The entire team here is so fantastic.Even when I visit with my cousin's diabolic children. They're beyond patient and the food is excellent. read more

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My mom wanted some crab and we decided to try this crab place. We ordered the Dungeness crab with garlic butter. The garlic sauce was very bland. I did not like it. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was nice with spacious seating. read more

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Think Boiling Crab BUT without the crowd and long wait times. You can even make a large group reservation. We got the Cajun fries which had a tasty seasoning on there. addictive. The garlic noodles are very garlicky and a good portion. For shrimp they offer peeled or unpeeled with the head still on and For the sauce GET CRACKIN MIX (lemon pepper, garlic , and Cajun) it's already mild heat but get it Spicy. Really flavorful and good amount of heat. The crab was really good. Fresh and with that nice sweet taste to it. You will get your hands dirty and smell of garlic for days but it's worth it. Service was attentive and there's a parking lot right in the back. Very convenient. read more

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I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to after this experience. I used to live nearby, and this spot used to be my family's go-to Cajun seafood restaurant. We had great memories here and never had any issues. Fast forward four years -- I decided to give it another try and ordered multiple lbs. of shrimp to-go (all different flavors and spice levels) along with an extra side of sauce. Unfortunately, the quality has gone way downhill. Even on a Friday night, the place was surprisingly empty -- which, in hindsight, may have been a red flag. The shrimp was clearly not fresh: mushy, stuck to the shells, and just overall unpleasant to eat. The sauce was okay, but it couldn't save the dish. What made it worse was that this order was for a get together. We ordered a lot, and it was so bad that we had tons left over -- and not in a good way. Trying to finish it the next day was even worse. My fiancé even bit into a shrimp that had clearly gone bad. All in all, I'm really disappointed. I wanted to support a place that had once been special to us, but sadly, I won't be returning. read more

Service was good. They bring you everything you want. It just took a while for the food to come out. - Michelada 3.1/5 It was OK. You can choose whatever beer you want. - Combo #2 with Dungeness & Shrimp 5/5 Everything was cooked well. The crab was fresh. Got the hottest sauce on the side (extra $5) and it was not that spicy. - Snow Crab Legs Regular snow crab legs, nothing special. Parking in lot in the street or across the street. read more

Cracking Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

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I really wanted to enjoy this experience. This was a sad and underwhelming dinner to end our day trip to LA. It was fairly loud when we came at 7:30 (hour before closing). The other groups were bigger, there was a few tables pushed together for a birthday group. There were also a couple tables with kids who were pretty rowdy sitting across the dining area from us. You can still hear each other talk, it's just a pretty open area with tall ceilings, so the sound bounced around. Shelby, lack of introductions, I assume was our server since that was what was on our bill at the end. handled our orders, but failed to mention any additional charges. We also failed to get our Sapporo and had to remind her when our main order came. We were seated near their bar/drink station and they had been getting it prepped for closing so it was not due to busy patrons or anything. There was a guy with glasses who had checked in on us towards the end. He presented our check, asked us if everything was good. He handled our question of boxing up our leftovers well. He jokingly explained how the box would leak in our cars and the smell would not come out well and let us know that he'd bag it up and that would last our d The starter Cajun fries ($6) came out hot which was nice but definitely takes a few minutes to cool down. It's a much smaller side like the size of chips and salsa. I wouldn't really recommend it for that price. The server also asked if we wanted anything for it, like Ranch (75¢). I was unaware that we'd get charged for a standard small plastic cup for the dip in. We ordered the Combo 2 ($74.99) with the lobster and peeled shrimp (additional $2). We had one small side of rice ($2.5). We picked the Crackin' mix because the server recommended it as the most popular since it mixed all the flavors. However it was very underwhelming, there were no real flavor notes to pick up on and it just tasted like some spices mixed together. We went with medium for the spiciness flavor. I was expecting a slight kick, but that was also a let down. It felt like it should have been labeled as mild. The lobster was concerning because there was much more green substance around the meat than what I'd care for. It can potentially lead to shellfish poisoning so be weary. We had ordered a Pepsi ($3) which came in the usual cup with ice. I'm not sure if they even offered free refills or if you have to pay by the glass. The Sapporo was the only thing that tasted like what I was expecting. However, for ($8) a can that's another hard thing to swallow. The meal before tax was $95.24 and the tax was $10. This is also higher than what I'm used to from the Coachella Valley. All in all I will not return. The prices are a big deterrent. But I also felt sick the next day, I had stomach issues on the drive home after this dinner. I don't know if our food was undercooked since we were the last party of the night and they were tired for the day or if that's the usual. Either way it's not a gamble I will take again. read more

Delish! I love the peeled shrimp with cracking mix and the Mac n cheese! The service is amazing, very friendly! read more

First off the servers are 5 stars!! They work super hard and are super nice!! The food is good though the menu is rather limited. The shrimp, shrimp sliders, garlic noodles and garlic broccoli were very tasty but the gumbo was lacking. We did have an issue that only half our order came out initially and the rest came out significantly later. It's in a very cute location with convenient parking. The ambiance is basic but clean and family oriented. They have TVs around with various sports playing. It's not too loud that you can't have conversations. We have been twice and definitely we be back many more times. read more

Cracking Crab - Gumbo with rice, Shrimp Sliders, Garlic Noodles - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

Such a great meal! Perfect serving sizes, atmosphere was cute and fun, our server Frankie was so kind and patient with us! He made the experience that much better and he's most of the reason we'll be back in the future! read more

Nothing comes close to this Cajun experience. The fact that we have such a fantastic restaurant like this in Montrose is a gift. I ordered the shrimp with medium Cajun sauce and Cajun fries. Both were cooked to perfection. Looking forward to trying the king crab next. Service was attentive and friendly. You won't be disappointed. read more

Went for first time today and had a fantastic experience. We were seated right away and our server Frankie came over quickly. He was so helpful and friendly and funny - definitely made our night! We shared the garlic butter shrimp, broccoli and noodles. Delicious and very garlicky! Looking forward to visiting again- read more

Frankie helped up at first and he was amazing! Out of all the seafood boil places I've been to this is my #1 place now. There was this other nice lady working who was super helpful and kind. Good beer, BIG portions for the price. Good music and TV too. Love it, will be back. read more

Wanted Cajun style seafood so I placed a phone order for some crawfish, shrimp, and clams with corn and sausage. Order was ready in 15 min. Do yourself a favor and order the seafood with the crackin' mix (lemon pepper, garlic, and Cajun) extra spicy because anything less just won't do. I appreciated the limes, bibs, and the roll of paper provided to make the takeout meal just as great as dining in. read more

Cracking Crab - 1 lb. Crawfish 1 lb. Clams 1 lb. Shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

Service was great. No wait and food was yum!!! Good space with plenty of seating. Staff was super friendly. Food was reasonable pricing. definitely come back if im in the area again read more

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My family and I love this place! The ambiance is good, with a friendly waitstaff. Their crackin mix is delicious and we recommend this place to everyone. read more

I came here for lunch and I had the one pound option with shrimp x2 and mussels. If you double up on anything there is a $2 charge. I had it in mild which was okay. The garlic noodles were good too. The wings were on the smaller side, but still worth a try. read more

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Recommended to my hubby and I by a family friend. We weren't sure what to expect but there was definitely all the seafood we could imagine. We laughed when it came out steaming in a bag and we were provided bibs. The ambience of the place could have been better, it was a bit loud and there was some sticky spills on the floor around us from previous customers. Overall it was a good experience and we look forward to coming when it is not that busy. read more

The food and service--everything is perfect. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Highly recommended!

This place was an unexpected HOMERUN! I came here to celebrate a dear friend's birthday and we intentionally picked a place that could be kid friendly as we had 3 boys ranging in ages 8, 9, & 10. The restaurant was spacious and a bit mellow since it was a 5PM dinner on a Sunday. But it was perfect for us as the boys got their own kids table and the adults sat a table in front and everyone truly had a blast. I was gleefully blown away at this restaurant because I've been around to try the other Boiling Crabs, Crabby Crab, etc. So I had minimal expectations as all the other ones I've been to were good but not GREAT. Then I tried Cracking Crab last night and you can throw all the other similar joints out the window. HANDS DOWN this place WINS for being the BEST! The crab was juicy, tender, and moist. The mussels and peeled shrimp marinated to perfection. I know the biggest trick to it all is their "CRACKIN MIX" which is the combination of All their spice options you could choose from. I am truly an avid fan and I get hungry thinking about going back. We got the following below: COMBO 3 -CRACKIN MIX (ALL SPICES) -BLACK MUSSEL -PEELED SHRIMP $2 -GARLIC BROCCOLI $8.95 -CAESAR SALAD $7.95 -COLE SLAW $4.95 -GARLIC NOODLES $10.95 -2x CHICKEN TENDER $25.90 w/ FRIES -STEAMED RICE $2.50 -2x sparkling water $6 -1 Ranch $.75 Nom...Nom...Nom...feed me! read more

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I have walked by this place thousands of times, and finally went in last night. We ordered the seafood combo 2- fish and chips and popcorn shrimp. Service was awesome and the food was great. Fish and chips, popcorn shrimp my kids ordered and quality and price were great. As for the lobster and mussels, these two were so fresh and tasty. We opted for garlic butter and I loved all of the chunks of garlic. We opted for mussels and there were so many. Worth the money and a great local seafood restaurant read more

This review is more about the service than the food. From the moment my friend and I arrived, it felt like our server had an issue with us. Her attitude came off as dismissive, like she was forced to serve us and didn't want to. I let her know I have a shellfish allergy and kindly asked if the clams could be packed separately. That request seemed to annoy her, and she didn't hide it. Instead of helping further, she had a colleague take over. Unfortunately, even that second server seemed hesitant to help, likely influenced by the first. It's disappointing because I've been to this restaurant before -- this was my third visit -- and I've never experienced service like this. I'm not sure if there are new owners or staff, but this visit left a bad taste. The food itself was okay -- not amazing, not bad. The crab legs were actually good, and any tip I left was really more for the second server, who at least tried to be more professional. read more

We all got food poisoning after eating from here. Shrimp and clams are so small... snow crab has got to be a joke....

It's a nice large place without the overwhelming line of patrons at some similar locations, but it's a welcoming ambience, the staff was pleasant and efficient and the combo options are a nice way to decide/order quickly. I do like that the food selection came in one big bowl instead of in individual bags; makes it a lot easier and cleaner to start grubbin' right away. Despite there only being 2 servers, out drinks never got past 1/2 way before they were being filled and the guys were always (in a pleasant, non-annoying way) checking in on our needs. Everything was fresh and hot and flavorful and we were just stuffed when leaving. read more

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My bf and i went to this new spot, it was our first time eating here. We got there once they open. We were greeted by Frankie, he gave us really good recommendations on their menu and he helped us choose on what to get. Me and my bf don't eat as much so we shared 1b of pealed shrimp and snow crab which WE LOVED IT. We will be coming back, (ps if you reading this , this is your sign to come eat here.) read more

Always a great treat for myself once every couple months! Always get the combos cause it's worth your money! I choose crackin crab over Boiling Crab any day! read more

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I got the the mix of everything and wow the portion was ginormous!!!! The crawfish was so fresh and clean.. the flavor is so good, a little oily but flavor is on point. The service was really really good. I like the ambiance it's cozy and comfy. Giving my 5 stars simply because... Service was great, food tasted delicious, and the ambiance is super cute would definitely go again. read more

Cracking Crab - The crawfish was sooooo fresh and good - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

Good quality seafood but on the expensive side. Crawfish were well seasoned. Delivery was timely

So yesterday I was in Lakeview Terrace with my daughter and their volleyball team and after a L I decided to cheer the kids up and head out to get some grub. After several debates the decision was made. The "Cracking crab!" In the city of Mentrose on a great sunny day, you'll find this location, very heart warming friendly staff, open seating and friendly vibes! I couldn't wait to see what they had in store. Our server was great! (Cheyann) She explained everything on the menu. Wherever I had a question about or wanted to know about seeing it was my first time, She was on it no questions asked! Turns out my daughter and friends been here before so deciding on their food choices was not a issue. So anywho I ordered light and received a modelo Michilada, and the 1/2lb shrimp with LEMON PEPPER sauce! Yes! Lemon pepper and if you know me!, I loveeeeeeee me some lemon pepper so that was a automatic for me! Ok let me not get excited again. Lol so food came and boy oh boy,! Greasy yes! Favorable, yes! Feeling like a barbarian cave man? Yessss! But it was well worth it. Btw the #1 can feed 3 girls who love to eat and can take down your fridge out with no problem which I was shocked about until I saw the waitress bring out the platter and my jaw dropped! Amazing that's all I'll say. But yeah the atmosphere is really nice and In the heart of the shopping center. Very clean and very friendly staff. There's tvs all around so you can catch your sports for sure which is a super plus! Nfl is coming soon so I think they got this down and are ready! Let me stop ranting! Give this place a go! You can't go wrong and for a group of 6, This place didn't dent my Wallet which is a super plus! read more

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My friend here has never tried a spot like this before so I took him as a treat. He was very excited and we had a pretty good time. Parking is surprisingly easy to find even with Montrose being super busy. The restaurant has some really cute decorations. Very friendly vibe. The server we had was really helpful and attentive to our needs. We decided on not getting an appetizer, as we were getting the Combo 2. We chose the Dungeness crab and lb of shrimp for our seafood. The seasoning is SOOO good. I poured that on my side of steamed rice and it was delicious! Overall, the food was really good and definitely worth it. Would recommend this place for first timers. read more

Cracking Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

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Last Friday, I had the pleasure of celebrating my teenage daughter's birthday at Cracking Crab, and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience for both the birthday girl and her group of friends. The staff went above and beyond to make our celebration special, showing genuine warmth and enthusiasm. Our server was attentive, friendly, and took the time to ensure every detail was perfect. She even came by and helped the girls crack open the crab :) The girls enjoyed eating directly on the table and making a huge mess! It was a very different experience and they ate heartily! The seafood was fresh and tasty, we ordered combo 3 which had crab, mussels, shrimps, corn, potatoes and sausages with a side of steamed rice for each person. We also ordered the garlic parmesan fries and Cajun fries. In conclusion, Cracking Crab surpassed all expectations, providing not only a fantastic seafood dining experience but also exceptional service. It truly made my daughter's birthday celebration a night to remember. Thank you to the Friday evening servers who made it so special. The friends my daughter invited said they loved it so much they will be back with their families. read more

Cracking Crab - Crackin' Combo 3 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

I went to this restaurant with my grandkids who are a fan of seafood. The place was very clean, the staff were very friendly, and best of all there was no line (unlike the boiling crab in my neighborhood in Calabasas). The gumbo was excellent (I would say as good as my neighborhood gumbo). The food was good overall. However, the potatoes were uncooked (we could not eat it) and the sausage still had the skin on. The price was reasonably high and comparable to other places. Unless my grandkids insist, it is unlikely for me to visit this place. read more

Amazing people work there. From the chef to the server's and not to mention the owner he is a awesome person!!! Thank you for always making my food the way I like it!!!!! read more

Delicious food, especially the Medium Cracking Mix. Nice, spacious restaurant. Definitely one of the better cajun places.

The service was great. The food was fresh ,well prepared, and the portions were very generous. The music was at a comfortable volume not overpowering. This place is better than that other crab place . There are no long lines and no large crowd . You and your party can walk in , be seated and be eating within 10 minutes or less. We will definitely be visiting here again . Thanks cracking crab!! read more

Everyone here who is comparing this to boiling crab is laughable. Boiling crab has changed their sauce ingredients to cut costs and it doesn't taste like it used to. They'll deny it but more than half these "elite" foodies don't have a clue between butter vs margarine. This place albeit probably influenced by boiling crab, is its own special cajun seafood place to me. Their sauce is good, noodle dishes are awesome, and the vibes here are way better than boiling crab. The service here is great. They don't have to deal with a billion people waiting so you'll get the attentive service we all miss. They're not blasting music obnoxiously and its friendly atmosphere is definitely inviting for hungry families of all ages. Give this place a try, it won't disappoint. But don't come here thinking it's a ripoff of boiling crab. Because 1) the boiling crab you remember doesn't really exist anymore 2) this place is its own unique take on cajun cuisine. read more

It was good food it was my first time trying here but my partner and his kids have eat there before

I like Boiling Crab, but I really like this place more. Personally I think the cajun sauce has a bit more of tangy kick to it than most places. For me at least, what trumps it is less people so waits aren't atrocious, you can hear yourself talk amongst friends, and the garlic noodles. I like their garlic noodles here and I like to mix it with shrimp, mussels, lobster and crab. It's like creating your own cajun seafood pasta. Friendly staff and decent ambiance. read more

KING CRAB LEGS! That's all you need to know. That's all you need to eat. They were huge, succulent and delicious. I will definitely be back for them! Service was friendly and attentive. We had everything we needed without having to ask: sauce, napkins, utensils, straws, cup of limes, gloves, bibs, scissors, etc. The Mac and cheese, garlic fries and popcorn shrimp were also tasty. The garlic in the broccoli was really overpowering but it mellowed out the next day or two when we had it as leftovers which I liked way more. So close to being a 5 star. One disappointment I had was that our peeled shrimp didn't come deveined...I thought all seafood restaurants would do this before cooking and serving and it left me feeling sorry for my spouse who ordered it. Next time I think I'll make a special request for the shrimp to be deveined but as a customer I feel like I shouldn't have to ask? Free parking lot available around the corner and metered parking available on the street. read more

Cracking Crab was a really good meal. They have pretty great seafood and quality to their produce. I got the combo 1 and all shrimp and I got them both unpeeled and peeled, but I totally recommend just getting peeled even if its an extra cost. I recommend getting garlic bread or rice because it tastes good when you absorb all that sauce wjth some carbs!! Parking is all around and seating is spacious!! read more

Cracking Crab - Crackin' Combo 1 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Montrose, California

Service was great. Music was great haha. Place is big & can accommodate big parties. Garlic noodles were delicious! Shrimp were a bit overcooked & meat was sticking to the outside skin. Crackin sauce was okay. I've had better. Paid $106 for 2.5 lbs head-on shrimp, 2 lb black mussels, garlic noodles, mac & cheese. Satisfied the craving on a no-meat friday, but not my first choice cajun to go to read more

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