Romano's and Olive Tree in Glen Burnie. Fantastic crab cakes: HUGE! lot's of meat, minimal filling, great taste. Plus, they're about 1/4 mile from each other.

Guaranteed, you're not walking into either place with the expectations of a great crab cake.

Sip N' Bite had a surprisingly decent cake last time I ate there, though that was several years back.

Olive BRANCH in Pikesville, Exit 20 in the Ramada Inn. If you order 2 you will be having one for the next day for sure!! Flavored impeccably, huge, and very MEATY. You must try it today.

I'm always skeptical when a glowing review of a crab cake emphasizes "huge" above all else.

It's not a B'more location, but JERRY'S Seafood in Lanham makes a
crabcake-like dish called a Crab Bomb, that is outrageously expensive, but very very good

Oceanaire, although pricey has a nice one. Just because it SHOULD have a good one, does it still count?

I think so, because there are places that should that don't. EL

By the Docks out Eastern Boulevard hon

Angelina's on Harford Rd. has always had a meaty crab cake. Crack Pot, on Loch Raven Blvd. and Taylor Ave., has a good crab cake but they are small and expensive. Hales, on Oakleigh Rd. and Taylor Ave. across from Pappas, also has a good crab cake but expensive also.

Let's toss Friendly Farms onto the list. That place doesn't get enough attention.

While I don't agree, I can see the "meatloaf of the sea" analogy. Most places make horrible dry flavorless crabcakes. I really prefer the crabcakes I make at home to almost anyplace I've ever eaten them out. I use the OLD Old Bay recipe, broil and get perfect crabcakes everytime. Delicately flavored with an abundance of lump meat they are great. Restaurants, not so much. Outside of the banned usual suspects, if I'm allowed to bring up Ocean City, I will say (as previously discussed another blog topic) that I like the Captain's Galley in W. O.C. I've been totally deterred from returning to Olive Branch in Pikesville because of Horrible service, lack of parking and worst of all, overcooked mush pasta so although I have heard good crabcake reviews, haven't returned to try 'em.

I recently tried Rib and Reef on Padonia Rd after reading about it on this blog. Great crabcakes with big lumps of crab and no filler, very reasonably priced. I've heard Angelinas is not as good since it changed owners, although years ago they were great.

Dave - have you been to Hales this spring? I haven't tried it since it opened under new management. We had gotten our crabs there for years. There crab cakes and padded osyters were both in my personal top ten.

King's Contrivance in Columbia has phenomenal crabcakes, but as you can imagine, they are not exactly a bargain.

Hal wrote: "I'm always skeptical when a glowing review of a crab cake emphasizes "huge" above all else."

No need to be skeptical, Hal. The size is only a bonus (and honestly, the first time I got one from both places, I was shocked at the size); the taste, however, is extraordinary as is the texture and consistency. They both have a crab cake that allows the crab's flavor to stand on its own, while the spicing accentuates that flavor rather than overpowering it.

Mother's Grille in Federal Hill has a great crab cake. Seasoned very well, and not that expensive.

Good: Just about anywhere on Kent Island!

Bad: Grandeur of the Seas

The Grapevine Cafe in Cockeysville. A Greek restaurant with good crab cakes.

The crab cakes at Henninger's in Butcher's Hill are excellent. I've been going there for years and never order anything else.

Olive Grove has 1 of the best in the area. It is seasoned nice/ and you can get 2 meals out of 1

There's a place in the Cranbrook Shopping Center next to a bakery that sells great tasting crabcakes. The place looks like a bad sub shop, but the crabcakes are worth the effort. Its called the XXX somthing Frog or something like that.

Perring Place has both tasty crab cakes and a wonderful soft crab sandwich. When our choir goes there for our "end of season" dinner, several of us always get the soft crab sandwich--YUM!

Also, I'm told Jerry's Belvedere (yes, the dive at Northern Pkwy & York Rd) has delicious crab cakes.

Oh Alienation! Thy name is Crab Week! The Fear and Trembling.

Henninger's is in Upper Fells Point.

Shannon's Saloon on Rt 40 in Ellicott City.

Pappas on Taylor Aveue in Baltimore County (just off of Perring Pkwy)

Patrick's on Cranbrook Rd. in Cockysville.

If our Curmudgeon-In-Training (and I don't think all that much training is needed, unless you are going for professional status) has doubts about 'huge', I would raise a warning flag on the price issue. Admittedly, there is a size/price ratio to consider, but 'not expensive' filet mignon is always a dicey prospect, so too should be crab cakes. Jumbo lump blue crab is +$25 a pound at retail. Wholesale can't be that much cheaper, so any over 4 ounce cake must by definition be 'expensive', otherwise you are getting a) filler, or b) imported far east crab (can you spell Phillips?).

There's a place in the Cranbrook Shopping Center next to a bakery: Ugly Muffin Cafe. Can't speak to the food.

Shore Seafood at Northeast Market and Captain James Landing on Boston St. Both have cakes that are fast, cheep and tasty.

Box Hill pizzeria has the best crab cakes in Harford County.

J.R.'s Bar and Grill in Locust Point on Hull Street -- YUM!

I second Patrick's in Cockeysville, which also serves a fantastic Maryland crab soup. Also, Corner Stable in Cockeysville.

Although very pricey, the crab cakes at the Black Olive are fantastic. I was there last weekend and our server said that they're using fresh MD crab meat, unlike a lot of other places in town. No filler, just olive oil mayo and lots-o-lumps! Simply delicious

Hales, on Oakleigh Rd. and Taylor Ave. is now owned by Pappas I believe. I haven't been there since the change.

Here's another vote for the Olive Branch in Pikesville on Reisterstown Rd. and the beltway. Its a great crab cake, seasoned well (not just smothered in Old Bay) and great broiled. And ordering two does provide an additional meal.

mt washington tavern had great jumbo lump crab cakes.

Another vote for the Olive Branch in Pikesville. Crabcakes are big and meaty with no filler and excellent flavor! Though its an Italian Restaurant, all I ever order is the surf & turf (crabcake and steak). You will not be disappointed! Enjoy!

Brewsters Saloon on Furnace Branch Road make a good crab cake, I prefer them over G&M but my wife disagrees so we alternate.

The Corner Stable - thought it was just the best Ribs in Baltimore, but now, also the best Crabcake!!!

Riverwatch in Middle River.
Very very good crab cakes, good price and a good view on the water!

I guess I'm going to have to fall on the proverbial sword and go to Hale's sometime this week.

I second Shannon's Saloon in Howard County. The trick there though is that you have to order them "well done", otherwise the middle tends to be slightly undercoked. But overall, it;s a really good crab cake at a reasonable price (about $20 for two crabcakes and two sides).

G&M on Hammonds Ferry Rd

Rosebud, I'll probably be in line behind you--haven't been to Hale's in quite a while. It and the Crack Pot are/were the last bastions of the Crab Fluff.

Might surprise some, but Padonia Station has amazing crab cakes! I have gotten the dinner on more than one occasion and it's worth every penny!

I just had a crabcake from Burke's Cafe on Lombard & Light. Pretty forgettable.

Patrick's of Pratt Street (across from the B & O Museum) gets my nod. Great cake full of lump meat crab and not a trace of filler to be had.

For what it's worth, Angelina's sold off the crabcake portion of its operation before the ownership changes (and as far as I can tell, there's been more than one). As a result, the restaurant itself has declined in overall quality but the crabcakes are still considered among the better ones available.

G & M you have got to be kidding. For a great crab cake with tons of crab meat and no fish go to Snyders. Their Cream of Crab as an appetizer is also great.
JMH Halethorpe MD

Nobody has mentioned it yet, so I will.
I had a memorable crab cake at the country club at Bulle Rock. When I asked if they were made on the premesis, the waitress said absolutely and the chef is very particular about his recipe and seasoning.
Great! He's got it right. Hope he doesn't change a thing.
Don't remember the price, but I am not opposed to paying top dollar for something when it's that good.

Jads on Backriver neck rd in essex has very good crab cakes.

Bluestone in Timonium. Their crab cakes are consistently delicious. I would even venture to say that they are best in the area.

You can get a great crab cake at both the Clubhouse Dining Room and the Sports Palace at Pimlico Rave Course.

The Edgewater Restaurant in Edgewater, MD on Mayo Road just a few miles south of Annapolis has the best crab cakes I've ever had. They are large but the most outstanding aspect is the huge lumps of crab. This is beyond jumbo lump, some have said it is collosal lump.

Ocean Pride on York Rd. in Lutherville. Great raw bar too!

Don't laugh, but I am going to SUGGEST...the Rusty Scupper. About 15 years ago, the corporation changed to the recipe the Inner Harbor location used, which was the chef's mom's recipe. Knowing the pace at which a Stouffer's restaurant changes a recipe, it's probably still the same one...anyone care to comment?

Bo Brooks downtown has very good crab cakes, as well as Phillips Seafood (I live in Myrtle Beach and the crab cakes at Phillips in MB are just as good here - reminds me of home in Baltimore!).

Bo Brooks downtown has very good crab cakes, as well as Phillips Seafood (I live in Myrtle Beach and the crab cakes at Phillips in MB are just as good here - reminds me of home in Baltimore!).

I had my first crabcake in the late 50's at a small bar on the corner of East Chase St. (2400 block) and Port Ave. called "Happy's". Have never tasted one better since. Does anyone remember Happy's crabcakes?

If Phillips is using the same Asian crab meat in their restaurants that they're selling to seemingly everyone else, I wouldn't recommend it at all. Pretty, white, large-lump crabmeat, with very little actual crab flavor.

The last time I had a crab cake at Phillips it was a beautiful sunny day in the Inner Harbour. My tourist guests could not have had a better time, until the Phillips crab cakes. (This was long ago enough that the crab was probably not Asian.) All we could taste was the onion in the crab cake. What a waste.

To get in the spirit of things, I stopped by Northeast Market to pick up some crab cakes for lunch. At the first place I found selling fresh fish, I asked the man behind the counter who makes the best crab cakes in the market. He grinned and spread his arms out, "right here". It turned out to be Shore Seafood - and I hadn't yet read Miz Motormouth's recommendation! They were very good so I agree with her on that, and I guess $17.99 for 2 medium cakes and 2 sides is "cheap", especially considering I have enough leftover for a smallish lunch tomorrow.

Hubby's family swears that Fortunato's on Pulasky Highway near Edgewood (it's in the shopping center with the big Mars supermarket) has excellent crab cakes.

I recommend many of the seafood resuarants in EssexMiddle River...., Crab Quarters, Shultz, Al's Seafood, By The Docks, Carsons Creekside, Wild Duck, Long Beach Inn, Johanns, Landing Strip, Norris Seafood & Jads
Don't forget Costa's n Jimmys in Dundalk

It just closed a year or two ago, but the little grocery store/deli in Mount Washington had great crab cakes.

I've also had good luck at Jad's Caddy Shack in Essex.

As for Angelina's, I think i read in the City Paper that that the place has recently changed hands again, and the crab cakes are back to being really good.

Oh, I haven't had these first hand, but I hear from quite a few locals that the best crab cake in Annapolis is, oddly, at Galway Bay on Maryland Avenue.

Greenmount Station in Hampstead has the most consistent and best overall tasting crab cake in the area. They aren't the biggest, just very tasty.

Mr Adams: My golfer friends and I visited Johan's in Essex/Middle River 3 times last summer after golfing at Rocky Point. Each time, we waited over an hour to get our food while people who came in after us were already paying their checks. We concluded it's a "for locals only" establishment.

I should add we are not of the Obnoxious Golfer ilk. As I recall, we were so worn out from 5 hours in the Maryland heat and humidity, we sat quietly at our table, chugging iced tea. When we could get our glasses refilled.

Hale's is now selling both their original crabcake and the Pappas Restaurant crabcake. Though I haven't tried either of them. I usually just buy their softshell crab sandwich.

If we're looking away from the usual standards - I think Michael's Cafe on York Rd in Timonium makes a great crab cake.

Also outside of Baltimore, The Narrows on Kent Island right off 50 is a great place to grab a crab cake driving between Baltimore and the Eastern Shore

Timbuktu in Hanover, right off RT 100 & Coca Cola Drive.

Hands down, there is no better crabcake in Maryland. G&M and Angelinas don't come close.

I agree with Carl. Many places already mentioned have GOOD crabcakes, but if you're looking for the BEST, they're at Brewster's on Furnace Branch Road in Glen Burnie. Try one there and you'll never be satisfied anywhere else.

It's been mentioned, I think, but I'll say it again...Pappas on Taylor and Oakleigh - great crabcake. Great price! Been back four times in a month and that's a lot! Yes, Hale's is now owned by Pappas and it is now called Pappas.

Koco's Pub on Harford Road, huge and excellent!

Rib and Reef is excellent, as well.

Bateman's has a pretty fair crabcake.

Shannons - Route 40, Ellicott City

O.C. = Crabcake Factory
Captain's Galley II (west OC)

Local= Bowman's
Michael's Cafe (Timonium)
Padonia Station (it's true)
Casa Mia's (Perry Hall - I know what you're thinking - but it's true)

I only saw this place mentioned once (by Rev) but I will second this one....for it is FIRST!

Koco's Pub on Harford Road

Thanks for the recommendation, Rosebud. Fortunato's is (sort of) in my neighborhood.

In the Edgewood area, we usually go to Wet Willy's near the corner of Edgewood Road and Route 40. It's a bit of a dive, but there's a lovely view out back from the screened in deck (if you can ignore the nearby McDonalds). The crabcakes aren't the best I've had, but they are quite meaty and not overly seasoned. The atmosphere is quite fun and we've always had good service. Also, I believe they have crab fluff.

Captain Harvey's on Reisterstown Rd. in Owings Mills. Broiled lump crabmeat, little filler. Very, very good!

Duda's crab cake in Fells Point is a real sleeper. Actually, all of their food is excellent!

Hands down, Koco's Pub on Harford Rd. in Lauraville!! The crabcakes are as good as the legend!!!

Elizabeth states....

"...Faidley's, Koco's Pub, Captain Larry's and G & M are off limits"

Michael's on Eastern Avenue. Very good for seafood in general, though I'm not a fan of the 32 oz. crab cake...yes, 32 oz. Give me a regular size crabcake from Michael's and I am happy!

I agree with the person who said not only does the Corner Stable in Cockeysville have the best ribs but also a fantastic crab cake.

For carry-out convenience, Squire's in Dundalk has a decent crab cake. I always get a crab cake on a Kaiser roll (nice size crab cake,) lettuce and tomatoe on the side, and it comes with a big heaping of fries (about $12 or so ). Who'd a thunk it?

I'm afraid to mention because the crabcakes here are that good, but I'll share: Carlyle Club. You would never guess it, given it's a lebanese restaurant, but the crabcakes are AMAZING. They come with this aioli sauce on the side that is pure garlic heaven, your breath reeks for days. I'm having a Pavlovian reaction right now. I always want to eat a lebanese specialty when I go there, then the waiter arrives and I order the crabcakes. Every time.

My parents used to eat fried hard crabs but I never understood them. Funny that they seem to be resurfacing after all these years. And crab fluffs; haven't seen those in twenty years.

I prefer to order them online at www.crabplace.com 100% guranteed domestic crabmeat, all Jumbo Lump very little filler.

many places, (even in Md) use imported crab meat which most of the time isn't even the same species as the Blue crab, its a related species called the Blue Swimmer crab, its cheaper, less flavorful, and processed overseas in conditions that remind you of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.

So next time you get a crab cake make sure you inquire as to whether the meat is domestic - most restaurants will lie to you in a heartbeat, and most fish market workers will have no idea what your talking about

So next time you get a crab cake make sure you inquire as to whether the meat is domestic

Wegman's always lets you know where the crab meat is from.

Gianni's Italian Bistro on Washington Blvd, Arbutus has a good Crab Cake plus great Italian dishes. Plus Nina Taco is right next door for good Mexican

I think all seafood purchased in grocery stores is legally required to its place of orgin labled.

And what kind of seafood are you ♂†ЪЪ? (Since you always state your place of origin). That's not a bad question (in the fractured fairy tale land that my mind wanders though) ... What kind of seafood would you like to be? Not a crab, otherwise I will ponder. I know - DOLPHIN!

If so, "Atlantic salmon" or "Pacific salmon" doesn't tell us much. I love that grocery store salmon dyes their salmon orange to try to fool us.

While its not in the Baltimore area, I had some great crabcakes last night at the Boatyard. They were called Southernmost Crab Cakes on the menu, and they were delicately spiced jumbo lump cakes, no filler. They were served atop a little creole remoulade and on top of the crabcakes was a delicious pineapple salsa. They were served along with black beans, yellow rice and some fried plantains. All in all, a delicious meal. click on my name for a link to the place. But be sure to come right back to the blog!

Well as a normal chef i think everything i do is better than most but the young lady that is keeping my time and heart took me to have a crab cake the other Night at Koco's Pub on Harford Road and i must say it is the best i have had in the two and a half years i have lived in Maryland hands down. Good eats and great cocktails, Chef

Thank you Chef, first for playing in the Sandbox, toque and all (rather like bringing your own bucket.) Also, for offering a fair assessment of another kitchen's offerings.

Another vote for Corner Stable. And they are large enough to share... as I enviously peer at my wifes plate beyond my rack of danish baby back ribs.

Just saw a commerical last night for (I think) Applebees (could've been Ruby Tuesday, TGIFs, etc) advertising their new "trio" of a hamburger, some other burger (possibly turkey) and (GAK) a "crab cake". This was when I actually looked up and paid attention and saw what looked like a small dry flat crabby pattie. The commercial did not have the effect of making me want to throw the family in the car to dine on this mess!

finally a vote for Brewsters. I LOVE the crabmelt and I definately prefer Brewsters crabcakes over G&M's. G&M is large, but lets be honest, from day to day it seems as though the receipe changes..it doesn't maintain its consistancy in the flavor arena.

Best crab cakes in Carroll County - Woodbine Inn on Route 94 just off 70W.

Yet another vote for the Olive Branch in Pikesville. When I order the one crab cake platter, I have leftovers for another meal -- the two cake platter would feed a family of four! But I agree with someone on the blog who said that size should not be the determining factor. These crab cakes would be great at any size -- big lumps of crab, very little filling, well-seasoned, not all "wet" like the G&M ones. They're just great.

Aside from the usual suspects....Mo' seafood and Romano's off Ritchie Hwy in Glen Burnie are very good and a place called Helena's I believe off rt3 right near the Millersville Police HQ...I think Romano's and Helena's are somehow in relation to G&M so the crabcakes are very similar if not the same.

HAS EVERYONE FORGOTTEN ROSS' SEAFOOD IN DUNDALK (MERRITT BLVD AND NORTH POINT ROAD) GREAT CRABCAKES SINCE I WAS A KID...AND THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!

And "Where else to get a great crab cake" cracks the century mark for the number of comments!

Whoo Hoo! It is now an elite D@L topic.

Which is more impressive? A topic that gets 100 comments or a swimmer who gets eight gold medals?

Rob't from TBRS -- it all depends on what makes up the true total count. How many of those 100 comments were from shills? (And, FWIW, Milton Kent, recently of The Sun, has pointed out that 3 of the 8 gold medals were for relay swimming races -- but I sure don't want to get into that argument.)

Point taken, hmpstd, but I can't tell.

Some of you locals may recognize names (Owl Meat pointed one out on the Luckie's thread, because he knows the last name of the GM, I guess.)

But I don't have that kind of knowledge of the Baltimore restaurant scene.

Rob't from TBRS--neither do most of us.

Rob't from TBRS -- as Dahlink notes (and except for EL, of course), most of us lack in-depth knowledge of the Baltimore restaurant scene, but we have developed a sixth sense of sorts regarding shill posts.

As for Owl Meat's comment on Luckie's, you may have overlooked EL's ID of Billy Peterson as the GM in her original post. While it could still be mere coincidence that Deborah Peterson shares the same last name as the GM, her gushing praise for a place that won't open for another full month has all the hallmarks of a shill.

Another hallmark of a shill is posting to a dormant D&L blog. Take, for example, Ken Steber's above post, made a full 3 weeks after the last post (and 2-1/2 months after EL's original post during Crab Week). Now, I don't know for sure if he's a shill, but a Google search turned up a "Ken Steber" who works in outside sales for DePalo & Sons, Inc., a restaurant supply firm in northeast Baltimore. For all I know, Ross' Seafood could be one of his accounts.

I know the last name of the GM because EL wrote it in the post. That's what makes it SO lame that one of the shills has the same last name. I don't know the "scene" that well. I'm two steps away from being just a head in a jar hooked up to my Gateway.

As hmpstd so ably points out, shills are often easily recognizable if one pays attention. At least the obvious ones like we've been pointing out here.

I wonder if there are actually competent shills out there that know how to stay below the radar?

All: the post was so long ago (point made, hmpstd) that I had forgotten that EL named the GM. (To be honest, I was much more impressed when I thought y'all knew who ran which restaurant. LOL.) So, Owlie is right: even more lame than I thought.

The shills inhabit every blog, I guess. I wander over to the Reality TV blog now and again and they even shill there...most recently trying to hawk the upcoming CD of an ex-American Idol contestant.

Just goes with the territory, I guess.

Very astute analysis hmpstd. You put into words what some of us probably know intuitively. I think the interaction between commenters keeps this blog real. You really don't see that on other Sun blogs much. Sometimes they get a fair number of commenters but no interaction. It feels like a bunch of people shouting in their own wildernesses.

Places like CitySearch are useless because you are not allowed to interact with the others people who post reviews. And because SO many of them are done by shills and bitter current or former employees. Some of them are really obvious.

The shills here are pretty inept. Especially here where a gaggle of them show up at once for no good reason. They also have no voice. Byt that I mean they sound like they are writing voiceless, bland, generic advertising copy. Nobody takes the effort to write something on a blog they have never been to and have no specific reason. There are good shills, but they are like Canadians - they walk among us and blend in. Spooky.

They first time I heard about organized corporate shilling on the internet was around 2000. A music label hired an army of people pretending to be teenage girls to go into chat rooms and such and create buzz about a new singer they were pushing named Cristina Aguelera(sp?). They were more clever. They had them post leading questions like, "Have heard the new song X by Cristina somebody? My friend says it's off the chain..." Buzz buzz. I think the Blair Witch Project also posted TONS of false information to magnificent effect.

Work on your game Cordish shills. Just remember, info on the net is like pee in the swimming pool. You can't take it back.

Word to my peeps at Krueger Industrial Smoothing, Inc.! You provide a valuable service for a reasonable price!

Serenity now!

Where else to get a good crab cake? Scratch Webster Groves, Missouri, off your list -- at least if you go to a cute cafe (where everything else was wonderful) between Webster University and Eden Seminary. It actually was quite tasty, but for the first time trying "foreign crab cakes" I had the distinct impression that I had had this taste before ... maybe in nearby St. Louis last fall?? Suddenly the image appeared of a two gallon "tub o'crab cake mix" in the back of the reach-in, with a # 12 scoop for the appetizer size and a # 8 scoop for the entree size poised nearby the flat top. Hmm ...

Though no one in my party had it, nearby was one of their signature "Cleopatras," with literally pounds of ice cream, a whole banana, mounds of strawberries and a pile of whipped cream the size of both my fists. My chest started pounding just looking at it.

A lot of the places mentioned have "pretty good" crabcakes. But there is NO PLACE in this area with a GREAT crabcake. In fact, most of the crabcakes served in the Baltimore area border on the inedible. I've lived here for 52 years and have yet to find a "GREAT" crabcake.

Webster Groves! My mother grew up there. Come to think of it, I don't remember her talking at all about the food around there.

Pappas has one heck of a great crabcake for a great price. Good food and great atmosphere in a SAFE neighborhood...what more can you ask in Baltimore?

At the risk of propping a shill, I agree with Lisa B.

The crab cakes at Pappas' are pretty good. But if I'm in that part of town, I'd probably head down Harford Road a bit and get a Koco's crab cake.