Join us Friday, July 26 at 11 AM to chat with Ann Limpert. Have a question about our latest Eat Great Cheap issue? the latest flurry of restaurant closures? Or maybe you just need a restaurant recommendation. Leave a question now, then join Ann this morning.
Ann: Good morning! It’s not 110 degrees this weekend so let’s MAXIMIZE. If you haven’t yet gone out for crabs, now would be a good time. The best I’ve had in the city have been from the Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse. Big, sweet, meaty, and available indoors or on their breezy deck (call first to make sure they have ‘em). I’ve also snagged good ones (if on the small side) at Captain White’s at the fish market by the Wharf.
Another option: the freshly opened Capitol Crab Company in Chevy Chase, which I recently checked out. If you’re into the whole Millie’s Nantucket-preppy aesthetic, you’ll like this place. While the crabs were a touch oversteamed for my taste, they were decently large and not totally caked with seasoning (they use a house blend that isn’t as overpowering as Old Bay). This is definitely a cleaner, more restrained experience than you’d get at any Anne Arundel County shack. The crabs are served in small batches in Miller Lite buckets (but Yuengling was the lightest beer on the menu, at least on my visit, and there’s also wine), and the peel and eat shrimp come already peeled. I’d skip the blah slaw in favor of the excellent hushpuppies, which I definitely ate too many of. And I wish the foil-wrapped sweet corn came with some butter and salt.
Anyway, what’s on your mind? Ask your questions in the form below; the chat transcript shows up underneath.
