CBMM to acquire historic Crab Claw properties

[RFBfromDE]

Last Call for the Crab Claw. (Cash Only)

CBMM to acquire historic Crab Claw properties - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

ST. MICHAELS, Md., April 27, 2023 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to announce its intent to acquire two contiguous properties to its waterfront campus, including the current home of the Crab Claw Restaurant. Under the terms of the transaction, the restaurant will remain open for...

cbmm.org

 

[joppaj]

That was a staple for a lot of people who visited St Mike's. I wasn't personally a fan but at least the employees have some time to find new jobs.

 

[RFBfromDE]

I went for the fried oyster sammich and Bloody Marys.

 

[joppaj]

I went for the fried oyster sammich and Bloody Marys.

I haven't been in about 10 years. Last time we were there it was ok but nothing that I haven't had better elsewhere. The view was nice and it was convenient to where we were staying.

 

[Tomcat]

I remember going there in the late 60's early 70's.

 

[emerald]

Used to anchor in the harbor with my parents and take their water taxi in for dinner. This was back in the 70's. Good memories. Haven't been there for ages.

 

[Trbo6gn]

We used to stop by at the Crab Claw every year on our way home from Ocean City after the family vacation. I have so many fond memories of that place. Haven't been in close to 20 years.

 

[Ponder_MD]

I go at least annually. This was a bit of a shock. I'm glad the property is going to the museum and not developers.
It's true that the food wasn't "the best I've ever had" but it was pretty good.

Now I understand why my elders would complain about "change."

 

[TI-tick]

I've not been there since I was a kid in the 70's or 80's.
IDK of any locals who would go there for the last 30 years or so.
St. Michaels has devolved to a tourist town with boom and bust cycles for business. Reminds me of small CA Gold Rush towns.

There are other places to get crabs in the area.

Still sad to see it go; but the CBMM, from what I've seen, is a class act.

 

[Bountied]

I used to work there as a kid in high school and into college. Those summers were some of the best. My 5 best friends all worked there at the same time. Ms. Sylvia was a pain, her daughter Tracey was a bigger pain, Tracey is the one selling out. My old manager Wayne still works there and so do some of the waitresses. Only males could be busboys/steamers and only females servers back in the 90s. Mr Bill was a kick, we used to have to pack trash cans full of ice to take to his house to cool down his pool. We got paid in tips which at the time were pretty good. We added up all the tips from the servers divided that by the hours worked by how many bussers and you got that much for how ever many hours you worked. All our "wages" went to taxes (like $8.5/hour) and I only declared about 5 dollars a day in tips. Robby and Billy were strict but fair. The last time I went there was a couple years ago. When we race log canoes out of St Michaels our group of friends usually stops there to get a mud slide and some crabs. If you're a VIP you get the really good ones. Being friends with Wayne pays off.

I have so many stories from that time in my life. I hope the CBMM keeps it open and it continues to be a restaurant.

 

[ShOrebird]

I went to the Crab Claw once sometime back in the 80s.
I looked at the menu and then saw the prices.
I turned around and I never went back.

 

[RFBfromDE]

I went to the Crab Claw once sometime back in the 80s.
I looked at the menu and then saw the prices.
I turned around and I never went back.

Pro tip; I like to go to joints I can't afford for lunch (not dinner) and order soup.

 

[Bountied]

Pro tip; I like to go to joints I can't afford for lunch (not dinner) and order soup.

They have really good soups. Their crab prices are high but that's par for the course most of the menu is reasonable. It's a tourist trap mostly for people going to the museum. It's not cheap but it's not French Laundry either.

 

[emerald]

I have yet to go to a restaurant on the water that serves crabs etc. that was cheap. In general though, eating out is expensive, and I don't do it often. Cracking a bunch of crabs with a bunch of friends though becomes one of the worthwhile outings where I don't mind the cost.