Harris Crab House @ Kent Narrows

[Soup]

This past friday, I went for crabs with a bunch of folks to Harris Crab house. The place has butcher paper on the table with a roll of paper towels. Pretty plain but just right for me. The resturant sits right on the water but it was dark and I didn't get to see much.

As for the menu pretty extensive, but most of the folks seem to go for one of two things. Crabs or the Oyster buffet which they seem to have on Friday nights.

I got AYCE crabs as did most of the other folks at the table. $25 for male mediums. Very good weight. Not all their crabs were local and there were a few in the dozens we went through that weren't great but for most part I was very very happy with them. The spicing was just right and the crabs came out steaming hot. The waitress kept my drink full and I just ate crabs two two solid hours.

Very few others got the buffet for $23 (don't quote me on the price). They seem to think the raw oysters which was shucked to order was fantastic (I snuck a few, they were very good). Other items were good to poor. I was happy I got the crabs. You could apprently do both for $35.

My first time at Harrris Crab house and won't be the last. I got to get one more crab session in before the season ends.

Soup

[ssgiris]

Just ate at Harris' last night with the family. I ordered the fried clam dinner - it was spectacularly good. Soft shell clams hand-breaded and deep fried. Whole belly clams sweet and juicy - just like I grew up with in New England. Harris' is loud, and was unbelievably hot last night (not surprisingly) but man, I'd go back today for more clams.

[Hal Laurent]

Soft shell clams in Maryland? Wow, I'll have to check that out. My expatriate New Englander wife loves the things, but I don't think we've ever found them further south than NYC.

[dining with doc]

soft shelled steamers tonite at Cantler's near annapolis

[chowchower]

Cantler's was fantastic!!!

[hon]

The soft shells caught here are usually shipped to New England but they are a local clam.
http://www.dawnii.com/clams.htm

[ILoveBacon]

Hal - if you call Salt River Lobster by Wednesday, you can pick up your order of soft shell clams at their stand at the Sunday farmers market under the JFX. This past week, the clams were $6/pound. Out of a 5 pound bag, there was about a dozen dead/broken clams; not a bad yield. They were briny, sweet and exactly what a belly clam should taste like!

[amaebi]

Whole belly clams are one of my all time favorite foods! Is this a regular item on the menu or just a special on some nights? I need to get myself there ASAP.

[dining with doc]

I think it is regularly on Cantlers menu but if that is why you are going there, I would phone ahead of time to be sure.

[chowchower]

Yes, it is on the menu at Cantler's, but it says "When Available".

[GalwayGirl]

You have to try the cream of crab at Annie's in Kent Narrows. Just don't order anything else until you have eaten the soup - you probably won't have room! Its thick and rich and is absolutely amazing!

[designerboy01]

Thanks, I may try this place next time I'm in the area if I don't bug out on eating crabs at a Cantonese restaurant. If anyone likes spicy, Typhoon Shelter crabs are the best (Causeway Bay Style).

[EDinPQ]

I am a fan of the cream of crab soup at the Narrows. Never tried Annie's...

[Joe H]

The Narrows has the best cream of crab soup AND lump crab cakes on earth.

[Denise]

Joe - you only believe that because you haven't taken my dare to stop at the Annapolis Seafood Market on your way home (re: the crabcakes, not the soup).

[Joe H]

Actually, I really do need to stop there, Denise. And I promise I will. I was also premature in my above statement: Cindy Wolf's Charleston makes a non traditional (i.e. non Maryland style) lump crab cake that is the best I've ever had. The Narrows is the best traditional-so far. This is the Narrows recipe: http://www.starchefs.com/features/cra...

[hon]

I love that the recipe tells you to preheat the oven to 500 but then tells you to fry the cakes in vegetable oil.

[Joe H]

I would guess that one is broiled and another is fried.

[a1234]

An entire cup of mayo? Fry in vegetable oil? I don't think so.
Cut way down on the mayo and mustard and use butter instead of oil, and that is pretty much the way I make them.

[designerboy01]

I used to like Harris Crab house, but when I ate there this week I thought the crabs were kind of pricey. What I really was upset was that 4 out of the 6 crabs I got was missing one claw. Paying $32 for 6 crabs is kind of crazy I thought while I can get them for $12 for a dozen (althought not as big but still kind of crazy prices). I was told that this happens somtimes, but 4 out of 6 crabs is 66.67%! Looks like it is happening most of the time! Salad was not fresh too. I ordered a pound of muscles and they hardly had any meat. I don't think I would be returning to this place again. It used to be one of my favorite places, but I really think its a big ripoff for what they charge and I'm convinced they are taking the claws for other dishes. Its a substantial amount of meat if you go for the Jumbo's or Extra-Large.

To be fair, after I complained they reluctantly bought out the missing legs.

[jfish]

Where can you get $12 dozen crabs?

[designerboy01]

Try the Chinese market. Or if you are if you are in a large city go to the early morning fish market and they sell it to you cheap.

[hon]

if you can find $12 a dozen crabs, they are usually females.

[Jason1]

And you're certainly not going to get them at a restaurant. I've gotten $15/doz crabs at Joe's seafood in Severna Park that were pretty good. And I've seen similiar deals at other takeout places in the area, but these deals are specials, for the smallest size, and I don't think they run these specials during prime crab eating months. But these aren't sit-down restaurant prices.

[JonParker]

I did get $2 crabs at Ryleigh's last night. I think it's a regular Tuesday special. They weren't huge and meaty, but they were quite decent for the price.

[dcs]

Don't forget to pick up a few quarts of the Red Crab Soup and the Cream of Crab Soup on your way out the door. They sell them at the take-out window; rather delicious and they freeze quite nicely if you cannot get to them right away.

[Chownut]

For a great cream of crab soup and also the red crab soup, I also recommend Annapolis Seafood Market. There are 3 locations in the Annapolis area (Severna Park, Edgewater, and Annapolis).

[isabellaflynn]

I don't agree with this suggestion unfortunately. To my taste, Maryland Crab Soup (this is what we call the "red crab" soup locally) sould have a kick (i.e. a nice peppery Old Bay taste). The soup here is too bland and tastes canned. So many places screw up on the Cream of Crab as well - too thick. I actually think one of the better versions I've had is at a steak house, The Prime Rib in Baltimore. As for the Maryland Crab, my mom makes the best in the entire state hands down. I've tried to convince her to sell it, but she isn't interested...

[Maryland Crab]

And DO NOT leave without the Nutty Buddy for dessert. It is made especially for them and we can not walk out, no matter how stuffed, without finishing off with one. By the way, the onion rings are good and I always use them to clean the palate while eating crabs.

[Chownut]

They've got a great crab cake sandwich too. Try that next time, pan broiled.