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Cracked Crab

Claimed
1,257 reviews
#3 of 70 Restaurants in Pismo Beach
$$ - $$$, American, Seafood, Grill
751 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449-2529
+1 805-773-2722
Website
Menu
Closed Now:See all hours
All photos (258)
All photos (258)
Certificate of Excellence

Ratings and reviews

4.5 1,257 reviews
#4 of 37 American in Pismo Beach
#3 of 68 Restaurants in Pismo Beach
Certificate of Excellence2016 - 2019 Winner
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Mentioned in

Food and ambience

Location and contact

751 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449-2529
Website
Email
+1 805-773-2722
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Menu

APPETIZERS
Crab Cocktail
Fresh Dungeness Crab meat from Washington served with tequila cocktail sauce, lime, roasted corn and fresh avocado.
USD 16
Shrimp Cocktail
Mexican style cocktail with Florida rock shrimp, spicy tequila cocktail sauce, red onion, fresh cilantro, fresh avocado, and corn tortilla chips.
USD 16
Blue Crab Cakes
More crab, less filling. Jumbo lump Blue Crab cakes served over rich seasoned sherry-cream sauce.
USD 16
Alaskan King Crab Tails
AA Dutch Harbor Alaska delicacy, tempura battered to a golden brown, accompanied with sweet and sour red chili dipping sauce.
USD 14
Crab Stuffed Poblano Chile
A generous amount of jumbo lump Blue Crab meat and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with fresh salsa and warm corn tortillas.
USD 14
Local Abalone
Sautéed with lemon beere blanc sauce, served on the shell.
USD 16
Calamari
Thick strips of steak, tempura battered, served with sweet and sour Thai chili dipping sauce.
USD 12
Steamed Clams
In a special seasoned white wine cream sauce made to order. Served with sourdough rolls for dipping.
USD 15
Steamed Mussels
In a special seasoned white wine cream sauce made to order. Served with sourdough rolls for dipping.
USD 13
Oysters On The 1/2 Shell
Fresh cold-water crisp oysters served with spicy horseradish cocktail sauce.
USD 15
SOUPS & SALADS
Clam Chowder
New England style; cream, clams, potatoes, and seasonings. Served with local baked sourdough rolls.
Cup USD 6
Bowl USD 9
Crab Bisque
Rich and creamy sherry and crab puree, with a hint of cayenne.
Cup USD 7
Bowl USD 11
Seafood Gumbo
A spicy crab stock and tomato based soup with gumbo filet, okra, a variety of seafood, Cajun sausage, peppers, celery, onions and other flavors. Served around basmati rice.
Cup USD 7
Bowl USD 11
House Salad
Fresh mixed greens, cucumbers, carrot curls, local tomato, olives and croutons, topped with fresh Blue Crab meat. We suggest our house balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
USD 8
Clam Chowder and Salad
Cup USD 12
Bowl USD 15
Crab Bisque and Salad
Cup USD 14
Bowl USD 17
Seafood Gumbo and Salad
Cup USD 14
Bowl USD 17
Spinach and Arugula Salad
Shaved red onion, toasted pine nuts, blue cheese crumbles, and dried cranberries, tossed with a white balsamic vinaigrette.
USD 12
Salad with Chicken USD 15
Crab Louis
A legendary San Francisco salad topped with an original Crab Louis dressing, with egg, olives, fresh tomato and finished with fresh Dungeness Crab from Washington.
USD 20
Fuji Apple Salad
Refreshing, crisp chopped Romaine hearts, diced Fuji apple, spiced pecans and blue cheese crumbles tossed with our house balsamic vinaigrette.
USD 12
SANDWICHES, TACOS & MORE
Fish Tacos, San Felipe Style (2)
Alaskan Halibut, batter-dipped and deep-fried on corn tortillas with Napa cabbage, onions, tomato and special tomatillo mayonnaise. Served with fresh-cut fries.
USD 12
One Fish Taco With Fresh-cut Fries USD 9
Shrimp Po' Boy Sandwich
Florida Rock Shrimp, served on a grilled French roll with Napa cabbage, pickles, tomato, cheddar cheese, cocktail sauce, and tomatillo mayonnaise. The way I had it in New Orleans. Served with fresh-cut fries.
USD 14
King Crab Po' Boy
Alaskan King crab tail, tempura battered and deep fried. Served on a grilled French roll with Napa cabbage, pickles, tomato, cheddar cheese, cocktail sauce, and tomatillo mayonnaise. Served with fresh-cut fries.
USD 14
Crab Melt
Served hot and opened faced; grilled French bread slices topped with tomato, seasoned jumbo lump crab and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Served with fresh-cut fries.
USD 18
Soft Shell Crab Sandwich
A jumbo soft shell crab, panko-style fried. Served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, three mustard mayonnaise and fresh-cut fries. Experiment at your own risk.
USD 16
Crab Roll
New England lobster roll style, with West Coast crab! Fresh Dungeness crabmeat from Washington with a touch of Louis dressing served on a grilled split top bun with crisp iceberg lettuce and sliced tomato. Served with fresh cut fries.
USD 19
Chicken Sandwich
Spiced dry rubbed and char broiled with sliced red onion, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise on a grilled French roll. Served with fresh cut fries.
USD 12
Cheeseburger in Pismo
O.K., so you don't eat fish. Double burger, 1/2 pound of in house formed patties, double cheese served with mayo, lettuce, tomato, crisp dill pickle chips and fresh-cut fries. Served on a fresh baked brioche bun.
USD 11
Single Cheeseburger with Fries
USD 6
THE HOUSE SPECIALTY
THE HOUSE SPECIALTY -BIG BUCKET FOR TWO
$79. Create your own bucket! your choice of three items listed below. Your shellfish choices are steamed with spicy Cajun sausage, red skin potatoes and corn cobetts. Casually served; dumped on your table! Accompanied with drawn butter, homemade cocktail sauce, homemade triple mustard sauce, warm sourdough rolls, and tools for pickin' and crackin'. Please select three items. Additional charges apply to listed premium items.
Alaskan Red King Crab
USD 16
Slipper Lobster
USD 10
Wild Gulf Shrimp
Live Whole Dungeness Crab from Washington
USD 14
Dungeness Crab from Alaska
Clams
Mussels
Opilio (Snow) Crab
Alaskan Bairdi Crab
USD 6
THE HOUSE SPECIALTY -SINGLE BUCKET (FOR ONE PERSON)
$57. Please select two items. Additional charges apply to premium items.
Alaskan Red King Crab
USD 16
Alaskan Bairdi Crab
USD 6
Live Whole Dungeness Crab from Washington
USD 14
Slipper Lobster
USD 10
Wild Gulf Shrimp
Mussels
Dungeness Crab from Alaska
Opilio (Snow) Crab
Clams
THE HOUSE SPECIALTY -EXTRA PORTION OF ANY ONE ITEM
Dungeness Crab from Alaska
USD 24
Opilio (snow) Crab
USD 24
Alaskan Bairdi Crab
USD 30
Live Whole Dungeness Crab from Washington
USD 38
Wild Gulf Shrimp
USD 24
Mussels
USD 24
Clams
USD 24
Slipper Lobster
USD 34
ONE-POUND (OR MORE) CRAB DINNERS
All crab dinners are served with seasonal vegetables, imported basmati rice and warm sourdough rolls. All crab dinners may be ordered bathed in garlic.
Alaskan Bairdi Crab
USD 45
Alaskan Red King Crab
USD 52
Alaskan Dungeness Crab from Alaska
USD 38
Live Whole Dungeness Crab From Washington
USD 48
Opilio (Snow) Crab
USD 36
Whole Jumbo Alaskan Red King Crab
Price per pound, ranging in size. A great family experience! Please ask your server for details. Served with spicy Cajun sausage, red skin potatoes and corn cobetts, and all the sauces for dipping and tools for pickin'.
USD 50
FRESH FISH AND OTHER ENTREES
Fish and Chips
Alaskan Halibut tempura beer battered, deep fried to a golden brown and served with house made tartar sauce, coleslaw and fresh-cut fries.
USD 16
Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi
Pan roasted medium rare, topped with papaya slaw, served with basmati rice and grilled broccolini.
USD 25
Blackened Day Boat Scallops
Blackened and pan seared topped with grilled pineapple salsa. Served with soft, creamy polenta and sauteed spinach.
USD 27
Fresh Local Swordfish
Marinated and char-grilled medium rare, topped with chimichurri, served with basmati rice and grilled local asparagus.
USD 28
Seafood Enchiladas
Slipper lobster and sweet Oregon pink shrimp with roasted Poblano peppers rolled in white corn tortillas. Topped with Chipotle cream sauce and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with Spanish rice and fresh Pico de Gallo.
USD 19
Seafood Pasta
Florida rock shrimp and julienne king crab sauteed with crimini mushrooms, and broccolini in a white wine, opal basil pesto cream sauce over penne pasta.
USD 26
Half Roasted Chicken Dinner
Mary's Free Range Organic chicken served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, grilled broccolini and a crimini mushroom pan gravy.
USD 24
Filet Mignon
Half pound of in house cut tenderloin, char-broiled to your liking. Topped with a blackberry cabernet demi-glace, served with roasted garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes and grilled broccolini.
USD 38
Maine Lobster Tail
Sweet Maine lobster tail steamed then brushed with garlic-lemon butter and finished on the char-broiler. Served with imported basmati rice and fresh, steamed local vegetables.
USD 48
BEST OF BOTH
Filet Mignon and Bairdi Crab
Half pound house cut Filet Mignon topped with blackberry cabernet demi-glace, 3/4 pound Alaskan Bairdi crab, grilled broccolini and roasted garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes.
USD 60
Filet Mignon and Alaskan Red King Crab
Half pound house cut Filet Mignon topped with blackberry cabernet demi-glace, 3/4 pound of Alaskan Red King Crab, grilled broccolini and roasted garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes.
USD 69
Filet Mignon and Maine Lobster Tail
Half pound house cut Filet Mignon topped with blackberry cabernet demi-glace, 10 oz Maine lobster tail, grilled broccolini and roasted garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes.
USD 68
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Details

About
Our Mission To provide excellent food and service to all of our guest in a clean, comfortable, casual AND FUN atmosphere. Serving the finest seafood available, in a most casual style.™ The Details of Our Philosophy Although we serve fine food in a nice atmosphere, please dress casual should you choose us for lunch or dinner. Our concept is largely based on dumping a bucket of various shellfish on your table with a mallet, crab crackers, and other tools to get the job done. It can get messy, but hey, we clean it up! We feature "in season" product, printing our menu daily based on what's available. We serve several local fresh fish daily, and use local farmers for fresh in season produce all year…
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
CUISINES
American, Seafood, Grill
FEATURES
Free Wifi, Takeout, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (1,257)
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All reviews crab seafood potatoes corn on the cob sourdough roll key lime pie bisque abalone house salad fresh fish calamari fries bread minute wait worth the wait visit pismo bucket
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1 - 10 of 1,164 reviews
Reviewed 6 days ago via mobile
🦀Well worth the 1&1/2 hour🦞

Well worth the 1&1/2 hour wait considering it was a holiday day week. Your thinking that’s a long wait but no worries they will call you. If the house bar area is full just go next door or across the street, cool nice bars to...More

Date of visit: February 2020
Thank edrick20142014
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile
The best Crab!

The crab bisque and crab salad are amazing Just order the soup and salad for lunch and you won't be disappointed. For dinner we usually order the bucket with a couple different kinds of crab cooked with garlic. Messy but so yummy!

Date of visit: February 2020
Thank stelleenie
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile
Friendly evening

This restaurant is worth a visit if you like crab, but be prepared to pay over the odds.... It's expensive!! But out experience is that the US is expensive wherever you go... Especially when you're expected to add 20% to an already over priced bill....More

Date of visit: February 2020
Thank Andrew_J_Craig
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile
Overpriced and overrated?

Food was OK, prices are very high! Service was very good, gumbo was tasty but not outstanding. Great central location in Pismo, but other places have better value.

Date of visit: February 2020
Thank William P
Reviewed 3 weeks ago
this is it if you love crab

the cracked crab is the place. Great service. The waiters help you understand how to order the crab you will like best. they are friendly and the place is very clean. You will not be disappointed.

Date of visit: January 2020
Thank Submitted
Reviewed 4 weeks ago
Highlight of the week

We were in Pismo for the week, and we saved ourselves for this treat after we promised we would walk 5,000 steps...tomorrow. We went whole hog for the bucket for two, with a helpful tip from our waiter who suggested adding the clams as an...More

Date of visit: January 2020
Thank CADreamers28
Reviewed January 16, 2020
Too high priced

This was our first time eating here. It wasn’t busy at all, we were seating right away, they are really over priced tho which the reviews stated so expected that. They don’t serve bottled water which isn’t great when you don’t enjoy the taste of...More

Date of visit: January 2020
Thank MalissaC26
Reviewed January 12, 2020
We put on our bibs, had a 2 person bucket of crab, and made a mess while enjoying our meal!

We had a 2 crab bucket with Snow and Alaskan Red King crab legs with 2 corn cobs, potatoes, and sourdough bread. It was so much fun cracking the shells and digging out the meat to dip into the melted butter. The service was excellent...More

Date of visit: January 2020
Thank cocothyme
Reviewed January 10, 2020 via mobile
More than cracked crab

We have been to this restaurant several times, and always had a good meal. This time, we were shocked at the cost of the cracked crab in a tub! The special of the day for 2 people was $125. However, there are lots of other...More

Date of visit: January 2020
1  Thank Elizabeth K
Reviewed January 7, 2020
Best crab I've ever had

I have a new favorite spot in Pismo. The crab is fantastic and the staff is wonderful. They go above and beyond with service and friendliness. The mashed potatoes are to die for. Skip the crab pot, do the dinner plate and enjoy. It is...More

Date of visit: June 2019
Thank larinaf2018
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Questions & Answers
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See all 6 questions
Mel_Paris
December 27, 2016|
AnswerShow all 7 answers
Response from Bitnick1 | Reviewed this property |
We JUST ate there the day before yesterday, and yes, they did hand us a beer/wine list. You can also go to their website and email them and they will respond directly to you. This is a family-run business and they are very... More
1
Vote
Pinot09
July 29, 2016|
AnswerShow all 7 answers
Response from Peggy S | Reviewed this property |
I would get there by 5:00. I know it's early but if you wait until 6:00 you'll be waiting outside on the bench.
2
Votes
lauragans
June 10, 2016|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from Peggy S | Reviewed this property |
You can see their entire menue online. Some things are pricey, like the clam bake, but other things are within average. It's one of my favorite places to eat. It's really a special place.
0
Votes
12
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