Cheap Eats: Crab Shack

(Credit: Jacqui Anderson)

Photos:

related items

Crab Shack photos

Good food, served up in an eclectic atmosphere for a good...

The Crab Shack

Located directly across the street from my office building, sits a small, dingy, and no-frills looking seafood restaurant.  Normally, I would not be so inclined to stop in and eat in a place like this, but the tiny establishment’s parking lot is always packed to the brim with cars.  So it got me wondering, what can be so great about this place?  Well, one day, my curiosity got the best of me and I (along with a few adventurous coworkers) made the trip across the Gandy for lunch.

The scene: The Crab Shack is one of those places that has a ton of trinkets hanging all over the walls: fish nets and other aquatic-themed décor are situated next to Miller Lite signs and boards saying the week’s specials.  Sitting directly next to the main entrance is an old fisherman; dressed to the nines, he looks so realistic that it took me a few minutes (and a few glances) to figure out that he wasn’t actually real! 

The Shack is definitely old-Florida all the way.  You know the places, tacky in a good way...

The crowd:  Like I said before, this place gets packed.  The Shack is constantly filled with hoards of hungry Tampa and St. Pete business men and women looking for a quick bite on their lunch breaks.

The service:  No frills here, just a quick “what’ll you have?” and that’s it.  Our server was, however, pleasant and polite.  She didn’t linger too long as to interrupt our conversations or waste any time bringing and refilling our drinks.  She delivered our food and made sure everything was correct with our orders before scurrying off to her other tables. And, after we had each had the time to take a couple of bites, she was back to make sure everything was cooked properly and to our liking.  The promptness was definitely a good thing for us, since we were on our lunch break, and had to be back in the office before long.

The food:  The menu boasts a large variety of seafood options served up in a number of ways: blackened, grilled, fried, different rubs, etc. and all are accompanied with a side or two which are mostly either fries or cole slaw.

When it came time to order, I opted for the lunch special which was a blackened Ahi Tuna sandwich served up fully dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickle and a tasty soy sauce-based dressing.  The Tuna was fresh and had the perfect amount of seasoning, all wonderfully complimented by the soy sauce dressing.  My coworkers each went with the Maryland Crab Cake sandwiches, which also came fully dressed, with a side of fries and a tangy rheumalade for dipping.  It looked delicious and judging by the fact that they both scarfed their food down in a matter of minutes; I’d say that they were completely satisfied.

The damage:  When the check came, my Ahi Tuna sandwich came to $8.95 + tax and their sandwiches each came to $9.95 + tax, making our meal perfectly within reason for a nice lunch outside the office.

The bottom-line:  This no-frills classic Florida-style haunt is your typical seafood spot.  Good food, served up in an eclectic atmosphere for a good price.  It’s no wonder why the Crab Shack has been a local favorite for years.

***
The Crab Shack
11400 Gandy Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL
727-576-7813

Add a comment