Hole in the wall no frills. You want to eat crabs in your sweatpants while watching the game? This is your place. None of the waitstaff has a full compliment of teeth, however; these are the friendliest, hardworking, quick, and attentive men and women you will find. Food is always good. Love bringing out of town guests here for some authentic Maryland crab!
(3)
Stephanie S.
First off--any of these reviewers who start with 'I'm not a snob but I'm calling this a dive' can go back to Maple Lawn. Bottom of the Bay is a little gritty but that adds to its awesomeness. It's old school Laurel- i.e. not uppity or pretending to be Columbia. We've always had great service on the restaurant and take-out sides. The fish is delicious, fresh and served in giant portions (I usually get the daily special or flounder broiled) but I've liked other things I've tried. My husband loves the crab cakes. I had bland green beans once, that's my only complaint after years of patronage. If you're looking for great seafood and decent prices, check this place out.
(4)
Michael S.
Should be called Bottom of the Barrel. $45 for a dozen medium crabs to go. Would have been okay if they tasted good and had meat in them. Three were empty and one was rotten. The rest were almost empty and tasteless. Worst crabs I've ever eaten and I've been eating crabs for tears. Terrible!!!
(1)
Danielle D.
My husband and I had dinner at this restauant and were completely underwhelmed. The crabs were watery and meatless. The dining area was filthy and the waitress was slow. I did not like the fact that we dined in but were served on paper products. I am just getting started. The buffalo wings tasted like they were reheated and refried and utterly disgusting. I told my husband lets go to Ships Cafe in Catonsville for dinner but no , we had to go to Bottom of the Bay Seafood. Nasty dinner with 15% gratituty already added the nerve. The food here tasted like it was pulled from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.
(1)
Jim S.
I have been going to Bottom of the Bay for maybe 35 or so years (don't go there). As has been pointed out the crabs ROCK!! Always. The cole slaw is to be avoided at all costs. The fries are usually good. They make a really good burger. The flounder and the crab-cake sandwhich's are always tasty It is a dive...grow up...whiney cry babys should avoid this place. Real men and real women will be happy with the above listed items. everything else is hit or miss. I have had the shrimp when it was perfect and when I could not eat it. Go for what they do well and you will be rewarded.
(3)
G T.
Good service. Kinda loud. Smoke wafting in from outside. Lots of locals, pretty friendly mixed crowd, mostly blue collar types, diverse. Food was excellent. We'll be back.
(4)
Miss T.
It's the run down looking blue shack, right inside the Howard line. Blink and you'll miss it ! Notice the local flavor : )
(3)
E L.
If you're looking for a late night crab fix... this is the place. Otherwise the crabs arent that great... they were small and the shrimp were dried out and over cooked. Like I said they close at 11pm and thats the only good thing about them.
(2)
Greg X.
This place is rightly named BOTTOM of the Bay. I'm not sure where to begin, the dirty dining area, the greasy floors, the cartoonish painting on the wall (my 3 year old niece can do a better job), the disgusting food or the 15% gratuity added to ALL checks (I can go on forever). This place makes Long John Silver's look like a five star/diamonds establishment.
(1)
Carlos C.
The service was fast and cordial. The food was delicious and priced well. But... * it's a dive * it's in a less-than-preferred part of town * "ghetto-er" than I remembered when I used to live there. Bottom line: I'd come again for the all-you-can-eat and beer, but not b/c of it's neighborhood, decor...or anything else for that matter.
(2)
Jerry S.
This place has been a landmark for decades and looks it. Combination dive bar, liquor store, and restaurant. Steamed crabs always available, and the crab cakes have very little filler, need an extra dash of Old Bay for my taste. Fries are plain but crisp and hot, the coleslaw is plain, but crisp and cold, and the draft beer is cold and moderately priced. The rockfish platter was two large filets - see picture. Alcohol is available in the store 7 days. Two things to note: 15% tip will come on your tab, and the crabs come with a plastic knife. Bring your own or ask for a steak knife. Old school!
(4)
Vicky R.
Bottom of the Bay was ok. I went there on the rush before class and ordered a cream of crab soup. It was alright, nothing to write home about. Probably won't go back.
(2)
Eric S.
Place is incredibly dirty, dark and dingy. Food seemed as though frying oil hasn't been changed in a while. Crab dip was the highlight of the meal but would have been better if it wasn't served with saltine crackers. Fried oyster sandwich served on untoasted Wonderbread. Beer was cheap but food prices too high for mediocre quality. Will not return. 1.5
(2)
Nicole H.
Fair prices for steamed crabs. We got a dozen mediums that were tasty and heavy. Our waitress was friendly. It was exactly the right kind of atmosphere for crab eatin' in my opinion. If you are looking for an authentic, traditional Maryland crab eating experience, Bottom of the Bay is the right place to go!
(4)
Dane L.
Visited here Saturday night with a group of about 8 friends and we all did the all-you-can-eat for roughly $35/per. Granted, when paying a low price for all you can eat MD blue crab, something is being compomised. But it shouldnt be to this degree. Before I got inside the building, all I could smell was something rotting. My nose was desperately searching for signs of freshly steamed crabs, but it was completely non existent. I thought twice about entering, gave them the benefit of the doubt, then proceeded in. I dont expect any crab house to be clean, so i'll rule that factor out. Our 1st batch of crabs were all males, tiny, and lukewarm. 2nd batch, COLD. 3rd batch, warm/hot (some even had dry meat). A 4th batch was brought out. but I didn't touch any this time. Decided to hit a drive-thru instead to satisfy my hunger. Fries tasted/smelled like a dirty rag. Hush puppies were not great either. The cole slaw was okay. There was little-to-no service. We were emptying our own trays of litter into the trash bin and refilling our own drinks. Paper towels were only provided to one side of our table. All the waitress did for us was take our order, replenish crabs, give us butter and take a fat gratuity that wasnt deserved. How does she even sleep at night?! lol People seem to think its acceptable to run a business like this because its considered a dive. And if thats the case, this place dove and sunk. I wont ever come here again and I mean this from the bottom of my.... nevermind.
(2)
Andy H.
The recurring theme from the other reviews is "dive" and "good crab". Check and check. The AYCE crab is the best deal, only a couple of bums on the tray. All the sides were top notch as well. Service was a little bit stilted, and my dining partner had to wait 20 min longer for her medium crabs then my smaller crabs.
(3)
Cranky M.
Got to love the people who say this place has delicious or awesome food who gave it two stars or so. Three means ok, four means you are a fan. Yeah, this is not the type of place you take someone on a first date or anything like that. I really cant attest to much about their food except their crab. Ours was awesome three of us plus a two year old had 18 big ones. It did take a while to get the food- but they cook them to order. The crabs were delicious and took us forever to eat. After a long meal all of us were still hungry!
(4)
Isha B.
The jumbo lump crabcakes are great! Huge pieces of lump and barely any filling. The sides are just ok, nothing to write home about. If you order take out and your order fries, they are soggy by the time you get home. I've ordered the seafood platter as well, but the fried fish and other seafood was not that great. It wasn't seasoned too well and it is also a little soggy when you get home from the styrofoam. It is definitely a whole in the wall though. The all you can eat crabs/shrimp is a good deal esp because you get all you can eat hushpuppies and fries as well. But, don't wear your Sunday best and if you are worried about appearance, then don't go. It can get kind of grimy in the dining area from crab being all over the place.
(4)
Alexandra P.
Just stopped by her yesterday after work to pick up some crab cakes to go with dinner... Didn't feel like picking through crab meat! So this is definately a dive with some great yet suspicous characters, to say the least! Some guy with no teeth commented on how pretty my feet were, then i slowly backed away and waitied for my crab cakes in my car! The bar next door to the carryout brings all sorts of people but everyone is pretty down to earth and nice. So I decided to get the jumbo lump crabcakes... since they were an addition to the steak dinner i was going to prepare i opted for the sandwhich and told them to hold the bread ( cost around $11). Crabcake was decent and the fiance was all smiles after coming back from the gym to a lump crabacke and steak dinner! Yummm. I also ordered the soft crab sandwhich to try.. this one was dry and Blah... I just ended up throwing it out, not worth the calories. All in all a good place for steamed crabs and crabcakes, will def go back as the prices are pretty reasonable!
(3)
Jeff R.
I was in the Laurel area for a couple of weeks for work and myself and another guy from my company was looking for a place close with food and beer. So we looked across the parking lot and low and behold there was "Bottom of the Bay" As we jaywalked across Hwy 1 from our hotel the smell of slightly turned seafood wafted to our noses..(Wait we were walking behind the trash can, that explains that). When we got close to the... I guess you could call it a crab shack we seen several huge steamers running out back with loads of crabs being cooked within and handfuls of Old Bay or the like being tossed in like a magic fairy dust to give the crabs new life as tasty tasty dinner. We walked in to what I can only describe as one of the most Dive looking places that I have ever been. Not that it was dirty just dim, loud and crowded. We were seated and we went with the bar side. We ordered a dozen crab and a pitcher of whatever was on draft, which I think was Miller Light or some other American excuse for a beer but was only 7 bucks a pitcher. A LONG while after our crabs arrived looking well, red and crabby much like my ginger haired Irish ex-wife we we proceded to get a lesson in crab cracking from our friendly and amusing bartender. After that tutorial was completed we commenced to feasting on what turned out to be pretty good crab and downing a few pitchers of beer and a couple of 3 dollar shots of Mr Jose. We then gingerly padded our way back across Hwy 1 to our hotel and relaxed in a seafood and ethanol induced state of bliss. All said it is worth checking out if you are in the area, not great and not bad but a decent little dive place to check out while you are in the area.
(3)
Laura E.
All you can eat crabs? Yes please! Everything I've ever got from here has always been tasty.
(5)
Sean U.
Exactly what you expect from a real crab house style restaurant. Plastic cups, paper towel rolls on the table, a sink in the dinning area and VERY WELL SEASONED Maryland Blues!!! Looking for a fancy place then this is not for you. Looking for great crabs, then come here!
(4)
Amy B.
Well, that was different...... That's what we have to say after eating at Bottom of the Bay. We heard that Bottom of the Bay used to be a really big deal in old Laurel. We've been trying to get there for a few years, but always had a taste for something more familiar. Tonight though, all of the other preferential restaurants were packed. So - we went and I have to tell you, this was a serious dive. I'm not a snob and we will eat at places that aren't fancy if the food rocks, but this was even a little too divey for me. For instance, you get a metal fork, but a plastic knife. What the hell? Put two and two together and you get an uneasy feeling. This place is around the area motels with high crime rates, so we had to wonder. I ordered snow crab legs with a salad and fries ($15.99), which is what I would order at Red Sky, a much nicer restaurant down the road across from Laurel Mall. At Bottom of the Bay, I didn't get any bread and butter for an appetizer and the salad and drink were served in Styrofoam. I got twice as many crab legs at Red Sky for about the same price...with a tool to crack my crabs with as well as wipes for my hands afterwards. At Bottom of the Bay, you get paper towels and a wood hammer to attack your crab legs with...nothing else. It felt archaic and pulverized crab claws aren't fun to pick at. The part of the hammer that you smack the crab with was a bit loose too, so you had to really be careful or else someone could get hurt with flying hammer parts. The French fries were not that great either...a little undercooked. Red Sky always has excellent fries. My husband had the sea scallops and he said he had to dip them in something to make them palatable. The service was excellent... A man tried to seat us immediately after we walked in the door, but we wanted a moment to look at the menu first. The waitress was working alone and busting her butt. She was still very professional on a busy Saturday night. So, we had no problem with the employees- they were great. Overall, I would expect a better deal from a dive though. The prices are the same as neighboring seafood restaurants that are in better parts of town and the food isn't all that. I don't think a bargain hunter is going to be satisfied with this place. It seems to remain an institution in Laurel though...and I think that's why it continues to get good business. They sell live crabs too....maybe that's it. Some people have memories there, or maybe they just feel more comfortable in an environment that completely lacks any formality whatsoever. Me - I want the best food for the best price and although I don't demand ambiance, real silverware and plates would be nice. I don't like hammering my food either.
(2)
Valyncia G.
I frequent Bottom of the Bay. I eat inside and carry out and the crabs are always delicious! Always steamed to perfection. One of the better places to go for crabs. They are a tad pricey but you get more than what you paid for.
(5)
Miss Z.
If you just want good crabs in a very low-class "this is where the dirty fisherman hang out" kind of place, go here. If you want to eat anything other than steamed crabs, or you want to eat somewhere you are not afraid of catching a disease from sitting on their nasty chairs, eat somewhere else. My flounder sandwich was disgusting, and the management is terribly rude. This IS NOT a fine seafood restaurant. It is a blue collar redneck bar.
(1)
Portia P.
I had a craving for oysters on the half shell, found this spot on yelp.com . Once I arrived at the hole in the wall, I was skeptical. I did get the oysters on the half shell, they were fresh and yummy. Also ordered the Seafood platter, they give u so much food, two people could share and be full. Two fried pieces of fish, crab cake, scallops, clams, hush puppies, baked potato. All food was piping hot.
(4)
Sara M.
When we went to Bottom of the Bay, there was a massive fight in the parking lot and people were getting arrested. We thought this was a charming first impression and went inside. Maryland is all about crabs. This is no secret. And Bottom of the Bay has crabs. (Hush, you know what I mean!) They have a huge menu of seafood, sandwiches, steak, pizza, and more. The list of homemade soups is impressive, too. I can't vouch for all of it being good... but the seafood platters that we ordered were tasty. I guess they also have live seafood and liquor that you can purchase and take home for an authentic Maryland booze-and-crab feast. Their website says they ship, too - probably the crabs, not the alcohol. The restaurant has a certain derelict, hole-in-the-wall charm. One of the dining rooms has a blue plaid wallpaper that creates awesome optical illusions, and then gives you a headache if you stare at it too long. Each table comes covered in butcher block paper and loaded with a big roll of paper towels. This is a no-nonsense approach to messy cuisine. Our waiter was clearly bored and displeased to be working, so the service wasn't pleasant. But I got crabs (shh!), and whacked the heck out of them with a mallet, and didn't get arrested in the parking lot. All in all, a good night. We had completely overlooked that this was our anniversary (#8? #9?) and still find it hilarious that we ended up eating crabs at a sketchy seafood restaurant in the median of Route 1 for our romantic evening. And I'm not sure how I feel about the name. Do I want to eat the things that they dredge up from the bottom of the bay? Apparently, I do.
(3)
Tom O.
Well, let's see, this place is an over sized shack, dive, hole in the wall, you get the idea. It's not going to get awards for being classy and upscale. And that's just the outside, the inside is an extension of the outside. It also has two entrances, one for the bar and one for the restaurant. It's baffling since they are connected on the inside. Anyway. on the restaurant side you have a couple of tables and a bunch of long benches. There isn't a lot of chatter that you can hear, everyone is just too damn busy beating away at crabs with their mallets. Yes, that's pretty much all you hear, the hammering on crabs. So let's get on to the food. My friend and I ordered a dozen medium sized crabs since they were out of anything larger. That plate of dozen crabs turned up to be a big ass plate of crabs. Armed with the mallet and beer for courage to tackle the crabs we went to work. Is the effort you put into getting to the crab meat worth it? Yep, they were very tasty. Messy but good and seasoned just right and I'm glad we only got the medium sized crabs, we were stuffed, even with all the work we put into getting to the meat.
(4)
Maria M.
What better way to write my first ever review as an elite yelp member than to write about one of my favorite foods ever.... CRABS!! Let me tell you, this place is amazing for blue maryland crabs! We got the all you can eat crabs and shrimps for $35.95. Not sure if that's expensive or cheap but if you love crabs - do it! =) The all you can eat serves small crabs, but they had plenty of meat and you can eat as many as you want, so you can't lose (unless you eat less than 15 crabs for you to even out - a dozen small crabs is $28). Anyways, most of the crabs we got was full of meat and fresh. There was one or two in the batch that we got that was not so good.. but I think all in all between the hubs and I, we ate about 30. I only ate 11 so it wasn't worth it for me to get the all you can eat, but the crabs were still delicious! Why only 3? Well... the shrimp wasn't very good. It was decent. But you can tell it wasn't too fresh or cooked well because the shell was mostly stuck on the shrimp. And when I bit into the shrimp, it was a little too rubbery for my taste. In any case, the all you can eat comes with as much fries, cole slaw, and hush puppies you want. The fries were pretty good, crispy and hot when it comes to you. But it's hard to keep them warm because it takes so long to eat 1 crab, that by the time you finish, the fries are cold and not as good. Oh well. The cole slaw is forgettable and it's not worth it to keep eating the hush puppies because you'll get too full to eat the rest of your crabs. The ambience? There's a bar part and a seat in restaurant area. It's small and you basically sit around long cafeteria tables. So be ready for people to sit next to you if there's only two of you which was quite fun for us, but maybe not for others who wants to eat their crabs privately. In any case, this was a really great experience in terms of crabs... but not in terms of other things we ate. Bottom line, go here for crabs! It's Aaaa-mazing. I'll have to try the other things to really accurately rate this place though =P
(3)
Steven S.
The food is terrible, the staff hardly came to check up on how we were doing; we had to flag them down for service. The chairs were as nasty as the floor and the paper towels had crab parts all over them. They did not have crabs nor half the sides advertised. I had the catfish which I am pretty sure was straight out of a Mr Gordon's frozen box. The hush-puppies are so dry and hard you could use them as projectiles in a firearm. Some of the shrimp were good, others not so much. Everything was overpriced and 15 percent gratuity is automatic despite the lousy food and service. Won't be going back again.
(1)
Nicholette P.
Maryland = Crabs! We come here when we decide to get live crabs last min to steam in some beer!... because it is the best in Laurel! My dad loves the crabcakes and boyyyy are they yummy, lump meat.. all the crab without the fuss of having to pick it yourself! They also have good shrimp and specials!!!
(4)
Jeff C.
This is a no-frills dive for good crabs. Unlike many other crab restaurants that have fancy decor but part-time crab availability, Bottom of the Bay has crabs all the time. They even have female crabs that are half the price and Asians prefer much more due to the sweetness of the meat. Make no mistake, this is a hole-in-the-wall. You won't pay for the decor, the dark interior, the plastic cups/silverware/plates and soup bowl. But the crabs are super awesome, and the folks there won't stare at an Asian person like they are second class citizen like in Obycki's. I enjoy myself here. This is not a place to impress a lady. But you will have a hell of a good time eating good crabs with your buddies here.
(4)
Andrew K.
If you love crabs, you will love the all you can eat option for $32. I was a little hesitant about ordering this because it is the small size crabs but surprisingly there is alot of meat inside these small crabs and they tasted pretty fresh. It also comes with all you can eat fries, coleslaw and hush puppies but these were not great. If you add $4, you can also get all you can eat steamed shrimp but the shrimp wasn't that good so I would just stick with the crabs. If you don't want to choose the all you can eat option, you can also order a dozen medium, large and jumbo crabs but they can get pretty pricey as the jumbo crabs were $77 which I don't think is worth it. The menu also had alot of other options including crabcake sandwiches and other seafood and bar food options. Service isn't great and you sit on long cafeteria tables in a dimly lit room that reminded me of my junior high school cafeteria but you don't find that many all you can eat crab places around here so if you love crabs, this will be a great place to check out.
(4)
Courtney C.
Where else can you get all you can eat crabs and shrimp for $35? Yes, its a hole in the wall, white trash kind of place, but I'll sit there for hours stuffing my face! The all you can eat comes with endless fries and hush puppies. Order your beer by the pitcher. Watch the crabs roll in on trays and chow down. The service isn't great, the atmosphere isn't worth one star, but the price for the quality and quantity is fairly amazing. don't be a snob, put on some elastic pants, and be prepared to get dirty. I'll be the girl in the corner, with an old t-shirt on (to cover the clothes I don't want to get dirty), sitting with the guy who is amazed I can put away that much food, just picking my way through crab after crab!
(4)
Brownie B.
Well, this place looks like it sank to the bottom of the bay and people forgot about it. But, THAT'S FINE. This is supposed to be a no frills kind of place. No frills = affordable all you can eat crabs. If you think you are walking into McCormick and Schmicks for a fine dining experience, don't bother coming. This place is grungy and simple. Come to eat crabs, drink light beer and talk shit. Anyway, had the all you can eat crabs and shrimp for like $40 and the crabs were OK. Again, you get what you pay for, so I am cool with it. The crabs were small and had some ok meat inside. Are you going to get full off the crabs? Probably not. You will get tired picking them before you get full. So that is what the hush puppies and fries are there for. For the crabs, I'd go back, not for a fine culinary experience, but because it is something to do on a lazy Sunday while hanging with your buddies. As for the shrimp, they were pretty sweet and the cocktail sauce was pretty good with the extra horseradish. However, the shrimp were kind of soggy, didn't peel well and weren't high quality. But again, this is all you can eat. I don't expect fancy prawns that are well prepared. I was disappointed with their iced tea. Not freshly brewed, and one thing that pisses me off THIN ASS LEMONS. I can't SQUEEZE THE DAMN LEMON because it is paper thin, so I can't hook my iced tea up. Come on, get thicker lemons and brew your own tea. And finally for service, it was ok. I don't like that they don't at least clean your discarded shells away for you to clear room to eat more crabs...So I had crab leavins EVERYWHERE. So, the 15% gratuity the automatically add on is cool with me. Give me ok service, and get the default ok tip. I will definitely go back, and next time I want to get a dozen jumbo crabs and try them out. The people next to us ordered large crabs and they looked pretty PHAT.
(3)
Su K.
Laurel is a quirky city. The larger area known generally as Laurel spans PG, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. It's namesake can be a type of tree but most of the trees have been cut down (*sob* all the planeteers of Laurel shed a tear). There's a horse racetrack and a Delta Bingo. And of particular interest, there's some good eats as well, though most look truck stop-ish, as Cindi N. points out. Some notable examples include the Barbecue House, Pasta Plus (which looks like it is closed down and about to be boarded up), Five Guys, and Bottom of the Bay. Food - Judging by the name, one would assume the seafood here is good, and they would assume correctly. They have an all-you-can eat crab feast for $32.95, which includes steamed shrimp (shell on), fries, slaw and hushpuppies. The slaw is some of the worst I've ever had - seriously, simply putting mayo on cabbage would be better than this. The crabs span the usual spectrum of all-you-can-eats from plump and bursting with sweet crab flesh to the AARP of blue crabs. Personally, I'd recommend getting a dozen jumbos. My family and I ate here and got the feasts but my dad ordered a dozen jumbos to go for his friends and he suddenly became everyone's BFF. For all-you-can-eat, this place is pretty good, especially since you don't need to drive across the Bay. Service - Friendly and relatively efficient. Every time I've been, we were immediately seated as I've never seen the restaurant at full capacity. Location - Restaurant with a simple dining area on one side, bar and bulk seafood orders on the other. Dining area could support groups of 12-15 at one table. With seedy motels surrounding the restaurant, this could provide a decent night life. For you ladies who are tired of your purse, take a walk after dinner and a friendly Laurel resident will provide an excuse for your BF or hubs to buy you a new one. Go for the crabs, don't stay for the location.
(4)
Susan Z.
Apparently the big draw here is all-you-can-eat crabs. If you want other seafood, go somewhere else. The fried oysters were good as was the bottled beer which is hard to ruin, but everything else, including the shrimp, cole slaw, and french fries were awful. The service was negligent (the waitress was not overworked.) The prices are very high for such bad food - about $80 for two (with three beers). I would never go there again or recommend this place to anyone. They even had the audacity to add on a 15% tip, which was in no way deserved. Eat here at your own risk!
(1)
Cindi N.
5 stars for the crabcake alone!!!! I always get the crabcake sandwich....... incredibly juicy delectable LUMP (& they do mean LUMP, with very very little filler) crabcake! mmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it, can't wait 'til i go back to maryland in the summer.......... plus the crabcake sandwich only costs about $6.95!!!!!! none of the crabcakes in s.f. compares!!!!! o stars, even -100 stars for the setting & ambiance...you need to call ahead of time to pick up & take it home.....when you walk in you wouldn't know they actually sell food cause its a super tiny dark shabby liquor store thats connected to a restaurant (i've never been inside of the restaurant, but don't need to check it out -- i just want to pick up the food & go to my in-laws home & grub!!!). you definitely wouldn't want to hang out there beyond your pick up time (5 min. max).......its very shady -- truck stop/trailer park liquor store feel!!!! and you can forget about service, just pick up, pay & go!!!
(5)
Mary D.
I've only ever done carryout (crabs), but the times that we've ordered from Bottom of the Bay, we've always been happy. The crabs are good sized and good on meat. They give you plenty of Old Bay, but not too much like some places do. The inside is definitely old, and "divey". But if I am getting good crabs, I would put up with worse.
(4)
Sarah H.
Very good food. We've eaten the crabs, steamed shrimp, and cheesesteaks on many occasions and have never been disappointed. Taking one star off because the place is really old, outdated, and back allyish. We have always carried out, because of that.
(4)
Monique T.
Bottom of The Bay has been my FAVORITE place to eat crabs since I was a kid! Let's just say I've been eating crabs here for 30 years! Yes, this place is a dive, but the service is always consistent and servers like Rhonda always make it fun! I celebrated my bday with family and friends here last Sunday and we had a BALL! Most of my party of 20 had the shrimp and crab all you can eat feast. We were ALL pleased! Now, before we went I did read the reviews about the ammonia smell and I was worried. YES, we did each have a crab or two that smelled of ammonia, but overall the good DEFINITELY outweighed the bad. Note to Owner: If you read through the latest reviews, each one mentions the ammonia smell. PLEASE fix this issue ASAP so that you can continue being the go to crab spot in Laurel for many more years to come!
(4)
Keith W.
Ate at Bottom of the Bay on June 29th; worst decision. Made the mistake of asking on my family chat where I could take a friend who was flying into town with me to sit and eat crags. Only my ghetto cousin answered; I should have know this place would be suspect. I ordered a dozen large crabs for $96 waited for them to "cook", they came out really hot and we began eating. First crab was smithing hot, but totally lacked flavor. I commented that they needed salt in the water or more beer. The crab legs had meet sticking to the shell like they were warmed up; very weird. Second Crab had a really strong ammonia odor and taste; disgusting. I'm not worried; had to wipe my hands off and google ammonia odor in crabs. Article says it means crabs are old. Third crab is mushy and has ammonia odor. WTF Conclusion: 95% sure these fools warmed up old crabs and served them to me and my guest. Family is not barred from recommending anything to me and Bottom of the Bay is not even bottom of my list. Feeling better about family, a couple of them saw the recommendation from ghetto cousin on chat and tried the crabs last night. They have the same conclusion as me and actually argued with the staff. At least I feel better about the family. I was wondering.
(1)
Ellen Z.
This is, by far, the worst place I have ever eaten crabs. I ordered two dozen regular males to take home last weekend, since they were running a special. When we went to eat them, nearly half of them were bad. They had gray gills, mealy flesh, and absolutely WREAKED of ammonia. It was such a disappointment. I will never go back to Bottom of the Bay, and would strongly advise anyone against going there.
(1)
Lena W.
Normally I speak highly of BOTB, but this was my first disappointing experience. Most of the food was good (snow crab legs, shrimp, fries and hush puppies), but the most important piece --the crabs -- fell way short. I've seen reviews about old crabs before but had never been served them until today. I ordered a dozen in lieu of all you can eat, and it was a waste of my money. The crabs were old: mushy meat and smelling of amonia. Luckily not all of them were like this, but even one is too many. I don't know if reusing crabs is a cost-saving measure, but it's unacceptable. I don't know if this will keep me from here forever, but I know I'll be thinking twice about where I get my crabs.
(3)
Clara R.
Went here tonight and had 2 lb of crab legs and shrimp for 28 bucks! It was a great casual dining experience. I definitely will be going back. The food was excellent
(5)
Aubrey B.
Very friendly staff. The owner even came out at one point to make sure everything was okay and thanked me for my business. The crabs were a good size for an all-you-can-eat special. It was a little pricey compared to other places that usually include shrimp and corn with the crabs for less money but I would still go back.
(4)
Janine W.
Horrible decision to have their crab feast last night and I am regretting it as I vomit crab this morning. We questioned the cook about the ammonia smell and she insisted it was fine. Should have read the reviews before we ate there.
(1)
Ryan W.
Unfortunately you can't give negative stars! I've eaten here a couple of times and the food is average at best, however, today's experience was icing on the cake. I ordered crabs for Mother's Day days several days prior, called the day before to confirm my order and offer to prepay and was told my order was in and I didn't need to prepay. I went to pick up my half bushel of crabs an hour before our big Mother's Day party only to find out they sold them. Because of how Bottom of the Bay handled this I didn't call around the morning of to get crabs as I was told my order was in here and now I am left crabless on Mother's Day with 3 disappointed mothers. I will no longer support this business and highly encourage others to do business elsewhere. The crabs are better at surrounding crab houses but more importantly other business follow through with their commitments.
(1)
Brittaney P.
I really enjoyed this spot! Great staff, they were friendly and fast. I went with my two kids(11,8) and they had a great time! I will definitely be going back! And yes it's a dive but that's why I went.
(5)
Michael S.
Well it was late night and I had an Absolute Craving for a "Really Good Fish Sub and Soup". I had just missed two other restaurants. I phoned and ordered , wow only ten minute wait. I arrived and decided to order the "Cream of Crab Soup" . Drove home, to dine on the most "Tasteless and Bland Seafood Meal". Very minimal amount of Crab in the soup, lots of Celery, and Sodium-(SALT). You definitely get a show - very colorful "Locals". Really miss the BAY & SURF...!!!
(2)
Mark L.
I'm usually okay with dives because they usually offer some good food at cheap prices. Lack of cleanliness and service is a tradeoff I'm 100% ok with. The problem with Bottom of the Bay is it is NOT cheap, and the food does not warrant the hefty price tag. We started off with the crab dip. It was mostly cheese with a very faint crab taste. We got some burnt, dry toasted Italian bread I think, and there wasn't close to enough bread for the amount of dip we received. So what do we get to finish it off? Prepackaged saltines. Yaaay. I got the crabcake sandwich with hushpuppies and fries. The hushpuppies were small and tough. The fries were alright, but nothing special. The jumbo lump crab cake was pretty good, though I probably wouldn't get it in a sandwich next time (who am I kidding, there probably won't be a next time) because the bun just waters down the flavor of the crab cake. It was good here, but I'd like to think MD can do a lot better, since the crab cake is what they're known for. I finished it off with an order of large shrimp. This was probably the highlight of my meal, because the old bay seasoning really stood out with the juicy, succulent, tender shrimp. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to justify the prices. The only thing I'd come back for is to try the AYCE crabs. Crabs weren't "in season" when I went, so I was advised not to go that route.
Takes Reservations : Yes 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 : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lisa G.
Hole in the wall no frills. You want to eat crabs in your sweatpants while watching the game? This is your place. None of the waitstaff has a full compliment of teeth, however; these are the friendliest, hardworking, quick, and attentive men and women you will find. Food is always good. Love bringing out of town guests here for some authentic Maryland crab!
(3)Stephanie S.
First off--any of these reviewers who start with 'I'm not a snob but I'm calling this a dive' can go back to Maple Lawn. Bottom of the Bay is a little gritty but that adds to its awesomeness. It's old school Laurel- i.e. not uppity or pretending to be Columbia. We've always had great service on the restaurant and take-out sides. The fish is delicious, fresh and served in giant portions (I usually get the daily special or flounder broiled) but I've liked other things I've tried. My husband loves the crab cakes. I had bland green beans once, that's my only complaint after years of patronage. If you're looking for great seafood and decent prices, check this place out.
(4)Michael S.
Should be called Bottom of the Barrel. $45 for a dozen medium crabs to go. Would have been okay if they tasted good and had meat in them. Three were empty and one was rotten. The rest were almost empty and tasteless. Worst crabs I've ever eaten and I've been eating crabs for tears. Terrible!!!
(1)Danielle D.
My husband and I had dinner at this restauant and were completely underwhelmed. The crabs were watery and meatless. The dining area was filthy and the waitress was slow. I did not like the fact that we dined in but were served on paper products. I am just getting started. The buffalo wings tasted like they were reheated and refried and utterly disgusting. I told my husband lets go to Ships Cafe in Catonsville for dinner but no , we had to go to Bottom of the Bay Seafood. Nasty dinner with 15% gratituty already added the nerve. The food here tasted like it was pulled from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.
(1)Jim S.
I have been going to Bottom of the Bay for maybe 35 or so years (don't go there). As has been pointed out the crabs ROCK!! Always. The cole slaw is to be avoided at all costs. The fries are usually good. They make a really good burger. The flounder and the crab-cake sandwhich's are always tasty It is a dive...grow up...whiney cry babys should avoid this place. Real men and real women will be happy with the above listed items. everything else is hit or miss. I have had the shrimp when it was perfect and when I could not eat it. Go for what they do well and you will be rewarded.
(3)G T.
Good service. Kinda loud. Smoke wafting in from outside. Lots of locals, pretty friendly mixed crowd, mostly blue collar types, diverse. Food was excellent. We'll be back.
(4)Miss T.
It's the run down looking blue shack, right inside the Howard line. Blink and you'll miss it ! Notice the local flavor : )
(3)E L.
If you're looking for a late night crab fix... this is the place. Otherwise the crabs arent that great... they were small and the shrimp were dried out and over cooked. Like I said they close at 11pm and thats the only good thing about them.
(2)Greg X.
This place is rightly named BOTTOM of the Bay. I'm not sure where to begin, the dirty dining area, the greasy floors, the cartoonish painting on the wall (my 3 year old niece can do a better job), the disgusting food or the 15% gratuity added to ALL checks (I can go on forever). This place makes Long John Silver's look like a five star/diamonds establishment.
(1)Carlos C.
The service was fast and cordial. The food was delicious and priced well. But... * it's a dive * it's in a less-than-preferred part of town * "ghetto-er" than I remembered when I used to live there. Bottom line: I'd come again for the all-you-can-eat and beer, but not b/c of it's neighborhood, decor...or anything else for that matter.
(2)Jerry S.
This place has been a landmark for decades and looks it. Combination dive bar, liquor store, and restaurant. Steamed crabs always available, and the crab cakes have very little filler, need an extra dash of Old Bay for my taste. Fries are plain but crisp and hot, the coleslaw is plain, but crisp and cold, and the draft beer is cold and moderately priced. The rockfish platter was two large filets - see picture. Alcohol is available in the store 7 days. Two things to note: 15% tip will come on your tab, and the crabs come with a plastic knife. Bring your own or ask for a steak knife. Old school!
(4)Vicky R.
Bottom of the Bay was ok. I went there on the rush before class and ordered a cream of crab soup. It was alright, nothing to write home about. Probably won't go back.
(2)Eric S.
Place is incredibly dirty, dark and dingy. Food seemed as though frying oil hasn't been changed in a while. Crab dip was the highlight of the meal but would have been better if it wasn't served with saltine crackers. Fried oyster sandwich served on untoasted Wonderbread. Beer was cheap but food prices too high for mediocre quality. Will not return. 1.5
(2)Nicole H.
Fair prices for steamed crabs. We got a dozen mediums that were tasty and heavy. Our waitress was friendly. It was exactly the right kind of atmosphere for crab eatin' in my opinion. If you are looking for an authentic, traditional Maryland crab eating experience, Bottom of the Bay is the right place to go!
(4)Dane L.
Visited here Saturday night with a group of about 8 friends and we all did the all-you-can-eat for roughly $35/per. Granted, when paying a low price for all you can eat MD blue crab, something is being compomised. But it shouldnt be to this degree. Before I got inside the building, all I could smell was something rotting. My nose was desperately searching for signs of freshly steamed crabs, but it was completely non existent. I thought twice about entering, gave them the benefit of the doubt, then proceeded in. I dont expect any crab house to be clean, so i'll rule that factor out. Our 1st batch of crabs were all males, tiny, and lukewarm. 2nd batch, COLD. 3rd batch, warm/hot (some even had dry meat). A 4th batch was brought out. but I didn't touch any this time. Decided to hit a drive-thru instead to satisfy my hunger. Fries tasted/smelled like a dirty rag. Hush puppies were not great either. The cole slaw was okay. There was little-to-no service. We were emptying our own trays of litter into the trash bin and refilling our own drinks. Paper towels were only provided to one side of our table. All the waitress did for us was take our order, replenish crabs, give us butter and take a fat gratuity that wasnt deserved. How does she even sleep at night?! lol People seem to think its acceptable to run a business like this because its considered a dive. And if thats the case, this place dove and sunk. I wont ever come here again and I mean this from the bottom of my.... nevermind.
(2)Andy H.
The recurring theme from the other reviews is "dive" and "good crab". Check and check. The AYCE crab is the best deal, only a couple of bums on the tray. All the sides were top notch as well. Service was a little bit stilted, and my dining partner had to wait 20 min longer for her medium crabs then my smaller crabs.
(3)Cranky M.
Got to love the people who say this place has delicious or awesome food who gave it two stars or so. Three means ok, four means you are a fan. Yeah, this is not the type of place you take someone on a first date or anything like that. I really cant attest to much about their food except their crab. Ours was awesome three of us plus a two year old had 18 big ones. It did take a while to get the food- but they cook them to order. The crabs were delicious and took us forever to eat. After a long meal all of us were still hungry!
(4)Isha B.
The jumbo lump crabcakes are great! Huge pieces of lump and barely any filling. The sides are just ok, nothing to write home about. If you order take out and your order fries, they are soggy by the time you get home. I've ordered the seafood platter as well, but the fried fish and other seafood was not that great. It wasn't seasoned too well and it is also a little soggy when you get home from the styrofoam. It is definitely a whole in the wall though. The all you can eat crabs/shrimp is a good deal esp because you get all you can eat hushpuppies and fries as well. But, don't wear your Sunday best and if you are worried about appearance, then don't go. It can get kind of grimy in the dining area from crab being all over the place.
(4)Alexandra P.
Just stopped by her yesterday after work to pick up some crab cakes to go with dinner... Didn't feel like picking through crab meat! So this is definately a dive with some great yet suspicous characters, to say the least! Some guy with no teeth commented on how pretty my feet were, then i slowly backed away and waitied for my crab cakes in my car! The bar next door to the carryout brings all sorts of people but everyone is pretty down to earth and nice. So I decided to get the jumbo lump crabcakes... since they were an addition to the steak dinner i was going to prepare i opted for the sandwhich and told them to hold the bread ( cost around $11). Crabcake was decent and the fiance was all smiles after coming back from the gym to a lump crabacke and steak dinner! Yummm. I also ordered the soft crab sandwhich to try.. this one was dry and Blah... I just ended up throwing it out, not worth the calories. All in all a good place for steamed crabs and crabcakes, will def go back as the prices are pretty reasonable!
(3)Jeff R.
I was in the Laurel area for a couple of weeks for work and myself and another guy from my company was looking for a place close with food and beer. So we looked across the parking lot and low and behold there was "Bottom of the Bay" As we jaywalked across Hwy 1 from our hotel the smell of slightly turned seafood wafted to our noses..(Wait we were walking behind the trash can, that explains that). When we got close to the... I guess you could call it a crab shack we seen several huge steamers running out back with loads of crabs being cooked within and handfuls of Old Bay or the like being tossed in like a magic fairy dust to give the crabs new life as tasty tasty dinner. We walked in to what I can only describe as one of the most Dive looking places that I have ever been. Not that it was dirty just dim, loud and crowded. We were seated and we went with the bar side. We ordered a dozen crab and a pitcher of whatever was on draft, which I think was Miller Light or some other American excuse for a beer but was only 7 bucks a pitcher. A LONG while after our crabs arrived looking well, red and crabby much like my ginger haired Irish ex-wife we we proceded to get a lesson in crab cracking from our friendly and amusing bartender. After that tutorial was completed we commenced to feasting on what turned out to be pretty good crab and downing a few pitchers of beer and a couple of 3 dollar shots of Mr Jose. We then gingerly padded our way back across Hwy 1 to our hotel and relaxed in a seafood and ethanol induced state of bliss. All said it is worth checking out if you are in the area, not great and not bad but a decent little dive place to check out while you are in the area.
(3)Laura E.
All you can eat crabs? Yes please! Everything I've ever got from here has always been tasty.
(5)Sean U.
Exactly what you expect from a real crab house style restaurant. Plastic cups, paper towel rolls on the table, a sink in the dinning area and VERY WELL SEASONED Maryland Blues!!! Looking for a fancy place then this is not for you. Looking for great crabs, then come here!
(4)Amy B.
Well, that was different...... That's what we have to say after eating at Bottom of the Bay. We heard that Bottom of the Bay used to be a really big deal in old Laurel. We've been trying to get there for a few years, but always had a taste for something more familiar. Tonight though, all of the other preferential restaurants were packed. So - we went and I have to tell you, this was a serious dive. I'm not a snob and we will eat at places that aren't fancy if the food rocks, but this was even a little too divey for me. For instance, you get a metal fork, but a plastic knife. What the hell? Put two and two together and you get an uneasy feeling. This place is around the area motels with high crime rates, so we had to wonder. I ordered snow crab legs with a salad and fries ($15.99), which is what I would order at Red Sky, a much nicer restaurant down the road across from Laurel Mall. At Bottom of the Bay, I didn't get any bread and butter for an appetizer and the salad and drink were served in Styrofoam. I got twice as many crab legs at Red Sky for about the same price...with a tool to crack my crabs with as well as wipes for my hands afterwards. At Bottom of the Bay, you get paper towels and a wood hammer to attack your crab legs with...nothing else. It felt archaic and pulverized crab claws aren't fun to pick at. The part of the hammer that you smack the crab with was a bit loose too, so you had to really be careful or else someone could get hurt with flying hammer parts. The French fries were not that great either...a little undercooked. Red Sky always has excellent fries. My husband had the sea scallops and he said he had to dip them in something to make them palatable. The service was excellent... A man tried to seat us immediately after we walked in the door, but we wanted a moment to look at the menu first. The waitress was working alone and busting her butt. She was still very professional on a busy Saturday night. So, we had no problem with the employees- they were great. Overall, I would expect a better deal from a dive though. The prices are the same as neighboring seafood restaurants that are in better parts of town and the food isn't all that. I don't think a bargain hunter is going to be satisfied with this place. It seems to remain an institution in Laurel though...and I think that's why it continues to get good business. They sell live crabs too....maybe that's it. Some people have memories there, or maybe they just feel more comfortable in an environment that completely lacks any formality whatsoever. Me - I want the best food for the best price and although I don't demand ambiance, real silverware and plates would be nice. I don't like hammering my food either.
(2)Valyncia G.
I frequent Bottom of the Bay. I eat inside and carry out and the crabs are always delicious! Always steamed to perfection. One of the better places to go for crabs. They are a tad pricey but you get more than what you paid for.
(5)Miss Z.
If you just want good crabs in a very low-class "this is where the dirty fisherman hang out" kind of place, go here. If you want to eat anything other than steamed crabs, or you want to eat somewhere you are not afraid of catching a disease from sitting on their nasty chairs, eat somewhere else. My flounder sandwich was disgusting, and the management is terribly rude. This IS NOT a fine seafood restaurant. It is a blue collar redneck bar.
(1)Portia P.
I had a craving for oysters on the half shell, found this spot on yelp.com . Once I arrived at the hole in the wall, I was skeptical. I did get the oysters on the half shell, they were fresh and yummy. Also ordered the Seafood platter, they give u so much food, two people could share and be full. Two fried pieces of fish, crab cake, scallops, clams, hush puppies, baked potato. All food was piping hot.
(4)Sara M.
When we went to Bottom of the Bay, there was a massive fight in the parking lot and people were getting arrested. We thought this was a charming first impression and went inside. Maryland is all about crabs. This is no secret. And Bottom of the Bay has crabs. (Hush, you know what I mean!) They have a huge menu of seafood, sandwiches, steak, pizza, and more. The list of homemade soups is impressive, too. I can't vouch for all of it being good... but the seafood platters that we ordered were tasty. I guess they also have live seafood and liquor that you can purchase and take home for an authentic Maryland booze-and-crab feast. Their website says they ship, too - probably the crabs, not the alcohol. The restaurant has a certain derelict, hole-in-the-wall charm. One of the dining rooms has a blue plaid wallpaper that creates awesome optical illusions, and then gives you a headache if you stare at it too long. Each table comes covered in butcher block paper and loaded with a big roll of paper towels. This is a no-nonsense approach to messy cuisine. Our waiter was clearly bored and displeased to be working, so the service wasn't pleasant. But I got crabs (shh!), and whacked the heck out of them with a mallet, and didn't get arrested in the parking lot. All in all, a good night. We had completely overlooked that this was our anniversary (#8? #9?) and still find it hilarious that we ended up eating crabs at a sketchy seafood restaurant in the median of Route 1 for our romantic evening. And I'm not sure how I feel about the name. Do I want to eat the things that they dredge up from the bottom of the bay? Apparently, I do.
(3)Tom O.
Well, let's see, this place is an over sized shack, dive, hole in the wall, you get the idea. It's not going to get awards for being classy and upscale. And that's just the outside, the inside is an extension of the outside. It also has two entrances, one for the bar and one for the restaurant. It's baffling since they are connected on the inside. Anyway. on the restaurant side you have a couple of tables and a bunch of long benches. There isn't a lot of chatter that you can hear, everyone is just too damn busy beating away at crabs with their mallets. Yes, that's pretty much all you hear, the hammering on crabs. So let's get on to the food. My friend and I ordered a dozen medium sized crabs since they were out of anything larger. That plate of dozen crabs turned up to be a big ass plate of crabs. Armed with the mallet and beer for courage to tackle the crabs we went to work. Is the effort you put into getting to the crab meat worth it? Yep, they were very tasty. Messy but good and seasoned just right and I'm glad we only got the medium sized crabs, we were stuffed, even with all the work we put into getting to the meat.
(4)Maria M.
What better way to write my first ever review as an elite yelp member than to write about one of my favorite foods ever.... CRABS!! Let me tell you, this place is amazing for blue maryland crabs! We got the all you can eat crabs and shrimps for $35.95. Not sure if that's expensive or cheap but if you love crabs - do it! =) The all you can eat serves small crabs, but they had plenty of meat and you can eat as many as you want, so you can't lose (unless you eat less than 15 crabs for you to even out - a dozen small crabs is $28). Anyways, most of the crabs we got was full of meat and fresh. There was one or two in the batch that we got that was not so good.. but I think all in all between the hubs and I, we ate about 30. I only ate 11 so it wasn't worth it for me to get the all you can eat, but the crabs were still delicious! Why only 3? Well... the shrimp wasn't very good. It was decent. But you can tell it wasn't too fresh or cooked well because the shell was mostly stuck on the shrimp. And when I bit into the shrimp, it was a little too rubbery for my taste. In any case, the all you can eat comes with as much fries, cole slaw, and hush puppies you want. The fries were pretty good, crispy and hot when it comes to you. But it's hard to keep them warm because it takes so long to eat 1 crab, that by the time you finish, the fries are cold and not as good. Oh well. The cole slaw is forgettable and it's not worth it to keep eating the hush puppies because you'll get too full to eat the rest of your crabs. The ambience? There's a bar part and a seat in restaurant area. It's small and you basically sit around long cafeteria tables. So be ready for people to sit next to you if there's only two of you which was quite fun for us, but maybe not for others who wants to eat their crabs privately. In any case, this was a really great experience in terms of crabs... but not in terms of other things we ate. Bottom line, go here for crabs! It's Aaaa-mazing. I'll have to try the other things to really accurately rate this place though =P
(3)Steven S.
The food is terrible, the staff hardly came to check up on how we were doing; we had to flag them down for service. The chairs were as nasty as the floor and the paper towels had crab parts all over them. They did not have crabs nor half the sides advertised. I had the catfish which I am pretty sure was straight out of a Mr Gordon's frozen box. The hush-puppies are so dry and hard you could use them as projectiles in a firearm. Some of the shrimp were good, others not so much. Everything was overpriced and 15 percent gratuity is automatic despite the lousy food and service. Won't be going back again.
(1)Nicholette P.
Maryland = Crabs! We come here when we decide to get live crabs last min to steam in some beer!... because it is the best in Laurel! My dad loves the crabcakes and boyyyy are they yummy, lump meat.. all the crab without the fuss of having to pick it yourself! They also have good shrimp and specials!!!
(4)Jeff C.
This is a no-frills dive for good crabs. Unlike many other crab restaurants that have fancy decor but part-time crab availability, Bottom of the Bay has crabs all the time. They even have female crabs that are half the price and Asians prefer much more due to the sweetness of the meat. Make no mistake, this is a hole-in-the-wall. You won't pay for the decor, the dark interior, the plastic cups/silverware/plates and soup bowl. But the crabs are super awesome, and the folks there won't stare at an Asian person like they are second class citizen like in Obycki's. I enjoy myself here. This is not a place to impress a lady. But you will have a hell of a good time eating good crabs with your buddies here.
(4)Andrew K.
If you love crabs, you will love the all you can eat option for $32. I was a little hesitant about ordering this because it is the small size crabs but surprisingly there is alot of meat inside these small crabs and they tasted pretty fresh. It also comes with all you can eat fries, coleslaw and hush puppies but these were not great. If you add $4, you can also get all you can eat steamed shrimp but the shrimp wasn't that good so I would just stick with the crabs. If you don't want to choose the all you can eat option, you can also order a dozen medium, large and jumbo crabs but they can get pretty pricey as the jumbo crabs were $77 which I don't think is worth it. The menu also had alot of other options including crabcake sandwiches and other seafood and bar food options. Service isn't great and you sit on long cafeteria tables in a dimly lit room that reminded me of my junior high school cafeteria but you don't find that many all you can eat crab places around here so if you love crabs, this will be a great place to check out.
(4)Courtney C.
Where else can you get all you can eat crabs and shrimp for $35? Yes, its a hole in the wall, white trash kind of place, but I'll sit there for hours stuffing my face! The all you can eat comes with endless fries and hush puppies. Order your beer by the pitcher. Watch the crabs roll in on trays and chow down. The service isn't great, the atmosphere isn't worth one star, but the price for the quality and quantity is fairly amazing. don't be a snob, put on some elastic pants, and be prepared to get dirty. I'll be the girl in the corner, with an old t-shirt on (to cover the clothes I don't want to get dirty), sitting with the guy who is amazed I can put away that much food, just picking my way through crab after crab!
(4)Brownie B.
Well, this place looks like it sank to the bottom of the bay and people forgot about it. But, THAT'S FINE. This is supposed to be a no frills kind of place. No frills = affordable all you can eat crabs. If you think you are walking into McCormick and Schmicks for a fine dining experience, don't bother coming. This place is grungy and simple. Come to eat crabs, drink light beer and talk shit. Anyway, had the all you can eat crabs and shrimp for like $40 and the crabs were OK. Again, you get what you pay for, so I am cool with it. The crabs were small and had some ok meat inside. Are you going to get full off the crabs? Probably not. You will get tired picking them before you get full. So that is what the hush puppies and fries are there for. For the crabs, I'd go back, not for a fine culinary experience, but because it is something to do on a lazy Sunday while hanging with your buddies. As for the shrimp, they were pretty sweet and the cocktail sauce was pretty good with the extra horseradish. However, the shrimp were kind of soggy, didn't peel well and weren't high quality. But again, this is all you can eat. I don't expect fancy prawns that are well prepared. I was disappointed with their iced tea. Not freshly brewed, and one thing that pisses me off THIN ASS LEMONS. I can't SQUEEZE THE DAMN LEMON because it is paper thin, so I can't hook my iced tea up. Come on, get thicker lemons and brew your own tea. And finally for service, it was ok. I don't like that they don't at least clean your discarded shells away for you to clear room to eat more crabs...So I had crab leavins EVERYWHERE. So, the 15% gratuity the automatically add on is cool with me. Give me ok service, and get the default ok tip. I will definitely go back, and next time I want to get a dozen jumbo crabs and try them out. The people next to us ordered large crabs and they looked pretty PHAT.
(3)Su K.
Laurel is a quirky city. The larger area known generally as Laurel spans PG, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. It's namesake can be a type of tree but most of the trees have been cut down (*sob* all the planeteers of Laurel shed a tear). There's a horse racetrack and a Delta Bingo. And of particular interest, there's some good eats as well, though most look truck stop-ish, as Cindi N. points out. Some notable examples include the Barbecue House, Pasta Plus (which looks like it is closed down and about to be boarded up), Five Guys, and Bottom of the Bay. Food - Judging by the name, one would assume the seafood here is good, and they would assume correctly. They have an all-you-can eat crab feast for $32.95, which includes steamed shrimp (shell on), fries, slaw and hushpuppies. The slaw is some of the worst I've ever had - seriously, simply putting mayo on cabbage would be better than this. The crabs span the usual spectrum of all-you-can-eats from plump and bursting with sweet crab flesh to the AARP of blue crabs. Personally, I'd recommend getting a dozen jumbos. My family and I ate here and got the feasts but my dad ordered a dozen jumbos to go for his friends and he suddenly became everyone's BFF. For all-you-can-eat, this place is pretty good, especially since you don't need to drive across the Bay. Service - Friendly and relatively efficient. Every time I've been, we were immediately seated as I've never seen the restaurant at full capacity. Location - Restaurant with a simple dining area on one side, bar and bulk seafood orders on the other. Dining area could support groups of 12-15 at one table. With seedy motels surrounding the restaurant, this could provide a decent night life. For you ladies who are tired of your purse, take a walk after dinner and a friendly Laurel resident will provide an excuse for your BF or hubs to buy you a new one. Go for the crabs, don't stay for the location.
(4)Susan Z.
Apparently the big draw here is all-you-can-eat crabs. If you want other seafood, go somewhere else. The fried oysters were good as was the bottled beer which is hard to ruin, but everything else, including the shrimp, cole slaw, and french fries were awful. The service was negligent (the waitress was not overworked.) The prices are very high for such bad food - about $80 for two (with three beers). I would never go there again or recommend this place to anyone. They even had the audacity to add on a 15% tip, which was in no way deserved. Eat here at your own risk!
(1)Cindi N.
5 stars for the crabcake alone!!!! I always get the crabcake sandwich....... incredibly juicy delectable LUMP (& they do mean LUMP, with very very little filler) crabcake! mmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it, can't wait 'til i go back to maryland in the summer.......... plus the crabcake sandwich only costs about $6.95!!!!!! none of the crabcakes in s.f. compares!!!!! o stars, even -100 stars for the setting & ambiance...you need to call ahead of time to pick up & take it home.....when you walk in you wouldn't know they actually sell food cause its a super tiny dark shabby liquor store thats connected to a restaurant (i've never been inside of the restaurant, but don't need to check it out -- i just want to pick up the food & go to my in-laws home & grub!!!). you definitely wouldn't want to hang out there beyond your pick up time (5 min. max).......its very shady -- truck stop/trailer park liquor store feel!!!! and you can forget about service, just pick up, pay & go!!!
(5)Mary D.
I've only ever done carryout (crabs), but the times that we've ordered from Bottom of the Bay, we've always been happy. The crabs are good sized and good on meat. They give you plenty of Old Bay, but not too much like some places do. The inside is definitely old, and "divey". But if I am getting good crabs, I would put up with worse.
(4)Sarah H.
Very good food. We've eaten the crabs, steamed shrimp, and cheesesteaks on many occasions and have never been disappointed. Taking one star off because the place is really old, outdated, and back allyish. We have always carried out, because of that.
(4)Monique T.
Bottom of The Bay has been my FAVORITE place to eat crabs since I was a kid! Let's just say I've been eating crabs here for 30 years! Yes, this place is a dive, but the service is always consistent and servers like Rhonda always make it fun! I celebrated my bday with family and friends here last Sunday and we had a BALL! Most of my party of 20 had the shrimp and crab all you can eat feast. We were ALL pleased! Now, before we went I did read the reviews about the ammonia smell and I was worried. YES, we did each have a crab or two that smelled of ammonia, but overall the good DEFINITELY outweighed the bad. Note to Owner: If you read through the latest reviews, each one mentions the ammonia smell. PLEASE fix this issue ASAP so that you can continue being the go to crab spot in Laurel for many more years to come!
(4)Keith W.
Ate at Bottom of the Bay on June 29th; worst decision. Made the mistake of asking on my family chat where I could take a friend who was flying into town with me to sit and eat crags. Only my ghetto cousin answered; I should have know this place would be suspect. I ordered a dozen large crabs for $96 waited for them to "cook", they came out really hot and we began eating. First crab was smithing hot, but totally lacked flavor. I commented that they needed salt in the water or more beer. The crab legs had meet sticking to the shell like they were warmed up; very weird. Second Crab had a really strong ammonia odor and taste; disgusting. I'm not worried; had to wipe my hands off and google ammonia odor in crabs. Article says it means crabs are old. Third crab is mushy and has ammonia odor. WTF Conclusion: 95% sure these fools warmed up old crabs and served them to me and my guest. Family is not barred from recommending anything to me and Bottom of the Bay is not even bottom of my list. Feeling better about family, a couple of them saw the recommendation from ghetto cousin on chat and tried the crabs last night. They have the same conclusion as me and actually argued with the staff. At least I feel better about the family. I was wondering.
(1)Ellen Z.
This is, by far, the worst place I have ever eaten crabs. I ordered two dozen regular males to take home last weekend, since they were running a special. When we went to eat them, nearly half of them were bad. They had gray gills, mealy flesh, and absolutely WREAKED of ammonia. It was such a disappointment. I will never go back to Bottom of the Bay, and would strongly advise anyone against going there.
(1)Lena W.
Normally I speak highly of BOTB, but this was my first disappointing experience. Most of the food was good (snow crab legs, shrimp, fries and hush puppies), but the most important piece --the crabs -- fell way short. I've seen reviews about old crabs before but had never been served them until today. I ordered a dozen in lieu of all you can eat, and it was a waste of my money. The crabs were old: mushy meat and smelling of amonia. Luckily not all of them were like this, but even one is too many. I don't know if reusing crabs is a cost-saving measure, but it's unacceptable. I don't know if this will keep me from here forever, but I know I'll be thinking twice about where I get my crabs.
(3)Clara R.
Went here tonight and had 2 lb of crab legs and shrimp for 28 bucks! It was a great casual dining experience. I definitely will be going back. The food was excellent
(5)Aubrey B.
Very friendly staff. The owner even came out at one point to make sure everything was okay and thanked me for my business. The crabs were a good size for an all-you-can-eat special. It was a little pricey compared to other places that usually include shrimp and corn with the crabs for less money but I would still go back.
(4)Janine W.
Horrible decision to have their crab feast last night and I am regretting it as I vomit crab this morning. We questioned the cook about the ammonia smell and she insisted it was fine. Should have read the reviews before we ate there.
(1)Ryan W.
Unfortunately you can't give negative stars! I've eaten here a couple of times and the food is average at best, however, today's experience was icing on the cake. I ordered crabs for Mother's Day days several days prior, called the day before to confirm my order and offer to prepay and was told my order was in and I didn't need to prepay. I went to pick up my half bushel of crabs an hour before our big Mother's Day party only to find out they sold them. Because of how Bottom of the Bay handled this I didn't call around the morning of to get crabs as I was told my order was in here and now I am left crabless on Mother's Day with 3 disappointed mothers. I will no longer support this business and highly encourage others to do business elsewhere. The crabs are better at surrounding crab houses but more importantly other business follow through with their commitments.
(1)Brittaney P.
I really enjoyed this spot! Great staff, they were friendly and fast. I went with my two kids(11,8) and they had a great time! I will definitely be going back! And yes it's a dive but that's why I went.
(5)Michael S.
Well it was late night and I had an Absolute Craving for a "Really Good Fish Sub and Soup". I had just missed two other restaurants. I phoned and ordered , wow only ten minute wait. I arrived and decided to order the "Cream of Crab Soup" . Drove home, to dine on the most "Tasteless and Bland Seafood Meal". Very minimal amount of Crab in the soup, lots of Celery, and Sodium-(SALT). You definitely get a show - very colorful "Locals". Really miss the BAY & SURF...!!!
(2)Mark L.
I'm usually okay with dives because they usually offer some good food at cheap prices. Lack of cleanliness and service is a tradeoff I'm 100% ok with. The problem with Bottom of the Bay is it is NOT cheap, and the food does not warrant the hefty price tag. We started off with the crab dip. It was mostly cheese with a very faint crab taste. We got some burnt, dry toasted Italian bread I think, and there wasn't close to enough bread for the amount of dip we received. So what do we get to finish it off? Prepackaged saltines. Yaaay. I got the crabcake sandwich with hushpuppies and fries. The hushpuppies were small and tough. The fries were alright, but nothing special. The jumbo lump crab cake was pretty good, though I probably wouldn't get it in a sandwich next time (who am I kidding, there probably won't be a next time) because the bun just waters down the flavor of the crab cake. It was good here, but I'd like to think MD can do a lot better, since the crab cake is what they're known for. I finished it off with an order of large shrimp. This was probably the highlight of my meal, because the old bay seasoning really stood out with the juicy, succulent, tender shrimp. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to justify the prices. The only thing I'd come back for is to try the AYCE crabs. Crabs weren't "in season" when I went, so I was advised not to go that route.
(2)