Soft-Shell Crabs Will Transport You to the Summer You Wish You Were Having

The best seafood of the season is hitting menus right now, and we've got all the info on where to find it.


Oyster House’s soft-shell crab BLT | Photo by Danielle Amabile

It’s a cliche to say that spring is the best time of year to eat in restaurants, but it’s also true. Cooks are inspired by the melting winter frost which gives way to fleeting micro-seasons of green garlic, local lettuces, fresh lamb, delicate peas and perfect strawberries. But just because we can’t eat in our favorite restaurants doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in the pleasure of watching menus reflect the shifting seasons. Enter: soft-shell crabs, the ultimate harbinger of a summer at the beach. Typically available from May through September, soft-shell crabs are blue crabs harvested while they’re molting, so their shells are soft enough to eat in their entirety. As we tip over from late spring into full summer, soft-shell crabs are hitting menus, promising to transport us to the coast, even if we can’t actually go.

Oyster House
Alongside soft-shell crabs, BLTs are one of the great joys of summer, so it makes sense to combine them. All summer, Oyster House will be offering a buttermilk-brined, cornmeal-fried soft-shell crab sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a potato roll.

ITV
A softie sandwich is a classic presentation, but ITV is kicking it up a notch with pickled pole beans, white kimchi and smoked paprika.

 

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Di Bruno Bros.
If you’d like to cook your own crabs but don’t want to deal with cleaning them, order fresh crabs from their seafood selection, or get them pre-fried to add to salads, sandwiches, pasta or whatever you cook up at home.

Good Dog Bar
Starting Thursday, May 28th, Good Dog Bar will be serving a softie sandwich with pickled green tomatoes, on a house made bun. Alongside house-cut potato chips, it’s the perfect summer meal.

Noord
A softie BLT is topped with Old Bay mayo for that Maryland seashore vibe. It’s available as part of their three-course takeout prixe-fixe, with your choice of appetizer and dessert.

Bud & Marilyn’s
Bud & Marilyn’s sandwich is topped with pickled Fresno chilies, gingered cucumbers and carrot slaw, plus a side of fries because you need them.

Morimoto
If you’re a fan of shrimp tempura, soft-shell crab rolls are an excellent choice for that crispy, crunchy, seafood fix. Morimoto’s are available daily for pick-up or delivery, alongside other classic and seasonal sushi rolls.

 

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Cafe Aldo Lamberti
Out in the suburbs, Cafe Aldo Lamberti is doing a pan-seared crab, for a less deep-fried vibe, served with squid ink pasta. To-go wines are also available.