The Crab Claw Restaurant

The Crab Claw Restaurant in St. Michaels on Maryland's Eastern Shore has been a landmark of Chesapeake Bay waterfront dining since 1965, positioned on the Miles River with open-air dock seating that defines the experience of eating blue crabs beside the water on a summer afternoon. The restaurant opens seasonally from mid-March through November, aligning its operations with the Maryland crab season and the visitor patterns of the Eastern Shore. The setting—weathered dock tables, wooden mallets, brown paper, and views across the Miles River—provides the essential context for the food, which centres on steamed blue crabs seasoned with Old Bay and served at market price. Maryland crab soup, prepared to the state's traditional tomato-and-vegetable recipe loaded with crab meat, and soft-shell crab sandwiches available in season round out the menu. The Crab Claw occupies a position in the consciousness of Maryland's Eastern Shore similar to what Obrycki's holds in Baltimore—a historical anchor that has introduced successive generations to the Chesapeake crab feast ritual in one of the bay's most beautiful waterside settings. Lines during peak summer weeks are common; arriving at opening or in the late afternoon minimises waiting. Large groups should call 410-745-2900 in advance.