3 Area Restaurants Have Top Crab Cakes
The top two restaurants on Food & Wine magazine’s “Best Crab Cakes in the U.S.” are from Baltimore and a third is from the Eastern Shore.
Crab cakes from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Baltimore topped Food & Wine magazine’s Best Crab Cakes in the U.S. list.
(Photo: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood/Facebook)
“First made by Indigenous groups surrounding the Chesapeake Bay area, the crab cake has long been popular along the Mid-Atlantic coast,” according to Food & Wine. “However, the uncomplicated but delicious dish has made its way to every corner of America, delighting people with its briny sweetness.”
Of the seven restaurants on Food & Wine’s list, three are in the Mid-Atlantic.
The top crab cake is from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, 6526 Holabird Ave., Baltimore.
“This family recipe, which has drawn customers from all over the world, starts with high-quality crab meat (which chef/owner Tony Minadakis sources as locally as possible) and includes finely chopped white bread (no crust), eggs, mayo, wet and dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce and Jimmy’s own seasoning,” Food & Wine wrote. Can’t make it to the restaurant in Maryland? That’s OK. Jimmy’s ships its crab cakes nationwide.”
A single 8-ounce Jimmy’s crab cake and one side is $34, while twin crab cakes are $66.
Fraidley’s Seafood in Lexington market came in second in Food &
Wine‘s Top Crab Cake list. (Photo: Stephanie I./Yelp)
Coming in second place is Faidley’s Seafood, 119 N. Paca St., Baltimore, in Lexington Market.
“Damye Hahn runs this family restaurant, founded by her great-grandfather way back in 1886, with her mom, Nancy Faidley. Nancy started making Faidley’s now-famous crab cakes in 1987, and she’s still making them by hand today. The recipe is as consistent (and as secret) as it was back then, and it starts with jumbo lump crabmeat. The cakes are served naked with lettuce, tomato, balsamic and crackers. And, like Jimmy’s, Faidley’s is also happy to ship you its crab cakes, so long as you reside in the continental United States.”
Fraidley’s crab cakes are market price.
Finally, coming in at Number 6 is Fenwick Crab House, 100 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, Del., just across the Ocean City line.
Fenwick Crab House finished sixth on the magazine’s top crab cake list. (Photo: Delaware Today)
“If you’re looking for award-winning crab cakes, then it’s time to make your way to Fenwick Crab House in Delaware, specifically to Fenwick Crab House, which has won major accolades for its crab cakes,” according to Food & Wine. “Make it a meal by ordering the For the Love of Crab Cakes, which combines a crab cake with a BLT, all served on a brioche bun.”
Two 4-ounce crab cakes with two sides from Fenwick Crab House is $33 and two 6-ounce crab cakes and sides are $43. The restaurant also ships fresh crab cakes anywhere in the continental U.S.
Others on Food & Wine’s list include:
- 3. Fishing with Dynamite, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
- 4. Charleston Grill, Charleston, S.C.
- 5. Stono Market and Tomato Shed Café, Charleston, S.C.
- 7. Seatown Rub Shake and Fish Fry, Seattle
Port City Brewing Win 2 Medals at Competition
Port City Brewing took gold and bronze at this year’s Great American Beer Festival Competition in Denver. (Photo: Port City Brewing)
Port City Brewing Co., 3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria, took home a gold and bronze medals at this year’s Great American Beer Festival Competition held in Denver last month.
This year’s competition saw 107 categories of beer and cider considered by 285 professional judges.
Port City won the gold medal in the Robust Porter category for its Port City Porter. The beer has a honey, dark brown color with notes of coffee and chocolate. It took the bronze medal in the Smoked Lager category for its Rauchbier. The traditional German lager is brewed with Bavarian malt and hops.
The medals are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence.
Port City was founded in 2011 by Bill Butcher. The brewery has won dozens of awards, including the a gold medal for its Optimal Wit at the 2024 World Beer Cup in Las Vegas.
Butter Me Up Moving, Closes T Street NW Location
Butter Me Up closed its 1409 T St. NW location on Nov. 3 as it prepares to move to a new, undisclosed location, according to a social media post.
Butter Me Up has closed on T Street NW as it prepares to move to an undisclosed location. (Photo: Saphace A./Yelp)
Its online store will remain open during the transition.
Founder Andre McCain opened the breakfast sandwich shop in September 2022 in the former Taqueria Nacional space after it began as a pop-up at his HalfSmoke restaurant, 651 Florida Ave. NW, in Shaw in May 2020 during the pandemic. Butter Me Up’s first brick-and-mortar location opened in the Westfield Montgomery Mall in May 2022 and closed less than a year later in April 2023 when it was evicted for unpaid rent.
The restaurant serves breakfast sammies, acai bowls, toasts and sides, along with fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, teas, lemonade and Red Rooster coffee from Floyd, Va., as well as brunch cocktails.
