Shelley Taylor
Three Crabs
Published on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 by Shelley TaylorRead More Taylor
THREE CRABS
11 Three Crabs Road
683-4264
Open Daily
11:30 - 'til 9
$$$
The Three Crabs is not only a famous tourist experience, it's a multiple award-winning local fixture that's been around for nearly half a century.
In fact, in 2003 USA Today chose it as one of the "Ten great places to eat seafood by the seashore." The ocean is RIGHT THERE outside the window and the view looks out on the Dungeness Spit and our famous "new" Dungeness Lighthouse.
The Three Crabs made its debut in 1958, when Ernest and Iris Marshall decided that where Sequim-Dungeness met the sea was the perfect location to dine on seafood. The name honors the three original owners: the two brothers and Martha Lofler. (Glad I got that cleared up because otherwise I might have thought it was a comment on personality.)
They've come a long way from those early days where you dined at outdoor picnic tables.
It was Martha who created the menu and brought her culinary touches to the house salad dressings and sauces - including their "world renowned" slaw. Then in 1972, Norma Marshall took the #3 crab position. In addition to a background in restaurant operations, Norma still rises in the wee hours of the morning to lovingly create her original eye popping and imaginative desserts.
Of course, the abundant local seafood food is the big draw.
On the menu is wild (Indian smoked) salmon and halibut, and fillet of sole; along with a variety of shellfish entrees including local little neck clams, shrimp, jumbo prawn cocktails, scallops, oysters supreme and oyster shooters. (Factoid: oysters are always a favorite but before 1960 they weren't available; that is until Ernest started his own oyster farm with Japanese stock.)
They're especially proud of their Taste of Dungeness: clams, crab, prawns, cod, scallops and mussels steamed in beer and garlic butter.
Other specialties include chilled Dungeness cracked crab, crab Louie, an open-faced crab sandwich, and Dungeness crab cakes.
The atmosphere is casual and nautical and the staff is happy you're there.
I have to tell the truth here. This was the first review I've done - and I've been doing this a year now (and how quickly time passes is a subject for another day!) - where I was nervous about my visit.
My trepidation had to do with comments I've heard from both locals and frequent visitors: "It ain't what it used to be." So this was my first visit since moving here four years ago.
I am happy to say that my concerns faded quickly.
When I made our dinner reservations, it was just for the hubby and I. But as the evening approached, our group expanded to four, then eight, and finally nine. Our impromptu party made the experience a lot of fun. And as an added bonus, I got to taste a variety of dishes. I felt like Helen Keller in that scene in The Miracle Worker where Helen is working her way around the table sampling dinner. (Except, I'd like to think my table manners were a wee bit more socially acceptable.)
I ordered the Halibut "dipped in potato buds and griddled." The halibut was moist and the batter light. I asked for their Caesar dressing on my salad and they obliged. (Our waiter was rather new but nevertheless was game to dealing with special requests.) Along with my big baked potato, I ordered an a la cart side dish of steamed vegetables. Three Crabs boasts fresh local produce and the veggies were steamed just right and it's been a long time since I've eaten a sweet carrot...and sweet they were. My dinner also came with Martha's tasty "world-renowned" cole slaw. The dressing is thick, I suppose to compliment the fish (unlike deli slaw which has a lighter consistency).
My hubby ordered the Dungeness Cioppino featuring Neptune's bounty in its original packaging: scallops, clams, crab leg, and prawns, showered with a seafood chowder chock full of halibut, cod, shrimp, and oysters. As Mikey's brothers said, "He liked it!"
Others at our table had griddled crab cakes which were a bit heavy on the bread crumbs - but still mighty tasty. An order of scallops and an order of halibut were both steamed in beer which cooks away in the steaming process but left the fish moist and tender. The sirloin steak was cooked medium rare as requested and was juicy and flavorful.
And then there were desserts - and it's awfully hard to pass them up because there's a big case filled with choices right there as you walk in the door.
Norma's homemade pies are sooo tall, it's a wonder the slice stands up on its own or makes it to the plate in its original shape! There are all manner of cream and berry pies in whatever combos strike Norma's fancy at the moment. Just to name a few, there's chocolate, Oreos, banana cream, mocha macaroon, Almond Roca, mint chocolate chip, butter scotch pecan, berry, and/or coconut cream.
A little boy behind us was attempting to eat a slice...I got bored waiting to see if he could finish it all. Only two of us at the table ordered dessert (I'll give you three guesses who was in that group - and the first two don't count...) We both ordered lemon meringue, which was rather tame of us considering the other opportunities.
An excellent selection of wines and beers from Washington state and a variety of specialty drinks are served to complement your meal.
The Crab Room lounge feels like the perfect place for old friends to tell tall tales and lament the one that got away over a cold beer.
The Three Crabs is a good place to take out of town guests to give them a taste of the local bounty as well as the impressive geography.
In the long hallway connecting the two dining rooms, you'll find a wonderful historical photo gallery of local life dating all the way back to the 1800s. It's a great way to teach a little history to the younger set - who think they're on an education-free summer break. And you'll learn a lot too.
Visit their website and you'll find lots of interesting info and, of course, the entire menu: The3Crabs.com.
11 Three Crabs Road
683-4264
Open Daily
11:30 - 'til 9
$$$
The Three Crabs is not only a famous tourist experience, it's a multiple award-winning local fixture that's been around for nearly half a century.
In fact, in 2003 USA Today chose it as one of the "Ten great places to eat seafood by the seashore." The ocean is RIGHT THERE outside the window and the view looks out on the Dungeness Spit and our famous "new" Dungeness Lighthouse.
The Three Crabs made its debut in 1958, when Ernest and Iris Marshall decided that where Sequim-Dungeness met the sea was the perfect location to dine on seafood. The name honors the three original owners: the two brothers and Martha Lofler. (Glad I got that cleared up because otherwise I might have thought it was a comment on personality.)
They've come a long way from those early days where you dined at outdoor picnic tables.
It was Martha who created the menu and brought her culinary touches to the house salad dressings and sauces - including their "world renowned" slaw. Then in 1972, Norma Marshall took the #3 crab position. In addition to a background in restaurant operations, Norma still rises in the wee hours of the morning to lovingly create her original eye popping and imaginative desserts.
Of course, the abundant local seafood food is the big draw.
On the menu is wild (Indian smoked) salmon and halibut, and fillet of sole; along with a variety of shellfish entrees including local little neck clams, shrimp, jumbo prawn cocktails, scallops, oysters supreme and oyster shooters. (Factoid: oysters are always a favorite but before 1960 they weren't available; that is until Ernest started his own oyster farm with Japanese stock.)
They're especially proud of their Taste of Dungeness: clams, crab, prawns, cod, scallops and mussels steamed in beer and garlic butter.
Other specialties include chilled Dungeness cracked crab, crab Louie, an open-faced crab sandwich, and Dungeness crab cakes.
The atmosphere is casual and nautical and the staff is happy you're there.
I have to tell the truth here. This was the first review I've done - and I've been doing this a year now (and how quickly time passes is a subject for another day!) - where I was nervous about my visit.
My trepidation had to do with comments I've heard from both locals and frequent visitors: "It ain't what it used to be." So this was my first visit since moving here four years ago.
I am happy to say that my concerns faded quickly.
When I made our dinner reservations, it was just for the hubby and I. But as the evening approached, our group expanded to four, then eight, and finally nine. Our impromptu party made the experience a lot of fun. And as an added bonus, I got to taste a variety of dishes. I felt like Helen Keller in that scene in The Miracle Worker where Helen is working her way around the table sampling dinner. (Except, I'd like to think my table manners were a wee bit more socially acceptable.)
I ordered the Halibut "dipped in potato buds and griddled." The halibut was moist and the batter light. I asked for their Caesar dressing on my salad and they obliged. (Our waiter was rather new but nevertheless was game to dealing with special requests.) Along with my big baked potato, I ordered an a la cart side dish of steamed vegetables. Three Crabs boasts fresh local produce and the veggies were steamed just right and it's been a long time since I've eaten a sweet carrot...and sweet they were. My dinner also came with Martha's tasty "world-renowned" cole slaw. The dressing is thick, I suppose to compliment the fish (unlike deli slaw which has a lighter consistency).
My hubby ordered the Dungeness Cioppino featuring Neptune's bounty in its original packaging: scallops, clams, crab leg, and prawns, showered with a seafood chowder chock full of halibut, cod, shrimp, and oysters. As Mikey's brothers said, "He liked it!"
Others at our table had griddled crab cakes which were a bit heavy on the bread crumbs - but still mighty tasty. An order of scallops and an order of halibut were both steamed in beer which cooks away in the steaming process but left the fish moist and tender. The sirloin steak was cooked medium rare as requested and was juicy and flavorful.
And then there were desserts - and it's awfully hard to pass them up because there's a big case filled with choices right there as you walk in the door.
Norma's homemade pies are sooo tall, it's a wonder the slice stands up on its own or makes it to the plate in its original shape! There are all manner of cream and berry pies in whatever combos strike Norma's fancy at the moment. Just to name a few, there's chocolate, Oreos, banana cream, mocha macaroon, Almond Roca, mint chocolate chip, butter scotch pecan, berry, and/or coconut cream.
A little boy behind us was attempting to eat a slice...I got bored waiting to see if he could finish it all. Only two of us at the table ordered dessert (I'll give you three guesses who was in that group - and the first two don't count...) We both ordered lemon meringue, which was rather tame of us considering the other opportunities.
An excellent selection of wines and beers from Washington state and a variety of specialty drinks are served to complement your meal.
The Crab Room lounge feels like the perfect place for old friends to tell tall tales and lament the one that got away over a cold beer.
The Three Crabs is a good place to take out of town guests to give them a taste of the local bounty as well as the impressive geography.
In the long hallway connecting the two dining rooms, you'll find a wonderful historical photo gallery of local life dating all the way back to the 1800s. It's a great way to teach a little history to the younger set - who think they're on an education-free summer break. And you'll learn a lot too.
Visit their website and you'll find lots of interesting info and, of course, the entire menu: The3Crabs.com.
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