I love going to New Jersey and having fresh seafood. My last visit I got to go to a 40 year old restaurant called The Crab’s Claw Inn.
Inside did feel like an old Inn, one that you might find tucked away in the mountains, not near the beach. They had the fireplace going to help warm everyone up from the cold outside.
The table started off with a pitcher of sangrias. We went for the red. We also got it without ice so it would not get watered down. It was still cold when it came out so it still was refreshing. They used a dryer red wine so it was not overly sweet.
The crab dip was the first appetizer to arrive at the table. They used a generous amount of fresh crabmeat that was sweet. They blended it with cheddar cheese, horseradish, chives, and Old Bay seasoning. The seasoning and horseradish added a little spice but the creamy cheese calmed it down. I loved how much cheese they used. The crabmeat and cheese paired well together. They served tortilla chips on the side. They were perfect for scooping the dip and added the right amount of crunch.
The other appetizer that came out was the blackened tuna bites. They served large pieces of tuna. They were covered with blackening seasoning and cooked to the perfect medium. The seasoning gave the over bite a salty taste. It was balanced out by the creamy chipotle ranch sauce that they served on the side. The tuna was so tender I could tell how fresh it was.
My dinner came with a choice of soup or salad. I went for the Manhattan clam chowder. This is one of my favorite soups. The vegetable broth was loaded with fresh vegetables and nice chunks of potato. I love when soups have a lot of potatoes. It helps make the soup filling. The soup was also loaded with fresh tender clams. The soup had a great savory taste. It had a comforting feeling.
For my dinner I got the shrimp stuffed with crabmeat. They semi-butterflied the shrimp so that they could stuff the crabmeat mixture inside. The mixture reminded me of a crab cake. They used a lot of crab in the mixture as well.
They baked the shrimp in a little butter until the crab mixture became crispy on the outside. The shrimp were tender. I loved the crab. It was sweet and the filling added additional sweetness with a hint of savory from the spices. They also served some fresh carrots and a baked potato on the side to help make this a complete meal.
To finish off this wonderful dinner I ordered their homemade rice pudding for dessert. The pudding was creamy and sweet. It had a wonderful accent of cinnamon. They also topped it with a ton of fluffy whipped cream. Even the whipped cream had a sprinkle of cinnamon. It was delicious.
The food was fantastic at The Crab’s Claw Inn. I knew it had to be since they have been serving the area for 40 years. If you are in the area and wanting some fresh seafood, head on over.
Check out their menu at www.thecrabsclaw.com
Enjoy!
T
