Crab Cracker
(425) 827-8700
452 Central Way
Kirkland,
WA
98033
47.6787
-122.1997
Neighborhood: Moss Bay
What People Are Saying About Crab Cracker
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Dinghies, nets, buoys and other fishing gear hang on the walls and in the high rafters of the warehouse-like wood building, which can feel drafty in winter. Befitting the setting, jeans, shorts and T-shirts suffice, even next to suits. At lunch, more co-worker groups gather, but happy hour and friendly service draws a noisy, jovial bunch.
The Food
The long menu is organized by preparation method. In addition, specials treat fresh seafood with highbrow adornments like port demi-glace and shiitake-brandy sauce. At its heart, this is a place for old faves like steamer buckets, red and white clam chowders and deep-fried combo platters. Dungeness crab turns up frequently in flakes and chunks atop salads, adrift in chunky bisque or mounded atop Louie salad and stuffed into butterflied prawns. How is all that crab? Mostly sweet, solid and firm. Cocktail cups of the meat are a simple, sure winner.
User Reviews
MichaelParker
March 17, 2009
This is a sorry excuse for a restaurant. Bad service, high prices and terrible food. How can you mess up salmon in Seattle? This place should never have been allowed to open their doors. I took one of my most important clients there and it was the worst I have ever seen. It was extremely over priced for the quality of food and the worst is how dirty the place is..........more like slum dog restaurant. A complete embarrassment. There are plenty of great sea food restaurants in Kirkland. This is not one of them.
read full review
SheltieOne
July 15, 2008
We have been going to The Crab Cracker for years. The food is excellent and the service is great. I go even though I don't like sea food because my husband loves sea food. At least here I am always able to find a dish that I will enjoy. The parking is great and it is free. The only complaint we would have is that it needs a good cleaning. I wish they would get rid of the dirty runners and replace them. The wood floor also needs a good cleaning and the beams overhead need to be dusted. The food really is terrific and the service can' t be beat.
read full review
MamaMaddox
March 22, 2008
We had reservations at 6:30 for nine of us to celebrate my birthday. We were seated promptly and attended by a very enthusiastic (but new?) waiter. The table next to us was subsequently filled with "famous" local people. The manager himself and two waiters served them appetizers, cocktails, wine and dinner all evening while our dinners languished somewhere in the kitchen. Our dishes were brought by our struggling waiter one plate at a time ..after the other table was served. My daughter ordered the salmon special (with mango salsa) and got a special with lemon buerre. When questioned, the waiter avowed it to be the mango... My mom and three friends had the grilled combo- the plates were cold and obviously had sat some time. The shrimp was so dry and chewy that my mom couldn't finish it. My boil was very boiled...the clams and mussels were over done and the crab was dried out. The number of unopened mussels was about one quarter; the number of unopened but broken...hence "not good" mussels was large enough to flavor the dish (yuck). The tuna etouffee was bland, pale, oily and lacked any of the traditional finishes: no sherry, no parsley, no lemon...nothing. My husband's fish and chips was outstanding. My daughter's grilled salmon was fine. My guests were too polite to complain- I wasn't aware of their discomfort until later. Over priced, poor food and poor service. We will plan our celebrations elswhere.
read full reviewThe Details on Crab Cracker
What to Drink:
A good wine list--heavy on chardonnays and with selections ranging from $16 to triple-digits--lends an urban grace note.
