My favorite place around Baltimore for crabs. Their Jumbos are the biggest crabs I've ever seen (when you can get them) and their larges are heavy and big. I like their custom blend of spices, and it's a great place to go for crabs. The crabs themselves aren't the cheapest around, but you get real value for your money--I've never ever been disappointed by the size and flavor of the crabs. That's something I can't say for ANY other crab house in the area. They have a good selection of oysters at the bar, and the waitresses are knowledgeable about how salty each kind is (which is helpful for when you aren't familiar with all the oysters they have). The blooming onion is good to start, and I've heard the crabcakes are quite good too, but I only get steamed crabs myself. For drink, they have a good selection on draft, and a few more in bottles. There are definitely some microbrews and I remember having some Backfin Ale with my crabs last time I went in. On the whole, Reter's is a fantastic choice place for crabs, oysters, and beer. The table service is as good as the food, and the waitresses are knowledgeable and very attentive. Mr. Reter himself is always around, and he runs a tight ship. 5 stars.
(5)
Jaehong H.
Arrived at 8 pm on a Monday. No waiting. Cheerful waitress. Ordered a dozen of crabs. Given a hammer, it was a hands-on experience eating these crabs. The crabs were good and they have decent selection of beers there. I enjoyed it, but I ended up paying $100 dollars overall (for a party of 3). My suggestion: this place is good but not great. Baltimore is famous for crabs but if you are not a particular fan of crabs, don't go.
(3)
Mark A.
This little place is the crab secret of Baltimore. Here I had my first Crab Feast EVER with my local girlfriend and her family over New Years. We ordered a dozen. Awesome service and atmosphere! Bright party like atmosphere so expect to have fun. Best tasting crabs! Better deals than the Inner Harbor. Great exchange deal for light weighted crabs. The gumbo is very different than the way I like it from New Orleans, so I wouldn't recommend that. We even had the margaritas, sampler plate, and more. Everything was great! Would go again!
(4)
Stephen E.
A few weeks ago I went into Reter's to pick up some fresh fish.. The prices are always good and the quality is excellent. I happened upon a sign that said, "Chef wanted. Experience necessary" Or words to that effect. So I thought I'd try the restaurant. I think the chef search wasn't quite over. I can't say my meal was excellent, but I decided to withhold judgement. Recently, I stopped by again and ordered the fish tacos. Grilled. Not San Diego style, but I have an aversion to fried food. It was great! Okay so the salsa came from a bottle, but the sauce was awesome, as was the fish. Fresh, perfectly grilled. Huge portion. I usually pick at my food and leave half. No sir, I inhaled this. I'm not a fan of crabs, but I see a lot of people ordering them and they seem to enjoy the offering. I'll be back. I was at a loose end one evening and didn't feel like cooking. Stopped in for a burger. Half price on a Sunday night. And good. Meat tasted fresh and was really nicely seasoned. I ilke this place
(4)
Brad B.
Unimpressed. Cup of md crab soup - and by cup they mean a small coffee mug -$5. Waitress recommended gumbo special with crab & local seafood - I saw mostly peppers and onions in a flavorless roux. $15 with no sides. $30 out the door with a tip and a $4 Yuengling. There are many other, better, more satisfying places to eat nearby.
(2)
Kim J.
Awesome cream of crab soup!
(4)
Le B.
Great location great food. The crabs here are seasoned to perfection. Not like most crab houses that drown the crab in old bay. I wish the crabs were bigger but they are meaty. The steak and crab quesadillas are outstanding. I don't eat steak so I bit around it and I was very impressed with the cheese and onion mash up. No guacamole which sucks but the food is good enough to look pass that. If you want to eat outside there's 4 tables on the curb with large umbrellas and swell seating arraignment inside.
(5)
Boss M.
Crabs here receive 5 Stars! We ordered 3doz Jumbo Jimmys that were packed with meat, flavorful & seasoned to perfection. Steamed clams were good. Their fries are money. Not sure what they do to them but my goodness they are tasty add ons. Our service was good and friendly. So glad my buddy recommended this spot to me that I've always drove passed without consideration. They also have a fresh fish, crab, shrimp market where you can come in and take it home like a typical fish monger's market. I'm def coming back and so should you.
(4)
James P.
Went for the crabs. We got a dozen jumbos. The crabs were outstanding! The crabmeat was as good as it gets! The seasoning was really good on the crabs too. The Maryland soup was also good. Not a lot of crab, but lots of veggies and good tasting stock. We started with the crab bruschetta. It was like crab ceviche on toast. It would have been better with a little olive oil or butter on the toast.
(4)
Kelli B.
I was torn between a four and a three. Crabs: the first time I went they were excellent. Went back this past weekend and ordered 1 dozen large, 2 or 3 on the tray were probably mediums and they didn't match the size or weight of the others and 2 others were awful on the inside so we ended up with about 10 edible crabs. Onion rings: I think they make some special sauce, they were f'n awesome. Service: we went on a slow Sunday the first time and asked the bartender to turn one of the tv's. She never did. My first server was great, attentive, second server was a little forgetful as I had to remind her about the beer I ordered and by the time it came it was a little warm. Overall, this place is a go!
(4)
Pamm P.
Friendly servers great crabs holdout for the jumbo or large size. Great beers to go with your crabs oysters Try the crab imperial oysters for a real treat or the crab pretzel big enough to share or as a meal. Fresh salads tasty sides. Sit outside when the weather allows. Plenty of free parking call ahead reservations rad a must. Enjoy
(3)
Angela R.
Just returned and had the oyster stew with whole small oysters that was the best! The oyster sand which had 2 large oyster lightly breaded and very tasty and filling. Not heavy batter and no flavor. Will definitely be back. Great prices for lunch as well.
(5)
Chris A.
For a crabhouse, I am quite frankly not impressed by the crabs. Despite this, the shrimp is very good. They are meaty, cooked well, and seasoned properly. The setup with the unlimited towels to wipe your hands comes in handed. They have some nice specials, including $5 burger nights on Thursdays (very juicy!).
(4)
Beth G.
Visiting family in the area and they brought us to this local gem. Our hosts wisely made reservations because even on a Wednesday night the place was full with people waiting at prime dinner time (6:15 pm). Table was ready, but no silverware (we requested it after apps arrived). Atmosphere was lively, noisy but not oppressively so. Service was quite good, attentive without being over bearing. Pitchers of iced tea and water were brought without a request, so we never had to wait for drinks. The waitress did apologize as they were out of both broccoli and fresh vegetables, but had good suggestions for the rest of the order (sugar on hush puppies, seasoning on crab, etc) Food came out quickly and there were no errors in orders. The appetizers were tasty but really very small. Fried green tomatoes had 3 slices total, the crab bruchetta had four small sized bread rounds, coconut shrimp had three shrimps. Not really enough of any one item to share among a clearly large group. Highlights were the stuffed flounder, snow crab legs (ordered with light seasoning- which was a LOT, cannot imagine what full order must be like) and crab cakes (lots of crab, minimal filler, but a bit heavy handed on the seasoning for our diner with a sensitive palate.) No room for dessert. Restaurant wisely has a hand washing sink *outside* the restrooms (basically in the aisle of the room), perfect for post crab rinsing. I can't imagine it's as pleasant for those seated just nearby though. No handi wipes provided with crab orders, but that may be the usual for this area? Pricing was reasonable for the dinner items but the small size of the appetizers made them less reasonably priced. The apps are the reason this wasn't a 5 star review because that's my major complaint.
(4)
Rosemary P.
We daughter came from out of town and wanted crabs, but only a few. We choose Reter's based on Yelp reviews. We ordered 6 medium crabs and one pound of steamed shrimp. The crabs we meaty and flavorful. The shrimp perfectly cooked and yummy. I will definitely return here for more crab and shrimp.
(4)
Heather C.
Anyone giving this place less than 4 stars does not know a good crab house when they see one. I grew up in Baltimore, love Maryland crabs, and wouldn't choose anywhere else for a night of cracking crabs. Yes, they are a little pricey, but the crabs are much better quality than the cheaper ones you can get from takeout places like Blue Point (also a good cheaper option). Reter's makes their own old bay seasoning and it's delicious! They have great sides like hush puppies, sweet potato fries, and fresh corn in the summer. They also have some fun house drinks - sangrias and orange crush type drinks usually - and their beer selection is alright. I like that they stock some more interesting summer beers like Kona beers. I also appreciate that they have a sink outside the bathrooms to rinse off after cracking crabs. It's the small things that count. If you're looking for a local crab place, nothing beats Reter's! And in response to some of the bad reviews - if you're ordering something other than crabs, you're doing it wrong.
(5)
Theresa J.
I love the atmosphere and the people. The crabs are a bit pricey, but they are delicious! The seafood bucket is my favorite and it's quite reasonable!
(5)
Ashley M.
What a disappointment. Been coming here for years and noticed some inconsistencies but overall good crabs true to size. Not anymore. First our oyster stew came out lukewarm and our surly server, Hannah, seemed inconvenienced to get it reheated. Twenty minutes later we reminded her we still hadn't gotten the soup and she said it still in the pan warming. In fact it arrived scorched from the microwave the bowl as hot as the soup and the edges crusted from microwave overheating . The meal went downhill from there. The "jumbo" crabs were approx as big as mediums and watery. Fortunately we had only asked to start with half dozen given our past experience. We asked for butter which never came. Worst was the service. Our server was not just inattentive. She was utterly unconcerned with our experience and seemed irritated when we aked for basic things like bibs or butter. I gave it one star because two of our crabs were very good. Hardly a consolation. Given the high cost of steamed crabs and the abundance of better choice3 the we will not be coming back. Occasional off nights are forgivable. Terrible service is the fault of leadership and this place has lost sight of the customer when servers don't even demonstrate the most basic skills and attitude requisite to waiting 0tables (a job I had in high school and college). Don't waste your time or money.
(1)
Rebecca M.
I always order crabs from here but lately the crabs have been on the smaller size. I call ahead to order and each time I have to wait 25 or 20 minutes after my pick up time for the crabs to be ready.
(3)
Fernando J.
Order the oysters and steamed shrimp and they didn't disappoint. The margaritas were excellent. They were busy and the service was kind of slow. But other than that they deserve the 4 stars.
(4)
Minna W.
My fiance and I live in the area, and we like to frequent the Happy Hour at Reter's. He's an oyster fan; I am not. Luckily there are still other HH specials to enjoy! The half pound of steamed shrimp is cooked well and not overly seasoned. The wings had a little more fat clinging to them than I would have liked, and one wing was slightly undercooked so I didn't eat that one. Overall though, we were pleased with the quality and price. The major downer for me (a non-drinker) is that they serve Pepsi products, not Coke. It's just not the same washing down your wings with Diet Pepsi. Le sigh.
(4)
C L.
First time here and disappointed. Service was subpar..outside tables and seats were dirty; had to wait for table to be covered 5 minutes after sitting. Before ordering a mojito I clearly asked waitress to make sure it wasn't too sweet. She said she'd accommodate but drink was even too sweet for my wife. I was told the drink would be charged to our bill even if I ordered another. She took the drink back without me ordering another. To my surprise I was still charged. We ordered fish tacos and shrimp wrap. Fish was partially cold but didn't want to take risk of sending back and similar response from above occur. Maybe this is a spot to order strictly crabs and oysters, as I see the positive comments. But first impressions are important!
(1)
Allison L.
I've been here twice now and it's pretty good! First time I got a lobster roll, which was pretty large, especially for the price, but was more of a ciabatta roll as opposed to a buttery, soft, split top roll like they usually are. It was decent, but Ryleigh's Oyster's buttery lobster roll has basically ruined traditional lobster rolls for me. Still a solid choice if you like mayo based lobster rolls. Both times I've gotten a side of fries, which are excellent (battered and crispy) and hush puppies (perfect, and covered in powdered sugar, which is actually a nice compliment). Last night I got a burger for $5 burger night, and $5 was about the right price. It was a pretty big burger, but it was pretty bland. Service has always been good. Our waitress last night was particularly on the ball... both times I've been there it's been with a group and one member of the group particularly enjoys messing with the waitstaff (therefore we're all typically on the lookout for whose food gets spit in because of him, good times!) but our waitress last night totally held her own.
(3)
Kris K.
Got the large lump crab cake. Tasted really fishy and was not that good. Had to douse it in cocktail to get it down. Wife had the steamer bucket and hers taste good but not great. I think this is the first place I ate at I ever have two stars. Truthfully not worth the price. I don't know if it's just a bad batch but I won't be back
(2)
LC C.
This place was great! I'd never heard of it before, but happened to look up crab places in OM and found it. We went on a Friday evening with a party of 4. We got jumbo and large crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters, clams, wings, and beer. The food was really good. Crabs were very pricy, but excellent. Very meaty. Our server, Mary was also excellent! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and very pleasant. We were there for a while eating and drinking and she was very attentative. Only reason this place doesnt get 5 stars is because of the prices (very expensive for crabs IMO) and the bartender took forever to get our drinks out. Other than that it was a great experience and we will def be back!
(4)
Sydney E.
They have the best happy Hour specials. The food is very fresh. The crabs are my favorite!
(5)
Kiki K.
Amazing seafood....shrimp, crabs, crab cakes are fantastic! I love going here for the funnel cakes. The atmosphere is nice too! Makes me feel like I'm at the beach. Service is great and they have good specials too!
(5)
Tim R.
After living in Owings Mills for 4 years, I finally stopped by with some friends to check out Reter's. Glad I did. Nice fat crabs, well seasoned, and fairly priced. The rest of the menu is equally fresh and tasty. I had the steam bucket, which is like a sampler platter of what's good at Reter's. Stop in when you're in Reisterstown. It's not cheap, but it's not a bank breaker either... and you'll love making a mess with your friends, and then leaving it for the staff to clean up. They didn't seem to mind much.
(4)
Jason F.
Went on a Wednesday night around 7:30pm. The waitress informed us that there would be a 10-15 minute wait. It did not seem that crowded, but nevertheless we waited and were seated. We ordered a beer each -- apparently Wednesday is beach night so all of their 'beachy' beers are on special. My friend ordered a half dozen small crabs and I ordered the prime rib special. The prime rib was decent for the $12.99 price, but at regular price I would have felt ripped off. The seasoning was good, but the meat was very fatty -- even for a prime rib. I ordered the mix veggies and hush puppies as sides (odd, I know) and the veggies looked and tasted like they were nuked in a microwave. The hush puppies were decent, but how can you screw that up. After I finished, I tried some of my friend's crabs. The crab seasoning was intense, but good. The smalls were a good size and had good flavor. I would go back for the crabs, but I can agree with the other posts that their other selections may be best left unordered. Our server was non attentive, not even checking how the food was/if we needed anything after she dropped our food off. It is $36/dozen in case anyone was wondering and shrimp night is Tuesdays in reference to another post.
(3)
Russell L.
Great food. Best crab cake I have ever had. Bowl of crab soup, cole slaw, potato salad were all top notch. Service is a not slow but everything is made while you wait. Place is noisy because of people all talking. If you are looking for seafood and an innovative drink and desert menus this place is for you.
(4)
Marlon S.
A cozy, nice and friendly place to dine - any day of the week. I just wish the place had a little bit more space to spread out. However, the size is decent for the area it serves and the place always generates a local buzz and good time feel when I am there. The food is pretty good - except for the ribs. I have tried them twice and both times there were more bone than meat - a major thumbs down. I have seen the steak dinner - looks great - but I have not had it. The burgers are fantastic and so are the crab cakes - a major plus. I think the prices are little over the top, but, I guess that's just the cost of doing business. I would give this place a higher rating if the ribs were more meaty, the prices were less and if the dining room area was more spread out.
(3)
Mark E.
I have now been three times to Reter's once in the winter, once in spring and once in summer. As the weather heats up, so both do the crowds and the quality of the food. It was packed on a Thursday night in June, and all entries we ordered were prepared and served with perfection. Our wintertime experience was uneven, with pedestrian and perhaps thawed-from-frozen fish entrees balanced off by the completely to-die-for soup called "Half and Half" that was 50% Maryland Crab and 50% Cream-of-Crab. The soup alone is a show-stopper and worth the visit. We have it every time. This is the kind of place that does Happy Hour, island drinks, crabs, and raw bar fare better than it does standard seafood entrees in winter, but they reinvented themselves in summer with fresher ingredients. The atmosphere is a mix Hawaiian beach bar and sports pub. The Hawaiian thing works; the TVs while convenient, are too small to see clearly and generally misplaced in the motif. Shellfish is the game here, and few do it better. Very nice staff; family-run business like the good old days too. Someplace along US-50 on the way to Ocean City, Reter's would be a gold mine.
(4)
Tonya J.
This my 3rd time this season visiting Reters and once again I have had to wait more than 1 hr. and once again when I look around no one that looks like me (African American) is seated at a table. Oh yeah we are represented at the bar where there is self seating. You tell me, they can offer me a seat outside in 90 degree heat but when there are two tables right next to each other ( an arms length away), its against the rules to push those tables together. However, as I look around the restaurant and even two tables over there are tables push together but you could not push my tables together to accommodate my party of 4? And get this as I am sitting here waiting for my crabs one of the tables that could not be pushed together according to the staff was just divided after the party exited. Go FIGURE!!!! Feels like discrimination to me.
(1)
Rachel K.
I've had worse service but not much worse. When I pointed out to my server that my $26.00 lobster yielded 3 ounces of meat (at best) her response was a snarky, "well they weighed it". It's all good though, now I'm aware that I don't need to return.
(2)
Alex A.
If you can't make it to the beach, and you're stuck north of Baltimore, go to Reters! Its like the beach came to you. Amazing, perfectly cooked seafood at a decent price. Yes, you're going to pay market rate for crabs (as you should, crabs don't grow on trees ya know), but they're always worth it. Get a dozen to split amongst friends with an ice cold Natty Boh. Also the steamed jumbo shrimp is to die for, and the lobster tail is amazing. So many good things to eat here!
(5)
Santana Ross W.
I am not a fan of blue crabs. However, my kids love blue crabs and I went here to pick some up since it s close to my home. As stated I am not a blue crab fan, but these crabs were awesome. I dipped mine in butter and they were succulent. The crab cakes are rather small but pretty good. The fries are good. The soft shell crab was okay. I think it could have been seasoned better. The service is mediocre. However, I will continue to frequent this place.
(4)
Simone L.
The crabs here are the best! They are always full and heavy. I also LOVE their cream of crab soup, corn on the cob, steamed top neck clams and crab dip. You cannot go wrong with any of those!!
(5)
Richard B.
Reter's Crabhouse is great. Service is friendly and prompt. Their crabs and seafood are wonderful--but you need to try their Boardwalk Burgers--and on Thursday nights--the Burgers are only 5 bucks including fries. Also on Thursdays, they offer a all you can eat steamed shrimp--with soup and salad for $14.00. I highly reccommend Reters--you will not regret it!
(5)
Miriam B.
Hands down my favorite sports bar in the area. With great seafood. And a nice raw bar to boot. Everything I have eaten was well prepared. This is my go to place for raw oysters and funnel cakes.
(4)
Katy W.
Excellent shrimp, crab cakes, cole slaw, and hush puppies, for an excellent price. Very relaxed and fun atmosphere.
(5)
Barbara K.
This restaurant was recommended by an acquaintance, and so was new to our group. However, we were all favorably impressed. We went on Sunday and enjoyed the "fix your own" Bloody Mary bar, along with fantastic seafood. We all ordered different items and everyone (five of us) was very happy with their food. This was our first visit, but we will definitely return! Can't wait to try some of the other entrees.
(4)
J'sMama H.
We come here all the time. Over the past 10 years, the service has improved, greatly as the restaruant has expanded. Great place for fresh seafood, you can get blue point oysters which are my favorites, there are always drink specials. It can be a bit loud in here at times, and on a Friday during Lent .... call ahead, and get your name down, or go early because you will wait a long while. I get fresh mussles, clams, to go by the pound/dozen many times, and I've always had good seafood. Grew up on the coast in the North East US, so this is a nice slice of home for me.
(4)
Emily G.
Someone on here needs to talk some sense. Reters is awesome. I'm a Maryland crab snob, and I give Reters a rave review. I've been coming for years, since I used to live right nearby. True MD crab, and if you know what that means then you know what I mean. Outstanding crabs, delicious crabcakes, and delectable fresh steamed shrimp! Not cheap, but crab and seafood shouldn't be. Apparently they have excellent happy hour specials, but I haven't been. I heard something about $5 burgers and $5 for a pound of steamed shrimp. Oh, and just to be "that girl" .... GO RAVENS!
(4)
Lauren C.
Seriously, people, it's a crabhouse. Yes, all the other entrees are mediocre, but the crabs are great. I do wish they had a better beer selection, and that the Maryland crab soup was a little less tomato-y, but THE CRABS ARE GREAT! Go here for crabs in the county. Also, I don't know if they still do it, but they used to have all you can eat peel and eat shrimp one night a week. My dad and I used to go on a regular basis. Delicious and a good deal.
(4)
Lynn K.
Crabs, oysters, and shrimp are the best - but that's about it. The last few times, we have gone to eat in, the service was horrendous and the other entrees were mediocre. We usually just call in our crab order, but every once in awhile venture out (hard to eat out with 16 month old twins), and when we go to Reter's, I always regret it and have to leave before our entrees arrive. It is loud, frantic, and the service is lacking. The last time we went, we went on a Tuesday night. We were seated right away, but our waitress didn't arrive for 15 minutes. We ordered our children's meals first and it took about 20 minutes for a burnt grilled cheese. Not to fun with 16 month old twins who are hungry! The waitress avoided our table and when she was at our table, she was looking everywhere else and forgot what we asked for. We never received our drinks and had to leave and get our dinner to go. The bar was packed and sits in the middle of the restaurant, which sends extra noise throughout the restaurant. Also, there are a few regulars who feel they can scream across the restaurant at a table of friends to have a conversation. When we were leaving, there was a crowd waiting to be seated, yet there were several tables empty. Another negative, there were about 4 dirty dish bins sitting on the floor next to the kitchen door, which was in the middle of the restaurant and not far from our table. I do LOVE the taste of their crabs, but rather eat them at home where I can get my own beer and eat in a somewhat peaceful setting!!
(3)
Ross M.
its okay... ok seafood, ok service, kind of slow service, young inexperienced waitstaff... not sure what the big deal is about the crab...it's better than CAPTAIN D's...but it's really not that great...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Chris H.
My favorite place around Baltimore for crabs. Their Jumbos are the biggest crabs I've ever seen (when you can get them) and their larges are heavy and big. I like their custom blend of spices, and it's a great place to go for crabs. The crabs themselves aren't the cheapest around, but you get real value for your money--I've never ever been disappointed by the size and flavor of the crabs. That's something I can't say for ANY other crab house in the area. They have a good selection of oysters at the bar, and the waitresses are knowledgeable about how salty each kind is (which is helpful for when you aren't familiar with all the oysters they have). The blooming onion is good to start, and I've heard the crabcakes are quite good too, but I only get steamed crabs myself. For drink, they have a good selection on draft, and a few more in bottles. There are definitely some microbrews and I remember having some Backfin Ale with my crabs last time I went in. On the whole, Reter's is a fantastic choice place for crabs, oysters, and beer. The table service is as good as the food, and the waitresses are knowledgeable and very attentive. Mr. Reter himself is always around, and he runs a tight ship. 5 stars.
(5)Jaehong H.
Arrived at 8 pm on a Monday. No waiting. Cheerful waitress. Ordered a dozen of crabs. Given a hammer, it was a hands-on experience eating these crabs. The crabs were good and they have decent selection of beers there. I enjoyed it, but I ended up paying $100 dollars overall (for a party of 3). My suggestion: this place is good but not great. Baltimore is famous for crabs but if you are not a particular fan of crabs, don't go.
(3)Mark A.
This little place is the crab secret of Baltimore. Here I had my first Crab Feast EVER with my local girlfriend and her family over New Years. We ordered a dozen. Awesome service and atmosphere! Bright party like atmosphere so expect to have fun. Best tasting crabs! Better deals than the Inner Harbor. Great exchange deal for light weighted crabs. The gumbo is very different than the way I like it from New Orleans, so I wouldn't recommend that. We even had the margaritas, sampler plate, and more. Everything was great! Would go again!
(4)Stephen E.
A few weeks ago I went into Reter's to pick up some fresh fish.. The prices are always good and the quality is excellent. I happened upon a sign that said, "Chef wanted. Experience necessary" Or words to that effect. So I thought I'd try the restaurant. I think the chef search wasn't quite over. I can't say my meal was excellent, but I decided to withhold judgement. Recently, I stopped by again and ordered the fish tacos. Grilled. Not San Diego style, but I have an aversion to fried food. It was great! Okay so the salsa came from a bottle, but the sauce was awesome, as was the fish. Fresh, perfectly grilled. Huge portion. I usually pick at my food and leave half. No sir, I inhaled this. I'm not a fan of crabs, but I see a lot of people ordering them and they seem to enjoy the offering. I'll be back. I was at a loose end one evening and didn't feel like cooking. Stopped in for a burger. Half price on a Sunday night. And good. Meat tasted fresh and was really nicely seasoned. I ilke this place
(4)Brad B.
Unimpressed. Cup of md crab soup - and by cup they mean a small coffee mug -$5. Waitress recommended gumbo special with crab & local seafood - I saw mostly peppers and onions in a flavorless roux. $15 with no sides. $30 out the door with a tip and a $4 Yuengling. There are many other, better, more satisfying places to eat nearby.
(2)Kim J.
Awesome cream of crab soup!
(4)Le B.
Great location great food. The crabs here are seasoned to perfection. Not like most crab houses that drown the crab in old bay. I wish the crabs were bigger but they are meaty. The steak and crab quesadillas are outstanding. I don't eat steak so I bit around it and I was very impressed with the cheese and onion mash up. No guacamole which sucks but the food is good enough to look pass that. If you want to eat outside there's 4 tables on the curb with large umbrellas and swell seating arraignment inside.
(5)Boss M.
Crabs here receive 5 Stars! We ordered 3doz Jumbo Jimmys that were packed with meat, flavorful & seasoned to perfection. Steamed clams were good. Their fries are money. Not sure what they do to them but my goodness they are tasty add ons. Our service was good and friendly. So glad my buddy recommended this spot to me that I've always drove passed without consideration. They also have a fresh fish, crab, shrimp market where you can come in and take it home like a typical fish monger's market. I'm def coming back and so should you.
(4)James P.
Went for the crabs. We got a dozen jumbos. The crabs were outstanding! The crabmeat was as good as it gets! The seasoning was really good on the crabs too. The Maryland soup was also good. Not a lot of crab, but lots of veggies and good tasting stock. We started with the crab bruschetta. It was like crab ceviche on toast. It would have been better with a little olive oil or butter on the toast.
(4)Kelli B.
I was torn between a four and a three. Crabs: the first time I went they were excellent. Went back this past weekend and ordered 1 dozen large, 2 or 3 on the tray were probably mediums and they didn't match the size or weight of the others and 2 others were awful on the inside so we ended up with about 10 edible crabs. Onion rings: I think they make some special sauce, they were f'n awesome. Service: we went on a slow Sunday the first time and asked the bartender to turn one of the tv's. She never did. My first server was great, attentive, second server was a little forgetful as I had to remind her about the beer I ordered and by the time it came it was a little warm. Overall, this place is a go!
(4)Pamm P.
Friendly servers great crabs holdout for the jumbo or large size. Great beers to go with your crabs oysters Try the crab imperial oysters for a real treat or the crab pretzel big enough to share or as a meal. Fresh salads tasty sides. Sit outside when the weather allows. Plenty of free parking call ahead reservations rad a must. Enjoy
(3)Angela R.
Just returned and had the oyster stew with whole small oysters that was the best! The oyster sand which had 2 large oyster lightly breaded and very tasty and filling. Not heavy batter and no flavor. Will definitely be back. Great prices for lunch as well.
(5)Chris A.
For a crabhouse, I am quite frankly not impressed by the crabs. Despite this, the shrimp is very good. They are meaty, cooked well, and seasoned properly. The setup with the unlimited towels to wipe your hands comes in handed. They have some nice specials, including $5 burger nights on Thursdays (very juicy!).
(4)Beth G.
Visiting family in the area and they brought us to this local gem. Our hosts wisely made reservations because even on a Wednesday night the place was full with people waiting at prime dinner time (6:15 pm). Table was ready, but no silverware (we requested it after apps arrived). Atmosphere was lively, noisy but not oppressively so. Service was quite good, attentive without being over bearing. Pitchers of iced tea and water were brought without a request, so we never had to wait for drinks. The waitress did apologize as they were out of both broccoli and fresh vegetables, but had good suggestions for the rest of the order (sugar on hush puppies, seasoning on crab, etc) Food came out quickly and there were no errors in orders. The appetizers were tasty but really very small. Fried green tomatoes had 3 slices total, the crab bruchetta had four small sized bread rounds, coconut shrimp had three shrimps. Not really enough of any one item to share among a clearly large group. Highlights were the stuffed flounder, snow crab legs (ordered with light seasoning- which was a LOT, cannot imagine what full order must be like) and crab cakes (lots of crab, minimal filler, but a bit heavy handed on the seasoning for our diner with a sensitive palate.) No room for dessert. Restaurant wisely has a hand washing sink *outside* the restrooms (basically in the aisle of the room), perfect for post crab rinsing. I can't imagine it's as pleasant for those seated just nearby though. No handi wipes provided with crab orders, but that may be the usual for this area? Pricing was reasonable for the dinner items but the small size of the appetizers made them less reasonably priced. The apps are the reason this wasn't a 5 star review because that's my major complaint.
(4)Rosemary P.
We daughter came from out of town and wanted crabs, but only a few. We choose Reter's based on Yelp reviews. We ordered 6 medium crabs and one pound of steamed shrimp. The crabs we meaty and flavorful. The shrimp perfectly cooked and yummy. I will definitely return here for more crab and shrimp.
(4)Heather C.
Anyone giving this place less than 4 stars does not know a good crab house when they see one. I grew up in Baltimore, love Maryland crabs, and wouldn't choose anywhere else for a night of cracking crabs. Yes, they are a little pricey, but the crabs are much better quality than the cheaper ones you can get from takeout places like Blue Point (also a good cheaper option). Reter's makes their own old bay seasoning and it's delicious! They have great sides like hush puppies, sweet potato fries, and fresh corn in the summer. They also have some fun house drinks - sangrias and orange crush type drinks usually - and their beer selection is alright. I like that they stock some more interesting summer beers like Kona beers. I also appreciate that they have a sink outside the bathrooms to rinse off after cracking crabs. It's the small things that count. If you're looking for a local crab place, nothing beats Reter's! And in response to some of the bad reviews - if you're ordering something other than crabs, you're doing it wrong.
(5)Theresa J.
I love the atmosphere and the people. The crabs are a bit pricey, but they are delicious! The seafood bucket is my favorite and it's quite reasonable!
(5)Ashley M.
What a disappointment. Been coming here for years and noticed some inconsistencies but overall good crabs true to size. Not anymore. First our oyster stew came out lukewarm and our surly server, Hannah, seemed inconvenienced to get it reheated. Twenty minutes later we reminded her we still hadn't gotten the soup and she said it still in the pan warming. In fact it arrived scorched from the microwave the bowl as hot as the soup and the edges crusted from microwave overheating . The meal went downhill from there. The "jumbo" crabs were approx as big as mediums and watery. Fortunately we had only asked to start with half dozen given our past experience. We asked for butter which never came. Worst was the service. Our server was not just inattentive. She was utterly unconcerned with our experience and seemed irritated when we aked for basic things like bibs or butter. I gave it one star because two of our crabs were very good. Hardly a consolation. Given the high cost of steamed crabs and the abundance of better choice3 the we will not be coming back. Occasional off nights are forgivable. Terrible service is the fault of leadership and this place has lost sight of the customer when servers don't even demonstrate the most basic skills and attitude requisite to waiting 0tables (a job I had in high school and college). Don't waste your time or money.
(1)Rebecca M.
I always order crabs from here but lately the crabs have been on the smaller size. I call ahead to order and each time I have to wait 25 or 20 minutes after my pick up time for the crabs to be ready.
(3)Fernando J.
Order the oysters and steamed shrimp and they didn't disappoint. The margaritas were excellent. They were busy and the service was kind of slow. But other than that they deserve the 4 stars.
(4)Minna W.
My fiance and I live in the area, and we like to frequent the Happy Hour at Reter's. He's an oyster fan; I am not. Luckily there are still other HH specials to enjoy! The half pound of steamed shrimp is cooked well and not overly seasoned. The wings had a little more fat clinging to them than I would have liked, and one wing was slightly undercooked so I didn't eat that one. Overall though, we were pleased with the quality and price. The major downer for me (a non-drinker) is that they serve Pepsi products, not Coke. It's just not the same washing down your wings with Diet Pepsi. Le sigh.
(4)C L.
First time here and disappointed. Service was subpar..outside tables and seats were dirty; had to wait for table to be covered 5 minutes after sitting. Before ordering a mojito I clearly asked waitress to make sure it wasn't too sweet. She said she'd accommodate but drink was even too sweet for my wife. I was told the drink would be charged to our bill even if I ordered another. She took the drink back without me ordering another. To my surprise I was still charged. We ordered fish tacos and shrimp wrap. Fish was partially cold but didn't want to take risk of sending back and similar response from above occur. Maybe this is a spot to order strictly crabs and oysters, as I see the positive comments. But first impressions are important!
(1)Allison L.
I've been here twice now and it's pretty good! First time I got a lobster roll, which was pretty large, especially for the price, but was more of a ciabatta roll as opposed to a buttery, soft, split top roll like they usually are. It was decent, but Ryleigh's Oyster's buttery lobster roll has basically ruined traditional lobster rolls for me. Still a solid choice if you like mayo based lobster rolls. Both times I've gotten a side of fries, which are excellent (battered and crispy) and hush puppies (perfect, and covered in powdered sugar, which is actually a nice compliment). Last night I got a burger for $5 burger night, and $5 was about the right price. It was a pretty big burger, but it was pretty bland. Service has always been good. Our waitress last night was particularly on the ball... both times I've been there it's been with a group and one member of the group particularly enjoys messing with the waitstaff (therefore we're all typically on the lookout for whose food gets spit in because of him, good times!) but our waitress last night totally held her own.
(3)Kris K.
Got the large lump crab cake. Tasted really fishy and was not that good. Had to douse it in cocktail to get it down. Wife had the steamer bucket and hers taste good but not great. I think this is the first place I ate at I ever have two stars. Truthfully not worth the price. I don't know if it's just a bad batch but I won't be back
(2)LC C.
This place was great! I'd never heard of it before, but happened to look up crab places in OM and found it. We went on a Friday evening with a party of 4. We got jumbo and large crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters, clams, wings, and beer. The food was really good. Crabs were very pricy, but excellent. Very meaty. Our server, Mary was also excellent! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and very pleasant. We were there for a while eating and drinking and she was very attentative. Only reason this place doesnt get 5 stars is because of the prices (very expensive for crabs IMO) and the bartender took forever to get our drinks out. Other than that it was a great experience and we will def be back!
(4)Sydney E.
They have the best happy Hour specials. The food is very fresh. The crabs are my favorite!
(5)Kiki K.
Amazing seafood....shrimp, crabs, crab cakes are fantastic! I love going here for the funnel cakes. The atmosphere is nice too! Makes me feel like I'm at the beach. Service is great and they have good specials too!
(5)Tim R.
After living in Owings Mills for 4 years, I finally stopped by with some friends to check out Reter's. Glad I did. Nice fat crabs, well seasoned, and fairly priced. The rest of the menu is equally fresh and tasty. I had the steam bucket, which is like a sampler platter of what's good at Reter's. Stop in when you're in Reisterstown. It's not cheap, but it's not a bank breaker either... and you'll love making a mess with your friends, and then leaving it for the staff to clean up. They didn't seem to mind much.
(4)Jason F.
Went on a Wednesday night around 7:30pm. The waitress informed us that there would be a 10-15 minute wait. It did not seem that crowded, but nevertheless we waited and were seated. We ordered a beer each -- apparently Wednesday is beach night so all of their 'beachy' beers are on special. My friend ordered a half dozen small crabs and I ordered the prime rib special. The prime rib was decent for the $12.99 price, but at regular price I would have felt ripped off. The seasoning was good, but the meat was very fatty -- even for a prime rib. I ordered the mix veggies and hush puppies as sides (odd, I know) and the veggies looked and tasted like they were nuked in a microwave. The hush puppies were decent, but how can you screw that up. After I finished, I tried some of my friend's crabs. The crab seasoning was intense, but good. The smalls were a good size and had good flavor. I would go back for the crabs, but I can agree with the other posts that their other selections may be best left unordered. Our server was non attentive, not even checking how the food was/if we needed anything after she dropped our food off. It is $36/dozen in case anyone was wondering and shrimp night is Tuesdays in reference to another post.
(3)Russell L.
Great food. Best crab cake I have ever had. Bowl of crab soup, cole slaw, potato salad were all top notch. Service is a not slow but everything is made while you wait. Place is noisy because of people all talking. If you are looking for seafood and an innovative drink and desert menus this place is for you.
(4)Marlon S.
A cozy, nice and friendly place to dine - any day of the week. I just wish the place had a little bit more space to spread out. However, the size is decent for the area it serves and the place always generates a local buzz and good time feel when I am there. The food is pretty good - except for the ribs. I have tried them twice and both times there were more bone than meat - a major thumbs down. I have seen the steak dinner - looks great - but I have not had it. The burgers are fantastic and so are the crab cakes - a major plus. I think the prices are little over the top, but, I guess that's just the cost of doing business. I would give this place a higher rating if the ribs were more meaty, the prices were less and if the dining room area was more spread out.
(3)Mark E.
I have now been three times to Reter's once in the winter, once in spring and once in summer. As the weather heats up, so both do the crowds and the quality of the food. It was packed on a Thursday night in June, and all entries we ordered were prepared and served with perfection. Our wintertime experience was uneven, with pedestrian and perhaps thawed-from-frozen fish entrees balanced off by the completely to-die-for soup called "Half and Half" that was 50% Maryland Crab and 50% Cream-of-Crab. The soup alone is a show-stopper and worth the visit. We have it every time. This is the kind of place that does Happy Hour, island drinks, crabs, and raw bar fare better than it does standard seafood entrees in winter, but they reinvented themselves in summer with fresher ingredients. The atmosphere is a mix Hawaiian beach bar and sports pub. The Hawaiian thing works; the TVs while convenient, are too small to see clearly and generally misplaced in the motif. Shellfish is the game here, and few do it better. Very nice staff; family-run business like the good old days too. Someplace along US-50 on the way to Ocean City, Reter's would be a gold mine.
(4)Tonya J.
This my 3rd time this season visiting Reters and once again I have had to wait more than 1 hr. and once again when I look around no one that looks like me (African American) is seated at a table. Oh yeah we are represented at the bar where there is self seating. You tell me, they can offer me a seat outside in 90 degree heat but when there are two tables right next to each other ( an arms length away), its against the rules to push those tables together. However, as I look around the restaurant and even two tables over there are tables push together but you could not push my tables together to accommodate my party of 4? And get this as I am sitting here waiting for my crabs one of the tables that could not be pushed together according to the staff was just divided after the party exited. Go FIGURE!!!! Feels like discrimination to me.
(1)Rachel K.
I've had worse service but not much worse. When I pointed out to my server that my $26.00 lobster yielded 3 ounces of meat (at best) her response was a snarky, "well they weighed it". It's all good though, now I'm aware that I don't need to return.
(2)Alex A.
If you can't make it to the beach, and you're stuck north of Baltimore, go to Reters! Its like the beach came to you. Amazing, perfectly cooked seafood at a decent price. Yes, you're going to pay market rate for crabs (as you should, crabs don't grow on trees ya know), but they're always worth it. Get a dozen to split amongst friends with an ice cold Natty Boh. Also the steamed jumbo shrimp is to die for, and the lobster tail is amazing. So many good things to eat here!
(5)Santana Ross W.
I am not a fan of blue crabs. However, my kids love blue crabs and I went here to pick some up since it s close to my home. As stated I am not a blue crab fan, but these crabs were awesome. I dipped mine in butter and they were succulent. The crab cakes are rather small but pretty good. The fries are good. The soft shell crab was okay. I think it could have been seasoned better. The service is mediocre. However, I will continue to frequent this place.
(4)Simone L.
The crabs here are the best! They are always full and heavy. I also LOVE their cream of crab soup, corn on the cob, steamed top neck clams and crab dip. You cannot go wrong with any of those!!
(5)Richard B.
Reter's Crabhouse is great. Service is friendly and prompt. Their crabs and seafood are wonderful--but you need to try their Boardwalk Burgers--and on Thursday nights--the Burgers are only 5 bucks including fries. Also on Thursdays, they offer a all you can eat steamed shrimp--with soup and salad for $14.00. I highly reccommend Reters--you will not regret it!
(5)Miriam B.
Hands down my favorite sports bar in the area. With great seafood. And a nice raw bar to boot. Everything I have eaten was well prepared. This is my go to place for raw oysters and funnel cakes.
(4)Katy W.
Excellent shrimp, crab cakes, cole slaw, and hush puppies, for an excellent price. Very relaxed and fun atmosphere.
(5)Barbara K.
This restaurant was recommended by an acquaintance, and so was new to our group. However, we were all favorably impressed. We went on Sunday and enjoyed the "fix your own" Bloody Mary bar, along with fantastic seafood. We all ordered different items and everyone (five of us) was very happy with their food. This was our first visit, but we will definitely return! Can't wait to try some of the other entrees.
(4)J'sMama H.
We come here all the time. Over the past 10 years, the service has improved, greatly as the restaruant has expanded. Great place for fresh seafood, you can get blue point oysters which are my favorites, there are always drink specials. It can be a bit loud in here at times, and on a Friday during Lent .... call ahead, and get your name down, or go early because you will wait a long while. I get fresh mussles, clams, to go by the pound/dozen many times, and I've always had good seafood. Grew up on the coast in the North East US, so this is a nice slice of home for me.
(4)Emily G.
Someone on here needs to talk some sense. Reters is awesome. I'm a Maryland crab snob, and I give Reters a rave review. I've been coming for years, since I used to live right nearby. True MD crab, and if you know what that means then you know what I mean. Outstanding crabs, delicious crabcakes, and delectable fresh steamed shrimp! Not cheap, but crab and seafood shouldn't be. Apparently they have excellent happy hour specials, but I haven't been. I heard something about $5 burgers and $5 for a pound of steamed shrimp. Oh, and just to be "that girl" .... GO RAVENS!
(4)Lauren C.
Seriously, people, it's a crabhouse. Yes, all the other entrees are mediocre, but the crabs are great. I do wish they had a better beer selection, and that the Maryland crab soup was a little less tomato-y, but THE CRABS ARE GREAT! Go here for crabs in the county. Also, I don't know if they still do it, but they used to have all you can eat peel and eat shrimp one night a week. My dad and I used to go on a regular basis. Delicious and a good deal.
(4)Lynn K.
Crabs, oysters, and shrimp are the best - but that's about it. The last few times, we have gone to eat in, the service was horrendous and the other entrees were mediocre. We usually just call in our crab order, but every once in awhile venture out (hard to eat out with 16 month old twins), and when we go to Reter's, I always regret it and have to leave before our entrees arrive. It is loud, frantic, and the service is lacking. The last time we went, we went on a Tuesday night. We were seated right away, but our waitress didn't arrive for 15 minutes. We ordered our children's meals first and it took about 20 minutes for a burnt grilled cheese. Not to fun with 16 month old twins who are hungry! The waitress avoided our table and when she was at our table, she was looking everywhere else and forgot what we asked for. We never received our drinks and had to leave and get our dinner to go. The bar was packed and sits in the middle of the restaurant, which sends extra noise throughout the restaurant. Also, there are a few regulars who feel they can scream across the restaurant at a table of friends to have a conversation. When we were leaving, there was a crowd waiting to be seated, yet there were several tables empty. Another negative, there were about 4 dirty dish bins sitting on the floor next to the kitchen door, which was in the middle of the restaurant and not far from our table. I do LOVE the taste of their crabs, but rather eat them at home where I can get my own beer and eat in a somewhat peaceful setting!!
(3)Ross M.
its okay... ok seafood, ok service, kind of slow service, young inexperienced waitstaff... not sure what the big deal is about the crab...it's better than CAPTAIN D's...but it's really not that great...
(3)