I have eaten at Crab's Claw 3 times in the last couple of years and can say that I have had a 5 Star experience every time. Look forward to the next visit as well. The food keeps getting better. I was there for a late lunch last week and was lucky that the Mahi sandwich was the special. It was delicious. We also had Conch Fritters for an appetizer. We ate on the deck overlooking the ocean and actually got to see a dolphin swimming by! Service was great and I could tell they really pitched in and got the table next to ours cleaned off quickly when the patrons left their table. I'll definitely be back ASAP. read more

We were hesitant to try this place due to the inconsistent reviews, however I'm so glad we did not let that deter us. Our server was attentive, told us the specials, and answered all our questions. You must try the warm crab dip and order it spicy. It is served with warm seasoned pita style bread and delicious. We also ordered a pound of steamed crab, a pick three with lobster, steamed shrimp and scallops. Fried shrimp basket and lobster Mac n cheese. Fresh well seasoned seafood, yummy sides, and we walked out with full happy bellies. Watching and hearing the ocean waves upstairs was a bonus. If in the area try it out, and see for yourself. The only suggestion is ask the price of daily specials. The lobster Mac n cheese was $75! Would not have ordered it if I knew it was that much. read more

Had the best meal & experience of my entire vacation eating out at this wonderful spot. We were given a perfect table for four on the top level balcony overlooking the ocean right as the sun was setting. The food was amazing all around and the drinks were top notch. Our server Patricia was absolutely AWESOME and feel blessed if you get her as your server because she is the best! Unpretentious and just all around top notch. I'll be dreaming of their Blackened Tuna 'til I can get back there. *And make sure to ask for a side of their House Made Jamaican Jam Jam Hot Sauce [but know it packs a heaty punch!] read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Worst service I have ever received. We waited at our table for 2 hours. Crab dip was S L O W, but good. Fish and chips and grouper sandwich never came. Flagged down the waitress when said the fish and chips had been under the "warmer" for half an hour. Just waiting on my fish sandwich. Paid for our app and 2bdrinks and left. NEVER coming back. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Nice view, terrible service. - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

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This was, without question, one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had. The first time we went, we stood at the counter for around five minutes while staff wandered around and completely ignored us. No greeting, no "we'll be right with you," nothing. Meanwhile, you could hear cooks in the back screaming at each other and slamming pots and pans like a circus, not a kitchen. It was so unprofessional and uncomfortable that we walked out without ever being seated. Against our better judgment, we gave them a second chance and went back the very next day at around 4 p.m. on a slower afternoon. Huge mistake. Our waitress was flat-out terrible. She ignored simple requests, including my wife asking for lemons, which never showed up until I got up and went to the bar myself. Her attitude and lack of effort were so bad that I finally told her to just leave our table alone because she was making the experience worse. The food matched the service: awful. Our steamed pot was sitting in what looked like half a bowl of dirty water, and I ended up dumping it into the already horrible clam chowder just to get it out of the way. The rice was so bad we sent it back and had it taken off the bill. Nothing had any care, flavor, or quality to it; it felt like they just threw things on a plate and hoped we wouldn't complain. Between the chaos in the kitchen, the incompetent, rude service, and food that was barely edible, this place is an absolute joke. We will never be back, and I strongly suggest you don't waste your time or money here either. read more

Everything was amazing about this seafood oceanfront restaurant. The seafood is not your run -of- the -meal cuisine but kicked up a notch With a Caribbean flair. My crab cakes were delicious, unlike any I've ever had with rice, black beans and spices. Oh so good. My friend had the Caribbean oxtail over polenta and thought it was very good. The view....... Spectacular!! read more

Some items were hit and misses The crab cake dish was amazing But the shrimp in the boils were visibly dirty Honestly only giving it a good rating bc the staff was on doing the best despite the high turnout that night and the fact we did not have reservations yet we were seated within the hour read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Pick 2 boil. Not worth it - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

On the beach with a great view. Depending on your taste, you can get items that are either sweet or with heat. I have tried a couple of the menu items but my favorite is the sweet heat blackened snapper. Hush puppies are a nice addition to the meal. read more

Great location, forgettable dining experience. We sat on the upper deck and did not receive service for about 20 minutes despite having a reservation. Both parties on either side of us were seated and had drinks well after we arrived. I decided against ordering a bar drink due to this timeframe (we didn't get a drink menu to look at during this time either). When I went inside to use the bathroom there was a large group of waitstaff near the kitchen door. I think they just forgot to tell someone we were there honestly. The food was then okay. Prices did not reflect to their online menu by about $10 more for the steam pots. Will be looking for other choices next time we are in town. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

terrible, slow service. Waitress was distracted and not very accommodating. My salad was just a bunch of junk lettuce, and a couple tomatoes. Not at all the pile of fresh vegetables promised on the menu. My husbands tuna was mushy, his roll was stale and burnt. very disappointing as we usually go there every time we're in North Carolina, but this will be our last time. read more

The food was awful. Steaks and lobster were rubbery, conch fritters were burnt, hard & greasy, steamed little necks were covered in old bay seasoning, fried tomatoes pretty bad. My plate had a big chip. Service started off ok & went downhill. While my husband helped my mom down all the stairs to the car, I waited for her to return to bring the check. It was not handicap accessible, a lot of stairs for my 82 yr old mom. It was loud with dishes being dropped. For the price $223 & expect a tip of minimum of $50. I have never gave a bad review before. So disappointed. read more

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Our food was amazing! Blackened snapper, tuna burger, Swiss chicken sandwich. All was piping hot. But I could not eat all my meal. I got it boxed up to go. It was bagged in a very wrinkled used Walmart bag. I had to leave it. I imagined someone's stuff previously in that bag. It turned my stomach. Service was great. The ocean view was great as well. read more

We enjoy Atlantic Beach and our visits to Crab's Claw Oceanfront Restaurant and love the ambiance and service. read more

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Good outdoor view. Slow service but also seemed. The food was moderate but expensive and not worth the 45 minute wait after ordering. Won't be coming back. read more

Crabs Claw is located right on Atlantic Beach, next to public parking which was very convenient. We made reservations for the top deck and were seated relatively quickly. When we were sat, it took about 20 minutes to be served, only after my husband asked another person on the wait staff if we could get our drink order taken. We noticed a lot of the people around us with empty drinks and wait staff having a lot of apologies for how long things were taking. We put in an order of conch fritters, which were okay. The sauce with them was an orange/pineapple sauce. My husband got a blackened mahi sandwich which he said was a little dry. I got a steam pot. I felt like the crab was a little over cooked, but overall it was tasty. Nice view on the top deck but probably wouldn't be back any time soon due to the service and mediocre food. read more

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I wouldn't step foot back in The Crab Claw if the food were free because the entire place to me is an unsanitary mess that feels like a health hazard waiting to happen. Just a quick glance into the kitchen you can see cooks touching the food with bare hands. (Honestly curious how they're holding a 90 on the health rating with the lack of cleanliness and spilled drinks everywhere) The real nightmare, however, is the owner, Tony. you can literally hear the excuse of a owner running her mouth and talking shit about all the customers and employees. Her rude and disrespectful attitude is genuinely baffling, especially since she's walking around with a God complex while looking like something straight out of a book of horrors. Someone clearly needs to go in the back and smoke a pack to calm down, because having that much ego while looking that terrifying and running a grimy kitchen is a bold, delusional choice! God bless the people who have to sit there 24/7 and listen to her! read more

This is maybe my second visit to Crabs claw, normally the wait can get long but I learned you can call to make a reservation not sure if that's new but good to know. Overall a great experience, ~30min wait for 4 to sit outside. It was a really windy day (20mph+) but they had things weighted down well on the tables. Not overly busy but our waitress was covering a lot, and still able to keep a good check on us. Only reason for 4* was due to the app taking awhile, and being pretty small and no complementary hush puppies! Would still visit again all of the food was very well prepared read more

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Absolutely loved the Blackened Red Snapper. Spectacular and perfectly seasoned. Great location right on the waterfront and great service too with accommodations on the patio. Highly recommend. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

We made a reservation for dinner. We had a short wait while they got our table ready. We were thrilled to eat outside in the upper deck to enjoy the sunset. We ordered drinks and an order of mussels to share for an appetizer. They were so good! Perfect start for our meal. I ordered the grouper sandwich. It was a generous piece of fish and cooked perfectly. My salad was fresh and tasty! My friends also enjoyed their entrees too. We couldn't leave without a shark fin. I hadn't been to the area in some time and I was so happy to see they still had them on the menu! It was just as good as I remembered too! We had great service the whole visit! read more

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The Crab's Claw does have a great location. On the other hand - my husband was served the wrong beer and the mint leaves in my mojito were rotten before they replaced them. Our lobster bisques were ordinary. The seafood pasta noodles were tough. If you want more than a beer overlooking the beach, we don't recommend it. read more

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Over the past four years-we have continued to try to give Crab's Claw chance after chance for a nice ocean front dinner. Literally every single time we have some sort of terrible experience happen to our family and friends. The food is good-if it comes-however most of the time it takes over an hour to get delivered, if at all. In addition, the servers are rude, (just now our server THREW the bill at my elderly mother). This could be a nice place if only they would get ANY, but also many, nice servers that could help run the restaurant. read more

On July 13, 2025, our party of 12 had 6:30 pm reservations and was seated promptly. While the initial drink order was delivered on time, we did not receive any follow-up regarding additional beverages, nor were we checked on throughout our meal. We received the hors d'oeuvres, but as we waited for our main courses, we noticed that other tables were being filled, served, and then left, while we continued to wait. We were finally cashed out after closing at 8:45 pm. It was very frustrating. The gratuity was added based on the total amount, including tax, rather than on the pre-tax subtotal, which is the standard practice. $ 554.00 = subtotal $ 110.80 = gratuity ($99.72 = 18%) $ 37.40 = 6.75% tax $ 28.09 = non-cash up charge $ 730.29 Total. During a 14-minute phone conversation on 07/25/2025, Antoinette Oberci, Executive Chef/Owner, expressed a willingness to make adjustments to address the poor service and food quality issues we encountered. I believed that she would process adjustments or refunds for the cards as discussed, but none of the three cards have had any adjustments made. I want to recap the conversation: 12035 party of three (3) $70.00 for the King crab legs.  The order was delivered after everyone's dinner was over. The server stated, "forgot" to enter them, or the kitchen didn't "see" the order.  $ 152.00 subtotal $  30.40 gratuity ($27.36 = 18%) $  10.26 = 6.75% tax,  $    7.71 =  non-cash up charge $ 200.37 charged to card 12036 party of three (3)  $75.00 for the Steamer Pot. When it was delivered, it was so salty that it was refused and sent back.  The Shrimp & Lobsta Pasta was overly salted as well, but we sorted through what was palatable. $  234.00 = subtotal $.  46.80 = gratuity ($42.12 = 18%) $   15.80 = 6.75% tax $   11.86 = non-cash up charge $  308.46 charged to card 12037 party of six (6) Shrimp & Lobsta Pasta did not arrive as a pasta dish; it arrived as an overly salted soup.  $ 168.00 = subtotal $   33.60 = gratuity ($30.24 = 18%) $   11.34 = 6.75% tax $    8.52 =  non-cash up charge $  221.46 charged to card The excuses we were given by the employees for the overly salted food were "they use Old Bay". "It is the cook's first day." The excuse for lack of attentiveness while we were first to be seated and the last to leave was "someone didn't show up for work". I suggested a lower-sodium solution for "Old Bay": "J.O.", based out of Maryland, has a product that has 50% less sodium. Their crab boil spice, due to the need for a salt that sticks to the crab, is higher in sodium and needs to be combined with other spices to produce the desired flavor.  I didn't immediately review this experience on media like Yelp, TripAdvisor, or any social media due to respect for the business owner. I preferred to allow correcting their employees' failures before proceeding. I began looking for a website with an actual menu online, but at every hyperlink to access Crabsclaw, a '502' gateway message or '404' not found message was given. *After checking other media sites, it became obvious there is a need for website attention. Antoinette's Response: "DID YOU REALLY STALK MY PERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE?" read more

Food was great! The service was amazing! The view was just as good! Will definitely be back when we are in the area. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Bottom patio seating - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Former EMPLOYEE here . i just quit tonight & i want to put out there for the future employees / current & future customers. this place is a HELL HOLE . unsanitary , toxic work environment , all of the above. everybody talks about everybody there & they literally be in the kitchen touching y'all's food with their bare hands and putting it in front of yall to eat it, which is why i'd never eat there. & don't get me started on the owner TONY. she's very disrespectful to her employees & while working there i felt very targeted. She's thrown frying pans at employees, degraded them because of small mistakes, & talks to them like they're NOTHING . while working there i felt very targeted. today, may 11th 2026, it was brought to my attention that there was a bad review left on google about the food that SHE took forever to bring up. she blamed me for the review. also again today, a couple sends back their food because it was nasty to them, when i brought the food to the back to let her know they didn't like it she started freaking out and screaming saying that it was my fault and that i needed a more experienced server with my while taking other tables orders. get over it tony your food was fucking disgusting . anywho , never work here if you're a beginner in waitressing & eat the food at your own cost . read more

Went on New Years Day to watch the Penguin Plunge...Sat on the deck and view was great! Ordered a round of drinks.... Bloody Mary with Tito's... asked for a single shot in a large glass! Came out with a lime wedge, was told they ran out of olives... ok! Ordered meals and food was ok! Received bill... Bloody Mary was $14.00 with an up charge of $8.00 for Tito's... was never told there was an upcharge for Tito's! Asked to speak to manager and out came another server who told me manager won't come out! Would not do anything... so for three Bloody Mary's we got charge $24.00 additional.. will not be going back... lack of customer service and trying to upcharge on liquor without letting diners know... sneaky and rude! read more

We had a delicious and delightful lunch with the famous crab dip to start with. We had a perfect view of the beach and ocean. We enjoyed a bottle of wine, ordered shrimp and grits and the oxtail. Both of the entrees were absolutely outstanding and savory. The portions were huge! The key lime pie was a perfect choice for us to split and finish the enjoyable experience! Our server was great and checked on us regularly. It's definitely a perfect spot to grab a beverage or relaxing meal. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Friendly staff and good service but food and drinks were definitely lacking. Smallest crab cake with a lot of filler and very little crab meat. Mixed Drinks were not very good either read more

First I called another restaurant for a reservation and hostess said, they are not taking reservations after 5pm. Table for 2, not sure. We could sit at bar. So I called the Crab Claw and hostess was very nice. 1/2 star. Took a reservation no problem. First, pricing here, I felt wasn't bad. Not sure why people complained. Drinks and wine prices were OK. Food portions were large. We sat upstairs alot of people were outside. A bit smokey from the kitchen downstairs. Service by Kristiana 1.5 stars, was attentive and good. Glad we didn't get Tracey tonight! Food, would not recommend their conch fritters. Conch were very tough. Stuffing was ok. Had the Blackened Tuna Sandwich with red potatoes. Potatoes were good and cooked with an Ole bay season. Tuna was just ok. Spouse had the Grilled Mahi which was good not great. Food 1 star. I originally went to have Blackened wahoo. Thought it would have been served like the Mahi or Tuna but no it was premixed in an Alfredo sauce with mushrooms dish. Two things I can't stand. Wouldn't run back. Wish other place's hostess was more helpful. read more

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Lovely experience at Crabs Claw! They have a small parking lot out front and appeared to have another larger option open to the public right next door. It was a bit warm downstairs when we walked in but our table was upstairs and it was much cooler. We had a great view of the ocean from our table too. The crab dip was phenomenal! The kids menu was solid and our daughter got the chicken chunks and fries which was a huge portion. The homemade sauce for the steamed clams was divine. The blackened mahi was perfectly cooked over my salad and the homemade dressing was delicious. My father in law loved the fried fish platter and my husband got the crab cake over portobello mushroom over pasta and it was unreal. We all loved our drinks - the mango mojitos are highly recommended! read more

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By far the most wasted potential in a waterfront restaurant ever. Worst food and worst service I've ever had but the drinks were good at least I guess read more

The view was great from the upper deck. Food was OK but I would not make the trip without the view.

The food took almost 2 hours with the owner cooking we would've got our food a lot sooner if she wouldn't have been verbally, abusing and bashing her waiter that was trying to work circles around the customers he had and be attentive after day, five of being there so yes, he was struggling a little bit, but that gave her no reason to verbally abuse him to the point he was in tears. I do not recommend this place to anyone that has a soul or has any care for others in the world. just to add our waiter was phenomenal. And this is coming from someone who eats out constantly read more

We stopped here while on vacation at Atlantic Beach and so happy we found this place! Our servers, Sarah and Cassie, were so friendly and gave great recommendations for food options. I ordered the clam chowder and blackberry chicken salad. My husband had the lobster Mac and cheese. For dessert we ordered the shark fin, which was decorated with shark gummies. Whoever their chef is working there has definitely come up with some great ideas for their menu! The location of this restaurant is so convenient- you can get to it just walking along the beach. It's very "come as you are" which was great because we had been at the beach all day and were looking for a place for dinner. They offer indoor seating and also have outdoor seating which overlooks the beach. We would absolutely come back here if we vacation in Atlantic Beach again, and hope we have Sarah or Cassie again because they rock! read more

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No one to seat us lady begged us to come back Super slow service i do not recommend also super hot read more

Excited to take guests to an ocean front place. More excited it was not too busy for Wednesday dinner. That said, service was less than adequate. It took our waters 30 minutes (with seeking server out) to arrive. Our food, though delicious, took over an hour to come and our order was incomplete. Another 8 minutes ( timer count) and the chicken for salad arrived. It's a shame such a delicious place has inadequate service. read more

Great food, ok service but it was a busy weekend beach time, . Oceanfront views, had a great meal out on the deck.

This is more of a 3.5 stars. I did enjoy my experience at dinner tonight. Most of the menu are items that I don't eat because of being fattening, but they sounded fantastic. The server listed about 7 specials that I felt were alittle much to tell at every table. Also, I waited about 4 minutes Alford someone to greet me at the hostess stand. The restaurant is set up on 2 floors. It's all stairs so if you are handicapped this may be an issue. I ordered a house made Bloody Mary and it was not my favorite. I also ordered a single crab cake over a house salad. Their salad dressing selections are very unique. They make everything in house except for ranch (which should be made in house). I want to put it out there my server and his trainee were extremely friendly and catered to my questions. They really made my dinner enjoyable. The view from outside is absolutely beautiful. I was sat inside and it was still beautiful but the windows are foggy so it wasnr a perfect view. The bathroom was kinda dirty and had a lot of cleaning products in it. My crab cake was good It was different Light and flaky. My salad was good as well I just couldn't find a good dressing for on a salad. I tried the sweet basil, tangy French gorilla, and the dill honey mustard The last 2 tasted good on the crab cake but not the salad. I would come back and try something more Caribbean style if I want a cheat day. Once again, servers were really nice! read more

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Great location right on the beach! Server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu items. We dined upstairs in the bar which has a great view of the ocean and music. I had the salmon, it was delicious! read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Salmon and plantains, so good! - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

The only restaurant in Atlantic beach on the beach unfortunately. We went at lunch time and asked if we could sit on the upper deck and order drinks. There were multiple tables open on upper deck and the lower deck. Before we could look at the menu to see the appetizers, waitress came up and told us the empty tables were reserved we could not sit there. We could get our drinks at the bar and walk around. We asked about the lower deck and told those were reserved as well. The owner didn't want us taking up a table thinking we were only ordering drinks. They don't reserve tables for lunch there. It's a shame this restaurant could be such a great place. We know the reputation but we decided to give it a try again any way and it still hasn't changed. Shame. read more

Location and view of the Beach were nice. We got the Rasta Pasta and the Crab cake dinner.The Rasta Pasta was out of this world delicious. The Blackened Crab Cake dinner left a little to be desired or should I say (left out) too much filler, not enough crab meat. read more

Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant - Blackened crab cakes - Seafood Near Me - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

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