Crab Cake Cafe
140 National Plz, Oxon Hill, MD, 20745
Crab Cake Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Oxon Hill for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oxon Hill for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oxon Hill for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
140 National Plz
Oxon Hill, MD, 20745 - Phone (240) 766-2063
- Website https://www.crabcakecafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Greg B.
Absolutely horrible. Fast food seafood. Worse than long John silvers. I can't believe I paid for this sh×t!. No flavor, limp fries, very disappointed. STAY AWAY!
(1)Melissa H.
I found this place while walking around National Harbor. I had the Crab and Shrimp Cake Sandwich with Old Bay Fries. It was very good. This is the first time I have been to a Crab Cake themed restaurant. They also have soups, salads, regular fries and other items but the main thing on the menu is Crab cake sandwiches. The prices are reasonable. Great place for Crab cake lovers.
(4)Paul C.
The absolute best crab cake sandwich I ever had,the cake actually had real crab and lots of it. Not one anywhere in the country can compare so far in my experience Yes, this is a chain restaurant, but they sure do make a good crab cake. Good size, and will fill you up. That's was all I tried, though I wish I tried more.
(5)Kristi H.
Super yummy. Where are you going to get a delicious crab cake meal for 14.00? I had the crab and shrimp cake while my beau had the traditional. Both were awesome, barely any filler at all and the chunks of crab are clearly visible. The roll was soft and fluffy and complimented the crab cake nicely. I had the old bay fries and he had the coleslaw, not to much mayo and it was fresh and crunchy. Two thumbs up! Sidenote: The sign inside said the offer kids portions. Always a plus.
(5)Jonathan W.
Soooooo, Soo good! At first I was a little hesitant considering the price, but it was worth every penny. Everything was perfect from the succulent, flavorful, tender crab cakes to the delicious fries that were perfectly cooked. The fries were a dreeeeeam! They've perfected each recipe. The customer service was excellent, as well. It's right across the street from McCormick's, if you get lost. New, favorite spot!
(5)Bill P.
Ate here twice during my stay. Had the shrimp & crab cake sandwich and the Hawaiian crab cake sandwich. I added the chopped salad and spinach salad. Food came quick. Service was very friendly. Everything was amazing. If you're at a meeting, get there around 11:30, depending on when your sessions let out or the line may be out the door.
(5)Blaze F.
Disappointing. Spend $5 additional in Gaylord's sports bar to have a really good crab cake, buttery bun & more than adequate salad. Plus there will be BEER!
(2)Jennifer D.
Good food and service in a fast food style environment. While there was nothing horrible, there was also nothing memorable about the food or location. This whole area has an extremely manufactured feel to it. Take the bridge over to Alexandria for better food and atmosphere.
(3)Renita T.
good crab cakes, kind of expensive? I'm on the fence about the price, because comparatively to places at the Harbor it's not really that expensive, but for a "fast food" type of place...hmmmm. But then again the crab cake sammaches are delicious as well as the cream of crab soup so in a sense, it's not really "fast food" I guess. I would definitely go back there, everything tastes really fresh. The place is located on the back side of the main street closest to the water if you have a hard time finding it.
(3)Teresa P.
Stopped by the harbor after work expecting baja fresh, but not much to my surprise (the food was mediocre), they had closed or relocated I'm not sure.. Didn't care to look. I was hungry, wet from the rain, mad that my usual seafood spot was not answering their phone and needed to find food. Down the stair comes crab cake cafe. I must say I was impressed. They have a variety of crab cakes, soups and salad. I ordered the shrimp and crab with malt and salt fries. The sandwhich was full of flavor, soft but didn't break apart and the crab/shrimp ratio was on point ....although... I would have enjoyed a little more meat. The fries had nice flavor and not to crispy; just the way I like them. Overall, I am glad I walked downstairs because last I knew the only thing downstairs of interest to me was a ice cream shop . I will definitely return.
(4)Tanika W.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I am a seafood lover, so I got the crab and shrimp crab cake with the crab soup, the corn muffin and old day fries (yes I was hungry) and it was awesome!!! Big pieces of nice lump crab and not much fillers, everything was seasoned nicely not to much. It was clean and they came and cleaned up table and waited on use like we were in a fine dining restaurant, I will be back!
(5)Greta S.
Went today... although it's a little pricey (~$20 for a crab cake sandwich, fries and a drink), the traditional crab cake sandwich and fries were great...lots of crab, not much filler, and no overly strong mayonnaise flavor (hate mayo). Very delicious and I will return. Service was great too!
(5)Colleena C.
Definitely one of the top 3 best crab cakes I've ever had! Delicious! I am not sure why so many people claimed they were flavorless. Mine was very flavorful and the mixture they use in it was amazing! I also liked the tartar sauce mixture they had on the side to go with it. The old bay fries were really good too. They didn't exactly look "pretty," but they were tasty. I also loved their cream of crab soup! It could have stood some corn and a little more crab, but the bisque itself was made perfectly. The gumbo was decent as well. Two thumbs go up for the new Coke soda fountain too. So many choices! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)Angela D.
This place is AMAZING! Highly recommend the Baja crab cake sandwich. Also upgrade to the spinach salad it's wonderful and fresh.
(5)M B.
Tried this spot for the first time and I am glad I did. I had the Shrimp and Crab cake with a cup of Cream of Crab Soup. The soup was better than Legal Seafood's soup
(5)Mike L.
I love this place. I've tried the traditional crab cake, the shrimp and crab cake and the Hawaiian crab cake, all were wonderful, very filling, full of good tasting crab. I've also tried the gumbo, big pieces of meat, shrimp and sausage, great anytime. Fries are good too.
(5)Ruby M.
As a native Marylander, I crave a great crabcake without having to drive to Bowie, Annapolis or Baltimore and this place is it!! All jumbo lump grab meat with no filler. Fries are pretty good too! Let's keep this place around. Try it if you haven't already.
(5)Heather B.
If you're from Maryland, DON'T waste your time coming here! The crab is pasteurized and tastes like it spent a day in a smelly shoe before they mixed it up. So disappointed.
(1)Sharain B.
This restaurant is a hidden gem. Went and had lunch today and it was great. I recommend the Crab/Shrimp Sandwich with salt and vinegar fries.
(5)Mickey G.
Outstanding soup and crab cakes, not very expensive, great location, very nice staff, I highly recommend you stop in here if you are near the National Harbor...one of my favorite little seafood restaurants!
(5)Nelson W.
Food (any of the crab cake sandwiches) was delicious and reasonably priced. Salads were nice (especially the one with fruit inside). Went twice.
(5)Tanya D.
Came here for lunch on a whim. Read a sign at the Nat'l Harbor announcing the recent opening. Got a shrimp n crab cake and my girlfriend got the Baja crab cake with avocado, French fries and coleslaw. It's our new favorite place. The fact that they are the owners of Jerry's "crab bomb" Seafood, seals it for me. Lump crab meat and very tasty. Fast and good service - you can't go wrong with this place...
(5)John M.
Highly recommended! Excellent crabcake sandwiches and even better service. My wife tried something new and ended up not liking it, and the manager handily noticed her dissatisfaction and offered to bring her something else free of charge.
(5)Walter T.
Very basic overpriced crab cake. Typical national harbor flavor. Crab cake has a weird seasoning on it. They cook it in the Quiznos toaster oven. Smh! Fries were pretty good. Corn muffin was excellent. That's the best thing they have. The soda machine is pretty awesome too. It has 100 different flavors of soda. In the future, I would grab a corn muffin and a drink, skip the crab cake. If you want a great crab cake look elsewhere.
(1)L H.
Got the half spinach salad, which was a pretty good size, with the crab topping. The salad was fresh and delicious. The crab topping was surprisingly generous considering it was only $4. The dressing was really good too. Might need to come back and try their sandwiches.
(4)Robin S.
Stumbled upon the Crab Cake Cafe as I was walking through downtown National Harbor, Maryland. The sign saying that all of their crab cakes were gluten free caught my eye. Ordered the Hawaiian, with coke slaw and old bay fries. It may have been the best crab cake I have ever eaten. No filler. None. Just huge lumps of crab meat with enough moisture to hold it all together (Hawaiian had a slight sweetness with an almost indistinguishable touch of pineapple). I hear the traditional is a favorite but I was thrilled with my choice. Just a quick counter service place, but would highly recommend and will definitely go back!
(5)Marcus M.
This place just opened today and I'm the first to review it, first! (god that's annoying but I couldn't help myself). I went with the traditional and it was delicious. Mostly jumbo lump crab meat with very little filler. I didn't try the soups, it was too hot, maybe in the fall. So far so good.
(5)William H.
I've read the other reviews of this place and I have not experienced what some have complained about. Their crab cakes are all limb, seasoned perfectly MD style and delicious. They are a bit pricey, but if you want a solid MD style crab cake, this is your place in Oxon Hill. My only complaint would be to be prepared to pay for parking.
(5)Sabrina M.
Went to the Crab Cake Café today in the National Harbor. I had the Hawaiian crab cake, when I ordered I requested all my condiments on the side so I could actually taste the crab cake... my crab cake was a little charred "blackened" not sure it was supposed to taste that way :( and the seasoning wasn't there; I'm a native Marylander and wanted to be blown away by flavor " old bay." Once I dressed with the sauce it was okay. The café is very clean and the atmosphere is friendly, they deserve 5 stars for customer service but they should work the product a little more. I may give them another try-they are just starting and they may need to work the kinks out.
(2)Bekah M.
Really good crab cake and all are gluten free! Even though they are gluten free the crab cakes are crabby, moist, and hold together amazingly. They don't have gluten free bread but you can do any sandwich without the bun. Ole bay fries were seasoned perfectly and I loved the creamy slaw. Definitely the place to get a reasonably priced and delicious crab cake!
(4)Courtney L.
Crab Cake Cafe has a delicious Cream of Crab Soup with lots of lump crab in.it . It's hard to find a crab soup with so much lump crab. Delicious.
(5)Liz A.
Ate here with my mom and she adored the crab cake melt. She said it was the best crab cake she's ever had. The old bay fries were delicious too. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and it was enough for two meals!
(5)Shelly K.
Nice staff, incredible food, great location. Wonderful place to people watch and enjoy crab cakes! Their corn muffin is delicious (sweet and covered with cheese). Went back a second time before I left to go back home.
(5)T S.
I live at national harbor and have seen many restaurants come and go and for the most part not be anything to write home about. This place is great..the crab cake was fresh and buttery, service was great and cleanliness a plus. I really hope this place stay here...you won't be disappointed!
(5)Laura B.
Best crab cake EVER! All crab meat and flavor with no fillers. And better yet? Locally family owned with a super friendly staff.
(5)Jasmine W.
Love it! I am not a Marylander, but I had my first taste of crabs when I went to school down here and nowhere else compares. This restaurant has a great crab cake with no filler just huge chunks of crab! All of the crab cakes are gluten free (I am gluten free) but it's further proof that they are not adding tons of breading. I think it is a cool concept to have a fast casual place with crab cakes and I enjoyed the casual atmosphere. It's super clean and the staff were friendly. It is a little pricey, but when down in the DMV most things are expensive so it's kind of the norm...
(5)Tina Z.
I would go here again because I was seriously happy with the traditional crab cake and I'm interested in trying the other flavors. We did try the tex mex but I would recommend the traditional instead. And while I did enjoy the Old Bay fries, they reminded me of standard boardwalk fries so not especially unique.
(4)Shak A.
Tasty, fresh & timely service...warm staff, would definitely go again. Not a fancy place to dine & entertain, small eat-in area but we'll maintained & worth a visit.
(4)Hayley B.
Really good crab cake! Had the traditional sandwich, tried both the tartar sauce and cocktail sauce (both good). Cocktail sauce has the perfect amount of horseradish.
(4)Mr. Restaurant Gu Y.
Pretty cool. When we came in it was jammed packed. Kinda on the pricey side if you're just looking to spend around $10 for lunch. You would probably average around $16 per person. Crabcake sandwiches are good but they are not to die for. Their fries are pretty good though. I had the Spinach salad which was great. They should give you a few choices for dressing. The Balsamic that came with it was very loud and kind of overpowered the whole salad. They should try adding a little sugar to the balsamic to make it a little pasty and a little sweet to have an even taste with the mixture of the fruit and your choice of side. The customer service is really nice. We had two employees come to our table to make sure everything was ok. . This is basically a fast paced crab shack.
(4)K H.
Great food and service. Price is a little high, but I guess it's in-line with D.C. pricing.
(4)Dusty B.
Ate here for lunch on 3/09/15. I had the traditional crab cake sandwich and the malt and vinegar fries. Everything was very tasty. I thought $17 was steep for a sandwich, fries, and a coke, but pretty much on par for National Harbor. Very convenient if you are staying at the Gaylord.
(4)Kenya J.
So after shopping at evil ass Charming Charlie's (they took all my dang money! Love costume jewelry!! LOL!), I wanted to give Crab Cake Cafe a try. From the moment you walk in, a wall of heat hits you. It was so hot (mind you, it was 45 degrees here. I'm wearing a long sleeved shirt, coat, scarf, gloves, jeans & sneakers) that I actually thought I was going to have to eat outside. But once I took a puff of my inhaler & stripped down to just my shirt & jeans, my body temperature adjusted. I ordered the shrimp & crabcake sandwich w/lettuce,homecut fries w/sea salt & a root beer. The waitress did give me a side of cocktail sauce & some kind of mayo/tartar sauce. I put the mayo/tartar sauce on my sandwich. MMMMAAANNNNN!! I tell you everything was fresh & delicious!!I love to throw a slice of cheese on every damn thang, but this sandwich didnt need it. I was eating the food so fast, that I spilled some of the sandwich onto my boobs, twice!! So now, EVERYTIME I go to the Harbor, I'm stopping at the Crab Cake Cafe. My only complaint is that the cafe is a very tight space & individual people like me only have the option of sitting at the bar on the wall versus being able to have more seating options say as if I were with a group of people.
(4)Melody M.
Ordered vegetarian sandwich. It was yummy. Great customer service. Only down side is there are so many flies inside the restaurant.
(4)Renee Y.
My first night in National Harbor and the hotel lady checking me in recommended this place. Unlike other flat overly-processed crab cakes these are very full and fresh, and you can actually taste the crab meat. The cream of crab soup is amazing!! Cup size was the perfect portion and it had pleasant surprises of crab lumps. I picked the corn muffin that was sweet and covered with a layer of melted cheese. Service was good and prompt and place is clean. Nice casual environment. You can catch a game here on their flat screen tv.
(5)Scott W.
We had lunch here, the food was tasty & the service was good! There were several different crab cake sandwich options. My mom had the traditional, & i had the Baja. The traditional was better but both were good. And of course the Old Bay fries were delicious. Yum!
(5)rithya k.
This place is a must if you are in the area! Had the New Orleans and the Shrimp & Crab, both great. Cole slaw and soups are excellent too. The staff is amazing and they really go out of their way to make it a great experience. My only regret is not eating here earlier in our stay.
(5)Cherie S.
Oh my goodness the creamy crab soup is amazing! I had two bowls! The crab cake was excellent. My first time trying Maryland crab cakes. I am from New Orleans and I think that these are better than the ones in New Orleans! Totally different but amazing. Quick service and friendly. Thanks!
(5)Robyn W.
For the price, this crab cake is unbeatable. This crab cake is exactly what someone would expect when visiting MD. I'm a cole slaw lover also and this slaw is more than acceptable. This is not a sit down and enjoy the ambiance restaurant. This is a wonderful place to grab a great meal on the go and feel good about it. The crab cake, the cole slaw and the gumbo are all worth the trip!! Im going back.
(5)Tee M.
The traditional crab cake sandwich was phenomenal!!! Hands down they serve the best and most authentic crab cakes. The crab cakes were fresh and the toppings were great. The creamy crab soup was filled with chunks of crab meat. The service was impeccable. I will most certainly eat here again. Thanks to the management team for a great team and great food!
(5)Tracy S.
Delicious!!! Must go!!! 4-star is not a lie, should have 5! It's casual and delicious. The burgers are 15$ per burger and come with a side. The patties are delicious, so full of crab!!!! I got the New Orleans patty which had some more flavor in it. Also got the gumbo soup and cream of crab soup. 4.50 for a cup and 8.95 for a bowl. Delicious fishy taste but not overpowering and gross. Seasoned perfectly, but there's old bay on the table if you want more. Patty is moist, stays together, so good! My burger came with 1 ring of red onion, sauce, which was good, I spread it all over, and a green pepper on bottom. I ate that separately cuz I like to JUST taste the patty. If you're in the area, must go!!
(5)Nel P.
We've always wanted to try Maryland's famous crab cakes and this place by the National Harbor was the right place for the budget conscious (compared to the other restaurants in the area). The Hawaiian was really good--ordered it with a side of muffin, which was equally delicious. Only thing bad about it is ...its basically a mini muffin. The Crab melt was good as well with the side of coleslaw. All in all, one of the better places we've liked that actually had tasty crab cakes. However...its still a little pricey for the amount of food you're getting.
(4)Josette R.
My first time having a Maryland style crab and it was AMAZING! Omg! There were chunks of crab meat in every bite. We tried the original and the crab and shrimp cake both equally delicious. I was a little upset when we finished them. Lol The staff was friendly and very professional. The owner had come out for a chat and informed us that they will ship the crab cake frozen but the process is a little pricey.
(5)Kathy N.
Yummy crab cakes! It's a quick and casual dining experience - just order at the counter, grab a number, and wait at a table for them to deliver your meal to you within moments! The crab cake itself was very meaty (no filler whatsoever), and they give you the right amount of sauce for it. I ordered the Traditional Maryland, and it was very well-seasoned. My boyfriend's, however, was a little bland, but Old Bay seasoning helped with that. The biggest problem I have about this place is that the crab cakes are a little too small for the buns. I think it's okay for the price, but I do wish they were bigger. I also decided to upgrade my side from fries to the Cream of Crab soup, which was a great decision. It was creamy, yummy, and had a huge chunk of meat as well! Overall, a great food option for National Harbor, especially if you're in the mood for a solid crab cake!
(4)Ma-e M.
One word Awesome! I love their many takes of crab cakes. Friendly attentive staffs who can manage a crowd of National Harbor in any given Sunday!
(4)Aarize D.
After watching WWII planes fly over the National Harbor on VE Day, it was time to eat something delicious. I was craving something delicious but my tummy didn't know what it wanted until I saw Crab Cake Cafe and I knew it was the one. We ordered our food at the counter, lady gave us our number and found us some seats outside. Server found our table and gave our food. FOOD: - Traditional Maryland Blue Crab Cakes: Fresh Jumbo Lump, Maryland Style Crab Cake, with their Signature Tarter (or Cocktail Sauce). I got it with the Signature Tarter sauce. Lots of Maryland Blue Crab meat?! YAAAAAS! One of the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. - Coleslaw: Mix of Shredded Cabbage and Carrots with Signature Sweet Slaw Dressing. I got this a side with my crab cakes. I like how it wasn't soggy and liquidy like the coleslaw's I've had in the past. Good combination with my crab cakes. OVERALL: For a fast food crab cake sandwich, this place rocks! Excellent flavor lump meat with NO breading crab cake. You get to taste the juicy meat and not be disappointed - I wasn't! How awesome is that? Also, I was quite surprised about how fast the service here.. even if you're sitting outside they will definitely look for your number or just simply yell our your name when your order is up! I can't wait to go back to this place next year. Like their website slogan says, "You've never had crab like this"
(5)Jenny P.
Came here after the Color Run expecting a huge wait, was delighted to see no line and an available table outside. I was a bit too hasty with my ordering and forgot to add avocado and consider getting soup as a side. Instead I rushed to get the Original Crabcake with Old Bay Fries. The crabcake itself was good- plenty of crabmeat and flavorful enough. I think I might have liked it better without the bun, given my lack of toppings. The fries were well-seasoned but very soggy. Our table was promptly cleaned after we sat down and we were checked on twice, which I found surprising as we were outside. Good service and I'll be back if I'm in the area and craving a crabcake. I do prefer Faidley's crabcake in Baltimore though..!
(3)Tracy B.
This was wonderful for my first true east coast crab cake! I ordered the traditional as it was recommended to me after explaining I was from a landlocked state and it was my first time in DC The nice lady at the register even gave me my drink on the house! The flavors were simple and delicious and I would definitely return.
(4)Frank G.
For a fast food crab cake sandwich, this place rocks. Very good flavor lump meat with no breading crabcake. I would love if they were a little larger. I hear the fries are also good they look incredible. But I settled for the crab cake sandwich. Was quite surprised with the speed of service and even when you're sitting out on the chair on the sidewalk they will yell your name and look for you when your order is up. I will probably end up eating dozens of these this summer. Grabbed my sandwich to go and watch a game on the lawn. #NationalHarbor #DMVLiving #PrinceGeorgesCounty
(4)Sam L.
It's not often I would venture to a fast-food place for crab cake, so it took a leap of faith on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon by the water....who am I kidding, I was just hungry. It was a great sign when we saw a bunch of people enjoying their crab cakes at 3pm, but soon we were greeted with a "no french fries" sign. They may have read my diary and knew I was on a diet, but the more likely explanation was their fryer broke. Fortunately we ordered the Hawaiian and Tex Mex crab cakes and they had plenty of that. You do get a signature side along with your crab cake sandwich, but it bothered me that they charge extra for soup, and to make matters worse, because fries weren't available, you're down to coleslaw or corn muffin. Make the cup of soup $3 like the rest of the sides! Both crab cakes were full of meat like what many Yelpers have stated, and it's really nice to see them offering toppings as add-ons (disclaimer later). The flavor is subtle and not overly salty. They also keep the place fairly clean, even though we can see a gazillion to-go boxes stacked by the entrance. Pro tip: each topping costs 25 cents and they don't spell out that cost on the menu. They also skimp on toppings when you do order some, for example I asked for spinach and I got 2 spinach leaves. Come on now.
(3)Wendell H.
Recommendation of a friend and pretty good. I probably hoped for more but not bad I do like that they have variations on the crab cake but it is just pretty good. Not bad. Not great.
(3)Jane P.
The BEST Maryland Crab Cakes in the area! I've come here several times & am never disappointed! When I come here, I get the Traditional Crab Cake Sandwich with Hand cut French Fries. The Crab Cakes are delicious & perfectly portioned with almost all crab meat. It's hot & fresh, made-to-order & the quality is always consistent! The Hand cut French Fries are also great & don't have that frozen French fry taste. I literally crave these crab cakes at least three times a month! The price range is completely reasonable, $15 for a crab cake sandwich meal & $25 for an entree meal, which is a lot less than you would be paying at any of the surrounding restaurants with half the quality. The restaurant itself is pretty clean & has plenty of seating inside & out on the patio. It is a go-up to the counter & order restaurant but if you're eating there, they usually bring the food to the table after you order. The staff is not as friendly, the times I've been there, the girl at the counter looked like she hated her life. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone especially crab cake lovers! Don't go to any of the surrounding restaurants if you're craving crab cakes, save yourself time & money & go here!
(5)Jillana F.
This little cafe is a diamond in the rough! We have been there twice now since moving to MD 3 was ago and have enjoyed it immensely! It's a little pricey but the crab cakes are def worth it! The soups are divine and tasty. My husband got the traditional crab cake sandwich both times with the Seafood gumbo and boy was that soup spicy! I got the vegetable crab soup and I thought it was good but a little spicy. I got the sandwich the next time with the cream of crab and woo hoo! That was delicious! When we take people to see the National Harbor, we are taking them here to eat. I'm almost hesitant to write a review, I don't want the restaurant to get too crowded! can't wait to go again!!
(5)Greg P.
Would have given this 4 stars, if I were rating the crab cakes alone. It's tucked in the National Harbor complex, where everything is sterile and commercialized. It's a fast food joint, so don't expect ambiance - there's no view of the Harbor. Then again, if you at the National Harbor, you most likely aren't expecting ambiance! My crab cake was nothing but large chunks of delicious crab. The slaw is average and no-frills. It should be noted that my spouse had an upset stomach after eating here, but it could have been unrelated. My meal was fine.
(3)Lina A.
I have eaten here 3 days in a row. Fast service, the seafood gumbo is amazing, spicy, but they also have tasty noon spicy dishes. Everything on their menu is delicious and I know this because I went with different people each time who ordered a variety of dishes, highly recommend. To top it off, nice view of the harbor.
(5)Viona L.
I am a seafood lover. And this is one of the best crab cake I ever had in my whole entire live. It's a real crab and it's so fresh. I mean not too much bread crumbs like in many other places. The crab soup is also good. Somehow it's just taste so delicious for me.
(4)Lynne S.
Hmmmmmm so, I was pressed to get here and try this spot. I ordered the traditional crab cake melt with coleslaw and a crab muffin. My beau ordered the traditional crab cake with malt&vinegar fries. My crabcake was ok, and that's only because I LOVE cheddar cheese. There was very little seasoning at best. The crabcake was very marginal for the exception of it being mostly lump crab meat with little or no filler. The coleslaw had lots of mayonnaise in it and was just marginal as well. My beau had the traditional crab cake and had the same comments - no or some kind of strange or "different" seasoning. We split the corn muffin (pretty tasty) and malt&vinegar fries were good. The soda machine was really cool, though. 100 different flavors of soda to choose from! Sadly, I won't be returning to this place. I will stick to my favorite place for crabcakes.
(2)Felecia M.
Simply delicious! I got the crab and shrimp salad. It was so light, crisp, flavorful and refreshing. A perfect salad to eat for lunch on a hot day. My husband got the shrimp and crabcake sandwich. It was not to shabby either. As a matter of fact it was one of best crabcakes we ever tasted. We both got the seafood gumbo and that was incredible!!! The atmosphere was very laid back and the staff was very courteous. It was an overall great experience and we plan on going back tomorrow!!
(5)K S.
I love this place! It is one of the most reasonable options as far as price at the Harbor and it's delicious! Even though I have yet to try the crab cakes, I love the traditional Maryland crab soup and the Gumbo! Delicious. I can eat here for under $10! The fries are also good and the muffins are yummy. I usually get an extra one. Service is great, even though the place is more like semi-fast food (on the order of Potbelly). It is small inside and you go up to the counter to order, so this is not like the other restaurants at the Harbor. It is a cafe, just like it says. Try it out! You'll like it!
(5)Esther Z.
No beer or wine BUT (big but) I'm still a new fan! Is there another place in MD where you can get a #1 crab cake (plump, filler free & tasty) for $14? You get 1 side also. For $32 we got 2 MD style crab cakes, 20 oz fountain drink, and a cup of gumbo (side upgrade) and 1 corn muffin. For National Harbor, that is a bargain, indeed. Restaurants in NH tend to be overpriced with tasteless, boring menus. If it was not for the view, most would be out of business. Not this place. For excellent food, I'll find it in a run down alley if I have to. They are into carryout. They have nice togo boxes and bags making that option customer friendly. You order at the counter then find seats. A server will bring your food to the table (even if your table is outdoors). The server cleaned the indoor tables too. Condiments are on the tables and counters. It's a nice vibe with friendly waitstaff and other customers helping. I was in line, and a friendly lady started telling me how good stuff was on the menu. That is a sure sign of goodness when loyal cutomers give unsolicited praise. No desserts on the menu. Never-mind, there is a Ben & Jerry's and a Pinkberry as next-door neighbor's. McCormack & Schmidt is across the narrow street if you want a bar drink. We hopped from CCC to Pinkberry for dessert. A beer or glass of wine w/my crab cake would be very nice but what the heck, I don't need it anyway........ Lordy, that isn't even convincing no matter how many times I say it. There is 1 TV on the wall. My iPhone connected to attwifi service without me doing anything.
(4)Lisa M.
A traditional Maryland crab cake starts out with local blue crabs not Central America garbage. I don't know why others can't taste the difference. As expensive as the crab cakes are there, they should be cheaper importing foreign crabs. Hated it! It's hard to find crab cakes made out of local crabs these days. I guess I will have to keep making my own with crab meat from SW wharf. If you haven't tasted the sweet taste of MD crabs, you don't know what you are missing!
(1)Elaine W.
This is a lovely option for this area. Something simple and not too expensive. I shared half and half with a friend of two crab cakes. The Hawaiian and Baja are the ones we got. We also got fries, gumbo and cream of crab soup. The crab cakes had lots of meat, not a whole lot of fillers. Unfortunately, I don't remember the flavors too well. But I know they're unique. The cream of crab had quite a big of crab too. Fries were average. This is definitely a great option, even though it may be expensive, but isn't crab cakes always expensive? I will come again when I'm in the area!
(4)Leza M.
The BEST Crab cakes I've ever had! And outstanding soups.
(5)N P.
I have been to the Crab Cake Cafe in the National Harbor twice. The first time I got the crab cake with the shrimp and I thought it was just ok. The shrimp were a little fishy tasting. I went back today and got the traditional crab cake with the fresh cut French fries and it was really good. Not the best crab cake I've ever had but definitly a solid choice. The cheese muffins are really good! And they just started selling fresh baked (baked that morning) cookies! I had the strawberry cheesecake cookies. If you like soft cakie cookies. ... you have to try these!!!
(4)Alexis C.
I visited this location on Memorial Day weekend. My heart dropped when I saw the unbearably long line but then I realized it was the Ben & Jerry's line next door. So if you go to CCC make sure you're in the right line. It was very hot inside, and kind of noisy but that was probably due to the throngs of people outside the open door. They have a nice seating area (with restrooms and big screen TVs) for patrons who choose to dine in. I ordered a carry out of the New Orleans crab cake sandwich (specifically for the remoulade sauce that comes with it), Old Bay fries, and an Old Bay cheddar corn muffin. After standing around about 15 min my food was ready. They have food runners who bring your food to the table or come find you waiting, so you don't have to worry about not hearing your order called. As for the food: The crab cake itself was excellent - pretty thick with lots of crab meat. It supposedly had andouille sausage and okra, but I guess they were too well blended for me to notice. Remoulade was kind of bitter, bread was just a basic bun. Fries were a little under-seasoned and mushy with oil, reminiscent of Five Guys. And the muffin is totally not worth the $1.25. Save your money and calories. I would eat here again, as I went for the crab cake and it was good. Plus they have a variety of other crab cakes I'd like to try.
(3)Elisabeth P.
I should admit upfront that I was SUPER excited about the idea of a casual, essentially takeout place that focuses on crab cakes. I think it is genius, so my expectations were set really really high. In the end, I would say that Crab Cake Cafe met a slightly more reasonable bar than mine, but needs some tweaking before it can become a powerhouse of crab cake takeaway innovation. There's two things you want to think about when it comes to crab cakes: the flavor and the integrity. CCC definitely comes with the flavor. I think our group managed to order almost one of everything, and all were pleased with their orders. I split a Hawaiian and a Tex Mex with a friend and both were packed with flavor. Personally I liked the Hawaiian better - it had crunch from the coconut crust, some sweetness from the pineapple, and those ingredients didn't mask the natural sweetness of the crab. However, the Tex Mex was also good - lots of smokiness from the adobo, but not too much spice to mask the good crab flavor. The integrity of the crab cakes themselves and the sandwich as a whole was the major downfall. My friend noted that perhaps it was because we cut the sandwiches in half and thus ruined the delicate outer crust that keeps a crab cake whole... but I don't totally buy that. The cakes were a bit too wet to maintain "cake" status. It was more like crab salad that was pressed into a cake shape. Now, for crab cake enthusiasts, I know you want to point out that this might be taken as a suggestion for more filler material (e.g., breadcrumbs) to solve the problem. But no. That would be blasphemy. Instead, I suggest a slightly longer stay on the flat top for more crust from the cooking process. Just an extra minute on each side and I think the sandwiches would have been perfect.
(3)Shannon C.
As a native Maryland-er I am a crabcake aficionado. I liked the variety of crabcakes, quick service, and over-all attentiveness of the staff at the staff at the Crab Cake Cafe. My traditional crabcake was delicious, flaky, moist, and absolutely no breadcrumbs! I enjoyed the light hand used to season the crabcake with Old Bay; ain't nobody got time for hypertension! I will definitely be back with my husband in the future.
(4)Don M.
If you like crab at a fair price this is the place to go! Nothing fancy, but the crab is fresh, everything we tried was great and the portions were reasonable. Much better than some of the fancy joints here.
(5)Shaun L.
We had the traditional Maryland crab cake sandwich with fries. This was not the best crab cake sandwich, but it was good enough. A little pricey at $15 for a sandwich and one side. The place has limited seating as it is pretty small. The fries were very fresh and the servers were great.
(3)Sharday J.
Went to check out crab cake cafe this weekend. I walked in and almost walked out !. The place was empty and once I stepped foot in I realized why NO AIR ! I doubt this is an everyday issue because I have not read such review but I guess I picked the wrong day . The place starting getting crowded every now and then with the norm people coming and then ending up leaving due to the heat . The staff did remain professional during this difficult time of working in those conditions. For that reason I gave 3 stars . I had the crab and shrimp crab cake with the "old bay fires" Upon placing my order I was told they didnt have any tomato because they were out of season ...(hmmmm well ok if you say so ). I ended up having to wait around for a seat outside it was not possible to eat indoors in the heat and enjoy the food , so opted to try and catch a breeze outdoors. Any way the shrimp crab cake with the "old bay fires" crab cake was pretty good but there was not obvious taste of the "chopped shrimp". For a lump crab cake it could be a little bigger at least cover the huge bun you get . Fries were just okay normal fries with minimum old bay sprinkled on . They do have the old bay on the counter to help your self with . Also the soda machine with "over 100 flavors" did not deliver this day all the diet drinks were unavailable . I saw a woman kept trying and I had to explain that they are grayed out because they are unavailable . I don't know if they keep tabs but they should before customers pay for a drink that they can not even get . Overall the price 14.00 of the food falls just a little short of the quality and portion. No I'm not being cheap I love seafood and will pay top price for some so I know what to expect . Also I guess I have to consider location , and it was just maybe a bad day for staff . I cant say I wont come again I would like to visit again on a day where the air is working to see if there is a change in environment and workflow .
(3)Clarence J.
Pretty good place. I had the New Orleans crab cake sandwich and very much enjoyed it. I did, however, think the crab cake made a very good sandwich but might not have stood on its own, flavorwise, without the excellent bread (and a little bit of sauce that I added). While I "very much enjoyed" the sandwich, I thought the fries were outstanding; the regular ones are alright, but the Old Bay fries and the Malt & Salt fries were excellent, with the perfect amount of flavoring added. The restaurant is small, clean, and bright, with friendly, efficient staff. The crab cakes are a little pricey...but they are crab cakes after all. (And the fries are only $3... 'Just saying.) I'll be back!
(3)Daniel G.
Very fresh!! Seasoning does not overwhelm the flavor of crab. We enjoyed the view while sitting down outside to eat our delicious crab cake. Nice clean enjoyable place to eat.
(4)Lameka A.
I was not impressed. I have totally had better crab cakes. I had the Tex Mex to try something different. The young lady told me it was spicy. Not it was not. Maybe it is spicy to her. My husband had the New Orleans crab cakes, and it was good. I did like the french fries but I think they should give you two choices. Maybe having Old Bay seasoning as an option. Another thing I was disgusted with was the flies. Geez! It is uncomfortable swiping at flies while you eat. I probably won't be back. Side Note: I vomited last night and that never happens. Ugh.
(1)Yan C.
The creamy crab soup here is really, really good. All of the crab sandwiches are equally good as well. I recommend upgrading the sandwich meal to get the soup with it - it's not too much more and definitely worth it. The fries are really good as well! The service is always nice as well!
(5)Dan C.
It's a fast food style place, and has good traditional (and slightly modified) crab cake sandwiches. The crab cakes are not full of filler, which is great. You get a side, like slaw or fries, or you can upgrade that to a half-salad. Service was quick and friendly. If you want dessert, there are some ice cream or yogurt places right outside. There are tins of Old Bay on the table.
(4)Lamesha D.
Decent size and flavor. I would eat there again if you was convenient but i wouldnt go out of my way for it
(3)Will W.
Awesome jumbo crab cakes. No fillers. It's not overly expensive and certainly better options than the chain restaurants down here
(5)Nelle G.
i definitely enjoyed the Traditional Crab Cake Sandwich, it had a generous amount of crab meat which was great. I also had the Old Bay Fries, they were only ok because they weren't piping hot. The Coca-Cola machine with the 100 different drink choices is great! and free refills!! can't beat that. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was clean (only a few flies buzzing around, probably because they had the door open for a special trick or treat event the Harbor was having). I will be back again
(4)Natasha S.
I was very impressed. Most of the restaurants in National Harbor are always disappointing since they cater mainly to tourists that they know most likely won't ever return. But this place is a keeper! My fiance ordered the shrimp and crab cake sandwich platter with french fries. She also had a cup of cream of crab soup. She loved it all. She thought the potato bun was fresh and went well with the crab cake, but stated that next time, she would order it bunless because the bread was too filling. She really enjoyed the soup which she said had a bit of a spicy kick to it, and the french fries were prepared well. The soup also comes with a cheese corn muffin which she liked as well. I sampled her crab cake and it was delicious. Fresh huge chunks of lump crab and jumbo shrimp - no fillers! It was perfectly and lightly seasoned. A damn good crab cake outside of Baltimore! I had the half size chop salad without pasta and added lump crab to it. It was delicious. The dressing was a light red wine vinegar base that complimented the flavors of the natural crab chunks. The salad actually comes with pasta and bacon, but I asked for it without. The half size is actually a good size for an entree. I also had the traditional Maryland style crab soup with it, if I was just having the salad, I would have gotten a full size. The soup was very good and spicy. I loved it. Prices are a tad high, but you are paying for real and generous crab. So well worth it! Service was good. Prompt and friendly.
(4)Valencia H.
I was craving a taste for some crab cakes and remember receiving an email about a new crab cake spot at the harbor. So I decided to try it out today. This location is more a take-out spot with the option to dine in, the appearance was overall clean and when u walked in you didn't even smell seafood. Wish is always a plus. I ordered the 2 crab cake entree that comes with one side. I chose the old bay french fries. The crab cakes were a decent size but a little too salty ( traditional style). Oh the French fries tasted like they poured half a cup of old bay on them couldn't even enjoy them. In my opinion try out the place because according to others sometimes the seasonings is not enough so maybe this is one thing they are hit or miss on. Rated 3 stars for great concept fast food crab cakes, great location but way too much seasoning.
(3)Gina A.
Awesome food!!!! Love the crab cakes. Clean environment and great soup too! Service was quick and we all enjoyed our meal.
(5)Russell M.
Please note that there are other separate reviews for this eatery that are not as good. Some how, several review accounts for the same place exist. I saw at least 3 others besides the one where my review appears. Just a heads up. Here are the URLs: yelp.com/biz/crab-cake-c… yelp.com/biz/crab-cake-c… yelp.com/biz/crab-cake-c…
(5)Fatima F.
First experience and not happy, i order a bowl of the cream of crab had a layer of oil on top, little flavor and little spoonful of crab. I also order season fries to go and when i got home i was disappointed to find regular limp fries And confirming my order with lady whom gave the bag to me reassured me everything is correct and in the bag. She also had a bad attitude when i asked about the order before i lft.
(1)Mel L.
If you are looking for a nice place to go on a date - look elsewhere. But if you want to eat a decent crab cake - come here and leave happy. My friend and I stopped by for dinner while we were checking out National Harbor. The industrial-feel interior wasn't really inviting, so we took our orders to go and found a nice heated bench right at the pier to devour everything. Both of us had the MD style crab cake sandwich with fries and it was all I had hoped for. No fillers in the crab cake as far as I could taste it. I really liked the flavour as well as the fact that they were broiled instead of fried. The fries were decent too. I think $14 is a good price for the amount of food you get. I'll definitely be back the next time I am in the area.
(4)Trey W.
Great little crabcake place on the National Harbor. For the price, it is by far the best food in the area. The restaurant itself is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the food is worth coming back for again and again.
(4)Alison M.
Large crab cakes in a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads. Order at the counter, they bring it to your table. Eat outside with a great view of the water at the national harbor. I had the original crab cake sandwich and enjoyed it. You can actually taste flavorful crab in every bite and not filler or bread. It was really good. I didn't even need to add the tarter sauce or cocktail sauce to the sandwich. The cream of crab soup was flavorful, but didn't have a ton of crab in it.
(4)Yuliana M.
I really enjoyed it the crab cakes were excellent the service was good all in all for what they do it was great
(5)Becky L.
Imagine my excitement when I noticed that all of the crab cakes are GLUTEN FREE (when you ask for it with no bread)?? Haven't had crab cakes at a restaurant in 9 years. So happy! I had the crab and shrimp with a side of fries, and I really, really enjoyed my meal. And - while the harbour was busy that evening, and the cafe had a steady stream of customers, neither the wait to order nor the wait to receive our food was unreasonable. WIN!
(5)Sijara E.
I love Crab Cake Cafe! They've got surprisingly tasty crab cakes. I mean, it's not Food Network, but there's a nice amount of crab meat in the cakes. Plus, they have a variety of cakes to choose from. I have had the traditional crab cake and the Hawaiian style and both were very good. They also have a bomb salad and their soups are good. Service was good. Only reason they don't get 5 stars is they are NOT CHEAP. Bring your wallet folks, even for the Natl Harbor this place will hit you over the head.
(4)Inku T.
My sister and I wanted something quick and we were hoping to avoid a McDonalds. When we arrived at the place it was pretty vacant. You would order from one end and pick-up at the other. The tables weren't wiped down very well. I think it was because the cashier wasn't really paying attention. Overall the area was decently clean. We decided to share one of the crab cake sandwiches and went with traditional (because you can't go wrong with traditional... right?). I had never been a fan of crab cakes because of the amount of filler that is usually put into it, but I truly did enjoy this crab cake patty. It was basically an all-out crab meat patty. It wasn't very well-seasoned, but there were containers of Old-Bay seasoning and other condiments on top of the bar table near the wall. Problem solved. The french fries that came with it were well cooked, I mean, how would it be possible to mess up on fries? I'd like to say I'm a fan of this place and would definitely come back to try out the other flavors. (:
(4)Debora R.
Don't let the simple menu fool you. I have eaten here 3x's now and each and every time it has been very good. I ate at Mc & Sch last night, spent 3 x's as much and it wasn't a fraction of the quality!
(5)Scott P.
Outstanding! I had multiple visits here on my recent business trip. Staff is very accommodating, including letting you try. Prices are on the high side, but considering the quality and location, very acceptable. I'll be back, and may even make a special trip, the next time I am in the area.
(5)Alison J.
Casual dining. I had the traditional crab cake sandwich and old bay fries. Crab cake was delicious! Fries were good too. Great spot for a quick delicious meal!
(4)Maria G.
The Maryland crab cake was very tasty and the spinach salad with lump crabmeat was delicious also. I carried out, but there is a seating area. It is right across from the Ferris wheel. Right in the middle of everything.
(4)Gary C.
5 Stars all the way!!! Crab cakes are loaded with crab, the gumbo loaded with crab and sausage, needs alittle rice but really great taste, the crab soup was really smooth and flavorful, fries were great.. The staff were friendly and on the ball, no problems at all taking another visit there and would definitely tell friends this is the place to go for crab cakes!!!
(5)Yvonne R.
My first Maryland crab cake and it did not disappoint. Full of lump crab meat. Yummy! I had the crab cake with the spinach salad on the side and it was delicious. Only issue was the air was out in the restaurant. Sat outside to eat and it was perfect!
(4)Julie M.
As a local it's always interesting to see how the restaurants change when the large conventions roll into town. Some take it very well while others fail horribly at it every year. We came in a few minutes before one of the bigger concerts ended and there was only two other people in the store. Fifteen minutes later there was a line out the door and the staff took it very well. Fast and nice they pushed everyone through in a good time. That being said I also gave this place a four star because the food was great. I have to find gluten free options and their crab cakes are all GF. Just remember to ask for toppings or you'll just get a crab cake and let them know you're gluten free so they can handle everything with care. The cakes themselves were almost all crab meat with flavoring. The salads were pretty big and had good options. We will definitely go back to this place.
(4)Travon J.
I live across the street n its hard to stay away. I love the original cram cake with cheddar but I wish they had tomatoes to add to the lettuce. But overall I love this place. N the tarter sauce was great as well.
(4)Don Y.
Arrived after 9PM. Alum chairs scraping across the floor while condiments were being taken off the tables. When we got our sandwiches the fries were limp and far from hot, there was more bun than room temperature mediocre crab-cake. A very pure choice in trying to enjoy a Maryland Crab-cake dinner.
(1)Philip C.
I returned to try the $26 1/2 pound crab cake. It was served with butter lettuce, avocado and cucumber, and a side of malt and salt fries. It was terrific.
(5)Nicholas G.
The staff was good, the food was good, the environment is great. The crab cakes were good, but nothing memorable. I will be back...and i think this place is kne of the best spots at the National Harbor... but this isnt a place i would come to just for the crab cakes....
(4)X M.
Okay so I was so excited about eating here today based on the reviews. What a disappointment. First of all I love a good crab cake. If I want one at the National Harbor, I'll need to go to McCormick & Schmick's! The crab cakes here are tiny--so small-- so sad. They are also seasoned poorly and not worth the money! Worst still my daughter wanted mac and cheese. I asked them before ordering if they make the stuff from scratch. She's used to quality oven baked gooeyness. They said "yes"-- that was a big fat lie. She was served some nasty boxed stuff-- we can tell -- come on. Anyway, I sent it back and then the manager came out to questioned me. Really? Just give me my money back and apologize for lying in the first place. I really felt accosted by him. I mean, he was aggressive. She took one bite AND she spit that out. He was also staring at my daughter's cup. She was drinking water out of a courtesy cup and I guess he was checking to see if it was water or if we'd stolen a soft drink. SO LAME. I won't be back. EVER.
(1)Jessica G.
When we were here last year this place was chili dogs and I'm super happy this place moved in! I'm not a seafood person so I was hesitant to come here since the only non seafood option was chicken. A few of our friends had come here for lunch and were raving about it. When it came time to figure out where we were doing dinner, they said we had to try it. I got the chicken sandwich with butter lettuce, avocado, red onion and the pesto mayo at the suggestion of the cashier. Being originally from NJ I had to get the malt and salt fries. I was not disappointed. The chicken was super juicy and seasoned perfectly. That pesto mayo was super delicious and complimented the chicken so well and the fries were crispy with that slight vinegar tang. Because it only seemed right I did try some of my fiancées traditional crab cake. I was expecting a super fishy tasting and weird texture but was pleasantly surprised. Again, the seasoning was spot on and while I have no basis for comparison, I was told it was cooked perfectly. They've opened my palate up to the possibility of crab, but I feel like finding a place that does it as good as this place does is going to be harder than getting me to try crab in the first place.
(5)John C.
Crab cakes were very good. Good flavor and real pieces of lump crabmeat. French fries were good, but not as good as Boardwalk fries. A relatively casual place with wood tables and loud metal chairs. I will be back soon for more crab cakes.
(4)James J.
The traditional crab cakes are great, severed with an abundance of Old Bay Fries. The Seafood Gumbo is hearty and delicious. The staff was very pleasant, and the service was fast. I will definitely be eating here more often. This place is one of the better places to eat in the National Harbor.
(5)Wild F.
Love it ! My new spot ! Crab cakes with a twist no fillers straight lump crab meat I tried the shrimp & crab sandwich w/ guacamole fresh spinach w tarter sauce and malt fries!!! BOMB.com
(5)Trish C.
Went back today for lunch and the cashier was awesome...different one from the other day...nice, welcoming, friendly. Cakes were delicious!!!
(5)Tye H.
I'm picky when it comes to crab cakes. In fact, we almost didn't order at all. But when customers stopped to tell me how good the crab cakes are on two occasions, I knew we were on to something. If you want a meaty crab cake with a variety of enhancements and sides without having to sit through the fine dining experience, this is the place for you. The crab cake is meaty and perfectly flavored solo, but it trumps almost everything else I've tried in my life as a Maryland girl once you had a sauce. There are 5 or 6 sauce options to choose from. The fries were just average. You get a crabcake sandwich (of various flavors) and one side for $14 which seems fare to me given that it's a very meaty crabcake. They also have a Cream of Crab soup and Gumbo you can try. The interior looks like a sandwich shop. Eat outside or somewhere around the National Harbor area--little too warm to stay in the cafe for more than a few minutes.
(5)Amy C.
The crab cake was a really large portion and tasted amazing. The fries were golden and crispy. The vegetables were fresh and the avocado was actually ripe. The tartar sauce was even surprisingly flavorful. I'm more a seafood purist so I didn't put it my crab cake, but I did make a veggie sandwich out of my toppings and use the tartar sauce as a dressing and it was amazing. I like that they use butter lettuce and not just iceberg or romaine. It's clear from the food that this place is run by people who care about quality. Service was great, too. A huge crowd of us showed up the second time went and they were still pretty timely with our orders. There were a couple of hiccups in the orders that were fixed very quickly. Both times we were there the manager made rounds to check on dining area and sure everyone was happy. It's easy to do that during a slow afternoon but the fact that he made it out when there was a rush was impressive. I was a little disappointed in how much extra I was charged for toppings since the sign and menu did not indicate that there would be a charge. It makes sense to charge for avocado, but for lettuce, cucumber, and onion it felt excessive. This is where they lost a star from me. The food quality, value, and service are still five stars in my opinion. I wish we'd found this place sooner because it was a fantastic lunch spot. We would have been there every day. I still can't get that crab cake out of my mind!
(4)Melanie R.
I had the spinach salad with crab meat. It had candied walnuts, goat cheese, strawberries, mandarin oranges, and dried cranberries. It was delicious! The mandarin oranges reminded me that I wasn't in a five-star eating establishment, but a stand-in-line and dine place. The crab meat was moist and was seasoned with old bay. My dad had the traditional crab soup - oh my gosh!! Mouth-watering. It was thick and had chunks of crab meat. Definitely a place to try!
(4)Nikhil S.
Excellent crab cakes with flavor and options for all seafood junkies! My first visit here was amazing, and cannot wait to go back. Their dinner special (two crabcakes with a side of fries and a biscuit) seemed like the right option for me and certainly didn't disappoint. The cakes were flaky with lots of flavor and fell apart perfectly without becoming a mess. The malt and vinegar fries were absolutely on point as well. If you are in the area, or are visiting the national harbor area, this is a must try! It won't disappoint!
(5)Benji C.
I've tried their Traditional MD Crab Soup, Seafood Gumbo, Traditional MD Crab Cake, Tex Mex Crab Cake, the Old Bay Cheddar Corn Muffins, and the Malt & Salt Fries. I couldn't find anything wrong about any of the items, at least anything that would make me say I wouldn't get it again. The soups were good, especially the seafood Gumbo, the crab cakes were great, the corn muffins were good, and the fries are good if you like the Boardwalk Fries style. The staff is very friendly and efficient. $14 is for a Crab Cake sandwich and a side ($3 alone, soup side costs $1 more) which I think is reasonable. However, I'd give 5 stars if the crab cakes were just slightly bigger. They also need to correct the climate control inside as it has been too warm to dine in. Overall, I will continue to frequent this place.
(4)Pete C.
Pretty bland. Maybe I got the wrong sauces. Good fries, though.
(3)Diane W.
Gave it 5 stars as a casual cafe! The MD crab cake sandwich was excellent, made with 100% lump crab meat! The fries were hot and hand cut!!!! Could not have been any better!
(5)Jenny H.
Holy moly it's hot as heck in here! If you're looking to get some food and get out of the heat, do not come here. Whew! I went during their lunch rush so I expected it to take a while since it just opened but good grief! I felt like I was waiting an eternity for my food. The food preps looked confused on where the food should go after it was ready. It was a bit of a mess. I ordered the spinach salad, cream of crab soup, and a side of fries. The salad was decent. The crab soup was watered down with little crab - blah. The fries were your run of the mill fries. I was super excited for this place to open but it was pretty lackluster. I went, I conquered, but won't be back again.
(2)Charlene L.
Really generous chunks of crab! I had the traditional MD crab burger with traditional soup. Both were amazing.17 bucks total, not cheap for a tiny bowl of soup but the quality was there!
(5)Dave B.
I think Crab Cake Cafe is going to be a great addition to the growing list of solid food options in National Harbor. For only being open two days, I didn't see any glitches. The service was good and the prep seemed pretty efficient. I was born and raised in Maryland. Given that they're goal is to serve a good crab cake in the state where crab cakes were invented and everyone is an expert, I'd have to say they did very well. Got the Traditional MD Crab Cake with Old Bay Fries. The cake was good sized with lots of lump crab and very little filler. Served broiled on a sort of a soft English muffin, it was very moist and tasty. And the fries were hot and crispy with a good coating of Old Bay. They also offer five other varieties of cakes, including Tex Mex and New Orleans. My co-worker liked the Shrimp and Crab Cake a lot...maybe next time. And, I love the soda machine where you have like 50 choices and it mixes the syrup as it's dispensed! Barq's Root Beer, please! As far as price, some will think $14.00 a little steep, but I think for the portion size and quality, it's pretty fair. I'll be going back!
(4)Devan V.
Very good food and friendly staff. Couldn't come to MD and not have crab. Definitely made the right choice coming here.
(5)Erin B.
Went to crab cake cafe with my sister and my daughter. The place liked very clean but there were flies everywhere. At first I didn't care but they did get annoying once we started eating because we had to keep swatting them away. We both ordered the Baja crab cake (crab, shrimp and avocado with chili line dressing) except I added alfalfa sprouts and cucumbers to my sandwich. The crab cake lacked so much flavor. We both used the chili lime dressing (that also lacked flavor) and loads of old bay. She finished her but I couldn't get myself to finish it. It just didn't...taste...Like I should finish it. Like it was too fresh? No salt? Something was missing...maybe it needed dry mustard in the crab cake or something. I wasn't feeling the $5 grilled cheese sandwich for the kids either. Best thing for me was the soda machine... I want to like this place...I really do. I mean it has a variation of crab cakes, which is freakin genius...but it's just not executed well. And they need SALT.
(2)