We found a great route from Titusville down to Cape May. Not on the east side, like the Garden State Parkway, and not the west side, like 295, but kinda down the middle with Route 206. It's Routes 206 to 30, to 40, to 50, to 9 and then a lot into home. It's sounds like a lot of roads but really it 's just a series of five turns with lots off road in between. Door to door 's about 2 hours and without any traffic, most of the time.
Over the last several years we've past this spot called Crabby's. On the sign are two words, Seafood and Suds. The place isn't much on the yes and you could almost cringe thinking what might be going on
on the inside as you drive past. I was convinced the inside looked like the Mos Eisley cantina of Star War's fame. It was in that cantina where we first were introduced to Jabba the Hut (above) but anyway.
We had a nice weekend down at the Cape and had a visit with my Dad and Stepmother who came down for the day. Yesterday we had lunch over at Harpoon's on the (Delaware) Bay. If you've ever been there you should go back as the additions and facelift they did there has it have a whole new vibe and jam, and the food and drink are great. And if not it's a great place away from the Cape May and Wildwood hustle and bustle.
Today we set out for home around 1 pm and were due for some food on the ride home. There's never any hot dog stands, we're not doing McDonald's anymore (yeah right), Arby's is just nasty, and we just ween't in the mood for pizza. While I always wanted to stop at Crabby's I just never had the guts to make that call and drag Theresa there. Well today was different.
We were driving north, or maybe west, on Route 50 in Belleville, New Jersey, you know where that is right, and I spotted it coming up on our right. The first thing I saw was the front door held open by a cinderblock, then a few cars parked on the uneven parking on the side, and there was no sign of life.
We went in and whatever preconception I had was completely off. Yes, it's kind of dive, but it has a personality to it as does the people who both work and frequent there. It didn't take long for us to be
bellied up to the bar with a couple of "Suds" in our hands looking over the menu. It took a bit to figure out the menu along with the pice board. If you just went ahead and ordered what you wanted without
looking you could easily drop $100 a person. I wasn't expecting that from this place. Here's a lesson if you've never heard it before, don't judge a book by its cover. So Crabby's has been around since 1987 and is no doubt a South Jersey thing. Most likely more people from Philly know about it then say Jerseyans from above Route 70. After looking at the menu and the board we didn't know which way to
go. Do we grab a beer and just split say a chicken sandwich? Have a bowl of soup and a crab cake? Well we decided to eat, to go all in, in other words to spend over 100 dollars. We started with the clams
casino (two are missing in the above pic) which were the best I have ever had. I went with three Maryland Blue Claws (Large Sized) served Maryland style, which means dirty, or not cleaned with Old
Bay seasoning on the outside. It was served with a hot sauce that cleaned out my chronically stuffed sinuses but I asked for drawn butter to soften the burn. Now Theresa hemmed and hawed but went with her gut and ordered the Surf and Turf. In the 10 years together I don't think I've ever seen her return
her plate so clean. Oh yeah, the Surf and Turf comes with loaded potato skins instead of fries, that was nice. While we ate we were serenaded by a Crabby's regular from Philadelphia who's been coming this
back and forth along Route 50 heading to the Shore and back home for years. It was really great food and a good bar hang with everyone asking each what they ordered and how it was. Crabby's does an all-you-can-eat after 4pm that's either blue or Dungeness crabs. This place would be great for a small group
who just want to get crackin' and put back some suds while doing so. It's really a great place and I won't be surprised if we don't hit it with our kids next weekend wither on the way down or back. The bill
came to $150 with the tip but that also included a to-go oder of Mussels and Linguine Fra Diavlo that went to Lauren who did us a solid and watched the beats while we were down south. Check out Crabby's on Route 50 in Belcoville. It's just outside of May's Landing and not too far off the Garden
State Parkway. Bring your appetite and your wallet along with some friends. It's a good time there.
