The food was good but the seating hostess are rude. Definitely wouldn't go back if you don't know how to greet paying customers.
(3)
Joseph C.
Cons: 1) It was ungodly hot. Seriously, its the middle of July, turn the AC on. 2) The server was a bit clumsy (dropped/broke/spilled quite a few times). Super nice though. Pros: 1) Crab Cakes. Oh. My God. Huge lump meat barely held together into a massive cake. Awesome. 2) Cream of Crab soup was very tasty, but a little light on the crab meat for my taste. Otherwise it was a standard crab house. The food was generic Maryland seafood. Nothing special. But its done very well and with quality ingredients. You won't leave thinking you've experienced something brand new, but you will say it was a darn good meal.
(4)
E L.
The service was stellar, Megan was professional, thoughtful and personable. The food was ok...not quite what the guidebook promised. The crab cakes meaty yet, they were missing seasoning and the sides passable rather than memorable. I was hoping to leave a bit of positive feedback. I tried to let management know about the quality service at the time of my visit. However, after asking the hostess to speak to manager on duty and waiting for fifteen minutes-- no one showed up....either for compliment or complaint. I left wondering where the best crab cakes in Maryland might be found and pleased I at least met a happy soul.
(2)
Tommy H.
Our experience here was really great. We had very friendly service, great food, a great atmosphere to eat. The salmon Caesar salad and crab cakes were amazing. The salad was very impressive because it was 100% fresh cut lettuce, tomato and onion. The only thing I didn't find great was the size of the beers. They came in plastic cups that definitely seemed smaller than 12 oz. And there was no drink menu. Other than that, this is a must visit place of you're from out of town
(4)
Kathy B.
I just drove about 15 miles out of the way with my elderly mother and sister to check out Mikes based on the yelp reviews and a taste for seafood. I went in for take out because my mother could not get out of the car. After waiting in line the hostesses told me I would have to place a take out order from Mikes store around the corner. The ladies in the store told me they can't order from the kitchen! I went back to the restaurant and stood in line again for the hostesses to tell me they don't do take outs on the weekend!!!! The hostesses seemed to have "attitudes". We left. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
On my second visit I was a little more pleased with the food, as I knew what to expect. The service was a little spotty but they were very busy so that is understandable. I think the great thing about the place is its water views and laid back atmosphere. It is fun for a lunch or dinner out - nothing fancy.
(4)
Deborah N.
Hey, nice setting, right on the water. Nice deck bar. It was closed today because of the heat (over 100 degrees). It's not like the servers waaaaant to be walking out in that heat to deliver the goods, and frankly, I didn't blame them at all. Other waterfront establishments I visited on my big day today (did a big loop of Anne Arundel in an attempt not to be ignorant the next time I wanted to waterfront drink/dine) had a bit of a breeze, but the air was quite still at Mike's. Inside you've got a typical crab house, wooden tables, benches, covered by paper towels. This one in particular seemed nice and spacious and clean. Window tables had a nice view of the water while dining patrons stayed cool in the bounteous AC. Food looked great and I (picky, picky me) will have no problem returning to sample it. Today was just about checking it out and having a quick drink.
(4)
Jet L.
Solid food, service, and location earns this spot a conservative 3 star review. I anticipate a 1 star upgrade when we return to try a tray of crabs! We observed many-a-trays being hoisted to a number of tables around the restaurant, and the crabs looked on point! As for the food we tried - cream of crab, the steamed combo, and the broiled crab cake sandwich and fries. The cream of crab was purdy good...much tastier once we flagged down the waitress to bring us some old bay (i know, i was confused too as to why it wasn't on there in the first place...). The steamed combo app (oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp) served well as a satisfying lunch for one - the mussels and clams were the highlights of the spread. I had the crab cake sandwich (minus the bread) which came with fries. The fries were so-so, but the crab cake, while on the wee side, was mighty good. Like I said, we'll be back...looking forward to CRABS :)
(3)
PInk P.
A great water front restaurant with great food! Good thing it just walking distance from home. I also love their specials like oyster and mussels. It's only $.50 apiece during weekdays
(4)
D M.
I'm being generous bcs we were told our wait was 45 mins & we sat having a drink until we realized it was twice the wait. That's just wrong--as 'no wait staff' came around to the open picnic seating where we were in a group of table-waiting patrons. Perhaps the hostess, a mere one yard FROM us, could have updated us once an HOUR passed? Maybe some comp'd crab cakes? Whatever, somewhere else you would have been paid attention to, so boo to you, Mike's. We left to our friends' place in Lothian...we had our OWN BBQ dinner there, which was awesome. Disappointed @ your venue bcs one person urged is to eat crab cakes, and the other blue crab. The visit 'results' were posted on FB (& now Yelp). Congratulations to the management. Retraining to ALL. Sure it was Labor Day & yes, it was packed, yet this is hardly an excuse to understaff the day & ignore folks right next to your hostess. Get it together.
(2)
Amber Z.
Awesome place to get the MD experience and crack open some crab shells! The place is right on the water. They have a separate bar that we went to to wait for a table, which had live music. The food was great and it was really fun!
(3)
Glen B.
Mike's Crab House is one of the best places I have been in a very long time. Not only is the food top notch! The service is outstanding! I love being on the water, the view alone is amazing! I love that you can have your wedding, parties, reception dinners. This is a place everyone should visit at least 3 times a week! I am in love with the food and service! The music is awesome too! Ignore the complaints you can't please everyone! Try it for yourself! I have recommended my friends to eat at Mike's and they love the food and service too!
(5)
jim m.
food good, location beautiful!!!!! big crab cakes hush puppies ok,
(3)
Sarah P.
Mike's was awesome! My Dad was in town for a weekend and wanted to have a "crab experience". After asking a few friends for recommendations we settled on Mike's. We were seated on the patio right by the water and proceeded to spend the next three hours elbow deep in crabs. The staff was amazing and super friendly. The crabs were yummy! The hush puppies were SO good I could've made a meal just off them. The waiter even prought us a bag of ice to keep our beer cold;keeps it cold without watering it down! Brilliant! Can't wait for the weather to get nice again so we cna go again!
(5)
Howard B.
A crab place with no crabs? Yep. I just went to Mikes and they had no crabs. That's like a burger joint with no backup plan for getting meat. I gave it one star because the beer was cold. The service is average .
(1)
Mary C.
We had an average experience here, the food was not exceptional but the outside deck was scenic and provided an average dining experience, nothing horrible but nothing exceptional either'
(3)
Karen P.
In our quest to show our daughter's friend what a Maryland crab feast looks like without grossing her out, we were recommended Mike's. We went on a week day, around 4 p.m. and the parking lot and restaurant was slow with the exception of the bar. We were greeted immediately and seated quickly. We were hungry and ordered the calamari and hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best I've ever tasted. I'm a Marylander and know my hushpuppies. They were bite-sized morsels of goodness with corn kernels in every bite. The sauces were incredible. They served a cinnamon and sugar butter and a spicy asian sauce (my fave). The calamari was served with green peppers, which I thought was a bit odd at first, but it really did bring out the calamari flavors as our waitress mentioned. The calamari was just okay. We ordered more hush puppies, naturally. The crabs came and after a brief tutorial to our guest, the eating began. She LOVED the crabs and surprisingly wasn't grossed out. We ordered 2 of the remaining 4 dozen in the entire restaurant. Once these were gone, that's all folks. They were all male and had a good amount of meat. We were brought melted butter and my daughter and I both agreed that it was the best melted butter we've ever had with our crabs. (Not sure why) Our waitress was AWESOME ... she came to check on us several time and was nice even after I asked her to "hurry up with our hush puppies" in a jockular way because we were extremely hungry when we walked into the restaurant. She obliged and was so pleasant. It started to snow so we hit the road and didn't stay for dessert or coffee. Give it a try. You'll be pleased you did. Just call ahead to see if they have crabs.
(4)
Rob B.
Better service than most crab houses, Tyler was only slightly AOL but too cute to complain. The steamed shrimp and soft shell clams were spot on. My 1/2 dozen large were not. A choice of small/medium mix or large, I got the former, but paid for the latter. Greek salad with chicken was generous. They seemed staffed and ready for the rush, very friendly staff. Better value from Harris' but considering travel and bridge toll, Mike's is a worthy choice. PS They too have the nutty buddy option for a sweet ending.
(3)
Karen T.
Manager Fatima accommodated us w/ complimentary oysters (usually one has to return for the free appetizer) to compliment our crab cake (2) dinners (2). Jimmy fed us right & set us up w/ all the fixin's. Our food came fast, we had water front seating & food was great. Crab cakes had enough filling to keep them together, had the nice bite of dry mustard & the sweet taste of fresh crab. I couldn't finish the 2. Can't wait for lunch left- overs tomorrow. Check out Mike's!
(5)
Joseph P.
Best crab cakes in the area. I've had them from all over the Annapolis and bmore area and I think mikes are some of the best. They also have soft shell clams which are hard to find in Maryland. Good beer great outdoor set up a great place to eat!!
(5)
Carrie D.
I was really excited finding this place while here on work. I thought what better place 2 miles from my hotel and on the water. I walked in it was busy. Which is usually a promising scenario. The host was pleasant. I sat at the bar since I was alone. And I had very underwhelming service. One of the bartenders was very nice. The other not so much. Which is honestly quite fine by me. I'm not always in a good mood. But what bothered me was her ignoring me while the other girl was busy. She had lots of time to eat soup behind the bar. She was texting on her phone. And just standing by the register with a blank stare. Another guest across from me waited for 10 minutes to eat his food because he had no silverware. I asked for a double with the assumption I'd get it in a tall glass. It literally was a cup of vodka in a short glass, probably pettt. I browsed the menu. I wish I had decided on something more expensive but felt off spending $27 on crab cakes to eat alone at that price. So I opted for the pub haddock sandwhich. No substitutes on sides everyone. I should have asked if it was frozen or battered fresh. Now while I don't know for certain and making the assumption it was hand battered I did not ask my fault. I was under whelmed. It was a very large piece yes but water kept coming out of it. Not grease water. Rather than bother the extremely busy bartender and the one who was not. I ate it. I was hungry. I'd give it one more try at Mikes, but eating in front of guests around drink or food in my book is absolutely disgusting and I did think of leaving. But like I said I was hungry I just worked a 12 hr shift and the Half a bag of gummy worms I had at my hotel wasn't gonna cut it. I'm a foodie. I travel ALOT for work. I'm always looking for great local places. I think I'm going to keep looking on this trip.
(3)
Shawn W.
Good food at a decent price. We sat outside and ate several of their crab dishes which were good. The deck has a nice view and is a great place for a drink and some music on a nice day.
(4)
Robert K.
Two weekends in a row and a solid performance. Ate at the bar, beer cold, glasses as well. Bartender,Kim, was very nice and attentive. Other bus personnel also top notch. I had the salad bar which is fresh and plentiful. It is smaller salad bar with no frills, the lettuce is great,veggies fresh and potato salads etc very tasty. You can order a single trip or multiple which is a nice option. Crab soup is pretty good, a little more tomato based than I prefer still decent. Had cherrystone clams which were fine. My wife's tuna sandwich was absolutely fabulous. It was the largest piece of tuna I have ever been served. It was perfectly seasoned cooked perfectly. What a treat as I was able to help her eat it. Last week we had crab cakes. My wife loved hers and I'll admit they were packed with lump crab meat. I didn't like the taste of my crab cake, they have always been really good but there was just something about the taste I didn't like. They tasted more like filler than crab cake. It doesn't matter because Mike's is great and we'll circle back for the cakes next time. This place is well managed,clean and seemingly has one server per customer. Overall a great experience
(5)
Ashley M.
Great bartender - Amy. Really fresh salad bar - small, but has an attendant to keep it clean and stocked! Fried shrimp was good. Crab legs were also good. Frozen drinks were great - 1/2 strawberry daiquiri 1/2 piña colada!
(4)
Kelly B.
It is quite possible that the food here is decent, maybe even good, if the number of people waiting before 6 pm on a Friday night is any indication...but I'll never know because I will NEVER come back here. The wait to get into the parking lot, which is rather inconveniently shared with a wedding hall, combined with the unbelievably rude attitude of the "parking attendant" put me on edge enough that the wait inside for tables (after we had already called ahead to verify that there was no wait and/or to make a reservation that we were told was not needed) spent what little was left of my patience. So, our epic battle for parking was all for naught as we left with empty bellies and an extreme distaste for this destination. I suppose if you are in the neighborhood of this bar at a low-traffic time it might be worth a try but not for me, ever.
(1)
Meghan C.
Get here early!!! They were out of crabs by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night - fine by me because I hate getting my hands dirty (pretty much on all accounts) but if have your heart set on crabs, go early. We sat on the dock, which was heated and had a great meal. Our server was double, probably quadruple sat when we arrived so he was really busy, but very nice. I had the scallops and they were fabulous, my mom had the crab cakes and they were gigantic - two gigantic, lump crab cakes - very very good. Salad bar and sides are nothing fancy - definitely a low key kind of place with solid seafood. I bet it's insane when the weather is warm!
(4)
Linda W.
Mallet- Check Bucket- Check Paper Towels- Check Old Bay Seasoning/Butter/ Vinegar- Check Table draped over brown paper- Check 1 dozen of fresh blue crabs- Check Now grab a table by the pier and get down to business!!! Link on how to shell and eat crabs correctly: skipjack.net/le_shore/cr… The next few hours at Mike's will guarantee fun & laughs non-stop! We had a whole afternoon of shelling and picking out delicious crab meat! 6 crabs pp is more than enough for a hearty appetite. I do have to point out we did get a crab that look like it had crabs- it had green insides, really unappetizing stuff. The waitress gladly took it back and returned a fresh crab to our plate. Great service..... glad we made it in time for crab season. Def worth the trip for fresh crab & seafood!
(4)
Sabra R.
***3.5 stars*** Great view, good crabs. They were not as big as I'd expected (based on all that I'd heard) but they were heavy and fresh. The service was okay--our server was barely pleasant, despite our attempts to warm her up. But the view made up for her attitude. I'd go again. But I also believe I can get crabs that are as good, if not better, in the DC area.
(3)
Joey L.
Food is ok, we stayed at Annapolis and drove here to get some grab. Kinda pricey for the quality of service and being it has a AppleBee's type of atmosphere. I ordered an appetizer that had oyster, clams, mussel and shrimp and it came out real late - like as in when the entree came out too. Oyster overcooked and so was the grab. Would not return. Our maryland crab soup was way too salty.
(3)
Theresa S.
Went here last night for a friends birthday and had a great time. We were told there was a half hour wait for seating outside for 7 ended up being about 20 minutes. We got two dozen large crabs for $140 for 7 people. We were stuffed by the end and for crabs the price was pretty reasonable, and the crabs were lump plenty on meat. Keegan was our server he was fantastic. He was prompt got our order perfect he was very nice too. He even rallied the wait staff to sing happy birthday to my friend. All in all a great experience!
(5)
Yun C.
Received a gift certificate so I decided to try this place out. The food and service was great, it wasn't packed when we were dining in. Overall an enjoyable experience.
(4)
Noll K.
Most of the reviews allude to the fact that this place "has it." And "it" is that something that makes people come back over & over... I'd have to say that "it" is definitely the food, not because the service wasn't that great (it wasn't); but because the food was, in fact, as good as the reviews say (it was). I enjoyed the steamed combo with a cup of Maryland style crab soup; and it hit the spot. Washed down with many a Loose Cannon. If I get the chance, I'll be back for certain.
(4)
Heather E.
We always love coming to Mikes! The prices are very reasonable, food is delicious, portions are good and the servers are so friendly! Mikes is especially wonderful in the summer when you can sit outside and pick crabs!!!
(5)
Seth J.
We were boating on South River and decided to stop at Mike's for some crabs. The dock there is a major attraction point (if not the only one). We were quickly seated and presented with menus. A dozen of crabs was quoted to be $70, an apparent increase over a few weeks ago. We ordered it, fried calamari, chicken sandwich, and a few beers. Calamary & sandwich were quite decent. Beer came out in plastic cups of a rather diminutive size. Crabs deserve a special mention considering I am still recovering from some sort of stomach disorder caused by them. The reason I know it was them is because it was the only food I had that day. By the end of that day, I had fever and diarrhea. I was curious why they put so much seasoning on the crabs. I guess some of them died before getting to the kitchen. In light of this incident I cannot recommend this place.
(2)
Justin F.
Not even sure where to start - the service was horrible all night, The salad bar has no cheese, the food was average at best and way overpriced. Our kids wanted crabs so we took them there while in the area for a soccer game. Not worth the money! I waited 15 minutes for our server to come to give me the check after we had finished eating. I had to track down a manager to find her. Not sure if this is a huge coincidence or not, but the same credit card I used to pay for dinner was compromised about 2 weeks later. Mikes was the only place I had used the card since I got it, so I cant imagine how else anyone would have gotten the info...but I have no proof so cant say for sure. All I know is that someone got some free gas in Kansas yesterday from using a duplicate of my card!
(1)
Brittany S.
This place is back to being one of my summer time favorites! On a hot Sunday my mom really wanted to come here but after the last time during the winter months I wasn't sure I really wanted to go back. So glad I tagged along because this place really is 5 stars in the summer time! The seafood is so much more fresh and the food is taste better! Lol, maybe it's just the experience of sitting outside along with it. Didn't have to wait to sit outside! Shocker! There was live music in front of the tiki bar and it was a good thing we were sitting under the covered part of the deck because it was a hot one! Our waiter was great and very attentive whenever we needed something and the drinks came out very fast! The orange crushes were good and refreshing. You could taste the alcohol, which is how you know you're getting your money's worth, hehe. The salad bar really is one of the highlights of this restaurant. It always looks so clean and fresh, I'm sad I never have room in my belly to go back for seconds. I was a little scared of getting the seafood imperial but I'm so glad I finally got something different! I was shocked at how fresh it was and how much food it was for the price! There were huge chunks of crab meat, big scallops and a good amount of shrimp. It might be my new favorite on the menu. My boyfriend ordered the stuffed shrimp which I had ordered before in the winter and it wasn't the best but this time they definitely stepped it up. The imperial was STUFFED with shrimp, he even let me try a few bites, yup! A FEW! lol He wasn't being stingy because there was so much he couldn't finish it. My dad got the steak and said it was really good but just way too much! Some how he ate it all though lol. My mom got the lobster special as always and she loved it. My brother got the pub haddock sandwich and said it was really good, it's one of my cousins favorites as well. Everybody was very happy and satisfied with the service, the seating and the meals! It makes sense that their seafood taste better in the summer because it shows they use fresh ingredients during the summer months and I'm ok with that. Make sure to call ahead for crabs, when we arrived they had ran out but they get new bushels in throughout the day.
(5)
Leah D.
I came here recently, while visiting some family. We were seated on the balcony, which had a beautiful view. It took 30 minutes for someone to come and get our drink order. We eventually had to GET UP OURSELVES and go to the bar to get our own drinks...including water. There were tables all around us getting food, while we were still waiting to order drinks. When someone finally did come over to us, she rarely came back to check on us. The food was nothing great or exceptional. I will not be coming back to Mike's. It was not worth the time or money.
(1)
Peter D.
The blue crabs were amazing. Fresh, served hot and packed with Old Bay seasoning. The service was great. Fast, courteous and very attentive, despite a packed house. We also had the mussels, calamari and shrimp which were all fantastic. The only complaint we had about the food was the butter that came with the crabs. Disgusting! Tasted like pure oil. Expect a very long wait, if you're going on a nice sunny day on the weekend. But it was worth the wait.
(4)
Alyssa D.
The staff is really nice and accommodating! The environment is inviting and relaxing mixed with fun and good music. I haven't had much if their food but what I did have was delicious! It's a really great place to relax and enjoy the social aspect of life.
(4)
Tim O.
Having grown up and lived in Annapolis for over twenty years, I've eaten at pretty much every restaurant that serves crabs or crabcakes. I recently moved to another good seafood town (Boston), but whenever I'm in town during the summer/fall months, I make it a point to come to Mike's. There's no restaurant that I'd rather pay to eat crabs. On a nice day, you can easily lose track of the hours as you eat crabs, drink, and eat more crabs with friends and family. That's exactly what crab feasting is all about. Watching the sun set while eating out on the deck is a nice vibe too. Mike's loses 1 star because any true Annapolitan can make better tasting crabs for loads cheaper. It's hard to rate something 5 stars when it's not the best you've ever had, but Mike's is a great substitute to the good old house party.
(4)
Sean O.
I don't like seafood so their non-seafood choices were decent. I got a burger which was pretty good and I also had some appetizers. Also, their frozen alcoholic drinks were delicious. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're on a diet as a lot of the food is fried. This place was packed at noon on a Saturday so you may need to call ahead for reservations!
(4)
Mitch L.
Was craving crab and decided to try this place despite the 3.5 star rating, as the recent ones were mostly 4 and up. Glad we did, service from Shannon was great, she was nice enough to recommend the snow crab legs vs the bucket of crabs as she mentioned overhearing a previous customer comment they were on the smaller side today. We ordered the seafood imperial, $6 steamed oyster special (at least a dozen oysters!), bowl of Maryland crab soup and the snow crab(leg) cluster. All fresh and delicious down to the bread rolls, and generously portioned. Our meal came out to less than $50 for 2 of us, which is pretty awesome for good quality seafood. Coming from NY/NJ that's better than some non seafood places we've been. Added bonus: adjoining bar with a non-touristy feel, and nice water views. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
Arthur F.
The good: -tons of outdoor seating -lots of space inside and out -decent prices on seafood items -good service The bad: -had steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels also raw oysters. Beer. -all of the above steamed items were just ok, mussels overcooked and teeny tiny. -clams in broth were good A lot of folks come here to eat crabs and I imagine it'd be a good experience outdoors with a lot of folks, but I personally have never eaten crabs here.
(3)
David W.
Big crabs and good oysters. Visited this establishment over the beautiful weekend, and really enjoyed the food. The crab meat was succulent and plentiful, and the oysters were actually pretty good. The cream of crab was a bit too thick for my taste, but that's just me.
(4)
Silvia C.
Dear Mike's Crab house, You have the BEST crab cakes, hands down. I just finished eating my left overs from your crab cake specials you have every Monday, and.....MMmm. I think it tasted even better today? I don't know. I was sad when I took my last bite. I appreciate the deals you have going on now, or at least till summer hits, the .50 wings and .50 oysters are a great deal! I will be sad when that is gone too. And of course, you all have the BEST crab dip and cream of crab soup...mmmm OK, gotta get back to work...
(4)
Elise T.
I used to love going to Mike's but they have employed a known sex offender and the parking situation is too unsettling when leaving out at night from the restaurant with my kids...so I won't be returning to this location.
(1)
Levi E.
So first of all the parking lot dudes is a bad idea. It took me more time to get a spot then it did to get sitted. So once we sat down we waited another Damn 15-20 minutes to get a server for which I had to ask for.......but here is when it change for me and the fam a lil.......Our server Britney waz the best she made sure we were ok wit everything and waz very friendly. Now to the food I had the broiled seafood combo nothing to write home about. Wife had seafood imperial she said the sauce waz nasty. Oh yeah they ran out of freaking crabs.......but if it wasn't for our server I might have really gone ham but I'm ok...........If I want some crabs I might go back
(2)
Marisol D.
A total joke! Bad from beginning to end. Get new servers, new management & maybe take my money when I'm trying to pay. Get servers to stop taking snapchats while we are waiting & have your hostess LOOK UP! Don't bother with your time nor money!!
(1)
Dee N.
One of the best crab cakes in Maryland! Excellent food all around! The only place we've discovered year-round crabs. From the hush puppies that taste excellent with bits of corn, to the soft claims with long necks (a speciality), and the steamed crabs were amazing in flavor. They have great bands on weekends added with a water view and outdoor seating - you won't be disappointed. The wait staff are top-notch and friendly to ensure you have a great meal. Love this place!!!!
(5)
Chris B.
A great waterfront restaurant with a friendly atmosphere. Crabs are delicious, no questions asked if crabs are light and you ask for an exchange. Great customer service. If you are in the area and looking for great food and drinks, with live music on the weekend, Mike' is the place to go.
(4)
Katey S.
THE BEST CRABS HANDS DOWN!!! I also would kill for their crab dip haha!
(5)
Sandy S.
The last three times I went to Mike's they were out of crabs. Lame crab house, no crabs. Drive 1 1/2 hours. Very disappointing.
(1)
Maurcia B.
When I found Mike's on the internet I said to myself that would be a GREAT spot to enjoy a meal with family and friends. When we arrived, we decided on a table outside on the water. The sun was a bit much so my brother adjusted the table umbrella. The waitress comes to our table and says it's restaurant policy, the umbrellas cannot be tilted. I did not want to cause a stink, but to make a point I let the waitress know that at the table across from us the umbrella is clearly TILTED. I asked to speak with the manager. I asked the manager if the umbrella could be tilted until the sun goes down. He responded, too, that it's restaurant policy because the waiters could be poked in the eye. I said ok, that sounds reasonable (although the ends of the umbrella have protected material on the ends AND any good waiter cannot miss seeing that BIG umbrella when they come to the table). I again pointed out that the table across from us has a tilted umbrella. The manager said he would speak with that couple. In the meantime, he offered us another table out of the sun. We moved. The manager went to speak with the couple at the other table but when the conversation ended, the umbrella remained in a TILTED position. Question: With waiters going back and forth to wait on other customers ALL DAY outside how could they NOT see the tilted umbrella, if this was restaurant POLICY? Since the other couple was not amenable to having the umbrella at their table adjusted in an upright position, in all FAIRNESS, why not allow us to keep our umbrella tilted as well. What kind of review is this: After all that UNNECESSARY back and forth, could you relax and enjoy a meal with friends and family there? Would you want to spend your money there? CUSTOMER SERVICE is what it's all about. Needless to say we left the restaurant and ended up at the CHART HOUSE. We got a GREAT table by the water (inside). The food was GREAT. I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Like I said it's all about CUSTOMER SERVICE. I was HAPPY to spend my money there.
(1)
Chris R.
Must try place if you like crab. The steam shrimp was also excellent. Nice Maryland crab soup. Be prepared to get messy!
(4)
Nina B.
OMG, om nom nom. Yup, that's pretty much what I felt like when I came here. It all started with the crab cakes. These were the chunkiest meatiest least filleriest crab cakes I ever had. I couldn't believe I had ordered so much more food after I started with this. Then, went on to the Maryland oysters. Fresh. So fresh. They still don't beat my favorite Apalachicola oysters, but they surely did the trick. Finished it off with a dozen medium crabs. It's a lot of work to eat crabs, but it's a lot of fun. The crabs were perfectly seasoned, and I made a sad attempt at eating them the way Marylanders are supposed to eat them. But, eventually gave up and went all "smashy, smashy" with my mallet. Which brought me back to OMG, om nom nom.
(5)
Chris P.
Steamed blue crabs and plenty of cold beer, on the water... How can that not be five stars????
(5)
Jason W.
Foods good, Service absolutely sucks!!! Sat at the bar, 20min to get a bowl of soup, 10min in between drinks........guy sat down next to me, never got served, walked out!!!! Need more help when it's packed!!!! It's a wed night not even a weekend. May not return!!!
(2)
Zoë M.
We've been here twice since my first review, the first time was to have crabs again and then again last night, where we went for less messy food! I wouldn't have written another review as I felt my first was enough however, I just had to comment on the greet staff. How RUDE! I couldn't believe this girl. She barely even looked at us, didn't say hello, just told us to follow her and let the door shut in my face. We arrived at around 6.30-7pm on Friday November 3rd. If anyone from Mikes reads this, they should be disappointed. We asked to be sat in a booth so we could lean back and we were sullenly told that they don't fit 4 people very well, despite seeing only 4 people in all the others! Maybe we had a bad night, but maybe she just needs to change her attitude. I would've said something, but the other staff were so busy and I didn't feel I wanted to make a fuss. Food, okay. We had a mixture of things, nothing too exciting. One of us ordered lobster as a first timer and the waitress didn't know how to eat it so said she would send over someone else, who came after another ask and after the lobster had been eaten. We also ordered a crab cake, which didn't arrive. Not great service, perhaps due to a busy Saturday?
(2)
Joanne B.
Awesome food & very fast service! Will definitely be back! Get the crab balls for sure & the stuffed mushrooms...YUMMY!
(5)
Rita V.
Lukewarm crabs, ok ribs, super dry grade c chicken, warm beer, good cob.... Great time with old friends, but I won't be back for the food. Good crabs. Dingy, dirty and dated, friendly and hard pounding staff.
(2)
Wendy C.
Nice deck right on the water, gorgeous view, fantastic and energetic young staff, last but not the least.....good food! We wanted to get steamed crabs but they didn't have any large ones; hurricane disrupted supply from Louisiana. Instead, we enjoyed some of the largest and the most succulent steamed shrimps. Crab Imperial was also on point, a must-try when you are in Maryland. Interior of the restaurant was a bit dingy and outdated, but who cares, almost everyone sat on the deck. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(4)
Warren G.
Overall, I'm not a huge crab fan, so perhaps my review should be ignored, but I'll say it anyway. I enjoy the restaurant and its atmosphere, and the non-crab food is outstanding. The waits are a little long on weekends, and the salad bar is a wild card usually, but overall I enjoy the trip here FAR above any other crab place I've hash on Annapolis to date.
(4)
Tai L.
I have went to this place again and again when I worked in the DC area a summer ago. The crabs and oysters were fresh and delicious. The place is casual and down to earth, get a dozen of crabs and dig in with your hands.
(4)
Katie K.
Used to come here every year with my company for our annual crab fest in June. We stopped coming because they couldn't guarntee enough crabs for 25+ people in an afternoon. It's a shame, because this place is GREAT! Best place to drink cold beer and pick crabs on a Sunday afternoon. Beers are iced cold and crabs are DELICIOUS. The wait staff is friendly, the view is great. Getting there (at least from Virginia) is a total pain, but again, well worth it.
(4)
Elaine S.
Mike's is a GREAT place to have crabs and seafood. They also have non-seafood dishes like yummy MD fried chicken (crispy), meat dishes, a very nice salad bar. I love their appetizers too. The waitstaff are always fun and offer great service. For dessert get the nutty buddy if you like ice cream ... It's a cracklin' fun time!
(5)
Lawrence H.
This was a great place to eat. The service was good but the location can't be beat. We went on a Friday for lunch and didn't have any wait. We sat out in the porch and found it refreshing but still controlled environmentally. The price was a bit high but I guess you get that when you go to a "premier" establishment. Ask about their specials and try the crabs.
(4)
Randy L.
Nice location. Big place with lots of seating. Their fried stuff looks the best. I tried the Maryland crab soup. It's a very tasty vegetable soup, with strands of crab. My wife got the cream of crab soup, which was okay. I had the Potato Skins, which were stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, imperial sauce, and melted cheese. These were quite good. My wife had a salad, which looked to be of good quality.
(3)
Carolina C.
First impressions matter to me. Just called to ask whether a reservation was needed (I'm not from this area) and a woman hung up on me. I called again, a man picked up, I explained to him what happened and he couldn't care less. I asked how much crabs are, he told me $70 for a large dozen. That's about three times the price I usually pay in Maryland. Not for me
(1)
Wynter B.
This place is amazing! Great food, ridiculously awesome prices along with fast service from the bartenders! We drove 3 hours to just eat here!!!
(5)
Mike H.
In BMore from CT with some time to kill so we headed for Annapolis for a visit. Touched base with some old friends from home (former Annapolis residents) for a dinner recommendation and they suggested Mike's for traditional Maryland crabs. The wait was long but the weather was ideal so we enjoyed the scenery on the deck overlooking the water. A pleasant surprise. When we did get a seat (4 of us) we were delighted with the food and the service that Randy provided was both friendly and helpful for the MD Crab rookies that we are. Also enjoyed appetizers of blackened, seared Tuna and bacon-wrapped scallops. The entire experience was delightful and made more so for our family by how attentive Randy was. We'll be back as often as we can.
(4)
Sheila C.
We enjoy Mikes, it's fun to go to Mikes and eat crabs. Mikes will be honest about what size crabs they are serving, large are large, mediums are mediums etc. Their shrimp, corn, French fries, onion rings and most dishes are good... not great. This is not fine dinning but great crabs, corn and icy cold drinks.... All served with the prettiest view on the water you could hope for. Service is always very good. I really wish they would fancy up the salad bar. We always enjoy Mikes. Big family picnic style dinning with good crabs and the best drinks and view. Lunch/dinner specials are good. It's a nice clean fun place to go with good service, great views, yummy crabs and good food. Enjoy!
(4)
R K.
great food and super service..been here many times over the years passing thru Annapolis on our trips back north ..never had a bad meal..always treated nicely ..great atmosphere for sitting outside on the deck on the water
(5)
Car B.
By far the worst experience in Annapolis, WORST customer service ever. Servers at bar are stressed and loose track of orders or pay no attention to you. And forget about having crabs with the lovely hostess system. Good luck if you get seated as the hostess system keeps track of three different list and someone that came after you is very likely to be seated first.
(1)
Andriy N.
Great, just great place and great time. My family and my 2 month old son spent 5 hours there and it was awesome. Thanks for Tyler and others there. Crabs are great, oysters are insanely fresh and shrimp was right. Keep going!
(5)
Emily M.
Excellent seafood, fabulous service, beautiful setting! Our waiter, Jeff, was awesome, and the owner have us a ride back to our hotel! Never, ever had service like this before! What a great night!!
(5)
Adri Q.
Horrible service - we walked out. After going to 3 hostess stations, we were told the wait was 2.5 hours for an outside table, and we had to turn over a drivers license to secure our place in line. We wanted to get a drink at the outside bar(cash only) and they made us go back to the hostess to retrieve the license, and return it after we were served. The hostess misfiled my license and had to search each one to find it. At that we had had had enough and left.
(1)
Adam L.
Simple, clean family dining. Casual place, great crab, nice bar. One of the BEST salad bars I had, nothing too fancy, but very satisfying for a great price. Cute Bartenders too!
(5)
Peggi S.
Love this place will be back...even though its hot out your on the water and the food is superb you dont even mind Customer service is great too. Had lunch here today.
(5)
Lena K.
We and our friends loved our experience of dining at Mike's, atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The jumbo crabs and oysters were perfect! We also ordered a soup and crab cakes ( ok)
(4)
Sheri G.
We used to go to Cantler's, but this place is better. Here's why. It's huge! They don't take reservations on the weekend, but they have a great deck with at least 15 picnic tables and a tiki bar that is designed specifically for people waiting for a table. They have live music out there too - a guy with a guitar singing Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor songs. (He probably sings other songs too, but that's all I remember). I believe they sometimes have a band. It's a great spot to kick back with a beer and relax with your friends while waiting. They have 2 additional sections of outdoor seating for dining - one under a canopy with fans and another at tables with umbrellas. The tables are right on the water (The South River, I believe). And you can always sit inside. It's relatively close to DC and a few exits before the bridge so you don't get stuck in bridge traffic. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there. And when you arrive, they have an efficient parking system with attendants to help you get a spot. The crabs are sweet, fat and fresh. A dozen large was $65 this past weekend. We also had a pound of shrimp, and they were huge. They are well equipped to deal with crab-picking injuries. I am no amateur, but I sliced my finger pretty badly on my first crab of the night. It would not stop bleeding, and I was getting pissy since the crabs were disappearing before my very eyes as my friend was inhaling them (at least she did feed me some claw meat). Our waitress saved the day when she supplied an antiseptic wipe, band-aid, and finger condom. Yes I was wearing a finger condom. I probably looked like a fool, but what did I care - I could continue eating crabs! Stop reading. Go get crabs!
(4)
David S.
Our first time at this place. Good food, good view, and good atmosphere. We are fans of this place and will definitely come back. We arrived about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. Outdoor seating was going to take 30 minute wait, so we went for indoor seating. We had a table by the window with a good view, and we also had AC. We had a dozen of large crabs, and they were fresh, meaty and delicious. We also enjoyed the mussels and oysters specials. We would order the crab cakes again. They were yummy! We also had the stuff flounder. It was good, tasty and stuffed with crab meat and scallop. However, we probably won't order it again because the portion was kind of small and the imperial sauce looked like melted cheese. The fries that came with the stuff flounder was kind of soft and greasy. The service was great. Although the place was packed, our server came check on us every few minutes. Got our order exactly right and made sure the beer mugs were full.
(4)
Jessie B.
If you have read my other reviews...I am not picky, I just want tasty food and good service. I'll try a place at least twice before I write them off. This was our second and probably last visit to Mike's...our first visit it was off (crab) season and I wasn't too impressed. Last weekend... again, not impressed. The seafood is overpriced, taste and portion sizes are average. The wait staff have been good. Since it was a nice day and we wanted to get crabs we decide to go to Mike's - got there around 3:00 pm. When we walked in there was a sign at the hostess podium stating that they were out of crabs. I looked around and pretty much everyone was eating crabs...so I was hopeful that the sign was left up and they would have some more by the time we ordered. We chose to sit outside; it was a bit breezy and on the chilly side but the sun kept us warm. They are on the water and have a nice view. When our server arrived I asked about crabs and she said that they were out. It took me a few minutes to finally figure out what to eat - once your heart is set on crabs, it's hard to choose something else. Picking crabs and eating crab cakes are not the same thing. We placed our order and while waiting for our drinks, a couple with two small kids were seated about three picnic tables down from us. Their server came out and was putting crab paper on their table with the utensils/bucket! When our server brought the drinks out, I said "if there are no crabs, why are they getting crab paper, tools, etc." She said "uhhh" and her first response was that maybe they knew the owner [should that make a difference?]. She walked over to their table and came back again and said that the people who were at the table behind them gave them a couple of leftover crabs. Ok, I can understand that... A few minutes later, our server brought us our food and we began to eat...and guess what?? Here come a dozen or more crabs to their table!!! When our server came back to check on us, I said - "So what's the deal with those people getting crabs when you said you were out?" I wasn't mean or nasty, just matter-of-fact like. Again, she was caught off guard. She said she would go check with the manager. A few minutes later returned and said she was sorry that she just found out from the manager that they have seven dozen large ($65/doz.) and one dozen mediums available and asked if I wanted to order some now. [Really?] By this point we had mostly finished eating what we ordered. If I had known, I would have ordered the crabs [that's why we were there - to eat crabs!] I was so disappointed and a bit pissed off as well. As for the food... My husband had the broiled crab cake sandwich and I had the buffalo shrimp with the salad bar. We both had a cup of cream of crab soup. The soup had no taste to it - it was watery and floury. It could have used a pinch of old bay or some sherry and definitely more butter in the roux. The crab cake was ok; it was mostly filler and fell apart, it could also use some old bay. The buffalo shrimp were peeled with the tail on, good size, properly cooked and spicy. The celery was pale and limp. Their salad bar could use some work; more variety and the addition of shredded cheese, fresh fruit and maybe some cottage cheese would be nice. The salad bar items requires you cut it up before you eat - with the small glass plates and the dull butter knives, makes it a challenge to keep the salad on the plate and off the table or in your lap. They offer mixed greens or spinach, WHOLE baby carrots, large broccoli florets, green peppers rings, cucumber slices, mushrooms, cherry/grape tomato's, shredded egg, and... potato and pasta salad - which I wouldn't try [didn't look appetizing]. You have choice of four dressings, plus oil & vinegar, croutons, and imitation bacon bits. One trip is $3.95 and all you can eat was $6.95. This visit, I found out that they keep hot rolls in a small oven in the corner behind the salad bar. There is no sign; you just have to figure it out by yourself. As we were leaving, I saw several servers bringing out platters of crabs and most tables inside and out had crabs on them. Apparently there must have been a communication problem between the management and [some of] the servers. My point is - we went to a crab house to get crabs...how can you not have crabs? This article said that they should be plentiful this year - they said the same last year - let's hope that the prices come down. See this link: dcist.com/2012/04/maryla… In my opinion, take a drive down to Deale and go to Skipper's Pier if you want GREAT Seafood that is reasonably priced. They should be reopening in a couple of weeks.
(2)
Jan C.
Great food great sevice. We loved our waiter Rick. Worth the wait. The crab was fresh and flavorful. The crack your own crab was a messy fun experience. The crab stuffed shrimp perfect. Fried Shrimp and oysters had a thin crisp coating. We really enjoyed our meals.
(5)
Stephanie S.
I love crab houses, but this has got to be one of the best I've been to in MD. Looking forward to a 3rd visit.
(4)
David W.
They were out of crabs when we got there, and had a dozen on our table within 20 minutes. Steamed shrimp and crab dip held us till the crabs (both delicious) and the crabs were heavy and great. Excellent service, overall very happy and will be back!
(4)
Ann K.
My family's favorite crab house alway and forever.
(4)
Brian S.
In spite of the mixed reviews on Mike's we went for a birthday celebration. Got there on Friday at 6:20pm and waited for 40 min. It was well worth it! Good food, cool ambiance, good waiter. Seafood Imperial was excellent, hush puppies were good. Definitely a place to go back to.
(4)
Karen L.
We came here back in June on a Sunday as it just opened so it was pretty quiet with plenty of parking. It's nice to be on deck by the water, I'm glad that we had the large table umbrella since it got pretty bright outside. There were the three of us and we ordered a dozen mediums, crab cakes, and a steamed platter of shrimps/clams/oysters. The platter was just okay, but they had really sweet jumbo shrimps. The crab cakes were good, but I think Cantler's still does them better. Crabs are always fun to eat although I never really liked the crabs crusted in too much old bay seasoning. We also had some soup, which were done very nicely. The servers were very nice and very cordial. By the time we left, the place got very crowded. This place is much easier to get to than Cantler's, but if you don't mind the drive, I'd make my way there instead.
(3)
Tanie M.
All I can say is OMG! The crabs are to die for! They were very large and fresh crabs! The stuffed shrimp entree and crab soup are very delicious as well. Our server Kelly was wonderful! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Levent T.
Fresh Oysters...Woo hoo!!! As for the rest of the food...Meh. However, the location is excellent and the price point matches what you get. Had the stuffed flounder which was waaaay too rich and hid the essence of the fish. Sides and Salad bar were blah and the service for our large group was lacking. If you're a tourist on a budget it is a safe bet but don't go out of your way to visit.
(3)
Jon P.
During a road trip to our nations capital we decided on doing a crab dinner. We went to mikes after asking some locals where to go. It was good advice cause our experience was fun and satisfying. We sat outside on the deck by the water and drank cheap pitchers of beer, and ate crabs. A big ole bucket of crabs. They were great, you get a wooden mallet and a role of paper towels. Just hammer the crabs and get the meat out. Simple right? Not really but you get the hang of it. By my third crab, I had it down. Fun way to eat crab and drink beer! Next time im down here im going for the bigger crabs. They are blue crabs and they are heavily seasoned, which I thought was very tasty and delicios. Ohh I wish we had this up north...
(4)
Julius L.
From Southern California and have had better tasting seafood meals out west. Not terrible but nothing to return to. Sort of like a movie you rent but wouldnt buy. $80.00 with tip for 2,to be fair we had 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine.Would came out better if we bought and prepared food at home, would tasted more flavorful. Nice crowd, good atmospher.Salad bar like motel 6 would offer,an old motel 6.
(2)
Alexander W.
Mike's tried BUT FAILED ... We arrived (party of two) and were told 20 minutes to seat, not a bad wait ... then after 20 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes. Once seated after 15 minutes of waiting for a server, I took it apon myself to walk back to the front and ask if anyone was going to serve us - a manager came over and asked us if anyone had come by to take an order, I replied 'not yet' he never apologized just walked away. another 10 minutes later a very polite young gentleman from the bar came over and took our order (he was one of the only positive parts of the night) The food? - save your money and go to G&M by BWI Airport (same price point, much better food) the food is average, basically a 'Red Lobster' type of flavor, nothing to write home about! I dont see myself going back!
(2)
Amy M.
We will not return to Mike's. After being seated outside, we waited about 10 minutes until I waved down a server to find our server so we could get drinks. We should have left then. it just got worse. The mussels we ordered were under cooked and disgusting, we sent them back. Our food was fair but extremely over priced for this location. The server had to be found to get refills for drinks, etc. She finally brought the check and you guessed it, the mussels we sent back were on it. We then had to wait for a manager to come to the table and remove them from our check. The view is the only thing this restaurant has going for them!
(1)
David I.
Pretty basic seafood house. Good crab set up. Service was attentive.
(4)
Jim B.
My first visit to Mike's was pretty disappointing. The terrific views from the outside and covered seating were closed, even though the day was gorgeous. The food, though good, was expensive and unimaginative. I had the stuffed flounder which came served on a bed of rice with fries. Nowhere in the description was the rice mentioned, and I'd have skipped the fries had I known. Is there anything wrong with throwing a vegetable on the plate other than ketchup? My companion had the fried flounder, which was OK, though the portion size was huge. A trip to the salad bar for her and the bland, dry cole slaw for me. We started with oysters and mahi bites, which were both very good, but we should have stopped there. The entree plates could have been served in the 60's complete with the inedible greenery and citrus slice. I had expected much more, especially for the $70 that it cost two of us for a Sunday lunch. The bar area looked much more to my liking, and if I go back it will be for oysters at the bar. It might also do for a beautiful waterside setting in the warmer months, but if a good seafood meal is what you're after, you can do better. If an old fashioned crab house is what you're after, you can do better there too. The wait staff was attentive, and service good, but the feel of the place was sterile and mass produced. Again I was disappointed.
(2)
Mike O.
Had our company Christmas Party in there upstairs hall. The hall was recently redone and the decor is first class' we had a buffet style dinner with crab cakes and fried chicken. The food was awesome, we had over a hundred people in attendance and I did not hear 1 complaint about the service or the food, However I did hear many compliments about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was.. Oh did I mention this was our 2nd year having the Party at Mikes, and looking forward to having it again this year..
Is it make sense drive 200 mile to visit a restaurant? It makes much sense to me if restaurant is that great. Mike's Crab House is worth a trip if you a crab lover. I like to have 6 large crab, a fried soft shell crab and a steam mussel. In fact I visited few other top Maryland crab house but Mike's is on the final list. Their crab is full of meat and price is right (about $78 a dozen) You get free water front view with the crab. I love to visit the area. Every thing comes out perfect. Nothing more or less for a crab house.
(5)
Glinda C.
The food was just OK. The crab cakes were full of jumbo lump crab meat (I think imported) but really didn't have any flavor. The Cream of Crab soup was made with special crab meat (not jumbo lump) and was ok. Would've been better had I received it hot and not lukewarm. Stay away from anything crab imperial. Everyone in our group sent it back, said it was awful. I don't eat crab imperial (it's all awful to me) so I can't vouch for it. A couple of people said the crabs were good even though it was off-season. My absolute biggest complaint was the service was absolutely terrible. We had a group of about 20 people and had two long tables. One table ordered and received appetizers while we were still waiting for water. Then they received their food before we even placed an order. The waiter disappeared for long periods of time and it was impossible to get a drink refill. Some of our people actually went to the bar to get a drink because the waiter did not return. Of course, because it was a big party 18% gratuity was added to the check so there really was no incentive for the wait staff to be attentive. I really liked the location on the water so I will return this spring and have crabs on the deck. Will update my review at that time.
(3)
Erik B.
Nice basic seafood house. Had the crab cakes last night and the rock with crab imperial tonight. Both were very good. The cheddar oysters were VERY good. My dining partner does not like seafood and had a steak and a chicken melt sandwich which she enjoyed very much. Service was good. Last night was very busy so the service was a bit slow, but the server was attentive and kept apologizing for the slowness. We were in no hurry and very much enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the boats and birds. Tonight was a bit less crowded and the service was very good. Mike's is definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Erika J.
Unfortunately, I've found that they rely a lot on their location - instead of their service or food quality. The location is perfect. They are right on the water, beautiful view, peaceful, and has dock access. Downfalls: * Staff - on several occasions when we've visited - the staff doesn't check in very often. Many times, we are without beverages * Water tastes like it's right out of the bay. * Price - Food quality isn't what I would expect. Overpriced. * There have been two occasions where we've waited for over 2 hours to get a table - while there were several open tables in the dining area. * I do not recommend the cream of crab soup. There is a lot of cream - with a little bit of crab. Not sure I'll ever return.
(2)
Tina T.
Really wanted to have crabs there, but when I got into the restaurant to the host, she had this really pissed off look (unusual for Annapolis so far I may say), she was just standing there didn't say a word. Then we saw a sign in front of her that states "Ran out of Crabs". What? No crabs in a crab house, so what does this place sell? I thought it was a joke and smiled at the host "Is this a joke?" "No mam, we're out of crabs" OK, no apologies, no smile, nothing. She still looked pissed off, so we just walked out of the restaurant.
(1)
Jada G.
A-ok, just because of the lovely water. The food was mediocre. I'm from atl, so i really don't like the energy it takes to eat whole crabs. I'd much rather eat crab legs. that's what i got. they were just ok. nothing special, they were drowned in Old Bay, i guess to hide the fact that they overcooked the crab legs. how is a restaurant who specializes in seafood, specifically crabs going to overcook them? seriously??!! come one. we also had crab cakes, crab cakes sandwich, platters, including scallops (which smelled/tasted old, so we sent them back), shrimp and fried oysters. i came with high expectations, i left knowing I would never be back!
(2)
Pat G.
Okay, so I'd heard a lot about Mike's from several folks. Finally, went with a friend who LOVES the place. I was underwhelmed. The seafood was overcooked. One of the waitresses didn't look particularly clean. Being on the water was wonderful; the place was okay; the food only fair.
(2)
barbara s.
I frequent Mike's often with my husband and we always have a great time but last night was especially nice since the manager Sean didn't mind serving us. And yes, the service was good. As we sat on the deck overlooking the water eating some of the best crabs in the area, we couldn't help but admire Sean's attentiveness to superb service. The place was busy but he made us feel as if we were the only ones there. If you are ever in the area, you should check out Mike's they have great food, good music and my husband says great drinks. It is certainly a wonderful way to unwind and enjoy being with friends or family! I can't wait to go back because it's always a good time!
(4)
Rich K.
We were visiting Annapolis when parents of the Naval Academy Plebes were in for the weekend. This place was packed with locals and this was one first experience in a Maryland crab restaurant. We are from the Northeast where lobster is plentiful this year. It was an experience watching everyone with the mallots smashing the hell out of these poor crabs. We decided to have stuffed Flounder and it was terrific and plentiful. I thought the price was right and service excellent. You dont come to place like this for fine dining and atmosphere, but for great Maryland crab it doesnt get much better. One draw back, I heard a local complain that they are always running out of crab and because they are in such demand, Mike has to ship them in from the Gulf.
(4)
Daniel M.
While in Annapolis for a friend's wedding, I went here with a large group on a Saturday night. Although the place was pretty packed, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The place is big with a lot of outdoor seating and a big bar. It falls somewhere in between a nice seafood restaurant and your prototypical seafood shack with its picnic tables. We tried all of their soups at the table....clam chowder, Maryland crab soup, and a creamy crab soup. The Maryland crab soup was the best of the three in my opinion....the other two were pretty average. I got a bite of a few different appetizers...hush puppies, steamed shrimp, mussells, clams, onion rings.....again, all were solid but nothing special. We finished up with a ton of steamed crabs COVERED in Old Bay. Being a New England boy who loves seafood, I know that sometimes it takes some work to get to the good stuff. That being said, I just think the work outweighs the payoff with these things. Trying to get meat from the body is a pain and I thought the meat was just ok. The claw meat was very good but for the price and work involved, I don't think its worth it overall. I'm glad I got my Maryland crab experience in, but I think I'm sticking to lobster and dungeness or king crab in the future. If you are a huge blue crab fan, I think this place probably deserves another star. For me, I'm going with three.
(3)
Elizabeth D.
Boyfriend and I dined here for lunch on the recommendation of a good friend. I ordered the soft shell cab sandwich. It was HEAVENLY! My boyfriend ordered the mussels and crab balls. What a good price. Plenty of mussels for $8 and the crab balls were filled with lump meat! If I ever visit Annapolis again, I would definitely return.
(4)
Jonathan H.
The classic Maryland crabhouse. That's all I need to say and everyone who's ever step foot in Maryland will understand what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, that wouldn't do anyone outside understand what this means. If you're looking for a beautiful restaurant with chandeliers and chefs dressed up in coats, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for a great relaxed atmosphere and a great place to knock back a few beers, have some great food and enjoy your company, this place is highly recommended. The place is mildly lit indoors. Why? There's a crazy amount of windows that bring an amazing amount of sunlight in and gives you a great view of the water. The food is consistently good and the staff is numerous and friendly. I was actually shocked on how many people were walking around with fanny packs and Mike's shirts serving or waiting tables. My only gripe about the place is crabs came in a little late when we were there (2 PM) so there is a chance that the lunch crowd might miss out on some great crabs but the dinner crowd will able to enjoy it in our stead.
(4)
Karen A.
Oh, what would a summer be without Mike's? I just love this place to pieces, going here is a staple in the summertime for me. Growing up in Baltimore, I learned that one of the greatest pleasures in the warmer weather is dinner at a great restaurant on the water with a pile of hot crabs and pitcher of ice cold beer. This place is ALWAYS crowded, but it's worth the wait to get a table outside on the water. Everything I've tried here is good, but the crabs are obviously the main attraction. If you're stuck waiting for a dinner table, there is a small covered outdoor bar next to the main building where you can have a few cocktails. They have live music occasionally as well. Just don't drink too many of their delicious orange crushes on an empty stomach... I learned this the hard way!
(4)
Terri R.
I consider myself a Crab Connoisseur. I will try a new crab house, but only if a friend suggests. And so it was that I came to Mikes. The crabs were big, however; they were either cooked too long, or had been cooked earlier and kept under a warmer, as was evidenced by their dark red color, and mealy meat. The taste was not "bad", but it wasn't "great" either. So we only ordered one dozen, even though we could have eaten another. A true Marylander is very picky about crabs. I dont think I will be back for the crabs.I may stop in for the house made Nutty Buddys (6.00) which are huge and amazing!! Also, not crazy about the staff as well. While they were polite, I wouldnt say they were personable or even friendly. Three stars only for Mikes..I hope they step up their game, the location is beautiful. It COULD have been a really great experience..
(3)
andy s.
O.M.G. cannibalizing sum bugs...fantastic!
(4)
Ma-e M.
For a group of people with reservations made, Mike comes prepared. Lovely waterfront, seafood restaurant in a big lot that is off the highway on Riva Rd. If GPS can't find it, keep on the look out to the water to find a big bungalow restaurant, and I bet you it is Mike with the bunch of people seating in a covered roof dining seats. Of course, I ordered a crab cake which comes with french fries and they were quite good. Knowing that everybody enjoyed at Mike's, I could tell you that Mike got hooked up with more friends to visit him.
(3)
Oat W.
What a great place. Food is very good and the staff is attentive and helpful. We get the stuffed oysters a lot and they are always excellent.
(4)
Kimber C.
Came here two years ago and returned this weekend... to find it just as good as I remembered! The food is fresh, the service is attentive and friendly... and theres nothing like sitting with good company, outside on their deck, with a dozen Maryland crabs! SO GOOD! We had tried Cantlers the day before and although the wait for the table was much shorter than at Mikes, The crabs were only okay (we got 2 bad crabs in a dozen, although they were immediately replaced) and the prices were much steeper. Mikes crabs were cleaner, fresher tasting, a better price, and just AMAZING!! We'll be back next year!
(5)
Elizabeth F.
Maybe its just nostalgia. But this place...I feel defines the eastern shore blue crab scene. Boat in docks, paper on the tables, overly seasoned soft shell crab, lots of big groups chowing down, grubby local servers bringing the sea folk feel. Love it! I gave it four stars because I felt like some dishes you get WAY MORE or WAY LESS for the money.
(4)
Clara S.
Stopped in before leaving Annapolis for some much needed crab-yumminess. Had hush puppies for an appetizer. They were little garlicky balls of yumminess. Came with a side of honey butter, which I didn't care for since I like salty more than sweet. I followed that with a cup of their "Famous Maryland Crab Soup". Think of Manhattan clam chowder, but with crab instead. It was delicious, and full of tomato chunks, peas, onions and crab meat. Then the waitress recommended the Crab Quesadilla (if you really like cheddar cheese). Its normally an appetizer dish, so its not a full lunch/dinner portion, which was fine since I already had hush puppies and soup. It was amazingly cheddary. Think: grilled cheese sandwich sleeps with crab meat and they made a baby. It was a delicious little baby - although my husband thought it was a tad overly cheesy and I was being cannibalistic in my reference (he's reading over my shoulder) . It also had some kind of tartar sauce inside it (almost like a McDonald's Fish-Filet sandwich, but not gross), which was a nice touch. It had a lot of crab meat in and on top of it. The table by the water and sitting under the sun was a nice touch. We didn't see the inside of the place, so I can't say what that was like. I would definitely come back on my way through Annapolis again.
(4)
Bianca F.
If you're looking for a crab house, this is the place to go. The other close competitor is Cantler's Inn, but I'm more of a fan of Mike's for it's atmosphere. The view can't be beat! II highly recommend a seat by the water/on the patio if the weather is good. It's a huge place so there's plenty of room inside too if you're not into the view. The lines are long during the summer, but often times they have a live band playing, so expect the wait, grab a beer, and watch the boats pass by. The prices are similar to the rest of the crab houses in the area. The crabs are good sized and plenty seasoned. But it's the location that warrants the 4 stars.
(4)
Chris V.
Nice day today. I didn't know where I was going since it was up to my hosts, but I was happy to find out that we would be eating seafood. The first thing I noticed was the nice view of the Severn River. It doesn't have the smell of the sea, but the boats, calm waters, and nearby bridge make you forget that. The second was the ample outdoor seating - I only found out about the indoor seating later. We had crabs of course. I think it was blue crab; it's not as great as king crab meat, but it's still enjoyable. I probably burned a couple hours picking away at crab parts to get at all the meat that I could. We also shared some decent fried calamari, some good crab cakes, and some excellent crab quesadilla. I was put off by the fact that they listed "crab dip" as an ingredient, but when someone ordered it anyway, I tried it and absolutely loved it. I can't say that this was the best ocean fare that I've ever eaten. If you order some of these entrees, I'd recommend this: squeeze the lemon juice onto the calamari and put some old bay or other condiment on your crab. It improves the taste, which is nothing special otherwise. Also, the pink lemonade is not very lemonade-y. I probably would add a lemon or two or my cup if I had to drink it again next time. If you come on a rainy day, they have indoor seating and bar seating as well. The bathroom was clean, which is very important when you're cleaning up after filling your stomach. Overall, a nice way to spend a warm, sunny afternoon, and a decent purveyor of the seafood that you must have if you visit Maryland.
(4)
Donna W.
I love Mikes and always had a good time coming here excellent service. However, this year and no fault to Mike's there was a crab shortage.. however where I do lay blame is how it was handled on Mother's Day. We arrived quite early like 3:00 PM to have crabs.. We were put on a wait list and were told it was a 90 minute wait, if I am not mistaken it was longer than that and the primary focus was crabs! By the time we sat down at 5:30 they ran out.. I checked periodically with the bartender to see if there were crabs each time she told me no.. but then when we sat down I was told no more but yet trays of crabs were coming out to tables.. I think there should have been more due diligence in informing people that had waited so long! We ordered something else and by the time we finished the place was dern there empty! I spoke to management and he literally said in so many word "suck it up we just don't have it.." Very disappointing for a place I have like so much..
(4)
Kimberly H.
Ok so quite a few co-workers said it was worth the ride down to Annapolis, & they were correct. We really wanted to sit outside since it was such a gorgeous day, but the wait was 1 hr & 45 mins, vs the inside wait 45 mins...we sat at the bar to wait, had beers & the bacon wrapped scallops--they were DELICIOUS! We would have eaten at the bar, but they serve everything but the crabs...When we got to the table, I ordered half a dozen medium crabs, & my husband got the fried shrimp. I got more than 6--more like 8 crabs & my husband, who usually only wants king crab legs because crabs are too much work, tore the extra 2 crabs up! I kept saying how good they were & he couldn't resist. I think Mike's has officially converted him to eating regular crabs! Worth the wait, the drive & the price!
(4)
Roll T.
Okay, my eyes are open. I can now understand why people say that Maryland is part of the South. Mike's Bar & Crab House is exactly the type of small town seafood spot that one would find on the Gulf Coast (as least pre-Katrina and BP oil spill days). You will see old men dressed in tacky Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and lengthy socks, pseudo-slutty redneck girls with their muscular, tattooed, sunglass wearing boyfriends, and a sporadic amount of tourists whose curiously was piqued enough to try a place slightly off the beaten track. But that isn't what is important, and that is not why we were here. This was stop #1 on Annapolis Crabcake Tour 2010, and it damn well might have been the best spot on the entire trip. Why? Well, aside from the incredible people-watching opportunities, the seafood here is no joke. Sure, some people might say that judging a seafood restaurant by its crabcakes is on par with judging an Indian restaurant on its chicken tikka masala (a decidedly British dish). Yet, Maryland as a state takes a great deal of pride in both their crabs and their crabcakes, and it becomes obvious that Mike's is incredibly knowledgable in the latter instance. There is a great deal of debate over what makes for an excellent crabcake. Personally, I lean towards preparations that make use of quality crab meat (colossal, jumbo, or special) as opposed to backfin meat. I'm also a fan of minimal filler (flour, mayo, butter, etc.). Mike's uses luscious chunks of jumbo crab meat to make their phenomenally cosistent crab cakes. Sure, the resulting product might weigh in at a paltry five ounces, but I would imagine that the task of balancing all that meat while using miniscule amounts of filler is a cumbersome task. In other words, instead of knocking the size, just be happy with the geometry (I'm not even pretending that won't be taken out of context). While we were only here for crabcakes, we decided to order some hushpuppies anyway. These golden fried treats seemed to carry just the slightest hint of sugar and were quite possibly a bit too mealy for some tastes. Personally, I thought they were an excellent rendition of a favorite treat to go along with fried seafood. Well done, Mike's. I've seen some complaints about the service. I'm shocked. Our service was OUTSTANDING. Our server knew that we were only staying for crabcakes, and she did not pout one bit (knowing that we were three people and splitting one entree and an appetizer). I can't stress how much that impresses me. Yeah, I can. Let's just say that adds up to a good tip. If our mere sampling of this menu is any indication of the greater possibilities of this restaurant, I think one can rest assured that a return visit will be happening. If you are sampling seafood in the Annapolis area, you would be a fool to miss this place.
(4)
Toan D.
A great place to roll up your sleeves and dig in to the pile of crabs. No frills atmosphere and located across the South River bridge from Annapolis. Besides crab, you can also get raw oysters, hush puppies, shrimp, clams and blackened mahi mahi to name a few. The service was effecient and our waitress kept the beers coming. Mike's Crab House has been around for over 40 years. In fact my mother used to waitress there in the 70's. Great to know it's still around to help us with our crab cravings when we return to vist friends and family.
(3)
S C.
Great steamed shrimp. Service not so good, as shown by the tables of servers doing sudoku right next to the salad bar - clearly visable!- and why do they have to give you a namecard to remind you who your server is? Does this imply you will have to ask someone else for something and have them say "Well who is your server" ? I hope it was just to mark that someone has been to the table to get drink orders..... or was it....
(3)
Chris P.
great seafood and water views. a lil outta the way, but hey no traffic!
(4)
James C.
I have lived in Anne Arundel County for sometime but have never had the opportunity to stop in to Mikes until yesterday. I went there with my brothers to grab some sandwich from the Deli/Liquor store side. The Club sandwich was very good and the only qualms I had was that the bacon could have been cooked a bit longer. The Deli?liquor store side is just what you would expect. It is nothing flashy . As my sandwich was being prepared I stopped into the bar side to grab a Orange Crush. It was very good. The Bar is very nice possibly renovated not to long ago. The tiki bar looked sweet but the weather was not very nice so the crowd was small. Sweet place. I will defiantly be going back.
(4)
Watrbb W.
I LOVE Mike's! Been going there for many years and look forward every summer to sitting outside, watching the boats, soaking up the sun and chowing down! To be honest, I have only had the crabs once or twice (at a party), but always get the snow crab legs, steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, etc.. All that "other" good stuff. Will be going again soon!
(4)
Gohanchan S.
ok...husbands plan to eat crabs at Cantlers, rated #1 for crabs in the Washingtonian..thinking not a great idea...wait is going to be horrendous...on our way , the other family arrived first, only to be informed they were out of crabs!! of course...so we called a place we went last year, Fisherman Crab deck..or something like that...their crabs were good..so so ambiance...and they were out of crabs!! so then found out that Mike's in Riva had crabs..when we arrived, were told they only had females...how much worse can this get!!!??/ But then then, our waiter, Carter, who, by the way was fantastic, tells us that they just got in an order! YAY.!!! now looking like we can finally get crabs today! The crabs were pretty good, although I think Fishermans is better...after having gone to Cantlers, Fisherman's Crab deck, and now Mike's, my favorite is Mike's...they have an indoor bar with 4-5 tvs..outdoor deck bar..and they had live music..beautiful scenery...can walk out onto the piers... they have a huge menu, so if you there is someone who doesn't like seafood, they have steak, sandwiches, salads, etc...something for everyone...can't vouch for anything other than what we had, which was: crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters on the half shell, and mussels...oysters were on point..crabs, good but as I said earlier, Fishermans is better IMHO...mussels meh..too overcooked for my taste...daughters ordered dessert. we asked the waiter if they were made in house...sadly no, .they are brought in..but every dessert is only $4.95...can't complain! the atmosphere is great...fantastic views...the servers work their butt off......for six of us, our bill was $110.00 with a pitcher of beer, and a couple cans of beer..and we left full..totally worth it!!!
(4)
Jim G.
Had a large family dinner here. Overall it was great, especially for a bust Friday night with guests that just flew in from Denver. Even the kids loved it. The Crab Imperial was excellent as were all the apps. If you're into crabs, come here, don't bother with any place else. I'm not a fan of steamed crabs but our whole table, save me, was. They all loved them.
(4)
Pop Goes The Weasel B.
i used to go to cantler's but discovered Mike's, and I'm sold! This place is wayyyyyyyyyy bigger ( 3 seating options - huge indoors, outdoor deck on the water, and semi- enclosed outdoor), so one of the biggest sells is that they don't have the hour + wait, and parking issues cantler's does. the crabs are great ( can't really go wrong with crabs), and maybe a little better price too. we got a few other things on their menu - which were good - i think their hush puppies with honey butter are some of the best I've ever had! service was great - fast, and super friendly.
(5)
Margaret W.
Had a great lunch this afternoon, Sitting on the deck in the sunshine at the end of September would be good enough, But we also had great food and service, Thanks
(4)
Johnny F.
Awful reservation procedure, the front hostess was quite stand offish and couldn't care less. We called earlier and said we didn't need reservations then we came and said that there's no more table and that it seems its going to be a hassle for them to give us a table Asked what Hush puppies were that are on the menu but didnt know what it was?! At last we got a table, and thankfully the crab was excellent, our waiter Casey gave excellent service. But our initial experience from that lady (with a Russian accent) was so bad that's why the rating is only 2 stars.
(2)
John O.
Good setting and atmosphere. Food good but a little pricy. Service appropriate.
(4)
Sonia D.
As a native Marylander, I have tried hundreds of seafood and crab restaurants but Mike's still remains the best. Their medium and large size steamed crabs are covered with Old Bay and are extremely fresh. They serve some great local ale to complement the seafood (in addition to the standard favorites) and the setting is picturesque. I've spent several summer evenings eating steamed crabs, fries and taking in all of the beautiful Annapolis homes right on the water that I could never afford. Mike's is characterized by great service and is my all-time favorite spot to relax during the summertime.
(5)
John R.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. I'll make a day trip just to come here. On a beautiful weekend there's nothing better to do than hang out by the tiki bar, listen to live music and have a few drinks with friends. Mike's is right on the water. Literally. Built on a pier over the water. The place is packed on weekends, at least if you want to sit outside. And trust me, you want to sit outside. But you'll be grateful for the 45 minute wait when you settle down at that tiki bar with a cool drink - they have some nice margarita's going most weekends. Make a day trip - do some touring of Annapolis - just make sure you end up here for dinner.
(5)
Samuel L.
Went for: Post-cycling race lunch Bottom Line: With the caveat that I'm from Maine, land of seafood shacks, bars, grills, etc -- Mike's was just OK, and had little that made it special. I probably won't be back, mostly because I'll forget about this totally unmemorable place soon. Quick thoughts: Look, if it's Old Bay steamed crabs by the dozen you want, they've got them. I had a few and they were good, but no better than the three other places I've had them in the DC-MD area. If you're looking for anything special, unique, or creative about the rest of their menu, you may be disappointed. For a main course, I had the Jamaican jerk mahi mahi, which although sounding interesting, was just a heavily spiced, not-so-tenderly-done mahi mahi filet on a white bread bun. The addition of also-heavily-spiced pineapple didn't lift the sandwich from the mundane (at best). The fries were nothing special, and the soup one of my dining partners had was apparently acceptable, but unremarkable. The place was huge, and there was sort of the sense that it was assembly line seafood, meant to serve massive numbers of people as close as possible to the Bay. I probably won't be back, not because it wasn't fine, but because I'll forget this totally unmemorable place soon.
(3)
Chante S.
I LOVE Mike's!!! I went for my birthday with my girlfriends & went back 3 days later with my husband, sister, & parents. Everything is great. You have to try the frozen drinks-THE BEST!!!!!!!
(5)
Hillary J.
THE best crabs ever!!! We were a bit nervous when we arrived and saw the packed parking lot as a party of three on a the Sunday before Labor Day, but our fears were soon put to rest. Omgeeee. Got a close spot, we were told the wait would be an hour (it was actually about 45 mins) and then the crabs came. Wow wee! We were told they only had larges left. Okay, and that's a problem because...??? So then out they came, $70 for a dozen HUGE and heavy crabs. For you crab novices out there, it is critically important to have weight to each of your crabs and know that depending where you go, it's a crap shoot on what you get. Well, not Mike's; and that's why a don't mind paying a premium. After one ear of large corn, a light beer, delicious (and again, HUGE) crabs, a half dozen did me just fine. I go to fine restaurants and pay about the same, so you get what you pay for and that's some good eating at Mike's. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because our server lacked just a little warmth. I mean, he was ok for the most part but forgot to bring out an item or two. He was also just a bit aloof, but I like a little east coast rudeness just to keep it real, so I'm kinda ok with that. :). Overall, thanks to Mike's for helping me and my family close out the summer with another great crab experience! See ya next year.
(4)
Michael M.
Mike's is OK. Crab cakes were average but their scallops wrapped in bacon were outstanding. The service was so so. View OK.
(3)
John C.
Freshman orientation at University of Maryland, was looking for a restaurant that had chesapeake crabs and some atmosphere. We took a 30 minute ride from College Park to Riva, MD for Mike's rather than eat in one of the chain restaurants near the school. We were happy we did as we found a great place!!!!!!! The Cream Crab soup was so full of crab meat and was excellent. We got there late and they only had "large" blue claws left and not the jumbo crabs, but they were still twice the size of any crab I can get in New Jersey. Our waitress was excellent and we had apps and drinks in 5 minutes even though the place was packed, The location is right on a lake/river and the outside dock/deck is the perfect place for such a feast. I will be back here many times over my son's years at UMD.
(4)
Mike L.
If you're looking for crabs and beer, this is a GREAT place to go. If you want to order mixed drinks or order off a menu, stop by the liquor store for booze, go to the frozen food section at the grocery store and buy the store-brand frozen seafood -- it's better. Again -- CRABS & BEER -- FIVE STARS Anything else -- NO STARS
(2)
Danielle C.
Best crabs I have ever had!!!! They are as big as my head and so meaty & flavorful. I'll be living there all this summer :)
(5)
Mrs. R.
A pile of hot crabs on the water during the summer months !! This is what Maryland is all about. The crabs are pricey, but worth it. Very full of meat. I LOVE MIKE'S CRABS !! The side dishes are great portion as well. Stuffed shrimp is cooked to perfection and perfectly seasoned, jumbo portion. Crab dip is mediocre could be better and I was slightly disappointed, but it doesn't make or break me returning to Mike's. The outdoor seating is the best during summer months and occasionally a band plays outside as well. It is very relaxing and gives you the "out of town" feel for the locals.
(5)
Thomas W.
This place is for all-u-can eat Maryland blue crabs. They are steamed with Old Bay, and you get a salad bar and corn on the cob. The outdoor area is beautiful on the South River weather permitting. Some of my friends had steamed spiced shrimp, fried shrimp, and hush puppies. The crabs are very large for mediums. Be careful they do not do refills on soft drinks. This is a great place for crabs, beer, and football. Of course I had the all-u-can eat crabs today. You can only find these places in Maryland! I have been to imitations in New York, and Virginia, but have only experienced the real thing in Maryland. If you want crabs by the water, this is one of the places to go.
(3)
Barbry M.
This is a typical Maryland crab house, and I went in the middle of winter. Not exactly high crab season. I had bacon wrapped scallops and md crab soup. The soup was super tomatoey, and needed more old bay. Scallops were good. My boyfriend ordered steamed crabs, they were also good. Huge horseshoe shaped bar area. Nothing outstanding about decor. Ladies room was clean and nicely decorated. Waitstaff was attentive but seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(4)
Marcey Z.
Stumbled on Mike's one Saturday afternoon and what a great surprise! Mike's is so popular that they actually use parking space about a mile down the road at a church and they run a shuttle van back and forth. The best time to go on the weekends is prior to 4:00 p.m. Since we got there at 5;00 we had to use the shuttle service. We started with a good and cold brewskie, crab dip which was amazing, and then of course we got to the main event, CRABS! They were cooked to perfection. The crabs were full of meat and it came out without any effort. Did I mention how immaculate the place was...well it is! I have never seen bathrooms at a crab house this immaculate!
(5)
Donald M.
Had lunch on the outside deck today. Burger was very good. Fish was good but served on a roll that quickly fell apart. Service was fine. I also recognize that the availability of certain items might vary, but when you walk into a "Crab House" and there is a sign saying ' Sorry, No Crabs", youhave to wonder.
(2)
Devin R.
I'm not sure how best to rate this place. I ordered the fried shrimp with fries and a salad from the salad bar. As I walked to the salad bar, one of the staff members responsible for straightening the bar threw lettuce leaves and other food that had fallen on the 'ledge' back into their designated bins and used her tongs to mix them all together.....groooossssss!!! I informed our waitress and told her that rather than a salad, I'd have a baked potato. She then told me that I would have to pay extra for it. What? You have a choice between two sides with an entree and my original two were a salad and fries. Now that I was replacing the salad with the baked potato, no extra charges should have been mentioned. I told her 'No.' On top of that, the shrimp were 'meh.' I've had better at Mick and Schmidt's. Probably won't be going back here. Nice views though.
(2)
Wen L.
I came here on a roadtrip through Maryland. This place is pretty awesome. Our waitress was great and friendly. The crabs, (large- 1 dozen steamed), were meaty and sweet. The only problem is they seem to run out of crabs fairly early, my table ordered a dozen and the table next to us wasn't able to get them because they ran out. Good thing we got there early. For dessert, if you like chocolate, GET the chocolate spoon cake.
(4)
Katie S.
I found myself in Annapolis for a few hours and somone recommended going to Mike's for some crabs. I love Chesapeake crabs. The only person who loves them more than me is my fiance. As a DC native, he grew up on Chesapeake crabs. Everytime we visit his family in DC they pick up crabs from MD and we eat them at his house. I've had Chesapeake steamed crabs about a half-dozen times, and Mike's was the worst. I thought it would be better, if not simply for the fact that we were eating them on site. Anyway, we ordered a dozen steamed large crabs for $67. They were incredibly bland and not that meaty. They served Old Bay on the side and it was definitely necessary to dip the crab meat into the Old Bay to give it some flavor. Usually, they're steamed in so much Old Bay that it seeps through the shell and the meat itself is already flavorful. We sat outside near the water and within 5 mintues the sun was beating down on me. It was miserable. A little warning by the waitress to sit under the roof would have been appreciated.
(2)
Jordan C.
Old school crab house with TONS of other seafood items on the menu. The crabs were very good, but the steamed Shrimp stole the show. They were excellent. While they have inside and outside seating, I recommend sitting on the outside deck overlooking the river. It provides a nice view and good atmosphere. The service was prompt and attentive. I will definitely return.
(4)
Ronnail R.
One of my favorite restaurant/bar spots to eat crabs and you have the option to eat indoor or outdoor on the deck/pier. There's also an outdoor Tiki Bar that has live performers on various days/nights. The crabs are served L, M, S and sometimes the median crabs are just as big as the Large. We've been going here over 10 years, but keep in mind the wait time is a little over a hour, so you have the option to place your name on both "Wait to be Seated" listings. My husband would normally place our name on one listing and I on the other - last year you had to provide them with your license to receive the flashing/vibrating thingy signal that notifies you when it's your time to be seated. Karaoke - Every Friday - 9:30 PM
(5)
H. P.
I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoy this place as much for the food, as I for the fact that I get to smashy-smashy. Really, though, the crab is delicious. And, if you ever manage to look up from the table, the view is gorgeous.
(4)
Jay H.
Drove an hour to go here on a Sunday afternoon, they were out of crabs and oysters (how does a crab house in Maryland's capitol run out of crabs on a weekend in the middle of summer?). Cream of crab soup was very light on crab. Good thing it is clean and in a good location with a beautiful view or I would never go back.
(2)
Janet K.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only place to eat crabs in this area....not that they are better than Cantler's, but I cannot stand to sit elbow to elbow with strangers at a shared table no matter how good the food. Mike's has lots of individual comfortable tables and when the crab mood hits, there is just no place better without a serious drive. And by the way, Keely R. it is SO not done in Maryland to eat crabs with a bib! Sorry....
(4)
Jeramy P.
Came in expecting some good ole Maryland seafood and I was not dissapointed. I had the steak and the fried crabcake. The places is located right on the water too.
(4)
Jules L.
I grabbed my legendary hammer and pulverized the clawed beasts into oblivion. My loved ones watched as I viciously pounded the shells revealing the sweet flesh. They were in shock and awe as I plucked out the meat and consumed it, absorbing its lifeforce into mine. After a fierce battle of a dozen beasts, I walked away with a full belly and a near fatal wound on my right thumb. My legend will be told for all eternity.
(5)
Liz K.
I'd say if you're in Annapolis, this is a must-do. Not a fancy-pants establishment, just honest good seafood. Sadly they were out of crabs when we visited, but they had plenty of everything else. The majority of our group ordered the fried oysters, of which I'm not a fan, but they all raved about them. Nicely breaded and well seasoned. I would like to rave about the clam strips - they were FANTASTIC! These people here must know the best way to bread things, because these, like the oysters, were perfect. Even my niece, who is not really into a lot of seafoods yet, couldn't keep away from my basket. Good thing she helped too - it was a veritable HEAP of clams. Also good was the clam chowder, calamari, and grilled cheese (what the niece ordered). Be sure to check it out if you're in the area!
(4)
Windi L.
While not the most glamorous establishment for seafood, the grub here is tasty and priced accordingly. Normally a big ole bucket of shrimp will cost you your rent check but here at Mike's, you will get a lot more than what you pay for. The salad bar was disappointing but it's one of those things where you're not here for salad - you're here for seafood so don't expect much from that. Also, my steak was average. A good seafood eatery that satisfy your seafood cravings when you're on a budget!
(3)
Richard K.
On our way back from Annapolis we decided to detour to Mike's Crab House in Riva for the crab cakes. We arrived just after lunchtime so it was not very busy.Our service person was attentive but we sensed that he wasn't versed in the ins and outs of the menu. We were expecting a small "crabshack" but were surprised to see how large the dining area was. Usually a good sign that you are at a popular place. My wife and I each ordered the crab cake sandwich. After eating the meal we questioned whether we were at the same restaurant that most of the other reviewers had eaten at. We are seafood lovers from New England and have a pretty good idea of what seafood should taste like. Unfortunately, Mike's doesn't come close (at least for the crab cakes). The sandwich platter comes with the usual; one crab cake, fries, bun, lettuce and tomato. The portion was large and would be a good value. The fries were hot but soggy. What's up with that? The crab cake was large, mostly crab but they were seriously under seasoned and quite tasteless. We both noted a slightly "off" taste that could have been due to the fact that the crab was not local. Me thinks they should note that small detail on their menu. We ordered the broiled version which looked fine but was a bit dry. Fried might have been a better choice. We really wanted Mike's to be good but our expectations were too high. We won't be back but suggest that if others come, they may want to try something other than crab unless it is sourced locally and "in season".
(1)
Heather K.
We went on Mother's Day, expecting it to be busy. We arrived around 1:30pm, hoping to be at the end of the lunch crowd but well before the dinner crowd. It looked like we timed it perfectly because outside there were only about 4 tables of people waiting on the deck. We were told it was a 1 hour wait which was fine. The deck was closed due to high winds but the canopy and indoors were open. After an hour part of the deck was opened and a lot of people were seated. At about 1 hour and 10 minutes I asked the hostess how much longer it would be and she said "about an hour". I was upset. We were told an hour and we waited and now we are told it will be another hour? If it was a 2-hour wait then we should have been told up front and been able to make our decision based on that. Now we have an hour of our time invested in this place ... what to do? If we leave we will have to wait somewhere else. We decided to wait some more and another group of people sat at our table to wait. We talked to them and they told us that the had gotten there about 15 mins after us and they were given 2 pagers, one for inside and one for out. The hostess told them to get both and use whichever one went off first, no one told us that or offered us two pagers. At 3:00 my husband went to speak to the hostess and AGAIN the hostess said "about an hour" . At 3:30 one of our tablemates' pagers went off and they were seated . At 3:40 my husband complained and we were seated immediately. No one ever mentioned our wait time, or what the hostess kept telling us about it being hour after hour, or that they were sorry it happened. When you have unhappy customers the best thing to do is offer an explanation. We still have no idea why everything was so messed up and we weren't the only customers who were upset. We talked to a lot of other people during our wait and found out that a lot of them were given wrong information on the wait time. I understand it's impossible to be exact but most places like to under promise and over deliver...a 100% increase in wait time is ridiculous...plus to be given the same answer over and over, "about an hour"?? Pretty bad. I found it crazy that they would have people directing traffic in the parking lot to make sure traffic went smoothly but didn't have a hostess that could seat tables smoothly..but then again I have no idea if it was the hostess's fault since no one ever explained anything. Finally we were seated. I can not eat much so I was going to order off of the appetizer menu. Everything sounded good at this point so I got the sampler. I was disappointed. I think everything came from a box. It all tasted like something I could get in the frozen food section. My husband had stuffed halibut or flounder, I forget, and it was delicious. My son had the chicken tender kids meal with fries and he liked it a lot. I got a piece of carrot cake to go and it was also very good. All in all, given the way we were treated and the quality of the food I received, I would not choose to visit this restaurant again. It seems to me like the management of this restaurant feels entitled to customers based on their reputation. The only restaurants that are entitled to my business are ones who treat me with respect.
(1)
Mia D.
We went for Father's day, and we had a ball! I would recommend fro anyone that is trying to relax and have some good food and crabs.
(5)
Sarah H.
I had never tried whole, steamed Maryland crabs and came into Mike's so that I could get the full experience. Steamed in plenty of Old Bay seasoning so that the flavor seeped in through the shells while cooking and dipped into vinegar, the crabs were absolutely delicious. The price seemed reasonable ($65/ dozen) and we easily split them between three of us. Our waiter was wonderful and spent more than enough time showing us how to get all the meat out. We also started with cups of amazing cream of crab soup and washed the meal down with plenty of inexpensive beer pitchers. It was a wonderful evening and I would certainly go back to show others that have not tried this before! A word of advice-- it can get really messy!
(3)
Virginia K.
It doesn't get much better than brown paper on the table, a wooden mallet and a dozen jumbo crabs at Mike's! I came with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town and had Maryland crabs on her "must do" list. I had heard about Mike's but never visited myself so I was praying that we wouldn't be disappointed. Let me tell you, as far as crabs go, Mike's is the real deal. The fact that it is situated on the water and the Margarita's are fantastic just adds to the charm of this place. Do yourself a favor, next time you are in the mood for crabs, go to Mike's. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Juliet G.
Went for lunch and disappointed with selection. Has soft shell crab sandwich which was just okay. Nice locale though on the water and parking lot is a plus.
(3)
Ricky H.
This place was eh.. just ok. The crabs were pretty good, but the baked potato I had was dryer than the sahara desert. Excessive amounts of butter and sour cream were necessary. The waiter was a ghost. We could never find him when we needed him. Oh , and the kids drinks are more expensive than the regular ones. Boo.
(2)
Ardon G.
Great food - Great place - Great time August, on the water, big pile of hot crabs on the table.... does it get any better than this? NOPE. Crabs were expensive ($60 a dozen) - actually everything was pricey but Mike's is definitely a classic Maryland "place to go" for crabs. Anyway on to the crabs. They WERE AMAZING. Properly spiced, heavy and large. Side dishes were generous and good. Loved the oysters on the half. We tried one of almost every side and all were good. Drink service was the only area that I think needed improvement. It was kind of hard to get your drink on when the servers are so difficult to find... and when you do get her attention - she is distracted and busy, busy, busy.... Come to think of it - we might have stayed longer and gotten another dozen crabs if only she had been a little more attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!. I'll just near the bar next time! :-)
(4)
Michael W.
I decided to take a friend from Brazil for crabs and thought this place was a nice touristic crab joint. The restaurant is located in a marina and one can stop the boat right in front of it. The day we went (a Sunday) the restaurant was quite full and most people were there for the crabs. In my opinion, the food is all right (not great, just all right). I am not a big fan of crabs and therefore I am not in a position to judge, but my in laws told me the crab was not seasoned properly. We had a portion of Maryland crabs, potato skins and a fried fish platter (for my daughter). The service was slow and the waiters were never available when we needed them. Despite of that, we had fun there and I would probably go back, should I need to take other friends for eating crabs. All in all, it is a good place for crabs and beer....
(3)
Amir D.
Oyster's and crab cakes were delicious! Awesome view as well!
(4)
Sucre-ski S.
i really dig this place but i have a snaking suspicion the locals know better. it's the closest crab house i could find when visiting D.C. and it's relatively easy to drive to in addition to being large and scenic with a dock & deck along the water. i think you could even tender your boat along the dock. the enormous parking lot seemed just over half full and the place was packed pretty good on a weekend, and being seated was not a problem as there were plenty of open tables. four of us got five crabs each and we were pretty satisfied. i liked the crabs but being a (yankee) city slicker i don't really know any better ... the waitress claims they were large but i'm not so sure. doesn't really matter to me but if you're picky about your crabs, you should find the review of a true local.
(4)
Farida A.
Went here for the first time last Friday night, and had a pretty great experience. There was a bit of a wait but we just walked the dock and sat by the water to kill time. We ordered crab legs (listed under appetizers) and got two huge clusters of crab legs - for less than $10! They were so meaty and delicious. Luckily we also ordered some other appetizers, cuz I got sick of the craby taste after a while. The calamarie was delicious, so were jalapeno poppers! I wish I had saved more room for the poppers, they were really tasty. The virgin pina coladas were pretty good too.
(4)
Jamie H.
Mike's has HANDS DOWN the best she crab soup in Maryland. I heart Mikes, really good food and not just the rockin crabs. Sometimes the hostess runs away but the servers are pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bathrooms, they need to update it.
(4)
Staci C.
Smells a little fishy when you walk into the restaurant and food was average... Definitely not gourmet seafood. Would be fun if you had a big group, and wanted to hang out on the deck.
(2)
Christie W.
I went back here again this past Sunday and just wanted to give it another 5 stars. This place knows how to do crabs! We took my boyfriends Mom and Grandfather here for Fathers Day, and they LOVED it! We each got a dozen oysters, and a dozen large crabs, the crabs were once again meaty and LARGE!! Perfectly seasoned and cooked. The oysters were awesome! We all love this place so much we will be back this coming weekend! :)
(5)
Dee C.
I came here during off season, business was very slow. It has a great view since it's right by the water. It's weird that they only have unsweetened ice tea, but not sweet tea. Salad bar wasn't that great, most of its contents are not fresh. Seafood was ok, probably because it was off season. It's broiled fish had way too much seasoning on it, it covered the flavor of the fish. Crab royal had small pieces of shells in it. their crab cake is very meating. It's just an ok place, I wouldn't rave about it, but wouldn't mind coming back again, since I love seafood.
(3)
Angela M.
Great crab everything - yummy! The crab dip is amazing; the mini crab bagel bites are even better. Whenever I'm feeling crabby, I know I'll be back! The Tuna Caesar salad wasn't too shabby either...I liked that the waitress came out and asked how I wanted my tuna - medium rare, and ooh was it good. Maybe a tad too much pepper for my taste, but grilled just right. This restaurant is right on the water, so you can look out and see the sunset over the waves. It's very casual and very chill here. Expect to see clothes ranging from flip flops and sunglasses to button-ups. Mike's is huge - you can sit out by the water on the patio, inside on the picnic benches or in the normal restaurant area. It's an interesting place to eat and a great place to hang out with friends. You can get rowdy and nobody minds! The service is friendly and prompt and I liked not having to wait too long for my food even though the place was stuffed. You get bonus points for that! I'll come back when it's warmer and sit on the patio! Ok, I'm bored with this review....
(4)
Bradley S.
Just an awful visit. Slow service, wrong food and just boring!
(1)
Sterling A.
A Summertime must-do! Food and drinks are excellent. SIt out on the deck and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Make sure you try an Orange Crush or one of their other drinks.
(4)
Noel A.
Me and the kids out on a Sunday drive, just enjoying the day when we came across Mike's. What a find!!! Good food, Great Crabs, and our waiter Ricky was Great. I will be back with the wife. Truly a Great Experience!!!! Thanks Guys!!!
(5)
Lee P.
The location and the view outside is definitely nice, HOWEVER, we received the worst service ever. We walked through the front and were directed to the back of the restaurant to be seated outside. We could barely understand what the hostess was saying due to her lack of English speaking skills. Why would you have someone who speaks little English at the front of the house? We get to the stand outside where a group of young kids are too busy chatting to notice we are waiting. They then direct us to another table around the corner to be seated. What is the point of having three check ins when only one can actually help you? We had to give a form of ID to receive a pager- b/c who wants to take one home, really? We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before being sat, which wasn't too bad considering we went in at lunch time and it was gorgeous outside. Our waiter Blake, taped his name to our table... he didn't do very much more than that. We ordered the crab dip to start with- it was surprisingly mediocre and was overpowered with horseradish. We were never asked if we wanted refills on our drinks from the bars. My bf's food came out 15 mins before mine, so he had to wait until I was served my Chesapeake chicken sandwich. He did enjoy the hush puppies, but wasn't impressed by the watered down flavorless clam chowder that wasn't accompanied by crackers. My chicken was a thin slab of overcooked meat on the grill with the crab on the side. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. If you want a real Chesapeake go to Seaside in Glen Burnie, MD. They weren't too busy once we were sat, but apparently we were expected to eat with our hands since we were not given silverware. We got up and got it ourselves. We must have also been expected to choke on our food since we never got drinks. After being very displeased with the service, we asked to speak with the manager on our way out. It took 10 minutes for another hostess to come back and ask us what our question was. I told her we didn't have a question; we specifically asked to speak to a manager directly. The manager was something else... an middle aged man trying to act cool and mellow. I highlighted that we were not looking for a free meal and that we had already paid, but wanted to express our absolute disappointment with the service. His response was "ummm, well, my name is Anthony if you ever need anything in the future let me know. I'll talk to my staff. We've had a busy weekend- we've already ran out of shrimp..." I've had management experience in the retail world and I would've handled things much different. How about an apology to begin with? They had plenty of staff on hand to accommodate the customers that day- girls in pink shirts everywhere. It was impossible not to run into them. I would not recommend anyone to come here other than for the view, which can be found else where.
(1)
Jimbo J.
Should be renamed Mike's Bar and Disappointment House. Drove 30 minutes around dusk to learn that Mike's Bar and Crab House had run out of crab.
(1)
christine c.
So glad that it's crab season again. I was not sure if it's still too early for steamed crabs so called Mike's and they have large crabs for $65/doz. The place we used to go to is Crab Claw in St Michaels but this time wanted to give Mike's a try - it's much closer from WDC for one thing. This restaurant is quite similar in ambience to Crab Claw - waterfront location, quite a large outdoor section, with seating under a canopy or under umbrellas. We got there around noon and were seated on the deck right away (it's a Saturday and they don't seem to take reservations) as the restaurant was less than half full. There's something about eating steamed crabs outdoors on the waterfront, it's just so pleasant and you are not worried about making a mess. The service was very friendly and efficient, and our order came right away. The crabs were surprisingly good - usually early in the season the meat might not be very solid, but these ones came with tightly packed meat in every single one and were really fresh and delicious. The only thing that could be improved upon is they could be spicier. As it was they were a bit bland, although there is old bay seasoning you can dip them in it's not quite the same (the crabs at the Bethesda crab house as well as Crab Claw are a lot spicier), steamed in spice adds a whole lot more flavor to the crabs. Since I haven't been there before I was not sure whether this is their style or it just happened not to be spicy today. Hopefully they can do it spicier next time!
(4)
Pat O.
Service has gone down hill. After being show to our table no waiter came for 20 minutes even through the place was not busy. After we complained to the hostess we waited some more and still no waiter came so we eventually left.
(1)
Jessica V.
Great end to a great weekend. Everything we had was amazing: Full sweet crabs, rich cream of crab soup, fresh briny oysters, hot steamed spiced shrimp. Omigosh. I wish I could have it all right now. Nothing fancy, just delicious fresh seafood.
(5)
Rose M.
What a great way to end the weekend in Annapolis, MD. This place is a huge, low-key seafood restaurant that sits on the water on a pier. Customers can literally dock their boats and walk right into the place! As soon as you walk in you can see that it is a family place and each table was stacked with crabs, clams, mussels, you name it. I learned to eat crab legs for the first time there and they were delicious! We also had the calamari and, yum!, that was probably the freshest, most tasty that I've had that didn't cost me my entire paycheck! Also, there was live music being played that night we went in the bar area, which somehow they manage to make feel separate from the restaurant using good partitioning and lighting. I recommend this place for an easy-going night of clams, drinks, and fun!
(4)
Mark T.
We decided to give Mikes another try after a very poor first experience. Unfortunately our second visit was worse. One fish entre was very undercooked and the other entre was very over cooked. The service was almost adequate though server was hard to find when we needed him. We will not be back to Mikes... There are simply too many other better options in Annapolis area.
(1)
Patrick H.
I've added some photos.
(4)
Keely H.
OOOO crabs! Can you believe it took me three years of living in Maryland before I went to get crabs? Well, it did. Finally last weekend Craig, a few friends and myself went to enjoy some of the wonderful little pinching crustaceans. We ordered a 18 medium crabs, and they arrived on a platter, steaming and wearing little coats of Old Bay. Craig had the Shrimp Jammers, and my friend had chicken strips and onion rings, all of which looked good. I was a bit timid about diving in at first, but after a quick lesson on how to take the blasted thing apart I was cracking like a pro. Six or seven crabs later I was sick of cracking, sick of crabs and ready to leave the loud, florescent patio on which we were sitting. The only thing I was disappointed about was the lack of plastic bibs...it would've made the fun experience a whole lot better, and made for some good pictures as well. 3.5 stars, I suppose I'll have to take my own next time.
(3)
Tonya H.
This place is awesome. Vicky was great to us and the food was excellent. I had a BBQ shrimp and bacon skewer with rice. Perfectly cooked. The drinks were good and the Patron shots went down too easy and that's why I haven't got out of bed yet. I wish they did Bloody Mary deliveries! The outdoor seating is great and right on the water. Love it! The singer stayed longer to serenade me as well. Fun fun!
(5)
Tim M.
Mike's makes my #3 crab house in the region/county falling a short behind to Cantler's and Harris'. Having said that it beats both of those places in terms of overall atmosphere being very much at water level and in a marina with a spectacular view of the South River. I don't typically eat anything but crabs here but I do always order some 'filler' which believe it or not is almost always the macaroni and cheese off the kids menu - I 'kid' you not. Their mac and cheese is Kraft-out-of-the-box style (it might actually be the same stuff) but it is always great to me and a bit of a Mike's tradition now. Crabs are always good here and are competetively priced and they have them year round and in a good choice of sizes and an All U Can Eat option. I'm a big fan of the Cherrystones either raw or steamed as they are typically HUGE. Check the happy hour menu for daily specials (all day/night) as there is usually always something different. In season they have steamers (soft shelled clams) which I'm not the biggest fan of actually because I find them to be very gritty but they are popular. Don't ask for melted butter with your crabs - you just might get thrown out of the place! Service here can be spotty in the warmer months as they typically hire a block of Eastern European students that can hardly speak english and really don't know a thing about the culture of a crab house - I bet some of them have nightmares about it actually lol. Off season it's local help and always very good. If you're brave enough to try to go here on a Friday or Saturday night during season be prepared to wait in line first in the parking lot and then in the restaurant - it be a BIZZY place on them days...
(4)
Craig R.
Mike's really surprised me. My expectations always seem low whenever I'm going to someplace that isn't in Annapolis so I was pleasantly shocked when I went in. The place is big. They have a huge seating selection. It's right on the water so there are seats inside, at the bar and on four decks/patios. Moreover, they have a tiki bar outside that's surrounded by a nice little garden on one side and water on another. We ended up sitting outside for awhile until all the servers were done with their shifts and moved into the bar area. The menu looked pretty good, but all that was had was the medium blue crabs. I didn't get there in time to have any, but everyone at the table seemed to enjoy them immensely. Their beer selection is a little lacking, but anyone that has Blue Moon on tap is alright with me. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was that they served all the alcohol in plastic cups. I don't think my cup looked like a pint. I don't want to pay full price for a skimpy portion. In the bar area, they had some live music (which was actually pretty decent for once) and plasmas so you could catch all the day's action. Mike's had a great view and pretty decent food. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area.
(4)
M C.
My dearest Yelpers, you have never failed me, and tonight was no exception. Mike's was FANTASTIC! Food: Get the crabs. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. In heaven, all seafood is seasoned with Old Bay. Hush puppies get a major shout-out too. 5 stars Service: Hostessing system is a little weird, you have to walk through the restaurant to get to the outside stand, then you have to give them something with your name on it to get your pager. Mmmkay. However, our server was amazing! She even took our picture by the water (bonus) and swapped out a nasty margarita. Very nice. Atmosphere: Waterfront at sunset, you can't really beat that. I could have done without the screaming children throwing crab parts next to us, but family style means family style..... I guess. Also, as other reviewers note, you barely notice how long you've waited for a table when you sit out on the deck and listen to the live music. I dig this place. They will see me again. All in all, forget the other crab houses in Annapolis. Hit up Mike's!!
(5)
s p.
Mike's is a classic Maryland Crab House- one of the few around Annapolis. The crabs are hot, the beer is cold- everything else is fried. The service is so-so but that is because it is all the local high school kids who probably have more tables than they can handle. But what do you expect from a crab house?
(4)
Jeremy S.
Went here w/ my fiancee and her friends; we ordered the crabs, of course, as well as onion rings and some cole slaw. The crabs were very fresh, and so it was easy to remove the meat simply by a skilled twist of a leg. Some notes: (1) the prices are rather high, and things can get very expensive very fast if you have a few big, hungry men in your party; (2) Mike's offers free refills only on iced tea, and not on soda (unlike many other crab places in Maryland); and (3) the service is very slow, and often inattentive; it took us quite a long time to get mallets and switch buckets in which to discard our crab remains. Overall, though, a fun place to go for dinner.
(4)
Laurie W.
Going to Mike's for anything other than crabs, and then complaining about it, is like going to Ledo's and complaining about the fried chicken. (I don't usually do the insider local thing, but y'all know what I mean, right?) Just don't do it. Mike's exists to serve crabs, and also beer, while giving you a nice view of the river along with some fine people-watching opportunities as well. The crabs and beer duo is doled out perfectly, and copiously. Thank you o lord of the river for buckets of Corona! These days they typically have large crabs available (last time it was $65 a dozen), and they're decent - good amounts of meat, crazy amounts of Old Bay. If you ever have problems with the price or quality of crabs you get when you eat out, do a Google search on the state of the crabbing industry and you'll likely understand. It's a different world. Raised by a great-grandmother and grandparents who taught us how to pick crabs before we could tie our shoes (maybe even speak?) means it's just something you do. You don't think about it. I also have to wonder why anyone who is grossed out by the crab picking experience would go to a place chock full of shells and mustard, but I'll take THAT snobby Marylander point outside. The service is efficient and friendly - crab house style. On our most recent visit (this place is a family favorite for our extended group of native Marylanders) a bad storm blew our party inside from the deck. Our server moved us with no fuss whatsoever, and we picked our mallets back up in about five minutes. The salad bar is better than average, if a little pricey at $6.95, if you want some greens with your shellfish. The only other part of the menu I look at is appetizers. The raw bar stuff is decent. I got clams casino on an earlier visit this summer and it was okay. Like I said, this place is for crabs. And beer. Entree options are better at any number of restaurants nearby, so I'd go there if you're after anything other than the main event. There is also a full bar inside, but it looks like smoking is still allowed in there. It might be a decent place to wait, which is a frequent issue here in the summertime, but you can hang out on the deck outside and wait for a table as well. Sunset is a particularly nice time to be there.
(5)
Mike C.
My first visit and it was great. A really good location right on the water about 30min. from DC. They had a Lobster special we took advantage of $15 for Whole Maine Lobster with all the trimmings. It was a lot of food and never seen a deal like that for $15. I have had better at other places but not as much food for the money. Being right on the water was an added bonus. I know the Crabs are the big draw here I am not a fan of Maryland crabs so I never order them. A great family place lots of fun.
(4)
Bri P.
Bad food & worse service. The only thing worth the $ was the Crab Imperial...totally not worth the drive, the money, or the patience you will have to muster up with your inattentive waiter!
(1)
Nicole L.
Oh boy, do I have something to write about this place. The reason it is getting one star is because the service is by far the worst I ever experienced. Thanks Ms Kelly! This is how it all began....I got there at 1 PM on July 3rd and when I got seated I was told they are out of crab, have you heard of such a thing? A crabhouse is out of crab? Anyhow, so I was asked if I wanted to wait till 2 PM - do you know I drove 1.5 hrs to get there just for crabs? So I waited....ordered some beer, clam casino and seafood potato skins. Clams were great with whole clams, some fillers and a nice slice of bacon on top - 6 for $8.50 and potato skins filled with scallops and shrimp - 3 for $9.50. They were not too bad while I wait for the crab. The diners next to me heard what happened and offer some of their crabs - they were big, meaty and very tasty! When 2 PM rolled around, the waitress said there's another 45 min -1 hr wait because of some traffic on BWI. That's the biggest load of crap I ever heard. So at this point, do I walk away or wait for 45 min? I waited and finally when the waitress announced that the crabs were here I ordered the half dozen immediately. Diners all around my table had dined and left and new diners sat down. As I sat there, half drunk half starving for crab in frustration, I saw trays of crabs being served to ALL, did I mentioned ALL??? Yes All around me - everyone got their crabs. You would think they would feel a sense of urgency to serve my table after almost 2 hours of wait. I was utterly disappointed and speechless by that point. Then when I got my crabs - they were half the size of the charity crabs I got 1 hr ago and is pretty much hollow on the inside. AND they are suppose to be the the same LARGE crabs. That is, in my yrs of dining history the biggest bullshit ever. I never knew a restaurant could single handedly hold a record for ruining my July 3rd holiday and dining history record! Sad to say, 2 hrs and $90 later, I will NEVER go there again.
(1)
Christine S.
The setting for the restaurant is very classic...it sits right on the water, where there's a dock that goes out to the boats that carry the people who catch the seafood. They have good specials, like a whole bucket of mussels for $7. The crab cake sandwich was really good, too. It's a fun atmosphere. The dessert kind of sucks though...I tried the apple pie and it was cold and tasted like it came from a package.
(3)
Lenny T.
Great setting for a meal of crabs which is a good portion of my rating, I find that crab houses are often more alike than different. But, this place in MD serves its crabs quickly and with just the right amount of old bay seasoning so that you can actually taste the crab! The perfect accompaniment with your crab fest is beer by the pitcher, raw oysters as a starter, and naked boiled potatoes and corn on the cob when in season. The day we went was beautiful along the water and the place even had a live band plaing on deck!
(4)
Kasandra G.
I have to say, I've been here many times in the past year and I have never had a bad meal here. I think it's one of the best non-fancy seafood restaurants in Annapolis. It's right on the water, they have a good selection and good pricing. If your looking for a family place that has great seafood- you've found it!
(4)
Mike G.
We arrived with family from out of town at about 2:30 PM on a Sunday. Got a table outside with a good view, without waiting. We ate a dozen oysters on the half shell, a dozen steamed Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, 2 orders of fried shrimp, crab soup, corn on the cobb, and calamari. Everything was terrific except the calamari; we were guessing the oil temp must have gotten out of wack. When we told our waitress we didn't like the calamari, she immediately volunteered to take it off our bill and she followed-through in doing so without us mentioning it again. Portions were genrous, prices were right and my guests couldn't have been happier. I gave it $$ even though the crabs were a bit steep. I called several places this morning, including a carry-out only steamed crab merchant and they are just more expensive everywhere this year than in previous years. Mike's steamed crab prices were competitive. It was the perfect, outdoor, picnic table, brown kraft paper-table "cloth," crab eating, by the water experience. Plus, their other dishes were good as well.
(4)
Daniel H.
went to 5 different crab places in MD. this place was the best. great view, service, and food.
(4)
Sean B.
Stopped here on the way to BWI from DC recently, and it was a great last stop before heading back to the landlocked confines of the Midwest. Wonderful views, friendly service, and reasonable prices for crabs ($20 for half-dozen medium to large) make this a place I'd definitely recommend.
(4)
Matt K.
Visited Mike's after reading the reviews left on Yelp. It was great! Just what we looking for - great food away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
(4)
Molly P.
Great casual atmosphere, fresh seafood and reasonably priced. Overlooks the bay (good scenery) A definate destination if in the Annapolis area.
(4)
Viv J.
I have been going to Mike's since my childhood. We even would use their carryout to purchase crabs. So when I go there even now with my mom, I have so many memories. As an adult, I have discovered Harris Crab House. Their crabs, corn, atmosphere and service is much better. Yesterday, we did not feel like taking the drive across the bridge so we went to Mike's. While the crabs were good, our waiter Jordan was the worst. We waited for about 20 mins for him to even come over to greet our table. When he finally came, he informed us that he was waiting on a table of 10. So I asked him, should we request another waiter. Jordon told us no. Well we should have because the service went down hill from there. Several times, we had to search for him to get his attention. He forgot to bring the corn-on-the-cob and other items. It was so bad that when I stopped another waiter to find Jordan, she knew exactly who had our table. She never asked us for a description or name, I assume he had a reputation for bad service.
(2)
J.C. L.
Mike's gets two stars from me. One for the crabs, one for the view on the deck. I have been to this place several times, with groups ranging from two people to six and never have spent less then $100 and I am no roller. The service stinks, on or off-season. Truthfully I have never consistently received such bad service at one place ever. There are no free refills on any drinks except iced-tea which initially cost you $2.16 + Tax. When inspecting the bill I came to find that children's cups, also non-refillable are $1.50. The adult beverage is $1.25. I just kinda feel like that's a bend me over and put a mirror in front of my face so I can watch you statement. Had the snow crab legs, they were totally over cooked and soggy. Let me remind you the crabs are good, the best around on a nice day right out on the water. So if you go, go for crabs but don't expect much more.
(2)
Mike L.
I generously give Mike's two stars -- for the view. The food and drink -- not so much. If you want crabs, they do ok. I've had better crabs plenty of places, but they are pretty much your standard steamed and seasoned Blue Crab. That's the extent of the positive things I have to say. The rest of their menu is promising, but ends'up tasting like it came out of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Their drinks are small, expensive and weak. On a clear non-humid day, sitting on their outside deck and pounding back a few overpriced drinks is ok, but if you're looking for a memorable experience, pass on Mike's.
(2)
Gayle S.
For informal seafood experience, this is the place. Steamed crabs and shrimp covered in Old Bay spices, unlimited lemonade, and the lovely river view from deck or inside makes me a fan. I can't believe how fast they can serve the hordes that show up for weekend dinners, so I go even without a reservation knowing I'll be well attended. (The little market behind the restaurant is also worth a peek, especially if you want to take home some lump crab.)
(4)
Jason L.
Expensive but very good. This was my second business trip to the area and i had to come back to mike's! AgaiN, Service was promt and friendly. The salad bar was ok. The italian dressing had too much vinegar. They were out of bread though. I ordered the broiled crab cake, Shrimp, scallop & roughy. I opted for the baked potato, too. It was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and getting the 1/2 pounds of crab.
(4)
miss marie b.
as of the middle of october... all u can eat crabs are back for a limited time? monday thru thursday. they cost around $27 per person. crabs will be meduim and small. corn and salad bar are included in the price. the rules.... no take aways at all. no ordering dozens while having all u can eat crabs. you must finish all of your crabs before the server can order you more. 2 hour table stay limit. starts around 5 and last all u can eat is served at 8pm... so get there early but not too early. this item is not always available so it is at the manager''s choice, i suggest you call before going to make sure it's being served. happy crackin'
(4)
Sandie D.
We had family visiting from NY and their desire was to enjoy a good crab cake and some steamed crabs during their visit. So, we headed for Mike's with a group of eight. This was not our first time to Mike's, but our first time eating steamed crabs there. The crab prices were average. The crabs themselves were good, but nothing over the top. We all began with soup and appetizers. Cream of Crab is definitely my weakness, so I ordered a bowl. Someone at our table also ordered their house specialty soup, Maryland Crab and several people ordered the clam chowder. The soups were average. The cream of crab was not as rich as I like, nor did it contain very much crab meat. The person who ordered the Maryland Crab actually ended up ordering Clam Chowder because she was not fond of the Maryland Crab, but I believe she was not used to that style of soup. Appetizers included Clams and mussels. The mussels were good, the clams a little chewy and lacking in flavor, but than again they were clam.s The big hit at our table was the crabs and french fries. I ordered the the stuffed flounder (with crab imperial). Your choice is cole slaw or salad bar. I most admit I am picky when it comes to cole slaw and I would suggest salad bar. The cole slaw was lacking in flavor and not creamy. Your starch choice was a baked potato or fries. Once again, I like my potato cooked through, so I would suggest french fries. I returned my potato for fries because the potato was hard. The boys loved their sandwiches. They had bacon chicken cheese melts with fries. Two very happy teenagers here. Grandma and the boys also enjoyed Nutty Buddy's for dessert. The view from the deck is beautiful, especially in the summer. They have an awesome bar. The restaurant is clean and roomy. The service is usually average. I have yet to have a server who actually is on point with checking back specifically on the food or on the regular and I have been here during the busy summer and the slower periods of time. All in all, I'd say if you want a nice view and want to enjoy some crabs and beer, a good place to go. If you want to enjoy bar food and catch a game, great bar atmosphere.If you actually want a nice seafood dinner, probably not the place I'd suggest.
(3)
Jeffrey M.
Drove out to Mike's for some soft shell crab sandwiches. We had them broiled at the waiter's suggestion and they were very good. Not out-of-this-world excellent, but very good. We'll probably go back again - it's a 45 minute drive from the middle of DC.
(4)
Angel W.
Okay, so I've passed this place a MILLION times, but never stopped before, I will now! There were 4 of us and we opted to sit under the canopy. There was a man playing a guitar and singing "Locomotion." He was just ending his set when we got there though, so that's all we heard. En route to the table, the manager causes a beer to go flying towards 2 of the guests. He offered to buy our first round of drinks and apologized.....good trip already!! I ordered the pina colada and it was GOOD. We ordered 3 dozen medium males. After waiting for a few minutes, we were informed that there were no more mediums! In my opinion, we should have been offered larges for the the price of the mediums, so we ordered two dozen larges and an order of fries. The crabs were GOOD. They were well-seasoned and were super MEATY. There was a crab that was hollow, but our server replaced it with a better one, so that was good. Our server was wonderful at getting us what we needed and was very friendly. I'll def be going there again...just gotta make sure I have my money right.
(4)
Jenny C.
Great crabs, most other items on the menu are also good - unlike Cantler's where the specials are always just awful.... Very relaxing to sit out on the waterfront deck, fun feeding the birds too, much quieter and more relaxed than Canntler's but Cantler's seasoned waitresses make that place very special. Would have given this place 5 stars but the last time I was there I saw a sickly rat - in broad daylight - make its' way across the deck under many people's feet - most unaware of its' presence. I am an animal lover and couldn't help but wonder why a rat living in a restaurant would look so unhealthy, skinny little thing. It was quite sad to see the scared creature, reminded me of a sad rabid fox I had once seen many years ago.... By the way, rats are just par for the course when it comes to restaurants and we were all outside - including the rat - I imagine living under a waterfront deck is prime rat real estate - so I'll go back as long as I don't see another one.....I imagine there is rat bait out set out on a regular basis and perhaps this explains why the poor little creature looked so unwell.....
(4)
A.C. R.
Great crabs, drinks, service, and atmosphere but avoid the Maryland crab soup. The soup was very bland without much crab in it.
(4)
Inga N.
Great location. You can sit right by the water enjoying a gorgeous view. Order crabs. Everything else is mediocre or sub-par. Once I wanted a burger and I thought, "Well, how hard is it to cook a decent burger?" Apparently too hard for them. Today we are having lobsters - they weren't worth ordering. Rubbery and taste grassy. Hush puppies - the cheapest kind and poorly cooked - tough and dense inside. Ah, and they are served with a frozen solid piece of something which our waiter informed us was honey butter. He said "it is served cold". Ridiculous. Fries - unprepossessing. Salad bar - pathetic. Corn on the cob - seems it was floating in water for some time - mushy. That's about it, folks. In sum, come for the view and order crabs.
(3)
justin p.
Mike's is a real local (Riva redneck) kind of place. It ain't no touristy or high falutin' joint like Cantler's. I've always had good crabs, clams, oysters, etc., here. Nothing fancy, and right on the water. Just like a crab shack should be!
(4)
Jessica P.
Definitely worth the wait (sometimes depending on server, service stinks) but, the food will make up for it. I love sitting on the deck area with family and friends and picking crabs, peeling shrimp out in the sun and their crabs are pretty big- this is where my bf always requests when it is a nice day and where we take out of town visitors to go experience the yummy md crabs. Their crabcake however is alot of filler, their crab imperial w/ shrimp is delicious and very egg puff like. Their cream of crab has lots of backfin meat. Don't be suprised if you see Pat Sajack (price is right) or Vanna White not kidding..we have bumped into those 2 while here eating one summer apparently they like this place as well as us. The only con is that they really need to update the bar and the inside of the place it is very 80's wood panel and sun tile but it's alot more up to date then next door (Paul's). Pros the food!!!
(4)
RIchard D.
We showed up at 9:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of blue crabs. What a disappointment...especially since we came to the Annapolis area for crabs. I had the Orange Roughy and it was ok, better than average and tasted very fresh. My wife had the baked crab cakes and it was really good. I was really disappointed that they were out of blue crabs.
(3)
Chase W.
Yeah, so this was definately my first crab shack experience so I have zero to compare Mike's to, but it's definately a good spot for some day drinking and crab eatting (though I passed o n the latter- I'm not into the whole insect lookin sea food thing!) I opted for the crab cakes which were decent; tons of crab meat, and they were really pretty big, but it definately needed a little old bay to spice things up; they were a little bland. As for the crabs? I don't know. I couldn't get passed the fact that you had to rip out these seaspider's guts before you could start pickin away at the meat inside- It reminded me of Baer Grylls on "Man Vs. Wiild" on the Discovery Channel (if you don't get the reference, program your TiVo to catch an episode- it's an awesome show!) pickin away at something gross in the jungle.... but I digress... A dozen large crabbies were $65 a dozen, which everybody at the table agreed was fair for the size, quality, and quantity; I couldnt' fathom payin that much for crabs, but then again, I wasn't raised on this tradition either. Part of me really wish I was- everybody was having a blast! On the other hand, I'd sooner take my 65$ to Grille 23 back in Boston for a 4 inch thick porterhouse :) It did make for an awesome afternoon spot though; perfect weather right on the water, and tons of out door seating. The deck outside the restaurant featured a parrot head crooner who actually was pretty decent, and a tiki'esq out door bar over looking the deck. Connected to all this was a small marina and a parking lot filled with classic muscle car's and hot motor cycles (that might have been my favorite part!) Anyways, I don't know enough about crabs to say the food was any good, but everybody at my table (probably a dozen of us) were all raving about them, so I guess they were good... Atmosphere alone this place would be a 5, but in reality, it was a perfect day so tthat definately contributed to that, but I have to keep in mind that the bar was gross, and so where the bathrooms.and it's definately not a cheap spot to grab a beer and a bite. You definately paying for the view and the experience.
(4)
Bill P.
Great local place. Get the hard shell crabs, skip the rest. The crabs are great - the crab cake and the soup was a bit disappointing. Years ago when I worked down the road, it used to be a bit better and cheaper.
(4)
Ann B.
Overrated! Great view, terrible, expensive food.
(1)
Amber C.
being here was the first time i have ever been to maryland much less eating hard shell crab. i loved sitting on the deck with a pitcher of beer and a table full of crabs. its the perfect place to spend a few hours on the river. i can still taste the old bay now...
(4)
Merrill F.
The foods not great, but I managed to have enough fun here to later that night think it was a good idea to jump off the bridge going to it. One of the funnest and most painful experiences of my life (you should have seen the bruises). Awesome, and painful, but the point is that without Mike's, I never would have thought it was a good idea. So they get points there.
(4)
t e.
went with some friends a on a rainy day. it was really good. i am not a connoisseur of eating crabs, but this place was fantastic. simple seating on the inside. just crabs on paper, bucket, wooden mallet, and you're ready to go. crabs came out piping hot, and we were good to go. very yummy. definitely worth the drive from DC. i'd go back again.
(4)
Gion S.
"As an Annapolis resident, I can say this is the worst restaurant in the city, with the worst food and probably the worst service I ever had. The crab cakes were awful, and the waitress and hostess were rude as well. There are plenty of places to go for crabs in Annapolis, don't waste your money here."
(1)
Sandra T.
Food is great if you can ever get service. Wait staff only watches out for themselves. If it is not there table, they can care less. Was seated outside and given menu's . 4 other tables were seated after us. After the 4 th was visited by a server we got up and left. No one tried to keep us, no one bothered to help us since it was not there table. This is not the first time, but it will be our last. People want crabs so they will always have customers. No matter how they treat them.
(1)
Peter S.
It is what it is: a good, decently priced crab shack. It ain't elegant, but it doesn't pretend to be. Food is good. A few years back they really started breading up their crab cakes, which was terrible, but now they're back to being good again. A family dining staple.
(5)
Alyzain J.
Food was great. Ordered the shrimp jammers, Jamaican jerk mahi mahi sandwich, and small/medium crabs. The mahi mahi was slightly overdone but everything else was solid. Also ordered the cream of crab soup. It was delicious but a bit too creamy. Service was good. Ambiance is fun and not too loud. The decor is dated.
(4)
Mandy M.
Ate there 3 times and it felt straight out of the 80s when restaurants would impress you with the amount and the greasiness of the food. It wouldn't take much to transport this restaurant just one decade ahead, e.g. use different potatoes for the french fries. They are horrible. Also, offer the fish prepared some other ways than fried. I am not suggesting sushi but there must be some fine recipes for that great tasting haddock. And maybe the bacon wrapped shrimp could have some flavors too other than just... bacon. Service was great, and I tipped accordingly. Didn't mention the food. Until now.
(2)
Connie M.
Business lunch sitting on the water. We can stop here. 5 stars for the view. There were 9 of us and it was a sunny day. Service wasn't slow and it wasn't fast. We started with wings ($8.50) and bacon wrapped shrimp ($10). Shrimp was served on rice. I had ice tea which was constantly refilled by our young server. I had a cup of cream of crab soup ($5) which was tasty. Not the best I ever had, but still yummy. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which came with fries and I was sharing with someone who ordered the shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cake was good. Not a lot of filler ($11). The shrimp salad was something to write home about! First, lots of shrimp. I was expecting little petite shrimp but these were not the baby shrimp that get thrown on a salad. These were the size of small shrimp in a chinese stir fry! For $8.25 it was plentiful and perfectly seasoned with mayo and celery. Let me describe this shrimp salad by asking...have you ever walked away saying that the shrimp was better than the crab cake? Me neither...until today. I can't wait to go back just for that sandwich! We also had the Jamaican Jerk chicken sandwich ($9.50), Fried Flounder ($10.50), Salmon Caesar ($14). I could have sat there all afternoon with a frozen tropical drink and pretended that I was on a private beach. View: 5 stars Ambiance: 4.5 stars Service: 4.5 stars Food: 4.25 stars - Shrimp Salad 5 stars
(4)
Pete V.
Mike's is now my go-to for Maryland crab...although I don't think the crab here is actually from Maryland. In fact, I was here one time where I read they sourced the crab from Louisiana and Galveston, TX. Well...that aside, the crab here is pretty darn tasty, the service always friendly, and where else can you snag a table out on the dock, down an couple of Nattie Boh's and dig into a plate full of delicious crab seasoned with none other than heaping spoonfuls of Old Bay? We usually go here for lunch on the weekend, and the wait around lunchtime for an outside table is always at least 45 min to an hour (so plan accordingly). If you go here on a sunny summer Maryland day, and elect to sit inside, especially with views of the beautiful river, boats, etc. then you are not invited to eat with me :) Now, when you order, do as the romans do and order a huge plate, maybe a dozen or so LARGE crabs. In fact, sometimes they have JUMBO, which is a bit more expensive ($125 for a dozen maybe), regardless, make sure you order the LARGE crabs (usually $80 per dozen), and do not get the medium ones, as they are not nearly as tasty, and you will put forth a ton of effort breaking them open for not much ROI. Don't be stupid, and just pay the extra money for the LARGE or JUMBO and you will not be disappointed. Traditionally they will serve the crab with a bowl of Old Bay seasoning. Break open your crab, dip the meat in the seasoning and enjoy! Mike's Crabhouse is an institution and one of my favorite spots to sit out by the water, enjoy a beer, and crack open Maryland-style blue crab all afternoon.
(4)
Renee M.
The best crab joint around. Great thing about Mike's is the food is always great. The crabs have never disappointed me. The best is the swirl margarita from the outside bar! Yummy!
(5)
Buster C.
I took the time to drive from DC to Annapolis to visit the fabulous Mikes Crabhouse. A fellow employee made an enthusiastic recommendation. Generally I always have the hesitation blues about eating in rural Maryland. We, however got good seats and table and our waiter was friendly. The crabs were pretty good, however, the top six were piping hot the bottom six were refridgerated cold. Logical deduction, the crabs are shipped. However there's not enough crabs in the bay to support the restaurants. We get that. Even cold, we were happy. They were beautiful and presentation can go along way, especially with the women. My wife was very happy and wants to come back next week.
(4)
Janice E.
We ordered large crabs very meaty and just the right old bay spice.Ron Jeremy was there having his pic taken with the patrons and staff.
(4)
Cindy T.
Love the food and service at Mike's Crab House...if you don't mind the wait, the outdoor seating is great as well.
(4)
Greg M.
Stopped by for a quick lunch before flying back to H town. Ordered dozen oysters on the half shell to start. Had to soft shell crab sandwich broiled. Took forever for the oysters to arrive, however, it was worth the wait. Nicely sized and tasty. Sandwich was very good, with the condiments served on the side. Gorgeous day to sit out on the deck by the water.
(4)
DC M.
My husband and I decided to try this place on a whim one evening, and we are sure glad we did! We ordered the crab cakes and the soft shell crab. It was absolutely to die for! The salad bar was nothing to write home about though; seemed kind of thrown together at the last minute. The restaurant was larger than I expected, and is very well maintained. We loved being able to see the relaxing waters as we ate. The waitstaff were also great. Our waitress nearly dropped a drink all over our food, but she was extremely apologetic and her personality as well as her professionalism made up for it. Bottom Line: I recommend this place.
(5)
Lucy L.
Crab cakes are huge but are not that tasty. I can do without the filler. It's hard to mess up french fries but they succeeded. Good spot to grab a frozen drink or to eat some crabs but "that about it."
(3)
S S.
Crab cake is the bomb here and steam crabs are amazing !! I came here during the busy time and it was around 2hrs. wait but it was worth the wait. Trust me !!!
(5)
Jamie P.
We stopped at Mike's on our first night in town. It was perfect for our family of 7. We could eat outside at the picnic tables by the water and the noise level was perfect for our 5 kids. We could all talk and still hear one another, yet the kids talking was not an inconvenience for anyone else. Our Waitress was very patient, willing to explain the different ordering options for the crabs and made a very accurate recommendation for what would be best for our crew. She also brought out pitchers of water to help everyone. She new that it was too busy for her to keep up with the drinks so her proactive approach was appreciated. However, with that being said, the refills for the soda were few and far between. Ultimately, there was something for everyone and the service was very good. Personally, I had a 1/2 dozen of the large crabs and an order of hush puppies. I found it to be more than enough, as my kids shared both with me. It was a blast to watch them eat crabs for the first time. They actually worked together to figure out how to do it. My wife had a buffalo chicken sandwich that she indicated was delicious. My oldest son, age 13, had the crab quesadillas. He indicated seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. Our others had the pizza and chicken tenders. We would certainly stop here again.
(4)
Kida B.
Call today around 8:00pm they said that they had crabs avail however I got here at 9:02 and they said that they don't serve crabs after 9:00pm but they close at 11:30...(smh) it was about 15 employees sitting at the front of the restaurant, I guess they were to tired to cook me some crabs, so I then asked for the manager he came out and was very rude...so I asked him when did they stop serving crabs he said 9:00pm I said so when did you guys started that he then said that they just couldn't cook them because it takes to long...(I will be calling my lawyer ASAP...oh and I'm Native American...I will let friends and family know that this place could be racist. This is my second time here.
(1)
Lauron T.
We came later in the evening; they had a sign that said they were out of crab as soon as we walked in but they were serving crab the whole time we were there. If the policy is that they don't serve it after a certain time, that should be stated. The service was bad, they told us a different closing time. The manager never came out to check on us even though we had legit complaints. The waiter kept saying "sorry bout that" but that doesn't make up for the fact that we never got our side dishes. In fact, after we ordered food, 15 min later he told us that certain side dishes were out and we needed to pick something else. But the only thing available was fried green beans or the nasty salad bar. Also, the waiter never took our trash plates away. Our table was dirty the entire time. the soft shell crab was soggy and the salad bar was dirty. I give two stars bc we've been here in the past and it was good but I'd advise not to go at night ANY TIME
(2)
Alex B.
The mixed reviews really made me question going to Mike's, but holy cow this place is amazing!!! My son and I came here for lunch and were totally impressed, by the food and especially our super service from Shannon. On the food front, we came for crabs, crabs & more crabs. We started with MD crab soup which was very good. We ordered two dozen tasty crustaceans and were very happy, nice full crabs, very sweet and delicious. So happy we went and look forward to many return trips to Mike's!!!
(5)
Julie A.
This was my second stop here in 2 months and it didn't disappoint either time. The atmosphere and staff are excellent, plus the prices are reasonable for how much food you get! I'm not a crab eater (shameful as I'm from Maryland) but the menu is diverse enough that there's plenty on hand for me to eat. I sat on the outdoor patio, water side both times and couldn't have asked for more lovely, laid-back seating! Our waitress was friendly and attentive. My first visit was at night with about a party of 10 & I had the BBQ ribs. Wow. A big, incredible portion that lasted me 3 days of leftovers! During my visit today, for lunch, I tried their Angus Bacon Cheeseburger and it was really good! My daughter had the cream of crab soup and loved it. My husband also had the same soup & the mussel/clam/shrimp combo platter. Everything was fresh & delicious. I did try a bite of a friends crab cake that also joined us & I liked it! I may not be ready for smashing those broiled crabs yet, but I'm working my way towards it & when I do, I'll most likely do it at Mike's.
(5)
Kelly H.
So, we live in Michigan. We make a point to eat foods we can't eat at home when we travel. Not a lot of restaurants sell crabs in Michigan, although I don't know why not. First things first. Their crabs here are not Maryland crabs. They're from the Gulf of Mexico. (Thus my question of why don't they serve crabs in Michigan? If they can get them here, why not everywhere?) Since we didn't know that before we ordered, we ordered the crabs thinking they were local. Here is what we learned: unless you are a professional crab shucker, you should order the more expensive larger sized ones and fewer of them, or you will work darned hard for teeny bits of meat. Also, wear clothes you don't care if they get trashed with Old Bay and butter. Eating crabs is a full body experience for folks like is who do it once a year or so. Fresh crab meat is always delicious. Nothing comes with the crabs, so we ordered the salad to go with it. It was a fine salad, nothing special to write home about. The service was slow, but friendly. We got there about 8:30 and got our food about 9:30. So, bottom line. Mike's was fine. For a dozen small to medium crabs, one soda and a salads, including tax and tip it cost $70. Not necessarily sure I would go back again because it just wasn't something special like I had hoped it would be.
(3)
Ashley W.
I can confidently say I WILL NOT be back here. We visited on Saturday night and were told that we could not order carry-out because they were busy. Seems like a dumb counteractive policy to me, seeing as though if people wanted to leave and eat on their boats, it would make more room in the restaurant for them to seat more people and make more money, but I'm not in the restaurant business so what do I know. We then asked the hostess if we could order a drink and food from the bar and ask for boxes when the food came out. She said that was fine. Half of our party was able to do this, but the other half of the party wasn't. We were told by one of the bitchiest bartenders that I have ever encountered that we have to eat some of the food at the bar before we could have boxes. WHAT? How can you demand that I eat some of my food before I get a box? When someone asked who the manager was the hostess said she didn't know and when we finally requested for him to come to the table he couldn't because he was cooking. This place definitely has some problems...and sub-par food.
(1)
Virtual M.
Good time with friends. Friendly servers. They open at 11am, we got there and we all got seated by 12pm and they were already out of jumbo's. ended up with 3 dozen large ( between several people ) and they were good and had sweet meat, but they were really light for being large and at $75 per dozen I would have thought them to be a little heavier on the meat. The first 2 dozen were cooked great and tasted good, when we got the 3rd dozen they were a bit over cooked and water logged and not pulling out of the shell as easily. The appetizer sampler was good, but small for a sampler, only 3 items and 2 of each. Was not hardly enough for everyone to share. The hushpuppies were good though. Overall, sitting out on the water, throwing down on crab, enjoying cold beer and company of friends, I would do that again at this place. Maybe will come earlier next time to get in on the Jumbo's though.
(4)
Nicole M.
Came here for lunch since it's less than 5 minutes away and I was craving seafood. I didn't experience some of the complaints prevalent with this place. I was seated and served promptly, maybe a 5 minute delay between sitting down and being greeted by a server. The place was neither empty nor full. The outside servers were hanging around but my plates were collected pretty quickly. I had the Steamed Platter appetizer and Salad from the salad bar. The salad bar looked good (showed up at noon so the place had been open for about an hour), spinach greens were fresh as were the other ingredients. I kind of wish they had more of a salad dressing variety but I doubt people come here for the salad. ...which brings me to the next review, my lunch! The Steamed Platter consists of Mussels, Shrimp and Oysters. I had my reservations about whether this would fill me up but that + one trip to the salad bar had me full to capacity. They brought out all the condiments I could ever want (butter, cocktail sauce, old bay, hot sauce, lemon) from the start which I appreciated. The shrimp was HUGE, which I also liked. Some places give you the tiny/medium shrimp but this was clearly Jumbo or bigger. Not soggy, had a satisfying chew to them. The Mussels and Oysters were also fresh, not much of a fishy taste to them but still flavorful. All in all, I like the place. Staff was friendly enough and even though I spent about 40 bucks (food + beer + tip), I feel it was well-spent. One day I'll bring the crew and we'll try their crabs, could make for a fun Summer outing.
(4)
Lenessa T.
It had been years since I ate at Mike's. I was pleased with my food overall. I ordered apps and mostly oysters. I had 3 types (steamed, raw and grilled) and all were good.
(4)
M W.
Best crabs ever!!! Their jumbo's are always on point--huge, meaty and seasoned to perfection. Service is always great. On weekends and busy holidays, there might be a wait but they have benches and picnic tables set up for you to enjoy while they get your table ready. The restaurant sits directly on the water and the view is wonderful. Perfect for sitting and picking crabs all afternoon.
(5)
Martin C.
This place is absolutely amazing. If you are ever in Maryland this need to be a must stop. The service is fantasy and the staff is always friendly. The food is always fresh delicious, I ordered the steam crabs and fried oysters sandwich and could not believe my palette.
(5)
Dawn R.
I'm not going to say that I'll never go back to Mike's, because I have friends who like to go here to hang out and I'll probably join them at some point. But I have no intention of ever coming back looking for a meal. I was meeting a friend for lunch today and arrived at Mike's around 11:40. Since they just opened at 11:00, they weren't very busy yet, and almost all of the wait staff were sitting at a table in the dining room talking. I approached the hostess stand and asked if I could sit "in the bar area". She told me to just go on over, so I went to the bar area and selected a table by the window in the bar. I then saw the bartenders turning on the TVs getting ready for the football games, and asked which TV my preferred game would be on. They told me, so I moved to another table that was closer. I sat and waited and waited....nobody ever came over. After about 10 minutes, I went to the bar & asked for a lunch menu. The male bartender started looking for one, and the female bartender comes up and says "did you want something?" I told her he was looking for a lunch menu for me, and she said "we don't have lunch menus on the weekend, so you'll have to order from the regular menu." I went back to my table to review the "regular" menu while both bartenders still just went about their business and ignored me. Throughout this, I noticed another employee who was sitting across the bar eating who kept looking at me, but I was never approached. After over 20 minutes, my friend arrived and I began to tell her about my experience since arriving. The employee who was eating was listening to our conversation. After he finished his food, he came to me & said "Has a server been here yet?" I told him no, and he then chastised me saying I was supposed to go through the hostess stand before taking a table. When I told him that I had, he then said "Well, she probably just thought you were going to sit at the bar." Excuse me? How about your bartenders who ignored me for over 20 minutes? Wouldn't you think at SOME point somebody would have said "Oh, hey...no server's been over here, maybe we should get someone?" WORST service ever. My friend and I got up and left and had our lunch somewhere else.
(1)
Marie E.
We were visiting family in MD and decided on this place to eat. Had such a blast! Crabs were good - a little over seasoned with old bay, but overall the fattest boy blues I've ever had. Now the crab cakes- best I've EVER had. Pure lump meat, no breading. Pretty amazing! Hope to come back here if I am ever in Maryland again!
(4)
Cathy Q.
Get their Mudslide! So yum! I wished they had bigger straws for their frozen drinks though. :/
(4)
Sandy B.
Went again today, two years later. Had same food and beverage. Was very happy once again.
(4)
Viv G.
We had been meaning to go check out Mike's for a while, so when a coupon came in the mail, we decided it was time. It's a typical diner setting. We went on Tuesday for crab dip, two rib specials and a dozen oysters. It was a lot of food for two people, considering that the dinners come with salad and baked potato or fries. Everything was really good! The oysters were clean and fresh. It was pretty quiet at the restaurant, but I imagine it gets packed on warm nights, especially out on the patio. We want to come back when it's nice out, and to try the crabs. Mike's has a great reputation in Annapolis for the best crabs in town. The only issue we had was the service was slow for the (lack of) patrons in the restaurant. Our server kept disappearing for 15-20 minutes at a time, and as far as I could tell we were her only table. Overall, the value was great. We will be back in the summer!
(4)
First J.
I'm a crab enthusiast and this is the best crab place in town. Make sure you ask for jumbos or large. The service is great and so is the ownership. Tony is one of the nicest gust you could ever meet. This is my spot for crabs
(5)
Victoria M.
The place was packed, but the service was impeccable. Our food came out promptly and our waiter was very attentive. The food was great, and reasonably priced compared to other options in the area. The setting is beautiful- we sat inside and had a great view of the bay. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Denea J.
If you're a crab lover, this is the perfect spot. If not (like me) don't fret, there are plenty of other options. The crab balls are my fave.
(4)
Linda G.
Came here for crabs and had a great experience eating out by the water and sunset. Food was delicious. Busy place -- wait time was 2.5 hours though.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Although the view is awesome, the food is eh....Seasoning is the missing link. I've had way better crab cakes in Baltimore City. I am actually leaving the restaurant quite hungry. :( It's a nice sized restaurant. Great for families and groups. There are a lot of options on the menu....just a little sad they ran out of crabs... I don't think we'll be going back. The staff is very friendly and customer service great. The food just needs a little more umph.
(2)
Carol H.
Food was okay but restrooms were filthy and smelled horrible. I literally lost my appetite thinking that staff we're probably using the same facility. There is no excuse for this in the middle of a Monday afternoon. There was a large number of teenage wait staff sitting around giggling. Glass doors at entrance thick with handprints. Will not be back.
(1)
Jon A.
Worse service ever. Order crabs and forget about it. Because if you are use to DC restaurant type of service you will not get it here. We watched a dirty empty table for 15 minutes before it got bussed. Mean while there is a 2 hour wait. Not the MO if you want to make money.
(1)
Jacob C.
They gave us a takeout menu yet told us they don't do takeout during weeks?!?! What?! Need to educate these folks.
(1)
Erin B.
Unfortunately I am unable to review the food. After being told there was a 20 min wait and waiting for over an hour and a half, to be told there was still a 20 min wait and that we would have to split our party into two smaller tables, we had to leave. Not the place to visit with children, elderly or anyone with diabetic/health issues as this may legitimately life threatening!
(1)
JR C.
This is a pretty solid place, just a tad expensive for the food. The view and ambiance are awesome - there isn't much better than sitting on a dock, with a beer, and some seafood. It seemed like everyone was eating crabs, so I asked our waiter (who was pretty slow to greet us) what the deal was, as they weren't on the menu. He told me that they were $70 for a dozen, 35 for a half dozen. I think my mouth remained open for a minute or two, because that's WAAAAAYYY expensive for some boiled blue crabs. Anyway, I skipped on that, and had the broiled rockfish, which was really tasty, but it was like $24! The salad bar was small, but had some good selections, the baked potato was...well, a baked potato. The cherrystones we ordered as an appy were solid. All in all, a nice place for beers and seafood. I can see this place being INSANE on a Friday or Saturday night, so get there early!
(3)
Cory G.
We just finished lunch at Mike's where my colleague found a DEAD FLY in her salad. Underneath - at the bottom. We told the waitress to please take it away and she complied - lovely girl but obviously new. We thought it odd the manager never stopped by regarding the fly but moved on and enjoyed our crabs. When we got the check (over $300 btw due to crabs) we noticed the salad was still on the bill. WHAT? This is where we got frustrated. She admitted to forgetting to take it off. Then we informed her that in this type of situation that's THE MINIMUM required. A visit from the manager is always nice - taking off the rest of the salads is always nice (since no one wanted to eat the rest of theirs after seeing a dead fly in her salad) and maybe a free dessert if they feel like it. None required but for an over $300 lunch for 5 people you think a manager visit also belongs on the minimum. NADA. NOTHING. Just took off 1 salad and scurried away because our guess was she talked to the manager and that's about it. UNACCEPTABLE. Completely. Flys get in food sometimes and at a reputable place there is a way to handle customer service. This is not one of those places. Beware.
(1)
Hanna Z.
Mikes has the best location but some of the worst food. Most of the time their crabs are really good but if you don't want crabs you're screwed... We got a dozen raw oysters.. First off.. They were on a bed of cubed ice so they weren't cold. They looked old and had no real flavor. I ordered the fried chicken but I had to send it back because it was so incredibly dry. Everyone else's food was bland and the seafood was clearly such bad quality. Places like this frustrate me because they get SO much business already off of putting out bad food because their market is people who just want to eat on the water.. Imagine if they simplified the menu and focused on better quality ingredients... The people who come to eat crabs on the deck twice a month will come back more regularly to get food off the menu AND people who seek great food will come there.
Very poor service. Waited 15 mins then had to ask hostess to send a server over. No apology. $75 a dozen for large males. Half were full, but the other half were empty. This happens about half the time. Other times the service is OK. The restaurant just needs to be managed better.
(2)
Brooke B.
Gorgeous deck dining with views of the South River. Tried the bacon wrapped scallops and really enjoyed them! Great service as well! Arrive by car or boat and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Michael L.
Disappointing visit. Won't return. I visit Annapolis occasionally and was looking forward to crabs before heading back to BWI. I typically go to a different place but thought I'd try Mike's since I was nearby for work. I arrived around 4 pm. Mike's had less than 25% of seats occupied. I was seated indoors where I waited about 10 mins for a waiter. (About 9 mins too long in my view). Wait staff were all congregating in a side area joking around while customers were unattended. No manager in sight. In the meantime, a swarm of about 30 flies were buzzing around the INDOOR seating area. When my waiter arrived, I placed my order for crabs. He returned to tell me that the large size crabs were sold out and only small remained, despite the fact that there was a fresh seafood delivery truck unloading crabs in the parking lot. Maybe it was just bad timing on the crabs but the place was not clean and the service was badly in need of a manager. My waiter was friendly enough once he arrived but I had already decided to leave. This place needs a new owner who cares more about customer experience.
(1)
Larry H.
Although Mike's has plenty of tie up space for arriving by boat, a huge outdoor deck, a tiki bar, and even a small pavillion style stage, it's kinda lost it's standing as a true dock bar over the last few years in my book, mostly because they won't bother to regularly bring in live music here to create a party atmosphere anymore. They instead rely on mid week karaoke and trivia nights to try and pull in a subdued mostly 40+ crowd. Hopefully this will change... That said... if you're out on the water and you get the urge for some fat crabs and cold beer, with a great view of the South River, Mike's is definitely worth pulling your boat into for an hour or two.
(2)
Jules R.
The food is four stars by itself... the service is what makes me give Mike's just two stars. I've been coming to Mike's for years, and usually have a great experience. After my experience last night, I don't know if I'll be back. Our waitress was just terrible. I always look on the bright side of things and give people the benefit of the doubt, but this was just too bad for words. It was a Wednesday night, not crowded at all, and she had a BIG attitude from the start of our meal until the end. On top of the attitude, we waited 20 minutes for our drinks to come. My friend asked for A1 sauce for her steak twice, and waited 15 minutes the second time. We asked for some paper towels for the crabs and also waited awhile. Each thing that was delivered to our table was done so by our waitress in silence. She never asked how things were, if we needed refills, etc... and when it was time to pay the bill she got really nasty about us wanting to split the check into two payments. She said she'd write our card numbers down to do so, and we said we weren't comfortable with that and we'd like to see a manager about our experience. She rolled her eyes at that and walked away from us as we were in mid-sentence talking about our checks. Literally 15 minutes later... she comes back and says that the manager is "busy." Honestly, I really doubt she even tried to find a manager at all. What manager would say they're too busy to address a customer concern? On our way out, we told the hostess that we (long-time customers) had our first terrible service, and they said "oh she's new." Being new does not excuse a crappy attitude and terribly slow service. The food was delicious as always - the crabs were meaty and hot and the vegetable crap soup was sooo yummy as always. It was just hard to enjoy the meal over our server's attitude and terribly slow service, to be honest.
(2)
Dennis O.
There is a practice in some, if not most restaurants that add an 18% gratuity to tabs of more than a certain number of people. While I understand this because some people are rude enough it to not tip underpaid and overworked servers, the practice is often abused by a lie of omission. Last night, my group of crews from a yacht racing club, raising money for leukemia, was treated to the ultimate abuse of this practice. One of my more generous crew mates picked up the tab for 5 and left , leaving his card behind. I offered to sign for him and take his card. I asked the waiter if he received a tip and he said "no". I added 20%. Just then, my friend came back to retrieve his card. When I told him about my action on the tip, he told me that 18% had been added. I had a decent crab cake on a separate tab. It was $14 plus one beer It was horribly late and ordered twice from two servers. I wen to the cash register because my tab was grouped with another party and I requested a single tab. Because of the inconvenience and because it was a tab for only one. I offered 20% tip. As it turns out, my single crab cake and beer had 20% plus 18% added to it! Sorry for the long post, but this place does not deserve to be in business! I will never return. To act like this under the guise of supporting our charity is inexcusable. As my other reviews enforce the fact that I prefer praise over punishment, this one was an exception, but one well deserved.
(1)
Nita H.
First visit today, Memorial Day weekend and it was a stunning day on the way. I arrived at 5 to meet 10 other people and the wait was 1.5 hr for inside seating and 2.5 hr for outside seating. The place was packed but we waited near the pier and the views made up for the wait. Finally at 6pm the table was ready. My friend, Ms. K, recommended this spot and she was eager for a bushel of crabs. 3 dozen crabs were ordered as a starter, my buds thoroughly enjoyed them. It was too much work for me so I opted to go with the steamed shrimp and they were really good. After my buds devoured the crabs over a periods of time, we ordered entrees. I had the broiled crab cake sandwich with fries. The crab cake was thick and meaty however it was little to no seasoning on it but I still enjoyed it. The fries were steak fries thickness and pretty good. I tasted the mussels and it tasted like nothing!! I have today that the white wine/garlic drenched mussels at red lobster are more tasty!!!! For dessert I had the key lime pie to go and it was delish! One observation, they ran out of crabs during the 7 o'clock hour! Surprising for crab house! Also, one of my friends had the flounder sandwich and tasty like it was still frozen not a good first impression.
(3)
Phil G.
We have gone to Mike's many, many times and it's always fun, the food and service is impeccable! If you go ask for Katie T. Section, she's on top of all your food and drinks!
(5)
Elizabeth R.
Everything about Mike's was a great experience. We were quoted 40 minutes for an outside table, so we waited at the bar. The bar has a decent amount of seating, and it was busy, but then again, it was a Saturday night. 40 minutes ended up being 20 minutes, which was off to a great start. The service was fantastic, and since it was our first time at Mike's, she explained a lot of the menu to us and the popular picks. Crabs were being served out of the kitchen left and right... Something we will have to try next time. We opted for soft shell crab sandwiches and they did not disappoint. The prices were nothing to complain about either, not overpriced for good seafood and a great view. It is definitely a casual place, some people were dressed up and others were in shorts and a t-shirt but neither seemed out of place for the type of restaurant it is. After dinner, we had the chance to walk out on the dock and take pictures right at sunset. What a wonderful evening out!!
(5)
Adam V.
Very expensive and the crabs aren't as good as others I've had- still go at least once a month though!
(4)
LR G.
First time. ..we will be back. Eat at the bar. Excellent service with friendly staff. Best burger in Maryland. Oh and cold beer.
(5)
Elizabeth V.
We used to go to Mike's more often. Now, there always seems to be a crowd and long wait but I don't feel like it's really worth the wait. Mike's is basically good for beer and crabs but I'm not waiting 2 hrs for cheap beer and pricey steamed crabs. Otherwise, customer beware. My guess is most things coming out of the kitchen are frozen, prepared items. And the kitchen staff aren't great at cooking all the frozen stuff either.
(2)
Katie H.
I went to Mike's this weekend with family and had a great meal. Crabs, oysters, beers. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was casual, and the views couldn't be better. The food, however, is not what makes me so impressed with Mike's. I left my phone at the restaurant, and didn't realize until I was back home a couple hundred miles away (I visited Mike's on my way to a day trip in Annapolis). I called them that evening to see if my phone was there, expecting that if it was, I would have to make another 4-hour trip up to retrieve it. My phone was there, but as soon as I mentioned that I was from out of town, the hostess asked for all of my information and assured me that they would pop my phone in the mail early this week. I thought that was nice, but I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning to drop a couple hundred bucks on a new phone at the end of the week. This morning, my boyfriend got a text message from an employee at Mike's confirming that my phone was in the mail. The text even included the tracking information. When I spoke to the hostess the other day, I offered to cover the shipping charges, and she wouldn't even hear of it. She acted like it was their pleasure to make sure that I got my phone back. This is EXTREMELY above and beyond. It's not their responsibility to make up for my carelessness. I am so impressed, so grateful, and so inspired by their service. Especially for a restaurant where the beer is served in plastic solo cups. Consider me a customer for life.
(5)
J M.
I cringe every time I think of this place, because I have come here a couple of times and caved under peer pressure and tried eating whole blue crabs, which is just not my cup of tea. Too much work and money for not nearly enough meat. I vow not to do this again - some people like playing with their food more than the food itself, but not me :) THIS time, I did it right, and had snow crab clusters, which were excellent and plentiful. What a difference the right selection of meal makes :) Great place, whichever way you like your crab. And they have other good stuff too.
Maybe it's me. But, I've always enjoyed Mikes. Depending on the time of the year you can be seated in or out doors. Nice place to meet and actually talk without raising your voice. Quite time..........
(4)
Roberta P.
Had an excellent Father's Day dinner. Food was delicious, service excellent and they accomodated my daughter on cruches. An excellent experience.
(5)
Limor R.
Loved the crabs, service was great and the view was amazing. Our waitress was Jamie and she was a blast :) I took off one star because it's expensive.
(4)
May Y.
Absolute worse place I have ever been not only for crabs but as a paying costumer!!! It's 95 degrees out and the waiter instructed us we couldn't tilt the umbrella to get shade. I proceeded to ask the waiter if he could have the manager come out so we could talk to him. Manger/ "he said he was the owner" came out with a nasty attitude right off the bat. Said the umbrella might poke his wait staff in the eye. I said is that really the reason and he goes I'm the owner I don't need this I have a 2 hour wait and I'll void your entire check you guys just need to leave. I wouldn't have my staff treat someone like that let alone an owner of an establishment!!!! As a small business owner myself I am disgusted. We at least had a 300 dollar tab and we didn't even get dinner yet. As an owner to screw your waiter out of a minimum of 80 dollars of tip money is nauseating. I hope consumers really start caring about where their money goes and take these factors into consideration. It's hard enough to make it in this world and the arrogance of some owners that take their good fortune for granted need to realize that's the great thing about this country is choice!!! I am more than happy to talk to anyone about this horrible experience in Father's Day none the less!!!!
(1)
Ronique D.
My family and I have been coming here for years!! My favorite crab house!! Their seafood is always fresh and the oysters are huge and amazing!! The wait staff is always great and on-point!
(5)
Brian R.
Beautiful spot to sit outside on the water and enjoy some crabs. Friendly wait staff.
(4)
Dick B.
I don't think this it's right that this place has only 3.5 stars. As a previous writer put it, people are ridiculous giving this place less stars only because of a long wait time. It's worth the wait! Went for lunch yesterday. Service was excellent from the hostess to the waitress. As it was raining yesterday, sadly, could not sit outdoors as I wanted to. View of the river is beautiful. Wish I had a boat so I could dock here, that would be cool. Food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the Broiled Crab Cake and the fried Oysters. Delicious. Juicy, rich, thick crab cakes. One of the best I've ever had the pleasure of tasting in Maryland or anywhere. Fried oysters were juicy and plentiful. You must try the Clam Chowder. Wonderful. My only regret was that I didn't get the bowl instead of the cup. They have wonderful desserts. I can't wait to return. Sooner, rather than later, hopefully.
(5)
Lani K.
Food was ok but the service was terrible, we waited a very long time just to get seated it was ridiculous. More likely wont be going back again
(1)
Jenny T.
I'm giving Mike's a solid 4. Key things to know: - go early for dinner on the weekend, or be prepared to wait 45 min-1.5 hours - Ample parking, but you'll have to drive around and around if it's busy time - they will ask for collateral for the seating buzzer--don't give your I.D./Driver's license if you want to go to the bar...because then they card you and...well... you can't drink without the I.D. - All-you-can-eat salad bar, or option for 1 trip to salad bar, which has a LOT of veggies and some pasta/potato salads to choose from, too - Crabs are yummy!!! - Hushpuppies are perfectly moist and crispy Loved the decor--it was like we were in/under a giant boat, and it was all wooden and sea-farish all around without being entirely tacky. Server was helpful, nice and checked up on us multiple times for the 2 hours we sat there gnawing at our crabs. Lots of other good menu choices, too. :-)
(4)
C. C.
The worst wait staff ever. Clueless millennial types who wander around aimlessly while you sit at a table and wait for one of them to get a clue, that you're sitting there and no one has taken your order. Finally one gets it and you get lot's of "hi I'm Harmony and I'll be your server!" Then they disappear and hang in a group and yak yak...what ever- never to return. Food is ~ eh ~ at best. This place is all about atmosphere- right on the water- and you can sail up and dock, but food? 3 out of 5 and service? 2 out of 5. I'd rather pay more and get all 3 by pros.
(1)
Tracey K.
We went on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The parking lot was crowded, as some reviewers have mentioned. There was an employee in a traffic vest in the parking lot but he was just standing around watching the cars try to find spots. He didn't direct anyone or acknowledge any of the drivers. The outdoor area had an hour wait (although there were a lot of empty tables) so we opted to dine indoors where we could be seated immediately. The hostess didn't greet us when we arrived but asked in a flat tone of voice how many were in our party and then sighed when she got off her chair to take us to our table. We were seated for 20 minutes with no acknowledgement of our arrival from our server. Another table was then seated and five minutes later their server was taking their drink order. We asked if she could please let our server know we would like to order. After an additional ten minutes, our server comes over so we tell her we are ready to order. She's holding a stand to put serving trays on so she says she'll put that down and be right back to take our order. We wait an additional five minutes from when she disappears into the kitchen. She finally returned, carrying food for the table behind us. She walks right past, doesn't even acknowledge us (or that she said she'd be "right back"). At this point, we had been sitting there almost 45 minutes, the table next to us that arrived twenty minutes after we did already has ordered and received their first course and we still haven't even had a chance to order. I more than understand that servers are entitled to a bad day but everyone we encountered pretty much had a vibe of "we don't give a damn".
(1)
Scott M.
Worst Fathers Day experience ever. Manager/owner kicked my family of 6 out over a tilted umbrella on a 95 degree day. We will never go back. Scott McKee, owner of Foster's Grille in Waldorf.
Really have to say, wonderful service from the waiter and manager. Came in late on a slow day and my family and I could already tell we picked a bad day to come in on. The receptionists all told us Mike's was closing, but thankfully the manager was understanding since we came all the way from California and drove nearly an hour to the restaurant. Though the restaurant is known for their seafood, especially the crab, the steak was amazingly juicy and delicious. The soups were also wonderful, and the coleslaw was decent, but oh god. The crab just melted in my mouth. 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to seafood and steak lovers alike. Also has a bar with great music. We also came the next day and had half a dozen crabs. Fresh, and cooked with a lot of wonderful "sea" flavor that resembled the saltiness of the sea, it was wonderful. The folks there also have a choice of small, medium, or large crabs. We chose the medium crabs. All in all, recommended.
(5)
Keith H.
So everybody and their mama raves about this place. I'm a east coast transplant so I'm not HUGE on seafood. I mean, I do like a prawn or two. Sometimes i even venture down to the local crab spot to get a dozen or so crab legs. Anyway, I came to Mike's with high hopes. This is actually my second time here. The first time i came was on a saturday. But the wait was over an hour that day. Needless to say, i didn't stick around for that. Got there today and it wasn't crowded at all. As I step in i take in the decor. It wasn't over the top, nor was it sub par. We were seated promptly by some young server that made me feel old by her sheer presence. We mightve been sitting for a whole two or three minutes before our angel disguised as a server glided over to us. A young, fit lass by the name of Natosha. We ordered some soft shell crab and some alaskan king snow crab legs with steamed shrimp and a crab cake. This was my first time having some soft shell crab. It was an experience. Our server took the time to sit down with me and give me a tutorial on how to crack and eat the crabs. Sooooo uhhhh... Did you know, in order to eat them thangs you have to fondle the male crabs love organ? Long story short.... I'd go here again. But i wouldn't write home about it. This place is a sure thing for a positive experience but it won't be your favorite place. If you read my reviews you know what i review last... The LADIES.. This place had some nice looking servers. My favorite had to of been my server sent from above Natosha.
(3)
L L.
We went to MD for a weekend and stopped here for crabs. I knew this place from a trip down years ago - where they refused to serve me beer because the new waitress couldn't reconcile my PA driver's license in their book of licenses from out of state. She wasn't sure so she did the right thing... thought it would have been nice to have beer with my crabs... But that was then... This time we went down and getting seated inside or outside was a hassle. The inside hostess is different than the outside hostess. Then, they seated us at tables near the bar area. The tables are right under some bar equipment so you have to listen to the motors whir while you eat. Otherwise the crabs and service were good. I recommend only ordering half a dozen at a time if you are sharing and think you want a dozen. Same price but by the time you get to the last half dozen they are cold. Would definitely go back.
(3)
Sara R.
Went there this past summer and stuffed myself to capacity! Everything was so good! Such a long drive from where I live. I would be there at least a couple of times every summer, if it weren't for the drive. Have the choice to dine inside or the patio outside. Family friendly. Amazing food and great customer service. I am putting it on my agenda to make it this coming summer.
(5)
May W.
Mike's is my choice over Cantler's! I've been to both for crab-eatin', and here's why Mike's is better: -Classy establishment: The space appears renovated, nice wood look with lots of windows inside, fantastic patio seating outside. The bathroom, unlike Cantlers', is HUGE and very nice. The Cantler's bathroom only fit like two people, if I recall correctly. -Food is better/fresher tasting. I had a few dud crabs at Cantler's, but all of mine at Mike's were perfect and super meaty. When I went (September) they were only $6 each (single crab price). The hush puppies were as good as Yelpers said, and came with this fantastic honey butter. The salads are fresh and have lots of veggies, too. BF had the crabcake sandwich, which wasn't amazing due to subpar bread and toppings. Don't get me wrong, Cantler's food is fine, too. Their fried green tomatoes were bomb last time I went. -ATTENTION TO CONDIMENTS. For example, for my crabs they brought out two things of melted butter and huge bowls of vinegar and Old Bay. I don't remember getting that kind of fancy treatment at Cantler's! For my BF"s crabcakes, they brought out a thing of ketchup, a thing of tartar sauce, a thing of cocktail sauce and a bunch of lemons. I was blown away. No need to ever ask your server for anything! I will say that the service at Cantler's is better. They have more experienced servers there, while at Mike's (at least when I went) staff seemed to be mostly college/high school kids. They were pleasant, but I liked the no-nonsense attitude of the Cantler's servers. Judging from food and atmosphere, though, I'll choose Mike's anytime!
(4)
Nick C.
Always a treat when we eat at Mikes Crab House. Beautiful view, great pricing and wait staff is attentive. Now that nicer weather is here we cant wait to return.
(5)
Verena S.
Mikes is a great spot right for a casual get-together with friends right by the water. Great view, food and drinks! Crabs and seafood are great, but there are also excellent choices for those who don't like seafood, and for those who like to eat healthy. And they make their orange and grapefruit crushes fresh squeezed always, and "skinny" on demand!
(5)
Shannon J.
My family and I have been several times and had never had a problem until recently. We went and were told that there were no large crabs so we ordered 3 dozen small/medium only to be charged for large. After discussion with the manager and showing the small/medium shells we had been given we were still charged for large. $400 that would have been better spent at another crab house.
(2)
Jenny L.
Love it when I enter the restaurant and my waiter does not know what he has on the Menu tonight. The steamers look plummy but it's not sweet and it felt a bit mushy, makes me wonder if it's fresh. I also got a fish called orange roughy, it's blend and tasteless. The fish has been dead for so long that their is no taste to this fish! The soft shell crab is a bit salty to my buds but it is fresh. :(
(3)
Jada G.
A-ok, just because of the lovely water. The food was mediocre. I'm from atl, so i really don't like the energy it takes to eat whole crabs. I'd much rather eat crab legs. that's what i got. they were just ok. nothing special, they were drowned in Old Bay, i guess to hide the fact that they overcooked the crab legs. how is a restaurant who specializes in seafood, specifically crabs going to overcook them? seriously??!! come one. we also had crab cakes, crab cakes sandwich, platters, including scallops (which smelled/tasted old, so we sent them back), shrimp and fried oysters. i came with high expectations, i left knowing I would never be back!
(2)
Pat G.
Okay, so I'd heard a lot about Mike's from several folks. Finally, went with a friend who LOVES the place. I was underwhelmed. The seafood was overcooked. One of the waitresses didn't look particularly clean. Being on the water was wonderful; the place was okay; the food only fair.
(2)
barbara s.
I frequent Mike's often with my husband and we always have a great time but last night was especially nice since the manager Sean didn't mind serving us. And yes, the service was good. As we sat on the deck overlooking the water eating some of the best crabs in the area, we couldn't help but admire Sean's attentiveness to superb service. The place was busy but he made us feel as if we were the only ones there. If you are ever in the area, you should check out Mike's they have great food, good music and my husband says great drinks. It is certainly a wonderful way to unwind and enjoy being with friends or family! I can't wait to go back because it's always a good time!
(4)
Rich K.
We were visiting Annapolis when parents of the Naval Academy Plebes were in for the weekend. This place was packed with locals and this was one first experience in a Maryland crab restaurant. We are from the Northeast where lobster is plentiful this year. It was an experience watching everyone with the mallots smashing the hell out of these poor crabs. We decided to have stuffed Flounder and it was terrific and plentiful. I thought the price was right and service excellent. You dont come to place like this for fine dining and atmosphere, but for great Maryland crab it doesnt get much better. One draw back, I heard a local complain that they are always running out of crab and because they are in such demand, Mike has to ship them in from the Gulf.
(4)
Margaret W.
Had a great lunch this afternoon, Sitting on the deck in the sunshine at the end of September would be good enough, But we also had great food and service, Thanks
(4)
Johnny F.
Awful reservation procedure, the front hostess was quite stand offish and couldn't care less. We called earlier and said we didn't need reservations then we came and said that there's no more table and that it seems its going to be a hassle for them to give us a table Asked what Hush puppies were that are on the menu but didnt know what it was?! At last we got a table, and thankfully the crab was excellent, our waiter Casey gave excellent service. But our initial experience from that lady (with a Russian accent) was so bad that's why the rating is only 2 stars.
(2)
Daniel M.
While in Annapolis for a friend's wedding, I went here with a large group on a Saturday night. Although the place was pretty packed, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The place is big with a lot of outdoor seating and a big bar. It falls somewhere in between a nice seafood restaurant and your prototypical seafood shack with its picnic tables. We tried all of their soups at the table....clam chowder, Maryland crab soup, and a creamy crab soup. The Maryland crab soup was the best of the three in my opinion....the other two were pretty average. I got a bite of a few different appetizers...hush puppies, steamed shrimp, mussells, clams, onion rings.....again, all were solid but nothing special. We finished up with a ton of steamed crabs COVERED in Old Bay. Being a New England boy who loves seafood, I know that sometimes it takes some work to get to the good stuff. That being said, I just think the work outweighs the payoff with these things. Trying to get meat from the body is a pain and I thought the meat was just ok. The claw meat was very good but for the price and work involved, I don't think its worth it overall. I'm glad I got my Maryland crab experience in, but I think I'm sticking to lobster and dungeness or king crab in the future. If you are a huge blue crab fan, I think this place probably deserves another star. For me, I'm going with three.
(3)
Elizabeth D.
Boyfriend and I dined here for lunch on the recommendation of a good friend. I ordered the soft shell cab sandwich. It was HEAVENLY! My boyfriend ordered the mussels and crab balls. What a good price. Plenty of mussels for $8 and the crab balls were filled with lump meat! If I ever visit Annapolis again, I would definitely return.
(4)
Jonathan H.
The classic Maryland crabhouse. That's all I need to say and everyone who's ever step foot in Maryland will understand what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, that wouldn't do anyone outside understand what this means. If you're looking for a beautiful restaurant with chandeliers and chefs dressed up in coats, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for a great relaxed atmosphere and a great place to knock back a few beers, have some great food and enjoy your company, this place is highly recommended. The place is mildly lit indoors. Why? There's a crazy amount of windows that bring an amazing amount of sunlight in and gives you a great view of the water. The food is consistently good and the staff is numerous and friendly. I was actually shocked on how many people were walking around with fanny packs and Mike's shirts serving or waiting tables. My only gripe about the place is crabs came in a little late when we were there (2 PM) so there is a chance that the lunch crowd might miss out on some great crabs but the dinner crowd will able to enjoy it in our stead.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Maybe its just nostalgia. But this place...I feel defines the eastern shore blue crab scene. Boat in docks, paper on the tables, overly seasoned soft shell crab, lots of big groups chowing down, grubby local servers bringing the sea folk feel. Love it! I gave it four stars because I felt like some dishes you get WAY MORE or WAY LESS for the money.
(4)
Karen A.
Oh, what would a summer be without Mike's? I just love this place to pieces, going here is a staple in the summertime for me. Growing up in Baltimore, I learned that one of the greatest pleasures in the warmer weather is dinner at a great restaurant on the water with a pile of hot crabs and pitcher of ice cold beer. This place is ALWAYS crowded, but it's worth the wait to get a table outside on the water. Everything I've tried here is good, but the crabs are obviously the main attraction. If you're stuck waiting for a dinner table, there is a small covered outdoor bar next to the main building where you can have a few cocktails. They have live music occasionally as well. Just don't drink too many of their delicious orange crushes on an empty stomach... I learned this the hard way!
(4)
Terri R.
I consider myself a Crab Connoisseur. I will try a new crab house, but only if a friend suggests. And so it was that I came to Mikes. The crabs were big, however; they were either cooked too long, or had been cooked earlier and kept under a warmer, as was evidenced by their dark red color, and mealy meat. The taste was not "bad", but it wasn't "great" either. So we only ordered one dozen, even though we could have eaten another. A true Marylander is very picky about crabs. I dont think I will be back for the crabs.I may stop in for the house made Nutty Buddys (6.00) which are huge and amazing!! Also, not crazy about the staff as well. While they were polite, I wouldnt say they were personable or even friendly. Three stars only for Mikes..I hope they step up their game, the location is beautiful. It COULD have been a really great experience..
(3)
andy s.
O.M.G. cannibalizing sum bugs...fantastic!
(4)
Ma-e M.
For a group of people with reservations made, Mike comes prepared. Lovely waterfront, seafood restaurant in a big lot that is off the highway on Riva Rd. If GPS can't find it, keep on the look out to the water to find a big bungalow restaurant, and I bet you it is Mike with the bunch of people seating in a covered roof dining seats. Of course, I ordered a crab cake which comes with french fries and they were quite good. Knowing that everybody enjoyed at Mike's, I could tell you that Mike got hooked up with more friends to visit him.
(3)
Oat W.
What a great place. Food is very good and the staff is attentive and helpful. We get the stuffed oysters a lot and they are always excellent.
(4)
Kimber C.
Came here two years ago and returned this weekend... to find it just as good as I remembered! The food is fresh, the service is attentive and friendly... and theres nothing like sitting with good company, outside on their deck, with a dozen Maryland crabs! SO GOOD! We had tried Cantlers the day before and although the wait for the table was much shorter than at Mikes, The crabs were only okay (we got 2 bad crabs in a dozen, although they were immediately replaced) and the prices were much steeper. Mikes crabs were cleaner, fresher tasting, a better price, and just AMAZING!! We'll be back next year!
(5)
Clara S.
Stopped in before leaving Annapolis for some much needed crab-yumminess. Had hush puppies for an appetizer. They were little garlicky balls of yumminess. Came with a side of honey butter, which I didn't care for since I like salty more than sweet. I followed that with a cup of their "Famous Maryland Crab Soup". Think of Manhattan clam chowder, but with crab instead. It was delicious, and full of tomato chunks, peas, onions and crab meat. Then the waitress recommended the Crab Quesadilla (if you really like cheddar cheese). Its normally an appetizer dish, so its not a full lunch/dinner portion, which was fine since I already had hush puppies and soup. It was amazingly cheddary. Think: grilled cheese sandwich sleeps with crab meat and they made a baby. It was a delicious little baby - although my husband thought it was a tad overly cheesy and I was being cannibalistic in my reference (he's reading over my shoulder) . It also had some kind of tartar sauce inside it (almost like a McDonald's Fish-Filet sandwich, but not gross), which was a nice touch. It had a lot of crab meat in and on top of it. The table by the water and sitting under the sun was a nice touch. We didn't see the inside of the place, so I can't say what that was like. I would definitely come back on my way through Annapolis again.
(4)
Chris V.
Nice day today. I didn't know where I was going since it was up to my hosts, but I was happy to find out that we would be eating seafood. The first thing I noticed was the nice view of the Severn River. It doesn't have the smell of the sea, but the boats, calm waters, and nearby bridge make you forget that. The second was the ample outdoor seating - I only found out about the indoor seating later. We had crabs of course. I think it was blue crab; it's not as great as king crab meat, but it's still enjoyable. I probably burned a couple hours picking away at crab parts to get at all the meat that I could. We also shared some decent fried calamari, some good crab cakes, and some excellent crab quesadilla. I was put off by the fact that they listed "crab dip" as an ingredient, but when someone ordered it anyway, I tried it and absolutely loved it. I can't say that this was the best ocean fare that I've ever eaten. If you order some of these entrees, I'd recommend this: squeeze the lemon juice onto the calamari and put some old bay or other condiment on your crab. It improves the taste, which is nothing special otherwise. Also, the pink lemonade is not very lemonade-y. I probably would add a lemon or two or my cup if I had to drink it again next time. If you come on a rainy day, they have indoor seating and bar seating as well. The bathroom was clean, which is very important when you're cleaning up after filling your stomach. Overall, a nice way to spend a warm, sunny afternoon, and a decent purveyor of the seafood that you must have if you visit Maryland.
(4)
Pop Goes The Weasel B.
i used to go to cantler's but discovered Mike's, and I'm sold! This place is wayyyyyyyyyy bigger ( 3 seating options - huge indoors, outdoor deck on the water, and semi- enclosed outdoor), so one of the biggest sells is that they don't have the hour + wait, and parking issues cantler's does. the crabs are great ( can't really go wrong with crabs), and maybe a little better price too. we got a few other things on their menu - which were good - i think their hush puppies with honey butter are some of the best I've ever had! service was great - fast, and super friendly.
(5)
Donna W.
I love Mikes and always had a good time coming here excellent service. However, this year and no fault to Mike's there was a crab shortage.. however where I do lay blame is how it was handled on Mother's Day. We arrived quite early like 3:00 PM to have crabs.. We were put on a wait list and were told it was a 90 minute wait, if I am not mistaken it was longer than that and the primary focus was crabs! By the time we sat down at 5:30 they ran out.. I checked periodically with the bartender to see if there were crabs each time she told me no.. but then when we sat down I was told no more but yet trays of crabs were coming out to tables.. I think there should have been more due diligence in informing people that had waited so long! We ordered something else and by the time we finished the place was dern there empty! I spoke to management and he literally said in so many word "suck it up we just don't have it.." Very disappointing for a place I have like so much..
(4)
Kimberly H.
Ok so quite a few co-workers said it was worth the ride down to Annapolis, & they were correct. We really wanted to sit outside since it was such a gorgeous day, but the wait was 1 hr & 45 mins, vs the inside wait 45 mins...we sat at the bar to wait, had beers & the bacon wrapped scallops--they were DELICIOUS! We would have eaten at the bar, but they serve everything but the crabs...When we got to the table, I ordered half a dozen medium crabs, & my husband got the fried shrimp. I got more than 6--more like 8 crabs & my husband, who usually only wants king crab legs because crabs are too much work, tore the extra 2 crabs up! I kept saying how good they were & he couldn't resist. I think Mike's has officially converted him to eating regular crabs! Worth the wait, the drive & the price!
(4)
Bianca F.
If you're looking for a crab house, this is the place to go. The other close competitor is Cantler's Inn, but I'm more of a fan of Mike's for it's atmosphere. The view can't be beat! II highly recommend a seat by the water/on the patio if the weather is good. It's a huge place so there's plenty of room inside too if you're not into the view. The lines are long during the summer, but often times they have a live band playing, so expect the wait, grab a beer, and watch the boats pass by. The prices are similar to the rest of the crab houses in the area. The crabs are good sized and plenty seasoned. But it's the location that warrants the 4 stars.
(4)
S C.
Great steamed shrimp. Service not so good, as shown by the tables of servers doing sudoku right next to the salad bar - clearly visable!- and why do they have to give you a namecard to remind you who your server is? Does this imply you will have to ask someone else for something and have them say "Well who is your server" ? I hope it was just to mark that someone has been to the table to get drink orders..... or was it....
(3)
Chris P.
great seafood and water views. a lil outta the way, but hey no traffic!
(4)
Roll T.
Okay, my eyes are open. I can now understand why people say that Maryland is part of the South. Mike's Bar & Crab House is exactly the type of small town seafood spot that one would find on the Gulf Coast (as least pre-Katrina and BP oil spill days). You will see old men dressed in tacky Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and lengthy socks, pseudo-slutty redneck girls with their muscular, tattooed, sunglass wearing boyfriends, and a sporadic amount of tourists whose curiously was piqued enough to try a place slightly off the beaten track. But that isn't what is important, and that is not why we were here. This was stop #1 on Annapolis Crabcake Tour 2010, and it damn well might have been the best spot on the entire trip. Why? Well, aside from the incredible people-watching opportunities, the seafood here is no joke. Sure, some people might say that judging a seafood restaurant by its crabcakes is on par with judging an Indian restaurant on its chicken tikka masala (a decidedly British dish). Yet, Maryland as a state takes a great deal of pride in both their crabs and their crabcakes, and it becomes obvious that Mike's is incredibly knowledgable in the latter instance. There is a great deal of debate over what makes for an excellent crabcake. Personally, I lean towards preparations that make use of quality crab meat (colossal, jumbo, or special) as opposed to backfin meat. I'm also a fan of minimal filler (flour, mayo, butter, etc.). Mike's uses luscious chunks of jumbo crab meat to make their phenomenally cosistent crab cakes. Sure, the resulting product might weigh in at a paltry five ounces, but I would imagine that the task of balancing all that meat while using miniscule amounts of filler is a cumbersome task. In other words, instead of knocking the size, just be happy with the geometry (I'm not even pretending that won't be taken out of context). While we were only here for crabcakes, we decided to order some hushpuppies anyway. These golden fried treats seemed to carry just the slightest hint of sugar and were quite possibly a bit too mealy for some tastes. Personally, I thought they were an excellent rendition of a favorite treat to go along with fried seafood. Well done, Mike's. I've seen some complaints about the service. I'm shocked. Our service was OUTSTANDING. Our server knew that we were only staying for crabcakes, and she did not pout one bit (knowing that we were three people and splitting one entree and an appetizer). I can't stress how much that impresses me. Yeah, I can. Let's just say that adds up to a good tip. If our mere sampling of this menu is any indication of the greater possibilities of this restaurant, I think one can rest assured that a return visit will be happening. If you are sampling seafood in the Annapolis area, you would be a fool to miss this place.
(4)
Toan D.
A great place to roll up your sleeves and dig in to the pile of crabs. No frills atmosphere and located across the South River bridge from Annapolis. Besides crab, you can also get raw oysters, hush puppies, shrimp, clams and blackened mahi mahi to name a few. The service was effecient and our waitress kept the beers coming. Mike's Crab House has been around for over 40 years. In fact my mother used to waitress there in the 70's. Great to know it's still around to help us with our crab cravings when we return to vist friends and family.
(3)
James C.
I have lived in Anne Arundel County for sometime but have never had the opportunity to stop in to Mikes until yesterday. I went there with my brothers to grab some sandwich from the Deli/Liquor store side. The Club sandwich was very good and the only qualms I had was that the bacon could have been cooked a bit longer. The Deli?liquor store side is just what you would expect. It is nothing flashy . As my sandwich was being prepared I stopped into the bar side to grab a Orange Crush. It was very good. The Bar is very nice possibly renovated not to long ago. The tiki bar looked sweet but the weather was not very nice so the crowd was small. Sweet place. I will defiantly be going back.
(4)
Watrbb W.
I LOVE Mike's! Been going there for many years and look forward every summer to sitting outside, watching the boats, soaking up the sun and chowing down! To be honest, I have only had the crabs once or twice (at a party), but always get the snow crab legs, steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, etc.. All that "other" good stuff. Will be going again soon!
(4)
Gohanchan S.
ok...husbands plan to eat crabs at Cantlers, rated #1 for crabs in the Washingtonian..thinking not a great idea...wait is going to be horrendous...on our way , the other family arrived first, only to be informed they were out of crabs!! of course...so we called a place we went last year, Fisherman Crab deck..or something like that...their crabs were good..so so ambiance...and they were out of crabs!! so then found out that Mike's in Riva had crabs..when we arrived, were told they only had females...how much worse can this get!!!??/ But then then, our waiter, Carter, who, by the way was fantastic, tells us that they just got in an order! YAY.!!! now looking like we can finally get crabs today! The crabs were pretty good, although I think Fishermans is better...after having gone to Cantlers, Fisherman's Crab deck, and now Mike's, my favorite is Mike's...they have an indoor bar with 4-5 tvs..outdoor deck bar..and they had live music..beautiful scenery...can walk out onto the piers... they have a huge menu, so if you there is someone who doesn't like seafood, they have steak, sandwiches, salads, etc...something for everyone...can't vouch for anything other than what we had, which was: crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters on the half shell, and mussels...oysters were on point..crabs, good but as I said earlier, Fishermans is better IMHO...mussels meh..too overcooked for my taste...daughters ordered dessert. we asked the waiter if they were made in house...sadly no, .they are brought in..but every dessert is only $4.95...can't complain! the atmosphere is great...fantastic views...the servers work their butt off......for six of us, our bill was $110.00 with a pitcher of beer, and a couple cans of beer..and we left full..totally worth it!!!
(4)
Jim G.
Had a large family dinner here. Overall it was great, especially for a bust Friday night with guests that just flew in from Denver. Even the kids loved it. The Crab Imperial was excellent as were all the apps. If you're into crabs, come here, don't bother with any place else. I'm not a fan of steamed crabs but our whole table, save me, was. They all loved them.
(4)
John O.
Good setting and atmosphere. Food good but a little pricy. Service appropriate.
(4)
Sonia D.
As a native Marylander, I have tried hundreds of seafood and crab restaurants but Mike's still remains the best. Their medium and large size steamed crabs are covered with Old Bay and are extremely fresh. They serve some great local ale to complement the seafood (in addition to the standard favorites) and the setting is picturesque. I've spent several summer evenings eating steamed crabs, fries and taking in all of the beautiful Annapolis homes right on the water that I could never afford. Mike's is characterized by great service and is my all-time favorite spot to relax during the summertime.
(5)
Samuel L.
Went for: Post-cycling race lunch Bottom Line: With the caveat that I'm from Maine, land of seafood shacks, bars, grills, etc -- Mike's was just OK, and had little that made it special. I probably won't be back, mostly because I'll forget about this totally unmemorable place soon. Quick thoughts: Look, if it's Old Bay steamed crabs by the dozen you want, they've got them. I had a few and they were good, but no better than the three other places I've had them in the DC-MD area. If you're looking for anything special, unique, or creative about the rest of their menu, you may be disappointed. For a main course, I had the Jamaican jerk mahi mahi, which although sounding interesting, was just a heavily spiced, not-so-tenderly-done mahi mahi filet on a white bread bun. The addition of also-heavily-spiced pineapple didn't lift the sandwich from the mundane (at best). The fries were nothing special, and the soup one of my dining partners had was apparently acceptable, but unremarkable. The place was huge, and there was sort of the sense that it was assembly line seafood, meant to serve massive numbers of people as close as possible to the Bay. I probably won't be back, not because it wasn't fine, but because I'll forget this totally unmemorable place soon.
(3)
Chante S.
I LOVE Mike's!!! I went for my birthday with my girlfriends & went back 3 days later with my husband, sister, & parents. Everything is great. You have to try the frozen drinks-THE BEST!!!!!!!
(5)
Dee C.
I came here during off season, business was very slow. It has a great view since it's right by the water. It's weird that they only have unsweetened ice tea, but not sweet tea. Salad bar wasn't that great, most of its contents are not fresh. Seafood was ok, probably because it was off season. It's broiled fish had way too much seasoning on it, it covered the flavor of the fish. Crab royal had small pieces of shells in it. their crab cake is very meating. It's just an ok place, I wouldn't rave about it, but wouldn't mind coming back again, since I love seafood.
(3)
Hillary J.
THE best crabs ever!!! We were a bit nervous when we arrived and saw the packed parking lot as a party of three on a the Sunday before Labor Day, but our fears were soon put to rest. Omgeeee. Got a close spot, we were told the wait would be an hour (it was actually about 45 mins) and then the crabs came. Wow wee! We were told they only had larges left. Okay, and that's a problem because...??? So then out they came, $70 for a dozen HUGE and heavy crabs. For you crab novices out there, it is critically important to have weight to each of your crabs and know that depending where you go, it's a crap shoot on what you get. Well, not Mike's; and that's why a don't mind paying a premium. After one ear of large corn, a light beer, delicious (and again, HUGE) crabs, a half dozen did me just fine. I go to fine restaurants and pay about the same, so you get what you pay for and that's some good eating at Mike's. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because our server lacked just a little warmth. I mean, he was ok for the most part but forgot to bring out an item or two. He was also just a bit aloof, but I like a little east coast rudeness just to keep it real, so I'm kinda ok with that. :). Overall, thanks to Mike's for helping me and my family close out the summer with another great crab experience! See ya next year.
(4)
John C.
Freshman orientation at University of Maryland, was looking for a restaurant that had chesapeake crabs and some atmosphere. We took a 30 minute ride from College Park to Riva, MD for Mike's rather than eat in one of the chain restaurants near the school. We were happy we did as we found a great place!!!!!!! The Cream Crab soup was so full of crab meat and was excellent. We got there late and they only had "large" blue claws left and not the jumbo crabs, but they were still twice the size of any crab I can get in New Jersey. Our waitress was excellent and we had apps and drinks in 5 minutes even though the place was packed, The location is right on a lake/river and the outside dock/deck is the perfect place for such a feast. I will be back here many times over my son's years at UMD.
(4)
Mike L.
If you're looking for crabs and beer, this is a GREAT place to go. If you want to order mixed drinks or order off a menu, stop by the liquor store for booze, go to the frozen food section at the grocery store and buy the store-brand frozen seafood -- it's better. Again -- CRABS & BEER -- FIVE STARS Anything else -- NO STARS
(2)
Danielle C.
Best crabs I have ever had!!!! They are as big as my head and so meaty & flavorful. I'll be living there all this summer :)
(5)
Mrs. R.
A pile of hot crabs on the water during the summer months !! This is what Maryland is all about. The crabs are pricey, but worth it. Very full of meat. I LOVE MIKE'S CRABS !! The side dishes are great portion as well. Stuffed shrimp is cooked to perfection and perfectly seasoned, jumbo portion. Crab dip is mediocre could be better and I was slightly disappointed, but it doesn't make or break me returning to Mike's. The outdoor seating is the best during summer months and occasionally a band plays outside as well. It is very relaxing and gives you the "out of town" feel for the locals.
(5)
Thomas W.
This place is for all-u-can eat Maryland blue crabs. They are steamed with Old Bay, and you get a salad bar and corn on the cob. The outdoor area is beautiful on the South River weather permitting. Some of my friends had steamed spiced shrimp, fried shrimp, and hush puppies. The crabs are very large for mediums. Be careful they do not do refills on soft drinks. This is a great place for crabs, beer, and football. Of course I had the all-u-can eat crabs today. You can only find these places in Maryland! I have been to imitations in New York, and Virginia, but have only experienced the real thing in Maryland. If you want crabs by the water, this is one of the places to go.
(3)
Barbry M.
This is a typical Maryland crab house, and I went in the middle of winter. Not exactly high crab season. I had bacon wrapped scallops and md crab soup. The soup was super tomatoey, and needed more old bay. Scallops were good. My boyfriend ordered steamed crabs, they were also good. Huge horseshoe shaped bar area. Nothing outstanding about decor. Ladies room was clean and nicely decorated. Waitstaff was attentive but seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(4)
John R.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. I'll make a day trip just to come here. On a beautiful weekend there's nothing better to do than hang out by the tiki bar, listen to live music and have a few drinks with friends. Mike's is right on the water. Literally. Built on a pier over the water. The place is packed on weekends, at least if you want to sit outside. And trust me, you want to sit outside. But you'll be grateful for the 45 minute wait when you settle down at that tiki bar with a cool drink - they have some nice margarita's going most weekends. Make a day trip - do some touring of Annapolis - just make sure you end up here for dinner.
(5)
Michael M.
Mike's is OK. Crab cakes were average but their scallops wrapped in bacon were outstanding. The service was so so. View OK.
(3)
Marcey Z.
Stumbled on Mike's one Saturday afternoon and what a great surprise! Mike's is so popular that they actually use parking space about a mile down the road at a church and they run a shuttle van back and forth. The best time to go on the weekends is prior to 4:00 p.m. Since we got there at 5;00 we had to use the shuttle service. We started with a good and cold brewskie, crab dip which was amazing, and then of course we got to the main event, CRABS! They were cooked to perfection. The crabs were full of meat and it came out without any effort. Did I mention how immaculate the place was...well it is! I have never seen bathrooms at a crab house this immaculate!
(5)
Donald M.
Had lunch on the outside deck today. Burger was very good. Fish was good but served on a roll that quickly fell apart. Service was fine. I also recognize that the availability of certain items might vary, but when you walk into a "Crab House" and there is a sign saying ' Sorry, No Crabs", youhave to wonder.
(2)
Devin R.
I'm not sure how best to rate this place. I ordered the fried shrimp with fries and a salad from the salad bar. As I walked to the salad bar, one of the staff members responsible for straightening the bar threw lettuce leaves and other food that had fallen on the 'ledge' back into their designated bins and used her tongs to mix them all together.....groooossssss!!! I informed our waitress and told her that rather than a salad, I'd have a baked potato. She then told me that I would have to pay extra for it. What? You have a choice between two sides with an entree and my original two were a salad and fries. Now that I was replacing the salad with the baked potato, no extra charges should have been mentioned. I told her 'No.' On top of that, the shrimp were 'meh.' I've had better at Mick and Schmidt's. Probably won't be going back here. Nice views though.
(2)
Wen L.
I came here on a roadtrip through Maryland. This place is pretty awesome. Our waitress was great and friendly. The crabs, (large- 1 dozen steamed), were meaty and sweet. The only problem is they seem to run out of crabs fairly early, my table ordered a dozen and the table next to us wasn't able to get them because they ran out. Good thing we got there early. For dessert, if you like chocolate, GET the chocolate spoon cake.
(4)
Katie S.
I found myself in Annapolis for a few hours and somone recommended going to Mike's for some crabs. I love Chesapeake crabs. The only person who loves them more than me is my fiance. As a DC native, he grew up on Chesapeake crabs. Everytime we visit his family in DC they pick up crabs from MD and we eat them at his house. I've had Chesapeake steamed crabs about a half-dozen times, and Mike's was the worst. I thought it would be better, if not simply for the fact that we were eating them on site. Anyway, we ordered a dozen steamed large crabs for $67. They were incredibly bland and not that meaty. They served Old Bay on the side and it was definitely necessary to dip the crab meat into the Old Bay to give it some flavor. Usually, they're steamed in so much Old Bay that it seeps through the shell and the meat itself is already flavorful. We sat outside near the water and within 5 mintues the sun was beating down on me. It was miserable. A little warning by the waitress to sit under the roof would have been appreciated.
(2)
Jordan C.
Old school crab house with TONS of other seafood items on the menu. The crabs were very good, but the steamed Shrimp stole the show. They were excellent. While they have inside and outside seating, I recommend sitting on the outside deck overlooking the river. It provides a nice view and good atmosphere. The service was prompt and attentive. I will definitely return.
(4)
Ronnail R.
One of my favorite restaurant/bar spots to eat crabs and you have the option to eat indoor or outdoor on the deck/pier. There's also an outdoor Tiki Bar that has live performers on various days/nights. The crabs are served L, M, S and sometimes the median crabs are just as big as the Large. We've been going here over 10 years, but keep in mind the wait time is a little over a hour, so you have the option to place your name on both "Wait to be Seated" listings. My husband would normally place our name on one listing and I on the other - last year you had to provide them with your license to receive the flashing/vibrating thingy signal that notifies you when it's your time to be seated. Karaoke - Every Friday - 9:30 PM
(5)
H. P.
I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoy this place as much for the food, as I for the fact that I get to smashy-smashy. Really, though, the crab is delicious. And, if you ever manage to look up from the table, the view is gorgeous.
(4)
Jay H.
Drove an hour to go here on a Sunday afternoon, they were out of crabs and oysters (how does a crab house in Maryland's capitol run out of crabs on a weekend in the middle of summer?). Cream of crab soup was very light on crab. Good thing it is clean and in a good location with a beautiful view or I would never go back.
(2)
Janet K.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only place to eat crabs in this area....not that they are better than Cantler's, but I cannot stand to sit elbow to elbow with strangers at a shared table no matter how good the food. Mike's has lots of individual comfortable tables and when the crab mood hits, there is just no place better without a serious drive. And by the way, Keely R. it is SO not done in Maryland to eat crabs with a bib! Sorry....
(4)
Jeramy P.
Came in expecting some good ole Maryland seafood and I was not dissapointed. I had the steak and the fried crabcake. The places is located right on the water too.
(4)
Jules L.
I grabbed my legendary hammer and pulverized the clawed beasts into oblivion. My loved ones watched as I viciously pounded the shells revealing the sweet flesh. They were in shock and awe as I plucked out the meat and consumed it, absorbing its lifeforce into mine. After a fierce battle of a dozen beasts, I walked away with a full belly and a near fatal wound on my right thumb. My legend will be told for all eternity.
(5)
Christie W.
I went back here again this past Sunday and just wanted to give it another 5 stars. This place knows how to do crabs! We took my boyfriends Mom and Grandfather here for Fathers Day, and they LOVED it! We each got a dozen oysters, and a dozen large crabs, the crabs were once again meaty and LARGE!! Perfectly seasoned and cooked. The oysters were awesome! We all love this place so much we will be back this coming weekend! :)
(5)
Liz K.
I'd say if you're in Annapolis, this is a must-do. Not a fancy-pants establishment, just honest good seafood. Sadly they were out of crabs when we visited, but they had plenty of everything else. The majority of our group ordered the fried oysters, of which I'm not a fan, but they all raved about them. Nicely breaded and well seasoned. I would like to rave about the clam strips - they were FANTASTIC! These people here must know the best way to bread things, because these, like the oysters, were perfect. Even my niece, who is not really into a lot of seafoods yet, couldn't keep away from my basket. Good thing she helped too - it was a veritable HEAP of clams. Also good was the clam chowder, calamari, and grilled cheese (what the niece ordered). Be sure to check it out if you're in the area!
(4)
Windi L.
While not the most glamorous establishment for seafood, the grub here is tasty and priced accordingly. Normally a big ole bucket of shrimp will cost you your rent check but here at Mike's, you will get a lot more than what you pay for. The salad bar was disappointing but it's one of those things where you're not here for salad - you're here for seafood so don't expect much from that. Also, my steak was average. A good seafood eatery that satisfy your seafood cravings when you're on a budget!
(3)
Richard K.
On our way back from Annapolis we decided to detour to Mike's Crab House in Riva for the crab cakes. We arrived just after lunchtime so it was not very busy.Our service person was attentive but we sensed that he wasn't versed in the ins and outs of the menu. We were expecting a small "crabshack" but were surprised to see how large the dining area was. Usually a good sign that you are at a popular place. My wife and I each ordered the crab cake sandwich. After eating the meal we questioned whether we were at the same restaurant that most of the other reviewers had eaten at. We are seafood lovers from New England and have a pretty good idea of what seafood should taste like. Unfortunately, Mike's doesn't come close (at least for the crab cakes). The sandwich platter comes with the usual; one crab cake, fries, bun, lettuce and tomato. The portion was large and would be a good value. The fries were hot but soggy. What's up with that? The crab cake was large, mostly crab but they were seriously under seasoned and quite tasteless. We both noted a slightly "off" taste that could have been due to the fact that the crab was not local. Me thinks they should note that small detail on their menu. We ordered the broiled version which looked fine but was a bit dry. Fried might have been a better choice. We really wanted Mike's to be good but our expectations were too high. We won't be back but suggest that if others come, they may want to try something other than crab unless it is sourced locally and "in season".
(1)
Heather K.
We went on Mother's Day, expecting it to be busy. We arrived around 1:30pm, hoping to be at the end of the lunch crowd but well before the dinner crowd. It looked like we timed it perfectly because outside there were only about 4 tables of people waiting on the deck. We were told it was a 1 hour wait which was fine. The deck was closed due to high winds but the canopy and indoors were open. After an hour part of the deck was opened and a lot of people were seated. At about 1 hour and 10 minutes I asked the hostess how much longer it would be and she said "about an hour". I was upset. We were told an hour and we waited and now we are told it will be another hour? If it was a 2-hour wait then we should have been told up front and been able to make our decision based on that. Now we have an hour of our time invested in this place ... what to do? If we leave we will have to wait somewhere else. We decided to wait some more and another group of people sat at our table to wait. We talked to them and they told us that the had gotten there about 15 mins after us and they were given 2 pagers, one for inside and one for out. The hostess told them to get both and use whichever one went off first, no one told us that or offered us two pagers. At 3:00 my husband went to speak to the hostess and AGAIN the hostess said "about an hour" . At 3:30 one of our tablemates' pagers went off and they were seated . At 3:40 my husband complained and we were seated immediately. No one ever mentioned our wait time, or what the hostess kept telling us about it being hour after hour, or that they were sorry it happened. When you have unhappy customers the best thing to do is offer an explanation. We still have no idea why everything was so messed up and we weren't the only customers who were upset. We talked to a lot of other people during our wait and found out that a lot of them were given wrong information on the wait time. I understand it's impossible to be exact but most places like to under promise and over deliver...a 100% increase in wait time is ridiculous...plus to be given the same answer over and over, "about an hour"?? Pretty bad. I found it crazy that they would have people directing traffic in the parking lot to make sure traffic went smoothly but didn't have a hostess that could seat tables smoothly..but then again I have no idea if it was the hostess's fault since no one ever explained anything. Finally we were seated. I can not eat much so I was going to order off of the appetizer menu. Everything sounded good at this point so I got the sampler. I was disappointed. I think everything came from a box. It all tasted like something I could get in the frozen food section. My husband had stuffed halibut or flounder, I forget, and it was delicious. My son had the chicken tender kids meal with fries and he liked it a lot. I got a piece of carrot cake to go and it was also very good. All in all, given the way we were treated and the quality of the food I received, I would not choose to visit this restaurant again. It seems to me like the management of this restaurant feels entitled to customers based on their reputation. The only restaurants that are entitled to my business are ones who treat me with respect.
(1)
Mia D.
We went for Father's day, and we had a ball! I would recommend fro anyone that is trying to relax and have some good food and crabs.
(5)
Sarah H.
I had never tried whole, steamed Maryland crabs and came into Mike's so that I could get the full experience. Steamed in plenty of Old Bay seasoning so that the flavor seeped in through the shells while cooking and dipped into vinegar, the crabs were absolutely delicious. The price seemed reasonable ($65/ dozen) and we easily split them between three of us. Our waiter was wonderful and spent more than enough time showing us how to get all the meat out. We also started with cups of amazing cream of crab soup and washed the meal down with plenty of inexpensive beer pitchers. It was a wonderful evening and I would certainly go back to show others that have not tried this before! A word of advice-- it can get really messy!
(3)
Virginia K.
It doesn't get much better than brown paper on the table, a wooden mallet and a dozen jumbo crabs at Mike's! I came with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town and had Maryland crabs on her "must do" list. I had heard about Mike's but never visited myself so I was praying that we wouldn't be disappointed. Let me tell you, as far as crabs go, Mike's is the real deal. The fact that it is situated on the water and the Margarita's are fantastic just adds to the charm of this place. Do yourself a favor, next time you are in the mood for crabs, go to Mike's. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Juliet G.
Went for lunch and disappointed with selection. Has soft shell crab sandwich which was just okay. Nice locale though on the water and parking lot is a plus.
(3)
Ricky H.
This place was eh.. just ok. The crabs were pretty good, but the baked potato I had was dryer than the sahara desert. Excessive amounts of butter and sour cream were necessary. The waiter was a ghost. We could never find him when we needed him. Oh , and the kids drinks are more expensive than the regular ones. Boo.
(2)
Ardon G.
Great food - Great place - Great time August, on the water, big pile of hot crabs on the table.... does it get any better than this? NOPE. Crabs were expensive ($60 a dozen) - actually everything was pricey but Mike's is definitely a classic Maryland "place to go" for crabs. Anyway on to the crabs. They WERE AMAZING. Properly spiced, heavy and large. Side dishes were generous and good. Loved the oysters on the half. We tried one of almost every side and all were good. Drink service was the only area that I think needed improvement. It was kind of hard to get your drink on when the servers are so difficult to find... and when you do get her attention - she is distracted and busy, busy, busy.... Come to think of it - we might have stayed longer and gotten another dozen crabs if only she had been a little more attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!. I'll just near the bar next time! :-)
(4)
Michael W.
I decided to take a friend from Brazil for crabs and thought this place was a nice touristic crab joint. The restaurant is located in a marina and one can stop the boat right in front of it. The day we went (a Sunday) the restaurant was quite full and most people were there for the crabs. In my opinion, the food is all right (not great, just all right). I am not a big fan of crabs and therefore I am not in a position to judge, but my in laws told me the crab was not seasoned properly. We had a portion of Maryland crabs, potato skins and a fried fish platter (for my daughter). The service was slow and the waiters were never available when we needed them. Despite of that, we had fun there and I would probably go back, should I need to take other friends for eating crabs. All in all, it is a good place for crabs and beer....
(3)
Amir D.
Oyster's and crab cakes were delicious! Awesome view as well!
(4)
Sucre-ski S.
i really dig this place but i have a snaking suspicion the locals know better. it's the closest crab house i could find when visiting D.C. and it's relatively easy to drive to in addition to being large and scenic with a dock & deck along the water. i think you could even tender your boat along the dock. the enormous parking lot seemed just over half full and the place was packed pretty good on a weekend, and being seated was not a problem as there were plenty of open tables. four of us got five crabs each and we were pretty satisfied. i liked the crabs but being a (yankee) city slicker i don't really know any better ... the waitress claims they were large but i'm not so sure. doesn't really matter to me but if you're picky about your crabs, you should find the review of a true local.
(4)
Farida A.
Went here for the first time last Friday night, and had a pretty great experience. There was a bit of a wait but we just walked the dock and sat by the water to kill time. We ordered crab legs (listed under appetizers) and got two huge clusters of crab legs - for less than $10! They were so meaty and delicious. Luckily we also ordered some other appetizers, cuz I got sick of the craby taste after a while. The calamarie was delicious, so were jalapeno poppers! I wish I had saved more room for the poppers, they were really tasty. The virgin pina coladas were pretty good too.
(4)
Jamie H.
Mike's has HANDS DOWN the best she crab soup in Maryland. I heart Mikes, really good food and not just the rockin crabs. Sometimes the hostess runs away but the servers are pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bathrooms, they need to update it.
(4)
Staci C.
Smells a little fishy when you walk into the restaurant and food was average... Definitely not gourmet seafood. Would be fun if you had a big group, and wanted to hang out on the deck.
(2)
Lee P.
The location and the view outside is definitely nice, HOWEVER, we received the worst service ever. We walked through the front and were directed to the back of the restaurant to be seated outside. We could barely understand what the hostess was saying due to her lack of English speaking skills. Why would you have someone who speaks little English at the front of the house? We get to the stand outside where a group of young kids are too busy chatting to notice we are waiting. They then direct us to another table around the corner to be seated. What is the point of having three check ins when only one can actually help you? We had to give a form of ID to receive a pager- b/c who wants to take one home, really? We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before being sat, which wasn't too bad considering we went in at lunch time and it was gorgeous outside. Our waiter Blake, taped his name to our table... he didn't do very much more than that. We ordered the crab dip to start with- it was surprisingly mediocre and was overpowered with horseradish. We were never asked if we wanted refills on our drinks from the bars. My bf's food came out 15 mins before mine, so he had to wait until I was served my Chesapeake chicken sandwich. He did enjoy the hush puppies, but wasn't impressed by the watered down flavorless clam chowder that wasn't accompanied by crackers. My chicken was a thin slab of overcooked meat on the grill with the crab on the side. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. If you want a real Chesapeake go to Seaside in Glen Burnie, MD. They weren't too busy once we were sat, but apparently we were expected to eat with our hands since we were not given silverware. We got up and got it ourselves. We must have also been expected to choke on our food since we never got drinks. After being very displeased with the service, we asked to speak with the manager on our way out. It took 10 minutes for another hostess to come back and ask us what our question was. I told her we didn't have a question; we specifically asked to speak to a manager directly. The manager was something else... an middle aged man trying to act cool and mellow. I highlighted that we were not looking for a free meal and that we had already paid, but wanted to express our absolute disappointment with the service. His response was "ummm, well, my name is Anthony if you ever need anything in the future let me know. I'll talk to my staff. We've had a busy weekend- we've already ran out of shrimp..." I've had management experience in the retail world and I would've handled things much different. How about an apology to begin with? They had plenty of staff on hand to accommodate the customers that day- girls in pink shirts everywhere. It was impossible not to run into them. I would not recommend anyone to come here other than for the view, which can be found else where.
(1)
Jimbo J.
Should be renamed Mike's Bar and Disappointment House. Drove 30 minutes around dusk to learn that Mike's Bar and Crab House had run out of crab.
(1)
Angela M.
Great crab everything - yummy! The crab dip is amazing; the mini crab bagel bites are even better. Whenever I'm feeling crabby, I know I'll be back! The Tuna Caesar salad wasn't too shabby either...I liked that the waitress came out and asked how I wanted my tuna - medium rare, and ooh was it good. Maybe a tad too much pepper for my taste, but grilled just right. This restaurant is right on the water, so you can look out and see the sunset over the waves. It's very casual and very chill here. Expect to see clothes ranging from flip flops and sunglasses to button-ups. Mike's is huge - you can sit out by the water on the patio, inside on the picnic benches or in the normal restaurant area. It's an interesting place to eat and a great place to hang out with friends. You can get rowdy and nobody minds! The service is friendly and prompt and I liked not having to wait too long for my food even though the place was stuffed. You get bonus points for that! I'll come back when it's warmer and sit on the patio! Ok, I'm bored with this review....
(4)
Bradley S.
Just an awful visit. Slow service, wrong food and just boring!
(1)
christine c.
So glad that it's crab season again. I was not sure if it's still too early for steamed crabs so called Mike's and they have large crabs for $65/doz. The place we used to go to is Crab Claw in St Michaels but this time wanted to give Mike's a try - it's much closer from WDC for one thing. This restaurant is quite similar in ambience to Crab Claw - waterfront location, quite a large outdoor section, with seating under a canopy or under umbrellas. We got there around noon and were seated on the deck right away (it's a Saturday and they don't seem to take reservations) as the restaurant was less than half full. There's something about eating steamed crabs outdoors on the waterfront, it's just so pleasant and you are not worried about making a mess. The service was very friendly and efficient, and our order came right away. The crabs were surprisingly good - usually early in the season the meat might not be very solid, but these ones came with tightly packed meat in every single one and were really fresh and delicious. The only thing that could be improved upon is they could be spicier. As it was they were a bit bland, although there is old bay seasoning you can dip them in it's not quite the same (the crabs at the Bethesda crab house as well as Crab Claw are a lot spicier), steamed in spice adds a whole lot more flavor to the crabs. Since I haven't been there before I was not sure whether this is their style or it just happened not to be spicy today. Hopefully they can do it spicier next time!
(4)
Pat O.
Service has gone down hill. After being show to our table no waiter came for 20 minutes even through the place was not busy. After we complained to the hostess we waited some more and still no waiter came so we eventually left.
(1)
Jessica V.
Great end to a great weekend. Everything we had was amazing: Full sweet crabs, rich cream of crab soup, fresh briny oysters, hot steamed spiced shrimp. Omigosh. I wish I could have it all right now. Nothing fancy, just delicious fresh seafood.
(5)
Rose M.
What a great way to end the weekend in Annapolis, MD. This place is a huge, low-key seafood restaurant that sits on the water on a pier. Customers can literally dock their boats and walk right into the place! As soon as you walk in you can see that it is a family place and each table was stacked with crabs, clams, mussels, you name it. I learned to eat crab legs for the first time there and they were delicious! We also had the calamari and, yum!, that was probably the freshest, most tasty that I've had that didn't cost me my entire paycheck! Also, there was live music being played that night we went in the bar area, which somehow they manage to make feel separate from the restaurant using good partitioning and lighting. I recommend this place for an easy-going night of clams, drinks, and fun!
(4)
Mark T.
We decided to give Mikes another try after a very poor first experience. Unfortunately our second visit was worse. One fish entre was very undercooked and the other entre was very over cooked. The service was almost adequate though server was hard to find when we needed him. We will not be back to Mikes... There are simply too many other better options in Annapolis area.
(1)
Patrick H.
I've added some photos.
(4)
Sterling A.
A Summertime must-do! Food and drinks are excellent. SIt out on the deck and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Make sure you try an Orange Crush or one of their other drinks.
(4)
Keely H.
OOOO crabs! Can you believe it took me three years of living in Maryland before I went to get crabs? Well, it did. Finally last weekend Craig, a few friends and myself went to enjoy some of the wonderful little pinching crustaceans. We ordered a 18 medium crabs, and they arrived on a platter, steaming and wearing little coats of Old Bay. Craig had the Shrimp Jammers, and my friend had chicken strips and onion rings, all of which looked good. I was a bit timid about diving in at first, but after a quick lesson on how to take the blasted thing apart I was cracking like a pro. Six or seven crabs later I was sick of cracking, sick of crabs and ready to leave the loud, florescent patio on which we were sitting. The only thing I was disappointed about was the lack of plastic bibs...it would've made the fun experience a whole lot better, and made for some good pictures as well. 3.5 stars, I suppose I'll have to take my own next time.
(3)
Tonya H.
This place is awesome. Vicky was great to us and the food was excellent. I had a BBQ shrimp and bacon skewer with rice. Perfectly cooked. The drinks were good and the Patron shots went down too easy and that's why I haven't got out of bed yet. I wish they did Bloody Mary deliveries! The outdoor seating is great and right on the water. Love it! The singer stayed longer to serenade me as well. Fun fun!
(5)
Tim M.
Mike's makes my #3 crab house in the region/county falling a short behind to Cantler's and Harris'. Having said that it beats both of those places in terms of overall atmosphere being very much at water level and in a marina with a spectacular view of the South River. I don't typically eat anything but crabs here but I do always order some 'filler' which believe it or not is almost always the macaroni and cheese off the kids menu - I 'kid' you not. Their mac and cheese is Kraft-out-of-the-box style (it might actually be the same stuff) but it is always great to me and a bit of a Mike's tradition now. Crabs are always good here and are competetively priced and they have them year round and in a good choice of sizes and an All U Can Eat option. I'm a big fan of the Cherrystones either raw or steamed as they are typically HUGE. Check the happy hour menu for daily specials (all day/night) as there is usually always something different. In season they have steamers (soft shelled clams) which I'm not the biggest fan of actually because I find them to be very gritty but they are popular. Don't ask for melted butter with your crabs - you just might get thrown out of the place! Service here can be spotty in the warmer months as they typically hire a block of Eastern European students that can hardly speak english and really don't know a thing about the culture of a crab house - I bet some of them have nightmares about it actually lol. Off season it's local help and always very good. If you're brave enough to try to go here on a Friday or Saturday night during season be prepared to wait in line first in the parking lot and then in the restaurant - it be a BIZZY place on them days...
(4)
Craig R.
Mike's really surprised me. My expectations always seem low whenever I'm going to someplace that isn't in Annapolis so I was pleasantly shocked when I went in. The place is big. They have a huge seating selection. It's right on the water so there are seats inside, at the bar and on four decks/patios. Moreover, they have a tiki bar outside that's surrounded by a nice little garden on one side and water on another. We ended up sitting outside for awhile until all the servers were done with their shifts and moved into the bar area. The menu looked pretty good, but all that was had was the medium blue crabs. I didn't get there in time to have any, but everyone at the table seemed to enjoy them immensely. Their beer selection is a little lacking, but anyone that has Blue Moon on tap is alright with me. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was that they served all the alcohol in plastic cups. I don't think my cup looked like a pint. I don't want to pay full price for a skimpy portion. In the bar area, they had some live music (which was actually pretty decent for once) and plasmas so you could catch all the day's action. Mike's had a great view and pretty decent food. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area.
(4)
Daniel H.
went to 5 different crab places in MD. this place was the best. great view, service, and food.
(4)
Sean B.
Stopped here on the way to BWI from DC recently, and it was a great last stop before heading back to the landlocked confines of the Midwest. Wonderful views, friendly service, and reasonable prices for crabs ($20 for half-dozen medium to large) make this a place I'd definitely recommend.
(4)
M C.
My dearest Yelpers, you have never failed me, and tonight was no exception. Mike's was FANTASTIC! Food: Get the crabs. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. In heaven, all seafood is seasoned with Old Bay. Hush puppies get a major shout-out too. 5 stars Service: Hostessing system is a little weird, you have to walk through the restaurant to get to the outside stand, then you have to give them something with your name on it to get your pager. Mmmkay. However, our server was amazing! She even took our picture by the water (bonus) and swapped out a nasty margarita. Very nice. Atmosphere: Waterfront at sunset, you can't really beat that. I could have done without the screaming children throwing crab parts next to us, but family style means family style..... I guess. Also, as other reviewers note, you barely notice how long you've waited for a table when you sit out on the deck and listen to the live music. I dig this place. They will see me again. All in all, forget the other crab houses in Annapolis. Hit up Mike's!!
(5)
s p.
Mike's is a classic Maryland Crab House- one of the few around Annapolis. The crabs are hot, the beer is cold- everything else is fried. The service is so-so but that is because it is all the local high school kids who probably have more tables than they can handle. But what do you expect from a crab house?
(4)
Jeremy S.
Went here w/ my fiancee and her friends; we ordered the crabs, of course, as well as onion rings and some cole slaw. The crabs were very fresh, and so it was easy to remove the meat simply by a skilled twist of a leg. Some notes: (1) the prices are rather high, and things can get very expensive very fast if you have a few big, hungry men in your party; (2) Mike's offers free refills only on iced tea, and not on soda (unlike many other crab places in Maryland); and (3) the service is very slow, and often inattentive; it took us quite a long time to get mallets and switch buckets in which to discard our crab remains. Overall, though, a fun place to go for dinner.
(4)
Noel A.
Me and the kids out on a Sunday drive, just enjoying the day when we came across Mike's. What a find!!! Good food, Great Crabs, and our waiter Ricky was Great. I will be back with the wife. Truly a Great Experience!!!! Thanks Guys!!!
(5)
Mike G.
We arrived with family from out of town at about 2:30 PM on a Sunday. Got a table outside with a good view, without waiting. We ate a dozen oysters on the half shell, a dozen steamed Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, 2 orders of fried shrimp, crab soup, corn on the cobb, and calamari. Everything was terrific except the calamari; we were guessing the oil temp must have gotten out of wack. When we told our waitress we didn't like the calamari, she immediately volunteered to take it off our bill and she followed-through in doing so without us mentioning it again. Portions were genrous, prices were right and my guests couldn't have been happier. I gave it $$ even though the crabs were a bit steep. I called several places this morning, including a carry-out only steamed crab merchant and they are just more expensive everywhere this year than in previous years. Mike's steamed crab prices were competitive. It was the perfect, outdoor, picnic table, brown kraft paper-table "cloth," crab eating, by the water experience. Plus, their other dishes were good as well.
(4)
Laurie W.
Going to Mike's for anything other than crabs, and then complaining about it, is like going to Ledo's and complaining about the fried chicken. (I don't usually do the insider local thing, but y'all know what I mean, right?) Just don't do it. Mike's exists to serve crabs, and also beer, while giving you a nice view of the river along with some fine people-watching opportunities as well. The crabs and beer duo is doled out perfectly, and copiously. Thank you o lord of the river for buckets of Corona! These days they typically have large crabs available (last time it was $65 a dozen), and they're decent - good amounts of meat, crazy amounts of Old Bay. If you ever have problems with the price or quality of crabs you get when you eat out, do a Google search on the state of the crabbing industry and you'll likely understand. It's a different world. Raised by a great-grandmother and grandparents who taught us how to pick crabs before we could tie our shoes (maybe even speak?) means it's just something you do. You don't think about it. I also have to wonder why anyone who is grossed out by the crab picking experience would go to a place chock full of shells and mustard, but I'll take THAT snobby Marylander point outside. The service is efficient and friendly - crab house style. On our most recent visit (this place is a family favorite for our extended group of native Marylanders) a bad storm blew our party inside from the deck. Our server moved us with no fuss whatsoever, and we picked our mallets back up in about five minutes. The salad bar is better than average, if a little pricey at $6.95, if you want some greens with your shellfish. The only other part of the menu I look at is appetizers. The raw bar stuff is decent. I got clams casino on an earlier visit this summer and it was okay. Like I said, this place is for crabs. And beer. Entree options are better at any number of restaurants nearby, so I'd go there if you're after anything other than the main event. There is also a full bar inside, but it looks like smoking is still allowed in there. It might be a decent place to wait, which is a frequent issue here in the summertime, but you can hang out on the deck outside and wait for a table as well. Sunset is a particularly nice time to be there.
(5)
Mike C.
My first visit and it was great. A really good location right on the water about 30min. from DC. They had a Lobster special we took advantage of $15 for Whole Maine Lobster with all the trimmings. It was a lot of food and never seen a deal like that for $15. I have had better at other places but not as much food for the money. Being right on the water was an added bonus. I know the Crabs are the big draw here I am not a fan of Maryland crabs so I never order them. A great family place lots of fun.
(4)
Bri P.
Bad food & worse service. The only thing worth the $ was the Crab Imperial...totally not worth the drive, the money, or the patience you will have to muster up with your inattentive waiter!
(1)
Nicole L.
Oh boy, do I have something to write about this place. The reason it is getting one star is because the service is by far the worst I ever experienced. Thanks Ms Kelly! This is how it all began....I got there at 1 PM on July 3rd and when I got seated I was told they are out of crab, have you heard of such a thing? A crabhouse is out of crab? Anyhow, so I was asked if I wanted to wait till 2 PM - do you know I drove 1.5 hrs to get there just for crabs? So I waited....ordered some beer, clam casino and seafood potato skins. Clams were great with whole clams, some fillers and a nice slice of bacon on top - 6 for $8.50 and potato skins filled with scallops and shrimp - 3 for $9.50. They were not too bad while I wait for the crab. The diners next to me heard what happened and offer some of their crabs - they were big, meaty and very tasty! When 2 PM rolled around, the waitress said there's another 45 min -1 hr wait because of some traffic on BWI. That's the biggest load of crap I ever heard. So at this point, do I walk away or wait for 45 min? I waited and finally when the waitress announced that the crabs were here I ordered the half dozen immediately. Diners all around my table had dined and left and new diners sat down. As I sat there, half drunk half starving for crab in frustration, I saw trays of crabs being served to ALL, did I mentioned ALL??? Yes All around me - everyone got their crabs. You would think they would feel a sense of urgency to serve my table after almost 2 hours of wait. I was utterly disappointed and speechless by that point. Then when I got my crabs - they were half the size of the charity crabs I got 1 hr ago and is pretty much hollow on the inside. AND they are suppose to be the the same LARGE crabs. That is, in my yrs of dining history the biggest bullshit ever. I never knew a restaurant could single handedly hold a record for ruining my July 3rd holiday and dining history record! Sad to say, 2 hrs and $90 later, I will NEVER go there again.
(1)
Christine S.
The setting for the restaurant is very classic...it sits right on the water, where there's a dock that goes out to the boats that carry the people who catch the seafood. They have good specials, like a whole bucket of mussels for $7. The crab cake sandwich was really good, too. It's a fun atmosphere. The dessert kind of sucks though...I tried the apple pie and it was cold and tasted like it came from a package.
(3)
Lenny T.
Great setting for a meal of crabs which is a good portion of my rating, I find that crab houses are often more alike than different. But, this place in MD serves its crabs quickly and with just the right amount of old bay seasoning so that you can actually taste the crab! The perfect accompaniment with your crab fest is beer by the pitcher, raw oysters as a starter, and naked boiled potatoes and corn on the cob when in season. The day we went was beautiful along the water and the place even had a live band plaing on deck!
(4)
Kasandra G.
I have to say, I've been here many times in the past year and I have never had a bad meal here. I think it's one of the best non-fancy seafood restaurants in Annapolis. It's right on the water, they have a good selection and good pricing. If your looking for a family place that has great seafood- you've found it!
(4)
Matt K.
Visited Mike's after reading the reviews left on Yelp. It was great! Just what we looking for - great food away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
(4)
Molly P.
Great casual atmosphere, fresh seafood and reasonably priced. Overlooks the bay (good scenery) A definate destination if in the Annapolis area.
(4)
Viv J.
I have been going to Mike's since my childhood. We even would use their carryout to purchase crabs. So when I go there even now with my mom, I have so many memories. As an adult, I have discovered Harris Crab House. Their crabs, corn, atmosphere and service is much better. Yesterday, we did not feel like taking the drive across the bridge so we went to Mike's. While the crabs were good, our waiter Jordan was the worst. We waited for about 20 mins for him to even come over to greet our table. When he finally came, he informed us that he was waiting on a table of 10. So I asked him, should we request another waiter. Jordon told us no. Well we should have because the service went down hill from there. Several times, we had to search for him to get his attention. He forgot to bring the corn-on-the-cob and other items. It was so bad that when I stopped another waiter to find Jordan, she knew exactly who had our table. She never asked us for a description or name, I assume he had a reputation for bad service.
(2)
J.C. L.
Mike's gets two stars from me. One for the crabs, one for the view on the deck. I have been to this place several times, with groups ranging from two people to six and never have spent less then $100 and I am no roller. The service stinks, on or off-season. Truthfully I have never consistently received such bad service at one place ever. There are no free refills on any drinks except iced-tea which initially cost you $2.16 + Tax. When inspecting the bill I came to find that children's cups, also non-refillable are $1.50. The adult beverage is $1.25. I just kinda feel like that's a bend me over and put a mirror in front of my face so I can watch you statement. Had the snow crab legs, they were totally over cooked and soggy. Let me remind you the crabs are good, the best around on a nice day right out on the water. So if you go, go for crabs but don't expect much more.
(2)
Mike L.
I generously give Mike's two stars -- for the view. The food and drink -- not so much. If you want crabs, they do ok. I've had better crabs plenty of places, but they are pretty much your standard steamed and seasoned Blue Crab. That's the extent of the positive things I have to say. The rest of their menu is promising, but ends'up tasting like it came out of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Their drinks are small, expensive and weak. On a clear non-humid day, sitting on their outside deck and pounding back a few overpriced drinks is ok, but if you're looking for a memorable experience, pass on Mike's.
(2)
Gayle S.
For informal seafood experience, this is the place. Steamed crabs and shrimp covered in Old Bay spices, unlimited lemonade, and the lovely river view from deck or inside makes me a fan. I can't believe how fast they can serve the hordes that show up for weekend dinners, so I go even without a reservation knowing I'll be well attended. (The little market behind the restaurant is also worth a peek, especially if you want to take home some lump crab.)
(4)
Jason L.
Expensive but very good. This was my second business trip to the area and i had to come back to mike's! AgaiN, Service was promt and friendly. The salad bar was ok. The italian dressing had too much vinegar. They were out of bread though. I ordered the broiled crab cake, Shrimp, scallop & roughy. I opted for the baked potato, too. It was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and getting the 1/2 pounds of crab.
(4)
Sandie D.
We had family visiting from NY and their desire was to enjoy a good crab cake and some steamed crabs during their visit. So, we headed for Mike's with a group of eight. This was not our first time to Mike's, but our first time eating steamed crabs there. The crab prices were average. The crabs themselves were good, but nothing over the top. We all began with soup and appetizers. Cream of Crab is definitely my weakness, so I ordered a bowl. Someone at our table also ordered their house specialty soup, Maryland Crab and several people ordered the clam chowder. The soups were average. The cream of crab was not as rich as I like, nor did it contain very much crab meat. The person who ordered the Maryland Crab actually ended up ordering Clam Chowder because she was not fond of the Maryland Crab, but I believe she was not used to that style of soup. Appetizers included Clams and mussels. The mussels were good, the clams a little chewy and lacking in flavor, but than again they were clam.s The big hit at our table was the crabs and french fries. I ordered the the stuffed flounder (with crab imperial). Your choice is cole slaw or salad bar. I most admit I am picky when it comes to cole slaw and I would suggest salad bar. The cole slaw was lacking in flavor and not creamy. Your starch choice was a baked potato or fries. Once again, I like my potato cooked through, so I would suggest french fries. I returned my potato for fries because the potato was hard. The boys loved their sandwiches. They had bacon chicken cheese melts with fries. Two very happy teenagers here. Grandma and the boys also enjoyed Nutty Buddy's for dessert. The view from the deck is beautiful, especially in the summer. They have an awesome bar. The restaurant is clean and roomy. The service is usually average. I have yet to have a server who actually is on point with checking back specifically on the food or on the regular and I have been here during the busy summer and the slower periods of time. All in all, I'd say if you want a nice view and want to enjoy some crabs and beer, a good place to go. If you want to enjoy bar food and catch a game, great bar atmosphere.If you actually want a nice seafood dinner, probably not the place I'd suggest.
(3)
Jeffrey M.
Drove out to Mike's for some soft shell crab sandwiches. We had them broiled at the waiter's suggestion and they were very good. Not out-of-this-world excellent, but very good. We'll probably go back again - it's a 45 minute drive from the middle of DC.
(4)
Angel W.
Okay, so I've passed this place a MILLION times, but never stopped before, I will now! There were 4 of us and we opted to sit under the canopy. There was a man playing a guitar and singing "Locomotion." He was just ending his set when we got there though, so that's all we heard. En route to the table, the manager causes a beer to go flying towards 2 of the guests. He offered to buy our first round of drinks and apologized.....good trip already!! I ordered the pina colada and it was GOOD. We ordered 3 dozen medium males. After waiting for a few minutes, we were informed that there were no more mediums! In my opinion, we should have been offered larges for the the price of the mediums, so we ordered two dozen larges and an order of fries. The crabs were GOOD. They were well-seasoned and were super MEATY. There was a crab that was hollow, but our server replaced it with a better one, so that was good. Our server was wonderful at getting us what we needed and was very friendly. I'll def be going there again...just gotta make sure I have my money right.
(4)
Connie M.
Business lunch sitting on the water. We can stop here. 5 stars for the view. There were 9 of us and it was a sunny day. Service wasn't slow and it wasn't fast. We started with wings ($8.50) and bacon wrapped shrimp ($10). Shrimp was served on rice. I had ice tea which was constantly refilled by our young server. I had a cup of cream of crab soup ($5) which was tasty. Not the best I ever had, but still yummy. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which came with fries and I was sharing with someone who ordered the shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cake was good. Not a lot of filler ($11). The shrimp salad was something to write home about! First, lots of shrimp. I was expecting little petite shrimp but these were not the baby shrimp that get thrown on a salad. These were the size of small shrimp in a chinese stir fry! For $8.25 it was plentiful and perfectly seasoned with mayo and celery. Let me describe this shrimp salad by asking...have you ever walked away saying that the shrimp was better than the crab cake? Me neither...until today. I can't wait to go back just for that sandwich! We also had the Jamaican Jerk chicken sandwich ($9.50), Fried Flounder ($10.50), Salmon Caesar ($14). I could have sat there all afternoon with a frozen tropical drink and pretended that I was on a private beach. View: 5 stars Ambiance: 4.5 stars Service: 4.5 stars Food: 4.25 stars - Shrimp Salad 5 stars
(4)
Jacob C.
They gave us a takeout menu yet told us they don't do takeout during weeks?!?! What?! Need to educate these folks.
(1)
Erin B.
Unfortunately I am unable to review the food. After being told there was a 20 min wait and waiting for over an hour and a half, to be told there was still a 20 min wait and that we would have to split our party into two smaller tables, we had to leave. Not the place to visit with children, elderly or anyone with diabetic/health issues as this may legitimately life threatening!
(1)
Lucy L.
Crab cakes are huge but are not that tasty. I can do without the filler. It's hard to mess up french fries but they succeeded. Good spot to grab a frozen drink or to eat some crabs but "that about it."
(3)
S S.
Crab cake is the bomb here and steam crabs are amazing !! I came here during the busy time and it was around 2hrs. wait but it was worth the wait. Trust me !!!
(5)
Alyzain J.
Food was great. Ordered the shrimp jammers, Jamaican jerk mahi mahi sandwich, and small/medium crabs. The mahi mahi was slightly overdone but everything else was solid. Also ordered the cream of crab soup. It was delicious but a bit too creamy. Service was good. Ambiance is fun and not too loud. The decor is dated.
(4)
Mandy M.
Ate there 3 times and it felt straight out of the 80s when restaurants would impress you with the amount and the greasiness of the food. It wouldn't take much to transport this restaurant just one decade ahead, e.g. use different potatoes for the french fries. They are horrible. Also, offer the fish prepared some other ways than fried. I am not suggesting sushi but there must be some fine recipes for that great tasting haddock. And maybe the bacon wrapped shrimp could have some flavors too other than just... bacon. Service was great, and I tipped accordingly. Didn't mention the food. Until now.
(2)
Pete V.
Mike's is now my go-to for Maryland crab...although I don't think the crab here is actually from Maryland. In fact, I was here one time where I read they sourced the crab from Louisiana and Galveston, TX. Well...that aside, the crab here is pretty darn tasty, the service always friendly, and where else can you snag a table out on the dock, down an couple of Nattie Boh's and dig into a plate full of delicious crab seasoned with none other than heaping spoonfuls of Old Bay? We usually go here for lunch on the weekend, and the wait around lunchtime for an outside table is always at least 45 min to an hour (so plan accordingly). If you go here on a sunny summer Maryland day, and elect to sit inside, especially with views of the beautiful river, boats, etc. then you are not invited to eat with me :) Now, when you order, do as the romans do and order a huge plate, maybe a dozen or so LARGE crabs. In fact, sometimes they have JUMBO, which is a bit more expensive ($125 for a dozen maybe), regardless, make sure you order the LARGE crabs (usually $80 per dozen), and do not get the medium ones, as they are not nearly as tasty, and you will put forth a ton of effort breaking them open for not much ROI. Don't be stupid, and just pay the extra money for the LARGE or JUMBO and you will not be disappointed. Traditionally they will serve the crab with a bowl of Old Bay seasoning. Break open your crab, dip the meat in the seasoning and enjoy! Mike's Crabhouse is an institution and one of my favorite spots to sit out by the water, enjoy a beer, and crack open Maryland-style blue crab all afternoon.
(4)
Renee M.
The best crab joint around. Great thing about Mike's is the food is always great. The crabs have never disappointed me. The best is the swirl margarita from the outside bar! Yummy!
(5)
Buster C.
I took the time to drive from DC to Annapolis to visit the fabulous Mikes Crabhouse. A fellow employee made an enthusiastic recommendation. Generally I always have the hesitation blues about eating in rural Maryland. We, however got good seats and table and our waiter was friendly. The crabs were pretty good, however, the top six were piping hot the bottom six were refridgerated cold. Logical deduction, the crabs are shipped. However there's not enough crabs in the bay to support the restaurants. We get that. Even cold, we were happy. They were beautiful and presentation can go along way, especially with the women. My wife was very happy and wants to come back next week.
(4)
Janice E.
We ordered large crabs very meaty and just the right old bay spice.Ron Jeremy was there having his pic taken with the patrons and staff.
(4)
Cindy T.
Love the food and service at Mike's Crab House...if you don't mind the wait, the outdoor seating is great as well.
(4)
Greg M.
Stopped by for a quick lunch before flying back to H town. Ordered dozen oysters on the half shell to start. Had to soft shell crab sandwich broiled. Took forever for the oysters to arrive, however, it was worth the wait. Nicely sized and tasty. Sandwich was very good, with the condiments served on the side. Gorgeous day to sit out on the deck by the water.
(4)
Jamie P.
We stopped at Mike's on our first night in town. It was perfect for our family of 7. We could eat outside at the picnic tables by the water and the noise level was perfect for our 5 kids. We could all talk and still hear one another, yet the kids talking was not an inconvenience for anyone else. Our Waitress was very patient, willing to explain the different ordering options for the crabs and made a very accurate recommendation for what would be best for our crew. She also brought out pitchers of water to help everyone. She new that it was too busy for her to keep up with the drinks so her proactive approach was appreciated. However, with that being said, the refills for the soda were few and far between. Ultimately, there was something for everyone and the service was very good. Personally, I had a 1/2 dozen of the large crabs and an order of hush puppies. I found it to be more than enough, as my kids shared both with me. It was a blast to watch them eat crabs for the first time. They actually worked together to figure out how to do it. My wife had a buffalo chicken sandwich that she indicated was delicious. My oldest son, age 13, had the crab quesadillas. He indicated seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. Our others had the pizza and chicken tenders. We would certainly stop here again.
(4)
Kida B.
Call today around 8:00pm they said that they had crabs avail however I got here at 9:02 and they said that they don't serve crabs after 9:00pm but they close at 11:30...(smh) it was about 15 employees sitting at the front of the restaurant, I guess they were to tired to cook me some crabs, so I then asked for the manager he came out and was very rude...so I asked him when did they stop serving crabs he said 9:00pm I said so when did you guys started that he then said that they just couldn't cook them because it takes to long...(I will be calling my lawyer ASAP...oh and I'm Native American...I will let friends and family know that this place could be racist. This is my second time here.
(1)
Lauron T.
We came later in the evening; they had a sign that said they were out of crab as soon as we walked in but they were serving crab the whole time we were there. If the policy is that they don't serve it after a certain time, that should be stated. The service was bad, they told us a different closing time. The manager never came out to check on us even though we had legit complaints. The waiter kept saying "sorry bout that" but that doesn't make up for the fact that we never got our side dishes. In fact, after we ordered food, 15 min later he told us that certain side dishes were out and we needed to pick something else. But the only thing available was fried green beans or the nasty salad bar. Also, the waiter never took our trash plates away. Our table was dirty the entire time. the soft shell crab was soggy and the salad bar was dirty. I give two stars bc we've been here in the past and it was good but I'd advise not to go at night ANY TIME
(2)
Alex B.
The mixed reviews really made me question going to Mike's, but holy cow this place is amazing!!! My son and I came here for lunch and were totally impressed, by the food and especially our super service from Shannon. On the food front, we came for crabs, crabs & more crabs. We started with MD crab soup which was very good. We ordered two dozen tasty crustaceans and were very happy, nice full crabs, very sweet and delicious. So happy we went and look forward to many return trips to Mike's!!!
(5)
Julie A.
This was my second stop here in 2 months and it didn't disappoint either time. The atmosphere and staff are excellent, plus the prices are reasonable for how much food you get! I'm not a crab eater (shameful as I'm from Maryland) but the menu is diverse enough that there's plenty on hand for me to eat. I sat on the outdoor patio, water side both times and couldn't have asked for more lovely, laid-back seating! Our waitress was friendly and attentive. My first visit was at night with about a party of 10 & I had the BBQ ribs. Wow. A big, incredible portion that lasted me 3 days of leftovers! During my visit today, for lunch, I tried their Angus Bacon Cheeseburger and it was really good! My daughter had the cream of crab soup and loved it. My husband also had the same soup & the mussel/clam/shrimp combo platter. Everything was fresh & delicious. I did try a bite of a friends crab cake that also joined us & I liked it! I may not be ready for smashing those broiled crabs yet, but I'm working my way towards it & when I do, I'll most likely do it at Mike's.
(5)
Kelly H.
So, we live in Michigan. We make a point to eat foods we can't eat at home when we travel. Not a lot of restaurants sell crabs in Michigan, although I don't know why not. First things first. Their crabs here are not Maryland crabs. They're from the Gulf of Mexico. (Thus my question of why don't they serve crabs in Michigan? If they can get them here, why not everywhere?) Since we didn't know that before we ordered, we ordered the crabs thinking they were local. Here is what we learned: unless you are a professional crab shucker, you should order the more expensive larger sized ones and fewer of them, or you will work darned hard for teeny bits of meat. Also, wear clothes you don't care if they get trashed with Old Bay and butter. Eating crabs is a full body experience for folks like is who do it once a year or so. Fresh crab meat is always delicious. Nothing comes with the crabs, so we ordered the salad to go with it. It was a fine salad, nothing special to write home about. The service was slow, but friendly. We got there about 8:30 and got our food about 9:30. So, bottom line. Mike's was fine. For a dozen small to medium crabs, one soda and a salads, including tax and tip it cost $70. Not necessarily sure I would go back again because it just wasn't something special like I had hoped it would be.
(3)
Ashley W.
I can confidently say I WILL NOT be back here. We visited on Saturday night and were told that we could not order carry-out because they were busy. Seems like a dumb counteractive policy to me, seeing as though if people wanted to leave and eat on their boats, it would make more room in the restaurant for them to seat more people and make more money, but I'm not in the restaurant business so what do I know. We then asked the hostess if we could order a drink and food from the bar and ask for boxes when the food came out. She said that was fine. Half of our party was able to do this, but the other half of the party wasn't. We were told by one of the bitchiest bartenders that I have ever encountered that we have to eat some of the food at the bar before we could have boxes. WHAT? How can you demand that I eat some of my food before I get a box? When someone asked who the manager was the hostess said she didn't know and when we finally requested for him to come to the table he couldn't because he was cooking. This place definitely has some problems...and sub-par food.
(1)
Virtual M.
Good time with friends. Friendly servers. They open at 11am, we got there and we all got seated by 12pm and they were already out of jumbo's. ended up with 3 dozen large ( between several people ) and they were good and had sweet meat, but they were really light for being large and at $75 per dozen I would have thought them to be a little heavier on the meat. The first 2 dozen were cooked great and tasted good, when we got the 3rd dozen they were a bit over cooked and water logged and not pulling out of the shell as easily. The appetizer sampler was good, but small for a sampler, only 3 items and 2 of each. Was not hardly enough for everyone to share. The hushpuppies were good though. Overall, sitting out on the water, throwing down on crab, enjoying cold beer and company of friends, I would do that again at this place. Maybe will come earlier next time to get in on the Jumbo's though.
(4)
Nicole M.
Came here for lunch since it's less than 5 minutes away and I was craving seafood. I didn't experience some of the complaints prevalent with this place. I was seated and served promptly, maybe a 5 minute delay between sitting down and being greeted by a server. The place was neither empty nor full. The outside servers were hanging around but my plates were collected pretty quickly. I had the Steamed Platter appetizer and Salad from the salad bar. The salad bar looked good (showed up at noon so the place had been open for about an hour), spinach greens were fresh as were the other ingredients. I kind of wish they had more of a salad dressing variety but I doubt people come here for the salad. ...which brings me to the next review, my lunch! The Steamed Platter consists of Mussels, Shrimp and Oysters. I had my reservations about whether this would fill me up but that + one trip to the salad bar had me full to capacity. They brought out all the condiments I could ever want (butter, cocktail sauce, old bay, hot sauce, lemon) from the start which I appreciated. The shrimp was HUGE, which I also liked. Some places give you the tiny/medium shrimp but this was clearly Jumbo or bigger. Not soggy, had a satisfying chew to them. The Mussels and Oysters were also fresh, not much of a fishy taste to them but still flavorful. All in all, I like the place. Staff was friendly enough and even though I spent about 40 bucks (food + beer + tip), I feel it was well-spent. One day I'll bring the crew and we'll try their crabs, could make for a fun Summer outing.
(4)
Lenessa T.
It had been years since I ate at Mike's. I was pleased with my food overall. I ordered apps and mostly oysters. I had 3 types (steamed, raw and grilled) and all were good.
(4)
M W.
Best crabs ever!!! Their jumbo's are always on point--huge, meaty and seasoned to perfection. Service is always great. On weekends and busy holidays, there might be a wait but they have benches and picnic tables set up for you to enjoy while they get your table ready. The restaurant sits directly on the water and the view is wonderful. Perfect for sitting and picking crabs all afternoon.
(5)
Martin C.
This place is absolutely amazing. If you are ever in Maryland this need to be a must stop. The service is fantasy and the staff is always friendly. The food is always fresh delicious, I ordered the steam crabs and fried oysters sandwich and could not believe my palette.
(5)
Dawn R.
I'm not going to say that I'll never go back to Mike's, because I have friends who like to go here to hang out and I'll probably join them at some point. But I have no intention of ever coming back looking for a meal. I was meeting a friend for lunch today and arrived at Mike's around 11:40. Since they just opened at 11:00, they weren't very busy yet, and almost all of the wait staff were sitting at a table in the dining room talking. I approached the hostess stand and asked if I could sit "in the bar area". She told me to just go on over, so I went to the bar area and selected a table by the window in the bar. I then saw the bartenders turning on the TVs getting ready for the football games, and asked which TV my preferred game would be on. They told me, so I moved to another table that was closer. I sat and waited and waited....nobody ever came over. After about 10 minutes, I went to the bar & asked for a lunch menu. The male bartender started looking for one, and the female bartender comes up and says "did you want something?" I told her he was looking for a lunch menu for me, and she said "we don't have lunch menus on the weekend, so you'll have to order from the regular menu." I went back to my table to review the "regular" menu while both bartenders still just went about their business and ignored me. Throughout this, I noticed another employee who was sitting across the bar eating who kept looking at me, but I was never approached. After over 20 minutes, my friend arrived and I began to tell her about my experience since arriving. The employee who was eating was listening to our conversation. After he finished his food, he came to me & said "Has a server been here yet?" I told him no, and he then chastised me saying I was supposed to go through the hostess stand before taking a table. When I told him that I had, he then said "Well, she probably just thought you were going to sit at the bar." Excuse me? How about your bartenders who ignored me for over 20 minutes? Wouldn't you think at SOME point somebody would have said "Oh, hey...no server's been over here, maybe we should get someone?" WORST service ever. My friend and I got up and left and had our lunch somewhere else.
(1)
Marie E.
We were visiting family in MD and decided on this place to eat. Had such a blast! Crabs were good - a little over seasoned with old bay, but overall the fattest boy blues I've ever had. Now the crab cakes- best I've EVER had. Pure lump meat, no breading. Pretty amazing! Hope to come back here if I am ever in Maryland again!
(4)
Cathy Q.
Get their Mudslide! So yum! I wished they had bigger straws for their frozen drinks though. :/
(4)
Sandy B.
Went again today, two years later. Had same food and beverage. Was very happy once again.
(4)
Viv G.
We had been meaning to go check out Mike's for a while, so when a coupon came in the mail, we decided it was time. It's a typical diner setting. We went on Tuesday for crab dip, two rib specials and a dozen oysters. It was a lot of food for two people, considering that the dinners come with salad and baked potato or fries. Everything was really good! The oysters were clean and fresh. It was pretty quiet at the restaurant, but I imagine it gets packed on warm nights, especially out on the patio. We want to come back when it's nice out, and to try the crabs. Mike's has a great reputation in Annapolis for the best crabs in town. The only issue we had was the service was slow for the (lack of) patrons in the restaurant. Our server kept disappearing for 15-20 minutes at a time, and as far as I could tell we were her only table. Overall, the value was great. We will be back in the summer!
(4)
First J.
I'm a crab enthusiast and this is the best crab place in town. Make sure you ask for jumbos or large. The service is great and so is the ownership. Tony is one of the nicest gust you could ever meet. This is my spot for crabs
(5)
Victoria M.
The place was packed, but the service was impeccable. Our food came out promptly and our waiter was very attentive. The food was great, and reasonably priced compared to other options in the area. The setting is beautiful- we sat inside and had a great view of the bay. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Denea J.
If you're a crab lover, this is the perfect spot. If not (like me) don't fret, there are plenty of other options. The crab balls are my fave.
(4)
Linda G.
Came here for crabs and had a great experience eating out by the water and sunset. Food was delicious. Busy place -- wait time was 2.5 hours though.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Although the view is awesome, the food is eh....Seasoning is the missing link. I've had way better crab cakes in Baltimore City. I am actually leaving the restaurant quite hungry. :( It's a nice sized restaurant. Great for families and groups. There are a lot of options on the menu....just a little sad they ran out of crabs... I don't think we'll be going back. The staff is very friendly and customer service great. The food just needs a little more umph.
(2)
Carol H.
Food was okay but restrooms were filthy and smelled horrible. I literally lost my appetite thinking that staff we're probably using the same facility. There is no excuse for this in the middle of a Monday afternoon. There was a large number of teenage wait staff sitting around giggling. Glass doors at entrance thick with handprints. Will not be back.
(1)
Jon A.
Worse service ever. Order crabs and forget about it. Because if you are use to DC restaurant type of service you will not get it here. We watched a dirty empty table for 15 minutes before it got bussed. Mean while there is a 2 hour wait. Not the MO if you want to make money.
(1)
JR C.
This is a pretty solid place, just a tad expensive for the food. The view and ambiance are awesome - there isn't much better than sitting on a dock, with a beer, and some seafood. It seemed like everyone was eating crabs, so I asked our waiter (who was pretty slow to greet us) what the deal was, as they weren't on the menu. He told me that they were $70 for a dozen, 35 for a half dozen. I think my mouth remained open for a minute or two, because that's WAAAAAYYY expensive for some boiled blue crabs. Anyway, I skipped on that, and had the broiled rockfish, which was really tasty, but it was like $24! The salad bar was small, but had some good selections, the baked potato was...well, a baked potato. The cherrystones we ordered as an appy were solid. All in all, a nice place for beers and seafood. I can see this place being INSANE on a Friday or Saturday night, so get there early!
(3)
Cory G.
We just finished lunch at Mike's where my colleague found a DEAD FLY in her salad. Underneath - at the bottom. We told the waitress to please take it away and she complied - lovely girl but obviously new. We thought it odd the manager never stopped by regarding the fly but moved on and enjoyed our crabs. When we got the check (over $300 btw due to crabs) we noticed the salad was still on the bill. WHAT? This is where we got frustrated. She admitted to forgetting to take it off. Then we informed her that in this type of situation that's THE MINIMUM required. A visit from the manager is always nice - taking off the rest of the salads is always nice (since no one wanted to eat the rest of theirs after seeing a dead fly in her salad) and maybe a free dessert if they feel like it. None required but for an over $300 lunch for 5 people you think a manager visit also belongs on the minimum. NADA. NOTHING. Just took off 1 salad and scurried away because our guess was she talked to the manager and that's about it. UNACCEPTABLE. Completely. Flys get in food sometimes and at a reputable place there is a way to handle customer service. This is not one of those places. Beware.
(1)
Hanna Z.
Mikes has the best location but some of the worst food. Most of the time their crabs are really good but if you don't want crabs you're screwed... We got a dozen raw oysters.. First off.. They were on a bed of cubed ice so they weren't cold. They looked old and had no real flavor. I ordered the fried chicken but I had to send it back because it was so incredibly dry. Everyone else's food was bland and the seafood was clearly such bad quality. Places like this frustrate me because they get SO much business already off of putting out bad food because their market is people who just want to eat on the water.. Imagine if they simplified the menu and focused on better quality ingredients... The people who come to eat crabs on the deck twice a month will come back more regularly to get food off the menu AND people who seek great food will come there.
Very poor service. Waited 15 mins then had to ask hostess to send a server over. No apology. $75 a dozen for large males. Half were full, but the other half were empty. This happens about half the time. Other times the service is OK. The restaurant just needs to be managed better.
(2)
Brooke B.
Gorgeous deck dining with views of the South River. Tried the bacon wrapped scallops and really enjoyed them! Great service as well! Arrive by car or boat and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Michael L.
Disappointing visit. Won't return. I visit Annapolis occasionally and was looking forward to crabs before heading back to BWI. I typically go to a different place but thought I'd try Mike's since I was nearby for work. I arrived around 4 pm. Mike's had less than 25% of seats occupied. I was seated indoors where I waited about 10 mins for a waiter. (About 9 mins too long in my view). Wait staff were all congregating in a side area joking around while customers were unattended. No manager in sight. In the meantime, a swarm of about 30 flies were buzzing around the INDOOR seating area. When my waiter arrived, I placed my order for crabs. He returned to tell me that the large size crabs were sold out and only small remained, despite the fact that there was a fresh seafood delivery truck unloading crabs in the parking lot. Maybe it was just bad timing on the crabs but the place was not clean and the service was badly in need of a manager. My waiter was friendly enough once he arrived but I had already decided to leave. This place needs a new owner who cares more about customer experience.
(1)
Larry H.
Although Mike's has plenty of tie up space for arriving by boat, a huge outdoor deck, a tiki bar, and even a small pavillion style stage, it's kinda lost it's standing as a true dock bar over the last few years in my book, mostly because they won't bother to regularly bring in live music here to create a party atmosphere anymore. They instead rely on mid week karaoke and trivia nights to try and pull in a subdued mostly 40+ crowd. Hopefully this will change... That said... if you're out on the water and you get the urge for some fat crabs and cold beer, with a great view of the South River, Mike's is definitely worth pulling your boat into for an hour or two.
(2)
Jules R.
The food is four stars by itself... the service is what makes me give Mike's just two stars. I've been coming to Mike's for years, and usually have a great experience. After my experience last night, I don't know if I'll be back. Our waitress was just terrible. I always look on the bright side of things and give people the benefit of the doubt, but this was just too bad for words. It was a Wednesday night, not crowded at all, and she had a BIG attitude from the start of our meal until the end. On top of the attitude, we waited 20 minutes for our drinks to come. My friend asked for A1 sauce for her steak twice, and waited 15 minutes the second time. We asked for some paper towels for the crabs and also waited awhile. Each thing that was delivered to our table was done so by our waitress in silence. She never asked how things were, if we needed refills, etc... and when it was time to pay the bill she got really nasty about us wanting to split the check into two payments. She said she'd write our card numbers down to do so, and we said we weren't comfortable with that and we'd like to see a manager about our experience. She rolled her eyes at that and walked away from us as we were in mid-sentence talking about our checks. Literally 15 minutes later... she comes back and says that the manager is "busy." Honestly, I really doubt she even tried to find a manager at all. What manager would say they're too busy to address a customer concern? On our way out, we told the hostess that we (long-time customers) had our first terrible service, and they said "oh she's new." Being new does not excuse a crappy attitude and terribly slow service. The food was delicious as always - the crabs were meaty and hot and the vegetable crap soup was sooo yummy as always. It was just hard to enjoy the meal over our server's attitude and terribly slow service, to be honest.
(2)
Dennis O.
There is a practice in some, if not most restaurants that add an 18% gratuity to tabs of more than a certain number of people. While I understand this because some people are rude enough it to not tip underpaid and overworked servers, the practice is often abused by a lie of omission. Last night, my group of crews from a yacht racing club, raising money for leukemia, was treated to the ultimate abuse of this practice. One of my more generous crew mates picked up the tab for 5 and left , leaving his card behind. I offered to sign for him and take his card. I asked the waiter if he received a tip and he said "no". I added 20%. Just then, my friend came back to retrieve his card. When I told him about my action on the tip, he told me that 18% had been added. I had a decent crab cake on a separate tab. It was $14 plus one beer It was horribly late and ordered twice from two servers. I wen to the cash register because my tab was grouped with another party and I requested a single tab. Because of the inconvenience and because it was a tab for only one. I offered 20% tip. As it turns out, my single crab cake and beer had 20% plus 18% added to it! Sorry for the long post, but this place does not deserve to be in business! I will never return. To act like this under the guise of supporting our charity is inexcusable. As my other reviews enforce the fact that I prefer praise over punishment, this one was an exception, but one well deserved.
(1)
Nita H.
First visit today, Memorial Day weekend and it was a stunning day on the way. I arrived at 5 to meet 10 other people and the wait was 1.5 hr for inside seating and 2.5 hr for outside seating. The place was packed but we waited near the pier and the views made up for the wait. Finally at 6pm the table was ready. My friend, Ms. K, recommended this spot and she was eager for a bushel of crabs. 3 dozen crabs were ordered as a starter, my buds thoroughly enjoyed them. It was too much work for me so I opted to go with the steamed shrimp and they were really good. After my buds devoured the crabs over a periods of time, we ordered entrees. I had the broiled crab cake sandwich with fries. The crab cake was thick and meaty however it was little to no seasoning on it but I still enjoyed it. The fries were steak fries thickness and pretty good. I tasted the mussels and it tasted like nothing!! I have today that the white wine/garlic drenched mussels at red lobster are more tasty!!!! For dessert I had the key lime pie to go and it was delish! One observation, they ran out of crabs during the 7 o'clock hour! Surprising for crab house! Also, one of my friends had the flounder sandwich and tasty like it was still frozen not a good first impression.
(3)
Nerissa T.
The food was good but the seating hostess are rude. Definitely wouldn't go back if you don't know how to greet paying customers.
(3)
Joseph C.
Cons: 1) It was ungodly hot. Seriously, its the middle of July, turn the AC on. 2) The server was a bit clumsy (dropped/broke/spilled quite a few times). Super nice though. Pros: 1) Crab Cakes. Oh. My God. Huge lump meat barely held together into a massive cake. Awesome. 2) Cream of Crab soup was very tasty, but a little light on the crab meat for my taste. Otherwise it was a standard crab house. The food was generic Maryland seafood. Nothing special. But its done very well and with quality ingredients. You won't leave thinking you've experienced something brand new, but you will say it was a darn good meal.
(4)
E L.
The service was stellar, Megan was professional, thoughtful and personable. The food was ok...not quite what the guidebook promised. The crab cakes meaty yet, they were missing seasoning and the sides passable rather than memorable. I was hoping to leave a bit of positive feedback. I tried to let management know about the quality service at the time of my visit. However, after asking the hostess to speak to manager on duty and waiting for fifteen minutes-- no one showed up....either for compliment or complaint. I left wondering where the best crab cakes in Maryland might be found and pleased I at least met a happy soul.
(2)
Tommy H.
Our experience here was really great. We had very friendly service, great food, a great atmosphere to eat. The salmon Caesar salad and crab cakes were amazing. The salad was very impressive because it was 100% fresh cut lettuce, tomato and onion. The only thing I didn't find great was the size of the beers. They came in plastic cups that definitely seemed smaller than 12 oz. And there was no drink menu. Other than that, this is a must visit place of you're from out of town
On my second visit I was a little more pleased with the food, as I knew what to expect. The service was a little spotty but they were very busy so that is understandable. I think the great thing about the place is its water views and laid back atmosphere. It is fun for a lunch or dinner out - nothing fancy.
(4)
Deborah N.
Hey, nice setting, right on the water. Nice deck bar. It was closed today because of the heat (over 100 degrees). It's not like the servers waaaaant to be walking out in that heat to deliver the goods, and frankly, I didn't blame them at all. Other waterfront establishments I visited on my big day today (did a big loop of Anne Arundel in an attempt not to be ignorant the next time I wanted to waterfront drink/dine) had a bit of a breeze, but the air was quite still at Mike's. Inside you've got a typical crab house, wooden tables, benches, covered by paper towels. This one in particular seemed nice and spacious and clean. Window tables had a nice view of the water while dining patrons stayed cool in the bounteous AC. Food looked great and I (picky, picky me) will have no problem returning to sample it. Today was just about checking it out and having a quick drink.
(4)
Jet L.
Solid food, service, and location earns this spot a conservative 3 star review. I anticipate a 1 star upgrade when we return to try a tray of crabs! We observed many-a-trays being hoisted to a number of tables around the restaurant, and the crabs looked on point! As for the food we tried - cream of crab, the steamed combo, and the broiled crab cake sandwich and fries. The cream of crab was purdy good...much tastier once we flagged down the waitress to bring us some old bay (i know, i was confused too as to why it wasn't on there in the first place...). The steamed combo app (oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp) served well as a satisfying lunch for one - the mussels and clams were the highlights of the spread. I had the crab cake sandwich (minus the bread) which came with fries. The fries were so-so, but the crab cake, while on the wee side, was mighty good. Like I said, we'll be back...looking forward to CRABS :)
(3)
Kathy B.
I just drove about 15 miles out of the way with my elderly mother and sister to check out Mikes based on the yelp reviews and a taste for seafood. I went in for take out because my mother could not get out of the car. After waiting in line the hostesses told me I would have to place a take out order from Mikes store around the corner. The ladies in the store told me they can't order from the kitchen! I went back to the restaurant and stood in line again for the hostesses to tell me they don't do take outs on the weekend!!!! The hostesses seemed to have "attitudes". We left. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
(1)
PInk P.
A great water front restaurant with great food! Good thing it just walking distance from home. I also love their specials like oyster and mussels. It's only $.50 apiece during weekdays
(4)
Karen T.
Manager Fatima accommodated us w/ complimentary oysters (usually one has to return for the free appetizer) to compliment our crab cake (2) dinners (2). Jimmy fed us right & set us up w/ all the fixin's. Our food came fast, we had water front seating & food was great. Crab cakes had enough filling to keep them together, had the nice bite of dry mustard & the sweet taste of fresh crab. I couldn't finish the 2. Can't wait for lunch left- overs tomorrow. Check out Mike's!
(5)
D M.
I'm being generous bcs we were told our wait was 45 mins & we sat having a drink until we realized it was twice the wait. That's just wrong--as 'no wait staff' came around to the open picnic seating where we were in a group of table-waiting patrons. Perhaps the hostess, a mere one yard FROM us, could have updated us once an HOUR passed? Maybe some comp'd crab cakes? Whatever, somewhere else you would have been paid attention to, so boo to you, Mike's. We left to our friends' place in Lothian...we had our OWN BBQ dinner there, which was awesome. Disappointed @ your venue bcs one person urged is to eat crab cakes, and the other blue crab. The visit 'results' were posted on FB (& now Yelp). Congratulations to the management. Retraining to ALL. Sure it was Labor Day & yes, it was packed, yet this is hardly an excuse to understaff the day & ignore folks right next to your hostess. Get it together.
(2)
Amber Z.
Awesome place to get the MD experience and crack open some crab shells! The place is right on the water. They have a separate bar that we went to to wait for a table, which had live music. The food was great and it was really fun!
(3)
Glen B.
Mike's Crab House is one of the best places I have been in a very long time. Not only is the food top notch! The service is outstanding! I love being on the water, the view alone is amazing! I love that you can have your wedding, parties, reception dinners. This is a place everyone should visit at least 3 times a week! I am in love with the food and service! The music is awesome too! Ignore the complaints you can't please everyone! Try it for yourself! I have recommended my friends to eat at Mike's and they love the food and service too!
(5)
jim m.
food good, location beautiful!!!!! big crab cakes hush puppies ok,
(3)
Sarah P.
Mike's was awesome! My Dad was in town for a weekend and wanted to have a "crab experience". After asking a few friends for recommendations we settled on Mike's. We were seated on the patio right by the water and proceeded to spend the next three hours elbow deep in crabs. The staff was amazing and super friendly. The crabs were yummy! The hush puppies were SO good I could've made a meal just off them. The waiter even prought us a bag of ice to keep our beer cold;keeps it cold without watering it down! Brilliant! Can't wait for the weather to get nice again so we cna go again!
(5)
Howard B.
A crab place with no crabs? Yep. I just went to Mikes and they had no crabs. That's like a burger joint with no backup plan for getting meat. I gave it one star because the beer was cold. The service is average .
(1)
Mary C.
We had an average experience here, the food was not exceptional but the outside deck was scenic and provided an average dining experience, nothing horrible but nothing exceptional either'
(3)
Karen P.
In our quest to show our daughter's friend what a Maryland crab feast looks like without grossing her out, we were recommended Mike's. We went on a week day, around 4 p.m. and the parking lot and restaurant was slow with the exception of the bar. We were greeted immediately and seated quickly. We were hungry and ordered the calamari and hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best I've ever tasted. I'm a Marylander and know my hushpuppies. They were bite-sized morsels of goodness with corn kernels in every bite. The sauces were incredible. They served a cinnamon and sugar butter and a spicy asian sauce (my fave). The calamari was served with green peppers, which I thought was a bit odd at first, but it really did bring out the calamari flavors as our waitress mentioned. The calamari was just okay. We ordered more hush puppies, naturally. The crabs came and after a brief tutorial to our guest, the eating began. She LOVED the crabs and surprisingly wasn't grossed out. We ordered 2 of the remaining 4 dozen in the entire restaurant. Once these were gone, that's all folks. They were all male and had a good amount of meat. We were brought melted butter and my daughter and I both agreed that it was the best melted butter we've ever had with our crabs. (Not sure why) Our waitress was AWESOME ... she came to check on us several time and was nice even after I asked her to "hurry up with our hush puppies" in a jockular way because we were extremely hungry when we walked into the restaurant. She obliged and was so pleasant. It started to snow so we hit the road and didn't stay for dessert or coffee. Give it a try. You'll be pleased you did. Just call ahead to see if they have crabs.
(4)
Rob B.
Better service than most crab houses, Tyler was only slightly AOL but too cute to complain. The steamed shrimp and soft shell clams were spot on. My 1/2 dozen large were not. A choice of small/medium mix or large, I got the former, but paid for the latter. Greek salad with chicken was generous. They seemed staffed and ready for the rush, very friendly staff. Better value from Harris' but considering travel and bridge toll, Mike's is a worthy choice. PS They too have the nutty buddy option for a sweet ending.
(3)
Phil G.
We have gone to Mike's many, many times and it's always fun, the food and service is impeccable! If you go ask for Katie T. Section, she's on top of all your food and drinks!
(5)
Elizabeth R.
Everything about Mike's was a great experience. We were quoted 40 minutes for an outside table, so we waited at the bar. The bar has a decent amount of seating, and it was busy, but then again, it was a Saturday night. 40 minutes ended up being 20 minutes, which was off to a great start. The service was fantastic, and since it was our first time at Mike's, she explained a lot of the menu to us and the popular picks. Crabs were being served out of the kitchen left and right... Something we will have to try next time. We opted for soft shell crab sandwiches and they did not disappoint. The prices were nothing to complain about either, not overpriced for good seafood and a great view. It is definitely a casual place, some people were dressed up and others were in shorts and a t-shirt but neither seemed out of place for the type of restaurant it is. After dinner, we had the chance to walk out on the dock and take pictures right at sunset. What a wonderful evening out!!
(5)
Carrie D.
I was really excited finding this place while here on work. I thought what better place 2 miles from my hotel and on the water. I walked in it was busy. Which is usually a promising scenario. The host was pleasant. I sat at the bar since I was alone. And I had very underwhelming service. One of the bartenders was very nice. The other not so much. Which is honestly quite fine by me. I'm not always in a good mood. But what bothered me was her ignoring me while the other girl was busy. She had lots of time to eat soup behind the bar. She was texting on her phone. And just standing by the register with a blank stare. Another guest across from me waited for 10 minutes to eat his food because he had no silverware. I asked for a double with the assumption I'd get it in a tall glass. It literally was a cup of vodka in a short glass, probably pettt. I browsed the menu. I wish I had decided on something more expensive but felt off spending $27 on crab cakes to eat alone at that price. So I opted for the pub haddock sandwhich. No substitutes on sides everyone. I should have asked if it was frozen or battered fresh. Now while I don't know for certain and making the assumption it was hand battered I did not ask my fault. I was under whelmed. It was a very large piece yes but water kept coming out of it. Not grease water. Rather than bother the extremely busy bartender and the one who was not. I ate it. I was hungry. I'd give it one more try at Mikes, but eating in front of guests around drink or food in my book is absolutely disgusting and I did think of leaving. But like I said I was hungry I just worked a 12 hr shift and the Half a bag of gummy worms I had at my hotel wasn't gonna cut it. I'm a foodie. I travel ALOT for work. I'm always looking for great local places. I think I'm going to keep looking on this trip.
(3)
Shawn W.
Good food at a decent price. We sat outside and ate several of their crab dishes which were good. The deck has a nice view and is a great place for a drink and some music on a nice day.
(4)
Robert K.
Two weekends in a row and a solid performance. Ate at the bar, beer cold, glasses as well. Bartender,Kim, was very nice and attentive. Other bus personnel also top notch. I had the salad bar which is fresh and plentiful. It is smaller salad bar with no frills, the lettuce is great,veggies fresh and potato salads etc very tasty. You can order a single trip or multiple which is a nice option. Crab soup is pretty good, a little more tomato based than I prefer still decent. Had cherrystone clams which were fine. My wife's tuna sandwich was absolutely fabulous. It was the largest piece of tuna I have ever been served. It was perfectly seasoned cooked perfectly. What a treat as I was able to help her eat it. Last week we had crab cakes. My wife loved hers and I'll admit they were packed with lump crab meat. I didn't like the taste of my crab cake, they have always been really good but there was just something about the taste I didn't like. They tasted more like filler than crab cake. It doesn't matter because Mike's is great and we'll circle back for the cakes next time. This place is well managed,clean and seemingly has one server per customer. Overall a great experience
(5)
Ashley M.
Great bartender - Amy. Really fresh salad bar - small, but has an attendant to keep it clean and stocked! Fried shrimp was good. Crab legs were also good. Frozen drinks were great - 1/2 strawberry daiquiri 1/2 piña colada!
(4)
Kelly B.
It is quite possible that the food here is decent, maybe even good, if the number of people waiting before 6 pm on a Friday night is any indication...but I'll never know because I will NEVER come back here. The wait to get into the parking lot, which is rather inconveniently shared with a wedding hall, combined with the unbelievably rude attitude of the "parking attendant" put me on edge enough that the wait inside for tables (after we had already called ahead to verify that there was no wait and/or to make a reservation that we were told was not needed) spent what little was left of my patience. So, our epic battle for parking was all for naught as we left with empty bellies and an extreme distaste for this destination. I suppose if you are in the neighborhood of this bar at a low-traffic time it might be worth a try but not for me, ever.
(1)
Meghan C.
Get here early!!! They were out of crabs by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night - fine by me because I hate getting my hands dirty (pretty much on all accounts) but if have your heart set on crabs, go early. We sat on the dock, which was heated and had a great meal. Our server was double, probably quadruple sat when we arrived so he was really busy, but very nice. I had the scallops and they were fabulous, my mom had the crab cakes and they were gigantic - two gigantic, lump crab cakes - very very good. Salad bar and sides are nothing fancy - definitely a low key kind of place with solid seafood. I bet it's insane when the weather is warm!
(4)
Linda W.
Mallet- Check Bucket- Check Paper Towels- Check Old Bay Seasoning/Butter/ Vinegar- Check Table draped over brown paper- Check 1 dozen of fresh blue crabs- Check Now grab a table by the pier and get down to business!!! Link on how to shell and eat crabs correctly: skipjack.net/le_shore/cr… The next few hours at Mike's will guarantee fun & laughs non-stop! We had a whole afternoon of shelling and picking out delicious crab meat! 6 crabs pp is more than enough for a hearty appetite. I do have to point out we did get a crab that look like it had crabs- it had green insides, really unappetizing stuff. The waitress gladly took it back and returned a fresh crab to our plate. Great service..... glad we made it in time for crab season. Def worth the trip for fresh crab & seafood!
(4)
Sabra R.
***3.5 stars*** Great view, good crabs. They were not as big as I'd expected (based on all that I'd heard) but they were heavy and fresh. The service was okay--our server was barely pleasant, despite our attempts to warm her up. But the view made up for her attitude. I'd go again. But I also believe I can get crabs that are as good, if not better, in the DC area.
(3)
Joey L.
Food is ok, we stayed at Annapolis and drove here to get some grab. Kinda pricey for the quality of service and being it has a AppleBee's type of atmosphere. I ordered an appetizer that had oyster, clams, mussel and shrimp and it came out real late - like as in when the entree came out too. Oyster overcooked and so was the grab. Would not return. Our maryland crab soup was way too salty.
(3)
Adam V.
Very expensive and the crabs aren't as good as others I've had- still go at least once a month though!
(4)
Katie H.
I went to Mike's this weekend with family and had a great meal. Crabs, oysters, beers. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was casual, and the views couldn't be better. The food, however, is not what makes me so impressed with Mike's. I left my phone at the restaurant, and didn't realize until I was back home a couple hundred miles away (I visited Mike's on my way to a day trip in Annapolis). I called them that evening to see if my phone was there, expecting that if it was, I would have to make another 4-hour trip up to retrieve it. My phone was there, but as soon as I mentioned that I was from out of town, the hostess asked for all of my information and assured me that they would pop my phone in the mail early this week. I thought that was nice, but I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning to drop a couple hundred bucks on a new phone at the end of the week. This morning, my boyfriend got a text message from an employee at Mike's confirming that my phone was in the mail. The text even included the tracking information. When I spoke to the hostess the other day, I offered to cover the shipping charges, and she wouldn't even hear of it. She acted like it was their pleasure to make sure that I got my phone back. This is EXTREMELY above and beyond. It's not their responsibility to make up for my carelessness. I am so impressed, so grateful, and so inspired by their service. Especially for a restaurant where the beer is served in plastic solo cups. Consider me a customer for life.
(5)
J M.
I cringe every time I think of this place, because I have come here a couple of times and caved under peer pressure and tried eating whole blue crabs, which is just not my cup of tea. Too much work and money for not nearly enough meat. I vow not to do this again - some people like playing with their food more than the food itself, but not me :) THIS time, I did it right, and had snow crab clusters, which were excellent and plentiful. What a difference the right selection of meal makes :) Great place, whichever way you like your crab. And they have other good stuff too.
Maybe it's me. But, I've always enjoyed Mikes. Depending on the time of the year you can be seated in or out doors. Nice place to meet and actually talk without raising your voice. Quite time..........
(4)
May Y.
Absolute worse place I have ever been not only for crabs but as a paying costumer!!! It's 95 degrees out and the waiter instructed us we couldn't tilt the umbrella to get shade. I proceeded to ask the waiter if he could have the manager come out so we could talk to him. Manger/ "he said he was the owner" came out with a nasty attitude right off the bat. Said the umbrella might poke his wait staff in the eye. I said is that really the reason and he goes I'm the owner I don't need this I have a 2 hour wait and I'll void your entire check you guys just need to leave. I wouldn't have my staff treat someone like that let alone an owner of an establishment!!!! As a small business owner myself I am disgusted. We at least had a 300 dollar tab and we didn't even get dinner yet. As an owner to screw your waiter out of a minimum of 80 dollars of tip money is nauseating. I hope consumers really start caring about where their money goes and take these factors into consideration. It's hard enough to make it in this world and the arrogance of some owners that take their good fortune for granted need to realize that's the great thing about this country is choice!!! I am more than happy to talk to anyone about this horrible experience in Father's Day none the less!!!!
(1)
Ronique D.
My family and I have been coming here for years!! My favorite crab house!! Their seafood is always fresh and the oysters are huge and amazing!! The wait staff is always great and on-point!
(5)
Brian R.
Beautiful spot to sit outside on the water and enjoy some crabs. Friendly wait staff.
(4)
Dick B.
I don't think this it's right that this place has only 3.5 stars. As a previous writer put it, people are ridiculous giving this place less stars only because of a long wait time. It's worth the wait! Went for lunch yesterday. Service was excellent from the hostess to the waitress. As it was raining yesterday, sadly, could not sit outdoors as I wanted to. View of the river is beautiful. Wish I had a boat so I could dock here, that would be cool. Food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the Broiled Crab Cake and the fried Oysters. Delicious. Juicy, rich, thick crab cakes. One of the best I've ever had the pleasure of tasting in Maryland or anywhere. Fried oysters were juicy and plentiful. You must try the Clam Chowder. Wonderful. My only regret was that I didn't get the bowl instead of the cup. They have wonderful desserts. I can't wait to return. Sooner, rather than later, hopefully.
(5)
Lani K.
Food was ok but the service was terrible, we waited a very long time just to get seated it was ridiculous. More likely wont be going back again
(1)
Jenny T.
I'm giving Mike's a solid 4. Key things to know: - go early for dinner on the weekend, or be prepared to wait 45 min-1.5 hours - Ample parking, but you'll have to drive around and around if it's busy time - they will ask for collateral for the seating buzzer--don't give your I.D./Driver's license if you want to go to the bar...because then they card you and...well... you can't drink without the I.D. - All-you-can-eat salad bar, or option for 1 trip to salad bar, which has a LOT of veggies and some pasta/potato salads to choose from, too - Crabs are yummy!!! - Hushpuppies are perfectly moist and crispy Loved the decor--it was like we were in/under a giant boat, and it was all wooden and sea-farish all around without being entirely tacky. Server was helpful, nice and checked up on us multiple times for the 2 hours we sat there gnawing at our crabs. Lots of other good menu choices, too. :-)
(4)
C. C.
The worst wait staff ever. Clueless millennial types who wander around aimlessly while you sit at a table and wait for one of them to get a clue, that you're sitting there and no one has taken your order. Finally one gets it and you get lot's of "hi I'm Harmony and I'll be your server!" Then they disappear and hang in a group and yak yak...what ever- never to return. Food is ~ eh ~ at best. This place is all about atmosphere- right on the water- and you can sail up and dock, but food? 3 out of 5 and service? 2 out of 5. I'd rather pay more and get all 3 by pros.
(1)
Tracey K.
We went on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The parking lot was crowded, as some reviewers have mentioned. There was an employee in a traffic vest in the parking lot but he was just standing around watching the cars try to find spots. He didn't direct anyone or acknowledge any of the drivers. The outdoor area had an hour wait (although there were a lot of empty tables) so we opted to dine indoors where we could be seated immediately. The hostess didn't greet us when we arrived but asked in a flat tone of voice how many were in our party and then sighed when she got off her chair to take us to our table. We were seated for 20 minutes with no acknowledgement of our arrival from our server. Another table was then seated and five minutes later their server was taking their drink order. We asked if she could please let our server know we would like to order. After an additional ten minutes, our server comes over so we tell her we are ready to order. She's holding a stand to put serving trays on so she says she'll put that down and be right back to take our order. We wait an additional five minutes from when she disappears into the kitchen. She finally returned, carrying food for the table behind us. She walks right past, doesn't even acknowledge us (or that she said she'd be "right back"). At this point, we had been sitting there almost 45 minutes, the table next to us that arrived twenty minutes after we did already has ordered and received their first course and we still haven't even had a chance to order. I more than understand that servers are entitled to a bad day but everyone we encountered pretty much had a vibe of "we don't give a damn".
(1)
Scott M.
Worst Fathers Day experience ever. Manager/owner kicked my family of 6 out over a tilted umbrella on a 95 degree day. We will never go back. Scott McKee, owner of Foster's Grille in Waldorf.
(1)
Roberta P.
Had an excellent Father's Day dinner. Food was delicious, service excellent and they accomodated my daughter on cruches. An excellent experience.
(5)
Limor R.
Loved the crabs, service was great and the view was amazing. Our waitress was Jamie and she was a blast :) I took off one star because it's expensive.
Really have to say, wonderful service from the waiter and manager. Came in late on a slow day and my family and I could already tell we picked a bad day to come in on. The receptionists all told us Mike's was closing, but thankfully the manager was understanding since we came all the way from California and drove nearly an hour to the restaurant. Though the restaurant is known for their seafood, especially the crab, the steak was amazingly juicy and delicious. The soups were also wonderful, and the coleslaw was decent, but oh god. The crab just melted in my mouth. 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to seafood and steak lovers alike. Also has a bar with great music. We also came the next day and had half a dozen crabs. Fresh, and cooked with a lot of wonderful "sea" flavor that resembled the saltiness of the sea, it was wonderful. The folks there also have a choice of small, medium, or large crabs. We chose the medium crabs. All in all, recommended.
(5)
LR G.
First time. ..we will be back. Eat at the bar. Excellent service with friendly staff. Best burger in Maryland. Oh and cold beer.
(5)
Elizabeth V.
We used to go to Mike's more often. Now, there always seems to be a crowd and long wait but I don't feel like it's really worth the wait. Mike's is basically good for beer and crabs but I'm not waiting 2 hrs for cheap beer and pricey steamed crabs. Otherwise, customer beware. My guess is most things coming out of the kitchen are frozen, prepared items. And the kitchen staff aren't great at cooking all the frozen stuff either.
(2)
Keith H.
So everybody and their mama raves about this place. I'm a east coast transplant so I'm not HUGE on seafood. I mean, I do like a prawn or two. Sometimes i even venture down to the local crab spot to get a dozen or so crab legs. Anyway, I came to Mike's with high hopes. This is actually my second time here. The first time i came was on a saturday. But the wait was over an hour that day. Needless to say, i didn't stick around for that. Got there today and it wasn't crowded at all. As I step in i take in the decor. It wasn't over the top, nor was it sub par. We were seated promptly by some young server that made me feel old by her sheer presence. We mightve been sitting for a whole two or three minutes before our angel disguised as a server glided over to us. A young, fit lass by the name of Natosha. We ordered some soft shell crab and some alaskan king snow crab legs with steamed shrimp and a crab cake. This was my first time having some soft shell crab. It was an experience. Our server took the time to sit down with me and give me a tutorial on how to crack and eat the crabs. Sooooo uhhhh... Did you know, in order to eat them thangs you have to fondle the male crabs love organ? Long story short.... I'd go here again. But i wouldn't write home about it. This place is a sure thing for a positive experience but it won't be your favorite place. If you read my reviews you know what i review last... The LADIES.. This place had some nice looking servers. My favorite had to of been my server sent from above Natosha.
(3)
L L.
We went to MD for a weekend and stopped here for crabs. I knew this place from a trip down years ago - where they refused to serve me beer because the new waitress couldn't reconcile my PA driver's license in their book of licenses from out of state. She wasn't sure so she did the right thing... thought it would have been nice to have beer with my crabs... But that was then... This time we went down and getting seated inside or outside was a hassle. The inside hostess is different than the outside hostess. Then, they seated us at tables near the bar area. The tables are right under some bar equipment so you have to listen to the motors whir while you eat. Otherwise the crabs and service were good. I recommend only ordering half a dozen at a time if you are sharing and think you want a dozen. Same price but by the time you get to the last half dozen they are cold. Would definitely go back.
(3)
Sara R.
Went there this past summer and stuffed myself to capacity! Everything was so good! Such a long drive from where I live. I would be there at least a couple of times every summer, if it weren't for the drive. Have the choice to dine inside or the patio outside. Family friendly. Amazing food and great customer service. I am putting it on my agenda to make it this coming summer.
(5)
May W.
Mike's is my choice over Cantler's! I've been to both for crab-eatin', and here's why Mike's is better: -Classy establishment: The space appears renovated, nice wood look with lots of windows inside, fantastic patio seating outside. The bathroom, unlike Cantlers', is HUGE and very nice. The Cantler's bathroom only fit like two people, if I recall correctly. -Food is better/fresher tasting. I had a few dud crabs at Cantler's, but all of mine at Mike's were perfect and super meaty. When I went (September) they were only $6 each (single crab price). The hush puppies were as good as Yelpers said, and came with this fantastic honey butter. The salads are fresh and have lots of veggies, too. BF had the crabcake sandwich, which wasn't amazing due to subpar bread and toppings. Don't get me wrong, Cantler's food is fine, too. Their fried green tomatoes were bomb last time I went. -ATTENTION TO CONDIMENTS. For example, for my crabs they brought out two things of melted butter and huge bowls of vinegar and Old Bay. I don't remember getting that kind of fancy treatment at Cantler's! For my BF"s crabcakes, they brought out a thing of ketchup, a thing of tartar sauce, a thing of cocktail sauce and a bunch of lemons. I was blown away. No need to ever ask your server for anything! I will say that the service at Cantler's is better. They have more experienced servers there, while at Mike's (at least when I went) staff seemed to be mostly college/high school kids. They were pleasant, but I liked the no-nonsense attitude of the Cantler's servers. Judging from food and atmosphere, though, I'll choose Mike's anytime!
(4)
Nick C.
Always a treat when we eat at Mikes Crab House. Beautiful view, great pricing and wait staff is attentive. Now that nicer weather is here we cant wait to return.
(5)
Jessie B.
If you have read my other reviews...I am not picky, I just want tasty food and good service. I'll try a place at least twice before I write them off. This was our second and probably last visit to Mike's...our first visit it was off (crab) season and I wasn't too impressed. Last weekend... again, not impressed. The seafood is overpriced, taste and portion sizes are average. The wait staff have been good. Since it was a nice day and we wanted to get crabs we decide to go to Mike's - got there around 3:00 pm. When we walked in there was a sign at the hostess podium stating that they were out of crabs. I looked around and pretty much everyone was eating crabs...so I was hopeful that the sign was left up and they would have some more by the time we ordered. We chose to sit outside; it was a bit breezy and on the chilly side but the sun kept us warm. They are on the water and have a nice view. When our server arrived I asked about crabs and she said that they were out. It took me a few minutes to finally figure out what to eat - once your heart is set on crabs, it's hard to choose something else. Picking crabs and eating crab cakes are not the same thing. We placed our order and while waiting for our drinks, a couple with two small kids were seated about three picnic tables down from us. Their server came out and was putting crab paper on their table with the utensils/bucket! When our server brought the drinks out, I said "if there are no crabs, why are they getting crab paper, tools, etc." She said "uhhh" and her first response was that maybe they knew the owner [should that make a difference?]. She walked over to their table and came back again and said that the people who were at the table behind them gave them a couple of leftover crabs. Ok, I can understand that... A few minutes later, our server brought us our food and we began to eat...and guess what?? Here come a dozen or more crabs to their table!!! When our server came back to check on us, I said - "So what's the deal with those people getting crabs when you said you were out?" I wasn't mean or nasty, just matter-of-fact like. Again, she was caught off guard. She said she would go check with the manager. A few minutes later returned and said she was sorry that she just found out from the manager that they have seven dozen large ($65/doz.) and one dozen mediums available and asked if I wanted to order some now. [Really?] By this point we had mostly finished eating what we ordered. If I had known, I would have ordered the crabs [that's why we were there - to eat crabs!] I was so disappointed and a bit pissed off as well. As for the food... My husband had the broiled crab cake sandwich and I had the buffalo shrimp with the salad bar. We both had a cup of cream of crab soup. The soup had no taste to it - it was watery and floury. It could have used a pinch of old bay or some sherry and definitely more butter in the roux. The crab cake was ok; it was mostly filler and fell apart, it could also use some old bay. The buffalo shrimp were peeled with the tail on, good size, properly cooked and spicy. The celery was pale and limp. Their salad bar could use some work; more variety and the addition of shredded cheese, fresh fruit and maybe some cottage cheese would be nice. The salad bar items requires you cut it up before you eat - with the small glass plates and the dull butter knives, makes it a challenge to keep the salad on the plate and off the table or in your lap. They offer mixed greens or spinach, WHOLE baby carrots, large broccoli florets, green peppers rings, cucumber slices, mushrooms, cherry/grape tomato's, shredded egg, and... potato and pasta salad - which I wouldn't try [didn't look appetizing]. You have choice of four dressings, plus oil & vinegar, croutons, and imitation bacon bits. One trip is $3.95 and all you can eat was $6.95. This visit, I found out that they keep hot rolls in a small oven in the corner behind the salad bar. There is no sign; you just have to figure it out by yourself. As we were leaving, I saw several servers bringing out platters of crabs and most tables inside and out had crabs on them. Apparently there must have been a communication problem between the management and [some of] the servers. My point is - we went to a crab house to get crabs...how can you not have crabs? This article said that they should be plentiful this year - they said the same last year - let's hope that the prices come down. See this link: dcist.com/2012/04/maryla… In my opinion, take a drive down to Deale and go to Skipper's Pier if you want GREAT Seafood that is reasonably priced. They should be reopening in a couple of weeks.
(2)
Verena S.
Mikes is a great spot right for a casual get-together with friends right by the water. Great view, food and drinks! Crabs and seafood are great, but there are also excellent choices for those who don't like seafood, and for those who like to eat healthy. And they make their orange and grapefruit crushes fresh squeezed always, and "skinny" on demand!
(5)
Shannon J.
My family and I have been several times and had never had a problem until recently. We went and were told that there were no large crabs so we ordered 3 dozen small/medium only to be charged for large. After discussion with the manager and showing the small/medium shells we had been given we were still charged for large. $400 that would have been better spent at another crab house.
(2)
Jenny L.
Love it when I enter the restaurant and my waiter does not know what he has on the Menu tonight. The steamers look plummy but it's not sweet and it felt a bit mushy, makes me wonder if it's fresh. I also got a fish called orange roughy, it's blend and tasteless. The fish has been dead for so long that their is no taste to this fish! The soft shell crab is a bit salty to my buds but it is fresh. :(
(3)
Joseph P.
Best crab cakes in the area. I've had them from all over the Annapolis and bmore area and I think mikes are some of the best. They also have soft shell clams which are hard to find in Maryland. Good beer great outdoor set up a great place to eat!!
(5)
Theresa S.
Went here last night for a friends birthday and had a great time. We were told there was a half hour wait for seating outside for 7 ended up being about 20 minutes. We got two dozen large crabs for $140 for 7 people. We were stuffed by the end and for crabs the price was pretty reasonable, and the crabs were lump plenty on meat. Keegan was our server he was fantastic. He was prompt got our order perfect he was very nice too. He even rallied the wait staff to sing happy birthday to my friend. All in all a great experience!
(5)
Yun C.
Received a gift certificate so I decided to try this place out. The food and service was great, it wasn't packed when we were dining in. Overall an enjoyable experience.
(4)
Noll K.
Most of the reviews allude to the fact that this place "has it." And "it" is that something that makes people come back over & over... I'd have to say that "it" is definitely the food, not because the service wasn't that great (it wasn't); but because the food was, in fact, as good as the reviews say (it was). I enjoyed the steamed combo with a cup of Maryland style crab soup; and it hit the spot. Washed down with many a Loose Cannon. If I get the chance, I'll be back for certain.
(4)
Heather E.
We always love coming to Mikes! The prices are very reasonable, food is delicious, portions are good and the servers are so friendly! Mikes is especially wonderful in the summer when you can sit outside and pick crabs!!!
(5)
Brittany S.
This place is back to being one of my summer time favorites! On a hot Sunday my mom really wanted to come here but after the last time during the winter months I wasn't sure I really wanted to go back. So glad I tagged along because this place really is 5 stars in the summer time! The seafood is so much more fresh and the food is taste better! Lol, maybe it's just the experience of sitting outside along with it. Didn't have to wait to sit outside! Shocker! There was live music in front of the tiki bar and it was a good thing we were sitting under the covered part of the deck because it was a hot one! Our waiter was great and very attentive whenever we needed something and the drinks came out very fast! The orange crushes were good and refreshing. You could taste the alcohol, which is how you know you're getting your money's worth, hehe. The salad bar really is one of the highlights of this restaurant. It always looks so clean and fresh, I'm sad I never have room in my belly to go back for seconds. I was a little scared of getting the seafood imperial but I'm so glad I finally got something different! I was shocked at how fresh it was and how much food it was for the price! There were huge chunks of crab meat, big scallops and a good amount of shrimp. It might be my new favorite on the menu. My boyfriend ordered the stuffed shrimp which I had ordered before in the winter and it wasn't the best but this time they definitely stepped it up. The imperial was STUFFED with shrimp, he even let me try a few bites, yup! A FEW! lol He wasn't being stingy because there was so much he couldn't finish it. My dad got the steak and said it was really good but just way too much! Some how he ate it all though lol. My mom got the lobster special as always and she loved it. My brother got the pub haddock sandwich and said it was really good, it's one of my cousins favorites as well. Everybody was very happy and satisfied with the service, the seating and the meals! It makes sense that their seafood taste better in the summer because it shows they use fresh ingredients during the summer months and I'm ok with that. Make sure to call ahead for crabs, when we arrived they had ran out but they get new bushels in throughout the day.
(5)
Leah D.
I came here recently, while visiting some family. We were seated on the balcony, which had a beautiful view. It took 30 minutes for someone to come and get our drink order. We eventually had to GET UP OURSELVES and go to the bar to get our own drinks...including water. There were tables all around us getting food, while we were still waiting to order drinks. When someone finally did come over to us, she rarely came back to check on us. The food was nothing great or exceptional. I will not be coming back to Mike's. It was not worth the time or money.
(1)
Sean O.
I don't like seafood so their non-seafood choices were decent. I got a burger which was pretty good and I also had some appetizers. Also, their frozen alcoholic drinks were delicious. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're on a diet as a lot of the food is fried. This place was packed at noon on a Saturday so you may need to call ahead for reservations!
(4)
Seth J.
We were boating on South River and decided to stop at Mike's for some crabs. The dock there is a major attraction point (if not the only one). We were quickly seated and presented with menus. A dozen of crabs was quoted to be $70, an apparent increase over a few weeks ago. We ordered it, fried calamari, chicken sandwich, and a few beers. Calamary & sandwich were quite decent. Beer came out in plastic cups of a rather diminutive size. Crabs deserve a special mention considering I am still recovering from some sort of stomach disorder caused by them. The reason I know it was them is because it was the only food I had that day. By the end of that day, I had fever and diarrhea. I was curious why they put so much seasoning on the crabs. I guess some of them died before getting to the kitchen. In light of this incident I cannot recommend this place.
(2)
Justin F.
Not even sure where to start - the service was horrible all night, The salad bar has no cheese, the food was average at best and way overpriced. Our kids wanted crabs so we took them there while in the area for a soccer game. Not worth the money! I waited 15 minutes for our server to come to give me the check after we had finished eating. I had to track down a manager to find her. Not sure if this is a huge coincidence or not, but the same credit card I used to pay for dinner was compromised about 2 weeks later. Mikes was the only place I had used the card since I got it, so I cant imagine how else anyone would have gotten the info...but I have no proof so cant say for sure. All I know is that someone got some free gas in Kansas yesterday from using a duplicate of my card!
(1)
Peter D.
The blue crabs were amazing. Fresh, served hot and packed with Old Bay seasoning. The service was great. Fast, courteous and very attentive, despite a packed house. We also had the mussels, calamari and shrimp which were all fantastic. The only complaint we had about the food was the butter that came with the crabs. Disgusting! Tasted like pure oil. Expect a very long wait, if you're going on a nice sunny day on the weekend. But it was worth the wait.
(4)
Alyssa D.
The staff is really nice and accommodating! The environment is inviting and relaxing mixed with fun and good music. I haven't had much if their food but what I did have was delicious! It's a really great place to relax and enjoy the social aspect of life.
(4)
Tim O.
Having grown up and lived in Annapolis for over twenty years, I've eaten at pretty much every restaurant that serves crabs or crabcakes. I recently moved to another good seafood town (Boston), but whenever I'm in town during the summer/fall months, I make it a point to come to Mike's. There's no restaurant that I'd rather pay to eat crabs. On a nice day, you can easily lose track of the hours as you eat crabs, drink, and eat more crabs with friends and family. That's exactly what crab feasting is all about. Watching the sun set while eating out on the deck is a nice vibe too. Mike's loses 1 star because any true Annapolitan can make better tasting crabs for loads cheaper. It's hard to rate something 5 stars when it's not the best you've ever had, but Mike's is a great substitute to the good old house party.
(4)
Mitch L.
Was craving crab and decided to try this place despite the 3.5 star rating, as the recent ones were mostly 4 and up. Glad we did, service from Shannon was great, she was nice enough to recommend the snow crab legs vs the bucket of crabs as she mentioned overhearing a previous customer comment they were on the smaller side today. We ordered the seafood imperial, $6 steamed oyster special (at least a dozen oysters!), bowl of Maryland crab soup and the snow crab(leg) cluster. All fresh and delicious down to the bread rolls, and generously portioned. Our meal came out to less than $50 for 2 of us, which is pretty awesome for good quality seafood. Coming from NY/NJ that's better than some non seafood places we've been. Added bonus: adjoining bar with a non-touristy feel, and nice water views. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
Arthur F.
The good: -tons of outdoor seating -lots of space inside and out -decent prices on seafood items -good service The bad: -had steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels also raw oysters. Beer. -all of the above steamed items were just ok, mussels overcooked and teeny tiny. -clams in broth were good A lot of folks come here to eat crabs and I imagine it'd be a good experience outdoors with a lot of folks, but I personally have never eaten crabs here.
(3)
David W.
Big crabs and good oysters. Visited this establishment over the beautiful weekend, and really enjoyed the food. The crab meat was succulent and plentiful, and the oysters were actually pretty good. The cream of crab was a bit too thick for my taste, but that's just me.
(4)
Silvia C.
Dear Mike's Crab house, You have the BEST crab cakes, hands down. I just finished eating my left overs from your crab cake specials you have every Monday, and.....MMmm. I think it tasted even better today? I don't know. I was sad when I took my last bite. I appreciate the deals you have going on now, or at least till summer hits, the .50 wings and .50 oysters are a great deal! I will be sad when that is gone too. And of course, you all have the BEST crab dip and cream of crab soup...mmmm OK, gotta get back to work...
(4)
Elise T.
I used to love going to Mike's but they have employed a known sex offender and the parking situation is too unsettling when leaving out at night from the restaurant with my kids...so I won't be returning to this location.
(1)
Levi E.
So first of all the parking lot dudes is a bad idea. It took me more time to get a spot then it did to get sitted. So once we sat down we waited another Damn 15-20 minutes to get a server for which I had to ask for.......but here is when it change for me and the fam a lil.......Our server Britney waz the best she made sure we were ok wit everything and waz very friendly. Now to the food I had the broiled seafood combo nothing to write home about. Wife had seafood imperial she said the sauce waz nasty. Oh yeah they ran out of freaking crabs.......but if it wasn't for our server I might have really gone ham but I'm ok...........If I want some crabs I might go back
(2)
Marisol D.
A total joke! Bad from beginning to end. Get new servers, new management & maybe take my money when I'm trying to pay. Get servers to stop taking snapchats while we are waiting & have your hostess LOOK UP! Don't bother with your time nor money!!
(1)
Dee N.
One of the best crab cakes in Maryland! Excellent food all around! The only place we've discovered year-round crabs. From the hush puppies that taste excellent with bits of corn, to the soft claims with long necks (a speciality), and the steamed crabs were amazing in flavor. They have great bands on weekends added with a water view and outdoor seating - you won't be disappointed. The wait staff are top-notch and friendly to ensure you have a great meal. Love this place!!!!
(5)
Chris B.
A great waterfront restaurant with a friendly atmosphere. Crabs are delicious, no questions asked if crabs are light and you ask for an exchange. Great customer service. If you are in the area and looking for great food and drinks, with live music on the weekend, Mike' is the place to go.
(4)
Katey S.
THE BEST CRABS HANDS DOWN!!! I also would kill for their crab dip haha!
(5)
Sandy S.
The last three times I went to Mike's they were out of crabs. Lame crab house, no crabs. Drive 1 1/2 hours. Very disappointing.
(1)
Zoë M.
We've been here twice since my first review, the first time was to have crabs again and then again last night, where we went for less messy food! I wouldn't have written another review as I felt my first was enough however, I just had to comment on the greet staff. How RUDE! I couldn't believe this girl. She barely even looked at us, didn't say hello, just told us to follow her and let the door shut in my face. We arrived at around 6.30-7pm on Friday November 3rd. If anyone from Mikes reads this, they should be disappointed. We asked to be sat in a booth so we could lean back and we were sullenly told that they don't fit 4 people very well, despite seeing only 4 people in all the others! Maybe we had a bad night, but maybe she just needs to change her attitude. I would've said something, but the other staff were so busy and I didn't feel I wanted to make a fuss. Food, okay. We had a mixture of things, nothing too exciting. One of us ordered lobster as a first timer and the waitress didn't know how to eat it so said she would send over someone else, who came after another ask and after the lobster had been eaten. We also ordered a crab cake, which didn't arrive. Not great service, perhaps due to a busy Saturday?
(2)
Joanne B.
Awesome food & very fast service! Will definitely be back! Get the crab balls for sure & the stuffed mushrooms...YUMMY!
(5)
Rita V.
Lukewarm crabs, ok ribs, super dry grade c chicken, warm beer, good cob.... Great time with old friends, but I won't be back for the food. Good crabs. Dingy, dirty and dated, friendly and hard pounding staff.
(2)
Maurcia B.
When I found Mike's on the internet I said to myself that would be a GREAT spot to enjoy a meal with family and friends. When we arrived, we decided on a table outside on the water. The sun was a bit much so my brother adjusted the table umbrella. The waitress comes to our table and says it's restaurant policy, the umbrellas cannot be tilted. I did not want to cause a stink, but to make a point I let the waitress know that at the table across from us the umbrella is clearly TILTED. I asked to speak with the manager. I asked the manager if the umbrella could be tilted until the sun goes down. He responded, too, that it's restaurant policy because the waiters could be poked in the eye. I said ok, that sounds reasonable (although the ends of the umbrella have protected material on the ends AND any good waiter cannot miss seeing that BIG umbrella when they come to the table). I again pointed out that the table across from us has a tilted umbrella. The manager said he would speak with that couple. In the meantime, he offered us another table out of the sun. We moved. The manager went to speak with the couple at the other table but when the conversation ended, the umbrella remained in a TILTED position. Question: With waiters going back and forth to wait on other customers ALL DAY outside how could they NOT see the tilted umbrella, if this was restaurant POLICY? Since the other couple was not amenable to having the umbrella at their table adjusted in an upright position, in all FAIRNESS, why not allow us to keep our umbrella tilted as well. What kind of review is this: After all that UNNECESSARY back and forth, could you relax and enjoy a meal with friends and family there? Would you want to spend your money there? CUSTOMER SERVICE is what it's all about. Needless to say we left the restaurant and ended up at the CHART HOUSE. We got a GREAT table by the water (inside). The food was GREAT. I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Like I said it's all about CUSTOMER SERVICE. I was HAPPY to spend my money there.
(1)
Chris R.
Must try place if you like crab. The steam shrimp was also excellent. Nice Maryland crab soup. Be prepared to get messy!
(4)
Nina B.
OMG, om nom nom. Yup, that's pretty much what I felt like when I came here. It all started with the crab cakes. These were the chunkiest meatiest least filleriest crab cakes I ever had. I couldn't believe I had ordered so much more food after I started with this. Then, went on to the Maryland oysters. Fresh. So fresh. They still don't beat my favorite Apalachicola oysters, but they surely did the trick. Finished it off with a dozen medium crabs. It's a lot of work to eat crabs, but it's a lot of fun. The crabs were perfectly seasoned, and I made a sad attempt at eating them the way Marylanders are supposed to eat them. But, eventually gave up and went all "smashy, smashy" with my mallet. Which brought me back to OMG, om nom nom.
(5)
Chris P.
Steamed blue crabs and plenty of cold beer, on the water... How can that not be five stars????
(5)
Jason W.
Foods good, Service absolutely sucks!!! Sat at the bar, 20min to get a bowl of soup, 10min in between drinks........guy sat down next to me, never got served, walked out!!!! Need more help when it's packed!!!! It's a wed night not even a weekend. May not return!!!
(2)
Wendy C.
Nice deck right on the water, gorgeous view, fantastic and energetic young staff, last but not the least.....good food! We wanted to get steamed crabs but they didn't have any large ones; hurricane disrupted supply from Louisiana. Instead, we enjoyed some of the largest and the most succulent steamed shrimps. Crab Imperial was also on point, a must-try when you are in Maryland. Interior of the restaurant was a bit dingy and outdated, but who cares, almost everyone sat on the deck. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(4)
Warren G.
Overall, I'm not a huge crab fan, so perhaps my review should be ignored, but I'll say it anyway. I enjoy the restaurant and its atmosphere, and the non-crab food is outstanding. The waits are a little long on weekends, and the salad bar is a wild card usually, but overall I enjoy the trip here FAR above any other crab place I've hash on Annapolis to date.
(4)
Tai L.
I have went to this place again and again when I worked in the DC area a summer ago. The crabs and oysters were fresh and delicious. The place is casual and down to earth, get a dozen of crabs and dig in with your hands.
(4)
Katie K.
Used to come here every year with my company for our annual crab fest in June. We stopped coming because they couldn't guarntee enough crabs for 25+ people in an afternoon. It's a shame, because this place is GREAT! Best place to drink cold beer and pick crabs on a Sunday afternoon. Beers are iced cold and crabs are DELICIOUS. The wait staff is friendly, the view is great. Getting there (at least from Virginia) is a total pain, but again, well worth it.
(4)
Elaine S.
Mike's is a GREAT place to have crabs and seafood. They also have non-seafood dishes like yummy MD fried chicken (crispy), meat dishes, a very nice salad bar. I love their appetizers too. The waitstaff are always fun and offer great service. For dessert get the nutty buddy if you like ice cream ... It's a cracklin' fun time!
(5)
Lawrence H.
This was a great place to eat. The service was good but the location can't be beat. We went on a Friday for lunch and didn't have any wait. We sat out in the porch and found it refreshing but still controlled environmentally. The price was a bit high but I guess you get that when you go to a "premier" establishment. Ask about their specials and try the crabs.
(4)
Randy L.
Nice location. Big place with lots of seating. Their fried stuff looks the best. I tried the Maryland crab soup. It's a very tasty vegetable soup, with strands of crab. My wife got the cream of crab soup, which was okay. I had the Potato Skins, which were stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, imperial sauce, and melted cheese. These were quite good. My wife had a salad, which looked to be of good quality.
(3)
Carolina C.
First impressions matter to me. Just called to ask whether a reservation was needed (I'm not from this area) and a woman hung up on me. I called again, a man picked up, I explained to him what happened and he couldn't care less. I asked how much crabs are, he told me $70 for a large dozen. That's about three times the price I usually pay in Maryland. Not for me
(1)
Wynter B.
This place is amazing! Great food, ridiculously awesome prices along with fast service from the bartenders! We drove 3 hours to just eat here!!!
(5)
Mike H.
In BMore from CT with some time to kill so we headed for Annapolis for a visit. Touched base with some old friends from home (former Annapolis residents) for a dinner recommendation and they suggested Mike's for traditional Maryland crabs. The wait was long but the weather was ideal so we enjoyed the scenery on the deck overlooking the water. A pleasant surprise. When we did get a seat (4 of us) we were delighted with the food and the service that Randy provided was both friendly and helpful for the MD Crab rookies that we are. Also enjoyed appetizers of blackened, seared Tuna and bacon-wrapped scallops. The entire experience was delightful and made more so for our family by how attentive Randy was. We'll be back as often as we can.
(4)
Sheila C.
We enjoy Mikes, it's fun to go to Mikes and eat crabs. Mikes will be honest about what size crabs they are serving, large are large, mediums are mediums etc. Their shrimp, corn, French fries, onion rings and most dishes are good... not great. This is not fine dinning but great crabs, corn and icy cold drinks.... All served with the prettiest view on the water you could hope for. Service is always very good. I really wish they would fancy up the salad bar. We always enjoy Mikes. Big family picnic style dinning with good crabs and the best drinks and view. Lunch/dinner specials are good. It's a nice clean fun place to go with good service, great views, yummy crabs and good food. Enjoy!
(4)
R K.
great food and super service..been here many times over the years passing thru Annapolis on our trips back north ..never had a bad meal..always treated nicely ..great atmosphere for sitting outside on the deck on the water
(5)
Car B.
By far the worst experience in Annapolis, WORST customer service ever. Servers at bar are stressed and loose track of orders or pay no attention to you. And forget about having crabs with the lovely hostess system. Good luck if you get seated as the hostess system keeps track of three different list and someone that came after you is very likely to be seated first.
(1)
Andriy N.
Great, just great place and great time. My family and my 2 month old son spent 5 hours there and it was awesome. Thanks for Tyler and others there. Crabs are great, oysters are insanely fresh and shrimp was right. Keep going!
(5)
Emily M.
Excellent seafood, fabulous service, beautiful setting! Our waiter, Jeff, was awesome, and the owner have us a ride back to our hotel! Never, ever had service like this before! What a great night!!
(5)
Adri Q.
Horrible service - we walked out. After going to 3 hostess stations, we were told the wait was 2.5 hours for an outside table, and we had to turn over a drivers license to secure our place in line. We wanted to get a drink at the outside bar(cash only) and they made us go back to the hostess to retrieve the license, and return it after we were served. The hostess misfiled my license and had to search each one to find it. At that we had had had enough and left.
(1)
Sheri G.
We used to go to Cantler's, but this place is better. Here's why. It's huge! They don't take reservations on the weekend, but they have a great deck with at least 15 picnic tables and a tiki bar that is designed specifically for people waiting for a table. They have live music out there too - a guy with a guitar singing Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor songs. (He probably sings other songs too, but that's all I remember). I believe they sometimes have a band. It's a great spot to kick back with a beer and relax with your friends while waiting. They have 2 additional sections of outdoor seating for dining - one under a canopy with fans and another at tables with umbrellas. The tables are right on the water (The South River, I believe). And you can always sit inside. It's relatively close to DC and a few exits before the bridge so you don't get stuck in bridge traffic. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there. And when you arrive, they have an efficient parking system with attendants to help you get a spot. The crabs are sweet, fat and fresh. A dozen large was $65 this past weekend. We also had a pound of shrimp, and they were huge. They are well equipped to deal with crab-picking injuries. I am no amateur, but I sliced my finger pretty badly on my first crab of the night. It would not stop bleeding, and I was getting pissy since the crabs were disappearing before my very eyes as my friend was inhaling them (at least she did feed me some claw meat). Our waitress saved the day when she supplied an antiseptic wipe, band-aid, and finger condom. Yes I was wearing a finger condom. I probably looked like a fool, but what did I care - I could continue eating crabs! Stop reading. Go get crabs!
(4)
David S.
Our first time at this place. Good food, good view, and good atmosphere. We are fans of this place and will definitely come back. We arrived about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. Outdoor seating was going to take 30 minute wait, so we went for indoor seating. We had a table by the window with a good view, and we also had AC. We had a dozen of large crabs, and they were fresh, meaty and delicious. We also enjoyed the mussels and oysters specials. We would order the crab cakes again. They were yummy! We also had the stuff flounder. It was good, tasty and stuffed with crab meat and scallop. However, we probably won't order it again because the portion was kind of small and the imperial sauce looked like melted cheese. The fries that came with the stuff flounder was kind of soft and greasy. The service was great. Although the place was packed, our server came check on us every few minutes. Got our order exactly right and made sure the beer mugs were full.
(4)
Jan C.
Great food great sevice. We loved our waiter Rick. Worth the wait. The crab was fresh and flavorful. The crack your own crab was a messy fun experience. The crab stuffed shrimp perfect. Fried Shrimp and oysters had a thin crisp coating. We really enjoyed our meals.
(5)
Stephanie S.
I love crab houses, but this has got to be one of the best I've been to in MD. Looking forward to a 3rd visit.
(4)
Adam L.
Simple, clean family dining. Casual place, great crab, nice bar. One of the BEST salad bars I had, nothing too fancy, but very satisfying for a great price. Cute Bartenders too!
(5)
Peggi S.
Love this place will be back...even though its hot out your on the water and the food is superb you dont even mind Customer service is great too. Had lunch here today.
(5)
Lena K.
We and our friends loved our experience of dining at Mike's, atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The jumbo crabs and oysters were perfect! We also ordered a soup and crab cakes ( ok)
(4)
David W.
They were out of crabs when we got there, and had a dozen on our table within 20 minutes. Steamed shrimp and crab dip held us till the crabs (both delicious) and the crabs were heavy and great. Excellent service, overall very happy and will be back!
(4)
Ann K.
My family's favorite crab house alway and forever.
(4)
Brian S.
In spite of the mixed reviews on Mike's we went for a birthday celebration. Got there on Friday at 6:20pm and waited for 40 min. It was well worth it! Good food, cool ambiance, good waiter. Seafood Imperial was excellent, hush puppies were good. Definitely a place to go back to.
(4)
Karen L.
We came here back in June on a Sunday as it just opened so it was pretty quiet with plenty of parking. It's nice to be on deck by the water, I'm glad that we had the large table umbrella since it got pretty bright outside. There were the three of us and we ordered a dozen mediums, crab cakes, and a steamed platter of shrimps/clams/oysters. The platter was just okay, but they had really sweet jumbo shrimps. The crab cakes were good, but I think Cantler's still does them better. Crabs are always fun to eat although I never really liked the crabs crusted in too much old bay seasoning. We also had some soup, which were done very nicely. The servers were very nice and very cordial. By the time we left, the place got very crowded. This place is much easier to get to than Cantler's, but if you don't mind the drive, I'd make my way there instead.
(3)
Tanie M.
All I can say is OMG! The crabs are to die for! They were very large and fresh crabs! The stuffed shrimp entree and crab soup are very delicious as well. Our server Kelly was wonderful! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Levent T.
Fresh Oysters...Woo hoo!!! As for the rest of the food...Meh. However, the location is excellent and the price point matches what you get. Had the stuffed flounder which was waaaay too rich and hid the essence of the fish. Sides and Salad bar were blah and the service for our large group was lacking. If you're a tourist on a budget it is a safe bet but don't go out of your way to visit.
(3)
Jon P.
During a road trip to our nations capital we decided on doing a crab dinner. We went to mikes after asking some locals where to go. It was good advice cause our experience was fun and satisfying. We sat outside on the deck by the water and drank cheap pitchers of beer, and ate crabs. A big ole bucket of crabs. They were great, you get a wooden mallet and a role of paper towels. Just hammer the crabs and get the meat out. Simple right? Not really but you get the hang of it. By my third crab, I had it down. Fun way to eat crab and drink beer! Next time im down here im going for the bigger crabs. They are blue crabs and they are heavily seasoned, which I thought was very tasty and delicios. Ohh I wish we had this up north...
(4)
Julius L.
From Southern California and have had better tasting seafood meals out west. Not terrible but nothing to return to. Sort of like a movie you rent but wouldnt buy. $80.00 with tip for 2,to be fair we had 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine.Would came out better if we bought and prepared food at home, would tasted more flavorful. Nice crowd, good atmospher.Salad bar like motel 6 would offer,an old motel 6.
(2)
Alexander W.
Mike's tried BUT FAILED ... We arrived (party of two) and were told 20 minutes to seat, not a bad wait ... then after 20 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes. Once seated after 15 minutes of waiting for a server, I took it apon myself to walk back to the front and ask if anyone was going to serve us - a manager came over and asked us if anyone had come by to take an order, I replied 'not yet' he never apologized just walked away. another 10 minutes later a very polite young gentleman from the bar came over and took our order (he was one of the only positive parts of the night) The food? - save your money and go to G&M by BWI Airport (same price point, much better food) the food is average, basically a 'Red Lobster' type of flavor, nothing to write home about! I dont see myself going back!
(2)
Amy M.
We will not return to Mike's. After being seated outside, we waited about 10 minutes until I waved down a server to find our server so we could get drinks. We should have left then. it just got worse. The mussels we ordered were under cooked and disgusting, we sent them back. Our food was fair but extremely over priced for this location. The server had to be found to get refills for drinks, etc. She finally brought the check and you guessed it, the mussels we sent back were on it. We then had to wait for a manager to come to the table and remove them from our check. The view is the only thing this restaurant has going for them!
(1)
David I.
Pretty basic seafood house. Good crab set up. Service was attentive.
(4)
Jim B.
My first visit to Mike's was pretty disappointing. The terrific views from the outside and covered seating were closed, even though the day was gorgeous. The food, though good, was expensive and unimaginative. I had the stuffed flounder which came served on a bed of rice with fries. Nowhere in the description was the rice mentioned, and I'd have skipped the fries had I known. Is there anything wrong with throwing a vegetable on the plate other than ketchup? My companion had the fried flounder, which was OK, though the portion size was huge. A trip to the salad bar for her and the bland, dry cole slaw for me. We started with oysters and mahi bites, which were both very good, but we should have stopped there. The entree plates could have been served in the 60's complete with the inedible greenery and citrus slice. I had expected much more, especially for the $70 that it cost two of us for a Sunday lunch. The bar area looked much more to my liking, and if I go back it will be for oysters at the bar. It might also do for a beautiful waterside setting in the warmer months, but if a good seafood meal is what you're after, you can do better. If an old fashioned crab house is what you're after, you can do better there too. The wait staff was attentive, and service good, but the feel of the place was sterile and mass produced. Again I was disappointed.
(2)
Mike O.
Had our company Christmas Party in there upstairs hall. The hall was recently redone and the decor is first class' we had a buffet style dinner with crab cakes and fried chicken. The food was awesome, we had over a hundred people in attendance and I did not hear 1 complaint about the service or the food, However I did hear many compliments about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was.. Oh did I mention this was our 2nd year having the Party at Mikes, and looking forward to having it again this year..
Is it make sense drive 200 mile to visit a restaurant? It makes much sense to me if restaurant is that great. Mike's Crab House is worth a trip if you a crab lover. I like to have 6 large crab, a fried soft shell crab and a steam mussel. In fact I visited few other top Maryland crab house but Mike's is on the final list. Their crab is full of meat and price is right (about $78 a dozen) You get free water front view with the crab. I love to visit the area. Every thing comes out perfect. Nothing more or less for a crab house.
(5)
Glinda C.
The food was just OK. The crab cakes were full of jumbo lump crab meat (I think imported) but really didn't have any flavor. The Cream of Crab soup was made with special crab meat (not jumbo lump) and was ok. Would've been better had I received it hot and not lukewarm. Stay away from anything crab imperial. Everyone in our group sent it back, said it was awful. I don't eat crab imperial (it's all awful to me) so I can't vouch for it. A couple of people said the crabs were good even though it was off-season. My absolute biggest complaint was the service was absolutely terrible. We had a group of about 20 people and had two long tables. One table ordered and received appetizers while we were still waiting for water. Then they received their food before we even placed an order. The waiter disappeared for long periods of time and it was impossible to get a drink refill. Some of our people actually went to the bar to get a drink because the waiter did not return. Of course, because it was a big party 18% gratuity was added to the check so there really was no incentive for the wait staff to be attentive. I really liked the location on the water so I will return this spring and have crabs on the deck. Will update my review at that time.
(3)
Erik B.
Nice basic seafood house. Had the crab cakes last night and the rock with crab imperial tonight. Both were very good. The cheddar oysters were VERY good. My dining partner does not like seafood and had a steak and a chicken melt sandwich which she enjoyed very much. Service was good. Last night was very busy so the service was a bit slow, but the server was attentive and kept apologizing for the slowness. We were in no hurry and very much enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the boats and birds. Tonight was a bit less crowded and the service was very good. Mike's is definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Erika J.
Unfortunately, I've found that they rely a lot on their location - instead of their service or food quality. The location is perfect. They are right on the water, beautiful view, peaceful, and has dock access. Downfalls: * Staff - on several occasions when we've visited - the staff doesn't check in very often. Many times, we are without beverages * Water tastes like it's right out of the bay. * Price - Food quality isn't what I would expect. Overpriced. * There have been two occasions where we've waited for over 2 hours to get a table - while there were several open tables in the dining area. * I do not recommend the cream of crab soup. There is a lot of cream - with a little bit of crab. Not sure I'll ever return.
(2)
Tina T.
Really wanted to have crabs there, but when I got into the restaurant to the host, she had this really pissed off look (unusual for Annapolis so far I may say), she was just standing there didn't say a word. Then we saw a sign in front of her that states "Ran out of Crabs". What? No crabs in a crab house, so what does this place sell? I thought it was a joke and smiled at the host "Is this a joke?" "No mam, we're out of crabs" OK, no apologies, no smile, nothing. She still looked pissed off, so we just walked out of the restaurant.
(1)
miss marie b.
as of the middle of october... all u can eat crabs are back for a limited time? monday thru thursday. they cost around $27 per person. crabs will be meduim and small. corn and salad bar are included in the price. the rules.... no take aways at all. no ordering dozens while having all u can eat crabs. you must finish all of your crabs before the server can order you more. 2 hour table stay limit. starts around 5 and last all u can eat is served at 8pm... so get there early but not too early. this item is not always available so it is at the manager''s choice, i suggest you call before going to make sure it's being served. happy crackin'
(4)
Jenny C.
Great crabs, most other items on the menu are also good - unlike Cantler's where the specials are always just awful.... Very relaxing to sit out on the waterfront deck, fun feeding the birds too, much quieter and more relaxed than Canntler's but Cantler's seasoned waitresses make that place very special. Would have given this place 5 stars but the last time I was there I saw a sickly rat - in broad daylight - make its' way across the deck under many people's feet - most unaware of its' presence. I am an animal lover and couldn't help but wonder why a rat living in a restaurant would look so unhealthy, skinny little thing. It was quite sad to see the scared creature, reminded me of a sad rabid fox I had once seen many years ago.... By the way, rats are just par for the course when it comes to restaurants and we were all outside - including the rat - I imagine living under a waterfront deck is prime rat real estate - so I'll go back as long as I don't see another one.....I imagine there is rat bait out set out on a regular basis and perhaps this explains why the poor little creature looked so unwell.....
(4)
A.C. R.
Great crabs, drinks, service, and atmosphere but avoid the Maryland crab soup. The soup was very bland without much crab in it.
(4)
Inga N.
Great location. You can sit right by the water enjoying a gorgeous view. Order crabs. Everything else is mediocre or sub-par. Once I wanted a burger and I thought, "Well, how hard is it to cook a decent burger?" Apparently too hard for them. Today we are having lobsters - they weren't worth ordering. Rubbery and taste grassy. Hush puppies - the cheapest kind and poorly cooked - tough and dense inside. Ah, and they are served with a frozen solid piece of something which our waiter informed us was honey butter. He said "it is served cold". Ridiculous. Fries - unprepossessing. Salad bar - pathetic. Corn on the cob - seems it was floating in water for some time - mushy. That's about it, folks. In sum, come for the view and order crabs.
(3)
justin p.
Mike's is a real local (Riva redneck) kind of place. It ain't no touristy or high falutin' joint like Cantler's. I've always had good crabs, clams, oysters, etc., here. Nothing fancy, and right on the water. Just like a crab shack should be!
(4)
Jessica P.
Definitely worth the wait (sometimes depending on server, service stinks) but, the food will make up for it. I love sitting on the deck area with family and friends and picking crabs, peeling shrimp out in the sun and their crabs are pretty big- this is where my bf always requests when it is a nice day and where we take out of town visitors to go experience the yummy md crabs. Their crabcake however is alot of filler, their crab imperial w/ shrimp is delicious and very egg puff like. Their cream of crab has lots of backfin meat. Don't be suprised if you see Pat Sajack (price is right) or Vanna White not kidding..we have bumped into those 2 while here eating one summer apparently they like this place as well as us. The only con is that they really need to update the bar and the inside of the place it is very 80's wood panel and sun tile but it's alot more up to date then next door (Paul's). Pros the food!!!
(4)
RIchard D.
We showed up at 9:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of blue crabs. What a disappointment...especially since we came to the Annapolis area for crabs. I had the Orange Roughy and it was ok, better than average and tasted very fresh. My wife had the baked crab cakes and it was really good. I was really disappointed that they were out of blue crabs.
(3)
t e.
went with some friends a on a rainy day. it was really good. i am not a connoisseur of eating crabs, but this place was fantastic. simple seating on the inside. just crabs on paper, bucket, wooden mallet, and you're ready to go. crabs came out piping hot, and we were good to go. very yummy. definitely worth the drive from DC. i'd go back again.
(4)
Gion S.
"As an Annapolis resident, I can say this is the worst restaurant in the city, with the worst food and probably the worst service I ever had. The crab cakes were awful, and the waitress and hostess were rude as well. There are plenty of places to go for crabs in Annapolis, don't waste your money here."
(1)
Chase W.
Yeah, so this was definately my first crab shack experience so I have zero to compare Mike's to, but it's definately a good spot for some day drinking and crab eatting (though I passed o n the latter- I'm not into the whole insect lookin sea food thing!) I opted for the crab cakes which were decent; tons of crab meat, and they were really pretty big, but it definately needed a little old bay to spice things up; they were a little bland. As for the crabs? I don't know. I couldn't get passed the fact that you had to rip out these seaspider's guts before you could start pickin away at the meat inside- It reminded me of Baer Grylls on "Man Vs. Wiild" on the Discovery Channel (if you don't get the reference, program your TiVo to catch an episode- it's an awesome show!) pickin away at something gross in the jungle.... but I digress... A dozen large crabbies were $65 a dozen, which everybody at the table agreed was fair for the size, quality, and quantity; I couldnt' fathom payin that much for crabs, but then again, I wasn't raised on this tradition either. Part of me really wish I was- everybody was having a blast! On the other hand, I'd sooner take my 65$ to Grille 23 back in Boston for a 4 inch thick porterhouse :) It did make for an awesome afternoon spot though; perfect weather right on the water, and tons of out door seating. The deck outside the restaurant featured a parrot head crooner who actually was pretty decent, and a tiki'esq out door bar over looking the deck. Connected to all this was a small marina and a parking lot filled with classic muscle car's and hot motor cycles (that might have been my favorite part!) Anyways, I don't know enough about crabs to say the food was any good, but everybody at my table (probably a dozen of us) were all raving about them, so I guess they were good... Atmosphere alone this place would be a 5, but in reality, it was a perfect day so tthat definately contributed to that, but I have to keep in mind that the bar was gross, and so where the bathrooms.and it's definately not a cheap spot to grab a beer and a bite. You definately paying for the view and the experience.
(4)
Bill P.
Great local place. Get the hard shell crabs, skip the rest. The crabs are great - the crab cake and the soup was a bit disappointing. Years ago when I worked down the road, it used to be a bit better and cheaper.
(4)
Ann B.
Overrated! Great view, terrible, expensive food.
(1)
Amber C.
being here was the first time i have ever been to maryland much less eating hard shell crab. i loved sitting on the deck with a pitcher of beer and a table full of crabs. its the perfect place to spend a few hours on the river. i can still taste the old bay now...
(4)
Merrill F.
The foods not great, but I managed to have enough fun here to later that night think it was a good idea to jump off the bridge going to it. One of the funnest and most painful experiences of my life (you should have seen the bruises). Awesome, and painful, but the point is that without Mike's, I never would have thought it was a good idea. So they get points there.
(4)
Sandra T.
Food is great if you can ever get service. Wait staff only watches out for themselves. If it is not there table, they can care less. Was seated outside and given menu's . 4 other tables were seated after us. After the 4 th was visited by a server we got up and left. No one tried to keep us, no one bothered to help us since it was not there table. This is not the first time, but it will be our last. People want crabs so they will always have customers. No matter how they treat them.
(1)
Peter S.
It is what it is: a good, decently priced crab shack. It ain't elegant, but it doesn't pretend to be. Food is good. A few years back they really started breading up their crab cakes, which was terrible, but now they're back to being good again. A family dining staple.
(5)
DC M.
My husband and I decided to try this place on a whim one evening, and we are sure glad we did! We ordered the crab cakes and the soft shell crab. It was absolutely to die for! The salad bar was nothing to write home about though; seemed kind of thrown together at the last minute. The restaurant was larger than I expected, and is very well maintained. We loved being able to see the relaxing waters as we ate. The waitstaff were also great. Our waitress nearly dropped a drink all over our food, but she was extremely apologetic and her personality as well as her professionalism made up for it. Bottom Line: I recommend this place.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes 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 : No
Nerissa T.
The food was good but the seating hostess are rude. Definitely wouldn't go back if you don't know how to greet paying customers.
(3)Joseph C.
Cons: 1) It was ungodly hot. Seriously, its the middle of July, turn the AC on. 2) The server was a bit clumsy (dropped/broke/spilled quite a few times). Super nice though. Pros: 1) Crab Cakes. Oh. My God. Huge lump meat barely held together into a massive cake. Awesome. 2) Cream of Crab soup was very tasty, but a little light on the crab meat for my taste. Otherwise it was a standard crab house. The food was generic Maryland seafood. Nothing special. But its done very well and with quality ingredients. You won't leave thinking you've experienced something brand new, but you will say it was a darn good meal.
(4)E L.
The service was stellar, Megan was professional, thoughtful and personable. The food was ok...not quite what the guidebook promised. The crab cakes meaty yet, they were missing seasoning and the sides passable rather than memorable. I was hoping to leave a bit of positive feedback. I tried to let management know about the quality service at the time of my visit. However, after asking the hostess to speak to manager on duty and waiting for fifteen minutes-- no one showed up....either for compliment or complaint. I left wondering where the best crab cakes in Maryland might be found and pleased I at least met a happy soul.
(2)Tommy H.
Our experience here was really great. We had very friendly service, great food, a great atmosphere to eat. The salmon Caesar salad and crab cakes were amazing. The salad was very impressive because it was 100% fresh cut lettuce, tomato and onion. The only thing I didn't find great was the size of the beers. They came in plastic cups that definitely seemed smaller than 12 oz. And there was no drink menu. Other than that, this is a must visit place of you're from out of town
(4)Kathy B.
I just drove about 15 miles out of the way with my elderly mother and sister to check out Mikes based on the yelp reviews and a taste for seafood. I went in for take out because my mother could not get out of the car. After waiting in line the hostesses told me I would have to place a take out order from Mikes store around the corner. The ladies in the store told me they can't order from the kitchen! I went back to the restaurant and stood in line again for the hostesses to tell me they don't do take outs on the weekend!!!! The hostesses seemed to have "attitudes". We left. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
(1)Beth C.
We were visiting from out of state and wanted to experience *local* cuisine. This restaurant was one that we saw while in the historic Annapolis area near the Naval Academy. We were disappointed that they were out of the corn cream crab soup and had to settle for the Maryland Crab soup. The difference is that the Maryland Crab soup is more of a tomato-based soup while the corn cream crab was more of a chowder. It was 2pm on a Friday and for a restaurant to be out of the soup.... well that's odd we thought. What about other customers that come in for dinner? The crab stuffed flounder was good and the baked potato that accompanied it. We had a house salad but instead of the lettuce leaf, we had a lot of crowns and hearts from the lettuce head. No one really wants that but most restaurants seem to just chop up the entire lettuce and serve those pieces as well. Not a favorite but the main entrée was good and cooked through. We had carrot cake for desert and that also was good with tea and coffee.
(4)Melissa S.
On my second visit I was a little more pleased with the food, as I knew what to expect. The service was a little spotty but they were very busy so that is understandable. I think the great thing about the place is its water views and laid back atmosphere. It is fun for a lunch or dinner out - nothing fancy.
(4)Deborah N.
Hey, nice setting, right on the water. Nice deck bar. It was closed today because of the heat (over 100 degrees). It's not like the servers waaaaant to be walking out in that heat to deliver the goods, and frankly, I didn't blame them at all. Other waterfront establishments I visited on my big day today (did a big loop of Anne Arundel in an attempt not to be ignorant the next time I wanted to waterfront drink/dine) had a bit of a breeze, but the air was quite still at Mike's. Inside you've got a typical crab house, wooden tables, benches, covered by paper towels. This one in particular seemed nice and spacious and clean. Window tables had a nice view of the water while dining patrons stayed cool in the bounteous AC. Food looked great and I (picky, picky me) will have no problem returning to sample it. Today was just about checking it out and having a quick drink.
(4)Jet L.
Solid food, service, and location earns this spot a conservative 3 star review. I anticipate a 1 star upgrade when we return to try a tray of crabs! We observed many-a-trays being hoisted to a number of tables around the restaurant, and the crabs looked on point! As for the food we tried - cream of crab, the steamed combo, and the broiled crab cake sandwich and fries. The cream of crab was purdy good...much tastier once we flagged down the waitress to bring us some old bay (i know, i was confused too as to why it wasn't on there in the first place...). The steamed combo app (oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp) served well as a satisfying lunch for one - the mussels and clams were the highlights of the spread. I had the crab cake sandwich (minus the bread) which came with fries. The fries were so-so, but the crab cake, while on the wee side, was mighty good. Like I said, we'll be back...looking forward to CRABS :)
(3)PInk P.
A great water front restaurant with great food! Good thing it just walking distance from home. I also love their specials like oyster and mussels. It's only $.50 apiece during weekdays
(4)D M.
I'm being generous bcs we were told our wait was 45 mins & we sat having a drink until we realized it was twice the wait. That's just wrong--as 'no wait staff' came around to the open picnic seating where we were in a group of table-waiting patrons. Perhaps the hostess, a mere one yard FROM us, could have updated us once an HOUR passed? Maybe some comp'd crab cakes? Whatever, somewhere else you would have been paid attention to, so boo to you, Mike's. We left to our friends' place in Lothian...we had our OWN BBQ dinner there, which was awesome. Disappointed @ your venue bcs one person urged is to eat crab cakes, and the other blue crab. The visit 'results' were posted on FB (& now Yelp). Congratulations to the management. Retraining to ALL. Sure it was Labor Day & yes, it was packed, yet this is hardly an excuse to understaff the day & ignore folks right next to your hostess. Get it together.
(2)Amber Z.
Awesome place to get the MD experience and crack open some crab shells! The place is right on the water. They have a separate bar that we went to to wait for a table, which had live music. The food was great and it was really fun!
(3)Glen B.
Mike's Crab House is one of the best places I have been in a very long time. Not only is the food top notch! The service is outstanding! I love being on the water, the view alone is amazing! I love that you can have your wedding, parties, reception dinners. This is a place everyone should visit at least 3 times a week! I am in love with the food and service! The music is awesome too! Ignore the complaints you can't please everyone! Try it for yourself! I have recommended my friends to eat at Mike's and they love the food and service too!
(5)jim m.
food good, location beautiful!!!!! big crab cakes hush puppies ok,
(3)Sarah P.
Mike's was awesome! My Dad was in town for a weekend and wanted to have a "crab experience". After asking a few friends for recommendations we settled on Mike's. We were seated on the patio right by the water and proceeded to spend the next three hours elbow deep in crabs. The staff was amazing and super friendly. The crabs were yummy! The hush puppies were SO good I could've made a meal just off them. The waiter even prought us a bag of ice to keep our beer cold;keeps it cold without watering it down! Brilliant! Can't wait for the weather to get nice again so we cna go again!
(5)Howard B.
A crab place with no crabs? Yep. I just went to Mikes and they had no crabs. That's like a burger joint with no backup plan for getting meat. I gave it one star because the beer was cold. The service is average .
(1)Mary C.
We had an average experience here, the food was not exceptional but the outside deck was scenic and provided an average dining experience, nothing horrible but nothing exceptional either'
(3)Karen P.
In our quest to show our daughter's friend what a Maryland crab feast looks like without grossing her out, we were recommended Mike's. We went on a week day, around 4 p.m. and the parking lot and restaurant was slow with the exception of the bar. We were greeted immediately and seated quickly. We were hungry and ordered the calamari and hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best I've ever tasted. I'm a Marylander and know my hushpuppies. They were bite-sized morsels of goodness with corn kernels in every bite. The sauces were incredible. They served a cinnamon and sugar butter and a spicy asian sauce (my fave). The calamari was served with green peppers, which I thought was a bit odd at first, but it really did bring out the calamari flavors as our waitress mentioned. The calamari was just okay. We ordered more hush puppies, naturally. The crabs came and after a brief tutorial to our guest, the eating began. She LOVED the crabs and surprisingly wasn't grossed out. We ordered 2 of the remaining 4 dozen in the entire restaurant. Once these were gone, that's all folks. They were all male and had a good amount of meat. We were brought melted butter and my daughter and I both agreed that it was the best melted butter we've ever had with our crabs. (Not sure why) Our waitress was AWESOME ... she came to check on us several time and was nice even after I asked her to "hurry up with our hush puppies" in a jockular way because we were extremely hungry when we walked into the restaurant. She obliged and was so pleasant. It started to snow so we hit the road and didn't stay for dessert or coffee. Give it a try. You'll be pleased you did. Just call ahead to see if they have crabs.
(4)Rob B.
Better service than most crab houses, Tyler was only slightly AOL but too cute to complain. The steamed shrimp and soft shell clams were spot on. My 1/2 dozen large were not. A choice of small/medium mix or large, I got the former, but paid for the latter. Greek salad with chicken was generous. They seemed staffed and ready for the rush, very friendly staff. Better value from Harris' but considering travel and bridge toll, Mike's is a worthy choice. PS They too have the nutty buddy option for a sweet ending.
(3)Karen T.
Manager Fatima accommodated us w/ complimentary oysters (usually one has to return for the free appetizer) to compliment our crab cake (2) dinners (2). Jimmy fed us right & set us up w/ all the fixin's. Our food came fast, we had water front seating & food was great. Crab cakes had enough filling to keep them together, had the nice bite of dry mustard & the sweet taste of fresh crab. I couldn't finish the 2. Can't wait for lunch left- overs tomorrow. Check out Mike's!
(5)Joseph P.
Best crab cakes in the area. I've had them from all over the Annapolis and bmore area and I think mikes are some of the best. They also have soft shell clams which are hard to find in Maryland. Good beer great outdoor set up a great place to eat!!
(5)Carrie D.
I was really excited finding this place while here on work. I thought what better place 2 miles from my hotel and on the water. I walked in it was busy. Which is usually a promising scenario. The host was pleasant. I sat at the bar since I was alone. And I had very underwhelming service. One of the bartenders was very nice. The other not so much. Which is honestly quite fine by me. I'm not always in a good mood. But what bothered me was her ignoring me while the other girl was busy. She had lots of time to eat soup behind the bar. She was texting on her phone. And just standing by the register with a blank stare. Another guest across from me waited for 10 minutes to eat his food because he had no silverware. I asked for a double with the assumption I'd get it in a tall glass. It literally was a cup of vodka in a short glass, probably pettt. I browsed the menu. I wish I had decided on something more expensive but felt off spending $27 on crab cakes to eat alone at that price. So I opted for the pub haddock sandwhich. No substitutes on sides everyone. I should have asked if it was frozen or battered fresh. Now while I don't know for certain and making the assumption it was hand battered I did not ask my fault. I was under whelmed. It was a very large piece yes but water kept coming out of it. Not grease water. Rather than bother the extremely busy bartender and the one who was not. I ate it. I was hungry. I'd give it one more try at Mikes, but eating in front of guests around drink or food in my book is absolutely disgusting and I did think of leaving. But like I said I was hungry I just worked a 12 hr shift and the Half a bag of gummy worms I had at my hotel wasn't gonna cut it. I'm a foodie. I travel ALOT for work. I'm always looking for great local places. I think I'm going to keep looking on this trip.
(3)Shawn W.
Good food at a decent price. We sat outside and ate several of their crab dishes which were good. The deck has a nice view and is a great place for a drink and some music on a nice day.
(4)Robert K.
Two weekends in a row and a solid performance. Ate at the bar, beer cold, glasses as well. Bartender,Kim, was very nice and attentive. Other bus personnel also top notch. I had the salad bar which is fresh and plentiful. It is smaller salad bar with no frills, the lettuce is great,veggies fresh and potato salads etc very tasty. You can order a single trip or multiple which is a nice option. Crab soup is pretty good, a little more tomato based than I prefer still decent. Had cherrystone clams which were fine. My wife's tuna sandwich was absolutely fabulous. It was the largest piece of tuna I have ever been served. It was perfectly seasoned cooked perfectly. What a treat as I was able to help her eat it. Last week we had crab cakes. My wife loved hers and I'll admit they were packed with lump crab meat. I didn't like the taste of my crab cake, they have always been really good but there was just something about the taste I didn't like. They tasted more like filler than crab cake. It doesn't matter because Mike's is great and we'll circle back for the cakes next time. This place is well managed,clean and seemingly has one server per customer. Overall a great experience
(5)Ashley M.
Great bartender - Amy. Really fresh salad bar - small, but has an attendant to keep it clean and stocked! Fried shrimp was good. Crab legs were also good. Frozen drinks were great - 1/2 strawberry daiquiri 1/2 piña colada!
(4)Kelly B.
It is quite possible that the food here is decent, maybe even good, if the number of people waiting before 6 pm on a Friday night is any indication...but I'll never know because I will NEVER come back here. The wait to get into the parking lot, which is rather inconveniently shared with a wedding hall, combined with the unbelievably rude attitude of the "parking attendant" put me on edge enough that the wait inside for tables (after we had already called ahead to verify that there was no wait and/or to make a reservation that we were told was not needed) spent what little was left of my patience. So, our epic battle for parking was all for naught as we left with empty bellies and an extreme distaste for this destination. I suppose if you are in the neighborhood of this bar at a low-traffic time it might be worth a try but not for me, ever.
(1)Meghan C.
Get here early!!! They were out of crabs by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night - fine by me because I hate getting my hands dirty (pretty much on all accounts) but if have your heart set on crabs, go early. We sat on the dock, which was heated and had a great meal. Our server was double, probably quadruple sat when we arrived so he was really busy, but very nice. I had the scallops and they were fabulous, my mom had the crab cakes and they were gigantic - two gigantic, lump crab cakes - very very good. Salad bar and sides are nothing fancy - definitely a low key kind of place with solid seafood. I bet it's insane when the weather is warm!
(4)Linda W.
Mallet- Check Bucket- Check Paper Towels- Check Old Bay Seasoning/Butter/ Vinegar- Check Table draped over brown paper- Check 1 dozen of fresh blue crabs- Check Now grab a table by the pier and get down to business!!! Link on how to shell and eat crabs correctly: skipjack.net/le_shore/cr… The next few hours at Mike's will guarantee fun & laughs non-stop! We had a whole afternoon of shelling and picking out delicious crab meat! 6 crabs pp is more than enough for a hearty appetite. I do have to point out we did get a crab that look like it had crabs- it had green insides, really unappetizing stuff. The waitress gladly took it back and returned a fresh crab to our plate. Great service..... glad we made it in time for crab season. Def worth the trip for fresh crab & seafood!
(4)Sabra R.
***3.5 stars*** Great view, good crabs. They were not as big as I'd expected (based on all that I'd heard) but they were heavy and fresh. The service was okay--our server was barely pleasant, despite our attempts to warm her up. But the view made up for her attitude. I'd go again. But I also believe I can get crabs that are as good, if not better, in the DC area.
(3)Joey L.
Food is ok, we stayed at Annapolis and drove here to get some grab. Kinda pricey for the quality of service and being it has a AppleBee's type of atmosphere. I ordered an appetizer that had oyster, clams, mussel and shrimp and it came out real late - like as in when the entree came out too. Oyster overcooked and so was the grab. Would not return. Our maryland crab soup was way too salty.
(3)Theresa S.
Went here last night for a friends birthday and had a great time. We were told there was a half hour wait for seating outside for 7 ended up being about 20 minutes. We got two dozen large crabs for $140 for 7 people. We were stuffed by the end and for crabs the price was pretty reasonable, and the crabs were lump plenty on meat. Keegan was our server he was fantastic. He was prompt got our order perfect he was very nice too. He even rallied the wait staff to sing happy birthday to my friend. All in all a great experience!
(5)Yun C.
Received a gift certificate so I decided to try this place out. The food and service was great, it wasn't packed when we were dining in. Overall an enjoyable experience.
(4)Noll K.
Most of the reviews allude to the fact that this place "has it." And "it" is that something that makes people come back over & over... I'd have to say that "it" is definitely the food, not because the service wasn't that great (it wasn't); but because the food was, in fact, as good as the reviews say (it was). I enjoyed the steamed combo with a cup of Maryland style crab soup; and it hit the spot. Washed down with many a Loose Cannon. If I get the chance, I'll be back for certain.
(4)Heather E.
We always love coming to Mikes! The prices are very reasonable, food is delicious, portions are good and the servers are so friendly! Mikes is especially wonderful in the summer when you can sit outside and pick crabs!!!
(5)Seth J.
We were boating on South River and decided to stop at Mike's for some crabs. The dock there is a major attraction point (if not the only one). We were quickly seated and presented with menus. A dozen of crabs was quoted to be $70, an apparent increase over a few weeks ago. We ordered it, fried calamari, chicken sandwich, and a few beers. Calamary & sandwich were quite decent. Beer came out in plastic cups of a rather diminutive size. Crabs deserve a special mention considering I am still recovering from some sort of stomach disorder caused by them. The reason I know it was them is because it was the only food I had that day. By the end of that day, I had fever and diarrhea. I was curious why they put so much seasoning on the crabs. I guess some of them died before getting to the kitchen. In light of this incident I cannot recommend this place.
(2)Justin F.
Not even sure where to start - the service was horrible all night, The salad bar has no cheese, the food was average at best and way overpriced. Our kids wanted crabs so we took them there while in the area for a soccer game. Not worth the money! I waited 15 minutes for our server to come to give me the check after we had finished eating. I had to track down a manager to find her. Not sure if this is a huge coincidence or not, but the same credit card I used to pay for dinner was compromised about 2 weeks later. Mikes was the only place I had used the card since I got it, so I cant imagine how else anyone would have gotten the info...but I have no proof so cant say for sure. All I know is that someone got some free gas in Kansas yesterday from using a duplicate of my card!
(1)Brittany S.
This place is back to being one of my summer time favorites! On a hot Sunday my mom really wanted to come here but after the last time during the winter months I wasn't sure I really wanted to go back. So glad I tagged along because this place really is 5 stars in the summer time! The seafood is so much more fresh and the food is taste better! Lol, maybe it's just the experience of sitting outside along with it. Didn't have to wait to sit outside! Shocker! There was live music in front of the tiki bar and it was a good thing we were sitting under the covered part of the deck because it was a hot one! Our waiter was great and very attentive whenever we needed something and the drinks came out very fast! The orange crushes were good and refreshing. You could taste the alcohol, which is how you know you're getting your money's worth, hehe. The salad bar really is one of the highlights of this restaurant. It always looks so clean and fresh, I'm sad I never have room in my belly to go back for seconds. I was a little scared of getting the seafood imperial but I'm so glad I finally got something different! I was shocked at how fresh it was and how much food it was for the price! There were huge chunks of crab meat, big scallops and a good amount of shrimp. It might be my new favorite on the menu. My boyfriend ordered the stuffed shrimp which I had ordered before in the winter and it wasn't the best but this time they definitely stepped it up. The imperial was STUFFED with shrimp, he even let me try a few bites, yup! A FEW! lol He wasn't being stingy because there was so much he couldn't finish it. My dad got the steak and said it was really good but just way too much! Some how he ate it all though lol. My mom got the lobster special as always and she loved it. My brother got the pub haddock sandwich and said it was really good, it's one of my cousins favorites as well. Everybody was very happy and satisfied with the service, the seating and the meals! It makes sense that their seafood taste better in the summer because it shows they use fresh ingredients during the summer months and I'm ok with that. Make sure to call ahead for crabs, when we arrived they had ran out but they get new bushels in throughout the day.
(5)Leah D.
I came here recently, while visiting some family. We were seated on the balcony, which had a beautiful view. It took 30 minutes for someone to come and get our drink order. We eventually had to GET UP OURSELVES and go to the bar to get our own drinks...including water. There were tables all around us getting food, while we were still waiting to order drinks. When someone finally did come over to us, she rarely came back to check on us. The food was nothing great or exceptional. I will not be coming back to Mike's. It was not worth the time or money.
(1)Peter D.
The blue crabs were amazing. Fresh, served hot and packed with Old Bay seasoning. The service was great. Fast, courteous and very attentive, despite a packed house. We also had the mussels, calamari and shrimp which were all fantastic. The only complaint we had about the food was the butter that came with the crabs. Disgusting! Tasted like pure oil. Expect a very long wait, if you're going on a nice sunny day on the weekend. But it was worth the wait.
(4)Alyssa D.
The staff is really nice and accommodating! The environment is inviting and relaxing mixed with fun and good music. I haven't had much if their food but what I did have was delicious! It's a really great place to relax and enjoy the social aspect of life.
(4)Tim O.
Having grown up and lived in Annapolis for over twenty years, I've eaten at pretty much every restaurant that serves crabs or crabcakes. I recently moved to another good seafood town (Boston), but whenever I'm in town during the summer/fall months, I make it a point to come to Mike's. There's no restaurant that I'd rather pay to eat crabs. On a nice day, you can easily lose track of the hours as you eat crabs, drink, and eat more crabs with friends and family. That's exactly what crab feasting is all about. Watching the sun set while eating out on the deck is a nice vibe too. Mike's loses 1 star because any true Annapolitan can make better tasting crabs for loads cheaper. It's hard to rate something 5 stars when it's not the best you've ever had, but Mike's is a great substitute to the good old house party.
(4)Sean O.
I don't like seafood so their non-seafood choices were decent. I got a burger which was pretty good and I also had some appetizers. Also, their frozen alcoholic drinks were delicious. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're on a diet as a lot of the food is fried. This place was packed at noon on a Saturday so you may need to call ahead for reservations!
(4)Mitch L.
Was craving crab and decided to try this place despite the 3.5 star rating, as the recent ones were mostly 4 and up. Glad we did, service from Shannon was great, she was nice enough to recommend the snow crab legs vs the bucket of crabs as she mentioned overhearing a previous customer comment they were on the smaller side today. We ordered the seafood imperial, $6 steamed oyster special (at least a dozen oysters!), bowl of Maryland crab soup and the snow crab(leg) cluster. All fresh and delicious down to the bread rolls, and generously portioned. Our meal came out to less than $50 for 2 of us, which is pretty awesome for good quality seafood. Coming from NY/NJ that's better than some non seafood places we've been. Added bonus: adjoining bar with a non-touristy feel, and nice water views. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Arthur F.
The good: -tons of outdoor seating -lots of space inside and out -decent prices on seafood items -good service The bad: -had steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels also raw oysters. Beer. -all of the above steamed items were just ok, mussels overcooked and teeny tiny. -clams in broth were good A lot of folks come here to eat crabs and I imagine it'd be a good experience outdoors with a lot of folks, but I personally have never eaten crabs here.
(3)David W.
Big crabs and good oysters. Visited this establishment over the beautiful weekend, and really enjoyed the food. The crab meat was succulent and plentiful, and the oysters were actually pretty good. The cream of crab was a bit too thick for my taste, but that's just me.
(4)Silvia C.
Dear Mike's Crab house, You have the BEST crab cakes, hands down. I just finished eating my left overs from your crab cake specials you have every Monday, and.....MMmm. I think it tasted even better today? I don't know. I was sad when I took my last bite. I appreciate the deals you have going on now, or at least till summer hits, the .50 wings and .50 oysters are a great deal! I will be sad when that is gone too. And of course, you all have the BEST crab dip and cream of crab soup...mmmm OK, gotta get back to work...
(4)Elise T.
I used to love going to Mike's but they have employed a known sex offender and the parking situation is too unsettling when leaving out at night from the restaurant with my kids...so I won't be returning to this location.
(1)Levi E.
So first of all the parking lot dudes is a bad idea. It took me more time to get a spot then it did to get sitted. So once we sat down we waited another Damn 15-20 minutes to get a server for which I had to ask for.......but here is when it change for me and the fam a lil.......Our server Britney waz the best she made sure we were ok wit everything and waz very friendly. Now to the food I had the broiled seafood combo nothing to write home about. Wife had seafood imperial she said the sauce waz nasty. Oh yeah they ran out of freaking crabs.......but if it wasn't for our server I might have really gone ham but I'm ok...........If I want some crabs I might go back
(2)Marisol D.
A total joke! Bad from beginning to end. Get new servers, new management & maybe take my money when I'm trying to pay. Get servers to stop taking snapchats while we are waiting & have your hostess LOOK UP! Don't bother with your time nor money!!
(1)Dee N.
One of the best crab cakes in Maryland! Excellent food all around! The only place we've discovered year-round crabs. From the hush puppies that taste excellent with bits of corn, to the soft claims with long necks (a speciality), and the steamed crabs were amazing in flavor. They have great bands on weekends added with a water view and outdoor seating - you won't be disappointed. The wait staff are top-notch and friendly to ensure you have a great meal. Love this place!!!!
(5)Chris B.
A great waterfront restaurant with a friendly atmosphere. Crabs are delicious, no questions asked if crabs are light and you ask for an exchange. Great customer service. If you are in the area and looking for great food and drinks, with live music on the weekend, Mike' is the place to go.
(4)Katey S.
THE BEST CRABS HANDS DOWN!!! I also would kill for their crab dip haha!
(5)Sandy S.
The last three times I went to Mike's they were out of crabs. Lame crab house, no crabs. Drive 1 1/2 hours. Very disappointing.
(1)Maurcia B.
When I found Mike's on the internet I said to myself that would be a GREAT spot to enjoy a meal with family and friends. When we arrived, we decided on a table outside on the water. The sun was a bit much so my brother adjusted the table umbrella. The waitress comes to our table and says it's restaurant policy, the umbrellas cannot be tilted. I did not want to cause a stink, but to make a point I let the waitress know that at the table across from us the umbrella is clearly TILTED. I asked to speak with the manager. I asked the manager if the umbrella could be tilted until the sun goes down. He responded, too, that it's restaurant policy because the waiters could be poked in the eye. I said ok, that sounds reasonable (although the ends of the umbrella have protected material on the ends AND any good waiter cannot miss seeing that BIG umbrella when they come to the table). I again pointed out that the table across from us has a tilted umbrella. The manager said he would speak with that couple. In the meantime, he offered us another table out of the sun. We moved. The manager went to speak with the couple at the other table but when the conversation ended, the umbrella remained in a TILTED position. Question: With waiters going back and forth to wait on other customers ALL DAY outside how could they NOT see the tilted umbrella, if this was restaurant POLICY? Since the other couple was not amenable to having the umbrella at their table adjusted in an upright position, in all FAIRNESS, why not allow us to keep our umbrella tilted as well. What kind of review is this: After all that UNNECESSARY back and forth, could you relax and enjoy a meal with friends and family there? Would you want to spend your money there? CUSTOMER SERVICE is what it's all about. Needless to say we left the restaurant and ended up at the CHART HOUSE. We got a GREAT table by the water (inside). The food was GREAT. I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Like I said it's all about CUSTOMER SERVICE. I was HAPPY to spend my money there.
(1)Chris R.
Must try place if you like crab. The steam shrimp was also excellent. Nice Maryland crab soup. Be prepared to get messy!
(4)Nina B.
OMG, om nom nom. Yup, that's pretty much what I felt like when I came here. It all started with the crab cakes. These were the chunkiest meatiest least filleriest crab cakes I ever had. I couldn't believe I had ordered so much more food after I started with this. Then, went on to the Maryland oysters. Fresh. So fresh. They still don't beat my favorite Apalachicola oysters, but they surely did the trick. Finished it off with a dozen medium crabs. It's a lot of work to eat crabs, but it's a lot of fun. The crabs were perfectly seasoned, and I made a sad attempt at eating them the way Marylanders are supposed to eat them. But, eventually gave up and went all "smashy, smashy" with my mallet. Which brought me back to OMG, om nom nom.
(5)Chris P.
Steamed blue crabs and plenty of cold beer, on the water... How can that not be five stars????
(5)Jason W.
Foods good, Service absolutely sucks!!! Sat at the bar, 20min to get a bowl of soup, 10min in between drinks........guy sat down next to me, never got served, walked out!!!! Need more help when it's packed!!!! It's a wed night not even a weekend. May not return!!!
(2)Zoë M.
We've been here twice since my first review, the first time was to have crabs again and then again last night, where we went for less messy food! I wouldn't have written another review as I felt my first was enough however, I just had to comment on the greet staff. How RUDE! I couldn't believe this girl. She barely even looked at us, didn't say hello, just told us to follow her and let the door shut in my face. We arrived at around 6.30-7pm on Friday November 3rd. If anyone from Mikes reads this, they should be disappointed. We asked to be sat in a booth so we could lean back and we were sullenly told that they don't fit 4 people very well, despite seeing only 4 people in all the others! Maybe we had a bad night, but maybe she just needs to change her attitude. I would've said something, but the other staff were so busy and I didn't feel I wanted to make a fuss. Food, okay. We had a mixture of things, nothing too exciting. One of us ordered lobster as a first timer and the waitress didn't know how to eat it so said she would send over someone else, who came after another ask and after the lobster had been eaten. We also ordered a crab cake, which didn't arrive. Not great service, perhaps due to a busy Saturday?
(2)Joanne B.
Awesome food & very fast service! Will definitely be back! Get the crab balls for sure & the stuffed mushrooms...YUMMY!
(5)Rita V.
Lukewarm crabs, ok ribs, super dry grade c chicken, warm beer, good cob.... Great time with old friends, but I won't be back for the food. Good crabs. Dingy, dirty and dated, friendly and hard pounding staff.
(2)Wendy C.
Nice deck right on the water, gorgeous view, fantastic and energetic young staff, last but not the least.....good food! We wanted to get steamed crabs but they didn't have any large ones; hurricane disrupted supply from Louisiana. Instead, we enjoyed some of the largest and the most succulent steamed shrimps. Crab Imperial was also on point, a must-try when you are in Maryland. Interior of the restaurant was a bit dingy and outdated, but who cares, almost everyone sat on the deck. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(4)Warren G.
Overall, I'm not a huge crab fan, so perhaps my review should be ignored, but I'll say it anyway. I enjoy the restaurant and its atmosphere, and the non-crab food is outstanding. The waits are a little long on weekends, and the salad bar is a wild card usually, but overall I enjoy the trip here FAR above any other crab place I've hash on Annapolis to date.
(4)Tai L.
I have went to this place again and again when I worked in the DC area a summer ago. The crabs and oysters were fresh and delicious. The place is casual and down to earth, get a dozen of crabs and dig in with your hands.
(4)Katie K.
Used to come here every year with my company for our annual crab fest in June. We stopped coming because they couldn't guarntee enough crabs for 25+ people in an afternoon. It's a shame, because this place is GREAT! Best place to drink cold beer and pick crabs on a Sunday afternoon. Beers are iced cold and crabs are DELICIOUS. The wait staff is friendly, the view is great. Getting there (at least from Virginia) is a total pain, but again, well worth it.
(4)Elaine S.
Mike's is a GREAT place to have crabs and seafood. They also have non-seafood dishes like yummy MD fried chicken (crispy), meat dishes, a very nice salad bar. I love their appetizers too. The waitstaff are always fun and offer great service. For dessert get the nutty buddy if you like ice cream ... It's a cracklin' fun time!
(5)Lawrence H.
This was a great place to eat. The service was good but the location can't be beat. We went on a Friday for lunch and didn't have any wait. We sat out in the porch and found it refreshing but still controlled environmentally. The price was a bit high but I guess you get that when you go to a "premier" establishment. Ask about their specials and try the crabs.
(4)Randy L.
Nice location. Big place with lots of seating. Their fried stuff looks the best. I tried the Maryland crab soup. It's a very tasty vegetable soup, with strands of crab. My wife got the cream of crab soup, which was okay. I had the Potato Skins, which were stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, imperial sauce, and melted cheese. These were quite good. My wife had a salad, which looked to be of good quality.
(3)Carolina C.
First impressions matter to me. Just called to ask whether a reservation was needed (I'm not from this area) and a woman hung up on me. I called again, a man picked up, I explained to him what happened and he couldn't care less. I asked how much crabs are, he told me $70 for a large dozen. That's about three times the price I usually pay in Maryland. Not for me
(1)Wynter B.
This place is amazing! Great food, ridiculously awesome prices along with fast service from the bartenders! We drove 3 hours to just eat here!!!
(5)Mike H.
In BMore from CT with some time to kill so we headed for Annapolis for a visit. Touched base with some old friends from home (former Annapolis residents) for a dinner recommendation and they suggested Mike's for traditional Maryland crabs. The wait was long but the weather was ideal so we enjoyed the scenery on the deck overlooking the water. A pleasant surprise. When we did get a seat (4 of us) we were delighted with the food and the service that Randy provided was both friendly and helpful for the MD Crab rookies that we are. Also enjoyed appetizers of blackened, seared Tuna and bacon-wrapped scallops. The entire experience was delightful and made more so for our family by how attentive Randy was. We'll be back as often as we can.
(4)Sheila C.
We enjoy Mikes, it's fun to go to Mikes and eat crabs. Mikes will be honest about what size crabs they are serving, large are large, mediums are mediums etc. Their shrimp, corn, French fries, onion rings and most dishes are good... not great. This is not fine dinning but great crabs, corn and icy cold drinks.... All served with the prettiest view on the water you could hope for. Service is always very good. I really wish they would fancy up the salad bar. We always enjoy Mikes. Big family picnic style dinning with good crabs and the best drinks and view. Lunch/dinner specials are good. It's a nice clean fun place to go with good service, great views, yummy crabs and good food. Enjoy!
(4)R K.
great food and super service..been here many times over the years passing thru Annapolis on our trips back north ..never had a bad meal..always treated nicely ..great atmosphere for sitting outside on the deck on the water
(5)Car B.
By far the worst experience in Annapolis, WORST customer service ever. Servers at bar are stressed and loose track of orders or pay no attention to you. And forget about having crabs with the lovely hostess system. Good luck if you get seated as the hostess system keeps track of three different list and someone that came after you is very likely to be seated first.
(1)Andriy N.
Great, just great place and great time. My family and my 2 month old son spent 5 hours there and it was awesome. Thanks for Tyler and others there. Crabs are great, oysters are insanely fresh and shrimp was right. Keep going!
(5)Emily M.
Excellent seafood, fabulous service, beautiful setting! Our waiter, Jeff, was awesome, and the owner have us a ride back to our hotel! Never, ever had service like this before! What a great night!!
(5)Adri Q.
Horrible service - we walked out. After going to 3 hostess stations, we were told the wait was 2.5 hours for an outside table, and we had to turn over a drivers license to secure our place in line. We wanted to get a drink at the outside bar(cash only) and they made us go back to the hostess to retrieve the license, and return it after we were served. The hostess misfiled my license and had to search each one to find it. At that we had had had enough and left.
(1)Adam L.
Simple, clean family dining. Casual place, great crab, nice bar. One of the BEST salad bars I had, nothing too fancy, but very satisfying for a great price. Cute Bartenders too!
(5)Peggi S.
Love this place will be back...even though its hot out your on the water and the food is superb you dont even mind Customer service is great too. Had lunch here today.
(5)Lena K.
We and our friends loved our experience of dining at Mike's, atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The jumbo crabs and oysters were perfect! We also ordered a soup and crab cakes ( ok)
(4)Sheri G.
We used to go to Cantler's, but this place is better. Here's why. It's huge! They don't take reservations on the weekend, but they have a great deck with at least 15 picnic tables and a tiki bar that is designed specifically for people waiting for a table. They have live music out there too - a guy with a guitar singing Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor songs. (He probably sings other songs too, but that's all I remember). I believe they sometimes have a band. It's a great spot to kick back with a beer and relax with your friends while waiting. They have 2 additional sections of outdoor seating for dining - one under a canopy with fans and another at tables with umbrellas. The tables are right on the water (The South River, I believe). And you can always sit inside. It's relatively close to DC and a few exits before the bridge so you don't get stuck in bridge traffic. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there. And when you arrive, they have an efficient parking system with attendants to help you get a spot. The crabs are sweet, fat and fresh. A dozen large was $65 this past weekend. We also had a pound of shrimp, and they were huge. They are well equipped to deal with crab-picking injuries. I am no amateur, but I sliced my finger pretty badly on my first crab of the night. It would not stop bleeding, and I was getting pissy since the crabs were disappearing before my very eyes as my friend was inhaling them (at least she did feed me some claw meat). Our waitress saved the day when she supplied an antiseptic wipe, band-aid, and finger condom. Yes I was wearing a finger condom. I probably looked like a fool, but what did I care - I could continue eating crabs! Stop reading. Go get crabs!
(4)David S.
Our first time at this place. Good food, good view, and good atmosphere. We are fans of this place and will definitely come back. We arrived about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. Outdoor seating was going to take 30 minute wait, so we went for indoor seating. We had a table by the window with a good view, and we also had AC. We had a dozen of large crabs, and they were fresh, meaty and delicious. We also enjoyed the mussels and oysters specials. We would order the crab cakes again. They were yummy! We also had the stuff flounder. It was good, tasty and stuffed with crab meat and scallop. However, we probably won't order it again because the portion was kind of small and the imperial sauce looked like melted cheese. The fries that came with the stuff flounder was kind of soft and greasy. The service was great. Although the place was packed, our server came check on us every few minutes. Got our order exactly right and made sure the beer mugs were full.
(4)Jessie B.
If you have read my other reviews...I am not picky, I just want tasty food and good service. I'll try a place at least twice before I write them off. This was our second and probably last visit to Mike's...our first visit it was off (crab) season and I wasn't too impressed. Last weekend... again, not impressed. The seafood is overpriced, taste and portion sizes are average. The wait staff have been good. Since it was a nice day and we wanted to get crabs we decide to go to Mike's - got there around 3:00 pm. When we walked in there was a sign at the hostess podium stating that they were out of crabs. I looked around and pretty much everyone was eating crabs...so I was hopeful that the sign was left up and they would have some more by the time we ordered. We chose to sit outside; it was a bit breezy and on the chilly side but the sun kept us warm. They are on the water and have a nice view. When our server arrived I asked about crabs and she said that they were out. It took me a few minutes to finally figure out what to eat - once your heart is set on crabs, it's hard to choose something else. Picking crabs and eating crab cakes are not the same thing. We placed our order and while waiting for our drinks, a couple with two small kids were seated about three picnic tables down from us. Their server came out and was putting crab paper on their table with the utensils/bucket! When our server brought the drinks out, I said "if there are no crabs, why are they getting crab paper, tools, etc." She said "uhhh" and her first response was that maybe they knew the owner [should that make a difference?]. She walked over to their table and came back again and said that the people who were at the table behind them gave them a couple of leftover crabs. Ok, I can understand that... A few minutes later, our server brought us our food and we began to eat...and guess what?? Here come a dozen or more crabs to their table!!! When our server came back to check on us, I said - "So what's the deal with those people getting crabs when you said you were out?" I wasn't mean or nasty, just matter-of-fact like. Again, she was caught off guard. She said she would go check with the manager. A few minutes later returned and said she was sorry that she just found out from the manager that they have seven dozen large ($65/doz.) and one dozen mediums available and asked if I wanted to order some now. [Really?] By this point we had mostly finished eating what we ordered. If I had known, I would have ordered the crabs [that's why we were there - to eat crabs!] I was so disappointed and a bit pissed off as well. As for the food... My husband had the broiled crab cake sandwich and I had the buffalo shrimp with the salad bar. We both had a cup of cream of crab soup. The soup had no taste to it - it was watery and floury. It could have used a pinch of old bay or some sherry and definitely more butter in the roux. The crab cake was ok; it was mostly filler and fell apart, it could also use some old bay. The buffalo shrimp were peeled with the tail on, good size, properly cooked and spicy. The celery was pale and limp. Their salad bar could use some work; more variety and the addition of shredded cheese, fresh fruit and maybe some cottage cheese would be nice. The salad bar items requires you cut it up before you eat - with the small glass plates and the dull butter knives, makes it a challenge to keep the salad on the plate and off the table or in your lap. They offer mixed greens or spinach, WHOLE baby carrots, large broccoli florets, green peppers rings, cucumber slices, mushrooms, cherry/grape tomato's, shredded egg, and... potato and pasta salad - which I wouldn't try [didn't look appetizing]. You have choice of four dressings, plus oil & vinegar, croutons, and imitation bacon bits. One trip is $3.95 and all you can eat was $6.95. This visit, I found out that they keep hot rolls in a small oven in the corner behind the salad bar. There is no sign; you just have to figure it out by yourself. As we were leaving, I saw several servers bringing out platters of crabs and most tables inside and out had crabs on them. Apparently there must have been a communication problem between the management and [some of] the servers. My point is - we went to a crab house to get crabs...how can you not have crabs? This article said that they should be plentiful this year - they said the same last year - let's hope that the prices come down. See this link: dcist.com/2012/04/maryla… In my opinion, take a drive down to Deale and go to Skipper's Pier if you want GREAT Seafood that is reasonably priced. They should be reopening in a couple of weeks.
(2)Jan C.
Great food great sevice. We loved our waiter Rick. Worth the wait. The crab was fresh and flavorful. The crack your own crab was a messy fun experience. The crab stuffed shrimp perfect. Fried Shrimp and oysters had a thin crisp coating. We really enjoyed our meals.
(5)Stephanie S.
I love crab houses, but this has got to be one of the best I've been to in MD. Looking forward to a 3rd visit.
(4)David W.
They were out of crabs when we got there, and had a dozen on our table within 20 minutes. Steamed shrimp and crab dip held us till the crabs (both delicious) and the crabs were heavy and great. Excellent service, overall very happy and will be back!
(4)Ann K.
My family's favorite crab house alway and forever.
(4)Brian S.
In spite of the mixed reviews on Mike's we went for a birthday celebration. Got there on Friday at 6:20pm and waited for 40 min. It was well worth it! Good food, cool ambiance, good waiter. Seafood Imperial was excellent, hush puppies were good. Definitely a place to go back to.
(4)Karen L.
We came here back in June on a Sunday as it just opened so it was pretty quiet with plenty of parking. It's nice to be on deck by the water, I'm glad that we had the large table umbrella since it got pretty bright outside. There were the three of us and we ordered a dozen mediums, crab cakes, and a steamed platter of shrimps/clams/oysters. The platter was just okay, but they had really sweet jumbo shrimps. The crab cakes were good, but I think Cantler's still does them better. Crabs are always fun to eat although I never really liked the crabs crusted in too much old bay seasoning. We also had some soup, which were done very nicely. The servers were very nice and very cordial. By the time we left, the place got very crowded. This place is much easier to get to than Cantler's, but if you don't mind the drive, I'd make my way there instead.
(3)Tanie M.
All I can say is OMG! The crabs are to die for! They were very large and fresh crabs! The stuffed shrimp entree and crab soup are very delicious as well. Our server Kelly was wonderful! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Levent T.
Fresh Oysters...Woo hoo!!! As for the rest of the food...Meh. However, the location is excellent and the price point matches what you get. Had the stuffed flounder which was waaaay too rich and hid the essence of the fish. Sides and Salad bar were blah and the service for our large group was lacking. If you're a tourist on a budget it is a safe bet but don't go out of your way to visit.
(3)Jon P.
During a road trip to our nations capital we decided on doing a crab dinner. We went to mikes after asking some locals where to go. It was good advice cause our experience was fun and satisfying. We sat outside on the deck by the water and drank cheap pitchers of beer, and ate crabs. A big ole bucket of crabs. They were great, you get a wooden mallet and a role of paper towels. Just hammer the crabs and get the meat out. Simple right? Not really but you get the hang of it. By my third crab, I had it down. Fun way to eat crab and drink beer! Next time im down here im going for the bigger crabs. They are blue crabs and they are heavily seasoned, which I thought was very tasty and delicios. Ohh I wish we had this up north...
(4)Julius L.
From Southern California and have had better tasting seafood meals out west. Not terrible but nothing to return to. Sort of like a movie you rent but wouldnt buy. $80.00 with tip for 2,to be fair we had 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine.Would came out better if we bought and prepared food at home, would tasted more flavorful. Nice crowd, good atmospher.Salad bar like motel 6 would offer,an old motel 6.
(2)Alexander W.
Mike's tried BUT FAILED ... We arrived (party of two) and were told 20 minutes to seat, not a bad wait ... then after 20 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes. Once seated after 15 minutes of waiting for a server, I took it apon myself to walk back to the front and ask if anyone was going to serve us - a manager came over and asked us if anyone had come by to take an order, I replied 'not yet' he never apologized just walked away. another 10 minutes later a very polite young gentleman from the bar came over and took our order (he was one of the only positive parts of the night) The food? - save your money and go to G&M by BWI Airport (same price point, much better food) the food is average, basically a 'Red Lobster' type of flavor, nothing to write home about! I dont see myself going back!
(2)Amy M.
We will not return to Mike's. After being seated outside, we waited about 10 minutes until I waved down a server to find our server so we could get drinks. We should have left then. it just got worse. The mussels we ordered were under cooked and disgusting, we sent them back. Our food was fair but extremely over priced for this location. The server had to be found to get refills for drinks, etc. She finally brought the check and you guessed it, the mussels we sent back were on it. We then had to wait for a manager to come to the table and remove them from our check. The view is the only thing this restaurant has going for them!
(1)David I.
Pretty basic seafood house. Good crab set up. Service was attentive.
(4)Jim B.
My first visit to Mike's was pretty disappointing. The terrific views from the outside and covered seating were closed, even though the day was gorgeous. The food, though good, was expensive and unimaginative. I had the stuffed flounder which came served on a bed of rice with fries. Nowhere in the description was the rice mentioned, and I'd have skipped the fries had I known. Is there anything wrong with throwing a vegetable on the plate other than ketchup? My companion had the fried flounder, which was OK, though the portion size was huge. A trip to the salad bar for her and the bland, dry cole slaw for me. We started with oysters and mahi bites, which were both very good, but we should have stopped there. The entree plates could have been served in the 60's complete with the inedible greenery and citrus slice. I had expected much more, especially for the $70 that it cost two of us for a Sunday lunch. The bar area looked much more to my liking, and if I go back it will be for oysters at the bar. It might also do for a beautiful waterside setting in the warmer months, but if a good seafood meal is what you're after, you can do better. If an old fashioned crab house is what you're after, you can do better there too. The wait staff was attentive, and service good, but the feel of the place was sterile and mass produced. Again I was disappointed.
(2)Mike O.
Had our company Christmas Party in there upstairs hall. The hall was recently redone and the decor is first class' we had a buffet style dinner with crab cakes and fried chicken. The food was awesome, we had over a hundred people in attendance and I did not hear 1 complaint about the service or the food, However I did hear many compliments about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was.. Oh did I mention this was our 2nd year having the Party at Mikes, and looking forward to having it again this year..
(5)Matthew R.
Perhaps my opinion is skewed because I just came back from the beautiful blue waters of Hawai'i. My fiancé and I went here for dinner on Saturday night after seeing a thread on the Talk Forums about outdoor places to eat. Mike's came up several times by several different posters in the thread. So we thought we'd give it a try. Boy was I disappointed. The view is of the water. But looking out at this gray mass of water just made me feel dirty. The food was only ok. And the crab cake? I don't understand what everyone was raving about. My crab cake was made of mostly the cheaper claw meat with a few lumps thrown on top. It was so full of filler that it tasted more like a crab loaf of bread. I truly mean the taste of bread/yeast overpowered the taste of crab and seasonings. I doubt we'll be going back unless some friends invite us along with them. It wasn't bad enough to add to my "Avoid At All Costs" list. But it wasn't good either.
(2)May2011 N.
Is it make sense drive 200 mile to visit a restaurant? It makes much sense to me if restaurant is that great. Mike's Crab House is worth a trip if you a crab lover. I like to have 6 large crab, a fried soft shell crab and a steam mussel. In fact I visited few other top Maryland crab house but Mike's is on the final list. Their crab is full of meat and price is right (about $78 a dozen) You get free water front view with the crab. I love to visit the area. Every thing comes out perfect. Nothing more or less for a crab house.
(5)Glinda C.
The food was just OK. The crab cakes were full of jumbo lump crab meat (I think imported) but really didn't have any flavor. The Cream of Crab soup was made with special crab meat (not jumbo lump) and was ok. Would've been better had I received it hot and not lukewarm. Stay away from anything crab imperial. Everyone in our group sent it back, said it was awful. I don't eat crab imperial (it's all awful to me) so I can't vouch for it. A couple of people said the crabs were good even though it was off-season. My absolute biggest complaint was the service was absolutely terrible. We had a group of about 20 people and had two long tables. One table ordered and received appetizers while we were still waiting for water. Then they received their food before we even placed an order. The waiter disappeared for long periods of time and it was impossible to get a drink refill. Some of our people actually went to the bar to get a drink because the waiter did not return. Of course, because it was a big party 18% gratuity was added to the check so there really was no incentive for the wait staff to be attentive. I really liked the location on the water so I will return this spring and have crabs on the deck. Will update my review at that time.
(3)Erik B.
Nice basic seafood house. Had the crab cakes last night and the rock with crab imperial tonight. Both were very good. The cheddar oysters were VERY good. My dining partner does not like seafood and had a steak and a chicken melt sandwich which she enjoyed very much. Service was good. Last night was very busy so the service was a bit slow, but the server was attentive and kept apologizing for the slowness. We were in no hurry and very much enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the boats and birds. Tonight was a bit less crowded and the service was very good. Mike's is definitely worth a stop.
(4)Erika J.
Unfortunately, I've found that they rely a lot on their location - instead of their service or food quality. The location is perfect. They are right on the water, beautiful view, peaceful, and has dock access. Downfalls: * Staff - on several occasions when we've visited - the staff doesn't check in very often. Many times, we are without beverages * Water tastes like it's right out of the bay. * Price - Food quality isn't what I would expect. Overpriced. * There have been two occasions where we've waited for over 2 hours to get a table - while there were several open tables in the dining area. * I do not recommend the cream of crab soup. There is a lot of cream - with a little bit of crab. Not sure I'll ever return.
(2)Tina T.
Really wanted to have crabs there, but when I got into the restaurant to the host, she had this really pissed off look (unusual for Annapolis so far I may say), she was just standing there didn't say a word. Then we saw a sign in front of her that states "Ran out of Crabs". What? No crabs in a crab house, so what does this place sell? I thought it was a joke and smiled at the host "Is this a joke?" "No mam, we're out of crabs" OK, no apologies, no smile, nothing. She still looked pissed off, so we just walked out of the restaurant.
(1)Jada G.
A-ok, just because of the lovely water. The food was mediocre. I'm from atl, so i really don't like the energy it takes to eat whole crabs. I'd much rather eat crab legs. that's what i got. they were just ok. nothing special, they were drowned in Old Bay, i guess to hide the fact that they overcooked the crab legs. how is a restaurant who specializes in seafood, specifically crabs going to overcook them? seriously??!! come one. we also had crab cakes, crab cakes sandwich, platters, including scallops (which smelled/tasted old, so we sent them back), shrimp and fried oysters. i came with high expectations, i left knowing I would never be back!
(2)Pat G.
Okay, so I'd heard a lot about Mike's from several folks. Finally, went with a friend who LOVES the place. I was underwhelmed. The seafood was overcooked. One of the waitresses didn't look particularly clean. Being on the water was wonderful; the place was okay; the food only fair.
(2)barbara s.
I frequent Mike's often with my husband and we always have a great time but last night was especially nice since the manager Sean didn't mind serving us. And yes, the service was good. As we sat on the deck overlooking the water eating some of the best crabs in the area, we couldn't help but admire Sean's attentiveness to superb service. The place was busy but he made us feel as if we were the only ones there. If you are ever in the area, you should check out Mike's they have great food, good music and my husband says great drinks. It is certainly a wonderful way to unwind and enjoy being with friends or family! I can't wait to go back because it's always a good time!
(4)Rich K.
We were visiting Annapolis when parents of the Naval Academy Plebes were in for the weekend. This place was packed with locals and this was one first experience in a Maryland crab restaurant. We are from the Northeast where lobster is plentiful this year. It was an experience watching everyone with the mallots smashing the hell out of these poor crabs. We decided to have stuffed Flounder and it was terrific and plentiful. I thought the price was right and service excellent. You dont come to place like this for fine dining and atmosphere, but for great Maryland crab it doesnt get much better. One draw back, I heard a local complain that they are always running out of crab and because they are in such demand, Mike has to ship them in from the Gulf.
(4)Daniel M.
While in Annapolis for a friend's wedding, I went here with a large group on a Saturday night. Although the place was pretty packed, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The place is big with a lot of outdoor seating and a big bar. It falls somewhere in between a nice seafood restaurant and your prototypical seafood shack with its picnic tables. We tried all of their soups at the table....clam chowder, Maryland crab soup, and a creamy crab soup. The Maryland crab soup was the best of the three in my opinion....the other two were pretty average. I got a bite of a few different appetizers...hush puppies, steamed shrimp, mussells, clams, onion rings.....again, all were solid but nothing special. We finished up with a ton of steamed crabs COVERED in Old Bay. Being a New England boy who loves seafood, I know that sometimes it takes some work to get to the good stuff. That being said, I just think the work outweighs the payoff with these things. Trying to get meat from the body is a pain and I thought the meat was just ok. The claw meat was very good but for the price and work involved, I don't think its worth it overall. I'm glad I got my Maryland crab experience in, but I think I'm sticking to lobster and dungeness or king crab in the future. If you are a huge blue crab fan, I think this place probably deserves another star. For me, I'm going with three.
(3)Elizabeth D.
Boyfriend and I dined here for lunch on the recommendation of a good friend. I ordered the soft shell cab sandwich. It was HEAVENLY! My boyfriend ordered the mussels and crab balls. What a good price. Plenty of mussels for $8 and the crab balls were filled with lump meat! If I ever visit Annapolis again, I would definitely return.
(4)Jonathan H.
The classic Maryland crabhouse. That's all I need to say and everyone who's ever step foot in Maryland will understand what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, that wouldn't do anyone outside understand what this means. If you're looking for a beautiful restaurant with chandeliers and chefs dressed up in coats, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for a great relaxed atmosphere and a great place to knock back a few beers, have some great food and enjoy your company, this place is highly recommended. The place is mildly lit indoors. Why? There's a crazy amount of windows that bring an amazing amount of sunlight in and gives you a great view of the water. The food is consistently good and the staff is numerous and friendly. I was actually shocked on how many people were walking around with fanny packs and Mike's shirts serving or waiting tables. My only gripe about the place is crabs came in a little late when we were there (2 PM) so there is a chance that the lunch crowd might miss out on some great crabs but the dinner crowd will able to enjoy it in our stead.
(4)Karen A.
Oh, what would a summer be without Mike's? I just love this place to pieces, going here is a staple in the summertime for me. Growing up in Baltimore, I learned that one of the greatest pleasures in the warmer weather is dinner at a great restaurant on the water with a pile of hot crabs and pitcher of ice cold beer. This place is ALWAYS crowded, but it's worth the wait to get a table outside on the water. Everything I've tried here is good, but the crabs are obviously the main attraction. If you're stuck waiting for a dinner table, there is a small covered outdoor bar next to the main building where you can have a few cocktails. They have live music occasionally as well. Just don't drink too many of their delicious orange crushes on an empty stomach... I learned this the hard way!
(4)Terri R.
I consider myself a Crab Connoisseur. I will try a new crab house, but only if a friend suggests. And so it was that I came to Mikes. The crabs were big, however; they were either cooked too long, or had been cooked earlier and kept under a warmer, as was evidenced by their dark red color, and mealy meat. The taste was not "bad", but it wasn't "great" either. So we only ordered one dozen, even though we could have eaten another. A true Marylander is very picky about crabs. I dont think I will be back for the crabs.I may stop in for the house made Nutty Buddys (6.00) which are huge and amazing!! Also, not crazy about the staff as well. While they were polite, I wouldnt say they were personable or even friendly. Three stars only for Mikes..I hope they step up their game, the location is beautiful. It COULD have been a really great experience..
(3)andy s.
O.M.G. cannibalizing sum bugs...fantastic!
(4)Ma-e M.
For a group of people with reservations made, Mike comes prepared. Lovely waterfront, seafood restaurant in a big lot that is off the highway on Riva Rd. If GPS can't find it, keep on the look out to the water to find a big bungalow restaurant, and I bet you it is Mike with the bunch of people seating in a covered roof dining seats. Of course, I ordered a crab cake which comes with french fries and they were quite good. Knowing that everybody enjoyed at Mike's, I could tell you that Mike got hooked up with more friends to visit him.
(3)Oat W.
What a great place. Food is very good and the staff is attentive and helpful. We get the stuffed oysters a lot and they are always excellent.
(4)Kimber C.
Came here two years ago and returned this weekend... to find it just as good as I remembered! The food is fresh, the service is attentive and friendly... and theres nothing like sitting with good company, outside on their deck, with a dozen Maryland crabs! SO GOOD! We had tried Cantlers the day before and although the wait for the table was much shorter than at Mikes, The crabs were only okay (we got 2 bad crabs in a dozen, although they were immediately replaced) and the prices were much steeper. Mikes crabs were cleaner, fresher tasting, a better price, and just AMAZING!! We'll be back next year!
(5)Elizabeth F.
Maybe its just nostalgia. But this place...I feel defines the eastern shore blue crab scene. Boat in docks, paper on the tables, overly seasoned soft shell crab, lots of big groups chowing down, grubby local servers bringing the sea folk feel. Love it! I gave it four stars because I felt like some dishes you get WAY MORE or WAY LESS for the money.
(4)Clara S.
Stopped in before leaving Annapolis for some much needed crab-yumminess. Had hush puppies for an appetizer. They were little garlicky balls of yumminess. Came with a side of honey butter, which I didn't care for since I like salty more than sweet. I followed that with a cup of their "Famous Maryland Crab Soup". Think of Manhattan clam chowder, but with crab instead. It was delicious, and full of tomato chunks, peas, onions and crab meat. Then the waitress recommended the Crab Quesadilla (if you really like cheddar cheese). Its normally an appetizer dish, so its not a full lunch/dinner portion, which was fine since I already had hush puppies and soup. It was amazingly cheddary. Think: grilled cheese sandwich sleeps with crab meat and they made a baby. It was a delicious little baby - although my husband thought it was a tad overly cheesy and I was being cannibalistic in my reference (he's reading over my shoulder) . It also had some kind of tartar sauce inside it (almost like a McDonald's Fish-Filet sandwich, but not gross), which was a nice touch. It had a lot of crab meat in and on top of it. The table by the water and sitting under the sun was a nice touch. We didn't see the inside of the place, so I can't say what that was like. I would definitely come back on my way through Annapolis again.
(4)Bianca F.
If you're looking for a crab house, this is the place to go. The other close competitor is Cantler's Inn, but I'm more of a fan of Mike's for it's atmosphere. The view can't be beat! II highly recommend a seat by the water/on the patio if the weather is good. It's a huge place so there's plenty of room inside too if you're not into the view. The lines are long during the summer, but often times they have a live band playing, so expect the wait, grab a beer, and watch the boats pass by. The prices are similar to the rest of the crab houses in the area. The crabs are good sized and plenty seasoned. But it's the location that warrants the 4 stars.
(4)Chris V.
Nice day today. I didn't know where I was going since it was up to my hosts, but I was happy to find out that we would be eating seafood. The first thing I noticed was the nice view of the Severn River. It doesn't have the smell of the sea, but the boats, calm waters, and nearby bridge make you forget that. The second was the ample outdoor seating - I only found out about the indoor seating later. We had crabs of course. I think it was blue crab; it's not as great as king crab meat, but it's still enjoyable. I probably burned a couple hours picking away at crab parts to get at all the meat that I could. We also shared some decent fried calamari, some good crab cakes, and some excellent crab quesadilla. I was put off by the fact that they listed "crab dip" as an ingredient, but when someone ordered it anyway, I tried it and absolutely loved it. I can't say that this was the best ocean fare that I've ever eaten. If you order some of these entrees, I'd recommend this: squeeze the lemon juice onto the calamari and put some old bay or other condiment on your crab. It improves the taste, which is nothing special otherwise. Also, the pink lemonade is not very lemonade-y. I probably would add a lemon or two or my cup if I had to drink it again next time. If you come on a rainy day, they have indoor seating and bar seating as well. The bathroom was clean, which is very important when you're cleaning up after filling your stomach. Overall, a nice way to spend a warm, sunny afternoon, and a decent purveyor of the seafood that you must have if you visit Maryland.
(4)Donna W.
I love Mikes and always had a good time coming here excellent service. However, this year and no fault to Mike's there was a crab shortage.. however where I do lay blame is how it was handled on Mother's Day. We arrived quite early like 3:00 PM to have crabs.. We were put on a wait list and were told it was a 90 minute wait, if I am not mistaken it was longer than that and the primary focus was crabs! By the time we sat down at 5:30 they ran out.. I checked periodically with the bartender to see if there were crabs each time she told me no.. but then when we sat down I was told no more but yet trays of crabs were coming out to tables.. I think there should have been more due diligence in informing people that had waited so long! We ordered something else and by the time we finished the place was dern there empty! I spoke to management and he literally said in so many word "suck it up we just don't have it.." Very disappointing for a place I have like so much..
(4)Kimberly H.
Ok so quite a few co-workers said it was worth the ride down to Annapolis, & they were correct. We really wanted to sit outside since it was such a gorgeous day, but the wait was 1 hr & 45 mins, vs the inside wait 45 mins...we sat at the bar to wait, had beers & the bacon wrapped scallops--they were DELICIOUS! We would have eaten at the bar, but they serve everything but the crabs...When we got to the table, I ordered half a dozen medium crabs, & my husband got the fried shrimp. I got more than 6--more like 8 crabs & my husband, who usually only wants king crab legs because crabs are too much work, tore the extra 2 crabs up! I kept saying how good they were & he couldn't resist. I think Mike's has officially converted him to eating regular crabs! Worth the wait, the drive & the price!
(4)Roll T.
Okay, my eyes are open. I can now understand why people say that Maryland is part of the South. Mike's Bar & Crab House is exactly the type of small town seafood spot that one would find on the Gulf Coast (as least pre-Katrina and BP oil spill days). You will see old men dressed in tacky Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and lengthy socks, pseudo-slutty redneck girls with their muscular, tattooed, sunglass wearing boyfriends, and a sporadic amount of tourists whose curiously was piqued enough to try a place slightly off the beaten track. But that isn't what is important, and that is not why we were here. This was stop #1 on Annapolis Crabcake Tour 2010, and it damn well might have been the best spot on the entire trip. Why? Well, aside from the incredible people-watching opportunities, the seafood here is no joke. Sure, some people might say that judging a seafood restaurant by its crabcakes is on par with judging an Indian restaurant on its chicken tikka masala (a decidedly British dish). Yet, Maryland as a state takes a great deal of pride in both their crabs and their crabcakes, and it becomes obvious that Mike's is incredibly knowledgable in the latter instance. There is a great deal of debate over what makes for an excellent crabcake. Personally, I lean towards preparations that make use of quality crab meat (colossal, jumbo, or special) as opposed to backfin meat. I'm also a fan of minimal filler (flour, mayo, butter, etc.). Mike's uses luscious chunks of jumbo crab meat to make their phenomenally cosistent crab cakes. Sure, the resulting product might weigh in at a paltry five ounces, but I would imagine that the task of balancing all that meat while using miniscule amounts of filler is a cumbersome task. In other words, instead of knocking the size, just be happy with the geometry (I'm not even pretending that won't be taken out of context). While we were only here for crabcakes, we decided to order some hushpuppies anyway. These golden fried treats seemed to carry just the slightest hint of sugar and were quite possibly a bit too mealy for some tastes. Personally, I thought they were an excellent rendition of a favorite treat to go along with fried seafood. Well done, Mike's. I've seen some complaints about the service. I'm shocked. Our service was OUTSTANDING. Our server knew that we were only staying for crabcakes, and she did not pout one bit (knowing that we were three people and splitting one entree and an appetizer). I can't stress how much that impresses me. Yeah, I can. Let's just say that adds up to a good tip. If our mere sampling of this menu is any indication of the greater possibilities of this restaurant, I think one can rest assured that a return visit will be happening. If you are sampling seafood in the Annapolis area, you would be a fool to miss this place.
(4)Toan D.
A great place to roll up your sleeves and dig in to the pile of crabs. No frills atmosphere and located across the South River bridge from Annapolis. Besides crab, you can also get raw oysters, hush puppies, shrimp, clams and blackened mahi mahi to name a few. The service was effecient and our waitress kept the beers coming. Mike's Crab House has been around for over 40 years. In fact my mother used to waitress there in the 70's. Great to know it's still around to help us with our crab cravings when we return to vist friends and family.
(3)S C.
Great steamed shrimp. Service not so good, as shown by the tables of servers doing sudoku right next to the salad bar - clearly visable!- and why do they have to give you a namecard to remind you who your server is? Does this imply you will have to ask someone else for something and have them say "Well who is your server" ? I hope it was just to mark that someone has been to the table to get drink orders..... or was it....
(3)Chris P.
great seafood and water views. a lil outta the way, but hey no traffic!
(4)James C.
I have lived in Anne Arundel County for sometime but have never had the opportunity to stop in to Mikes until yesterday. I went there with my brothers to grab some sandwich from the Deli/Liquor store side. The Club sandwich was very good and the only qualms I had was that the bacon could have been cooked a bit longer. The Deli?liquor store side is just what you would expect. It is nothing flashy . As my sandwich was being prepared I stopped into the bar side to grab a Orange Crush. It was very good. The Bar is very nice possibly renovated not to long ago. The tiki bar looked sweet but the weather was not very nice so the crowd was small. Sweet place. I will defiantly be going back.
(4)Watrbb W.
I LOVE Mike's! Been going there for many years and look forward every summer to sitting outside, watching the boats, soaking up the sun and chowing down! To be honest, I have only had the crabs once or twice (at a party), but always get the snow crab legs, steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, etc.. All that "other" good stuff. Will be going again soon!
(4)Gohanchan S.
ok...husbands plan to eat crabs at Cantlers, rated #1 for crabs in the Washingtonian..thinking not a great idea...wait is going to be horrendous...on our way , the other family arrived first, only to be informed they were out of crabs!! of course...so we called a place we went last year, Fisherman Crab deck..or something like that...their crabs were good..so so ambiance...and they were out of crabs!! so then found out that Mike's in Riva had crabs..when we arrived, were told they only had females...how much worse can this get!!!??/ But then then, our waiter, Carter, who, by the way was fantastic, tells us that they just got in an order! YAY.!!! now looking like we can finally get crabs today! The crabs were pretty good, although I think Fishermans is better...after having gone to Cantlers, Fisherman's Crab deck, and now Mike's, my favorite is Mike's...they have an indoor bar with 4-5 tvs..outdoor deck bar..and they had live music..beautiful scenery...can walk out onto the piers... they have a huge menu, so if you there is someone who doesn't like seafood, they have steak, sandwiches, salads, etc...something for everyone...can't vouch for anything other than what we had, which was: crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters on the half shell, and mussels...oysters were on point..crabs, good but as I said earlier, Fishermans is better IMHO...mussels meh..too overcooked for my taste...daughters ordered dessert. we asked the waiter if they were made in house...sadly no, .they are brought in..but every dessert is only $4.95...can't complain! the atmosphere is great...fantastic views...the servers work their butt off......for six of us, our bill was $110.00 with a pitcher of beer, and a couple cans of beer..and we left full..totally worth it!!!
(4)Jim G.
Had a large family dinner here. Overall it was great, especially for a bust Friday night with guests that just flew in from Denver. Even the kids loved it. The Crab Imperial was excellent as were all the apps. If you're into crabs, come here, don't bother with any place else. I'm not a fan of steamed crabs but our whole table, save me, was. They all loved them.
(4)Pop Goes The Weasel B.
i used to go to cantler's but discovered Mike's, and I'm sold! This place is wayyyyyyyyyy bigger ( 3 seating options - huge indoors, outdoor deck on the water, and semi- enclosed outdoor), so one of the biggest sells is that they don't have the hour + wait, and parking issues cantler's does. the crabs are great ( can't really go wrong with crabs), and maybe a little better price too. we got a few other things on their menu - which were good - i think their hush puppies with honey butter are some of the best I've ever had! service was great - fast, and super friendly.
(5)Margaret W.
Had a great lunch this afternoon, Sitting on the deck in the sunshine at the end of September would be good enough, But we also had great food and service, Thanks
(4)Johnny F.
Awful reservation procedure, the front hostess was quite stand offish and couldn't care less. We called earlier and said we didn't need reservations then we came and said that there's no more table and that it seems its going to be a hassle for them to give us a table Asked what Hush puppies were that are on the menu but didnt know what it was?! At last we got a table, and thankfully the crab was excellent, our waiter Casey gave excellent service. But our initial experience from that lady (with a Russian accent) was so bad that's why the rating is only 2 stars.
(2)John O.
Good setting and atmosphere. Food good but a little pricy. Service appropriate.
(4)Sonia D.
As a native Marylander, I have tried hundreds of seafood and crab restaurants but Mike's still remains the best. Their medium and large size steamed crabs are covered with Old Bay and are extremely fresh. They serve some great local ale to complement the seafood (in addition to the standard favorites) and the setting is picturesque. I've spent several summer evenings eating steamed crabs, fries and taking in all of the beautiful Annapolis homes right on the water that I could never afford. Mike's is characterized by great service and is my all-time favorite spot to relax during the summertime.
(5)John R.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. I'll make a day trip just to come here. On a beautiful weekend there's nothing better to do than hang out by the tiki bar, listen to live music and have a few drinks with friends. Mike's is right on the water. Literally. Built on a pier over the water. The place is packed on weekends, at least if you want to sit outside. And trust me, you want to sit outside. But you'll be grateful for the 45 minute wait when you settle down at that tiki bar with a cool drink - they have some nice margarita's going most weekends. Make a day trip - do some touring of Annapolis - just make sure you end up here for dinner.
(5)Samuel L.
Went for: Post-cycling race lunch Bottom Line: With the caveat that I'm from Maine, land of seafood shacks, bars, grills, etc -- Mike's was just OK, and had little that made it special. I probably won't be back, mostly because I'll forget about this totally unmemorable place soon. Quick thoughts: Look, if it's Old Bay steamed crabs by the dozen you want, they've got them. I had a few and they were good, but no better than the three other places I've had them in the DC-MD area. If you're looking for anything special, unique, or creative about the rest of their menu, you may be disappointed. For a main course, I had the Jamaican jerk mahi mahi, which although sounding interesting, was just a heavily spiced, not-so-tenderly-done mahi mahi filet on a white bread bun. The addition of also-heavily-spiced pineapple didn't lift the sandwich from the mundane (at best). The fries were nothing special, and the soup one of my dining partners had was apparently acceptable, but unremarkable. The place was huge, and there was sort of the sense that it was assembly line seafood, meant to serve massive numbers of people as close as possible to the Bay. I probably won't be back, not because it wasn't fine, but because I'll forget this totally unmemorable place soon.
(3)Chante S.
I LOVE Mike's!!! I went for my birthday with my girlfriends & went back 3 days later with my husband, sister, & parents. Everything is great. You have to try the frozen drinks-THE BEST!!!!!!!
(5)Hillary J.
THE best crabs ever!!! We were a bit nervous when we arrived and saw the packed parking lot as a party of three on a the Sunday before Labor Day, but our fears were soon put to rest. Omgeeee. Got a close spot, we were told the wait would be an hour (it was actually about 45 mins) and then the crabs came. Wow wee! We were told they only had larges left. Okay, and that's a problem because...??? So then out they came, $70 for a dozen HUGE and heavy crabs. For you crab novices out there, it is critically important to have weight to each of your crabs and know that depending where you go, it's a crap shoot on what you get. Well, not Mike's; and that's why a don't mind paying a premium. After one ear of large corn, a light beer, delicious (and again, HUGE) crabs, a half dozen did me just fine. I go to fine restaurants and pay about the same, so you get what you pay for and that's some good eating at Mike's. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because our server lacked just a little warmth. I mean, he was ok for the most part but forgot to bring out an item or two. He was also just a bit aloof, but I like a little east coast rudeness just to keep it real, so I'm kinda ok with that. :). Overall, thanks to Mike's for helping me and my family close out the summer with another great crab experience! See ya next year.
(4)Michael M.
Mike's is OK. Crab cakes were average but their scallops wrapped in bacon were outstanding. The service was so so. View OK.
(3)John C.
Freshman orientation at University of Maryland, was looking for a restaurant that had chesapeake crabs and some atmosphere. We took a 30 minute ride from College Park to Riva, MD for Mike's rather than eat in one of the chain restaurants near the school. We were happy we did as we found a great place!!!!!!! The Cream Crab soup was so full of crab meat and was excellent. We got there late and they only had "large" blue claws left and not the jumbo crabs, but they were still twice the size of any crab I can get in New Jersey. Our waitress was excellent and we had apps and drinks in 5 minutes even though the place was packed, The location is right on a lake/river and the outside dock/deck is the perfect place for such a feast. I will be back here many times over my son's years at UMD.
(4)Mike L.
If you're looking for crabs and beer, this is a GREAT place to go. If you want to order mixed drinks or order off a menu, stop by the liquor store for booze, go to the frozen food section at the grocery store and buy the store-brand frozen seafood -- it's better. Again -- CRABS & BEER -- FIVE STARS Anything else -- NO STARS
(2)Danielle C.
Best crabs I have ever had!!!! They are as big as my head and so meaty & flavorful. I'll be living there all this summer :)
(5)Mrs. R.
A pile of hot crabs on the water during the summer months !! This is what Maryland is all about. The crabs are pricey, but worth it. Very full of meat. I LOVE MIKE'S CRABS !! The side dishes are great portion as well. Stuffed shrimp is cooked to perfection and perfectly seasoned, jumbo portion. Crab dip is mediocre could be better and I was slightly disappointed, but it doesn't make or break me returning to Mike's. The outdoor seating is the best during summer months and occasionally a band plays outside as well. It is very relaxing and gives you the "out of town" feel for the locals.
(5)Thomas W.
This place is for all-u-can eat Maryland blue crabs. They are steamed with Old Bay, and you get a salad bar and corn on the cob. The outdoor area is beautiful on the South River weather permitting. Some of my friends had steamed spiced shrimp, fried shrimp, and hush puppies. The crabs are very large for mediums. Be careful they do not do refills on soft drinks. This is a great place for crabs, beer, and football. Of course I had the all-u-can eat crabs today. You can only find these places in Maryland! I have been to imitations in New York, and Virginia, but have only experienced the real thing in Maryland. If you want crabs by the water, this is one of the places to go.
(3)Barbry M.
This is a typical Maryland crab house, and I went in the middle of winter. Not exactly high crab season. I had bacon wrapped scallops and md crab soup. The soup was super tomatoey, and needed more old bay. Scallops were good. My boyfriend ordered steamed crabs, they were also good. Huge horseshoe shaped bar area. Nothing outstanding about decor. Ladies room was clean and nicely decorated. Waitstaff was attentive but seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(4)Marcey Z.
Stumbled on Mike's one Saturday afternoon and what a great surprise! Mike's is so popular that they actually use parking space about a mile down the road at a church and they run a shuttle van back and forth. The best time to go on the weekends is prior to 4:00 p.m. Since we got there at 5;00 we had to use the shuttle service. We started with a good and cold brewskie, crab dip which was amazing, and then of course we got to the main event, CRABS! They were cooked to perfection. The crabs were full of meat and it came out without any effort. Did I mention how immaculate the place was...well it is! I have never seen bathrooms at a crab house this immaculate!
(5)Donald M.
Had lunch on the outside deck today. Burger was very good. Fish was good but served on a roll that quickly fell apart. Service was fine. I also recognize that the availability of certain items might vary, but when you walk into a "Crab House" and there is a sign saying ' Sorry, No Crabs", youhave to wonder.
(2)Devin R.
I'm not sure how best to rate this place. I ordered the fried shrimp with fries and a salad from the salad bar. As I walked to the salad bar, one of the staff members responsible for straightening the bar threw lettuce leaves and other food that had fallen on the 'ledge' back into their designated bins and used her tongs to mix them all together.....groooossssss!!! I informed our waitress and told her that rather than a salad, I'd have a baked potato. She then told me that I would have to pay extra for it. What? You have a choice between two sides with an entree and my original two were a salad and fries. Now that I was replacing the salad with the baked potato, no extra charges should have been mentioned. I told her 'No.' On top of that, the shrimp were 'meh.' I've had better at Mick and Schmidt's. Probably won't be going back here. Nice views though.
(2)Wen L.
I came here on a roadtrip through Maryland. This place is pretty awesome. Our waitress was great and friendly. The crabs, (large- 1 dozen steamed), were meaty and sweet. The only problem is they seem to run out of crabs fairly early, my table ordered a dozen and the table next to us wasn't able to get them because they ran out. Good thing we got there early. For dessert, if you like chocolate, GET the chocolate spoon cake.
(4)Katie S.
I found myself in Annapolis for a few hours and somone recommended going to Mike's for some crabs. I love Chesapeake crabs. The only person who loves them more than me is my fiance. As a DC native, he grew up on Chesapeake crabs. Everytime we visit his family in DC they pick up crabs from MD and we eat them at his house. I've had Chesapeake steamed crabs about a half-dozen times, and Mike's was the worst. I thought it would be better, if not simply for the fact that we were eating them on site. Anyway, we ordered a dozen steamed large crabs for $67. They were incredibly bland and not that meaty. They served Old Bay on the side and it was definitely necessary to dip the crab meat into the Old Bay to give it some flavor. Usually, they're steamed in so much Old Bay that it seeps through the shell and the meat itself is already flavorful. We sat outside near the water and within 5 mintues the sun was beating down on me. It was miserable. A little warning by the waitress to sit under the roof would have been appreciated.
(2)Jordan C.
Old school crab house with TONS of other seafood items on the menu. The crabs were very good, but the steamed Shrimp stole the show. They were excellent. While they have inside and outside seating, I recommend sitting on the outside deck overlooking the river. It provides a nice view and good atmosphere. The service was prompt and attentive. I will definitely return.
(4)Ronnail R.
One of my favorite restaurant/bar spots to eat crabs and you have the option to eat indoor or outdoor on the deck/pier. There's also an outdoor Tiki Bar that has live performers on various days/nights. The crabs are served L, M, S and sometimes the median crabs are just as big as the Large. We've been going here over 10 years, but keep in mind the wait time is a little over a hour, so you have the option to place your name on both "Wait to be Seated" listings. My husband would normally place our name on one listing and I on the other - last year you had to provide them with your license to receive the flashing/vibrating thingy signal that notifies you when it's your time to be seated. Karaoke - Every Friday - 9:30 PM
(5)H. P.
I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoy this place as much for the food, as I for the fact that I get to smashy-smashy. Really, though, the crab is delicious. And, if you ever manage to look up from the table, the view is gorgeous.
(4)Jay H.
Drove an hour to go here on a Sunday afternoon, they were out of crabs and oysters (how does a crab house in Maryland's capitol run out of crabs on a weekend in the middle of summer?). Cream of crab soup was very light on crab. Good thing it is clean and in a good location with a beautiful view or I would never go back.
(2)Janet K.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only place to eat crabs in this area....not that they are better than Cantler's, but I cannot stand to sit elbow to elbow with strangers at a shared table no matter how good the food. Mike's has lots of individual comfortable tables and when the crab mood hits, there is just no place better without a serious drive. And by the way, Keely R. it is SO not done in Maryland to eat crabs with a bib! Sorry....
(4)Jeramy P.
Came in expecting some good ole Maryland seafood and I was not dissapointed. I had the steak and the fried crabcake. The places is located right on the water too.
(4)Jules L.
I grabbed my legendary hammer and pulverized the clawed beasts into oblivion. My loved ones watched as I viciously pounded the shells revealing the sweet flesh. They were in shock and awe as I plucked out the meat and consumed it, absorbing its lifeforce into mine. After a fierce battle of a dozen beasts, I walked away with a full belly and a near fatal wound on my right thumb. My legend will be told for all eternity.
(5)Liz K.
I'd say if you're in Annapolis, this is a must-do. Not a fancy-pants establishment, just honest good seafood. Sadly they were out of crabs when we visited, but they had plenty of everything else. The majority of our group ordered the fried oysters, of which I'm not a fan, but they all raved about them. Nicely breaded and well seasoned. I would like to rave about the clam strips - they were FANTASTIC! These people here must know the best way to bread things, because these, like the oysters, were perfect. Even my niece, who is not really into a lot of seafoods yet, couldn't keep away from my basket. Good thing she helped too - it was a veritable HEAP of clams. Also good was the clam chowder, calamari, and grilled cheese (what the niece ordered). Be sure to check it out if you're in the area!
(4)Windi L.
While not the most glamorous establishment for seafood, the grub here is tasty and priced accordingly. Normally a big ole bucket of shrimp will cost you your rent check but here at Mike's, you will get a lot more than what you pay for. The salad bar was disappointing but it's one of those things where you're not here for salad - you're here for seafood so don't expect much from that. Also, my steak was average. A good seafood eatery that satisfy your seafood cravings when you're on a budget!
(3)Richard K.
On our way back from Annapolis we decided to detour to Mike's Crab House in Riva for the crab cakes. We arrived just after lunchtime so it was not very busy.Our service person was attentive but we sensed that he wasn't versed in the ins and outs of the menu. We were expecting a small "crabshack" but were surprised to see how large the dining area was. Usually a good sign that you are at a popular place. My wife and I each ordered the crab cake sandwich. After eating the meal we questioned whether we were at the same restaurant that most of the other reviewers had eaten at. We are seafood lovers from New England and have a pretty good idea of what seafood should taste like. Unfortunately, Mike's doesn't come close (at least for the crab cakes). The sandwich platter comes with the usual; one crab cake, fries, bun, lettuce and tomato. The portion was large and would be a good value. The fries were hot but soggy. What's up with that? The crab cake was large, mostly crab but they were seriously under seasoned and quite tasteless. We both noted a slightly "off" taste that could have been due to the fact that the crab was not local. Me thinks they should note that small detail on their menu. We ordered the broiled version which looked fine but was a bit dry. Fried might have been a better choice. We really wanted Mike's to be good but our expectations were too high. We won't be back but suggest that if others come, they may want to try something other than crab unless it is sourced locally and "in season".
(1)Heather K.
We went on Mother's Day, expecting it to be busy. We arrived around 1:30pm, hoping to be at the end of the lunch crowd but well before the dinner crowd. It looked like we timed it perfectly because outside there were only about 4 tables of people waiting on the deck. We were told it was a 1 hour wait which was fine. The deck was closed due to high winds but the canopy and indoors were open. After an hour part of the deck was opened and a lot of people were seated. At about 1 hour and 10 minutes I asked the hostess how much longer it would be and she said "about an hour". I was upset. We were told an hour and we waited and now we are told it will be another hour? If it was a 2-hour wait then we should have been told up front and been able to make our decision based on that. Now we have an hour of our time invested in this place ... what to do? If we leave we will have to wait somewhere else. We decided to wait some more and another group of people sat at our table to wait. We talked to them and they told us that the had gotten there about 15 mins after us and they were given 2 pagers, one for inside and one for out. The hostess told them to get both and use whichever one went off first, no one told us that or offered us two pagers. At 3:00 my husband went to speak to the hostess and AGAIN the hostess said "about an hour" . At 3:30 one of our tablemates' pagers went off and they were seated . At 3:40 my husband complained and we were seated immediately. No one ever mentioned our wait time, or what the hostess kept telling us about it being hour after hour, or that they were sorry it happened. When you have unhappy customers the best thing to do is offer an explanation. We still have no idea why everything was so messed up and we weren't the only customers who were upset. We talked to a lot of other people during our wait and found out that a lot of them were given wrong information on the wait time. I understand it's impossible to be exact but most places like to under promise and over deliver...a 100% increase in wait time is ridiculous...plus to be given the same answer over and over, "about an hour"?? Pretty bad. I found it crazy that they would have people directing traffic in the parking lot to make sure traffic went smoothly but didn't have a hostess that could seat tables smoothly..but then again I have no idea if it was the hostess's fault since no one ever explained anything. Finally we were seated. I can not eat much so I was going to order off of the appetizer menu. Everything sounded good at this point so I got the sampler. I was disappointed. I think everything came from a box. It all tasted like something I could get in the frozen food section. My husband had stuffed halibut or flounder, I forget, and it was delicious. My son had the chicken tender kids meal with fries and he liked it a lot. I got a piece of carrot cake to go and it was also very good. All in all, given the way we were treated and the quality of the food I received, I would not choose to visit this restaurant again. It seems to me like the management of this restaurant feels entitled to customers based on their reputation. The only restaurants that are entitled to my business are ones who treat me with respect.
(1)Mia D.
We went for Father's day, and we had a ball! I would recommend fro anyone that is trying to relax and have some good food and crabs.
(5)Sarah H.
I had never tried whole, steamed Maryland crabs and came into Mike's so that I could get the full experience. Steamed in plenty of Old Bay seasoning so that the flavor seeped in through the shells while cooking and dipped into vinegar, the crabs were absolutely delicious. The price seemed reasonable ($65/ dozen) and we easily split them between three of us. Our waiter was wonderful and spent more than enough time showing us how to get all the meat out. We also started with cups of amazing cream of crab soup and washed the meal down with plenty of inexpensive beer pitchers. It was a wonderful evening and I would certainly go back to show others that have not tried this before! A word of advice-- it can get really messy!
(3)Virginia K.
It doesn't get much better than brown paper on the table, a wooden mallet and a dozen jumbo crabs at Mike's! I came with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town and had Maryland crabs on her "must do" list. I had heard about Mike's but never visited myself so I was praying that we wouldn't be disappointed. Let me tell you, as far as crabs go, Mike's is the real deal. The fact that it is situated on the water and the Margarita's are fantastic just adds to the charm of this place. Do yourself a favor, next time you are in the mood for crabs, go to Mike's. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Juliet G.
Went for lunch and disappointed with selection. Has soft shell crab sandwich which was just okay. Nice locale though on the water and parking lot is a plus.
(3)Ricky H.
This place was eh.. just ok. The crabs were pretty good, but the baked potato I had was dryer than the sahara desert. Excessive amounts of butter and sour cream were necessary. The waiter was a ghost. We could never find him when we needed him. Oh , and the kids drinks are more expensive than the regular ones. Boo.
(2)Ardon G.
Great food - Great place - Great time August, on the water, big pile of hot crabs on the table.... does it get any better than this? NOPE. Crabs were expensive ($60 a dozen) - actually everything was pricey but Mike's is definitely a classic Maryland "place to go" for crabs. Anyway on to the crabs. They WERE AMAZING. Properly spiced, heavy and large. Side dishes were generous and good. Loved the oysters on the half. We tried one of almost every side and all were good. Drink service was the only area that I think needed improvement. It was kind of hard to get your drink on when the servers are so difficult to find... and when you do get her attention - she is distracted and busy, busy, busy.... Come to think of it - we might have stayed longer and gotten another dozen crabs if only she had been a little more attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!. I'll just near the bar next time! :-)
(4)Michael W.
I decided to take a friend from Brazil for crabs and thought this place was a nice touristic crab joint. The restaurant is located in a marina and one can stop the boat right in front of it. The day we went (a Sunday) the restaurant was quite full and most people were there for the crabs. In my opinion, the food is all right (not great, just all right). I am not a big fan of crabs and therefore I am not in a position to judge, but my in laws told me the crab was not seasoned properly. We had a portion of Maryland crabs, potato skins and a fried fish platter (for my daughter). The service was slow and the waiters were never available when we needed them. Despite of that, we had fun there and I would probably go back, should I need to take other friends for eating crabs. All in all, it is a good place for crabs and beer....
(3)Amir D.
Oyster's and crab cakes were delicious! Awesome view as well!
(4)Sucre-ski S.
i really dig this place but i have a snaking suspicion the locals know better. it's the closest crab house i could find when visiting D.C. and it's relatively easy to drive to in addition to being large and scenic with a dock & deck along the water. i think you could even tender your boat along the dock. the enormous parking lot seemed just over half full and the place was packed pretty good on a weekend, and being seated was not a problem as there were plenty of open tables. four of us got five crabs each and we were pretty satisfied. i liked the crabs but being a (yankee) city slicker i don't really know any better ... the waitress claims they were large but i'm not so sure. doesn't really matter to me but if you're picky about your crabs, you should find the review of a true local.
(4)Farida A.
Went here for the first time last Friday night, and had a pretty great experience. There was a bit of a wait but we just walked the dock and sat by the water to kill time. We ordered crab legs (listed under appetizers) and got two huge clusters of crab legs - for less than $10! They were so meaty and delicious. Luckily we also ordered some other appetizers, cuz I got sick of the craby taste after a while. The calamarie was delicious, so were jalapeno poppers! I wish I had saved more room for the poppers, they were really tasty. The virgin pina coladas were pretty good too.
(4)Jamie H.
Mike's has HANDS DOWN the best she crab soup in Maryland. I heart Mikes, really good food and not just the rockin crabs. Sometimes the hostess runs away but the servers are pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bathrooms, they need to update it.
(4)Staci C.
Smells a little fishy when you walk into the restaurant and food was average... Definitely not gourmet seafood. Would be fun if you had a big group, and wanted to hang out on the deck.
(2)Christie W.
I went back here again this past Sunday and just wanted to give it another 5 stars. This place knows how to do crabs! We took my boyfriends Mom and Grandfather here for Fathers Day, and they LOVED it! We each got a dozen oysters, and a dozen large crabs, the crabs were once again meaty and LARGE!! Perfectly seasoned and cooked. The oysters were awesome! We all love this place so much we will be back this coming weekend! :)
(5)Dee C.
I came here during off season, business was very slow. It has a great view since it's right by the water. It's weird that they only have unsweetened ice tea, but not sweet tea. Salad bar wasn't that great, most of its contents are not fresh. Seafood was ok, probably because it was off season. It's broiled fish had way too much seasoning on it, it covered the flavor of the fish. Crab royal had small pieces of shells in it. their crab cake is very meating. It's just an ok place, I wouldn't rave about it, but wouldn't mind coming back again, since I love seafood.
(3)Angela M.
Great crab everything - yummy! The crab dip is amazing; the mini crab bagel bites are even better. Whenever I'm feeling crabby, I know I'll be back! The Tuna Caesar salad wasn't too shabby either...I liked that the waitress came out and asked how I wanted my tuna - medium rare, and ooh was it good. Maybe a tad too much pepper for my taste, but grilled just right. This restaurant is right on the water, so you can look out and see the sunset over the waves. It's very casual and very chill here. Expect to see clothes ranging from flip flops and sunglasses to button-ups. Mike's is huge - you can sit out by the water on the patio, inside on the picnic benches or in the normal restaurant area. It's an interesting place to eat and a great place to hang out with friends. You can get rowdy and nobody minds! The service is friendly and prompt and I liked not having to wait too long for my food even though the place was stuffed. You get bonus points for that! I'll come back when it's warmer and sit on the patio! Ok, I'm bored with this review....
(4)Bradley S.
Just an awful visit. Slow service, wrong food and just boring!
(1)Sterling A.
A Summertime must-do! Food and drinks are excellent. SIt out on the deck and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Make sure you try an Orange Crush or one of their other drinks.
(4)Noel A.
Me and the kids out on a Sunday drive, just enjoying the day when we came across Mike's. What a find!!! Good food, Great Crabs, and our waiter Ricky was Great. I will be back with the wife. Truly a Great Experience!!!! Thanks Guys!!!
(5)Lee P.
The location and the view outside is definitely nice, HOWEVER, we received the worst service ever. We walked through the front and were directed to the back of the restaurant to be seated outside. We could barely understand what the hostess was saying due to her lack of English speaking skills. Why would you have someone who speaks little English at the front of the house? We get to the stand outside where a group of young kids are too busy chatting to notice we are waiting. They then direct us to another table around the corner to be seated. What is the point of having three check ins when only one can actually help you? We had to give a form of ID to receive a pager- b/c who wants to take one home, really? We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before being sat, which wasn't too bad considering we went in at lunch time and it was gorgeous outside. Our waiter Blake, taped his name to our table... he didn't do very much more than that. We ordered the crab dip to start with- it was surprisingly mediocre and was overpowered with horseradish. We were never asked if we wanted refills on our drinks from the bars. My bf's food came out 15 mins before mine, so he had to wait until I was served my Chesapeake chicken sandwich. He did enjoy the hush puppies, but wasn't impressed by the watered down flavorless clam chowder that wasn't accompanied by crackers. My chicken was a thin slab of overcooked meat on the grill with the crab on the side. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. If you want a real Chesapeake go to Seaside in Glen Burnie, MD. They weren't too busy once we were sat, but apparently we were expected to eat with our hands since we were not given silverware. We got up and got it ourselves. We must have also been expected to choke on our food since we never got drinks. After being very displeased with the service, we asked to speak with the manager on our way out. It took 10 minutes for another hostess to come back and ask us what our question was. I told her we didn't have a question; we specifically asked to speak to a manager directly. The manager was something else... an middle aged man trying to act cool and mellow. I highlighted that we were not looking for a free meal and that we had already paid, but wanted to express our absolute disappointment with the service. His response was "ummm, well, my name is Anthony if you ever need anything in the future let me know. I'll talk to my staff. We've had a busy weekend- we've already ran out of shrimp..." I've had management experience in the retail world and I would've handled things much different. How about an apology to begin with? They had plenty of staff on hand to accommodate the customers that day- girls in pink shirts everywhere. It was impossible not to run into them. I would not recommend anyone to come here other than for the view, which can be found else where.
(1)Jimbo J.
Should be renamed Mike's Bar and Disappointment House. Drove 30 minutes around dusk to learn that Mike's Bar and Crab House had run out of crab.
(1)christine c.
So glad that it's crab season again. I was not sure if it's still too early for steamed crabs so called Mike's and they have large crabs for $65/doz. The place we used to go to is Crab Claw in St Michaels but this time wanted to give Mike's a try - it's much closer from WDC for one thing. This restaurant is quite similar in ambience to Crab Claw - waterfront location, quite a large outdoor section, with seating under a canopy or under umbrellas. We got there around noon and were seated on the deck right away (it's a Saturday and they don't seem to take reservations) as the restaurant was less than half full. There's something about eating steamed crabs outdoors on the waterfront, it's just so pleasant and you are not worried about making a mess. The service was very friendly and efficient, and our order came right away. The crabs were surprisingly good - usually early in the season the meat might not be very solid, but these ones came with tightly packed meat in every single one and were really fresh and delicious. The only thing that could be improved upon is they could be spicier. As it was they were a bit bland, although there is old bay seasoning you can dip them in it's not quite the same (the crabs at the Bethesda crab house as well as Crab Claw are a lot spicier), steamed in spice adds a whole lot more flavor to the crabs. Since I haven't been there before I was not sure whether this is their style or it just happened not to be spicy today. Hopefully they can do it spicier next time!
(4)Pat O.
Service has gone down hill. After being show to our table no waiter came for 20 minutes even through the place was not busy. After we complained to the hostess we waited some more and still no waiter came so we eventually left.
(1)Jessica V.
Great end to a great weekend. Everything we had was amazing: Full sweet crabs, rich cream of crab soup, fresh briny oysters, hot steamed spiced shrimp. Omigosh. I wish I could have it all right now. Nothing fancy, just delicious fresh seafood.
(5)Rose M.
What a great way to end the weekend in Annapolis, MD. This place is a huge, low-key seafood restaurant that sits on the water on a pier. Customers can literally dock their boats and walk right into the place! As soon as you walk in you can see that it is a family place and each table was stacked with crabs, clams, mussels, you name it. I learned to eat crab legs for the first time there and they were delicious! We also had the calamari and, yum!, that was probably the freshest, most tasty that I've had that didn't cost me my entire paycheck! Also, there was live music being played that night we went in the bar area, which somehow they manage to make feel separate from the restaurant using good partitioning and lighting. I recommend this place for an easy-going night of clams, drinks, and fun!
(4)Mark T.
We decided to give Mikes another try after a very poor first experience. Unfortunately our second visit was worse. One fish entre was very undercooked and the other entre was very over cooked. The service was almost adequate though server was hard to find when we needed him. We will not be back to Mikes... There are simply too many other better options in Annapolis area.
(1)Patrick H.
I've added some photos.
(4)Keely H.
OOOO crabs! Can you believe it took me three years of living in Maryland before I went to get crabs? Well, it did. Finally last weekend Craig, a few friends and myself went to enjoy some of the wonderful little pinching crustaceans. We ordered a 18 medium crabs, and they arrived on a platter, steaming and wearing little coats of Old Bay. Craig had the Shrimp Jammers, and my friend had chicken strips and onion rings, all of which looked good. I was a bit timid about diving in at first, but after a quick lesson on how to take the blasted thing apart I was cracking like a pro. Six or seven crabs later I was sick of cracking, sick of crabs and ready to leave the loud, florescent patio on which we were sitting. The only thing I was disappointed about was the lack of plastic bibs...it would've made the fun experience a whole lot better, and made for some good pictures as well. 3.5 stars, I suppose I'll have to take my own next time.
(3)Tonya H.
This place is awesome. Vicky was great to us and the food was excellent. I had a BBQ shrimp and bacon skewer with rice. Perfectly cooked. The drinks were good and the Patron shots went down too easy and that's why I haven't got out of bed yet. I wish they did Bloody Mary deliveries! The outdoor seating is great and right on the water. Love it! The singer stayed longer to serenade me as well. Fun fun!
(5)Tim M.
Mike's makes my #3 crab house in the region/county falling a short behind to Cantler's and Harris'. Having said that it beats both of those places in terms of overall atmosphere being very much at water level and in a marina with a spectacular view of the South River. I don't typically eat anything but crabs here but I do always order some 'filler' which believe it or not is almost always the macaroni and cheese off the kids menu - I 'kid' you not. Their mac and cheese is Kraft-out-of-the-box style (it might actually be the same stuff) but it is always great to me and a bit of a Mike's tradition now. Crabs are always good here and are competetively priced and they have them year round and in a good choice of sizes and an All U Can Eat option. I'm a big fan of the Cherrystones either raw or steamed as they are typically HUGE. Check the happy hour menu for daily specials (all day/night) as there is usually always something different. In season they have steamers (soft shelled clams) which I'm not the biggest fan of actually because I find them to be very gritty but they are popular. Don't ask for melted butter with your crabs - you just might get thrown out of the place! Service here can be spotty in the warmer months as they typically hire a block of Eastern European students that can hardly speak english and really don't know a thing about the culture of a crab house - I bet some of them have nightmares about it actually lol. Off season it's local help and always very good. If you're brave enough to try to go here on a Friday or Saturday night during season be prepared to wait in line first in the parking lot and then in the restaurant - it be a BIZZY place on them days...
(4)Craig R.
Mike's really surprised me. My expectations always seem low whenever I'm going to someplace that isn't in Annapolis so I was pleasantly shocked when I went in. The place is big. They have a huge seating selection. It's right on the water so there are seats inside, at the bar and on four decks/patios. Moreover, they have a tiki bar outside that's surrounded by a nice little garden on one side and water on another. We ended up sitting outside for awhile until all the servers were done with their shifts and moved into the bar area. The menu looked pretty good, but all that was had was the medium blue crabs. I didn't get there in time to have any, but everyone at the table seemed to enjoy them immensely. Their beer selection is a little lacking, but anyone that has Blue Moon on tap is alright with me. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was that they served all the alcohol in plastic cups. I don't think my cup looked like a pint. I don't want to pay full price for a skimpy portion. In the bar area, they had some live music (which was actually pretty decent for once) and plasmas so you could catch all the day's action. Mike's had a great view and pretty decent food. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area.
(4)M C.
My dearest Yelpers, you have never failed me, and tonight was no exception. Mike's was FANTASTIC! Food: Get the crabs. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. In heaven, all seafood is seasoned with Old Bay. Hush puppies get a major shout-out too. 5 stars Service: Hostessing system is a little weird, you have to walk through the restaurant to get to the outside stand, then you have to give them something with your name on it to get your pager. Mmmkay. However, our server was amazing! She even took our picture by the water (bonus) and swapped out a nasty margarita. Very nice. Atmosphere: Waterfront at sunset, you can't really beat that. I could have done without the screaming children throwing crab parts next to us, but family style means family style..... I guess. Also, as other reviewers note, you barely notice how long you've waited for a table when you sit out on the deck and listen to the live music. I dig this place. They will see me again. All in all, forget the other crab houses in Annapolis. Hit up Mike's!!
(5)s p.
Mike's is a classic Maryland Crab House- one of the few around Annapolis. The crabs are hot, the beer is cold- everything else is fried. The service is so-so but that is because it is all the local high school kids who probably have more tables than they can handle. But what do you expect from a crab house?
(4)Jeremy S.
Went here w/ my fiancee and her friends; we ordered the crabs, of course, as well as onion rings and some cole slaw. The crabs were very fresh, and so it was easy to remove the meat simply by a skilled twist of a leg. Some notes: (1) the prices are rather high, and things can get very expensive very fast if you have a few big, hungry men in your party; (2) Mike's offers free refills only on iced tea, and not on soda (unlike many other crab places in Maryland); and (3) the service is very slow, and often inattentive; it took us quite a long time to get mallets and switch buckets in which to discard our crab remains. Overall, though, a fun place to go for dinner.
(4)Laurie W.
Going to Mike's for anything other than crabs, and then complaining about it, is like going to Ledo's and complaining about the fried chicken. (I don't usually do the insider local thing, but y'all know what I mean, right?) Just don't do it. Mike's exists to serve crabs, and also beer, while giving you a nice view of the river along with some fine people-watching opportunities as well. The crabs and beer duo is doled out perfectly, and copiously. Thank you o lord of the river for buckets of Corona! These days they typically have large crabs available (last time it was $65 a dozen), and they're decent - good amounts of meat, crazy amounts of Old Bay. If you ever have problems with the price or quality of crabs you get when you eat out, do a Google search on the state of the crabbing industry and you'll likely understand. It's a different world. Raised by a great-grandmother and grandparents who taught us how to pick crabs before we could tie our shoes (maybe even speak?) means it's just something you do. You don't think about it. I also have to wonder why anyone who is grossed out by the crab picking experience would go to a place chock full of shells and mustard, but I'll take THAT snobby Marylander point outside. The service is efficient and friendly - crab house style. On our most recent visit (this place is a family favorite for our extended group of native Marylanders) a bad storm blew our party inside from the deck. Our server moved us with no fuss whatsoever, and we picked our mallets back up in about five minutes. The salad bar is better than average, if a little pricey at $6.95, if you want some greens with your shellfish. The only other part of the menu I look at is appetizers. The raw bar stuff is decent. I got clams casino on an earlier visit this summer and it was okay. Like I said, this place is for crabs. And beer. Entree options are better at any number of restaurants nearby, so I'd go there if you're after anything other than the main event. There is also a full bar inside, but it looks like smoking is still allowed in there. It might be a decent place to wait, which is a frequent issue here in the summertime, but you can hang out on the deck outside and wait for a table as well. Sunset is a particularly nice time to be there.
(5)Mike C.
My first visit and it was great. A really good location right on the water about 30min. from DC. They had a Lobster special we took advantage of $15 for Whole Maine Lobster with all the trimmings. It was a lot of food and never seen a deal like that for $15. I have had better at other places but not as much food for the money. Being right on the water was an added bonus. I know the Crabs are the big draw here I am not a fan of Maryland crabs so I never order them. A great family place lots of fun.
(4)Bri P.
Bad food & worse service. The only thing worth the $ was the Crab Imperial...totally not worth the drive, the money, or the patience you will have to muster up with your inattentive waiter!
(1)Nicole L.
Oh boy, do I have something to write about this place. The reason it is getting one star is because the service is by far the worst I ever experienced. Thanks Ms Kelly! This is how it all began....I got there at 1 PM on July 3rd and when I got seated I was told they are out of crab, have you heard of such a thing? A crabhouse is out of crab? Anyhow, so I was asked if I wanted to wait till 2 PM - do you know I drove 1.5 hrs to get there just for crabs? So I waited....ordered some beer, clam casino and seafood potato skins. Clams were great with whole clams, some fillers and a nice slice of bacon on top - 6 for $8.50 and potato skins filled with scallops and shrimp - 3 for $9.50. They were not too bad while I wait for the crab. The diners next to me heard what happened and offer some of their crabs - they were big, meaty and very tasty! When 2 PM rolled around, the waitress said there's another 45 min -1 hr wait because of some traffic on BWI. That's the biggest load of crap I ever heard. So at this point, do I walk away or wait for 45 min? I waited and finally when the waitress announced that the crabs were here I ordered the half dozen immediately. Diners all around my table had dined and left and new diners sat down. As I sat there, half drunk half starving for crab in frustration, I saw trays of crabs being served to ALL, did I mentioned ALL??? Yes All around me - everyone got their crabs. You would think they would feel a sense of urgency to serve my table after almost 2 hours of wait. I was utterly disappointed and speechless by that point. Then when I got my crabs - they were half the size of the charity crabs I got 1 hr ago and is pretty much hollow on the inside. AND they are suppose to be the the same LARGE crabs. That is, in my yrs of dining history the biggest bullshit ever. I never knew a restaurant could single handedly hold a record for ruining my July 3rd holiday and dining history record! Sad to say, 2 hrs and $90 later, I will NEVER go there again.
(1)Christine S.
The setting for the restaurant is very classic...it sits right on the water, where there's a dock that goes out to the boats that carry the people who catch the seafood. They have good specials, like a whole bucket of mussels for $7. The crab cake sandwich was really good, too. It's a fun atmosphere. The dessert kind of sucks though...I tried the apple pie and it was cold and tasted like it came from a package.
(3)Lenny T.
Great setting for a meal of crabs which is a good portion of my rating, I find that crab houses are often more alike than different. But, this place in MD serves its crabs quickly and with just the right amount of old bay seasoning so that you can actually taste the crab! The perfect accompaniment with your crab fest is beer by the pitcher, raw oysters as a starter, and naked boiled potatoes and corn on the cob when in season. The day we went was beautiful along the water and the place even had a live band plaing on deck!
(4)Kasandra G.
I have to say, I've been here many times in the past year and I have never had a bad meal here. I think it's one of the best non-fancy seafood restaurants in Annapolis. It's right on the water, they have a good selection and good pricing. If your looking for a family place that has great seafood- you've found it!
(4)Mike G.
We arrived with family from out of town at about 2:30 PM on a Sunday. Got a table outside with a good view, without waiting. We ate a dozen oysters on the half shell, a dozen steamed Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, 2 orders of fried shrimp, crab soup, corn on the cobb, and calamari. Everything was terrific except the calamari; we were guessing the oil temp must have gotten out of wack. When we told our waitress we didn't like the calamari, she immediately volunteered to take it off our bill and she followed-through in doing so without us mentioning it again. Portions were genrous, prices were right and my guests couldn't have been happier. I gave it $$ even though the crabs were a bit steep. I called several places this morning, including a carry-out only steamed crab merchant and they are just more expensive everywhere this year than in previous years. Mike's steamed crab prices were competitive. It was the perfect, outdoor, picnic table, brown kraft paper-table "cloth," crab eating, by the water experience. Plus, their other dishes were good as well.
(4)Daniel H.
went to 5 different crab places in MD. this place was the best. great view, service, and food.
(4)Sean B.
Stopped here on the way to BWI from DC recently, and it was a great last stop before heading back to the landlocked confines of the Midwest. Wonderful views, friendly service, and reasonable prices for crabs ($20 for half-dozen medium to large) make this a place I'd definitely recommend.
(4)Matt K.
Visited Mike's after reading the reviews left on Yelp. It was great! Just what we looking for - great food away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
(4)Molly P.
Great casual atmosphere, fresh seafood and reasonably priced. Overlooks the bay (good scenery) A definate destination if in the Annapolis area.
(4)Viv J.
I have been going to Mike's since my childhood. We even would use their carryout to purchase crabs. So when I go there even now with my mom, I have so many memories. As an adult, I have discovered Harris Crab House. Their crabs, corn, atmosphere and service is much better. Yesterday, we did not feel like taking the drive across the bridge so we went to Mike's. While the crabs were good, our waiter Jordan was the worst. We waited for about 20 mins for him to even come over to greet our table. When he finally came, he informed us that he was waiting on a table of 10. So I asked him, should we request another waiter. Jordon told us no. Well we should have because the service went down hill from there. Several times, we had to search for him to get his attention. He forgot to bring the corn-on-the-cob and other items. It was so bad that when I stopped another waiter to find Jordan, she knew exactly who had our table. She never asked us for a description or name, I assume he had a reputation for bad service.
(2)J.C. L.
Mike's gets two stars from me. One for the crabs, one for the view on the deck. I have been to this place several times, with groups ranging from two people to six and never have spent less then $100 and I am no roller. The service stinks, on or off-season. Truthfully I have never consistently received such bad service at one place ever. There are no free refills on any drinks except iced-tea which initially cost you $2.16 + Tax. When inspecting the bill I came to find that children's cups, also non-refillable are $1.50. The adult beverage is $1.25. I just kinda feel like that's a bend me over and put a mirror in front of my face so I can watch you statement. Had the snow crab legs, they were totally over cooked and soggy. Let me remind you the crabs are good, the best around on a nice day right out on the water. So if you go, go for crabs but don't expect much more.
(2)Mike L.
I generously give Mike's two stars -- for the view. The food and drink -- not so much. If you want crabs, they do ok. I've had better crabs plenty of places, but they are pretty much your standard steamed and seasoned Blue Crab. That's the extent of the positive things I have to say. The rest of their menu is promising, but ends'up tasting like it came out of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Their drinks are small, expensive and weak. On a clear non-humid day, sitting on their outside deck and pounding back a few overpriced drinks is ok, but if you're looking for a memorable experience, pass on Mike's.
(2)Gayle S.
For informal seafood experience, this is the place. Steamed crabs and shrimp covered in Old Bay spices, unlimited lemonade, and the lovely river view from deck or inside makes me a fan. I can't believe how fast they can serve the hordes that show up for weekend dinners, so I go even without a reservation knowing I'll be well attended. (The little market behind the restaurant is also worth a peek, especially if you want to take home some lump crab.)
(4)Jason L.
Expensive but very good. This was my second business trip to the area and i had to come back to mike's! AgaiN, Service was promt and friendly. The salad bar was ok. The italian dressing had too much vinegar. They were out of bread though. I ordered the broiled crab cake, Shrimp, scallop & roughy. I opted for the baked potato, too. It was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and getting the 1/2 pounds of crab.
(4)miss marie b.
as of the middle of october... all u can eat crabs are back for a limited time? monday thru thursday. they cost around $27 per person. crabs will be meduim and small. corn and salad bar are included in the price. the rules.... no take aways at all. no ordering dozens while having all u can eat crabs. you must finish all of your crabs before the server can order you more. 2 hour table stay limit. starts around 5 and last all u can eat is served at 8pm... so get there early but not too early. this item is not always available so it is at the manager''s choice, i suggest you call before going to make sure it's being served. happy crackin'
(4)Sandie D.
We had family visiting from NY and their desire was to enjoy a good crab cake and some steamed crabs during their visit. So, we headed for Mike's with a group of eight. This was not our first time to Mike's, but our first time eating steamed crabs there. The crab prices were average. The crabs themselves were good, but nothing over the top. We all began with soup and appetizers. Cream of Crab is definitely my weakness, so I ordered a bowl. Someone at our table also ordered their house specialty soup, Maryland Crab and several people ordered the clam chowder. The soups were average. The cream of crab was not as rich as I like, nor did it contain very much crab meat. The person who ordered the Maryland Crab actually ended up ordering Clam Chowder because she was not fond of the Maryland Crab, but I believe she was not used to that style of soup. Appetizers included Clams and mussels. The mussels were good, the clams a little chewy and lacking in flavor, but than again they were clam.s The big hit at our table was the crabs and french fries. I ordered the the stuffed flounder (with crab imperial). Your choice is cole slaw or salad bar. I most admit I am picky when it comes to cole slaw and I would suggest salad bar. The cole slaw was lacking in flavor and not creamy. Your starch choice was a baked potato or fries. Once again, I like my potato cooked through, so I would suggest french fries. I returned my potato for fries because the potato was hard. The boys loved their sandwiches. They had bacon chicken cheese melts with fries. Two very happy teenagers here. Grandma and the boys also enjoyed Nutty Buddy's for dessert. The view from the deck is beautiful, especially in the summer. They have an awesome bar. The restaurant is clean and roomy. The service is usually average. I have yet to have a server who actually is on point with checking back specifically on the food or on the regular and I have been here during the busy summer and the slower periods of time. All in all, I'd say if you want a nice view and want to enjoy some crabs and beer, a good place to go. If you want to enjoy bar food and catch a game, great bar atmosphere.If you actually want a nice seafood dinner, probably not the place I'd suggest.
(3)Jeffrey M.
Drove out to Mike's for some soft shell crab sandwiches. We had them broiled at the waiter's suggestion and they were very good. Not out-of-this-world excellent, but very good. We'll probably go back again - it's a 45 minute drive from the middle of DC.
(4)Angel W.
Okay, so I've passed this place a MILLION times, but never stopped before, I will now! There were 4 of us and we opted to sit under the canopy. There was a man playing a guitar and singing "Locomotion." He was just ending his set when we got there though, so that's all we heard. En route to the table, the manager causes a beer to go flying towards 2 of the guests. He offered to buy our first round of drinks and apologized.....good trip already!! I ordered the pina colada and it was GOOD. We ordered 3 dozen medium males. After waiting for a few minutes, we were informed that there were no more mediums! In my opinion, we should have been offered larges for the the price of the mediums, so we ordered two dozen larges and an order of fries. The crabs were GOOD. They were well-seasoned and were super MEATY. There was a crab that was hollow, but our server replaced it with a better one, so that was good. Our server was wonderful at getting us what we needed and was very friendly. I'll def be going there again...just gotta make sure I have my money right.
(4)Jenny C.
Great crabs, most other items on the menu are also good - unlike Cantler's where the specials are always just awful.... Very relaxing to sit out on the waterfront deck, fun feeding the birds too, much quieter and more relaxed than Canntler's but Cantler's seasoned waitresses make that place very special. Would have given this place 5 stars but the last time I was there I saw a sickly rat - in broad daylight - make its' way across the deck under many people's feet - most unaware of its' presence. I am an animal lover and couldn't help but wonder why a rat living in a restaurant would look so unhealthy, skinny little thing. It was quite sad to see the scared creature, reminded me of a sad rabid fox I had once seen many years ago.... By the way, rats are just par for the course when it comes to restaurants and we were all outside - including the rat - I imagine living under a waterfront deck is prime rat real estate - so I'll go back as long as I don't see another one.....I imagine there is rat bait out set out on a regular basis and perhaps this explains why the poor little creature looked so unwell.....
(4)A.C. R.
Great crabs, drinks, service, and atmosphere but avoid the Maryland crab soup. The soup was very bland without much crab in it.
(4)Inga N.
Great location. You can sit right by the water enjoying a gorgeous view. Order crabs. Everything else is mediocre or sub-par. Once I wanted a burger and I thought, "Well, how hard is it to cook a decent burger?" Apparently too hard for them. Today we are having lobsters - they weren't worth ordering. Rubbery and taste grassy. Hush puppies - the cheapest kind and poorly cooked - tough and dense inside. Ah, and they are served with a frozen solid piece of something which our waiter informed us was honey butter. He said "it is served cold". Ridiculous. Fries - unprepossessing. Salad bar - pathetic. Corn on the cob - seems it was floating in water for some time - mushy. That's about it, folks. In sum, come for the view and order crabs.
(3)justin p.
Mike's is a real local (Riva redneck) kind of place. It ain't no touristy or high falutin' joint like Cantler's. I've always had good crabs, clams, oysters, etc., here. Nothing fancy, and right on the water. Just like a crab shack should be!
(4)Jessica P.
Definitely worth the wait (sometimes depending on server, service stinks) but, the food will make up for it. I love sitting on the deck area with family and friends and picking crabs, peeling shrimp out in the sun and their crabs are pretty big- this is where my bf always requests when it is a nice day and where we take out of town visitors to go experience the yummy md crabs. Their crabcake however is alot of filler, their crab imperial w/ shrimp is delicious and very egg puff like. Their cream of crab has lots of backfin meat. Don't be suprised if you see Pat Sajack (price is right) or Vanna White not kidding..we have bumped into those 2 while here eating one summer apparently they like this place as well as us. The only con is that they really need to update the bar and the inside of the place it is very 80's wood panel and sun tile but it's alot more up to date then next door (Paul's). Pros the food!!!
(4)RIchard D.
We showed up at 9:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of blue crabs. What a disappointment...especially since we came to the Annapolis area for crabs. I had the Orange Roughy and it was ok, better than average and tasted very fresh. My wife had the baked crab cakes and it was really good. I was really disappointed that they were out of blue crabs.
(3)Chase W.
Yeah, so this was definately my first crab shack experience so I have zero to compare Mike's to, but it's definately a good spot for some day drinking and crab eatting (though I passed o n the latter- I'm not into the whole insect lookin sea food thing!) I opted for the crab cakes which were decent; tons of crab meat, and they were really pretty big, but it definately needed a little old bay to spice things up; they were a little bland. As for the crabs? I don't know. I couldn't get passed the fact that you had to rip out these seaspider's guts before you could start pickin away at the meat inside- It reminded me of Baer Grylls on "Man Vs. Wiild" on the Discovery Channel (if you don't get the reference, program your TiVo to catch an episode- it's an awesome show!) pickin away at something gross in the jungle.... but I digress... A dozen large crabbies were $65 a dozen, which everybody at the table agreed was fair for the size, quality, and quantity; I couldnt' fathom payin that much for crabs, but then again, I wasn't raised on this tradition either. Part of me really wish I was- everybody was having a blast! On the other hand, I'd sooner take my 65$ to Grille 23 back in Boston for a 4 inch thick porterhouse :) It did make for an awesome afternoon spot though; perfect weather right on the water, and tons of out door seating. The deck outside the restaurant featured a parrot head crooner who actually was pretty decent, and a tiki'esq out door bar over looking the deck. Connected to all this was a small marina and a parking lot filled with classic muscle car's and hot motor cycles (that might have been my favorite part!) Anyways, I don't know enough about crabs to say the food was any good, but everybody at my table (probably a dozen of us) were all raving about them, so I guess they were good... Atmosphere alone this place would be a 5, but in reality, it was a perfect day so tthat definately contributed to that, but I have to keep in mind that the bar was gross, and so where the bathrooms.and it's definately not a cheap spot to grab a beer and a bite. You definately paying for the view and the experience.
(4)Bill P.
Great local place. Get the hard shell crabs, skip the rest. The crabs are great - the crab cake and the soup was a bit disappointing. Years ago when I worked down the road, it used to be a bit better and cheaper.
(4)Ann B.
Overrated! Great view, terrible, expensive food.
(1)Amber C.
being here was the first time i have ever been to maryland much less eating hard shell crab. i loved sitting on the deck with a pitcher of beer and a table full of crabs. its the perfect place to spend a few hours on the river. i can still taste the old bay now...
(4)Merrill F.
The foods not great, but I managed to have enough fun here to later that night think it was a good idea to jump off the bridge going to it. One of the funnest and most painful experiences of my life (you should have seen the bruises). Awesome, and painful, but the point is that without Mike's, I never would have thought it was a good idea. So they get points there.
(4)t e.
went with some friends a on a rainy day. it was really good. i am not a connoisseur of eating crabs, but this place was fantastic. simple seating on the inside. just crabs on paper, bucket, wooden mallet, and you're ready to go. crabs came out piping hot, and we were good to go. very yummy. definitely worth the drive from DC. i'd go back again.
(4)Gion S.
"As an Annapolis resident, I can say this is the worst restaurant in the city, with the worst food and probably the worst service I ever had. The crab cakes were awful, and the waitress and hostess were rude as well. There are plenty of places to go for crabs in Annapolis, don't waste your money here."
(1)Sandra T.
Food is great if you can ever get service. Wait staff only watches out for themselves. If it is not there table, they can care less. Was seated outside and given menu's . 4 other tables were seated after us. After the 4 th was visited by a server we got up and left. No one tried to keep us, no one bothered to help us since it was not there table. This is not the first time, but it will be our last. People want crabs so they will always have customers. No matter how they treat them.
(1)Peter S.
It is what it is: a good, decently priced crab shack. It ain't elegant, but it doesn't pretend to be. Food is good. A few years back they really started breading up their crab cakes, which was terrible, but now they're back to being good again. A family dining staple.
(5)Alyzain J.
Food was great. Ordered the shrimp jammers, Jamaican jerk mahi mahi sandwich, and small/medium crabs. The mahi mahi was slightly overdone but everything else was solid. Also ordered the cream of crab soup. It was delicious but a bit too creamy. Service was good. Ambiance is fun and not too loud. The decor is dated.
(4)Mandy M.
Ate there 3 times and it felt straight out of the 80s when restaurants would impress you with the amount and the greasiness of the food. It wouldn't take much to transport this restaurant just one decade ahead, e.g. use different potatoes for the french fries. They are horrible. Also, offer the fish prepared some other ways than fried. I am not suggesting sushi but there must be some fine recipes for that great tasting haddock. And maybe the bacon wrapped shrimp could have some flavors too other than just... bacon. Service was great, and I tipped accordingly. Didn't mention the food. Until now.
(2)Connie M.
Business lunch sitting on the water. We can stop here. 5 stars for the view. There were 9 of us and it was a sunny day. Service wasn't slow and it wasn't fast. We started with wings ($8.50) and bacon wrapped shrimp ($10). Shrimp was served on rice. I had ice tea which was constantly refilled by our young server. I had a cup of cream of crab soup ($5) which was tasty. Not the best I ever had, but still yummy. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which came with fries and I was sharing with someone who ordered the shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cake was good. Not a lot of filler ($11). The shrimp salad was something to write home about! First, lots of shrimp. I was expecting little petite shrimp but these were not the baby shrimp that get thrown on a salad. These were the size of small shrimp in a chinese stir fry! For $8.25 it was plentiful and perfectly seasoned with mayo and celery. Let me describe this shrimp salad by asking...have you ever walked away saying that the shrimp was better than the crab cake? Me neither...until today. I can't wait to go back just for that sandwich! We also had the Jamaican Jerk chicken sandwich ($9.50), Fried Flounder ($10.50), Salmon Caesar ($14). I could have sat there all afternoon with a frozen tropical drink and pretended that I was on a private beach. View: 5 stars Ambiance: 4.5 stars Service: 4.5 stars Food: 4.25 stars - Shrimp Salad 5 stars
(4)Pete V.
Mike's is now my go-to for Maryland crab...although I don't think the crab here is actually from Maryland. In fact, I was here one time where I read they sourced the crab from Louisiana and Galveston, TX. Well...that aside, the crab here is pretty darn tasty, the service always friendly, and where else can you snag a table out on the dock, down an couple of Nattie Boh's and dig into a plate full of delicious crab seasoned with none other than heaping spoonfuls of Old Bay? We usually go here for lunch on the weekend, and the wait around lunchtime for an outside table is always at least 45 min to an hour (so plan accordingly). If you go here on a sunny summer Maryland day, and elect to sit inside, especially with views of the beautiful river, boats, etc. then you are not invited to eat with me :) Now, when you order, do as the romans do and order a huge plate, maybe a dozen or so LARGE crabs. In fact, sometimes they have JUMBO, which is a bit more expensive ($125 for a dozen maybe), regardless, make sure you order the LARGE crabs (usually $80 per dozen), and do not get the medium ones, as they are not nearly as tasty, and you will put forth a ton of effort breaking them open for not much ROI. Don't be stupid, and just pay the extra money for the LARGE or JUMBO and you will not be disappointed. Traditionally they will serve the crab with a bowl of Old Bay seasoning. Break open your crab, dip the meat in the seasoning and enjoy! Mike's Crabhouse is an institution and one of my favorite spots to sit out by the water, enjoy a beer, and crack open Maryland-style blue crab all afternoon.
(4)Renee M.
The best crab joint around. Great thing about Mike's is the food is always great. The crabs have never disappointed me. The best is the swirl margarita from the outside bar! Yummy!
(5)Buster C.
I took the time to drive from DC to Annapolis to visit the fabulous Mikes Crabhouse. A fellow employee made an enthusiastic recommendation. Generally I always have the hesitation blues about eating in rural Maryland. We, however got good seats and table and our waiter was friendly. The crabs were pretty good, however, the top six were piping hot the bottom six were refridgerated cold. Logical deduction, the crabs are shipped. However there's not enough crabs in the bay to support the restaurants. We get that. Even cold, we were happy. They were beautiful and presentation can go along way, especially with the women. My wife was very happy and wants to come back next week.
(4)Janice E.
We ordered large crabs very meaty and just the right old bay spice.Ron Jeremy was there having his pic taken with the patrons and staff.
(4)Cindy T.
Love the food and service at Mike's Crab House...if you don't mind the wait, the outdoor seating is great as well.
(4)Greg M.
Stopped by for a quick lunch before flying back to H town. Ordered dozen oysters on the half shell to start. Had to soft shell crab sandwich broiled. Took forever for the oysters to arrive, however, it was worth the wait. Nicely sized and tasty. Sandwich was very good, with the condiments served on the side. Gorgeous day to sit out on the deck by the water.
(4)DC M.
My husband and I decided to try this place on a whim one evening, and we are sure glad we did! We ordered the crab cakes and the soft shell crab. It was absolutely to die for! The salad bar was nothing to write home about though; seemed kind of thrown together at the last minute. The restaurant was larger than I expected, and is very well maintained. We loved being able to see the relaxing waters as we ate. The waitstaff were also great. Our waitress nearly dropped a drink all over our food, but she was extremely apologetic and her personality as well as her professionalism made up for it. Bottom Line: I recommend this place.
(5)Lucy L.
Crab cakes are huge but are not that tasty. I can do without the filler. It's hard to mess up french fries but they succeeded. Good spot to grab a frozen drink or to eat some crabs but "that about it."
(3)S S.
Crab cake is the bomb here and steam crabs are amazing !! I came here during the busy time and it was around 2hrs. wait but it was worth the wait. Trust me !!!
(5)Jamie P.
We stopped at Mike's on our first night in town. It was perfect for our family of 7. We could eat outside at the picnic tables by the water and the noise level was perfect for our 5 kids. We could all talk and still hear one another, yet the kids talking was not an inconvenience for anyone else. Our Waitress was very patient, willing to explain the different ordering options for the crabs and made a very accurate recommendation for what would be best for our crew. She also brought out pitchers of water to help everyone. She new that it was too busy for her to keep up with the drinks so her proactive approach was appreciated. However, with that being said, the refills for the soda were few and far between. Ultimately, there was something for everyone and the service was very good. Personally, I had a 1/2 dozen of the large crabs and an order of hush puppies. I found it to be more than enough, as my kids shared both with me. It was a blast to watch them eat crabs for the first time. They actually worked together to figure out how to do it. My wife had a buffalo chicken sandwich that she indicated was delicious. My oldest son, age 13, had the crab quesadillas. He indicated seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. Our others had the pizza and chicken tenders. We would certainly stop here again.
(4)Kida B.
Call today around 8:00pm they said that they had crabs avail however I got here at 9:02 and they said that they don't serve crabs after 9:00pm but they close at 11:30...(smh) it was about 15 employees sitting at the front of the restaurant, I guess they were to tired to cook me some crabs, so I then asked for the manager he came out and was very rude...so I asked him when did they stop serving crabs he said 9:00pm I said so when did you guys started that he then said that they just couldn't cook them because it takes to long...(I will be calling my lawyer ASAP...oh and I'm Native American...I will let friends and family know that this place could be racist. This is my second time here.
(1)Lauron T.
We came later in the evening; they had a sign that said they were out of crab as soon as we walked in but they were serving crab the whole time we were there. If the policy is that they don't serve it after a certain time, that should be stated. The service was bad, they told us a different closing time. The manager never came out to check on us even though we had legit complaints. The waiter kept saying "sorry bout that" but that doesn't make up for the fact that we never got our side dishes. In fact, after we ordered food, 15 min later he told us that certain side dishes were out and we needed to pick something else. But the only thing available was fried green beans or the nasty salad bar. Also, the waiter never took our trash plates away. Our table was dirty the entire time. the soft shell crab was soggy and the salad bar was dirty. I give two stars bc we've been here in the past and it was good but I'd advise not to go at night ANY TIME
(2)Alex B.
The mixed reviews really made me question going to Mike's, but holy cow this place is amazing!!! My son and I came here for lunch and were totally impressed, by the food and especially our super service from Shannon. On the food front, we came for crabs, crabs & more crabs. We started with MD crab soup which was very good. We ordered two dozen tasty crustaceans and were very happy, nice full crabs, very sweet and delicious. So happy we went and look forward to many return trips to Mike's!!!
(5)Julie A.
This was my second stop here in 2 months and it didn't disappoint either time. The atmosphere and staff are excellent, plus the prices are reasonable for how much food you get! I'm not a crab eater (shameful as I'm from Maryland) but the menu is diverse enough that there's plenty on hand for me to eat. I sat on the outdoor patio, water side both times and couldn't have asked for more lovely, laid-back seating! Our waitress was friendly and attentive. My first visit was at night with about a party of 10 & I had the BBQ ribs. Wow. A big, incredible portion that lasted me 3 days of leftovers! During my visit today, for lunch, I tried their Angus Bacon Cheeseburger and it was really good! My daughter had the cream of crab soup and loved it. My husband also had the same soup & the mussel/clam/shrimp combo platter. Everything was fresh & delicious. I did try a bite of a friends crab cake that also joined us & I liked it! I may not be ready for smashing those broiled crabs yet, but I'm working my way towards it & when I do, I'll most likely do it at Mike's.
(5)Kelly H.
So, we live in Michigan. We make a point to eat foods we can't eat at home when we travel. Not a lot of restaurants sell crabs in Michigan, although I don't know why not. First things first. Their crabs here are not Maryland crabs. They're from the Gulf of Mexico. (Thus my question of why don't they serve crabs in Michigan? If they can get them here, why not everywhere?) Since we didn't know that before we ordered, we ordered the crabs thinking they were local. Here is what we learned: unless you are a professional crab shucker, you should order the more expensive larger sized ones and fewer of them, or you will work darned hard for teeny bits of meat. Also, wear clothes you don't care if they get trashed with Old Bay and butter. Eating crabs is a full body experience for folks like is who do it once a year or so. Fresh crab meat is always delicious. Nothing comes with the crabs, so we ordered the salad to go with it. It was a fine salad, nothing special to write home about. The service was slow, but friendly. We got there about 8:30 and got our food about 9:30. So, bottom line. Mike's was fine. For a dozen small to medium crabs, one soda and a salads, including tax and tip it cost $70. Not necessarily sure I would go back again because it just wasn't something special like I had hoped it would be.
(3)Ashley W.
I can confidently say I WILL NOT be back here. We visited on Saturday night and were told that we could not order carry-out because they were busy. Seems like a dumb counteractive policy to me, seeing as though if people wanted to leave and eat on their boats, it would make more room in the restaurant for them to seat more people and make more money, but I'm not in the restaurant business so what do I know. We then asked the hostess if we could order a drink and food from the bar and ask for boxes when the food came out. She said that was fine. Half of our party was able to do this, but the other half of the party wasn't. We were told by one of the bitchiest bartenders that I have ever encountered that we have to eat some of the food at the bar before we could have boxes. WHAT? How can you demand that I eat some of my food before I get a box? When someone asked who the manager was the hostess said she didn't know and when we finally requested for him to come to the table he couldn't because he was cooking. This place definitely has some problems...and sub-par food.
(1)Virtual M.
Good time with friends. Friendly servers. They open at 11am, we got there and we all got seated by 12pm and they were already out of jumbo's. ended up with 3 dozen large ( between several people ) and they were good and had sweet meat, but they were really light for being large and at $75 per dozen I would have thought them to be a little heavier on the meat. The first 2 dozen were cooked great and tasted good, when we got the 3rd dozen they were a bit over cooked and water logged and not pulling out of the shell as easily. The appetizer sampler was good, but small for a sampler, only 3 items and 2 of each. Was not hardly enough for everyone to share. The hushpuppies were good though. Overall, sitting out on the water, throwing down on crab, enjoying cold beer and company of friends, I would do that again at this place. Maybe will come earlier next time to get in on the Jumbo's though.
(4)Nicole M.
Came here for lunch since it's less than 5 minutes away and I was craving seafood. I didn't experience some of the complaints prevalent with this place. I was seated and served promptly, maybe a 5 minute delay between sitting down and being greeted by a server. The place was neither empty nor full. The outside servers were hanging around but my plates were collected pretty quickly. I had the Steamed Platter appetizer and Salad from the salad bar. The salad bar looked good (showed up at noon so the place had been open for about an hour), spinach greens were fresh as were the other ingredients. I kind of wish they had more of a salad dressing variety but I doubt people come here for the salad. ...which brings me to the next review, my lunch! The Steamed Platter consists of Mussels, Shrimp and Oysters. I had my reservations about whether this would fill me up but that + one trip to the salad bar had me full to capacity. They brought out all the condiments I could ever want (butter, cocktail sauce, old bay, hot sauce, lemon) from the start which I appreciated. The shrimp was HUGE, which I also liked. Some places give you the tiny/medium shrimp but this was clearly Jumbo or bigger. Not soggy, had a satisfying chew to them. The Mussels and Oysters were also fresh, not much of a fishy taste to them but still flavorful. All in all, I like the place. Staff was friendly enough and even though I spent about 40 bucks (food + beer + tip), I feel it was well-spent. One day I'll bring the crew and we'll try their crabs, could make for a fun Summer outing.
(4)Lenessa T.
It had been years since I ate at Mike's. I was pleased with my food overall. I ordered apps and mostly oysters. I had 3 types (steamed, raw and grilled) and all were good.
(4)M W.
Best crabs ever!!! Their jumbo's are always on point--huge, meaty and seasoned to perfection. Service is always great. On weekends and busy holidays, there might be a wait but they have benches and picnic tables set up for you to enjoy while they get your table ready. The restaurant sits directly on the water and the view is wonderful. Perfect for sitting and picking crabs all afternoon.
(5)Martin C.
This place is absolutely amazing. If you are ever in Maryland this need to be a must stop. The service is fantasy and the staff is always friendly. The food is always fresh delicious, I ordered the steam crabs and fried oysters sandwich and could not believe my palette.
(5)Dawn R.
I'm not going to say that I'll never go back to Mike's, because I have friends who like to go here to hang out and I'll probably join them at some point. But I have no intention of ever coming back looking for a meal. I was meeting a friend for lunch today and arrived at Mike's around 11:40. Since they just opened at 11:00, they weren't very busy yet, and almost all of the wait staff were sitting at a table in the dining room talking. I approached the hostess stand and asked if I could sit "in the bar area". She told me to just go on over, so I went to the bar area and selected a table by the window in the bar. I then saw the bartenders turning on the TVs getting ready for the football games, and asked which TV my preferred game would be on. They told me, so I moved to another table that was closer. I sat and waited and waited....nobody ever came over. After about 10 minutes, I went to the bar & asked for a lunch menu. The male bartender started looking for one, and the female bartender comes up and says "did you want something?" I told her he was looking for a lunch menu for me, and she said "we don't have lunch menus on the weekend, so you'll have to order from the regular menu." I went back to my table to review the "regular" menu while both bartenders still just went about their business and ignored me. Throughout this, I noticed another employee who was sitting across the bar eating who kept looking at me, but I was never approached. After over 20 minutes, my friend arrived and I began to tell her about my experience since arriving. The employee who was eating was listening to our conversation. After he finished his food, he came to me & said "Has a server been here yet?" I told him no, and he then chastised me saying I was supposed to go through the hostess stand before taking a table. When I told him that I had, he then said "Well, she probably just thought you were going to sit at the bar." Excuse me? How about your bartenders who ignored me for over 20 minutes? Wouldn't you think at SOME point somebody would have said "Oh, hey...no server's been over here, maybe we should get someone?" WORST service ever. My friend and I got up and left and had our lunch somewhere else.
(1)Marie E.
We were visiting family in MD and decided on this place to eat. Had such a blast! Crabs were good - a little over seasoned with old bay, but overall the fattest boy blues I've ever had. Now the crab cakes- best I've EVER had. Pure lump meat, no breading. Pretty amazing! Hope to come back here if I am ever in Maryland again!
(4)Cathy Q.
Get their Mudslide! So yum! I wished they had bigger straws for their frozen drinks though. :/
(4)Sandy B.
Went again today, two years later. Had same food and beverage. Was very happy once again.
(4)Viv G.
We had been meaning to go check out Mike's for a while, so when a coupon came in the mail, we decided it was time. It's a typical diner setting. We went on Tuesday for crab dip, two rib specials and a dozen oysters. It was a lot of food for two people, considering that the dinners come with salad and baked potato or fries. Everything was really good! The oysters were clean and fresh. It was pretty quiet at the restaurant, but I imagine it gets packed on warm nights, especially out on the patio. We want to come back when it's nice out, and to try the crabs. Mike's has a great reputation in Annapolis for the best crabs in town. The only issue we had was the service was slow for the (lack of) patrons in the restaurant. Our server kept disappearing for 15-20 minutes at a time, and as far as I could tell we were her only table. Overall, the value was great. We will be back in the summer!
(4)First J.
I'm a crab enthusiast and this is the best crab place in town. Make sure you ask for jumbos or large. The service is great and so is the ownership. Tony is one of the nicest gust you could ever meet. This is my spot for crabs
(5)Victoria M.
The place was packed, but the service was impeccable. Our food came out promptly and our waiter was very attentive. The food was great, and reasonably priced compared to other options in the area. The setting is beautiful- we sat inside and had a great view of the bay. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Denea J.
If you're a crab lover, this is the perfect spot. If not (like me) don't fret, there are plenty of other options. The crab balls are my fave.
(4)Linda G.
Came here for crabs and had a great experience eating out by the water and sunset. Food was delicious. Busy place -- wait time was 2.5 hours though.
(4)Jennifer M.
Although the view is awesome, the food is eh....Seasoning is the missing link. I've had way better crab cakes in Baltimore City. I am actually leaving the restaurant quite hungry. :( It's a nice sized restaurant. Great for families and groups. There are a lot of options on the menu....just a little sad they ran out of crabs... I don't think we'll be going back. The staff is very friendly and customer service great. The food just needs a little more umph.
(2)Carol H.
Food was okay but restrooms were filthy and smelled horrible. I literally lost my appetite thinking that staff we're probably using the same facility. There is no excuse for this in the middle of a Monday afternoon. There was a large number of teenage wait staff sitting around giggling. Glass doors at entrance thick with handprints. Will not be back.
(1)Jon A.
Worse service ever. Order crabs and forget about it. Because if you are use to DC restaurant type of service you will not get it here. We watched a dirty empty table for 15 minutes before it got bussed. Mean while there is a 2 hour wait. Not the MO if you want to make money.
(1)Jacob C.
They gave us a takeout menu yet told us they don't do takeout during weeks?!?! What?! Need to educate these folks.
(1)Erin B.
Unfortunately I am unable to review the food. After being told there was a 20 min wait and waiting for over an hour and a half, to be told there was still a 20 min wait and that we would have to split our party into two smaller tables, we had to leave. Not the place to visit with children, elderly or anyone with diabetic/health issues as this may legitimately life threatening!
(1)JR C.
This is a pretty solid place, just a tad expensive for the food. The view and ambiance are awesome - there isn't much better than sitting on a dock, with a beer, and some seafood. It seemed like everyone was eating crabs, so I asked our waiter (who was pretty slow to greet us) what the deal was, as they weren't on the menu. He told me that they were $70 for a dozen, 35 for a half dozen. I think my mouth remained open for a minute or two, because that's WAAAAAYYY expensive for some boiled blue crabs. Anyway, I skipped on that, and had the broiled rockfish, which was really tasty, but it was like $24! The salad bar was small, but had some good selections, the baked potato was...well, a baked potato. The cherrystones we ordered as an appy were solid. All in all, a nice place for beers and seafood. I can see this place being INSANE on a Friday or Saturday night, so get there early!
(3)Cory G.
We just finished lunch at Mike's where my colleague found a DEAD FLY in her salad. Underneath - at the bottom. We told the waitress to please take it away and she complied - lovely girl but obviously new. We thought it odd the manager never stopped by regarding the fly but moved on and enjoyed our crabs. When we got the check (over $300 btw due to crabs) we noticed the salad was still on the bill. WHAT? This is where we got frustrated. She admitted to forgetting to take it off. Then we informed her that in this type of situation that's THE MINIMUM required. A visit from the manager is always nice - taking off the rest of the salads is always nice (since no one wanted to eat the rest of theirs after seeing a dead fly in her salad) and maybe a free dessert if they feel like it. None required but for an over $300 lunch for 5 people you think a manager visit also belongs on the minimum. NADA. NOTHING. Just took off 1 salad and scurried away because our guess was she talked to the manager and that's about it. UNACCEPTABLE. Completely. Flys get in food sometimes and at a reputable place there is a way to handle customer service. This is not one of those places. Beware.
(1)Hanna Z.
Mikes has the best location but some of the worst food. Most of the time their crabs are really good but if you don't want crabs you're screwed... We got a dozen raw oysters.. First off.. They were on a bed of cubed ice so they weren't cold. They looked old and had no real flavor. I ordered the fried chicken but I had to send it back because it was so incredibly dry. Everyone else's food was bland and the seafood was clearly such bad quality. Places like this frustrate me because they get SO much business already off of putting out bad food because their market is people who just want to eat on the water.. Imagine if they simplified the menu and focused on better quality ingredients... The people who come to eat crabs on the deck twice a month will come back more regularly to get food off the menu AND people who seek great food will come there.
(2)Ash M.
Our first visit to Mikes and it was a bad experience our waiter brought out drinks to the table and it was all alcohol beverages and he manage to get two drinks on the table before spilling another's table rum and coke on my fiancée which was awful. The second thing was you spend almost 20 bucks on broiled salmon and the seasoning on the fish had mayo in it. One I can't stand mayo nor can eat it I wish they would have clarified that it had mayo on it before putting it in my mouth. Just wasn't a good day at mikes especially driving a hour and some change just to be disappointed.
(2)Darryl B.
Very poor service. Waited 15 mins then had to ask hostess to send a server over. No apology. $75 a dozen for large males. Half were full, but the other half were empty. This happens about half the time. Other times the service is OK. The restaurant just needs to be managed better.
(2)Brooke B.
Gorgeous deck dining with views of the South River. Tried the bacon wrapped scallops and really enjoyed them! Great service as well! Arrive by car or boat and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Michael L.
Disappointing visit. Won't return. I visit Annapolis occasionally and was looking forward to crabs before heading back to BWI. I typically go to a different place but thought I'd try Mike's since I was nearby for work. I arrived around 4 pm. Mike's had less than 25% of seats occupied. I was seated indoors where I waited about 10 mins for a waiter. (About 9 mins too long in my view). Wait staff were all congregating in a side area joking around while customers were unattended. No manager in sight. In the meantime, a swarm of about 30 flies were buzzing around the INDOOR seating area. When my waiter arrived, I placed my order for crabs. He returned to tell me that the large size crabs were sold out and only small remained, despite the fact that there was a fresh seafood delivery truck unloading crabs in the parking lot. Maybe it was just bad timing on the crabs but the place was not clean and the service was badly in need of a manager. My waiter was friendly enough once he arrived but I had already decided to leave. This place needs a new owner who cares more about customer experience.
(1)Larry H.
Although Mike's has plenty of tie up space for arriving by boat, a huge outdoor deck, a tiki bar, and even a small pavillion style stage, it's kinda lost it's standing as a true dock bar over the last few years in my book, mostly because they won't bother to regularly bring in live music here to create a party atmosphere anymore. They instead rely on mid week karaoke and trivia nights to try and pull in a subdued mostly 40+ crowd. Hopefully this will change... That said... if you're out on the water and you get the urge for some fat crabs and cold beer, with a great view of the South River, Mike's is definitely worth pulling your boat into for an hour or two.
(2)Jules R.
The food is four stars by itself... the service is what makes me give Mike's just two stars. I've been coming to Mike's for years, and usually have a great experience. After my experience last night, I don't know if I'll be back. Our waitress was just terrible. I always look on the bright side of things and give people the benefit of the doubt, but this was just too bad for words. It was a Wednesday night, not crowded at all, and she had a BIG attitude from the start of our meal until the end. On top of the attitude, we waited 20 minutes for our drinks to come. My friend asked for A1 sauce for her steak twice, and waited 15 minutes the second time. We asked for some paper towels for the crabs and also waited awhile. Each thing that was delivered to our table was done so by our waitress in silence. She never asked how things were, if we needed refills, etc... and when it was time to pay the bill she got really nasty about us wanting to split the check into two payments. She said she'd write our card numbers down to do so, and we said we weren't comfortable with that and we'd like to see a manager about our experience. She rolled her eyes at that and walked away from us as we were in mid-sentence talking about our checks. Literally 15 minutes later... she comes back and says that the manager is "busy." Honestly, I really doubt she even tried to find a manager at all. What manager would say they're too busy to address a customer concern? On our way out, we told the hostess that we (long-time customers) had our first terrible service, and they said "oh she's new." Being new does not excuse a crappy attitude and terribly slow service. The food was delicious as always - the crabs were meaty and hot and the vegetable crap soup was sooo yummy as always. It was just hard to enjoy the meal over our server's attitude and terribly slow service, to be honest.
(2)Dennis O.
There is a practice in some, if not most restaurants that add an 18% gratuity to tabs of more than a certain number of people. While I understand this because some people are rude enough it to not tip underpaid and overworked servers, the practice is often abused by a lie of omission. Last night, my group of crews from a yacht racing club, raising money for leukemia, was treated to the ultimate abuse of this practice. One of my more generous crew mates picked up the tab for 5 and left , leaving his card behind. I offered to sign for him and take his card. I asked the waiter if he received a tip and he said "no". I added 20%. Just then, my friend came back to retrieve his card. When I told him about my action on the tip, he told me that 18% had been added. I had a decent crab cake on a separate tab. It was $14 plus one beer It was horribly late and ordered twice from two servers. I wen to the cash register because my tab was grouped with another party and I requested a single tab. Because of the inconvenience and because it was a tab for only one. I offered 20% tip. As it turns out, my single crab cake and beer had 20% plus 18% added to it! Sorry for the long post, but this place does not deserve to be in business! I will never return. To act like this under the guise of supporting our charity is inexcusable. As my other reviews enforce the fact that I prefer praise over punishment, this one was an exception, but one well deserved.
(1)Nita H.
First visit today, Memorial Day weekend and it was a stunning day on the way. I arrived at 5 to meet 10 other people and the wait was 1.5 hr for inside seating and 2.5 hr for outside seating. The place was packed but we waited near the pier and the views made up for the wait. Finally at 6pm the table was ready. My friend, Ms. K, recommended this spot and she was eager for a bushel of crabs. 3 dozen crabs were ordered as a starter, my buds thoroughly enjoyed them. It was too much work for me so I opted to go with the steamed shrimp and they were really good. After my buds devoured the crabs over a periods of time, we ordered entrees. I had the broiled crab cake sandwich with fries. The crab cake was thick and meaty however it was little to no seasoning on it but I still enjoyed it. The fries were steak fries thickness and pretty good. I tasted the mussels and it tasted like nothing!! I have today that the white wine/garlic drenched mussels at red lobster are more tasty!!!! For dessert I had the key lime pie to go and it was delish! One observation, they ran out of crabs during the 7 o'clock hour! Surprising for crab house! Also, one of my friends had the flounder sandwich and tasty like it was still frozen not a good first impression.
(3)Phil G.
We have gone to Mike's many, many times and it's always fun, the food and service is impeccable! If you go ask for Katie T. Section, she's on top of all your food and drinks!
(5)Elizabeth R.
Everything about Mike's was a great experience. We were quoted 40 minutes for an outside table, so we waited at the bar. The bar has a decent amount of seating, and it was busy, but then again, it was a Saturday night. 40 minutes ended up being 20 minutes, which was off to a great start. The service was fantastic, and since it was our first time at Mike's, she explained a lot of the menu to us and the popular picks. Crabs were being served out of the kitchen left and right... Something we will have to try next time. We opted for soft shell crab sandwiches and they did not disappoint. The prices were nothing to complain about either, not overpriced for good seafood and a great view. It is definitely a casual place, some people were dressed up and others were in shorts and a t-shirt but neither seemed out of place for the type of restaurant it is. After dinner, we had the chance to walk out on the dock and take pictures right at sunset. What a wonderful evening out!!
(5)Adam V.
Very expensive and the crabs aren't as good as others I've had- still go at least once a month though!
(4)LR G.
First time. ..we will be back. Eat at the bar. Excellent service with friendly staff. Best burger in Maryland. Oh and cold beer.
(5)Elizabeth V.
We used to go to Mike's more often. Now, there always seems to be a crowd and long wait but I don't feel like it's really worth the wait. Mike's is basically good for beer and crabs but I'm not waiting 2 hrs for cheap beer and pricey steamed crabs. Otherwise, customer beware. My guess is most things coming out of the kitchen are frozen, prepared items. And the kitchen staff aren't great at cooking all the frozen stuff either.
(2)Katie H.
I went to Mike's this weekend with family and had a great meal. Crabs, oysters, beers. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was casual, and the views couldn't be better. The food, however, is not what makes me so impressed with Mike's. I left my phone at the restaurant, and didn't realize until I was back home a couple hundred miles away (I visited Mike's on my way to a day trip in Annapolis). I called them that evening to see if my phone was there, expecting that if it was, I would have to make another 4-hour trip up to retrieve it. My phone was there, but as soon as I mentioned that I was from out of town, the hostess asked for all of my information and assured me that they would pop my phone in the mail early this week. I thought that was nice, but I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning to drop a couple hundred bucks on a new phone at the end of the week. This morning, my boyfriend got a text message from an employee at Mike's confirming that my phone was in the mail. The text even included the tracking information. When I spoke to the hostess the other day, I offered to cover the shipping charges, and she wouldn't even hear of it. She acted like it was their pleasure to make sure that I got my phone back. This is EXTREMELY above and beyond. It's not their responsibility to make up for my carelessness. I am so impressed, so grateful, and so inspired by their service. Especially for a restaurant where the beer is served in plastic solo cups. Consider me a customer for life.
(5)J M.
I cringe every time I think of this place, because I have come here a couple of times and caved under peer pressure and tried eating whole blue crabs, which is just not my cup of tea. Too much work and money for not nearly enough meat. I vow not to do this again - some people like playing with their food more than the food itself, but not me :) THIS time, I did it right, and had snow crab clusters, which were excellent and plentiful. What a difference the right selection of meal makes :) Great place, whichever way you like your crab. And they have other good stuff too.
(4)Anya A.
We had a great time here! The crabs are fresh and covered in Old Bay; the servers kept them coming. The hush puppies and mozzarella sticks were also delicious. Try the piña coladas, which taste like a boozy creme brûlée! Also, come here mainly for the crab. If you want other appetizers or dishes, that's just not the draw.
(5)Paul T.
Maybe it's me. But, I've always enjoyed Mikes. Depending on the time of the year you can be seated in or out doors. Nice place to meet and actually talk without raising your voice. Quite time..........
(4)Roberta P.
Had an excellent Father's Day dinner. Food was delicious, service excellent and they accomodated my daughter on cruches. An excellent experience.
(5)Limor R.
Loved the crabs, service was great and the view was amazing. Our waitress was Jamie and she was a blast :) I took off one star because it's expensive.
(4)May Y.
Absolute worse place I have ever been not only for crabs but as a paying costumer!!! It's 95 degrees out and the waiter instructed us we couldn't tilt the umbrella to get shade. I proceeded to ask the waiter if he could have the manager come out so we could talk to him. Manger/ "he said he was the owner" came out with a nasty attitude right off the bat. Said the umbrella might poke his wait staff in the eye. I said is that really the reason and he goes I'm the owner I don't need this I have a 2 hour wait and I'll void your entire check you guys just need to leave. I wouldn't have my staff treat someone like that let alone an owner of an establishment!!!! As a small business owner myself I am disgusted. We at least had a 300 dollar tab and we didn't even get dinner yet. As an owner to screw your waiter out of a minimum of 80 dollars of tip money is nauseating. I hope consumers really start caring about where their money goes and take these factors into consideration. It's hard enough to make it in this world and the arrogance of some owners that take their good fortune for granted need to realize that's the great thing about this country is choice!!! I am more than happy to talk to anyone about this horrible experience in Father's Day none the less!!!!
(1)Ronique D.
My family and I have been coming here for years!! My favorite crab house!! Their seafood is always fresh and the oysters are huge and amazing!! The wait staff is always great and on-point!
(5)Brian R.
Beautiful spot to sit outside on the water and enjoy some crabs. Friendly wait staff.
(4)Dick B.
I don't think this it's right that this place has only 3.5 stars. As a previous writer put it, people are ridiculous giving this place less stars only because of a long wait time. It's worth the wait! Went for lunch yesterday. Service was excellent from the hostess to the waitress. As it was raining yesterday, sadly, could not sit outdoors as I wanted to. View of the river is beautiful. Wish I had a boat so I could dock here, that would be cool. Food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the Broiled Crab Cake and the fried Oysters. Delicious. Juicy, rich, thick crab cakes. One of the best I've ever had the pleasure of tasting in Maryland or anywhere. Fried oysters were juicy and plentiful. You must try the Clam Chowder. Wonderful. My only regret was that I didn't get the bowl instead of the cup. They have wonderful desserts. I can't wait to return. Sooner, rather than later, hopefully.
(5)Lani K.
Food was ok but the service was terrible, we waited a very long time just to get seated it was ridiculous. More likely wont be going back again
(1)Jenny T.
I'm giving Mike's a solid 4. Key things to know: - go early for dinner on the weekend, or be prepared to wait 45 min-1.5 hours - Ample parking, but you'll have to drive around and around if it's busy time - they will ask for collateral for the seating buzzer--don't give your I.D./Driver's license if you want to go to the bar...because then they card you and...well... you can't drink without the I.D. - All-you-can-eat salad bar, or option for 1 trip to salad bar, which has a LOT of veggies and some pasta/potato salads to choose from, too - Crabs are yummy!!! - Hushpuppies are perfectly moist and crispy Loved the decor--it was like we were in/under a giant boat, and it was all wooden and sea-farish all around without being entirely tacky. Server was helpful, nice and checked up on us multiple times for the 2 hours we sat there gnawing at our crabs. Lots of other good menu choices, too. :-)
(4)C. C.
The worst wait staff ever. Clueless millennial types who wander around aimlessly while you sit at a table and wait for one of them to get a clue, that you're sitting there and no one has taken your order. Finally one gets it and you get lot's of "hi I'm Harmony and I'll be your server!" Then they disappear and hang in a group and yak yak...what ever- never to return. Food is ~ eh ~ at best. This place is all about atmosphere- right on the water- and you can sail up and dock, but food? 3 out of 5 and service? 2 out of 5. I'd rather pay more and get all 3 by pros.
(1)Tracey K.
We went on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The parking lot was crowded, as some reviewers have mentioned. There was an employee in a traffic vest in the parking lot but he was just standing around watching the cars try to find spots. He didn't direct anyone or acknowledge any of the drivers. The outdoor area had an hour wait (although there were a lot of empty tables) so we opted to dine indoors where we could be seated immediately. The hostess didn't greet us when we arrived but asked in a flat tone of voice how many were in our party and then sighed when she got off her chair to take us to our table. We were seated for 20 minutes with no acknowledgement of our arrival from our server. Another table was then seated and five minutes later their server was taking their drink order. We asked if she could please let our server know we would like to order. After an additional ten minutes, our server comes over so we tell her we are ready to order. She's holding a stand to put serving trays on so she says she'll put that down and be right back to take our order. We wait an additional five minutes from when she disappears into the kitchen. She finally returned, carrying food for the table behind us. She walks right past, doesn't even acknowledge us (or that she said she'd be "right back"). At this point, we had been sitting there almost 45 minutes, the table next to us that arrived twenty minutes after we did already has ordered and received their first course and we still haven't even had a chance to order. I more than understand that servers are entitled to a bad day but everyone we encountered pretty much had a vibe of "we don't give a damn".
(1)Scott M.
Worst Fathers Day experience ever. Manager/owner kicked my family of 6 out over a tilted umbrella on a 95 degree day. We will never go back. Scott McKee, owner of Foster's Grille in Waldorf.
(1)Claire H.
Gripes: they don't take reservations, but the site says they do; wait can be 1-2 hrs on weekends ( between 2pm & dinner) If you call and they "it's steady" that means wall to wall, slammed- wait 1-2 hrs (inside or out); don't get me started on parking... It's a nightmare. At the bar: be prepared to have your entire party with you if ordering a drink & being served by an anal/ over zealous blonde who doesn't get how silly that is. To have to call the ENTIRE party, including my grandfather, who wants a beer, to a overcrowded bar, while waiting, is utterly ridiculous!! If it's that 'deep', have wait-staff in the 'holding area' on deck to take drink orders!! Who enforces this? Unreasonable & incompetent barmaids name: Kym C. , who then, adopt what is clearly an alias on the ticket ( nothing about her = "Yuen") to avoid critique... Talk about disservice! (Sorry real Yuen, your coworker owes you an apology) The same complaint regarding this foolishness was in the air as people went back to the deck w/ one drink in hand -that took too long in the first place-only to now loose that table in the holding area so "everyone in your party is at the bar " to, in essence, be proof'd by said bartender. How bout this: instead of inconveniencing your patrons, higher more competent waitstaff, train better, pick-it-up & again, have staff out on deck! Efforts & reinforcements should be on making sure the bar has the basics, like: (wait for it) OJ! - &- how YOU, can make better drinks vs. whatever Cagney & Lacey BS 'she's' on! Seriously, mgt. this is an epic fail. The burden of proof is on you! Lastly, on food: stick to the crabs & raw bar- if you decide to go. App. wise: be forewarned, the marinara for the calamari is awful. (How they mess that up is beyond me--tasted like unripened tomato purée. Spunky) Bottom line: In this town, great seafood is easily had, without the hassle, wait & lackluster service; Really!
(1)Benjamin W.
Went here on a Thursday around 8pm. We were seated on a beautiful outdoor seating area with a great view of the calm waters of the South River. This place probably has the best waterfront dining in the area, especially for a casual place. I ordered the Chesapeake Chicken sandwich, and my fiancée ordered the Crabcake sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious, as well as the hush puppies we got for an appetizer. They were obviously made from scratch, and had a lot of good flavor. You have to try this place out if you're around Edgewater/Annapolis and are in the mood for a crab house atmosphere on the water!
(5)Allyson C.
Really have to say, wonderful service from the waiter and manager. Came in late on a slow day and my family and I could already tell we picked a bad day to come in on. The receptionists all told us Mike's was closing, but thankfully the manager was understanding since we came all the way from California and drove nearly an hour to the restaurant. Though the restaurant is known for their seafood, especially the crab, the steak was amazingly juicy and delicious. The soups were also wonderful, and the coleslaw was decent, but oh god. The crab just melted in my mouth. 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to seafood and steak lovers alike. Also has a bar with great music. We also came the next day and had half a dozen crabs. Fresh, and cooked with a lot of wonderful "sea" flavor that resembled the saltiness of the sea, it was wonderful. The folks there also have a choice of small, medium, or large crabs. We chose the medium crabs. All in all, recommended.
(5)Keith H.
So everybody and their mama raves about this place. I'm a east coast transplant so I'm not HUGE on seafood. I mean, I do like a prawn or two. Sometimes i even venture down to the local crab spot to get a dozen or so crab legs. Anyway, I came to Mike's with high hopes. This is actually my second time here. The first time i came was on a saturday. But the wait was over an hour that day. Needless to say, i didn't stick around for that. Got there today and it wasn't crowded at all. As I step in i take in the decor. It wasn't over the top, nor was it sub par. We were seated promptly by some young server that made me feel old by her sheer presence. We mightve been sitting for a whole two or three minutes before our angel disguised as a server glided over to us. A young, fit lass by the name of Natosha. We ordered some soft shell crab and some alaskan king snow crab legs with steamed shrimp and a crab cake. This was my first time having some soft shell crab. It was an experience. Our server took the time to sit down with me and give me a tutorial on how to crack and eat the crabs. Sooooo uhhhh... Did you know, in order to eat them thangs you have to fondle the male crabs love organ? Long story short.... I'd go here again. But i wouldn't write home about it. This place is a sure thing for a positive experience but it won't be your favorite place. If you read my reviews you know what i review last... The LADIES.. This place had some nice looking servers. My favorite had to of been my server sent from above Natosha.
(3)L L.
We went to MD for a weekend and stopped here for crabs. I knew this place from a trip down years ago - where they refused to serve me beer because the new waitress couldn't reconcile my PA driver's license in their book of licenses from out of state. She wasn't sure so she did the right thing... thought it would have been nice to have beer with my crabs... But that was then... This time we went down and getting seated inside or outside was a hassle. The inside hostess is different than the outside hostess. Then, they seated us at tables near the bar area. The tables are right under some bar equipment so you have to listen to the motors whir while you eat. Otherwise the crabs and service were good. I recommend only ordering half a dozen at a time if you are sharing and think you want a dozen. Same price but by the time you get to the last half dozen they are cold. Would definitely go back.
(3)Sara R.
Went there this past summer and stuffed myself to capacity! Everything was so good! Such a long drive from where I live. I would be there at least a couple of times every summer, if it weren't for the drive. Have the choice to dine inside or the patio outside. Family friendly. Amazing food and great customer service. I am putting it on my agenda to make it this coming summer.
(5)May W.
Mike's is my choice over Cantler's! I've been to both for crab-eatin', and here's why Mike's is better: -Classy establishment: The space appears renovated, nice wood look with lots of windows inside, fantastic patio seating outside. The bathroom, unlike Cantlers', is HUGE and very nice. The Cantler's bathroom only fit like two people, if I recall correctly. -Food is better/fresher tasting. I had a few dud crabs at Cantler's, but all of mine at Mike's were perfect and super meaty. When I went (September) they were only $6 each (single crab price). The hush puppies were as good as Yelpers said, and came with this fantastic honey butter. The salads are fresh and have lots of veggies, too. BF had the crabcake sandwich, which wasn't amazing due to subpar bread and toppings. Don't get me wrong, Cantler's food is fine, too. Their fried green tomatoes were bomb last time I went. -ATTENTION TO CONDIMENTS. For example, for my crabs they brought out two things of melted butter and huge bowls of vinegar and Old Bay. I don't remember getting that kind of fancy treatment at Cantler's! For my BF"s crabcakes, they brought out a thing of ketchup, a thing of tartar sauce, a thing of cocktail sauce and a bunch of lemons. I was blown away. No need to ever ask your server for anything! I will say that the service at Cantler's is better. They have more experienced servers there, while at Mike's (at least when I went) staff seemed to be mostly college/high school kids. They were pleasant, but I liked the no-nonsense attitude of the Cantler's servers. Judging from food and atmosphere, though, I'll choose Mike's anytime!
(4)Nick C.
Always a treat when we eat at Mikes Crab House. Beautiful view, great pricing and wait staff is attentive. Now that nicer weather is here we cant wait to return.
(5)Verena S.
Mikes is a great spot right for a casual get-together with friends right by the water. Great view, food and drinks! Crabs and seafood are great, but there are also excellent choices for those who don't like seafood, and for those who like to eat healthy. And they make their orange and grapefruit crushes fresh squeezed always, and "skinny" on demand!
(5)Shannon J.
My family and I have been several times and had never had a problem until recently. We went and were told that there were no large crabs so we ordered 3 dozen small/medium only to be charged for large. After discussion with the manager and showing the small/medium shells we had been given we were still charged for large. $400 that would have been better spent at another crab house.
(2)Jenny L.
Love it when I enter the restaurant and my waiter does not know what he has on the Menu tonight. The steamers look plummy but it's not sweet and it felt a bit mushy, makes me wonder if it's fresh. I also got a fish called orange roughy, it's blend and tasteless. The fish has been dead for so long that their is no taste to this fish! The soft shell crab is a bit salty to my buds but it is fresh. :(
(3)Jada G.
A-ok, just because of the lovely water. The food was mediocre. I'm from atl, so i really don't like the energy it takes to eat whole crabs. I'd much rather eat crab legs. that's what i got. they were just ok. nothing special, they were drowned in Old Bay, i guess to hide the fact that they overcooked the crab legs. how is a restaurant who specializes in seafood, specifically crabs going to overcook them? seriously??!! come one. we also had crab cakes, crab cakes sandwich, platters, including scallops (which smelled/tasted old, so we sent them back), shrimp and fried oysters. i came with high expectations, i left knowing I would never be back!
(2)Pat G.
Okay, so I'd heard a lot about Mike's from several folks. Finally, went with a friend who LOVES the place. I was underwhelmed. The seafood was overcooked. One of the waitresses didn't look particularly clean. Being on the water was wonderful; the place was okay; the food only fair.
(2)barbara s.
I frequent Mike's often with my husband and we always have a great time but last night was especially nice since the manager Sean didn't mind serving us. And yes, the service was good. As we sat on the deck overlooking the water eating some of the best crabs in the area, we couldn't help but admire Sean's attentiveness to superb service. The place was busy but he made us feel as if we were the only ones there. If you are ever in the area, you should check out Mike's they have great food, good music and my husband says great drinks. It is certainly a wonderful way to unwind and enjoy being with friends or family! I can't wait to go back because it's always a good time!
(4)Rich K.
We were visiting Annapolis when parents of the Naval Academy Plebes were in for the weekend. This place was packed with locals and this was one first experience in a Maryland crab restaurant. We are from the Northeast where lobster is plentiful this year. It was an experience watching everyone with the mallots smashing the hell out of these poor crabs. We decided to have stuffed Flounder and it was terrific and plentiful. I thought the price was right and service excellent. You dont come to place like this for fine dining and atmosphere, but for great Maryland crab it doesnt get much better. One draw back, I heard a local complain that they are always running out of crab and because they are in such demand, Mike has to ship them in from the Gulf.
(4)Margaret W.
Had a great lunch this afternoon, Sitting on the deck in the sunshine at the end of September would be good enough, But we also had great food and service, Thanks
(4)Johnny F.
Awful reservation procedure, the front hostess was quite stand offish and couldn't care less. We called earlier and said we didn't need reservations then we came and said that there's no more table and that it seems its going to be a hassle for them to give us a table Asked what Hush puppies were that are on the menu but didnt know what it was?! At last we got a table, and thankfully the crab was excellent, our waiter Casey gave excellent service. But our initial experience from that lady (with a Russian accent) was so bad that's why the rating is only 2 stars.
(2)Daniel M.
While in Annapolis for a friend's wedding, I went here with a large group on a Saturday night. Although the place was pretty packed, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The place is big with a lot of outdoor seating and a big bar. It falls somewhere in between a nice seafood restaurant and your prototypical seafood shack with its picnic tables. We tried all of their soups at the table....clam chowder, Maryland crab soup, and a creamy crab soup. The Maryland crab soup was the best of the three in my opinion....the other two were pretty average. I got a bite of a few different appetizers...hush puppies, steamed shrimp, mussells, clams, onion rings.....again, all were solid but nothing special. We finished up with a ton of steamed crabs COVERED in Old Bay. Being a New England boy who loves seafood, I know that sometimes it takes some work to get to the good stuff. That being said, I just think the work outweighs the payoff with these things. Trying to get meat from the body is a pain and I thought the meat was just ok. The claw meat was very good but for the price and work involved, I don't think its worth it overall. I'm glad I got my Maryland crab experience in, but I think I'm sticking to lobster and dungeness or king crab in the future. If you are a huge blue crab fan, I think this place probably deserves another star. For me, I'm going with three.
(3)Elizabeth D.
Boyfriend and I dined here for lunch on the recommendation of a good friend. I ordered the soft shell cab sandwich. It was HEAVENLY! My boyfriend ordered the mussels and crab balls. What a good price. Plenty of mussels for $8 and the crab balls were filled with lump meat! If I ever visit Annapolis again, I would definitely return.
(4)Jonathan H.
The classic Maryland crabhouse. That's all I need to say and everyone who's ever step foot in Maryland will understand what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, that wouldn't do anyone outside understand what this means. If you're looking for a beautiful restaurant with chandeliers and chefs dressed up in coats, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for a great relaxed atmosphere and a great place to knock back a few beers, have some great food and enjoy your company, this place is highly recommended. The place is mildly lit indoors. Why? There's a crazy amount of windows that bring an amazing amount of sunlight in and gives you a great view of the water. The food is consistently good and the staff is numerous and friendly. I was actually shocked on how many people were walking around with fanny packs and Mike's shirts serving or waiting tables. My only gripe about the place is crabs came in a little late when we were there (2 PM) so there is a chance that the lunch crowd might miss out on some great crabs but the dinner crowd will able to enjoy it in our stead.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Maybe its just nostalgia. But this place...I feel defines the eastern shore blue crab scene. Boat in docks, paper on the tables, overly seasoned soft shell crab, lots of big groups chowing down, grubby local servers bringing the sea folk feel. Love it! I gave it four stars because I felt like some dishes you get WAY MORE or WAY LESS for the money.
(4)Karen A.
Oh, what would a summer be without Mike's? I just love this place to pieces, going here is a staple in the summertime for me. Growing up in Baltimore, I learned that one of the greatest pleasures in the warmer weather is dinner at a great restaurant on the water with a pile of hot crabs and pitcher of ice cold beer. This place is ALWAYS crowded, but it's worth the wait to get a table outside on the water. Everything I've tried here is good, but the crabs are obviously the main attraction. If you're stuck waiting for a dinner table, there is a small covered outdoor bar next to the main building where you can have a few cocktails. They have live music occasionally as well. Just don't drink too many of their delicious orange crushes on an empty stomach... I learned this the hard way!
(4)Terri R.
I consider myself a Crab Connoisseur. I will try a new crab house, but only if a friend suggests. And so it was that I came to Mikes. The crabs were big, however; they were either cooked too long, or had been cooked earlier and kept under a warmer, as was evidenced by their dark red color, and mealy meat. The taste was not "bad", but it wasn't "great" either. So we only ordered one dozen, even though we could have eaten another. A true Marylander is very picky about crabs. I dont think I will be back for the crabs.I may stop in for the house made Nutty Buddys (6.00) which are huge and amazing!! Also, not crazy about the staff as well. While they were polite, I wouldnt say they were personable or even friendly. Three stars only for Mikes..I hope they step up their game, the location is beautiful. It COULD have been a really great experience..
(3)andy s.
O.M.G. cannibalizing sum bugs...fantastic!
(4)Ma-e M.
For a group of people with reservations made, Mike comes prepared. Lovely waterfront, seafood restaurant in a big lot that is off the highway on Riva Rd. If GPS can't find it, keep on the look out to the water to find a big bungalow restaurant, and I bet you it is Mike with the bunch of people seating in a covered roof dining seats. Of course, I ordered a crab cake which comes with french fries and they were quite good. Knowing that everybody enjoyed at Mike's, I could tell you that Mike got hooked up with more friends to visit him.
(3)Oat W.
What a great place. Food is very good and the staff is attentive and helpful. We get the stuffed oysters a lot and they are always excellent.
(4)Kimber C.
Came here two years ago and returned this weekend... to find it just as good as I remembered! The food is fresh, the service is attentive and friendly... and theres nothing like sitting with good company, outside on their deck, with a dozen Maryland crabs! SO GOOD! We had tried Cantlers the day before and although the wait for the table was much shorter than at Mikes, The crabs were only okay (we got 2 bad crabs in a dozen, although they were immediately replaced) and the prices were much steeper. Mikes crabs were cleaner, fresher tasting, a better price, and just AMAZING!! We'll be back next year!
(5)Clara S.
Stopped in before leaving Annapolis for some much needed crab-yumminess. Had hush puppies for an appetizer. They were little garlicky balls of yumminess. Came with a side of honey butter, which I didn't care for since I like salty more than sweet. I followed that with a cup of their "Famous Maryland Crab Soup". Think of Manhattan clam chowder, but with crab instead. It was delicious, and full of tomato chunks, peas, onions and crab meat. Then the waitress recommended the Crab Quesadilla (if you really like cheddar cheese). Its normally an appetizer dish, so its not a full lunch/dinner portion, which was fine since I already had hush puppies and soup. It was amazingly cheddary. Think: grilled cheese sandwich sleeps with crab meat and they made a baby. It was a delicious little baby - although my husband thought it was a tad overly cheesy and I was being cannibalistic in my reference (he's reading over my shoulder) . It also had some kind of tartar sauce inside it (almost like a McDonald's Fish-Filet sandwich, but not gross), which was a nice touch. It had a lot of crab meat in and on top of it. The table by the water and sitting under the sun was a nice touch. We didn't see the inside of the place, so I can't say what that was like. I would definitely come back on my way through Annapolis again.
(4)Chris V.
Nice day today. I didn't know where I was going since it was up to my hosts, but I was happy to find out that we would be eating seafood. The first thing I noticed was the nice view of the Severn River. It doesn't have the smell of the sea, but the boats, calm waters, and nearby bridge make you forget that. The second was the ample outdoor seating - I only found out about the indoor seating later. We had crabs of course. I think it was blue crab; it's not as great as king crab meat, but it's still enjoyable. I probably burned a couple hours picking away at crab parts to get at all the meat that I could. We also shared some decent fried calamari, some good crab cakes, and some excellent crab quesadilla. I was put off by the fact that they listed "crab dip" as an ingredient, but when someone ordered it anyway, I tried it and absolutely loved it. I can't say that this was the best ocean fare that I've ever eaten. If you order some of these entrees, I'd recommend this: squeeze the lemon juice onto the calamari and put some old bay or other condiment on your crab. It improves the taste, which is nothing special otherwise. Also, the pink lemonade is not very lemonade-y. I probably would add a lemon or two or my cup if I had to drink it again next time. If you come on a rainy day, they have indoor seating and bar seating as well. The bathroom was clean, which is very important when you're cleaning up after filling your stomach. Overall, a nice way to spend a warm, sunny afternoon, and a decent purveyor of the seafood that you must have if you visit Maryland.
(4)Pop Goes The Weasel B.
i used to go to cantler's but discovered Mike's, and I'm sold! This place is wayyyyyyyyyy bigger ( 3 seating options - huge indoors, outdoor deck on the water, and semi- enclosed outdoor), so one of the biggest sells is that they don't have the hour + wait, and parking issues cantler's does. the crabs are great ( can't really go wrong with crabs), and maybe a little better price too. we got a few other things on their menu - which were good - i think their hush puppies with honey butter are some of the best I've ever had! service was great - fast, and super friendly.
(5)Donna W.
I love Mikes and always had a good time coming here excellent service. However, this year and no fault to Mike's there was a crab shortage.. however where I do lay blame is how it was handled on Mother's Day. We arrived quite early like 3:00 PM to have crabs.. We were put on a wait list and were told it was a 90 minute wait, if I am not mistaken it was longer than that and the primary focus was crabs! By the time we sat down at 5:30 they ran out.. I checked periodically with the bartender to see if there were crabs each time she told me no.. but then when we sat down I was told no more but yet trays of crabs were coming out to tables.. I think there should have been more due diligence in informing people that had waited so long! We ordered something else and by the time we finished the place was dern there empty! I spoke to management and he literally said in so many word "suck it up we just don't have it.." Very disappointing for a place I have like so much..
(4)Kimberly H.
Ok so quite a few co-workers said it was worth the ride down to Annapolis, & they were correct. We really wanted to sit outside since it was such a gorgeous day, but the wait was 1 hr & 45 mins, vs the inside wait 45 mins...we sat at the bar to wait, had beers & the bacon wrapped scallops--they were DELICIOUS! We would have eaten at the bar, but they serve everything but the crabs...When we got to the table, I ordered half a dozen medium crabs, & my husband got the fried shrimp. I got more than 6--more like 8 crabs & my husband, who usually only wants king crab legs because crabs are too much work, tore the extra 2 crabs up! I kept saying how good they were & he couldn't resist. I think Mike's has officially converted him to eating regular crabs! Worth the wait, the drive & the price!
(4)Bianca F.
If you're looking for a crab house, this is the place to go. The other close competitor is Cantler's Inn, but I'm more of a fan of Mike's for it's atmosphere. The view can't be beat! II highly recommend a seat by the water/on the patio if the weather is good. It's a huge place so there's plenty of room inside too if you're not into the view. The lines are long during the summer, but often times they have a live band playing, so expect the wait, grab a beer, and watch the boats pass by. The prices are similar to the rest of the crab houses in the area. The crabs are good sized and plenty seasoned. But it's the location that warrants the 4 stars.
(4)S C.
Great steamed shrimp. Service not so good, as shown by the tables of servers doing sudoku right next to the salad bar - clearly visable!- and why do they have to give you a namecard to remind you who your server is? Does this imply you will have to ask someone else for something and have them say "Well who is your server" ? I hope it was just to mark that someone has been to the table to get drink orders..... or was it....
(3)Chris P.
great seafood and water views. a lil outta the way, but hey no traffic!
(4)Roll T.
Okay, my eyes are open. I can now understand why people say that Maryland is part of the South. Mike's Bar & Crab House is exactly the type of small town seafood spot that one would find on the Gulf Coast (as least pre-Katrina and BP oil spill days). You will see old men dressed in tacky Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and lengthy socks, pseudo-slutty redneck girls with their muscular, tattooed, sunglass wearing boyfriends, and a sporadic amount of tourists whose curiously was piqued enough to try a place slightly off the beaten track. But that isn't what is important, and that is not why we were here. This was stop #1 on Annapolis Crabcake Tour 2010, and it damn well might have been the best spot on the entire trip. Why? Well, aside from the incredible people-watching opportunities, the seafood here is no joke. Sure, some people might say that judging a seafood restaurant by its crabcakes is on par with judging an Indian restaurant on its chicken tikka masala (a decidedly British dish). Yet, Maryland as a state takes a great deal of pride in both their crabs and their crabcakes, and it becomes obvious that Mike's is incredibly knowledgable in the latter instance. There is a great deal of debate over what makes for an excellent crabcake. Personally, I lean towards preparations that make use of quality crab meat (colossal, jumbo, or special) as opposed to backfin meat. I'm also a fan of minimal filler (flour, mayo, butter, etc.). Mike's uses luscious chunks of jumbo crab meat to make their phenomenally cosistent crab cakes. Sure, the resulting product might weigh in at a paltry five ounces, but I would imagine that the task of balancing all that meat while using miniscule amounts of filler is a cumbersome task. In other words, instead of knocking the size, just be happy with the geometry (I'm not even pretending that won't be taken out of context). While we were only here for crabcakes, we decided to order some hushpuppies anyway. These golden fried treats seemed to carry just the slightest hint of sugar and were quite possibly a bit too mealy for some tastes. Personally, I thought they were an excellent rendition of a favorite treat to go along with fried seafood. Well done, Mike's. I've seen some complaints about the service. I'm shocked. Our service was OUTSTANDING. Our server knew that we were only staying for crabcakes, and she did not pout one bit (knowing that we were three people and splitting one entree and an appetizer). I can't stress how much that impresses me. Yeah, I can. Let's just say that adds up to a good tip. If our mere sampling of this menu is any indication of the greater possibilities of this restaurant, I think one can rest assured that a return visit will be happening. If you are sampling seafood in the Annapolis area, you would be a fool to miss this place.
(4)Toan D.
A great place to roll up your sleeves and dig in to the pile of crabs. No frills atmosphere and located across the South River bridge from Annapolis. Besides crab, you can also get raw oysters, hush puppies, shrimp, clams and blackened mahi mahi to name a few. The service was effecient and our waitress kept the beers coming. Mike's Crab House has been around for over 40 years. In fact my mother used to waitress there in the 70's. Great to know it's still around to help us with our crab cravings when we return to vist friends and family.
(3)James C.
I have lived in Anne Arundel County for sometime but have never had the opportunity to stop in to Mikes until yesterday. I went there with my brothers to grab some sandwich from the Deli/Liquor store side. The Club sandwich was very good and the only qualms I had was that the bacon could have been cooked a bit longer. The Deli?liquor store side is just what you would expect. It is nothing flashy . As my sandwich was being prepared I stopped into the bar side to grab a Orange Crush. It was very good. The Bar is very nice possibly renovated not to long ago. The tiki bar looked sweet but the weather was not very nice so the crowd was small. Sweet place. I will defiantly be going back.
(4)Watrbb W.
I LOVE Mike's! Been going there for many years and look forward every summer to sitting outside, watching the boats, soaking up the sun and chowing down! To be honest, I have only had the crabs once or twice (at a party), but always get the snow crab legs, steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, etc.. All that "other" good stuff. Will be going again soon!
(4)Gohanchan S.
ok...husbands plan to eat crabs at Cantlers, rated #1 for crabs in the Washingtonian..thinking not a great idea...wait is going to be horrendous...on our way , the other family arrived first, only to be informed they were out of crabs!! of course...so we called a place we went last year, Fisherman Crab deck..or something like that...their crabs were good..so so ambiance...and they were out of crabs!! so then found out that Mike's in Riva had crabs..when we arrived, were told they only had females...how much worse can this get!!!??/ But then then, our waiter, Carter, who, by the way was fantastic, tells us that they just got in an order! YAY.!!! now looking like we can finally get crabs today! The crabs were pretty good, although I think Fishermans is better...after having gone to Cantlers, Fisherman's Crab deck, and now Mike's, my favorite is Mike's...they have an indoor bar with 4-5 tvs..outdoor deck bar..and they had live music..beautiful scenery...can walk out onto the piers... they have a huge menu, so if you there is someone who doesn't like seafood, they have steak, sandwiches, salads, etc...something for everyone...can't vouch for anything other than what we had, which was: crabs, steamed shrimp, oysters on the half shell, and mussels...oysters were on point..crabs, good but as I said earlier, Fishermans is better IMHO...mussels meh..too overcooked for my taste...daughters ordered dessert. we asked the waiter if they were made in house...sadly no, .they are brought in..but every dessert is only $4.95...can't complain! the atmosphere is great...fantastic views...the servers work their butt off......for six of us, our bill was $110.00 with a pitcher of beer, and a couple cans of beer..and we left full..totally worth it!!!
(4)Jim G.
Had a large family dinner here. Overall it was great, especially for a bust Friday night with guests that just flew in from Denver. Even the kids loved it. The Crab Imperial was excellent as were all the apps. If you're into crabs, come here, don't bother with any place else. I'm not a fan of steamed crabs but our whole table, save me, was. They all loved them.
(4)John O.
Good setting and atmosphere. Food good but a little pricy. Service appropriate.
(4)Sonia D.
As a native Marylander, I have tried hundreds of seafood and crab restaurants but Mike's still remains the best. Their medium and large size steamed crabs are covered with Old Bay and are extremely fresh. They serve some great local ale to complement the seafood (in addition to the standard favorites) and the setting is picturesque. I've spent several summer evenings eating steamed crabs, fries and taking in all of the beautiful Annapolis homes right on the water that I could never afford. Mike's is characterized by great service and is my all-time favorite spot to relax during the summertime.
(5)Samuel L.
Went for: Post-cycling race lunch Bottom Line: With the caveat that I'm from Maine, land of seafood shacks, bars, grills, etc -- Mike's was just OK, and had little that made it special. I probably won't be back, mostly because I'll forget about this totally unmemorable place soon. Quick thoughts: Look, if it's Old Bay steamed crabs by the dozen you want, they've got them. I had a few and they were good, but no better than the three other places I've had them in the DC-MD area. If you're looking for anything special, unique, or creative about the rest of their menu, you may be disappointed. For a main course, I had the Jamaican jerk mahi mahi, which although sounding interesting, was just a heavily spiced, not-so-tenderly-done mahi mahi filet on a white bread bun. The addition of also-heavily-spiced pineapple didn't lift the sandwich from the mundane (at best). The fries were nothing special, and the soup one of my dining partners had was apparently acceptable, but unremarkable. The place was huge, and there was sort of the sense that it was assembly line seafood, meant to serve massive numbers of people as close as possible to the Bay. I probably won't be back, not because it wasn't fine, but because I'll forget this totally unmemorable place soon.
(3)Chante S.
I LOVE Mike's!!! I went for my birthday with my girlfriends & went back 3 days later with my husband, sister, & parents. Everything is great. You have to try the frozen drinks-THE BEST!!!!!!!
(5)Dee C.
I came here during off season, business was very slow. It has a great view since it's right by the water. It's weird that they only have unsweetened ice tea, but not sweet tea. Salad bar wasn't that great, most of its contents are not fresh. Seafood was ok, probably because it was off season. It's broiled fish had way too much seasoning on it, it covered the flavor of the fish. Crab royal had small pieces of shells in it. their crab cake is very meating. It's just an ok place, I wouldn't rave about it, but wouldn't mind coming back again, since I love seafood.
(3)Hillary J.
THE best crabs ever!!! We were a bit nervous when we arrived and saw the packed parking lot as a party of three on a the Sunday before Labor Day, but our fears were soon put to rest. Omgeeee. Got a close spot, we were told the wait would be an hour (it was actually about 45 mins) and then the crabs came. Wow wee! We were told they only had larges left. Okay, and that's a problem because...??? So then out they came, $70 for a dozen HUGE and heavy crabs. For you crab novices out there, it is critically important to have weight to each of your crabs and know that depending where you go, it's a crap shoot on what you get. Well, not Mike's; and that's why a don't mind paying a premium. After one ear of large corn, a light beer, delicious (and again, HUGE) crabs, a half dozen did me just fine. I go to fine restaurants and pay about the same, so you get what you pay for and that's some good eating at Mike's. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because our server lacked just a little warmth. I mean, he was ok for the most part but forgot to bring out an item or two. He was also just a bit aloof, but I like a little east coast rudeness just to keep it real, so I'm kinda ok with that. :). Overall, thanks to Mike's for helping me and my family close out the summer with another great crab experience! See ya next year.
(4)John C.
Freshman orientation at University of Maryland, was looking for a restaurant that had chesapeake crabs and some atmosphere. We took a 30 minute ride from College Park to Riva, MD for Mike's rather than eat in one of the chain restaurants near the school. We were happy we did as we found a great place!!!!!!! The Cream Crab soup was so full of crab meat and was excellent. We got there late and they only had "large" blue claws left and not the jumbo crabs, but they were still twice the size of any crab I can get in New Jersey. Our waitress was excellent and we had apps and drinks in 5 minutes even though the place was packed, The location is right on a lake/river and the outside dock/deck is the perfect place for such a feast. I will be back here many times over my son's years at UMD.
(4)Mike L.
If you're looking for crabs and beer, this is a GREAT place to go. If you want to order mixed drinks or order off a menu, stop by the liquor store for booze, go to the frozen food section at the grocery store and buy the store-brand frozen seafood -- it's better. Again -- CRABS & BEER -- FIVE STARS Anything else -- NO STARS
(2)Danielle C.
Best crabs I have ever had!!!! They are as big as my head and so meaty & flavorful. I'll be living there all this summer :)
(5)Mrs. R.
A pile of hot crabs on the water during the summer months !! This is what Maryland is all about. The crabs are pricey, but worth it. Very full of meat. I LOVE MIKE'S CRABS !! The side dishes are great portion as well. Stuffed shrimp is cooked to perfection and perfectly seasoned, jumbo portion. Crab dip is mediocre could be better and I was slightly disappointed, but it doesn't make or break me returning to Mike's. The outdoor seating is the best during summer months and occasionally a band plays outside as well. It is very relaxing and gives you the "out of town" feel for the locals.
(5)Thomas W.
This place is for all-u-can eat Maryland blue crabs. They are steamed with Old Bay, and you get a salad bar and corn on the cob. The outdoor area is beautiful on the South River weather permitting. Some of my friends had steamed spiced shrimp, fried shrimp, and hush puppies. The crabs are very large for mediums. Be careful they do not do refills on soft drinks. This is a great place for crabs, beer, and football. Of course I had the all-u-can eat crabs today. You can only find these places in Maryland! I have been to imitations in New York, and Virginia, but have only experienced the real thing in Maryland. If you want crabs by the water, this is one of the places to go.
(3)Barbry M.
This is a typical Maryland crab house, and I went in the middle of winter. Not exactly high crab season. I had bacon wrapped scallops and md crab soup. The soup was super tomatoey, and needed more old bay. Scallops were good. My boyfriend ordered steamed crabs, they were also good. Huge horseshoe shaped bar area. Nothing outstanding about decor. Ladies room was clean and nicely decorated. Waitstaff was attentive but seemed a bit overwhelmed.
(4)John R.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. I'll make a day trip just to come here. On a beautiful weekend there's nothing better to do than hang out by the tiki bar, listen to live music and have a few drinks with friends. Mike's is right on the water. Literally. Built on a pier over the water. The place is packed on weekends, at least if you want to sit outside. And trust me, you want to sit outside. But you'll be grateful for the 45 minute wait when you settle down at that tiki bar with a cool drink - they have some nice margarita's going most weekends. Make a day trip - do some touring of Annapolis - just make sure you end up here for dinner.
(5)Michael M.
Mike's is OK. Crab cakes were average but their scallops wrapped in bacon were outstanding. The service was so so. View OK.
(3)Marcey Z.
Stumbled on Mike's one Saturday afternoon and what a great surprise! Mike's is so popular that they actually use parking space about a mile down the road at a church and they run a shuttle van back and forth. The best time to go on the weekends is prior to 4:00 p.m. Since we got there at 5;00 we had to use the shuttle service. We started with a good and cold brewskie, crab dip which was amazing, and then of course we got to the main event, CRABS! They were cooked to perfection. The crabs were full of meat and it came out without any effort. Did I mention how immaculate the place was...well it is! I have never seen bathrooms at a crab house this immaculate!
(5)Donald M.
Had lunch on the outside deck today. Burger was very good. Fish was good but served on a roll that quickly fell apart. Service was fine. I also recognize that the availability of certain items might vary, but when you walk into a "Crab House" and there is a sign saying ' Sorry, No Crabs", youhave to wonder.
(2)Devin R.
I'm not sure how best to rate this place. I ordered the fried shrimp with fries and a salad from the salad bar. As I walked to the salad bar, one of the staff members responsible for straightening the bar threw lettuce leaves and other food that had fallen on the 'ledge' back into their designated bins and used her tongs to mix them all together.....groooossssss!!! I informed our waitress and told her that rather than a salad, I'd have a baked potato. She then told me that I would have to pay extra for it. What? You have a choice between two sides with an entree and my original two were a salad and fries. Now that I was replacing the salad with the baked potato, no extra charges should have been mentioned. I told her 'No.' On top of that, the shrimp were 'meh.' I've had better at Mick and Schmidt's. Probably won't be going back here. Nice views though.
(2)Wen L.
I came here on a roadtrip through Maryland. This place is pretty awesome. Our waitress was great and friendly. The crabs, (large- 1 dozen steamed), were meaty and sweet. The only problem is they seem to run out of crabs fairly early, my table ordered a dozen and the table next to us wasn't able to get them because they ran out. Good thing we got there early. For dessert, if you like chocolate, GET the chocolate spoon cake.
(4)Katie S.
I found myself in Annapolis for a few hours and somone recommended going to Mike's for some crabs. I love Chesapeake crabs. The only person who loves them more than me is my fiance. As a DC native, he grew up on Chesapeake crabs. Everytime we visit his family in DC they pick up crabs from MD and we eat them at his house. I've had Chesapeake steamed crabs about a half-dozen times, and Mike's was the worst. I thought it would be better, if not simply for the fact that we were eating them on site. Anyway, we ordered a dozen steamed large crabs for $67. They were incredibly bland and not that meaty. They served Old Bay on the side and it was definitely necessary to dip the crab meat into the Old Bay to give it some flavor. Usually, they're steamed in so much Old Bay that it seeps through the shell and the meat itself is already flavorful. We sat outside near the water and within 5 mintues the sun was beating down on me. It was miserable. A little warning by the waitress to sit under the roof would have been appreciated.
(2)Jordan C.
Old school crab house with TONS of other seafood items on the menu. The crabs were very good, but the steamed Shrimp stole the show. They were excellent. While they have inside and outside seating, I recommend sitting on the outside deck overlooking the river. It provides a nice view and good atmosphere. The service was prompt and attentive. I will definitely return.
(4)Ronnail R.
One of my favorite restaurant/bar spots to eat crabs and you have the option to eat indoor or outdoor on the deck/pier. There's also an outdoor Tiki Bar that has live performers on various days/nights. The crabs are served L, M, S and sometimes the median crabs are just as big as the Large. We've been going here over 10 years, but keep in mind the wait time is a little over a hour, so you have the option to place your name on both "Wait to be Seated" listings. My husband would normally place our name on one listing and I on the other - last year you had to provide them with your license to receive the flashing/vibrating thingy signal that notifies you when it's your time to be seated. Karaoke - Every Friday - 9:30 PM
(5)H. P.
I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoy this place as much for the food, as I for the fact that I get to smashy-smashy. Really, though, the crab is delicious. And, if you ever manage to look up from the table, the view is gorgeous.
(4)Jay H.
Drove an hour to go here on a Sunday afternoon, they were out of crabs and oysters (how does a crab house in Maryland's capitol run out of crabs on a weekend in the middle of summer?). Cream of crab soup was very light on crab. Good thing it is clean and in a good location with a beautiful view or I would never go back.
(2)Janet K.
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only place to eat crabs in this area....not that they are better than Cantler's, but I cannot stand to sit elbow to elbow with strangers at a shared table no matter how good the food. Mike's has lots of individual comfortable tables and when the crab mood hits, there is just no place better without a serious drive. And by the way, Keely R. it is SO not done in Maryland to eat crabs with a bib! Sorry....
(4)Jeramy P.
Came in expecting some good ole Maryland seafood and I was not dissapointed. I had the steak and the fried crabcake. The places is located right on the water too.
(4)Jules L.
I grabbed my legendary hammer and pulverized the clawed beasts into oblivion. My loved ones watched as I viciously pounded the shells revealing the sweet flesh. They were in shock and awe as I plucked out the meat and consumed it, absorbing its lifeforce into mine. After a fierce battle of a dozen beasts, I walked away with a full belly and a near fatal wound on my right thumb. My legend will be told for all eternity.
(5)Christie W.
I went back here again this past Sunday and just wanted to give it another 5 stars. This place knows how to do crabs! We took my boyfriends Mom and Grandfather here for Fathers Day, and they LOVED it! We each got a dozen oysters, and a dozen large crabs, the crabs were once again meaty and LARGE!! Perfectly seasoned and cooked. The oysters were awesome! We all love this place so much we will be back this coming weekend! :)
(5)Liz K.
I'd say if you're in Annapolis, this is a must-do. Not a fancy-pants establishment, just honest good seafood. Sadly they were out of crabs when we visited, but they had plenty of everything else. The majority of our group ordered the fried oysters, of which I'm not a fan, but they all raved about them. Nicely breaded and well seasoned. I would like to rave about the clam strips - they were FANTASTIC! These people here must know the best way to bread things, because these, like the oysters, were perfect. Even my niece, who is not really into a lot of seafoods yet, couldn't keep away from my basket. Good thing she helped too - it was a veritable HEAP of clams. Also good was the clam chowder, calamari, and grilled cheese (what the niece ordered). Be sure to check it out if you're in the area!
(4)Windi L.
While not the most glamorous establishment for seafood, the grub here is tasty and priced accordingly. Normally a big ole bucket of shrimp will cost you your rent check but here at Mike's, you will get a lot more than what you pay for. The salad bar was disappointing but it's one of those things where you're not here for salad - you're here for seafood so don't expect much from that. Also, my steak was average. A good seafood eatery that satisfy your seafood cravings when you're on a budget!
(3)Richard K.
On our way back from Annapolis we decided to detour to Mike's Crab House in Riva for the crab cakes. We arrived just after lunchtime so it was not very busy.Our service person was attentive but we sensed that he wasn't versed in the ins and outs of the menu. We were expecting a small "crabshack" but were surprised to see how large the dining area was. Usually a good sign that you are at a popular place. My wife and I each ordered the crab cake sandwich. After eating the meal we questioned whether we were at the same restaurant that most of the other reviewers had eaten at. We are seafood lovers from New England and have a pretty good idea of what seafood should taste like. Unfortunately, Mike's doesn't come close (at least for the crab cakes). The sandwich platter comes with the usual; one crab cake, fries, bun, lettuce and tomato. The portion was large and would be a good value. The fries were hot but soggy. What's up with that? The crab cake was large, mostly crab but they were seriously under seasoned and quite tasteless. We both noted a slightly "off" taste that could have been due to the fact that the crab was not local. Me thinks they should note that small detail on their menu. We ordered the broiled version which looked fine but was a bit dry. Fried might have been a better choice. We really wanted Mike's to be good but our expectations were too high. We won't be back but suggest that if others come, they may want to try something other than crab unless it is sourced locally and "in season".
(1)Heather K.
We went on Mother's Day, expecting it to be busy. We arrived around 1:30pm, hoping to be at the end of the lunch crowd but well before the dinner crowd. It looked like we timed it perfectly because outside there were only about 4 tables of people waiting on the deck. We were told it was a 1 hour wait which was fine. The deck was closed due to high winds but the canopy and indoors were open. After an hour part of the deck was opened and a lot of people were seated. At about 1 hour and 10 minutes I asked the hostess how much longer it would be and she said "about an hour". I was upset. We were told an hour and we waited and now we are told it will be another hour? If it was a 2-hour wait then we should have been told up front and been able to make our decision based on that. Now we have an hour of our time invested in this place ... what to do? If we leave we will have to wait somewhere else. We decided to wait some more and another group of people sat at our table to wait. We talked to them and they told us that the had gotten there about 15 mins after us and they were given 2 pagers, one for inside and one for out. The hostess told them to get both and use whichever one went off first, no one told us that or offered us two pagers. At 3:00 my husband went to speak to the hostess and AGAIN the hostess said "about an hour" . At 3:30 one of our tablemates' pagers went off and they were seated . At 3:40 my husband complained and we were seated immediately. No one ever mentioned our wait time, or what the hostess kept telling us about it being hour after hour, or that they were sorry it happened. When you have unhappy customers the best thing to do is offer an explanation. We still have no idea why everything was so messed up and we weren't the only customers who were upset. We talked to a lot of other people during our wait and found out that a lot of them were given wrong information on the wait time. I understand it's impossible to be exact but most places like to under promise and over deliver...a 100% increase in wait time is ridiculous...plus to be given the same answer over and over, "about an hour"?? Pretty bad. I found it crazy that they would have people directing traffic in the parking lot to make sure traffic went smoothly but didn't have a hostess that could seat tables smoothly..but then again I have no idea if it was the hostess's fault since no one ever explained anything. Finally we were seated. I can not eat much so I was going to order off of the appetizer menu. Everything sounded good at this point so I got the sampler. I was disappointed. I think everything came from a box. It all tasted like something I could get in the frozen food section. My husband had stuffed halibut or flounder, I forget, and it was delicious. My son had the chicken tender kids meal with fries and he liked it a lot. I got a piece of carrot cake to go and it was also very good. All in all, given the way we were treated and the quality of the food I received, I would not choose to visit this restaurant again. It seems to me like the management of this restaurant feels entitled to customers based on their reputation. The only restaurants that are entitled to my business are ones who treat me with respect.
(1)Mia D.
We went for Father's day, and we had a ball! I would recommend fro anyone that is trying to relax and have some good food and crabs.
(5)Sarah H.
I had never tried whole, steamed Maryland crabs and came into Mike's so that I could get the full experience. Steamed in plenty of Old Bay seasoning so that the flavor seeped in through the shells while cooking and dipped into vinegar, the crabs were absolutely delicious. The price seemed reasonable ($65/ dozen) and we easily split them between three of us. Our waiter was wonderful and spent more than enough time showing us how to get all the meat out. We also started with cups of amazing cream of crab soup and washed the meal down with plenty of inexpensive beer pitchers. It was a wonderful evening and I would certainly go back to show others that have not tried this before! A word of advice-- it can get really messy!
(3)Virginia K.
It doesn't get much better than brown paper on the table, a wooden mallet and a dozen jumbo crabs at Mike's! I came with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town and had Maryland crabs on her "must do" list. I had heard about Mike's but never visited myself so I was praying that we wouldn't be disappointed. Let me tell you, as far as crabs go, Mike's is the real deal. The fact that it is situated on the water and the Margarita's are fantastic just adds to the charm of this place. Do yourself a favor, next time you are in the mood for crabs, go to Mike's. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Juliet G.
Went for lunch and disappointed with selection. Has soft shell crab sandwich which was just okay. Nice locale though on the water and parking lot is a plus.
(3)Ricky H.
This place was eh.. just ok. The crabs were pretty good, but the baked potato I had was dryer than the sahara desert. Excessive amounts of butter and sour cream were necessary. The waiter was a ghost. We could never find him when we needed him. Oh , and the kids drinks are more expensive than the regular ones. Boo.
(2)Ardon G.
Great food - Great place - Great time August, on the water, big pile of hot crabs on the table.... does it get any better than this? NOPE. Crabs were expensive ($60 a dozen) - actually everything was pricey but Mike's is definitely a classic Maryland "place to go" for crabs. Anyway on to the crabs. They WERE AMAZING. Properly spiced, heavy and large. Side dishes were generous and good. Loved the oysters on the half. We tried one of almost every side and all were good. Drink service was the only area that I think needed improvement. It was kind of hard to get your drink on when the servers are so difficult to find... and when you do get her attention - she is distracted and busy, busy, busy.... Come to think of it - we might have stayed longer and gotten another dozen crabs if only she had been a little more attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!. I'll just near the bar next time! :-)
(4)Michael W.
I decided to take a friend from Brazil for crabs and thought this place was a nice touristic crab joint. The restaurant is located in a marina and one can stop the boat right in front of it. The day we went (a Sunday) the restaurant was quite full and most people were there for the crabs. In my opinion, the food is all right (not great, just all right). I am not a big fan of crabs and therefore I am not in a position to judge, but my in laws told me the crab was not seasoned properly. We had a portion of Maryland crabs, potato skins and a fried fish platter (for my daughter). The service was slow and the waiters were never available when we needed them. Despite of that, we had fun there and I would probably go back, should I need to take other friends for eating crabs. All in all, it is a good place for crabs and beer....
(3)Amir D.
Oyster's and crab cakes were delicious! Awesome view as well!
(4)Sucre-ski S.
i really dig this place but i have a snaking suspicion the locals know better. it's the closest crab house i could find when visiting D.C. and it's relatively easy to drive to in addition to being large and scenic with a dock & deck along the water. i think you could even tender your boat along the dock. the enormous parking lot seemed just over half full and the place was packed pretty good on a weekend, and being seated was not a problem as there were plenty of open tables. four of us got five crabs each and we were pretty satisfied. i liked the crabs but being a (yankee) city slicker i don't really know any better ... the waitress claims they were large but i'm not so sure. doesn't really matter to me but if you're picky about your crabs, you should find the review of a true local.
(4)Farida A.
Went here for the first time last Friday night, and had a pretty great experience. There was a bit of a wait but we just walked the dock and sat by the water to kill time. We ordered crab legs (listed under appetizers) and got two huge clusters of crab legs - for less than $10! They were so meaty and delicious. Luckily we also ordered some other appetizers, cuz I got sick of the craby taste after a while. The calamarie was delicious, so were jalapeno poppers! I wish I had saved more room for the poppers, they were really tasty. The virgin pina coladas were pretty good too.
(4)Jamie H.
Mike's has HANDS DOWN the best she crab soup in Maryland. I heart Mikes, really good food and not just the rockin crabs. Sometimes the hostess runs away but the servers are pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the bathrooms, they need to update it.
(4)Staci C.
Smells a little fishy when you walk into the restaurant and food was average... Definitely not gourmet seafood. Would be fun if you had a big group, and wanted to hang out on the deck.
(2)Lee P.
The location and the view outside is definitely nice, HOWEVER, we received the worst service ever. We walked through the front and were directed to the back of the restaurant to be seated outside. We could barely understand what the hostess was saying due to her lack of English speaking skills. Why would you have someone who speaks little English at the front of the house? We get to the stand outside where a group of young kids are too busy chatting to notice we are waiting. They then direct us to another table around the corner to be seated. What is the point of having three check ins when only one can actually help you? We had to give a form of ID to receive a pager- b/c who wants to take one home, really? We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before being sat, which wasn't too bad considering we went in at lunch time and it was gorgeous outside. Our waiter Blake, taped his name to our table... he didn't do very much more than that. We ordered the crab dip to start with- it was surprisingly mediocre and was overpowered with horseradish. We were never asked if we wanted refills on our drinks from the bars. My bf's food came out 15 mins before mine, so he had to wait until I was served my Chesapeake chicken sandwich. He did enjoy the hush puppies, but wasn't impressed by the watered down flavorless clam chowder that wasn't accompanied by crackers. My chicken was a thin slab of overcooked meat on the grill with the crab on the side. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. If you want a real Chesapeake go to Seaside in Glen Burnie, MD. They weren't too busy once we were sat, but apparently we were expected to eat with our hands since we were not given silverware. We got up and got it ourselves. We must have also been expected to choke on our food since we never got drinks. After being very displeased with the service, we asked to speak with the manager on our way out. It took 10 minutes for another hostess to come back and ask us what our question was. I told her we didn't have a question; we specifically asked to speak to a manager directly. The manager was something else... an middle aged man trying to act cool and mellow. I highlighted that we were not looking for a free meal and that we had already paid, but wanted to express our absolute disappointment with the service. His response was "ummm, well, my name is Anthony if you ever need anything in the future let me know. I'll talk to my staff. We've had a busy weekend- we've already ran out of shrimp..." I've had management experience in the retail world and I would've handled things much different. How about an apology to begin with? They had plenty of staff on hand to accommodate the customers that day- girls in pink shirts everywhere. It was impossible not to run into them. I would not recommend anyone to come here other than for the view, which can be found else where.
(1)Jimbo J.
Should be renamed Mike's Bar and Disappointment House. Drove 30 minutes around dusk to learn that Mike's Bar and Crab House had run out of crab.
(1)Angela M.
Great crab everything - yummy! The crab dip is amazing; the mini crab bagel bites are even better. Whenever I'm feeling crabby, I know I'll be back! The Tuna Caesar salad wasn't too shabby either...I liked that the waitress came out and asked how I wanted my tuna - medium rare, and ooh was it good. Maybe a tad too much pepper for my taste, but grilled just right. This restaurant is right on the water, so you can look out and see the sunset over the waves. It's very casual and very chill here. Expect to see clothes ranging from flip flops and sunglasses to button-ups. Mike's is huge - you can sit out by the water on the patio, inside on the picnic benches or in the normal restaurant area. It's an interesting place to eat and a great place to hang out with friends. You can get rowdy and nobody minds! The service is friendly and prompt and I liked not having to wait too long for my food even though the place was stuffed. You get bonus points for that! I'll come back when it's warmer and sit on the patio! Ok, I'm bored with this review....
(4)Bradley S.
Just an awful visit. Slow service, wrong food and just boring!
(1)christine c.
So glad that it's crab season again. I was not sure if it's still too early for steamed crabs so called Mike's and they have large crabs for $65/doz. The place we used to go to is Crab Claw in St Michaels but this time wanted to give Mike's a try - it's much closer from WDC for one thing. This restaurant is quite similar in ambience to Crab Claw - waterfront location, quite a large outdoor section, with seating under a canopy or under umbrellas. We got there around noon and were seated on the deck right away (it's a Saturday and they don't seem to take reservations) as the restaurant was less than half full. There's something about eating steamed crabs outdoors on the waterfront, it's just so pleasant and you are not worried about making a mess. The service was very friendly and efficient, and our order came right away. The crabs were surprisingly good - usually early in the season the meat might not be very solid, but these ones came with tightly packed meat in every single one and were really fresh and delicious. The only thing that could be improved upon is they could be spicier. As it was they were a bit bland, although there is old bay seasoning you can dip them in it's not quite the same (the crabs at the Bethesda crab house as well as Crab Claw are a lot spicier), steamed in spice adds a whole lot more flavor to the crabs. Since I haven't been there before I was not sure whether this is their style or it just happened not to be spicy today. Hopefully they can do it spicier next time!
(4)Pat O.
Service has gone down hill. After being show to our table no waiter came for 20 minutes even through the place was not busy. After we complained to the hostess we waited some more and still no waiter came so we eventually left.
(1)Jessica V.
Great end to a great weekend. Everything we had was amazing: Full sweet crabs, rich cream of crab soup, fresh briny oysters, hot steamed spiced shrimp. Omigosh. I wish I could have it all right now. Nothing fancy, just delicious fresh seafood.
(5)Rose M.
What a great way to end the weekend in Annapolis, MD. This place is a huge, low-key seafood restaurant that sits on the water on a pier. Customers can literally dock their boats and walk right into the place! As soon as you walk in you can see that it is a family place and each table was stacked with crabs, clams, mussels, you name it. I learned to eat crab legs for the first time there and they were delicious! We also had the calamari and, yum!, that was probably the freshest, most tasty that I've had that didn't cost me my entire paycheck! Also, there was live music being played that night we went in the bar area, which somehow they manage to make feel separate from the restaurant using good partitioning and lighting. I recommend this place for an easy-going night of clams, drinks, and fun!
(4)Mark T.
We decided to give Mikes another try after a very poor first experience. Unfortunately our second visit was worse. One fish entre was very undercooked and the other entre was very over cooked. The service was almost adequate though server was hard to find when we needed him. We will not be back to Mikes... There are simply too many other better options in Annapolis area.
(1)Patrick H.
I've added some photos.
(4)Sterling A.
A Summertime must-do! Food and drinks are excellent. SIt out on the deck and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Make sure you try an Orange Crush or one of their other drinks.
(4)Keely H.
OOOO crabs! Can you believe it took me three years of living in Maryland before I went to get crabs? Well, it did. Finally last weekend Craig, a few friends and myself went to enjoy some of the wonderful little pinching crustaceans. We ordered a 18 medium crabs, and they arrived on a platter, steaming and wearing little coats of Old Bay. Craig had the Shrimp Jammers, and my friend had chicken strips and onion rings, all of which looked good. I was a bit timid about diving in at first, but after a quick lesson on how to take the blasted thing apart I was cracking like a pro. Six or seven crabs later I was sick of cracking, sick of crabs and ready to leave the loud, florescent patio on which we were sitting. The only thing I was disappointed about was the lack of plastic bibs...it would've made the fun experience a whole lot better, and made for some good pictures as well. 3.5 stars, I suppose I'll have to take my own next time.
(3)Tonya H.
This place is awesome. Vicky was great to us and the food was excellent. I had a BBQ shrimp and bacon skewer with rice. Perfectly cooked. The drinks were good and the Patron shots went down too easy and that's why I haven't got out of bed yet. I wish they did Bloody Mary deliveries! The outdoor seating is great and right on the water. Love it! The singer stayed longer to serenade me as well. Fun fun!
(5)Tim M.
Mike's makes my #3 crab house in the region/county falling a short behind to Cantler's and Harris'. Having said that it beats both of those places in terms of overall atmosphere being very much at water level and in a marina with a spectacular view of the South River. I don't typically eat anything but crabs here but I do always order some 'filler' which believe it or not is almost always the macaroni and cheese off the kids menu - I 'kid' you not. Their mac and cheese is Kraft-out-of-the-box style (it might actually be the same stuff) but it is always great to me and a bit of a Mike's tradition now. Crabs are always good here and are competetively priced and they have them year round and in a good choice of sizes and an All U Can Eat option. I'm a big fan of the Cherrystones either raw or steamed as they are typically HUGE. Check the happy hour menu for daily specials (all day/night) as there is usually always something different. In season they have steamers (soft shelled clams) which I'm not the biggest fan of actually because I find them to be very gritty but they are popular. Don't ask for melted butter with your crabs - you just might get thrown out of the place! Service here can be spotty in the warmer months as they typically hire a block of Eastern European students that can hardly speak english and really don't know a thing about the culture of a crab house - I bet some of them have nightmares about it actually lol. Off season it's local help and always very good. If you're brave enough to try to go here on a Friday or Saturday night during season be prepared to wait in line first in the parking lot and then in the restaurant - it be a BIZZY place on them days...
(4)Craig R.
Mike's really surprised me. My expectations always seem low whenever I'm going to someplace that isn't in Annapolis so I was pleasantly shocked when I went in. The place is big. They have a huge seating selection. It's right on the water so there are seats inside, at the bar and on four decks/patios. Moreover, they have a tiki bar outside that's surrounded by a nice little garden on one side and water on another. We ended up sitting outside for awhile until all the servers were done with their shifts and moved into the bar area. The menu looked pretty good, but all that was had was the medium blue crabs. I didn't get there in time to have any, but everyone at the table seemed to enjoy them immensely. Their beer selection is a little lacking, but anyone that has Blue Moon on tap is alright with me. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was that they served all the alcohol in plastic cups. I don't think my cup looked like a pint. I don't want to pay full price for a skimpy portion. In the bar area, they had some live music (which was actually pretty decent for once) and plasmas so you could catch all the day's action. Mike's had a great view and pretty decent food. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area.
(4)Daniel H.
went to 5 different crab places in MD. this place was the best. great view, service, and food.
(4)Sean B.
Stopped here on the way to BWI from DC recently, and it was a great last stop before heading back to the landlocked confines of the Midwest. Wonderful views, friendly service, and reasonable prices for crabs ($20 for half-dozen medium to large) make this a place I'd definitely recommend.
(4)M C.
My dearest Yelpers, you have never failed me, and tonight was no exception. Mike's was FANTASTIC! Food: Get the crabs. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. In heaven, all seafood is seasoned with Old Bay. Hush puppies get a major shout-out too. 5 stars Service: Hostessing system is a little weird, you have to walk through the restaurant to get to the outside stand, then you have to give them something with your name on it to get your pager. Mmmkay. However, our server was amazing! She even took our picture by the water (bonus) and swapped out a nasty margarita. Very nice. Atmosphere: Waterfront at sunset, you can't really beat that. I could have done without the screaming children throwing crab parts next to us, but family style means family style..... I guess. Also, as other reviewers note, you barely notice how long you've waited for a table when you sit out on the deck and listen to the live music. I dig this place. They will see me again. All in all, forget the other crab houses in Annapolis. Hit up Mike's!!
(5)s p.
Mike's is a classic Maryland Crab House- one of the few around Annapolis. The crabs are hot, the beer is cold- everything else is fried. The service is so-so but that is because it is all the local high school kids who probably have more tables than they can handle. But what do you expect from a crab house?
(4)Jeremy S.
Went here w/ my fiancee and her friends; we ordered the crabs, of course, as well as onion rings and some cole slaw. The crabs were very fresh, and so it was easy to remove the meat simply by a skilled twist of a leg. Some notes: (1) the prices are rather high, and things can get very expensive very fast if you have a few big, hungry men in your party; (2) Mike's offers free refills only on iced tea, and not on soda (unlike many other crab places in Maryland); and (3) the service is very slow, and often inattentive; it took us quite a long time to get mallets and switch buckets in which to discard our crab remains. Overall, though, a fun place to go for dinner.
(4)Noel A.
Me and the kids out on a Sunday drive, just enjoying the day when we came across Mike's. What a find!!! Good food, Great Crabs, and our waiter Ricky was Great. I will be back with the wife. Truly a Great Experience!!!! Thanks Guys!!!
(5)Mike G.
We arrived with family from out of town at about 2:30 PM on a Sunday. Got a table outside with a good view, without waiting. We ate a dozen oysters on the half shell, a dozen steamed Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, 2 orders of fried shrimp, crab soup, corn on the cobb, and calamari. Everything was terrific except the calamari; we were guessing the oil temp must have gotten out of wack. When we told our waitress we didn't like the calamari, she immediately volunteered to take it off our bill and she followed-through in doing so without us mentioning it again. Portions were genrous, prices were right and my guests couldn't have been happier. I gave it $$ even though the crabs were a bit steep. I called several places this morning, including a carry-out only steamed crab merchant and they are just more expensive everywhere this year than in previous years. Mike's steamed crab prices were competitive. It was the perfect, outdoor, picnic table, brown kraft paper-table "cloth," crab eating, by the water experience. Plus, their other dishes were good as well.
(4)Laurie W.
Going to Mike's for anything other than crabs, and then complaining about it, is like going to Ledo's and complaining about the fried chicken. (I don't usually do the insider local thing, but y'all know what I mean, right?) Just don't do it. Mike's exists to serve crabs, and also beer, while giving you a nice view of the river along with some fine people-watching opportunities as well. The crabs and beer duo is doled out perfectly, and copiously. Thank you o lord of the river for buckets of Corona! These days they typically have large crabs available (last time it was $65 a dozen), and they're decent - good amounts of meat, crazy amounts of Old Bay. If you ever have problems with the price or quality of crabs you get when you eat out, do a Google search on the state of the crabbing industry and you'll likely understand. It's a different world. Raised by a great-grandmother and grandparents who taught us how to pick crabs before we could tie our shoes (maybe even speak?) means it's just something you do. You don't think about it. I also have to wonder why anyone who is grossed out by the crab picking experience would go to a place chock full of shells and mustard, but I'll take THAT snobby Marylander point outside. The service is efficient and friendly - crab house style. On our most recent visit (this place is a family favorite for our extended group of native Marylanders) a bad storm blew our party inside from the deck. Our server moved us with no fuss whatsoever, and we picked our mallets back up in about five minutes. The salad bar is better than average, if a little pricey at $6.95, if you want some greens with your shellfish. The only other part of the menu I look at is appetizers. The raw bar stuff is decent. I got clams casino on an earlier visit this summer and it was okay. Like I said, this place is for crabs. And beer. Entree options are better at any number of restaurants nearby, so I'd go there if you're after anything other than the main event. There is also a full bar inside, but it looks like smoking is still allowed in there. It might be a decent place to wait, which is a frequent issue here in the summertime, but you can hang out on the deck outside and wait for a table as well. Sunset is a particularly nice time to be there.
(5)Mike C.
My first visit and it was great. A really good location right on the water about 30min. from DC. They had a Lobster special we took advantage of $15 for Whole Maine Lobster with all the trimmings. It was a lot of food and never seen a deal like that for $15. I have had better at other places but not as much food for the money. Being right on the water was an added bonus. I know the Crabs are the big draw here I am not a fan of Maryland crabs so I never order them. A great family place lots of fun.
(4)Bri P.
Bad food & worse service. The only thing worth the $ was the Crab Imperial...totally not worth the drive, the money, or the patience you will have to muster up with your inattentive waiter!
(1)Nicole L.
Oh boy, do I have something to write about this place. The reason it is getting one star is because the service is by far the worst I ever experienced. Thanks Ms Kelly! This is how it all began....I got there at 1 PM on July 3rd and when I got seated I was told they are out of crab, have you heard of such a thing? A crabhouse is out of crab? Anyhow, so I was asked if I wanted to wait till 2 PM - do you know I drove 1.5 hrs to get there just for crabs? So I waited....ordered some beer, clam casino and seafood potato skins. Clams were great with whole clams, some fillers and a nice slice of bacon on top - 6 for $8.50 and potato skins filled with scallops and shrimp - 3 for $9.50. They were not too bad while I wait for the crab. The diners next to me heard what happened and offer some of their crabs - they were big, meaty and very tasty! When 2 PM rolled around, the waitress said there's another 45 min -1 hr wait because of some traffic on BWI. That's the biggest load of crap I ever heard. So at this point, do I walk away or wait for 45 min? I waited and finally when the waitress announced that the crabs were here I ordered the half dozen immediately. Diners all around my table had dined and left and new diners sat down. As I sat there, half drunk half starving for crab in frustration, I saw trays of crabs being served to ALL, did I mentioned ALL??? Yes All around me - everyone got their crabs. You would think they would feel a sense of urgency to serve my table after almost 2 hours of wait. I was utterly disappointed and speechless by that point. Then when I got my crabs - they were half the size of the charity crabs I got 1 hr ago and is pretty much hollow on the inside. AND they are suppose to be the the same LARGE crabs. That is, in my yrs of dining history the biggest bullshit ever. I never knew a restaurant could single handedly hold a record for ruining my July 3rd holiday and dining history record! Sad to say, 2 hrs and $90 later, I will NEVER go there again.
(1)Christine S.
The setting for the restaurant is very classic...it sits right on the water, where there's a dock that goes out to the boats that carry the people who catch the seafood. They have good specials, like a whole bucket of mussels for $7. The crab cake sandwich was really good, too. It's a fun atmosphere. The dessert kind of sucks though...I tried the apple pie and it was cold and tasted like it came from a package.
(3)Lenny T.
Great setting for a meal of crabs which is a good portion of my rating, I find that crab houses are often more alike than different. But, this place in MD serves its crabs quickly and with just the right amount of old bay seasoning so that you can actually taste the crab! The perfect accompaniment with your crab fest is beer by the pitcher, raw oysters as a starter, and naked boiled potatoes and corn on the cob when in season. The day we went was beautiful along the water and the place even had a live band plaing on deck!
(4)Kasandra G.
I have to say, I've been here many times in the past year and I have never had a bad meal here. I think it's one of the best non-fancy seafood restaurants in Annapolis. It's right on the water, they have a good selection and good pricing. If your looking for a family place that has great seafood- you've found it!
(4)Matt K.
Visited Mike's after reading the reviews left on Yelp. It was great! Just what we looking for - great food away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
(4)Molly P.
Great casual atmosphere, fresh seafood and reasonably priced. Overlooks the bay (good scenery) A definate destination if in the Annapolis area.
(4)Viv J.
I have been going to Mike's since my childhood. We even would use their carryout to purchase crabs. So when I go there even now with my mom, I have so many memories. As an adult, I have discovered Harris Crab House. Their crabs, corn, atmosphere and service is much better. Yesterday, we did not feel like taking the drive across the bridge so we went to Mike's. While the crabs were good, our waiter Jordan was the worst. We waited for about 20 mins for him to even come over to greet our table. When he finally came, he informed us that he was waiting on a table of 10. So I asked him, should we request another waiter. Jordon told us no. Well we should have because the service went down hill from there. Several times, we had to search for him to get his attention. He forgot to bring the corn-on-the-cob and other items. It was so bad that when I stopped another waiter to find Jordan, she knew exactly who had our table. She never asked us for a description or name, I assume he had a reputation for bad service.
(2)J.C. L.
Mike's gets two stars from me. One for the crabs, one for the view on the deck. I have been to this place several times, with groups ranging from two people to six and never have spent less then $100 and I am no roller. The service stinks, on or off-season. Truthfully I have never consistently received such bad service at one place ever. There are no free refills on any drinks except iced-tea which initially cost you $2.16 + Tax. When inspecting the bill I came to find that children's cups, also non-refillable are $1.50. The adult beverage is $1.25. I just kinda feel like that's a bend me over and put a mirror in front of my face so I can watch you statement. Had the snow crab legs, they were totally over cooked and soggy. Let me remind you the crabs are good, the best around on a nice day right out on the water. So if you go, go for crabs but don't expect much more.
(2)Mike L.
I generously give Mike's two stars -- for the view. The food and drink -- not so much. If you want crabs, they do ok. I've had better crabs plenty of places, but they are pretty much your standard steamed and seasoned Blue Crab. That's the extent of the positive things I have to say. The rest of their menu is promising, but ends'up tasting like it came out of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Their drinks are small, expensive and weak. On a clear non-humid day, sitting on their outside deck and pounding back a few overpriced drinks is ok, but if you're looking for a memorable experience, pass on Mike's.
(2)Gayle S.
For informal seafood experience, this is the place. Steamed crabs and shrimp covered in Old Bay spices, unlimited lemonade, and the lovely river view from deck or inside makes me a fan. I can't believe how fast they can serve the hordes that show up for weekend dinners, so I go even without a reservation knowing I'll be well attended. (The little market behind the restaurant is also worth a peek, especially if you want to take home some lump crab.)
(4)Jason L.
Expensive but very good. This was my second business trip to the area and i had to come back to mike's! AgaiN, Service was promt and friendly. The salad bar was ok. The italian dressing had too much vinegar. They were out of bread though. I ordered the broiled crab cake, Shrimp, scallop & roughy. I opted for the baked potato, too. It was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and getting the 1/2 pounds of crab.
(4)Sandie D.
We had family visiting from NY and their desire was to enjoy a good crab cake and some steamed crabs during their visit. So, we headed for Mike's with a group of eight. This was not our first time to Mike's, but our first time eating steamed crabs there. The crab prices were average. The crabs themselves were good, but nothing over the top. We all began with soup and appetizers. Cream of Crab is definitely my weakness, so I ordered a bowl. Someone at our table also ordered their house specialty soup, Maryland Crab and several people ordered the clam chowder. The soups were average. The cream of crab was not as rich as I like, nor did it contain very much crab meat. The person who ordered the Maryland Crab actually ended up ordering Clam Chowder because she was not fond of the Maryland Crab, but I believe she was not used to that style of soup. Appetizers included Clams and mussels. The mussels were good, the clams a little chewy and lacking in flavor, but than again they were clam.s The big hit at our table was the crabs and french fries. I ordered the the stuffed flounder (with crab imperial). Your choice is cole slaw or salad bar. I most admit I am picky when it comes to cole slaw and I would suggest salad bar. The cole slaw was lacking in flavor and not creamy. Your starch choice was a baked potato or fries. Once again, I like my potato cooked through, so I would suggest french fries. I returned my potato for fries because the potato was hard. The boys loved their sandwiches. They had bacon chicken cheese melts with fries. Two very happy teenagers here. Grandma and the boys also enjoyed Nutty Buddy's for dessert. The view from the deck is beautiful, especially in the summer. They have an awesome bar. The restaurant is clean and roomy. The service is usually average. I have yet to have a server who actually is on point with checking back specifically on the food or on the regular and I have been here during the busy summer and the slower periods of time. All in all, I'd say if you want a nice view and want to enjoy some crabs and beer, a good place to go. If you want to enjoy bar food and catch a game, great bar atmosphere.If you actually want a nice seafood dinner, probably not the place I'd suggest.
(3)Jeffrey M.
Drove out to Mike's for some soft shell crab sandwiches. We had them broiled at the waiter's suggestion and they were very good. Not out-of-this-world excellent, but very good. We'll probably go back again - it's a 45 minute drive from the middle of DC.
(4)Angel W.
Okay, so I've passed this place a MILLION times, but never stopped before, I will now! There were 4 of us and we opted to sit under the canopy. There was a man playing a guitar and singing "Locomotion." He was just ending his set when we got there though, so that's all we heard. En route to the table, the manager causes a beer to go flying towards 2 of the guests. He offered to buy our first round of drinks and apologized.....good trip already!! I ordered the pina colada and it was GOOD. We ordered 3 dozen medium males. After waiting for a few minutes, we were informed that there were no more mediums! In my opinion, we should have been offered larges for the the price of the mediums, so we ordered two dozen larges and an order of fries. The crabs were GOOD. They were well-seasoned and were super MEATY. There was a crab that was hollow, but our server replaced it with a better one, so that was good. Our server was wonderful at getting us what we needed and was very friendly. I'll def be going there again...just gotta make sure I have my money right.
(4)Connie M.
Business lunch sitting on the water. We can stop here. 5 stars for the view. There were 9 of us and it was a sunny day. Service wasn't slow and it wasn't fast. We started with wings ($8.50) and bacon wrapped shrimp ($10). Shrimp was served on rice. I had ice tea which was constantly refilled by our young server. I had a cup of cream of crab soup ($5) which was tasty. Not the best I ever had, but still yummy. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which came with fries and I was sharing with someone who ordered the shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cake was good. Not a lot of filler ($11). The shrimp salad was something to write home about! First, lots of shrimp. I was expecting little petite shrimp but these were not the baby shrimp that get thrown on a salad. These were the size of small shrimp in a chinese stir fry! For $8.25 it was plentiful and perfectly seasoned with mayo and celery. Let me describe this shrimp salad by asking...have you ever walked away saying that the shrimp was better than the crab cake? Me neither...until today. I can't wait to go back just for that sandwich! We also had the Jamaican Jerk chicken sandwich ($9.50), Fried Flounder ($10.50), Salmon Caesar ($14). I could have sat there all afternoon with a frozen tropical drink and pretended that I was on a private beach. View: 5 stars Ambiance: 4.5 stars Service: 4.5 stars Food: 4.25 stars - Shrimp Salad 5 stars
(4)Jacob C.
They gave us a takeout menu yet told us they don't do takeout during weeks?!?! What?! Need to educate these folks.
(1)Erin B.
Unfortunately I am unable to review the food. After being told there was a 20 min wait and waiting for over an hour and a half, to be told there was still a 20 min wait and that we would have to split our party into two smaller tables, we had to leave. Not the place to visit with children, elderly or anyone with diabetic/health issues as this may legitimately life threatening!
(1)Lucy L.
Crab cakes are huge but are not that tasty. I can do without the filler. It's hard to mess up french fries but they succeeded. Good spot to grab a frozen drink or to eat some crabs but "that about it."
(3)S S.
Crab cake is the bomb here and steam crabs are amazing !! I came here during the busy time and it was around 2hrs. wait but it was worth the wait. Trust me !!!
(5)Alyzain J.
Food was great. Ordered the shrimp jammers, Jamaican jerk mahi mahi sandwich, and small/medium crabs. The mahi mahi was slightly overdone but everything else was solid. Also ordered the cream of crab soup. It was delicious but a bit too creamy. Service was good. Ambiance is fun and not too loud. The decor is dated.
(4)Mandy M.
Ate there 3 times and it felt straight out of the 80s when restaurants would impress you with the amount and the greasiness of the food. It wouldn't take much to transport this restaurant just one decade ahead, e.g. use different potatoes for the french fries. They are horrible. Also, offer the fish prepared some other ways than fried. I am not suggesting sushi but there must be some fine recipes for that great tasting haddock. And maybe the bacon wrapped shrimp could have some flavors too other than just... bacon. Service was great, and I tipped accordingly. Didn't mention the food. Until now.
(2)Pete V.
Mike's is now my go-to for Maryland crab...although I don't think the crab here is actually from Maryland. In fact, I was here one time where I read they sourced the crab from Louisiana and Galveston, TX. Well...that aside, the crab here is pretty darn tasty, the service always friendly, and where else can you snag a table out on the dock, down an couple of Nattie Boh's and dig into a plate full of delicious crab seasoned with none other than heaping spoonfuls of Old Bay? We usually go here for lunch on the weekend, and the wait around lunchtime for an outside table is always at least 45 min to an hour (so plan accordingly). If you go here on a sunny summer Maryland day, and elect to sit inside, especially with views of the beautiful river, boats, etc. then you are not invited to eat with me :) Now, when you order, do as the romans do and order a huge plate, maybe a dozen or so LARGE crabs. In fact, sometimes they have JUMBO, which is a bit more expensive ($125 for a dozen maybe), regardless, make sure you order the LARGE crabs (usually $80 per dozen), and do not get the medium ones, as they are not nearly as tasty, and you will put forth a ton of effort breaking them open for not much ROI. Don't be stupid, and just pay the extra money for the LARGE or JUMBO and you will not be disappointed. Traditionally they will serve the crab with a bowl of Old Bay seasoning. Break open your crab, dip the meat in the seasoning and enjoy! Mike's Crabhouse is an institution and one of my favorite spots to sit out by the water, enjoy a beer, and crack open Maryland-style blue crab all afternoon.
(4)Renee M.
The best crab joint around. Great thing about Mike's is the food is always great. The crabs have never disappointed me. The best is the swirl margarita from the outside bar! Yummy!
(5)Buster C.
I took the time to drive from DC to Annapolis to visit the fabulous Mikes Crabhouse. A fellow employee made an enthusiastic recommendation. Generally I always have the hesitation blues about eating in rural Maryland. We, however got good seats and table and our waiter was friendly. The crabs were pretty good, however, the top six were piping hot the bottom six were refridgerated cold. Logical deduction, the crabs are shipped. However there's not enough crabs in the bay to support the restaurants. We get that. Even cold, we were happy. They were beautiful and presentation can go along way, especially with the women. My wife was very happy and wants to come back next week.
(4)Janice E.
We ordered large crabs very meaty and just the right old bay spice.Ron Jeremy was there having his pic taken with the patrons and staff.
(4)Cindy T.
Love the food and service at Mike's Crab House...if you don't mind the wait, the outdoor seating is great as well.
(4)Greg M.
Stopped by for a quick lunch before flying back to H town. Ordered dozen oysters on the half shell to start. Had to soft shell crab sandwich broiled. Took forever for the oysters to arrive, however, it was worth the wait. Nicely sized and tasty. Sandwich was very good, with the condiments served on the side. Gorgeous day to sit out on the deck by the water.
(4)Jamie P.
We stopped at Mike's on our first night in town. It was perfect for our family of 7. We could eat outside at the picnic tables by the water and the noise level was perfect for our 5 kids. We could all talk and still hear one another, yet the kids talking was not an inconvenience for anyone else. Our Waitress was very patient, willing to explain the different ordering options for the crabs and made a very accurate recommendation for what would be best for our crew. She also brought out pitchers of water to help everyone. She new that it was too busy for her to keep up with the drinks so her proactive approach was appreciated. However, with that being said, the refills for the soda were few and far between. Ultimately, there was something for everyone and the service was very good. Personally, I had a 1/2 dozen of the large crabs and an order of hush puppies. I found it to be more than enough, as my kids shared both with me. It was a blast to watch them eat crabs for the first time. They actually worked together to figure out how to do it. My wife had a buffalo chicken sandwich that she indicated was delicious. My oldest son, age 13, had the crab quesadillas. He indicated seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. Our others had the pizza and chicken tenders. We would certainly stop here again.
(4)Kida B.
Call today around 8:00pm they said that they had crabs avail however I got here at 9:02 and they said that they don't serve crabs after 9:00pm but they close at 11:30...(smh) it was about 15 employees sitting at the front of the restaurant, I guess they were to tired to cook me some crabs, so I then asked for the manager he came out and was very rude...so I asked him when did they stop serving crabs he said 9:00pm I said so when did you guys started that he then said that they just couldn't cook them because it takes to long...(I will be calling my lawyer ASAP...oh and I'm Native American...I will let friends and family know that this place could be racist. This is my second time here.
(1)Lauron T.
We came later in the evening; they had a sign that said they were out of crab as soon as we walked in but they were serving crab the whole time we were there. If the policy is that they don't serve it after a certain time, that should be stated. The service was bad, they told us a different closing time. The manager never came out to check on us even though we had legit complaints. The waiter kept saying "sorry bout that" but that doesn't make up for the fact that we never got our side dishes. In fact, after we ordered food, 15 min later he told us that certain side dishes were out and we needed to pick something else. But the only thing available was fried green beans or the nasty salad bar. Also, the waiter never took our trash plates away. Our table was dirty the entire time. the soft shell crab was soggy and the salad bar was dirty. I give two stars bc we've been here in the past and it was good but I'd advise not to go at night ANY TIME
(2)Alex B.
The mixed reviews really made me question going to Mike's, but holy cow this place is amazing!!! My son and I came here for lunch and were totally impressed, by the food and especially our super service from Shannon. On the food front, we came for crabs, crabs & more crabs. We started with MD crab soup which was very good. We ordered two dozen tasty crustaceans and were very happy, nice full crabs, very sweet and delicious. So happy we went and look forward to many return trips to Mike's!!!
(5)Julie A.
This was my second stop here in 2 months and it didn't disappoint either time. The atmosphere and staff are excellent, plus the prices are reasonable for how much food you get! I'm not a crab eater (shameful as I'm from Maryland) but the menu is diverse enough that there's plenty on hand for me to eat. I sat on the outdoor patio, water side both times and couldn't have asked for more lovely, laid-back seating! Our waitress was friendly and attentive. My first visit was at night with about a party of 10 & I had the BBQ ribs. Wow. A big, incredible portion that lasted me 3 days of leftovers! During my visit today, for lunch, I tried their Angus Bacon Cheeseburger and it was really good! My daughter had the cream of crab soup and loved it. My husband also had the same soup & the mussel/clam/shrimp combo platter. Everything was fresh & delicious. I did try a bite of a friends crab cake that also joined us & I liked it! I may not be ready for smashing those broiled crabs yet, but I'm working my way towards it & when I do, I'll most likely do it at Mike's.
(5)Kelly H.
So, we live in Michigan. We make a point to eat foods we can't eat at home when we travel. Not a lot of restaurants sell crabs in Michigan, although I don't know why not. First things first. Their crabs here are not Maryland crabs. They're from the Gulf of Mexico. (Thus my question of why don't they serve crabs in Michigan? If they can get them here, why not everywhere?) Since we didn't know that before we ordered, we ordered the crabs thinking they were local. Here is what we learned: unless you are a professional crab shucker, you should order the more expensive larger sized ones and fewer of them, or you will work darned hard for teeny bits of meat. Also, wear clothes you don't care if they get trashed with Old Bay and butter. Eating crabs is a full body experience for folks like is who do it once a year or so. Fresh crab meat is always delicious. Nothing comes with the crabs, so we ordered the salad to go with it. It was a fine salad, nothing special to write home about. The service was slow, but friendly. We got there about 8:30 and got our food about 9:30. So, bottom line. Mike's was fine. For a dozen small to medium crabs, one soda and a salads, including tax and tip it cost $70. Not necessarily sure I would go back again because it just wasn't something special like I had hoped it would be.
(3)Ashley W.
I can confidently say I WILL NOT be back here. We visited on Saturday night and were told that we could not order carry-out because they were busy. Seems like a dumb counteractive policy to me, seeing as though if people wanted to leave and eat on their boats, it would make more room in the restaurant for them to seat more people and make more money, but I'm not in the restaurant business so what do I know. We then asked the hostess if we could order a drink and food from the bar and ask for boxes when the food came out. She said that was fine. Half of our party was able to do this, but the other half of the party wasn't. We were told by one of the bitchiest bartenders that I have ever encountered that we have to eat some of the food at the bar before we could have boxes. WHAT? How can you demand that I eat some of my food before I get a box? When someone asked who the manager was the hostess said she didn't know and when we finally requested for him to come to the table he couldn't because he was cooking. This place definitely has some problems...and sub-par food.
(1)Virtual M.
Good time with friends. Friendly servers. They open at 11am, we got there and we all got seated by 12pm and they were already out of jumbo's. ended up with 3 dozen large ( between several people ) and they were good and had sweet meat, but they were really light for being large and at $75 per dozen I would have thought them to be a little heavier on the meat. The first 2 dozen were cooked great and tasted good, when we got the 3rd dozen they were a bit over cooked and water logged and not pulling out of the shell as easily. The appetizer sampler was good, but small for a sampler, only 3 items and 2 of each. Was not hardly enough for everyone to share. The hushpuppies were good though. Overall, sitting out on the water, throwing down on crab, enjoying cold beer and company of friends, I would do that again at this place. Maybe will come earlier next time to get in on the Jumbo's though.
(4)Nicole M.
Came here for lunch since it's less than 5 minutes away and I was craving seafood. I didn't experience some of the complaints prevalent with this place. I was seated and served promptly, maybe a 5 minute delay between sitting down and being greeted by a server. The place was neither empty nor full. The outside servers were hanging around but my plates were collected pretty quickly. I had the Steamed Platter appetizer and Salad from the salad bar. The salad bar looked good (showed up at noon so the place had been open for about an hour), spinach greens were fresh as were the other ingredients. I kind of wish they had more of a salad dressing variety but I doubt people come here for the salad. ...which brings me to the next review, my lunch! The Steamed Platter consists of Mussels, Shrimp and Oysters. I had my reservations about whether this would fill me up but that + one trip to the salad bar had me full to capacity. They brought out all the condiments I could ever want (butter, cocktail sauce, old bay, hot sauce, lemon) from the start which I appreciated. The shrimp was HUGE, which I also liked. Some places give you the tiny/medium shrimp but this was clearly Jumbo or bigger. Not soggy, had a satisfying chew to them. The Mussels and Oysters were also fresh, not much of a fishy taste to them but still flavorful. All in all, I like the place. Staff was friendly enough and even though I spent about 40 bucks (food + beer + tip), I feel it was well-spent. One day I'll bring the crew and we'll try their crabs, could make for a fun Summer outing.
(4)Lenessa T.
It had been years since I ate at Mike's. I was pleased with my food overall. I ordered apps and mostly oysters. I had 3 types (steamed, raw and grilled) and all were good.
(4)M W.
Best crabs ever!!! Their jumbo's are always on point--huge, meaty and seasoned to perfection. Service is always great. On weekends and busy holidays, there might be a wait but they have benches and picnic tables set up for you to enjoy while they get your table ready. The restaurant sits directly on the water and the view is wonderful. Perfect for sitting and picking crabs all afternoon.
(5)Martin C.
This place is absolutely amazing. If you are ever in Maryland this need to be a must stop. The service is fantasy and the staff is always friendly. The food is always fresh delicious, I ordered the steam crabs and fried oysters sandwich and could not believe my palette.
(5)Dawn R.
I'm not going to say that I'll never go back to Mike's, because I have friends who like to go here to hang out and I'll probably join them at some point. But I have no intention of ever coming back looking for a meal. I was meeting a friend for lunch today and arrived at Mike's around 11:40. Since they just opened at 11:00, they weren't very busy yet, and almost all of the wait staff were sitting at a table in the dining room talking. I approached the hostess stand and asked if I could sit "in the bar area". She told me to just go on over, so I went to the bar area and selected a table by the window in the bar. I then saw the bartenders turning on the TVs getting ready for the football games, and asked which TV my preferred game would be on. They told me, so I moved to another table that was closer. I sat and waited and waited....nobody ever came over. After about 10 minutes, I went to the bar & asked for a lunch menu. The male bartender started looking for one, and the female bartender comes up and says "did you want something?" I told her he was looking for a lunch menu for me, and she said "we don't have lunch menus on the weekend, so you'll have to order from the regular menu." I went back to my table to review the "regular" menu while both bartenders still just went about their business and ignored me. Throughout this, I noticed another employee who was sitting across the bar eating who kept looking at me, but I was never approached. After over 20 minutes, my friend arrived and I began to tell her about my experience since arriving. The employee who was eating was listening to our conversation. After he finished his food, he came to me & said "Has a server been here yet?" I told him no, and he then chastised me saying I was supposed to go through the hostess stand before taking a table. When I told him that I had, he then said "Well, she probably just thought you were going to sit at the bar." Excuse me? How about your bartenders who ignored me for over 20 minutes? Wouldn't you think at SOME point somebody would have said "Oh, hey...no server's been over here, maybe we should get someone?" WORST service ever. My friend and I got up and left and had our lunch somewhere else.
(1)Marie E.
We were visiting family in MD and decided on this place to eat. Had such a blast! Crabs were good - a little over seasoned with old bay, but overall the fattest boy blues I've ever had. Now the crab cakes- best I've EVER had. Pure lump meat, no breading. Pretty amazing! Hope to come back here if I am ever in Maryland again!
(4)Cathy Q.
Get their Mudslide! So yum! I wished they had bigger straws for their frozen drinks though. :/
(4)Sandy B.
Went again today, two years later. Had same food and beverage. Was very happy once again.
(4)Viv G.
We had been meaning to go check out Mike's for a while, so when a coupon came in the mail, we decided it was time. It's a typical diner setting. We went on Tuesday for crab dip, two rib specials and a dozen oysters. It was a lot of food for two people, considering that the dinners come with salad and baked potato or fries. Everything was really good! The oysters were clean and fresh. It was pretty quiet at the restaurant, but I imagine it gets packed on warm nights, especially out on the patio. We want to come back when it's nice out, and to try the crabs. Mike's has a great reputation in Annapolis for the best crabs in town. The only issue we had was the service was slow for the (lack of) patrons in the restaurant. Our server kept disappearing for 15-20 minutes at a time, and as far as I could tell we were her only table. Overall, the value was great. We will be back in the summer!
(4)First J.
I'm a crab enthusiast and this is the best crab place in town. Make sure you ask for jumbos or large. The service is great and so is the ownership. Tony is one of the nicest gust you could ever meet. This is my spot for crabs
(5)Victoria M.
The place was packed, but the service was impeccable. Our food came out promptly and our waiter was very attentive. The food was great, and reasonably priced compared to other options in the area. The setting is beautiful- we sat inside and had a great view of the bay. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Denea J.
If you're a crab lover, this is the perfect spot. If not (like me) don't fret, there are plenty of other options. The crab balls are my fave.
(4)Linda G.
Came here for crabs and had a great experience eating out by the water and sunset. Food was delicious. Busy place -- wait time was 2.5 hours though.
(4)Jennifer M.
Although the view is awesome, the food is eh....Seasoning is the missing link. I've had way better crab cakes in Baltimore City. I am actually leaving the restaurant quite hungry. :( It's a nice sized restaurant. Great for families and groups. There are a lot of options on the menu....just a little sad they ran out of crabs... I don't think we'll be going back. The staff is very friendly and customer service great. The food just needs a little more umph.
(2)Carol H.
Food was okay but restrooms were filthy and smelled horrible. I literally lost my appetite thinking that staff we're probably using the same facility. There is no excuse for this in the middle of a Monday afternoon. There was a large number of teenage wait staff sitting around giggling. Glass doors at entrance thick with handprints. Will not be back.
(1)Jon A.
Worse service ever. Order crabs and forget about it. Because if you are use to DC restaurant type of service you will not get it here. We watched a dirty empty table for 15 minutes before it got bussed. Mean while there is a 2 hour wait. Not the MO if you want to make money.
(1)JR C.
This is a pretty solid place, just a tad expensive for the food. The view and ambiance are awesome - there isn't much better than sitting on a dock, with a beer, and some seafood. It seemed like everyone was eating crabs, so I asked our waiter (who was pretty slow to greet us) what the deal was, as they weren't on the menu. He told me that they were $70 for a dozen, 35 for a half dozen. I think my mouth remained open for a minute or two, because that's WAAAAAYYY expensive for some boiled blue crabs. Anyway, I skipped on that, and had the broiled rockfish, which was really tasty, but it was like $24! The salad bar was small, but had some good selections, the baked potato was...well, a baked potato. The cherrystones we ordered as an appy were solid. All in all, a nice place for beers and seafood. I can see this place being INSANE on a Friday or Saturday night, so get there early!
(3)Cory G.
We just finished lunch at Mike's where my colleague found a DEAD FLY in her salad. Underneath - at the bottom. We told the waitress to please take it away and she complied - lovely girl but obviously new. We thought it odd the manager never stopped by regarding the fly but moved on and enjoyed our crabs. When we got the check (over $300 btw due to crabs) we noticed the salad was still on the bill. WHAT? This is where we got frustrated. She admitted to forgetting to take it off. Then we informed her that in this type of situation that's THE MINIMUM required. A visit from the manager is always nice - taking off the rest of the salads is always nice (since no one wanted to eat the rest of theirs after seeing a dead fly in her salad) and maybe a free dessert if they feel like it. None required but for an over $300 lunch for 5 people you think a manager visit also belongs on the minimum. NADA. NOTHING. Just took off 1 salad and scurried away because our guess was she talked to the manager and that's about it. UNACCEPTABLE. Completely. Flys get in food sometimes and at a reputable place there is a way to handle customer service. This is not one of those places. Beware.
(1)Hanna Z.
Mikes has the best location but some of the worst food. Most of the time their crabs are really good but if you don't want crabs you're screwed... We got a dozen raw oysters.. First off.. They were on a bed of cubed ice so they weren't cold. They looked old and had no real flavor. I ordered the fried chicken but I had to send it back because it was so incredibly dry. Everyone else's food was bland and the seafood was clearly such bad quality. Places like this frustrate me because they get SO much business already off of putting out bad food because their market is people who just want to eat on the water.. Imagine if they simplified the menu and focused on better quality ingredients... The people who come to eat crabs on the deck twice a month will come back more regularly to get food off the menu AND people who seek great food will come there.
(2)Ash M.
Our first visit to Mikes and it was a bad experience our waiter brought out drinks to the table and it was all alcohol beverages and he manage to get two drinks on the table before spilling another's table rum and coke on my fiancée which was awful. The second thing was you spend almost 20 bucks on broiled salmon and the seasoning on the fish had mayo in it. One I can't stand mayo nor can eat it I wish they would have clarified that it had mayo on it before putting it in my mouth. Just wasn't a good day at mikes especially driving a hour and some change just to be disappointed.
(2)Darryl B.
Very poor service. Waited 15 mins then had to ask hostess to send a server over. No apology. $75 a dozen for large males. Half were full, but the other half were empty. This happens about half the time. Other times the service is OK. The restaurant just needs to be managed better.
(2)Brooke B.
Gorgeous deck dining with views of the South River. Tried the bacon wrapped scallops and really enjoyed them! Great service as well! Arrive by car or boat and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Michael L.
Disappointing visit. Won't return. I visit Annapolis occasionally and was looking forward to crabs before heading back to BWI. I typically go to a different place but thought I'd try Mike's since I was nearby for work. I arrived around 4 pm. Mike's had less than 25% of seats occupied. I was seated indoors where I waited about 10 mins for a waiter. (About 9 mins too long in my view). Wait staff were all congregating in a side area joking around while customers were unattended. No manager in sight. In the meantime, a swarm of about 30 flies were buzzing around the INDOOR seating area. When my waiter arrived, I placed my order for crabs. He returned to tell me that the large size crabs were sold out and only small remained, despite the fact that there was a fresh seafood delivery truck unloading crabs in the parking lot. Maybe it was just bad timing on the crabs but the place was not clean and the service was badly in need of a manager. My waiter was friendly enough once he arrived but I had already decided to leave. This place needs a new owner who cares more about customer experience.
(1)Larry H.
Although Mike's has plenty of tie up space for arriving by boat, a huge outdoor deck, a tiki bar, and even a small pavillion style stage, it's kinda lost it's standing as a true dock bar over the last few years in my book, mostly because they won't bother to regularly bring in live music here to create a party atmosphere anymore. They instead rely on mid week karaoke and trivia nights to try and pull in a subdued mostly 40+ crowd. Hopefully this will change... That said... if you're out on the water and you get the urge for some fat crabs and cold beer, with a great view of the South River, Mike's is definitely worth pulling your boat into for an hour or two.
(2)Jules R.
The food is four stars by itself... the service is what makes me give Mike's just two stars. I've been coming to Mike's for years, and usually have a great experience. After my experience last night, I don't know if I'll be back. Our waitress was just terrible. I always look on the bright side of things and give people the benefit of the doubt, but this was just too bad for words. It was a Wednesday night, not crowded at all, and she had a BIG attitude from the start of our meal until the end. On top of the attitude, we waited 20 minutes for our drinks to come. My friend asked for A1 sauce for her steak twice, and waited 15 minutes the second time. We asked for some paper towels for the crabs and also waited awhile. Each thing that was delivered to our table was done so by our waitress in silence. She never asked how things were, if we needed refills, etc... and when it was time to pay the bill she got really nasty about us wanting to split the check into two payments. She said she'd write our card numbers down to do so, and we said we weren't comfortable with that and we'd like to see a manager about our experience. She rolled her eyes at that and walked away from us as we were in mid-sentence talking about our checks. Literally 15 minutes later... she comes back and says that the manager is "busy." Honestly, I really doubt she even tried to find a manager at all. What manager would say they're too busy to address a customer concern? On our way out, we told the hostess that we (long-time customers) had our first terrible service, and they said "oh she's new." Being new does not excuse a crappy attitude and terribly slow service. The food was delicious as always - the crabs were meaty and hot and the vegetable crap soup was sooo yummy as always. It was just hard to enjoy the meal over our server's attitude and terribly slow service, to be honest.
(2)Dennis O.
There is a practice in some, if not most restaurants that add an 18% gratuity to tabs of more than a certain number of people. While I understand this because some people are rude enough it to not tip underpaid and overworked servers, the practice is often abused by a lie of omission. Last night, my group of crews from a yacht racing club, raising money for leukemia, was treated to the ultimate abuse of this practice. One of my more generous crew mates picked up the tab for 5 and left , leaving his card behind. I offered to sign for him and take his card. I asked the waiter if he received a tip and he said "no". I added 20%. Just then, my friend came back to retrieve his card. When I told him about my action on the tip, he told me that 18% had been added. I had a decent crab cake on a separate tab. It was $14 plus one beer It was horribly late and ordered twice from two servers. I wen to the cash register because my tab was grouped with another party and I requested a single tab. Because of the inconvenience and because it was a tab for only one. I offered 20% tip. As it turns out, my single crab cake and beer had 20% plus 18% added to it! Sorry for the long post, but this place does not deserve to be in business! I will never return. To act like this under the guise of supporting our charity is inexcusable. As my other reviews enforce the fact that I prefer praise over punishment, this one was an exception, but one well deserved.
(1)Nita H.
First visit today, Memorial Day weekend and it was a stunning day on the way. I arrived at 5 to meet 10 other people and the wait was 1.5 hr for inside seating and 2.5 hr for outside seating. The place was packed but we waited near the pier and the views made up for the wait. Finally at 6pm the table was ready. My friend, Ms. K, recommended this spot and she was eager for a bushel of crabs. 3 dozen crabs were ordered as a starter, my buds thoroughly enjoyed them. It was too much work for me so I opted to go with the steamed shrimp and they were really good. After my buds devoured the crabs over a periods of time, we ordered entrees. I had the broiled crab cake sandwich with fries. The crab cake was thick and meaty however it was little to no seasoning on it but I still enjoyed it. The fries were steak fries thickness and pretty good. I tasted the mussels and it tasted like nothing!! I have today that the white wine/garlic drenched mussels at red lobster are more tasty!!!! For dessert I had the key lime pie to go and it was delish! One observation, they ran out of crabs during the 7 o'clock hour! Surprising for crab house! Also, one of my friends had the flounder sandwich and tasty like it was still frozen not a good first impression.
(3)Nerissa T.
The food was good but the seating hostess are rude. Definitely wouldn't go back if you don't know how to greet paying customers.
(3)Joseph C.
Cons: 1) It was ungodly hot. Seriously, its the middle of July, turn the AC on. 2) The server was a bit clumsy (dropped/broke/spilled quite a few times). Super nice though. Pros: 1) Crab Cakes. Oh. My God. Huge lump meat barely held together into a massive cake. Awesome. 2) Cream of Crab soup was very tasty, but a little light on the crab meat for my taste. Otherwise it was a standard crab house. The food was generic Maryland seafood. Nothing special. But its done very well and with quality ingredients. You won't leave thinking you've experienced something brand new, but you will say it was a darn good meal.
(4)E L.
The service was stellar, Megan was professional, thoughtful and personable. The food was ok...not quite what the guidebook promised. The crab cakes meaty yet, they were missing seasoning and the sides passable rather than memorable. I was hoping to leave a bit of positive feedback. I tried to let management know about the quality service at the time of my visit. However, after asking the hostess to speak to manager on duty and waiting for fifteen minutes-- no one showed up....either for compliment or complaint. I left wondering where the best crab cakes in Maryland might be found and pleased I at least met a happy soul.
(2)Tommy H.
Our experience here was really great. We had very friendly service, great food, a great atmosphere to eat. The salmon Caesar salad and crab cakes were amazing. The salad was very impressive because it was 100% fresh cut lettuce, tomato and onion. The only thing I didn't find great was the size of the beers. They came in plastic cups that definitely seemed smaller than 12 oz. And there was no drink menu. Other than that, this is a must visit place of you're from out of town
(4)Beth C.
We were visiting from out of state and wanted to experience *local* cuisine. This restaurant was one that we saw while in the historic Annapolis area near the Naval Academy. We were disappointed that they were out of the corn cream crab soup and had to settle for the Maryland Crab soup. The difference is that the Maryland Crab soup is more of a tomato-based soup while the corn cream crab was more of a chowder. It was 2pm on a Friday and for a restaurant to be out of the soup.... well that's odd we thought. What about other customers that come in for dinner? The crab stuffed flounder was good and the baked potato that accompanied it. We had a house salad but instead of the lettuce leaf, we had a lot of crowns and hearts from the lettuce head. No one really wants that but most restaurants seem to just chop up the entire lettuce and serve those pieces as well. Not a favorite but the main entrée was good and cooked through. We had carrot cake for desert and that also was good with tea and coffee.
(4)Melissa S.
On my second visit I was a little more pleased with the food, as I knew what to expect. The service was a little spotty but they were very busy so that is understandable. I think the great thing about the place is its water views and laid back atmosphere. It is fun for a lunch or dinner out - nothing fancy.
(4)Deborah N.
Hey, nice setting, right on the water. Nice deck bar. It was closed today because of the heat (over 100 degrees). It's not like the servers waaaaant to be walking out in that heat to deliver the goods, and frankly, I didn't blame them at all. Other waterfront establishments I visited on my big day today (did a big loop of Anne Arundel in an attempt not to be ignorant the next time I wanted to waterfront drink/dine) had a bit of a breeze, but the air was quite still at Mike's. Inside you've got a typical crab house, wooden tables, benches, covered by paper towels. This one in particular seemed nice and spacious and clean. Window tables had a nice view of the water while dining patrons stayed cool in the bounteous AC. Food looked great and I (picky, picky me) will have no problem returning to sample it. Today was just about checking it out and having a quick drink.
(4)Jet L.
Solid food, service, and location earns this spot a conservative 3 star review. I anticipate a 1 star upgrade when we return to try a tray of crabs! We observed many-a-trays being hoisted to a number of tables around the restaurant, and the crabs looked on point! As for the food we tried - cream of crab, the steamed combo, and the broiled crab cake sandwich and fries. The cream of crab was purdy good...much tastier once we flagged down the waitress to bring us some old bay (i know, i was confused too as to why it wasn't on there in the first place...). The steamed combo app (oysters, clams, mussels, and shrimp) served well as a satisfying lunch for one - the mussels and clams were the highlights of the spread. I had the crab cake sandwich (minus the bread) which came with fries. The fries were so-so, but the crab cake, while on the wee side, was mighty good. Like I said, we'll be back...looking forward to CRABS :)
(3)Kathy B.
I just drove about 15 miles out of the way with my elderly mother and sister to check out Mikes based on the yelp reviews and a taste for seafood. I went in for take out because my mother could not get out of the car. After waiting in line the hostesses told me I would have to place a take out order from Mikes store around the corner. The ladies in the store told me they can't order from the kitchen! I went back to the restaurant and stood in line again for the hostesses to tell me they don't do take outs on the weekend!!!! The hostesses seemed to have "attitudes". We left. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
(1)PInk P.
A great water front restaurant with great food! Good thing it just walking distance from home. I also love their specials like oyster and mussels. It's only $.50 apiece during weekdays
(4)Karen T.
Manager Fatima accommodated us w/ complimentary oysters (usually one has to return for the free appetizer) to compliment our crab cake (2) dinners (2). Jimmy fed us right & set us up w/ all the fixin's. Our food came fast, we had water front seating & food was great. Crab cakes had enough filling to keep them together, had the nice bite of dry mustard & the sweet taste of fresh crab. I couldn't finish the 2. Can't wait for lunch left- overs tomorrow. Check out Mike's!
(5)D M.
I'm being generous bcs we were told our wait was 45 mins & we sat having a drink until we realized it was twice the wait. That's just wrong--as 'no wait staff' came around to the open picnic seating where we were in a group of table-waiting patrons. Perhaps the hostess, a mere one yard FROM us, could have updated us once an HOUR passed? Maybe some comp'd crab cakes? Whatever, somewhere else you would have been paid attention to, so boo to you, Mike's. We left to our friends' place in Lothian...we had our OWN BBQ dinner there, which was awesome. Disappointed @ your venue bcs one person urged is to eat crab cakes, and the other blue crab. The visit 'results' were posted on FB (& now Yelp). Congratulations to the management. Retraining to ALL. Sure it was Labor Day & yes, it was packed, yet this is hardly an excuse to understaff the day & ignore folks right next to your hostess. Get it together.
(2)Amber Z.
Awesome place to get the MD experience and crack open some crab shells! The place is right on the water. They have a separate bar that we went to to wait for a table, which had live music. The food was great and it was really fun!
(3)Glen B.
Mike's Crab House is one of the best places I have been in a very long time. Not only is the food top notch! The service is outstanding! I love being on the water, the view alone is amazing! I love that you can have your wedding, parties, reception dinners. This is a place everyone should visit at least 3 times a week! I am in love with the food and service! The music is awesome too! Ignore the complaints you can't please everyone! Try it for yourself! I have recommended my friends to eat at Mike's and they love the food and service too!
(5)jim m.
food good, location beautiful!!!!! big crab cakes hush puppies ok,
(3)Sarah P.
Mike's was awesome! My Dad was in town for a weekend and wanted to have a "crab experience". After asking a few friends for recommendations we settled on Mike's. We were seated on the patio right by the water and proceeded to spend the next three hours elbow deep in crabs. The staff was amazing and super friendly. The crabs were yummy! The hush puppies were SO good I could've made a meal just off them. The waiter even prought us a bag of ice to keep our beer cold;keeps it cold without watering it down! Brilliant! Can't wait for the weather to get nice again so we cna go again!
(5)Howard B.
A crab place with no crabs? Yep. I just went to Mikes and they had no crabs. That's like a burger joint with no backup plan for getting meat. I gave it one star because the beer was cold. The service is average .
(1)Mary C.
We had an average experience here, the food was not exceptional but the outside deck was scenic and provided an average dining experience, nothing horrible but nothing exceptional either'
(3)Karen P.
In our quest to show our daughter's friend what a Maryland crab feast looks like without grossing her out, we were recommended Mike's. We went on a week day, around 4 p.m. and the parking lot and restaurant was slow with the exception of the bar. We were greeted immediately and seated quickly. We were hungry and ordered the calamari and hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best I've ever tasted. I'm a Marylander and know my hushpuppies. They were bite-sized morsels of goodness with corn kernels in every bite. The sauces were incredible. They served a cinnamon and sugar butter and a spicy asian sauce (my fave). The calamari was served with green peppers, which I thought was a bit odd at first, but it really did bring out the calamari flavors as our waitress mentioned. The calamari was just okay. We ordered more hush puppies, naturally. The crabs came and after a brief tutorial to our guest, the eating began. She LOVED the crabs and surprisingly wasn't grossed out. We ordered 2 of the remaining 4 dozen in the entire restaurant. Once these were gone, that's all folks. They were all male and had a good amount of meat. We were brought melted butter and my daughter and I both agreed that it was the best melted butter we've ever had with our crabs. (Not sure why) Our waitress was AWESOME ... she came to check on us several time and was nice even after I asked her to "hurry up with our hush puppies" in a jockular way because we were extremely hungry when we walked into the restaurant. She obliged and was so pleasant. It started to snow so we hit the road and didn't stay for dessert or coffee. Give it a try. You'll be pleased you did. Just call ahead to see if they have crabs.
(4)Rob B.
Better service than most crab houses, Tyler was only slightly AOL but too cute to complain. The steamed shrimp and soft shell clams were spot on. My 1/2 dozen large were not. A choice of small/medium mix or large, I got the former, but paid for the latter. Greek salad with chicken was generous. They seemed staffed and ready for the rush, very friendly staff. Better value from Harris' but considering travel and bridge toll, Mike's is a worthy choice. PS They too have the nutty buddy option for a sweet ending.
(3)Phil G.
We have gone to Mike's many, many times and it's always fun, the food and service is impeccable! If you go ask for Katie T. Section, she's on top of all your food and drinks!
(5)Elizabeth R.
Everything about Mike's was a great experience. We were quoted 40 minutes for an outside table, so we waited at the bar. The bar has a decent amount of seating, and it was busy, but then again, it was a Saturday night. 40 minutes ended up being 20 minutes, which was off to a great start. The service was fantastic, and since it was our first time at Mike's, she explained a lot of the menu to us and the popular picks. Crabs were being served out of the kitchen left and right... Something we will have to try next time. We opted for soft shell crab sandwiches and they did not disappoint. The prices were nothing to complain about either, not overpriced for good seafood and a great view. It is definitely a casual place, some people were dressed up and others were in shorts and a t-shirt but neither seemed out of place for the type of restaurant it is. After dinner, we had the chance to walk out on the dock and take pictures right at sunset. What a wonderful evening out!!
(5)Carrie D.
I was really excited finding this place while here on work. I thought what better place 2 miles from my hotel and on the water. I walked in it was busy. Which is usually a promising scenario. The host was pleasant. I sat at the bar since I was alone. And I had very underwhelming service. One of the bartenders was very nice. The other not so much. Which is honestly quite fine by me. I'm not always in a good mood. But what bothered me was her ignoring me while the other girl was busy. She had lots of time to eat soup behind the bar. She was texting on her phone. And just standing by the register with a blank stare. Another guest across from me waited for 10 minutes to eat his food because he had no silverware. I asked for a double with the assumption I'd get it in a tall glass. It literally was a cup of vodka in a short glass, probably pettt. I browsed the menu. I wish I had decided on something more expensive but felt off spending $27 on crab cakes to eat alone at that price. So I opted for the pub haddock sandwhich. No substitutes on sides everyone. I should have asked if it was frozen or battered fresh. Now while I don't know for certain and making the assumption it was hand battered I did not ask my fault. I was under whelmed. It was a very large piece yes but water kept coming out of it. Not grease water. Rather than bother the extremely busy bartender and the one who was not. I ate it. I was hungry. I'd give it one more try at Mikes, but eating in front of guests around drink or food in my book is absolutely disgusting and I did think of leaving. But like I said I was hungry I just worked a 12 hr shift and the Half a bag of gummy worms I had at my hotel wasn't gonna cut it. I'm a foodie. I travel ALOT for work. I'm always looking for great local places. I think I'm going to keep looking on this trip.
(3)Shawn W.
Good food at a decent price. We sat outside and ate several of their crab dishes which were good. The deck has a nice view and is a great place for a drink and some music on a nice day.
(4)Robert K.
Two weekends in a row and a solid performance. Ate at the bar, beer cold, glasses as well. Bartender,Kim, was very nice and attentive. Other bus personnel also top notch. I had the salad bar which is fresh and plentiful. It is smaller salad bar with no frills, the lettuce is great,veggies fresh and potato salads etc very tasty. You can order a single trip or multiple which is a nice option. Crab soup is pretty good, a little more tomato based than I prefer still decent. Had cherrystone clams which were fine. My wife's tuna sandwich was absolutely fabulous. It was the largest piece of tuna I have ever been served. It was perfectly seasoned cooked perfectly. What a treat as I was able to help her eat it. Last week we had crab cakes. My wife loved hers and I'll admit they were packed with lump crab meat. I didn't like the taste of my crab cake, they have always been really good but there was just something about the taste I didn't like. They tasted more like filler than crab cake. It doesn't matter because Mike's is great and we'll circle back for the cakes next time. This place is well managed,clean and seemingly has one server per customer. Overall a great experience
(5)Ashley M.
Great bartender - Amy. Really fresh salad bar - small, but has an attendant to keep it clean and stocked! Fried shrimp was good. Crab legs were also good. Frozen drinks were great - 1/2 strawberry daiquiri 1/2 piña colada!
(4)Kelly B.
It is quite possible that the food here is decent, maybe even good, if the number of people waiting before 6 pm on a Friday night is any indication...but I'll never know because I will NEVER come back here. The wait to get into the parking lot, which is rather inconveniently shared with a wedding hall, combined with the unbelievably rude attitude of the "parking attendant" put me on edge enough that the wait inside for tables (after we had already called ahead to verify that there was no wait and/or to make a reservation that we were told was not needed) spent what little was left of my patience. So, our epic battle for parking was all for naught as we left with empty bellies and an extreme distaste for this destination. I suppose if you are in the neighborhood of this bar at a low-traffic time it might be worth a try but not for me, ever.
(1)Meghan C.
Get here early!!! They were out of crabs by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night - fine by me because I hate getting my hands dirty (pretty much on all accounts) but if have your heart set on crabs, go early. We sat on the dock, which was heated and had a great meal. Our server was double, probably quadruple sat when we arrived so he was really busy, but very nice. I had the scallops and they were fabulous, my mom had the crab cakes and they were gigantic - two gigantic, lump crab cakes - very very good. Salad bar and sides are nothing fancy - definitely a low key kind of place with solid seafood. I bet it's insane when the weather is warm!
(4)Linda W.
Mallet- Check Bucket- Check Paper Towels- Check Old Bay Seasoning/Butter/ Vinegar- Check Table draped over brown paper- Check 1 dozen of fresh blue crabs- Check Now grab a table by the pier and get down to business!!! Link on how to shell and eat crabs correctly: skipjack.net/le_shore/cr… The next few hours at Mike's will guarantee fun & laughs non-stop! We had a whole afternoon of shelling and picking out delicious crab meat! 6 crabs pp is more than enough for a hearty appetite. I do have to point out we did get a crab that look like it had crabs- it had green insides, really unappetizing stuff. The waitress gladly took it back and returned a fresh crab to our plate. Great service..... glad we made it in time for crab season. Def worth the trip for fresh crab & seafood!
(4)Sabra R.
***3.5 stars*** Great view, good crabs. They were not as big as I'd expected (based on all that I'd heard) but they were heavy and fresh. The service was okay--our server was barely pleasant, despite our attempts to warm her up. But the view made up for her attitude. I'd go again. But I also believe I can get crabs that are as good, if not better, in the DC area.
(3)Joey L.
Food is ok, we stayed at Annapolis and drove here to get some grab. Kinda pricey for the quality of service and being it has a AppleBee's type of atmosphere. I ordered an appetizer that had oyster, clams, mussel and shrimp and it came out real late - like as in when the entree came out too. Oyster overcooked and so was the grab. Would not return. Our maryland crab soup was way too salty.
(3)Adam V.
Very expensive and the crabs aren't as good as others I've had- still go at least once a month though!
(4)Katie H.
I went to Mike's this weekend with family and had a great meal. Crabs, oysters, beers. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was casual, and the views couldn't be better. The food, however, is not what makes me so impressed with Mike's. I left my phone at the restaurant, and didn't realize until I was back home a couple hundred miles away (I visited Mike's on my way to a day trip in Annapolis). I called them that evening to see if my phone was there, expecting that if it was, I would have to make another 4-hour trip up to retrieve it. My phone was there, but as soon as I mentioned that I was from out of town, the hostess asked for all of my information and assured me that they would pop my phone in the mail early this week. I thought that was nice, but I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning to drop a couple hundred bucks on a new phone at the end of the week. This morning, my boyfriend got a text message from an employee at Mike's confirming that my phone was in the mail. The text even included the tracking information. When I spoke to the hostess the other day, I offered to cover the shipping charges, and she wouldn't even hear of it. She acted like it was their pleasure to make sure that I got my phone back. This is EXTREMELY above and beyond. It's not their responsibility to make up for my carelessness. I am so impressed, so grateful, and so inspired by their service. Especially for a restaurant where the beer is served in plastic solo cups. Consider me a customer for life.
(5)J M.
I cringe every time I think of this place, because I have come here a couple of times and caved under peer pressure and tried eating whole blue crabs, which is just not my cup of tea. Too much work and money for not nearly enough meat. I vow not to do this again - some people like playing with their food more than the food itself, but not me :) THIS time, I did it right, and had snow crab clusters, which were excellent and plentiful. What a difference the right selection of meal makes :) Great place, whichever way you like your crab. And they have other good stuff too.
(4)Anya A.
We had a great time here! The crabs are fresh and covered in Old Bay; the servers kept them coming. The hush puppies and mozzarella sticks were also delicious. Try the piña coladas, which taste like a boozy creme brûlée! Also, come here mainly for the crab. If you want other appetizers or dishes, that's just not the draw.
(5)Paul T.
Maybe it's me. But, I've always enjoyed Mikes. Depending on the time of the year you can be seated in or out doors. Nice place to meet and actually talk without raising your voice. Quite time..........
(4)May Y.
Absolute worse place I have ever been not only for crabs but as a paying costumer!!! It's 95 degrees out and the waiter instructed us we couldn't tilt the umbrella to get shade. I proceeded to ask the waiter if he could have the manager come out so we could talk to him. Manger/ "he said he was the owner" came out with a nasty attitude right off the bat. Said the umbrella might poke his wait staff in the eye. I said is that really the reason and he goes I'm the owner I don't need this I have a 2 hour wait and I'll void your entire check you guys just need to leave. I wouldn't have my staff treat someone like that let alone an owner of an establishment!!!! As a small business owner myself I am disgusted. We at least had a 300 dollar tab and we didn't even get dinner yet. As an owner to screw your waiter out of a minimum of 80 dollars of tip money is nauseating. I hope consumers really start caring about where their money goes and take these factors into consideration. It's hard enough to make it in this world and the arrogance of some owners that take their good fortune for granted need to realize that's the great thing about this country is choice!!! I am more than happy to talk to anyone about this horrible experience in Father's Day none the less!!!!
(1)Ronique D.
My family and I have been coming here for years!! My favorite crab house!! Their seafood is always fresh and the oysters are huge and amazing!! The wait staff is always great and on-point!
(5)Brian R.
Beautiful spot to sit outside on the water and enjoy some crabs. Friendly wait staff.
(4)Dick B.
I don't think this it's right that this place has only 3.5 stars. As a previous writer put it, people are ridiculous giving this place less stars only because of a long wait time. It's worth the wait! Went for lunch yesterday. Service was excellent from the hostess to the waitress. As it was raining yesterday, sadly, could not sit outdoors as I wanted to. View of the river is beautiful. Wish I had a boat so I could dock here, that would be cool. Food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the Broiled Crab Cake and the fried Oysters. Delicious. Juicy, rich, thick crab cakes. One of the best I've ever had the pleasure of tasting in Maryland or anywhere. Fried oysters were juicy and plentiful. You must try the Clam Chowder. Wonderful. My only regret was that I didn't get the bowl instead of the cup. They have wonderful desserts. I can't wait to return. Sooner, rather than later, hopefully.
(5)Lani K.
Food was ok but the service was terrible, we waited a very long time just to get seated it was ridiculous. More likely wont be going back again
(1)Jenny T.
I'm giving Mike's a solid 4. Key things to know: - go early for dinner on the weekend, or be prepared to wait 45 min-1.5 hours - Ample parking, but you'll have to drive around and around if it's busy time - they will ask for collateral for the seating buzzer--don't give your I.D./Driver's license if you want to go to the bar...because then they card you and...well... you can't drink without the I.D. - All-you-can-eat salad bar, or option for 1 trip to salad bar, which has a LOT of veggies and some pasta/potato salads to choose from, too - Crabs are yummy!!! - Hushpuppies are perfectly moist and crispy Loved the decor--it was like we were in/under a giant boat, and it was all wooden and sea-farish all around without being entirely tacky. Server was helpful, nice and checked up on us multiple times for the 2 hours we sat there gnawing at our crabs. Lots of other good menu choices, too. :-)
(4)C. C.
The worst wait staff ever. Clueless millennial types who wander around aimlessly while you sit at a table and wait for one of them to get a clue, that you're sitting there and no one has taken your order. Finally one gets it and you get lot's of "hi I'm Harmony and I'll be your server!" Then they disappear and hang in a group and yak yak...what ever- never to return. Food is ~ eh ~ at best. This place is all about atmosphere- right on the water- and you can sail up and dock, but food? 3 out of 5 and service? 2 out of 5. I'd rather pay more and get all 3 by pros.
(1)Tracey K.
We went on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The parking lot was crowded, as some reviewers have mentioned. There was an employee in a traffic vest in the parking lot but he was just standing around watching the cars try to find spots. He didn't direct anyone or acknowledge any of the drivers. The outdoor area had an hour wait (although there were a lot of empty tables) so we opted to dine indoors where we could be seated immediately. The hostess didn't greet us when we arrived but asked in a flat tone of voice how many were in our party and then sighed when she got off her chair to take us to our table. We were seated for 20 minutes with no acknowledgement of our arrival from our server. Another table was then seated and five minutes later their server was taking their drink order. We asked if she could please let our server know we would like to order. After an additional ten minutes, our server comes over so we tell her we are ready to order. She's holding a stand to put serving trays on so she says she'll put that down and be right back to take our order. We wait an additional five minutes from when she disappears into the kitchen. She finally returned, carrying food for the table behind us. She walks right past, doesn't even acknowledge us (or that she said she'd be "right back"). At this point, we had been sitting there almost 45 minutes, the table next to us that arrived twenty minutes after we did already has ordered and received their first course and we still haven't even had a chance to order. I more than understand that servers are entitled to a bad day but everyone we encountered pretty much had a vibe of "we don't give a damn".
(1)Scott M.
Worst Fathers Day experience ever. Manager/owner kicked my family of 6 out over a tilted umbrella on a 95 degree day. We will never go back. Scott McKee, owner of Foster's Grille in Waldorf.
(1)Roberta P.
Had an excellent Father's Day dinner. Food was delicious, service excellent and they accomodated my daughter on cruches. An excellent experience.
(5)Limor R.
Loved the crabs, service was great and the view was amazing. Our waitress was Jamie and she was a blast :) I took off one star because it's expensive.
(4)Claire H.
Gripes: they don't take reservations, but the site says they do; wait can be 1-2 hrs on weekends ( between 2pm & dinner) If you call and they "it's steady" that means wall to wall, slammed- wait 1-2 hrs (inside or out); don't get me started on parking... It's a nightmare. At the bar: be prepared to have your entire party with you if ordering a drink & being served by an anal/ over zealous blonde who doesn't get how silly that is. To have to call the ENTIRE party, including my grandfather, who wants a beer, to a overcrowded bar, while waiting, is utterly ridiculous!! If it's that 'deep', have wait-staff in the 'holding area' on deck to take drink orders!! Who enforces this? Unreasonable & incompetent barmaids name: Kym C. , who then, adopt what is clearly an alias on the ticket ( nothing about her = "Yuen") to avoid critique... Talk about disservice! (Sorry real Yuen, your coworker owes you an apology) The same complaint regarding this foolishness was in the air as people went back to the deck w/ one drink in hand -that took too long in the first place-only to now loose that table in the holding area so "everyone in your party is at the bar " to, in essence, be proof'd by said bartender. How bout this: instead of inconveniencing your patrons, higher more competent waitstaff, train better, pick-it-up & again, have staff out on deck! Efforts & reinforcements should be on making sure the bar has the basics, like: (wait for it) OJ! - &- how YOU, can make better drinks vs. whatever Cagney & Lacey BS 'she's' on! Seriously, mgt. this is an epic fail. The burden of proof is on you! Lastly, on food: stick to the crabs & raw bar- if you decide to go. App. wise: be forewarned, the marinara for the calamari is awful. (How they mess that up is beyond me--tasted like unripened tomato purée. Spunky) Bottom line: In this town, great seafood is easily had, without the hassle, wait & lackluster service; Really!
(1)Benjamin W.
Went here on a Thursday around 8pm. We were seated on a beautiful outdoor seating area with a great view of the calm waters of the South River. This place probably has the best waterfront dining in the area, especially for a casual place. I ordered the Chesapeake Chicken sandwich, and my fiancée ordered the Crabcake sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious, as well as the hush puppies we got for an appetizer. They were obviously made from scratch, and had a lot of good flavor. You have to try this place out if you're around Edgewater/Annapolis and are in the mood for a crab house atmosphere on the water!
(5)Allyson C.
Really have to say, wonderful service from the waiter and manager. Came in late on a slow day and my family and I could already tell we picked a bad day to come in on. The receptionists all told us Mike's was closing, but thankfully the manager was understanding since we came all the way from California and drove nearly an hour to the restaurant. Though the restaurant is known for their seafood, especially the crab, the steak was amazingly juicy and delicious. The soups were also wonderful, and the coleslaw was decent, but oh god. The crab just melted in my mouth. 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to seafood and steak lovers alike. Also has a bar with great music. We also came the next day and had half a dozen crabs. Fresh, and cooked with a lot of wonderful "sea" flavor that resembled the saltiness of the sea, it was wonderful. The folks there also have a choice of small, medium, or large crabs. We chose the medium crabs. All in all, recommended.
(5)LR G.
First time. ..we will be back. Eat at the bar. Excellent service with friendly staff. Best burger in Maryland. Oh and cold beer.
(5)Elizabeth V.
We used to go to Mike's more often. Now, there always seems to be a crowd and long wait but I don't feel like it's really worth the wait. Mike's is basically good for beer and crabs but I'm not waiting 2 hrs for cheap beer and pricey steamed crabs. Otherwise, customer beware. My guess is most things coming out of the kitchen are frozen, prepared items. And the kitchen staff aren't great at cooking all the frozen stuff either.
(2)Keith H.
So everybody and their mama raves about this place. I'm a east coast transplant so I'm not HUGE on seafood. I mean, I do like a prawn or two. Sometimes i even venture down to the local crab spot to get a dozen or so crab legs. Anyway, I came to Mike's with high hopes. This is actually my second time here. The first time i came was on a saturday. But the wait was over an hour that day. Needless to say, i didn't stick around for that. Got there today and it wasn't crowded at all. As I step in i take in the decor. It wasn't over the top, nor was it sub par. We were seated promptly by some young server that made me feel old by her sheer presence. We mightve been sitting for a whole two or three minutes before our angel disguised as a server glided over to us. A young, fit lass by the name of Natosha. We ordered some soft shell crab and some alaskan king snow crab legs with steamed shrimp and a crab cake. This was my first time having some soft shell crab. It was an experience. Our server took the time to sit down with me and give me a tutorial on how to crack and eat the crabs. Sooooo uhhhh... Did you know, in order to eat them thangs you have to fondle the male crabs love organ? Long story short.... I'd go here again. But i wouldn't write home about it. This place is a sure thing for a positive experience but it won't be your favorite place. If you read my reviews you know what i review last... The LADIES.. This place had some nice looking servers. My favorite had to of been my server sent from above Natosha.
(3)L L.
We went to MD for a weekend and stopped here for crabs. I knew this place from a trip down years ago - where they refused to serve me beer because the new waitress couldn't reconcile my PA driver's license in their book of licenses from out of state. She wasn't sure so she did the right thing... thought it would have been nice to have beer with my crabs... But that was then... This time we went down and getting seated inside or outside was a hassle. The inside hostess is different than the outside hostess. Then, they seated us at tables near the bar area. The tables are right under some bar equipment so you have to listen to the motors whir while you eat. Otherwise the crabs and service were good. I recommend only ordering half a dozen at a time if you are sharing and think you want a dozen. Same price but by the time you get to the last half dozen they are cold. Would definitely go back.
(3)Sara R.
Went there this past summer and stuffed myself to capacity! Everything was so good! Such a long drive from where I live. I would be there at least a couple of times every summer, if it weren't for the drive. Have the choice to dine inside or the patio outside. Family friendly. Amazing food and great customer service. I am putting it on my agenda to make it this coming summer.
(5)May W.
Mike's is my choice over Cantler's! I've been to both for crab-eatin', and here's why Mike's is better: -Classy establishment: The space appears renovated, nice wood look with lots of windows inside, fantastic patio seating outside. The bathroom, unlike Cantlers', is HUGE and very nice. The Cantler's bathroom only fit like two people, if I recall correctly. -Food is better/fresher tasting. I had a few dud crabs at Cantler's, but all of mine at Mike's were perfect and super meaty. When I went (September) they were only $6 each (single crab price). The hush puppies were as good as Yelpers said, and came with this fantastic honey butter. The salads are fresh and have lots of veggies, too. BF had the crabcake sandwich, which wasn't amazing due to subpar bread and toppings. Don't get me wrong, Cantler's food is fine, too. Their fried green tomatoes were bomb last time I went. -ATTENTION TO CONDIMENTS. For example, for my crabs they brought out two things of melted butter and huge bowls of vinegar and Old Bay. I don't remember getting that kind of fancy treatment at Cantler's! For my BF"s crabcakes, they brought out a thing of ketchup, a thing of tartar sauce, a thing of cocktail sauce and a bunch of lemons. I was blown away. No need to ever ask your server for anything! I will say that the service at Cantler's is better. They have more experienced servers there, while at Mike's (at least when I went) staff seemed to be mostly college/high school kids. They were pleasant, but I liked the no-nonsense attitude of the Cantler's servers. Judging from food and atmosphere, though, I'll choose Mike's anytime!
(4)Nick C.
Always a treat when we eat at Mikes Crab House. Beautiful view, great pricing and wait staff is attentive. Now that nicer weather is here we cant wait to return.
(5)Jessie B.
If you have read my other reviews...I am not picky, I just want tasty food and good service. I'll try a place at least twice before I write them off. This was our second and probably last visit to Mike's...our first visit it was off (crab) season and I wasn't too impressed. Last weekend... again, not impressed. The seafood is overpriced, taste and portion sizes are average. The wait staff have been good. Since it was a nice day and we wanted to get crabs we decide to go to Mike's - got there around 3:00 pm. When we walked in there was a sign at the hostess podium stating that they were out of crabs. I looked around and pretty much everyone was eating crabs...so I was hopeful that the sign was left up and they would have some more by the time we ordered. We chose to sit outside; it was a bit breezy and on the chilly side but the sun kept us warm. They are on the water and have a nice view. When our server arrived I asked about crabs and she said that they were out. It took me a few minutes to finally figure out what to eat - once your heart is set on crabs, it's hard to choose something else. Picking crabs and eating crab cakes are not the same thing. We placed our order and while waiting for our drinks, a couple with two small kids were seated about three picnic tables down from us. Their server came out and was putting crab paper on their table with the utensils/bucket! When our server brought the drinks out, I said "if there are no crabs, why are they getting crab paper, tools, etc." She said "uhhh" and her first response was that maybe they knew the owner [should that make a difference?]. She walked over to their table and came back again and said that the people who were at the table behind them gave them a couple of leftover crabs. Ok, I can understand that... A few minutes later, our server brought us our food and we began to eat...and guess what?? Here come a dozen or more crabs to their table!!! When our server came back to check on us, I said - "So what's the deal with those people getting crabs when you said you were out?" I wasn't mean or nasty, just matter-of-fact like. Again, she was caught off guard. She said she would go check with the manager. A few minutes later returned and said she was sorry that she just found out from the manager that they have seven dozen large ($65/doz.) and one dozen mediums available and asked if I wanted to order some now. [Really?] By this point we had mostly finished eating what we ordered. If I had known, I would have ordered the crabs [that's why we were there - to eat crabs!] I was so disappointed and a bit pissed off as well. As for the food... My husband had the broiled crab cake sandwich and I had the buffalo shrimp with the salad bar. We both had a cup of cream of crab soup. The soup had no taste to it - it was watery and floury. It could have used a pinch of old bay or some sherry and definitely more butter in the roux. The crab cake was ok; it was mostly filler and fell apart, it could also use some old bay. The buffalo shrimp were peeled with the tail on, good size, properly cooked and spicy. The celery was pale and limp. Their salad bar could use some work; more variety and the addition of shredded cheese, fresh fruit and maybe some cottage cheese would be nice. The salad bar items requires you cut it up before you eat - with the small glass plates and the dull butter knives, makes it a challenge to keep the salad on the plate and off the table or in your lap. They offer mixed greens or spinach, WHOLE baby carrots, large broccoli florets, green peppers rings, cucumber slices, mushrooms, cherry/grape tomato's, shredded egg, and... potato and pasta salad - which I wouldn't try [didn't look appetizing]. You have choice of four dressings, plus oil & vinegar, croutons, and imitation bacon bits. One trip is $3.95 and all you can eat was $6.95. This visit, I found out that they keep hot rolls in a small oven in the corner behind the salad bar. There is no sign; you just have to figure it out by yourself. As we were leaving, I saw several servers bringing out platters of crabs and most tables inside and out had crabs on them. Apparently there must have been a communication problem between the management and [some of] the servers. My point is - we went to a crab house to get crabs...how can you not have crabs? This article said that they should be plentiful this year - they said the same last year - let's hope that the prices come down. See this link: dcist.com/2012/04/maryla… In my opinion, take a drive down to Deale and go to Skipper's Pier if you want GREAT Seafood that is reasonably priced. They should be reopening in a couple of weeks.
(2)Verena S.
Mikes is a great spot right for a casual get-together with friends right by the water. Great view, food and drinks! Crabs and seafood are great, but there are also excellent choices for those who don't like seafood, and for those who like to eat healthy. And they make their orange and grapefruit crushes fresh squeezed always, and "skinny" on demand!
(5)Shannon J.
My family and I have been several times and had never had a problem until recently. We went and were told that there were no large crabs so we ordered 3 dozen small/medium only to be charged for large. After discussion with the manager and showing the small/medium shells we had been given we were still charged for large. $400 that would have been better spent at another crab house.
(2)Jenny L.
Love it when I enter the restaurant and my waiter does not know what he has on the Menu tonight. The steamers look plummy but it's not sweet and it felt a bit mushy, makes me wonder if it's fresh. I also got a fish called orange roughy, it's blend and tasteless. The fish has been dead for so long that their is no taste to this fish! The soft shell crab is a bit salty to my buds but it is fresh. :(
(3)Joseph P.
Best crab cakes in the area. I've had them from all over the Annapolis and bmore area and I think mikes are some of the best. They also have soft shell clams which are hard to find in Maryland. Good beer great outdoor set up a great place to eat!!
(5)Theresa S.
Went here last night for a friends birthday and had a great time. We were told there was a half hour wait for seating outside for 7 ended up being about 20 minutes. We got two dozen large crabs for $140 for 7 people. We were stuffed by the end and for crabs the price was pretty reasonable, and the crabs were lump plenty on meat. Keegan was our server he was fantastic. He was prompt got our order perfect he was very nice too. He even rallied the wait staff to sing happy birthday to my friend. All in all a great experience!
(5)Yun C.
Received a gift certificate so I decided to try this place out. The food and service was great, it wasn't packed when we were dining in. Overall an enjoyable experience.
(4)Noll K.
Most of the reviews allude to the fact that this place "has it." And "it" is that something that makes people come back over & over... I'd have to say that "it" is definitely the food, not because the service wasn't that great (it wasn't); but because the food was, in fact, as good as the reviews say (it was). I enjoyed the steamed combo with a cup of Maryland style crab soup; and it hit the spot. Washed down with many a Loose Cannon. If I get the chance, I'll be back for certain.
(4)Heather E.
We always love coming to Mikes! The prices are very reasonable, food is delicious, portions are good and the servers are so friendly! Mikes is especially wonderful in the summer when you can sit outside and pick crabs!!!
(5)Brittany S.
This place is back to being one of my summer time favorites! On a hot Sunday my mom really wanted to come here but after the last time during the winter months I wasn't sure I really wanted to go back. So glad I tagged along because this place really is 5 stars in the summer time! The seafood is so much more fresh and the food is taste better! Lol, maybe it's just the experience of sitting outside along with it. Didn't have to wait to sit outside! Shocker! There was live music in front of the tiki bar and it was a good thing we were sitting under the covered part of the deck because it was a hot one! Our waiter was great and very attentive whenever we needed something and the drinks came out very fast! The orange crushes were good and refreshing. You could taste the alcohol, which is how you know you're getting your money's worth, hehe. The salad bar really is one of the highlights of this restaurant. It always looks so clean and fresh, I'm sad I never have room in my belly to go back for seconds. I was a little scared of getting the seafood imperial but I'm so glad I finally got something different! I was shocked at how fresh it was and how much food it was for the price! There were huge chunks of crab meat, big scallops and a good amount of shrimp. It might be my new favorite on the menu. My boyfriend ordered the stuffed shrimp which I had ordered before in the winter and it wasn't the best but this time they definitely stepped it up. The imperial was STUFFED with shrimp, he even let me try a few bites, yup! A FEW! lol He wasn't being stingy because there was so much he couldn't finish it. My dad got the steak and said it was really good but just way too much! Some how he ate it all though lol. My mom got the lobster special as always and she loved it. My brother got the pub haddock sandwich and said it was really good, it's one of my cousins favorites as well. Everybody was very happy and satisfied with the service, the seating and the meals! It makes sense that their seafood taste better in the summer because it shows they use fresh ingredients during the summer months and I'm ok with that. Make sure to call ahead for crabs, when we arrived they had ran out but they get new bushels in throughout the day.
(5)Leah D.
I came here recently, while visiting some family. We were seated on the balcony, which had a beautiful view. It took 30 minutes for someone to come and get our drink order. We eventually had to GET UP OURSELVES and go to the bar to get our own drinks...including water. There were tables all around us getting food, while we were still waiting to order drinks. When someone finally did come over to us, she rarely came back to check on us. The food was nothing great or exceptional. I will not be coming back to Mike's. It was not worth the time or money.
(1)Sean O.
I don't like seafood so their non-seafood choices were decent. I got a burger which was pretty good and I also had some appetizers. Also, their frozen alcoholic drinks were delicious. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're on a diet as a lot of the food is fried. This place was packed at noon on a Saturday so you may need to call ahead for reservations!
(4)Seth J.
We were boating on South River and decided to stop at Mike's for some crabs. The dock there is a major attraction point (if not the only one). We were quickly seated and presented with menus. A dozen of crabs was quoted to be $70, an apparent increase over a few weeks ago. We ordered it, fried calamari, chicken sandwich, and a few beers. Calamary & sandwich were quite decent. Beer came out in plastic cups of a rather diminutive size. Crabs deserve a special mention considering I am still recovering from some sort of stomach disorder caused by them. The reason I know it was them is because it was the only food I had that day. By the end of that day, I had fever and diarrhea. I was curious why they put so much seasoning on the crabs. I guess some of them died before getting to the kitchen. In light of this incident I cannot recommend this place.
(2)Justin F.
Not even sure where to start - the service was horrible all night, The salad bar has no cheese, the food was average at best and way overpriced. Our kids wanted crabs so we took them there while in the area for a soccer game. Not worth the money! I waited 15 minutes for our server to come to give me the check after we had finished eating. I had to track down a manager to find her. Not sure if this is a huge coincidence or not, but the same credit card I used to pay for dinner was compromised about 2 weeks later. Mikes was the only place I had used the card since I got it, so I cant imagine how else anyone would have gotten the info...but I have no proof so cant say for sure. All I know is that someone got some free gas in Kansas yesterday from using a duplicate of my card!
(1)Peter D.
The blue crabs were amazing. Fresh, served hot and packed with Old Bay seasoning. The service was great. Fast, courteous and very attentive, despite a packed house. We also had the mussels, calamari and shrimp which were all fantastic. The only complaint we had about the food was the butter that came with the crabs. Disgusting! Tasted like pure oil. Expect a very long wait, if you're going on a nice sunny day on the weekend. But it was worth the wait.
(4)Alyssa D.
The staff is really nice and accommodating! The environment is inviting and relaxing mixed with fun and good music. I haven't had much if their food but what I did have was delicious! It's a really great place to relax and enjoy the social aspect of life.
(4)Tim O.
Having grown up and lived in Annapolis for over twenty years, I've eaten at pretty much every restaurant that serves crabs or crabcakes. I recently moved to another good seafood town (Boston), but whenever I'm in town during the summer/fall months, I make it a point to come to Mike's. There's no restaurant that I'd rather pay to eat crabs. On a nice day, you can easily lose track of the hours as you eat crabs, drink, and eat more crabs with friends and family. That's exactly what crab feasting is all about. Watching the sun set while eating out on the deck is a nice vibe too. Mike's loses 1 star because any true Annapolitan can make better tasting crabs for loads cheaper. It's hard to rate something 5 stars when it's not the best you've ever had, but Mike's is a great substitute to the good old house party.
(4)Mitch L.
Was craving crab and decided to try this place despite the 3.5 star rating, as the recent ones were mostly 4 and up. Glad we did, service from Shannon was great, she was nice enough to recommend the snow crab legs vs the bucket of crabs as she mentioned overhearing a previous customer comment they were on the smaller side today. We ordered the seafood imperial, $6 steamed oyster special (at least a dozen oysters!), bowl of Maryland crab soup and the snow crab(leg) cluster. All fresh and delicious down to the bread rolls, and generously portioned. Our meal came out to less than $50 for 2 of us, which is pretty awesome for good quality seafood. Coming from NY/NJ that's better than some non seafood places we've been. Added bonus: adjoining bar with a non-touristy feel, and nice water views. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Arthur F.
The good: -tons of outdoor seating -lots of space inside and out -decent prices on seafood items -good service The bad: -had steamed shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels also raw oysters. Beer. -all of the above steamed items were just ok, mussels overcooked and teeny tiny. -clams in broth were good A lot of folks come here to eat crabs and I imagine it'd be a good experience outdoors with a lot of folks, but I personally have never eaten crabs here.
(3)David W.
Big crabs and good oysters. Visited this establishment over the beautiful weekend, and really enjoyed the food. The crab meat was succulent and plentiful, and the oysters were actually pretty good. The cream of crab was a bit too thick for my taste, but that's just me.
(4)Silvia C.
Dear Mike's Crab house, You have the BEST crab cakes, hands down. I just finished eating my left overs from your crab cake specials you have every Monday, and.....MMmm. I think it tasted even better today? I don't know. I was sad when I took my last bite. I appreciate the deals you have going on now, or at least till summer hits, the .50 wings and .50 oysters are a great deal! I will be sad when that is gone too. And of course, you all have the BEST crab dip and cream of crab soup...mmmm OK, gotta get back to work...
(4)Elise T.
I used to love going to Mike's but they have employed a known sex offender and the parking situation is too unsettling when leaving out at night from the restaurant with my kids...so I won't be returning to this location.
(1)Levi E.
So first of all the parking lot dudes is a bad idea. It took me more time to get a spot then it did to get sitted. So once we sat down we waited another Damn 15-20 minutes to get a server for which I had to ask for.......but here is when it change for me and the fam a lil.......Our server Britney waz the best she made sure we were ok wit everything and waz very friendly. Now to the food I had the broiled seafood combo nothing to write home about. Wife had seafood imperial she said the sauce waz nasty. Oh yeah they ran out of freaking crabs.......but if it wasn't for our server I might have really gone ham but I'm ok...........If I want some crabs I might go back
(2)Marisol D.
A total joke! Bad from beginning to end. Get new servers, new management & maybe take my money when I'm trying to pay. Get servers to stop taking snapchats while we are waiting & have your hostess LOOK UP! Don't bother with your time nor money!!
(1)Dee N.
One of the best crab cakes in Maryland! Excellent food all around! The only place we've discovered year-round crabs. From the hush puppies that taste excellent with bits of corn, to the soft claims with long necks (a speciality), and the steamed crabs were amazing in flavor. They have great bands on weekends added with a water view and outdoor seating - you won't be disappointed. The wait staff are top-notch and friendly to ensure you have a great meal. Love this place!!!!
(5)Chris B.
A great waterfront restaurant with a friendly atmosphere. Crabs are delicious, no questions asked if crabs are light and you ask for an exchange. Great customer service. If you are in the area and looking for great food and drinks, with live music on the weekend, Mike' is the place to go.
(4)Katey S.
THE BEST CRABS HANDS DOWN!!! I also would kill for their crab dip haha!
(5)Sandy S.
The last three times I went to Mike's they were out of crabs. Lame crab house, no crabs. Drive 1 1/2 hours. Very disappointing.
(1)Zoë M.
We've been here twice since my first review, the first time was to have crabs again and then again last night, where we went for less messy food! I wouldn't have written another review as I felt my first was enough however, I just had to comment on the greet staff. How RUDE! I couldn't believe this girl. She barely even looked at us, didn't say hello, just told us to follow her and let the door shut in my face. We arrived at around 6.30-7pm on Friday November 3rd. If anyone from Mikes reads this, they should be disappointed. We asked to be sat in a booth so we could lean back and we were sullenly told that they don't fit 4 people very well, despite seeing only 4 people in all the others! Maybe we had a bad night, but maybe she just needs to change her attitude. I would've said something, but the other staff were so busy and I didn't feel I wanted to make a fuss. Food, okay. We had a mixture of things, nothing too exciting. One of us ordered lobster as a first timer and the waitress didn't know how to eat it so said she would send over someone else, who came after another ask and after the lobster had been eaten. We also ordered a crab cake, which didn't arrive. Not great service, perhaps due to a busy Saturday?
(2)Joanne B.
Awesome food & very fast service! Will definitely be back! Get the crab balls for sure & the stuffed mushrooms...YUMMY!
(5)Rita V.
Lukewarm crabs, ok ribs, super dry grade c chicken, warm beer, good cob.... Great time with old friends, but I won't be back for the food. Good crabs. Dingy, dirty and dated, friendly and hard pounding staff.
(2)Maurcia B.
When I found Mike's on the internet I said to myself that would be a GREAT spot to enjoy a meal with family and friends. When we arrived, we decided on a table outside on the water. The sun was a bit much so my brother adjusted the table umbrella. The waitress comes to our table and says it's restaurant policy, the umbrellas cannot be tilted. I did not want to cause a stink, but to make a point I let the waitress know that at the table across from us the umbrella is clearly TILTED. I asked to speak with the manager. I asked the manager if the umbrella could be tilted until the sun goes down. He responded, too, that it's restaurant policy because the waiters could be poked in the eye. I said ok, that sounds reasonable (although the ends of the umbrella have protected material on the ends AND any good waiter cannot miss seeing that BIG umbrella when they come to the table). I again pointed out that the table across from us has a tilted umbrella. The manager said he would speak with that couple. In the meantime, he offered us another table out of the sun. We moved. The manager went to speak with the couple at the other table but when the conversation ended, the umbrella remained in a TILTED position. Question: With waiters going back and forth to wait on other customers ALL DAY outside how could they NOT see the tilted umbrella, if this was restaurant POLICY? Since the other couple was not amenable to having the umbrella at their table adjusted in an upright position, in all FAIRNESS, why not allow us to keep our umbrella tilted as well. What kind of review is this: After all that UNNECESSARY back and forth, could you relax and enjoy a meal with friends and family there? Would you want to spend your money there? CUSTOMER SERVICE is what it's all about. Needless to say we left the restaurant and ended up at the CHART HOUSE. We got a GREAT table by the water (inside). The food was GREAT. I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Like I said it's all about CUSTOMER SERVICE. I was HAPPY to spend my money there.
(1)Chris R.
Must try place if you like crab. The steam shrimp was also excellent. Nice Maryland crab soup. Be prepared to get messy!
(4)Nina B.
OMG, om nom nom. Yup, that's pretty much what I felt like when I came here. It all started with the crab cakes. These were the chunkiest meatiest least filleriest crab cakes I ever had. I couldn't believe I had ordered so much more food after I started with this. Then, went on to the Maryland oysters. Fresh. So fresh. They still don't beat my favorite Apalachicola oysters, but they surely did the trick. Finished it off with a dozen medium crabs. It's a lot of work to eat crabs, but it's a lot of fun. The crabs were perfectly seasoned, and I made a sad attempt at eating them the way Marylanders are supposed to eat them. But, eventually gave up and went all "smashy, smashy" with my mallet. Which brought me back to OMG, om nom nom.
(5)Chris P.
Steamed blue crabs and plenty of cold beer, on the water... How can that not be five stars????
(5)Jason W.
Foods good, Service absolutely sucks!!! Sat at the bar, 20min to get a bowl of soup, 10min in between drinks........guy sat down next to me, never got served, walked out!!!! Need more help when it's packed!!!! It's a wed night not even a weekend. May not return!!!
(2)Wendy C.
Nice deck right on the water, gorgeous view, fantastic and energetic young staff, last but not the least.....good food! We wanted to get steamed crabs but they didn't have any large ones; hurricane disrupted supply from Louisiana. Instead, we enjoyed some of the largest and the most succulent steamed shrimps. Crab Imperial was also on point, a must-try when you are in Maryland. Interior of the restaurant was a bit dingy and outdated, but who cares, almost everyone sat on the deck. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(4)Warren G.
Overall, I'm not a huge crab fan, so perhaps my review should be ignored, but I'll say it anyway. I enjoy the restaurant and its atmosphere, and the non-crab food is outstanding. The waits are a little long on weekends, and the salad bar is a wild card usually, but overall I enjoy the trip here FAR above any other crab place I've hash on Annapolis to date.
(4)Tai L.
I have went to this place again and again when I worked in the DC area a summer ago. The crabs and oysters were fresh and delicious. The place is casual and down to earth, get a dozen of crabs and dig in with your hands.
(4)Katie K.
Used to come here every year with my company for our annual crab fest in June. We stopped coming because they couldn't guarntee enough crabs for 25+ people in an afternoon. It's a shame, because this place is GREAT! Best place to drink cold beer and pick crabs on a Sunday afternoon. Beers are iced cold and crabs are DELICIOUS. The wait staff is friendly, the view is great. Getting there (at least from Virginia) is a total pain, but again, well worth it.
(4)Elaine S.
Mike's is a GREAT place to have crabs and seafood. They also have non-seafood dishes like yummy MD fried chicken (crispy), meat dishes, a very nice salad bar. I love their appetizers too. The waitstaff are always fun and offer great service. For dessert get the nutty buddy if you like ice cream ... It's a cracklin' fun time!
(5)Lawrence H.
This was a great place to eat. The service was good but the location can't be beat. We went on a Friday for lunch and didn't have any wait. We sat out in the porch and found it refreshing but still controlled environmentally. The price was a bit high but I guess you get that when you go to a "premier" establishment. Ask about their specials and try the crabs.
(4)Randy L.
Nice location. Big place with lots of seating. Their fried stuff looks the best. I tried the Maryland crab soup. It's a very tasty vegetable soup, with strands of crab. My wife got the cream of crab soup, which was okay. I had the Potato Skins, which were stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, imperial sauce, and melted cheese. These were quite good. My wife had a salad, which looked to be of good quality.
(3)Carolina C.
First impressions matter to me. Just called to ask whether a reservation was needed (I'm not from this area) and a woman hung up on me. I called again, a man picked up, I explained to him what happened and he couldn't care less. I asked how much crabs are, he told me $70 for a large dozen. That's about three times the price I usually pay in Maryland. Not for me
(1)Wynter B.
This place is amazing! Great food, ridiculously awesome prices along with fast service from the bartenders! We drove 3 hours to just eat here!!!
(5)Mike H.
In BMore from CT with some time to kill so we headed for Annapolis for a visit. Touched base with some old friends from home (former Annapolis residents) for a dinner recommendation and they suggested Mike's for traditional Maryland crabs. The wait was long but the weather was ideal so we enjoyed the scenery on the deck overlooking the water. A pleasant surprise. When we did get a seat (4 of us) we were delighted with the food and the service that Randy provided was both friendly and helpful for the MD Crab rookies that we are. Also enjoyed appetizers of blackened, seared Tuna and bacon-wrapped scallops. The entire experience was delightful and made more so for our family by how attentive Randy was. We'll be back as often as we can.
(4)Sheila C.
We enjoy Mikes, it's fun to go to Mikes and eat crabs. Mikes will be honest about what size crabs they are serving, large are large, mediums are mediums etc. Their shrimp, corn, French fries, onion rings and most dishes are good... not great. This is not fine dinning but great crabs, corn and icy cold drinks.... All served with the prettiest view on the water you could hope for. Service is always very good. I really wish they would fancy up the salad bar. We always enjoy Mikes. Big family picnic style dinning with good crabs and the best drinks and view. Lunch/dinner specials are good. It's a nice clean fun place to go with good service, great views, yummy crabs and good food. Enjoy!
(4)R K.
great food and super service..been here many times over the years passing thru Annapolis on our trips back north ..never had a bad meal..always treated nicely ..great atmosphere for sitting outside on the deck on the water
(5)Car B.
By far the worst experience in Annapolis, WORST customer service ever. Servers at bar are stressed and loose track of orders or pay no attention to you. And forget about having crabs with the lovely hostess system. Good luck if you get seated as the hostess system keeps track of three different list and someone that came after you is very likely to be seated first.
(1)Andriy N.
Great, just great place and great time. My family and my 2 month old son spent 5 hours there and it was awesome. Thanks for Tyler and others there. Crabs are great, oysters are insanely fresh and shrimp was right. Keep going!
(5)Emily M.
Excellent seafood, fabulous service, beautiful setting! Our waiter, Jeff, was awesome, and the owner have us a ride back to our hotel! Never, ever had service like this before! What a great night!!
(5)Adri Q.
Horrible service - we walked out. After going to 3 hostess stations, we were told the wait was 2.5 hours for an outside table, and we had to turn over a drivers license to secure our place in line. We wanted to get a drink at the outside bar(cash only) and they made us go back to the hostess to retrieve the license, and return it after we were served. The hostess misfiled my license and had to search each one to find it. At that we had had had enough and left.
(1)Sheri G.
We used to go to Cantler's, but this place is better. Here's why. It's huge! They don't take reservations on the weekend, but they have a great deck with at least 15 picnic tables and a tiki bar that is designed specifically for people waiting for a table. They have live music out there too - a guy with a guitar singing Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor songs. (He probably sings other songs too, but that's all I remember). I believe they sometimes have a band. It's a great spot to kick back with a beer and relax with your friends while waiting. They have 2 additional sections of outdoor seating for dining - one under a canopy with fans and another at tables with umbrellas. The tables are right on the water (The South River, I believe). And you can always sit inside. It's relatively close to DC and a few exits before the bridge so you don't get stuck in bridge traffic. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there. And when you arrive, they have an efficient parking system with attendants to help you get a spot. The crabs are sweet, fat and fresh. A dozen large was $65 this past weekend. We also had a pound of shrimp, and they were huge. They are well equipped to deal with crab-picking injuries. I am no amateur, but I sliced my finger pretty badly on my first crab of the night. It would not stop bleeding, and I was getting pissy since the crabs were disappearing before my very eyes as my friend was inhaling them (at least she did feed me some claw meat). Our waitress saved the day when she supplied an antiseptic wipe, band-aid, and finger condom. Yes I was wearing a finger condom. I probably looked like a fool, but what did I care - I could continue eating crabs! Stop reading. Go get crabs!
(4)David S.
Our first time at this place. Good food, good view, and good atmosphere. We are fans of this place and will definitely come back. We arrived about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. Outdoor seating was going to take 30 minute wait, so we went for indoor seating. We had a table by the window with a good view, and we also had AC. We had a dozen of large crabs, and they were fresh, meaty and delicious. We also enjoyed the mussels and oysters specials. We would order the crab cakes again. They were yummy! We also had the stuff flounder. It was good, tasty and stuffed with crab meat and scallop. However, we probably won't order it again because the portion was kind of small and the imperial sauce looked like melted cheese. The fries that came with the stuff flounder was kind of soft and greasy. The service was great. Although the place was packed, our server came check on us every few minutes. Got our order exactly right and made sure the beer mugs were full.
(4)Jan C.
Great food great sevice. We loved our waiter Rick. Worth the wait. The crab was fresh and flavorful. The crack your own crab was a messy fun experience. The crab stuffed shrimp perfect. Fried Shrimp and oysters had a thin crisp coating. We really enjoyed our meals.
(5)Stephanie S.
I love crab houses, but this has got to be one of the best I've been to in MD. Looking forward to a 3rd visit.
(4)Adam L.
Simple, clean family dining. Casual place, great crab, nice bar. One of the BEST salad bars I had, nothing too fancy, but very satisfying for a great price. Cute Bartenders too!
(5)Peggi S.
Love this place will be back...even though its hot out your on the water and the food is superb you dont even mind Customer service is great too. Had lunch here today.
(5)Lena K.
We and our friends loved our experience of dining at Mike's, atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The jumbo crabs and oysters were perfect! We also ordered a soup and crab cakes ( ok)
(4)David W.
They were out of crabs when we got there, and had a dozen on our table within 20 minutes. Steamed shrimp and crab dip held us till the crabs (both delicious) and the crabs were heavy and great. Excellent service, overall very happy and will be back!
(4)Ann K.
My family's favorite crab house alway and forever.
(4)Brian S.
In spite of the mixed reviews on Mike's we went for a birthday celebration. Got there on Friday at 6:20pm and waited for 40 min. It was well worth it! Good food, cool ambiance, good waiter. Seafood Imperial was excellent, hush puppies were good. Definitely a place to go back to.
(4)Karen L.
We came here back in June on a Sunday as it just opened so it was pretty quiet with plenty of parking. It's nice to be on deck by the water, I'm glad that we had the large table umbrella since it got pretty bright outside. There were the three of us and we ordered a dozen mediums, crab cakes, and a steamed platter of shrimps/clams/oysters. The platter was just okay, but they had really sweet jumbo shrimps. The crab cakes were good, but I think Cantler's still does them better. Crabs are always fun to eat although I never really liked the crabs crusted in too much old bay seasoning. We also had some soup, which were done very nicely. The servers were very nice and very cordial. By the time we left, the place got very crowded. This place is much easier to get to than Cantler's, but if you don't mind the drive, I'd make my way there instead.
(3)Tanie M.
All I can say is OMG! The crabs are to die for! They were very large and fresh crabs! The stuffed shrimp entree and crab soup are very delicious as well. Our server Kelly was wonderful! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Levent T.
Fresh Oysters...Woo hoo!!! As for the rest of the food...Meh. However, the location is excellent and the price point matches what you get. Had the stuffed flounder which was waaaay too rich and hid the essence of the fish. Sides and Salad bar were blah and the service for our large group was lacking. If you're a tourist on a budget it is a safe bet but don't go out of your way to visit.
(3)Jon P.
During a road trip to our nations capital we decided on doing a crab dinner. We went to mikes after asking some locals where to go. It was good advice cause our experience was fun and satisfying. We sat outside on the deck by the water and drank cheap pitchers of beer, and ate crabs. A big ole bucket of crabs. They were great, you get a wooden mallet and a role of paper towels. Just hammer the crabs and get the meat out. Simple right? Not really but you get the hang of it. By my third crab, I had it down. Fun way to eat crab and drink beer! Next time im down here im going for the bigger crabs. They are blue crabs and they are heavily seasoned, which I thought was very tasty and delicios. Ohh I wish we had this up north...
(4)Julius L.
From Southern California and have had better tasting seafood meals out west. Not terrible but nothing to return to. Sort of like a movie you rent but wouldnt buy. $80.00 with tip for 2,to be fair we had 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine.Would came out better if we bought and prepared food at home, would tasted more flavorful. Nice crowd, good atmospher.Salad bar like motel 6 would offer,an old motel 6.
(2)Alexander W.
Mike's tried BUT FAILED ... We arrived (party of two) and were told 20 minutes to seat, not a bad wait ... then after 20 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes. Once seated after 15 minutes of waiting for a server, I took it apon myself to walk back to the front and ask if anyone was going to serve us - a manager came over and asked us if anyone had come by to take an order, I replied 'not yet' he never apologized just walked away. another 10 minutes later a very polite young gentleman from the bar came over and took our order (he was one of the only positive parts of the night) The food? - save your money and go to G&M by BWI Airport (same price point, much better food) the food is average, basically a 'Red Lobster' type of flavor, nothing to write home about! I dont see myself going back!
(2)Amy M.
We will not return to Mike's. After being seated outside, we waited about 10 minutes until I waved down a server to find our server so we could get drinks. We should have left then. it just got worse. The mussels we ordered were under cooked and disgusting, we sent them back. Our food was fair but extremely over priced for this location. The server had to be found to get refills for drinks, etc. She finally brought the check and you guessed it, the mussels we sent back were on it. We then had to wait for a manager to come to the table and remove them from our check. The view is the only thing this restaurant has going for them!
(1)David I.
Pretty basic seafood house. Good crab set up. Service was attentive.
(4)Jim B.
My first visit to Mike's was pretty disappointing. The terrific views from the outside and covered seating were closed, even though the day was gorgeous. The food, though good, was expensive and unimaginative. I had the stuffed flounder which came served on a bed of rice with fries. Nowhere in the description was the rice mentioned, and I'd have skipped the fries had I known. Is there anything wrong with throwing a vegetable on the plate other than ketchup? My companion had the fried flounder, which was OK, though the portion size was huge. A trip to the salad bar for her and the bland, dry cole slaw for me. We started with oysters and mahi bites, which were both very good, but we should have stopped there. The entree plates could have been served in the 60's complete with the inedible greenery and citrus slice. I had expected much more, especially for the $70 that it cost two of us for a Sunday lunch. The bar area looked much more to my liking, and if I go back it will be for oysters at the bar. It might also do for a beautiful waterside setting in the warmer months, but if a good seafood meal is what you're after, you can do better. If an old fashioned crab house is what you're after, you can do better there too. The wait staff was attentive, and service good, but the feel of the place was sterile and mass produced. Again I was disappointed.
(2)Mike O.
Had our company Christmas Party in there upstairs hall. The hall was recently redone and the decor is first class' we had a buffet style dinner with crab cakes and fried chicken. The food was awesome, we had over a hundred people in attendance and I did not hear 1 complaint about the service or the food, However I did hear many compliments about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was.. Oh did I mention this was our 2nd year having the Party at Mikes, and looking forward to having it again this year..
(5)Matthew R.
Perhaps my opinion is skewed because I just came back from the beautiful blue waters of Hawai'i. My fiancé and I went here for dinner on Saturday night after seeing a thread on the Talk Forums about outdoor places to eat. Mike's came up several times by several different posters in the thread. So we thought we'd give it a try. Boy was I disappointed. The view is of the water. But looking out at this gray mass of water just made me feel dirty. The food was only ok. And the crab cake? I don't understand what everyone was raving about. My crab cake was made of mostly the cheaper claw meat with a few lumps thrown on top. It was so full of filler that it tasted more like a crab loaf of bread. I truly mean the taste of bread/yeast overpowered the taste of crab and seasonings. I doubt we'll be going back unless some friends invite us along with them. It wasn't bad enough to add to my "Avoid At All Costs" list. But it wasn't good either.
(2)May2011 N.
Is it make sense drive 200 mile to visit a restaurant? It makes much sense to me if restaurant is that great. Mike's Crab House is worth a trip if you a crab lover. I like to have 6 large crab, a fried soft shell crab and a steam mussel. In fact I visited few other top Maryland crab house but Mike's is on the final list. Their crab is full of meat and price is right (about $78 a dozen) You get free water front view with the crab. I love to visit the area. Every thing comes out perfect. Nothing more or less for a crab house.
(5)Glinda C.
The food was just OK. The crab cakes were full of jumbo lump crab meat (I think imported) but really didn't have any flavor. The Cream of Crab soup was made with special crab meat (not jumbo lump) and was ok. Would've been better had I received it hot and not lukewarm. Stay away from anything crab imperial. Everyone in our group sent it back, said it was awful. I don't eat crab imperial (it's all awful to me) so I can't vouch for it. A couple of people said the crabs were good even though it was off-season. My absolute biggest complaint was the service was absolutely terrible. We had a group of about 20 people and had two long tables. One table ordered and received appetizers while we were still waiting for water. Then they received their food before we even placed an order. The waiter disappeared for long periods of time and it was impossible to get a drink refill. Some of our people actually went to the bar to get a drink because the waiter did not return. Of course, because it was a big party 18% gratuity was added to the check so there really was no incentive for the wait staff to be attentive. I really liked the location on the water so I will return this spring and have crabs on the deck. Will update my review at that time.
(3)Erik B.
Nice basic seafood house. Had the crab cakes last night and the rock with crab imperial tonight. Both were very good. The cheddar oysters were VERY good. My dining partner does not like seafood and had a steak and a chicken melt sandwich which she enjoyed very much. Service was good. Last night was very busy so the service was a bit slow, but the server was attentive and kept apologizing for the slowness. We were in no hurry and very much enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the boats and birds. Tonight was a bit less crowded and the service was very good. Mike's is definitely worth a stop.
(4)Erika J.
Unfortunately, I've found that they rely a lot on their location - instead of their service or food quality. The location is perfect. They are right on the water, beautiful view, peaceful, and has dock access. Downfalls: * Staff - on several occasions when we've visited - the staff doesn't check in very often. Many times, we are without beverages * Water tastes like it's right out of the bay. * Price - Food quality isn't what I would expect. Overpriced. * There have been two occasions where we've waited for over 2 hours to get a table - while there were several open tables in the dining area. * I do not recommend the cream of crab soup. There is a lot of cream - with a little bit of crab. Not sure I'll ever return.
(2)Tina T.
Really wanted to have crabs there, but when I got into the restaurant to the host, she had this really pissed off look (unusual for Annapolis so far I may say), she was just standing there didn't say a word. Then we saw a sign in front of her that states "Ran out of Crabs". What? No crabs in a crab house, so what does this place sell? I thought it was a joke and smiled at the host "Is this a joke?" "No mam, we're out of crabs" OK, no apologies, no smile, nothing. She still looked pissed off, so we just walked out of the restaurant.
(1)miss marie b.
as of the middle of october... all u can eat crabs are back for a limited time? monday thru thursday. they cost around $27 per person. crabs will be meduim and small. corn and salad bar are included in the price. the rules.... no take aways at all. no ordering dozens while having all u can eat crabs. you must finish all of your crabs before the server can order you more. 2 hour table stay limit. starts around 5 and last all u can eat is served at 8pm... so get there early but not too early. this item is not always available so it is at the manager''s choice, i suggest you call before going to make sure it's being served. happy crackin'
(4)Jenny C.
Great crabs, most other items on the menu are also good - unlike Cantler's where the specials are always just awful.... Very relaxing to sit out on the waterfront deck, fun feeding the birds too, much quieter and more relaxed than Canntler's but Cantler's seasoned waitresses make that place very special. Would have given this place 5 stars but the last time I was there I saw a sickly rat - in broad daylight - make its' way across the deck under many people's feet - most unaware of its' presence. I am an animal lover and couldn't help but wonder why a rat living in a restaurant would look so unhealthy, skinny little thing. It was quite sad to see the scared creature, reminded me of a sad rabid fox I had once seen many years ago.... By the way, rats are just par for the course when it comes to restaurants and we were all outside - including the rat - I imagine living under a waterfront deck is prime rat real estate - so I'll go back as long as I don't see another one.....I imagine there is rat bait out set out on a regular basis and perhaps this explains why the poor little creature looked so unwell.....
(4)A.C. R.
Great crabs, drinks, service, and atmosphere but avoid the Maryland crab soup. The soup was very bland without much crab in it.
(4)Inga N.
Great location. You can sit right by the water enjoying a gorgeous view. Order crabs. Everything else is mediocre or sub-par. Once I wanted a burger and I thought, "Well, how hard is it to cook a decent burger?" Apparently too hard for them. Today we are having lobsters - they weren't worth ordering. Rubbery and taste grassy. Hush puppies - the cheapest kind and poorly cooked - tough and dense inside. Ah, and they are served with a frozen solid piece of something which our waiter informed us was honey butter. He said "it is served cold". Ridiculous. Fries - unprepossessing. Salad bar - pathetic. Corn on the cob - seems it was floating in water for some time - mushy. That's about it, folks. In sum, come for the view and order crabs.
(3)justin p.
Mike's is a real local (Riva redneck) kind of place. It ain't no touristy or high falutin' joint like Cantler's. I've always had good crabs, clams, oysters, etc., here. Nothing fancy, and right on the water. Just like a crab shack should be!
(4)Jessica P.
Definitely worth the wait (sometimes depending on server, service stinks) but, the food will make up for it. I love sitting on the deck area with family and friends and picking crabs, peeling shrimp out in the sun and their crabs are pretty big- this is where my bf always requests when it is a nice day and where we take out of town visitors to go experience the yummy md crabs. Their crabcake however is alot of filler, their crab imperial w/ shrimp is delicious and very egg puff like. Their cream of crab has lots of backfin meat. Don't be suprised if you see Pat Sajack (price is right) or Vanna White not kidding..we have bumped into those 2 while here eating one summer apparently they like this place as well as us. The only con is that they really need to update the bar and the inside of the place it is very 80's wood panel and sun tile but it's alot more up to date then next door (Paul's). Pros the food!!!
(4)RIchard D.
We showed up at 9:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of blue crabs. What a disappointment...especially since we came to the Annapolis area for crabs. I had the Orange Roughy and it was ok, better than average and tasted very fresh. My wife had the baked crab cakes and it was really good. I was really disappointed that they were out of blue crabs.
(3)t e.
went with some friends a on a rainy day. it was really good. i am not a connoisseur of eating crabs, but this place was fantastic. simple seating on the inside. just crabs on paper, bucket, wooden mallet, and you're ready to go. crabs came out piping hot, and we were good to go. very yummy. definitely worth the drive from DC. i'd go back again.
(4)Gion S.
"As an Annapolis resident, I can say this is the worst restaurant in the city, with the worst food and probably the worst service I ever had. The crab cakes were awful, and the waitress and hostess were rude as well. There are plenty of places to go for crabs in Annapolis, don't waste your money here."
(1)Chase W.
Yeah, so this was definately my first crab shack experience so I have zero to compare Mike's to, but it's definately a good spot for some day drinking and crab eatting (though I passed o n the latter- I'm not into the whole insect lookin sea food thing!) I opted for the crab cakes which were decent; tons of crab meat, and they were really pretty big, but it definately needed a little old bay to spice things up; they were a little bland. As for the crabs? I don't know. I couldn't get passed the fact that you had to rip out these seaspider's guts before you could start pickin away at the meat inside- It reminded me of Baer Grylls on "Man Vs. Wiild" on the Discovery Channel (if you don't get the reference, program your TiVo to catch an episode- it's an awesome show!) pickin away at something gross in the jungle.... but I digress... A dozen large crabbies were $65 a dozen, which everybody at the table agreed was fair for the size, quality, and quantity; I couldnt' fathom payin that much for crabs, but then again, I wasn't raised on this tradition either. Part of me really wish I was- everybody was having a blast! On the other hand, I'd sooner take my 65$ to Grille 23 back in Boston for a 4 inch thick porterhouse :) It did make for an awesome afternoon spot though; perfect weather right on the water, and tons of out door seating. The deck outside the restaurant featured a parrot head crooner who actually was pretty decent, and a tiki'esq out door bar over looking the deck. Connected to all this was a small marina and a parking lot filled with classic muscle car's and hot motor cycles (that might have been my favorite part!) Anyways, I don't know enough about crabs to say the food was any good, but everybody at my table (probably a dozen of us) were all raving about them, so I guess they were good... Atmosphere alone this place would be a 5, but in reality, it was a perfect day so tthat definately contributed to that, but I have to keep in mind that the bar was gross, and so where the bathrooms.and it's definately not a cheap spot to grab a beer and a bite. You definately paying for the view and the experience.
(4)Bill P.
Great local place. Get the hard shell crabs, skip the rest. The crabs are great - the crab cake and the soup was a bit disappointing. Years ago when I worked down the road, it used to be a bit better and cheaper.
(4)Ann B.
Overrated! Great view, terrible, expensive food.
(1)Amber C.
being here was the first time i have ever been to maryland much less eating hard shell crab. i loved sitting on the deck with a pitcher of beer and a table full of crabs. its the perfect place to spend a few hours on the river. i can still taste the old bay now...
(4)Merrill F.
The foods not great, but I managed to have enough fun here to later that night think it was a good idea to jump off the bridge going to it. One of the funnest and most painful experiences of my life (you should have seen the bruises). Awesome, and painful, but the point is that without Mike's, I never would have thought it was a good idea. So they get points there.
(4)Sandra T.
Food is great if you can ever get service. Wait staff only watches out for themselves. If it is not there table, they can care less. Was seated outside and given menu's . 4 other tables were seated after us. After the 4 th was visited by a server we got up and left. No one tried to keep us, no one bothered to help us since it was not there table. This is not the first time, but it will be our last. People want crabs so they will always have customers. No matter how they treat them.
(1)Peter S.
It is what it is: a good, decently priced crab shack. It ain't elegant, but it doesn't pretend to be. Food is good. A few years back they really started breading up their crab cakes, which was terrible, but now they're back to being good again. A family dining staple.
(5)DC M.
My husband and I decided to try this place on a whim one evening, and we are sure glad we did! We ordered the crab cakes and the soft shell crab. It was absolutely to die for! The salad bar was nothing to write home about though; seemed kind of thrown together at the last minute. The restaurant was larger than I expected, and is very well maintained. We loved being able to see the relaxing waters as we ate. The waitstaff were also great. Our waitress nearly dropped a drink all over our food, but she was extremely apologetic and her personality as well as her professionalism made up for it. Bottom Line: I recommend this place.
(5)