If you're looking for a summertime, beachy bar, 3 hours from a beach this is the place to go.
(4)Sheri D.
I was in the mood for finger food and got clam strips and fried oysters. I wanted to try this restaurant for a while based on the star ratings. I hate it when people think that seasoning food is using more salt. There are so many other flavors out there that can be used. Ground tumeric, cayenne pepper etc., that can really make food good without minimal salt. The clam strips were over breaded for my taste, the oysters were breaded and large (love the size) but weren't cooked thoroughly. The breading was also very thick on the oysters. My suggestion, turn the temperature on the cooking oil down a little so that the inside of the oysters cook without burning the breading. I use at least 5-6 different seasonings when I make mine and only one has salt (the Old Bay). No one cooks crabs better than my Dad so I knew not to get the crabs.
(1)Megan C.
Food is always decent, it's all fried except the crabs of course. It's tiny and always packed but the service is awesome and the bar gals are always efficient and friendly. The outside is awesome with a big play area for kids which is a huge plus!
(4)Jay B.
The crabs are over priced. But everything else is spot on. Go here once and you'll become a regular. If your not in the mood for seafood, try the wings. They are amazing!
(5)Tamika H.
The stars are mainly for the service. The young lady behind the bar is outstanding, so friendly and attentive! I went during HH and I wanted to try the famous crush that I had been hearing about. Let's just say it left a lot to be desired. I had the grapefruit crush nothing special NO buzz!!!!! I also attempted the HH fried shrimp. People the crust on these things were not wanted at all. Just batter them a little and drop and serve them! Thank you and good night!!!!!
(4)Denise N.
Friends have raved about this place and Lord knows I have driven by it a million times but never at an opportune time to stop in. Well this past Monday, I got the chance and the only thing I can say is, I can't believe I did not come here sooner...I have really been missing out. Not only is the staff friendly and attentive but this place really feels like you are hanging out at a friend's cookout. I decided to order one of their specials...the jalapeno poppers and let's just say friends, this was no pre-made reheated frozen concoction. It was the entire jalapeno injected with a smidgen of cheese, wrapped in bacon and cooked to perfection on the grill. My tastebuds literally did a happy dance. And the piece de resistance was the softshell crab. I cannot say anything was mediocre here. So for a taste of the fine MD seafood without having to travel across or close to the bridge...Fat Boys Crab Shack is the place to go. I know I will probably become a regular soon enough.
(4)Nathan C.
Well, some has changed since last we went. They've added a playground and a big tented seating area beside it, which is a good idea. The kids really liked that; they don't have the patience it takes to sit through a crab cracking meal. The crabs are decent but seem on the small side; I'm no expert in crab sizing but the Large seemed a little Medium to us. They were, however, cooked fine. Potato wedges and hush puppies rounded out the feast, with fried chicken for the kids. However, the service was (to put it bluntly) a disaster. To jump to the end of the story, it turns out our waiter went home, and forgot to have someone take over his tables. So no waiter. No napkins. Only one mallet to share. No shell bucket. After we complained, the management gave us some coupons for free wings and appetizers. Hence the 3 stars instead of 1; they responded to the complaint (and took the tip off our check).
(3)Lisa W.
So tonight me and my girlfriend went to Fat Boys. We had orange and grapefruit crushes which were really good. Then we did 3 apps. The mussels were great. Crab dip was good. We asked for another bread roll and that took awhile to come out but apparently they were having problems with the oven. So we were still hungry waiting on the extra bread and we ordered one of the specials, which was jalepeno poppers with bacon. Usually jalepeno poppers are a little hot but not too bad. These however were so hot, it was uncomfortable.I spent 7 years living in Korea and love spicy food from kimchi to sriracha sauces, etc., but these poppers were sooooo spicy, I didn't have enough grapefruit crush to mellow out the burning in my mouth and the bread took forever. Finally when that came out, it did help with the burn. If you like spicy, burn the inside of your mouth for an hour, make sure to try the poppers!
(3)RedHoney B.
Finally had the opportunity to check this place out and I must say we enjoyed ourselves. We ordered fat boy crabs, jerk shrimp, crab cake & fries, and an orange crush. We enjoyed all of the food ex except for the crab cake. The atmosphere was nice with lots of people chatting as they watched TV. All items were value-oriented in price. The waitress and the bartender were very professional and keep things steadily coming to our table. This will definitely become a favorite football/basketball season spot for us!
(4)Billy B.
Fatboy's is a great neighborhood joint. Doesn't try to get too fancy. In addition to seafood, terrific wings and tenders! Great indoor/outdoor casual atmosphere. Nice bar and happy hour apps. Delicious cream of crab soup. Very nice service staff, friendly and helpful to customers. Also, if getting take out, you can pick up a 6 pack for the road.
(4)Elizabeth A.
A group of us came for a work lunch. Food was okay. Just bar food. I wouldn't go here for a seafood fix necessarily. It's more of a beer and app place.
(3)George F.
Just wasn't impressed by any of the food or the atmosphere. My kids love crabs and I was really looking forward to a place I could take them regularly but this place just isn't it.
(1)Thuy E.
Crabs and orange crush...cant beat it. And they close late. Girlfriend did not care for her cream of crab soup
(5)John K.
Love this place! First time was last night and the crabs were delicious. Only $65/dozen for larges. Hard for me to say "only" but with today's prices, this was a deal. The crabs were really "larges" and were full - no paper shells. Beer was cheap...only $10 for a bucket of 5 Coors Light. Wings were really good too. Live music on a Wednesday night was a bonus. Place was packed so Fat Boys is doing something right. Didn't make it outside to the deck but it was hoping and looked like fun. Growing up in Baltimore I know good crabs and Fat Boys has GOOD crabs! Can't wait until I get back to see family again so I can go to Fat Boys.
(5)Kevin S.
I couldn't go here enough. Firecracker shrimp, a Long Island, and a colossal crab cake will cure cancer.
(5)Rob P.
Not at all what I was expecting, but a very pleasant surprise! All the main courses were very good! The sides are ok. But let's face it, what from a non-chain Crab shack. Now I can't wait to try the crabs this summer!!!
(3)Ben J.
Let's be crystal clear-this place has an attitude. It's rowdy. You'll have to get used to it if you want to dine here. However, anyone can come here. Families, groups, lonely buddies, etc. as long as you're looking for a good, loud time. It's a rowdy crab shack. I ate crab legs and crab cakes and they were both tasty. It didn't blow my mind, but it was good. You have to be aggressive to get service. But the staff is friendly, they just don't like timid types. I paid a lot of money so that wasn't fun. I guess seafood is expensive, but I usually pay for service. And I didn't get the service I paid for. Because of this, it falls short of a 4 star. Otherwise, you'll have a good time here drinking, taking in a game, or just chewing on good seafood with a friend or family. Everyone here comes to have a good time, so be prepared to smile.
(3)S K.
From the service to the food....horrible. When you have to beg for a beer, after being ignored by the bartender, just so you can have something to wash down the swill. This was my third visit, figuring two times was just bad luck, no this is a trend. Save your money, go elsewhere.
(1)Jessica H.
Having never been here before I was a little confused by the way you order and seat yourself;A little direction would have been nice. We ordered 3 dozen large crabs, when they came out they gave us 1 dozen and told us it was 3. Due to the fact you don't have servers we had to hunt someone down to ask for our other 2 dozen. When they came out they said we needed crab paper on our table , note we has already eaten our whole first dozen without paper and had appetizers and drinks we had to move for the table to be set. On a much more positive note that crabs were impressive, large and heavy.
(3)Dave H.
Food has greatly improved! Atmosphere is still great!
(4)Thaddina W.
What an awesome place to go for seafood, the seat yourself style seating inside is limited but if you are the mood for summer there are benches and tables outside and a playground for the kids. You can enjoy the ambiance of the summer weather along with your delicious seafood. The prices are very affordable and the food is quality. The crabs were succulent and flavorful. Additionally , the hush puppies were to die for along with the huge fried oysters. I sat inside because I am not outdoorsy , you get the menu choose what you want and go up to the cashier to order, you will be given a number and then they bring your food out to you. If you want delicious seafood at reasonable prices, please try this place. I am definitely going back . The seafood here is to die for . Also if you are a drinker the bar seemed poppin, if I werent driving I would have gotten one of their fruity summer drinks.
(4)Megan H.
The crabs were great and better yet.... We didn't have to wait hours to be seated. Some of the young staff was new and there was a mixup with our beer bucket order but it was corrected and we were well taken care of :)
(5)Brooke W.
Best bar atmosphere in Crofton area. I haven't been here for food (other than some munchies) but as a bar scene its fantastic. The crowd is always super chill and mellow, as are the bartenders, chefs, and servers. It has a hometown, low-key feel. They usually have games on, perhaps a little soft background music, but I love it because you can actually hang out, talk to, and hear your friends (something you can't get from very many bars around here - for some reason in places like College Park they blast music so loud you can't even hear yourself yell - I hate that lol). In the summer time, this is totally the place to be. They have a cute balcony with tiki lights, that has plenty of picnic tables you can sit out on. They even have some picnic tables underneath with quite a bit of land (with a playground too). There's nothing better than drinking one of their orange crushes out with your friends on a warm summers night. They're drink prices are cheap and/or at a reasonable price. All of their prices are just and fair. They often have deals on gamedays and holidays. I love this place - this is my friend's go-to-place - I definitely would recommend :)
(5)Dakota R.
The best fresh crabs, EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!! The best people, EXCELLENT!!!! The best DRINKS, EXCELLENT!!!!! As a matter of fact when I leave work today, I'M going to FATBOYS....The BEST ROCKFISH, EXCELLENT!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT...FAT BOYS HAS A DIVERSE CROWD some how another they make everyone feel like they are VIP....open early close late all size crabs the best fresh food in town.....
(5)Cecilia P.
Food was excellent but....too loud, too small, too crowded (Sat. night), tables not big enough. If you want to have an intimate conversation, go elsewhere. Had cream of crab soup, alaskan crab legs and crab cake sandwich. One thing that really bugged me was that the crab cracker tool was plastic! I have eaten a lot of seafood and had never seen anything like it. It was completely useless as it was bending all over the place and looking like it was going to snap in half. This is a seafood place with no metal crackers! My husband had to break my crab legs with his bare hands because I couldn't manage it. I got fed up and brought most of them home so I could get my hands on a real tool. Also, keep in mind that there are no servers so if you want another beer while you are up to your elbows in crab, you have to get up and go to the bar yourself. If we go again, we'll try lunch when it's a little less crazy (and pack our own tools).
(3)Heather C.
Such a fun place to chill out - as unpretentious as it gets with the bonus of awesome crabs, nothing is pricey, and the best orange crush i've ever had. My mixed ages-group had delicious crabs recently under the lit tiki torches on a beautiful night. Cream of crab soup just blew us away--best any of us has tried yet. Very friendly bartenders made potent concoctions for us, orange crushes and frozen huckelberry lemonades and for $6 it was a bargain compared to any other place I've had these drinks. Inexpensive kids meals, local yummy corn, delicious/jumbo steamed shrimp and awesome jumbo chicken wings were pleasant surprises too. Mom doesn't want to get her nails messy, so she got the broiled crab cakes and was very happy with the flavor and amount of crab meat. It's very low key. You order food and drinks at the cashier or at the bar. Everything then is brought to you. We even bought a bottle of wine to go on our way out (all are $9.99)! And to boot, we were told the crabs were from the MD/VA waters and sweet and heavy. Looking forward to going back!
(5)Mrs. R.
Don't feel like that drive to Annapolis to head to Mike's; Fat Boys Crab Shack is def. the next BEST thing! The crabs are full and meaty. The crab dip is to die for !! Jumbo lumps of creamy crab meat with fresh cut homemade old bay seasoned potato chips. The drinks are on point, just the right amount of alcohol, to give you just the right amount of buzz. The drinks are reasonably priced. This place also offers take out on food items, and alcohol. The outdoor seating is relaxing and kept warm through tiki torches. Awesome, relaxing atmosphere, with cheap eats and drinks LOVE it!
(5)Jazz C.
Oh Fat Boys, how I Love Thee...let me count the ways. 1) Yummy food 2) Cheap drinks 3) Great bartenders 4) Good service 5) Cheap drinks. Fat Boys is a off the beaten path bar/restaurant so don't expect table service. Do expect your belly to be full with some great seafood and your wallet not to be empty when you leave out.
(5)H S.
I agree with the "really wanted to like this place" sentiment. I still want to like it, and I'll probably even give it another try if I hear things improve. Three of us ordered a bucket of beer (cheap), an order of fries to have right away, and the "all you can eat" crabs and corn. We walked to the deck with the beer, then waited at least twenty minutes (didn't seem busy.) A guy finally came out with our crabs (stone cold) but had forgotten the fries. He went back to get the fries, then came out with half an order, saying someone had taken the rest of them and that he would put more in. The "shack rules" on the menu seemed kind of funny at first, until the really really really s l o w service and the cold first round of crabs. The "no complaining" jokes on the rules seemed a little ironic at that point. A good cleaning of the tables in between customers would also rate a higher review. We sat outside but the tables were all pretty cruddy. The guy who brought our crabs didn't seem to have a plan for how to put the paper down: he seemed a little befuddled by the table umbrella, as if he'd never considered how to work around it. Today's meal was nowhere near worth the price: the crabs were OK, but nothing special: some were really soggy. and the crab spice just tasted like it had been thrown on at the last minute. The drawn butter was dubious: I don't think it was actually butter. Like I said: I'll give it a try again if I start hearing better things about quicker service and hot food. Crofton is dying for a place like this and we're all rooting for you to do a good job, Fat Boys!
(2)melanie P.
Awesome place! Food was fabulous: crabs, ribs, crab dip, soup. Great prices. Fun atmosphere. Staff is very friendly. Definitely recommend!!! You have to go here if in Annapolis area!!!
(5)Cindi C.
I too wanted to really like this place. I think they need to decide what they are, or what are they going to be? When we went in on a Friday night it felt completely awkward walking in the door, no one greeting us. No idea what to do? Where should we go? So that wasn't good. Its all self serve, when you sorta turn the corn there is an area where you order your food, and they send the order over a wire above your head to the kitchen. Then you sit down, and they do bring your food. But you have to get your own cutlery & napkins. The place was full of families (at 6:30 on a Friday night) but the small bar was packed with people too. And if you want alcohol you have to walk up to the bar to get it. And there was a drinks menu on the table, which I felt like they make a good bit of their income on the alcohol. There was Jimmy Buffet playing on the loud stereo system, yet at times he was drowned out by the roar of harley engines outside. And the outside seating area was packed full of bikers. I ordered the shrimp salad, which had nice sized bits of shrimp but too much raw red onion for my taste. The potato salad was nice, but had chunks of carrot (???) in it, and the serving size (in a rubbermaid/tupperware) container like thing was way too big. So that turned out to be a waste. My DH liked his meal, fried shrimp. Oh yeah, the chips are real, not out of a bag. Fried there. That was one nice thing we enjoyed. I won't rush to get back there, some how I feel things were done on the cheap there. The decor reminded me of someone's beach house. So are they a biker bar? Or a family style seafood joint? I think the loud music and emphasis on liquor cancels that out. I mean they Fatboy's says they are home to the Orange Crush, and that every hour is happy hour. I do love the way they painted the outside, its cheerful and beach like.
(2)