By Nicole Carlin
Find fresh crabs at a number of restaurants in New Jersey.
Many restaurants in New Jersey offer crab and seafood dishes, especially the seaside
resort towns along the Atlantic coastline. There are plenty of opportunities to catch and cook your own crabs, but if you'd rather let someone else do the catching, cleaning and cooking, you'll be spoiled for choice in New Jersey. Crab prices generally vary by season and location and you won't find prices for crabs on the menu in most restaurants. If you are on a budget, call ahead and ask.
Chickie's and Pete's Crab House
Chickie's and Pete's Crab House started out as a tiny corner bar in Northeast Philadelphia and has expanded over the years, opening two huge restaurants in Bordentown and Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The popularity of Chickie's and Pete's continues to grow steadily. The restaurant's slogan is "It's a lot more fun to eat at a bar than to drink in a restaurant!", fits the atmosphere perfectly. Voted The Best Place to Watch the Game by "Philadelphia Magazine" and Best Seafood by "The Philadelphia Inquirer," Chickie's and Pete's serves only a few dishes that aren't crab-related. Expect a friendly, casual bar atmosphere and a moderately-priced menu of seasonal crab choices, served with or without Chickie's and Pete's signature garlic crab sauce.
Chickie's and Pete's Crab House
183 U.S. Highway 130
Bordentown, NJ 08505
609-298-9182
6055 Blackhorse Pike
Egg Harbor Twp, NJ 08234-4801
609-272-1930
chickiesandpetes.com/
The Crab Trap
The Crab Trap is in the seaside town of Somers Point, New Jersey, on the grounds of the Somerset Plantation, the oldest settlement in the state. The Crab Trap sits on Egg Harbor Bay, with dining views of the bay and outside dining available. The dockside bar, Crabby Jacks, serves margaritas, mixed drinks and a variety of beers. The menu is moderately-priced and offers crab and seafood dishes, as well as traditional American fare and a children's menu.
The Crab Trap
Somers Point Circle
Somers Point, NJ
08244
609-927-7377
thecrabtrap.com/
Joe's Crab Shack
National chain Joe's Crab Shack opened its first restaurant in Texas. New Jersey has its own Joe's Crab Shack in Lawrenceville. The menu is extensive and offers novel interpretations of crab dishes, such as crab nachos. At Joe's Crab Shack, crabs are served in a bucket of ice with a choice of flavors --- barbecue, garlic, Chesapeake-style and steamed. An extensive menu of burgers, steaks and sandwiches makes Joe's a good choice for a family with varied tastes.
Joe's Crab Shack
3191 U.S. Route 1
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609-896-0360
joescrabshack.com
About the Author:
Nicole Carlin is a yoga and dance teacher and founder of POP Fizz Academy in Philadelphia. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Temple University and a Master of Arts in gender and sexuality, politics from Birkbeck University, London. Carlin has written about dance, crafts, travel and alternative health for eHow, Trails.com and Demand Studios.
Photo Credits:
new jersey coast image by Tracy Horning from
Fotolia.com
