Craig LaBan heads south in search of hard shell crabs and comes up with three spots within a 90 minute drive of Philadelphia.

I love the quirky limitations of regional foodways, I really do. But our lack of destinations for good whole crabs – just as the crustacean season is about to hit its peak – has gotten me steamed up. How is it that Philadelphia is so close to the Chesapeake Bay, yet so far from its love of hard-shell culture?

There are a couple places in Philadelphia trying to break our crab-less restaurant scene. The Oyster House and Gayle both offer crab specials on Tuesdays.

Hard-shell heaven lies due south [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Tuesdays mean crabs. It was just a couple weeks ago we were telling you about Tuesday crab nights at Gayle and starting on Tuesday, July 28th the Oyster House is introducing their own Tuesday crab feast.

Through August every Tuesday will feature 3 jumbo hardshells, cabbage slaw and corn on the cobb for $19.

Oyster House [Official Site]

Gayle’s crab Tuesdays have been extended through the end of September. Menu includes a glass of wine or beer, salad, 4 to 6 hard shell crabs (depending on size) plus fries and slaw. All for just $30.

And in October stay tuned for $30 Veal Stew Tuesdays at Gayle.

If you like soft shell crabs Phillips Seafood is the place for you. The new restaurant in the Center City Sheraton is celebrating soft shell crab season with beer battered crab sandwiches, tempura crab with Asian slaw, and pan-seared crab on top of cappelini pasta.

Phillips Seafood [Official Site]

For a limited time the new Warmdaddy’s, 1400 South Columbus Blvd (at Reed Street), is offering some really great deals.

On Tuesday night enjoy unlimited baby back ribs all night for just $10.95. On Wednesdays get the entire menu for 50% off from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Thursdays provide a night of Alaskan King Crab Legs, steamed and served with molten butter for $15.95.

Warmdaddy’s [Official Site]

Craig LaBan heads south to Maryland and visits Howard House Tavern where he finds little to be crabby about.

Just far enough off the beaten track to not be a tourist trap the Howard House Tavern offers plenty of crab in its two floor pre-Civil War corner inn.

There is something thrilling about the intensity of the Maryland style – the jolting contrast of pristinely steamed white crab dipped in the crackling powder of dry and salty spice. And after a couple of practice crabs, once I fell into the zenlike Crab Picker Trance, my fingers were nimbly uncovering cotton ball-sized plumes of sweet meat for the plunge. Soon my lips were numb.

Besides the crabs, the rest of the menu also shines. The filet was a bargain at $17.95 and the deep-fried frog legs were a surprising treat as were the fried-cod fish tacos. The crab-stuffed soft pretzel, “a salty soft twist mounded with cheesey crab and then broiled. It is shockingly good.”

Only the crabcake was a bit of a downer.

Two Bells

Howard House Tavern [Craig LaBan]
Howard House Tavern [Official Site]

Yes the softshell crab season is here. And that means one more reason to head to Dmitri’s (795 S 3rd St or 2227 Pine St). Also keep an eye out for soft shells as specials at a variety of restaurants including the Standard Tap and Mantra.

Philebrity was a bit reluctant to let the cat out of the bag but being the social servants they are, they have to share the knowledge they’ve gleamed from “crab mafia.” Yes Port Richmond is home to Philadelphia’s best Baltimore style crabs.

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