We had a great experience at Crafty Crab. I ordered the 1/2 lb snow crab legs with garlic butter and the seasoning on the side, and they were hot, full, and packed with flavor. Perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. My husband had the 1 lb snow crab legs with Cajun seasoning and really enjoyed them too. Great flavor and a generous portion. Shout-out to our server, Izzy. He was amazing, very attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. And don't sleep on the hush puppies. They were fresh, hot, and so good. We'll definitely be back. read more

I went to crafty crab for my birthday for the first time and it was a terrible experience. I had a crab boil and the crab was ice cold like straight out the freezer. I started off eating the shrimp first and eventually made it to the crab and it was freezing even after sitting in the sauce, my friend and I told the waitress and she pretty much told me all she could do is take it to the back, why would you take my half eaten bag to the back, you could've take this cold crab leg or you could've just bought me another crab leg out but once we complained to her she started acting nasty towards us like we cook the food. My friend said they normally bag your food up for you and she just put the bags on the table for us which was cool with me but I'll stick to crab du jour from now on. read more

Crafty Crab - Crab boil - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great ambience with lots of decorative touches. We got the snow crab boil with the "boom" sauce which is all the flavors in medium spice. Super delicious. Food came out quickly and service was great! Loved this place and will definitely be back! read more

I'm not coming back. I've eaten here previously. The crab leg I received was on a diet. I had it delivered and thought they're being petty and making reductions with deliveries. Ya'll know how restaurants do. Anyway, I decide to try again, but with pickup. Ya'll, I get it home and I have this ole special needs crab leg. The staff was polite. Never again. read more

I went on 11/19/2025 and this place is a joke. I knew it was a bad idea when I got there at 5:30pm and the parking lot was practically empty. We decided to go in anyway since my daughter wanted to try it out. We weren't greeted at the door but got seated in a reasonable amount of time. We were handed the menus and we started looking them over. For some reason, my menu, which had laminated pages, we wet as if it had been dunked in a tank of water. I had to use a paper towel to dry every page. There were only two other tables of people in the restaurant. It was completely empty other that the people working there. After about 10 minutes, the bartender, who had been making drinks for one of the tables at a pace that a sloth would consider fast, came to take our drink order and food order. We ordered two waters and a coke. She eventually came back with three waters and realized she was missing a coke and went to get it. After that, she came back with a plastic plate with some bibs, catsup packets, a couple cups of cocktail sauce, two plastic forks, and some hand wipes. My wife and daughter ordered seafood boils. I ordered a shrimp basket. I am not sure who the two plastic forks were for but I guess we should have been thankful to have them because we didn't get any other kind utensils. The food came pretty quickly. One was a crab boil, one was a shrimp boil, and again, a shrimp basket for me. The bartender/waitress eventually came by and asked if we needed anything. I asked if they had any crab crackers. Her response was "You want a crab cracker?" which seemed odd since WE ORDERED SOME CRABS!!! Usually you get some crab picking utensils but none of that for us. Just a crab cracker and two plastic forks. The food was decent and the amount was fine. It wasn't great but I don't have any complaints about the amount or the price. The waitress never came back after that. I ran out of coke and it stayed empty. I guess one of the other tables was leaving because a yelling match started between one of their table and the bartender/waitress. I couldn't tell what they were arguing about because they were speaking jive. It quickly escalated to being really loud and urban and since we were done eating I walked to the front, paid my check, gave NO TIP and left. If anyone reads this and goes to that restaurant, you are a fool. I predict it will be out of business within 6 months anyway. read more

TOE-curlin! TONGUE-poppin! FINGER-suckin good! Second time coming to this crafty place and oooof did it hit again! Knocked me all the way back south to Louisiana Cajun seafood places. THIS is how crawfish, crab legs, oysters, fried shrimp taste back in home in Louisiana! We couldn't get enough of the corn that was soaked in the sauce. Mild was PERFECTLY spice for someone like me who likes a good kick but sweats a LOT. Almost had to get another dozen of the oysters but my wallet said NO. I slurped them down like that 40oystersgirl on tiktok. The staff was so diverse and friendly! Quick and attentive. It was BUSTLING in there, so you know the food was fresh and HOT. It felt like we were down south in a cozy yatch restaurant on the pier. Oof! I need to remember to come back! read more

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First visit was enough to make me want to go back and try some more stuff. My homegirl had her birthday dinner here and we had crab fries(French fries with cheese and crab meat on top), crab boils, shrimp basket w/reg French fries, sweet potato fries & crab cakes! Everything was sooooo good! The fried shrimp with the sauce for the crab cakes is bomb - cannot wait to have it again. I had a few sips of some henny margarita & it was def good! The location we tried was the new one off Wake Forest Rd in Raleigh. Our server did a pretty good job considering it was a party of 20+ and she had no assistance. Wait time was low, its large space and the prices were decent. It was pretty clean too. My only complaint is that I could see inside the bathroom (ladies bathroom where people were washing their hands). Just not a visual I was into while eating my food, but other than that - 9/10 overall. **only got 1 picture** read more

Crafty Crab - Crab Meat Fries - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food is good, service is good, stop using a dirty mop to wipe the beer glasses. My beer smells like piss. We got the combo from the special menu, which is a really good deal to me compared to other places. read more

Crafty Crab - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Nice, friendly waitresses. Our waitress was helpful when trying to decide what to order. Food was served hot. Restaurant was clean. read more

Crafty Crab - Fried Shrimp Basket with fries - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The fresh dozen raw oysters on the halfshell were fresh and the shells looked remarkably clean like they were powerwashed clean. They actually get 13 oysters when you order a dozen. Nice! The Cajun Snow Crab legs were steaming hot in a clear bag with lots of sauce: delicious. You get a whole roll of paper towels, 4 moist towelettes, a plastic Crafty Crab eat picking tool, and a stainless steel shel cracker. The fried oysters, fried shrimp, crispy hot sweet potato fries, and cold slaw was good. Sweet tea was generous. Fast service at tableside by Shawn who made sure everything was top notch. This former Applebee's location has transformed into a legit Seafood Restaurant that is worth your time to visit and enjoy. read more

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Crafty Crab has a bit more of a variety than some of the other places. Which Is good for people with limited seafood diets read more

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The food and service were great! The atmosphere with the DJ was a a whole vibe but I would not reccomend taking small children. The music was fun, just not what we would prefer for a family outing. We would definitely go back but just the husband and I on a date night or with friends. You can 100% believe there will be people up dancing at their tables during your dining experience if the DJ is there! Again... nothing negative, you just need to know what to expect. read more

I had dinner at the Crafty Crab in Raleigh. I had driven by this location a number of times in the last few months and decided it was time for me to satisfy my snow crab craving. This was my first time at the chain and its Raleigh location. The staff was very friendly and my waiter was very attentive. The restaurant was very clean. I really enjoy these shrimp boil food concept restaurants that have been popping up all over. I enjoy the savory and spicy sauce options available at these places - Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar and the Raleigh Crab House to name a few others. If there was one constructive criticism for this particular location, it would be to roll back a bit on the salt in the Boom sauce (the combo of all the sauces). I usually like the combined flavors of the offered sauces because I get the best of both the savory and spicy flavors. Sadly, the savoriness of the sauce and the seasoning of the sausage made the Headless Shrimp Special very salty. I found myself ensuring I had a slice of potato in every bite because they did not absorb the salt and helped balance out each bite. Now, it was not so bad as to render the dish inedible, yet I did take notice to the saltiness. With the cost of seafood these days, dropping around $45 to $50 on a over seasoned dish is a bit hard to swallow. With that being said, I will definitely give them another try because all restaurants can have an off night. read more

Crafty Crab - Headless Shrimp Special has snow crab, headless shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn in the Boom sauce. - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I walked into the restaurant around 9 pm. The restaurant had a few tables already seated but didn't appear busy. They sat us at a table near a loud DJ. I turned to my husband and asked if I should request a booth further away from the DJ. The host overheard me and before I could even ask her, she put her hand up in my face and said "I don't have any booths." There were many available but I understand if they were closed for whatever reason. What really bothered me was her putting her hands up in my face and dismissing my request with horrible costumer service. I would've happily dined at the table. I felt so uncomfortable I will not be returning. I've never been treated so rudely!! I normally don't write reviews but this was a very upsetting experience while I was taking my in-laws out they were visiting from out of state. read more

Although I like to taste the salt in my food, my boil contained a little too much. Service was quick. Food was fresh. Price affordable for the amount received. read more

Crafty Crab - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Have been twice since moving to the area, service has been excellent both times as well as the seafood boils! My family really enjoyed it, and that's coming from Marylanders! read more

I had a blast. Came down to visit the fam from NYC. I was a little hesitant based on the reviews but I am so glad we went. I had the headless shrimp boil with crab legs buttery garlic mild. I usually stay away from boils because I do not like the sausage but this sausage was so good. And the drinks were delicious. We had an old fashioned, peach sangria and long island ice tea. The DJ was on point. I just wish we got there earlier instead of an hour before closing to really enjoy the atmosphere. Definitely coming back on my next trip. read more

Crafty Crab - Peach Sangria - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Not a family friendly restaurant it's a club/restaurant ordered fried catfish and potato basket some of the fish was not done they wouldn't let me replace it or take %off read more

The place is a sports bar--with lots of big screen plus loud rap music. The receptionist acted as if she was doing us a major favor to provide seats. And she ignored us as we left. I got the Fried Oyster Basket--small oysters with lots of breading; fries OK--but not recommended for $13.99. She got the Seafood boil with headless shrimp with the "mild" buttery garlic. Ohhhooo she said--pretty close to "hot". The hush puppies ($4.99) looked good--but, the inside was gooey. The deep fat fryer was on high temp, but failed to cook the puppies, resulting in a mess. The coldslaw was not eatible. The bottled beer was good. No, we will not return. read more

Good food and service. ... it wants me to write 85 characters here, but I feel like I said enough. Thanks

Much of the food is fried, and I would've preferred Some broiled. I paid by cash, but there's only one person on each shift that is allowed to use the cash register read more

Crafty Crab is a new addition to the NCSU area. It satisfys seafood cravings, but keep in mind it is a chain restaurant. Also keep in mind it is rare to find really good seafood at a moderately-priced restaurant this far inland. For those who knew the old Applebee's in this location, it is completely different inside now. The tables are rustic wood with brown paper covering them, plus a bucket for shells and paper towels. I ordered the half-pound steamer bag of heads-off shrimp with the original Crafty Crab Cajun seasoning. For steamer bags of less than a pound, you are charged separately for sides. I ordered sides of corn and cole slaw. This new trend in steamer bag presentation is interesting-- your food arrives looking like an orb from outer space. Inside, the shrimp was well coated with seasoning that included a big dose of Old Bay (fine with me). I love that they devein the shrimp. I'd asked that the corn be cooked separately, so it arrived in its own mini steamer bag. The shrimp was just average-- good-sized, though a little rubbery and lacking in flavor. The house-made cocktail sauce is amazingly good, with just a little bit of kick. The drawn butter had an odd taste I didn't like. The corn had Cajun seasoning too, and was flavorful. You get three half-cobs per order. The cole slaw side was big enough for three people. My server, May, was friendly and very knowledgable about all the food. With no beverage, the bill was about $17.50 before tip. Over all, the food is average chain restaurant fare. Next time I want seafood but don't want to venture far from home, I'll be back to try other menu items. read more

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I love seafood. I came here with my friend for the 1st time on Thursday. I wasn't that hungry. We shared calamari for an appetizer. I was saddened there were only rings and no tentacles. The sadness went away after my first bite. They were crazy outside, juicy on the inside and flavorful. Usually just rings by themselves are dressed up with fried peppers, sauce or something else. They were all aline in a basket holding their own. My dish was the crab cakes. They didn't lack in crab or flavor. I will definitely get both items again. I washed it down with a delicious lemon drop martini. My friend rarely drinks and the bartender was able to make her something fruity and delicious. Needless to say I returned 2 days later with my family. I loved that the hostess upon seating me informed me gratuity would be added for our party of 6. I appreciate not getting a surprise later. Not many establishments add gratuity to the bill anymore. My daughter smiled the whole time age enjoyed her fried tilapia and sweet potato fries basket. I did get a taste and was very pleased. My husband was worried because his lemon peppered wings looked dry. Once he bit into them he could taste all the juices that it wasn't lacking. He loves wings and was very pleased to enjoy a dry rub lemon pepper. My neices were both quiet enjoying their mozzarella sticks, shrimp basket and onion rings. They happily ate them before I could even taste. They gave a thumbs up. I an not a huge boil fan but my friends the days earlier looked so delicious, I wanted one. My daughter and I shared one. We wouldn't leave the table untul every bite was devoured. The potatoes were on point. Soft enough to melt in your mouth but not burst open all over the rest of the food. The lobster, shrimp and crab legs were packed with delicious. I never had green muscles before today. They were huge, succulent and very tasty. I may have sinned because eating all of it was glutinous. I wouldn't have had it any other way. My tastebuds were dancing for joy and my tummy was screaming we are at our limit. I was smiling all the way home and thinking how I need to get the scallops and fried oysters on my next visit. I will definitely be back. read more

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What a great seafood meal! Snow crab, shrimp, mussels, sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes in steam bags for the win. I subtracted a star because the cheesecake slice is TINY. read more

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I've been here twice and both times have been very good. The prices are reasonable, the food comes out fast and is flavorful, and the staff is friendly. If you're looking good place for crab legs, I'd recommend this place. read more

It's the second time we're ordering from the Crafty Crab (pick up). The food is delicious! Seafood is fresh, the spices are just right! The sides go together well with the dish. Will order again! read more

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This place is Cajun/Creole because they have Louisiana gumbo on the side menu??! Where's the crawfish etouffee? The andouille sausage? The jerk chicken? Jambalaya? Nah, way overpriced for just meh seafood. There are better seafood places around. I might pay their high prices if they actually had what they advertise themselves to be. read more

I don't usually review restaurants, but after seeing all the negative reviews I had to leave a review. This place was awesome! Our waitress was Lola, and she was fantastic. Attentive, polite and quick. The food was amazing! I hade the garlic boil. My hubby had the lemon pepper boil. Both were excellent. The music was low, the restaurant was clean, even the bathroom! We will definitely be returning! Thank you Crafty Crab!! read more

Crafty Crab - Seafood Boil - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I go to this location all the time, it's usually a hit or miss. To get the best quality food i'd suggest going in the afternoon or on the weekends. The service is normally good. However, I did order to go one night and instead of waiting until I came to pick up my order they gave my food away to someone else because i didn't answer the phone. It was about 15 minutes before closing but the doors weren't even locked when I came. The owner was kind enough to make it again but it was most definitely thrown together last minute. Overall, it's a good place to eat and have drinks with friends especially with the live dj on the weekends. read more

WOW..... SO I tried on the new place.... They said they words 'Pussy' and 'Suck My Cock' 100 times right after 9pm. Yikes. My daughter was yelling @ me to leave and she's only 9!!! PLUS they didnt give me what I ordered and then when I brought it up they STILL had the nerve the charge me for it!!!!! WTH?? Of course I still tipped well. Servers deserve a fair shake. BUT PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE!!! ESP WITH A FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO TO THIS PLACE!!!!! read more

Went here for dinner tonight & had an overall great experience. Our server gave us great recommendations as far as whether to get clams or mussels depending on our preferences. We also started off with the oysters which were amazing! Will definitely be back for more. read more

Crafty Crab - 1 LB Snow Crab Legs 1 LB Clams Creat Your Own Combo - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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If you want overcooked Crawfish with Asian Hip-Hop Blaring Through Your Meal...this place is for you! They really need to work on their crawfish. I was happily surprised to see crawfish on their menu. I lived in New Orleans from 2004 to 2007. Crawfish there is a way of life. The cook, the smell the taste. I ordered the three pound special. When I opened the bag there was no smell of the fresh boil. I was happy to see the crawfish were of decent size but the joy ended there. I could tell they were over cooked. There was no juice in the head of the crawfish and the meat was hard and rubbery. It was not inedible. I ate all three pounds, it filled me up but I could tell it not given the attention it needed...and was not cooked with Zatarans or any type of Cajun flavoring, even though I ordered Cajun. The servers were very nice but they have no idea on the sourcing of the food or how it is prepared. No manager came around to ask me how my meal was either. read more

The music is WAYYYY too loud. Couldn't even have a conversation with friends or even give the waiter an order without having to scream. There was barely anyone in the place and he made it sound like a club. Forgot our drinks and rice we ordered. Was missing things in the boil we had ordered. Had to remind waitress multiple times. read more

The staff was very friendly, the food was delicious. I like the atmosphere. I would definitely recommend going to this place. read more

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This restaurant is entirely to loud. We asked if the dj could turn down the music so we can at least give our order to our waiter and it got even louder. Whats crazy is that the restaurant was damn near empty and hes blasting music like its a night club. Such a shame that this became a lame night club instead of a decent seafood spot. Never again. read more

Everything about their menu imitates the Raleigh and Cary crab house without the flavor for a couple dollars in price. Paid nearly $50 for a 1lb cluster combo. read more

Crafty Crab - Snow crab 1lb - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great place for seafood!!! The staff friendly and the service extremely fast, nevertheless the food tasted fresh and delicious!!! read more

Crafty Crab - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is amazing and food was delicious, our server Alex was awesome last night and was very attentive with any questions or needs that we had. He deserves a raise! I'm born and raised New Orleans and finding a good seafood joint that adheres to my needs really hard, it's almost impossible! But this place not only was our service great but the food was spot on. We had ordered the snow crab legs and lobster which was really good in size and the oysters were definitely my favorite, it was meaty and was so fresh like it just came out of the water into my mouth and thats how I like them. Their sauces for the seafood was pretty good too, my favorite has got to be the buttery garlic paired with fire heat for that kick. If you're looking for a seafood restaurant that is not only local but also pretty fair with their pricing then this is the place for you, ask for Alex! read more

My dining experience here completely exceeded my expectations! I came here on a friday with my girlfriend and we practically had a feast. The fried shrimp was crispy and delicious, and the calamari was super flavorful. The sweet potato fries were sweet and crunchy, not to mention everything came out super hot! My seafood boil was a 12 out of 10. I got the lobster special and it sent me to heaven and back. Get the garlic butter seasoning you won't regret it. Tasha was our waiter and she made our first dining experience one to remember! She was super sweet and extremely helpful, the menu can be a little overwhelming at first but she gave us plenty of time to decide on what we wanted. She also gave great suggestions, especially when it came to our drinks! My vitamin sea and my girlfriend's rum punch bucket were a great pair to the meal. The ambiance was super comfortable and clean! Not sure what the reviews about the rap music is all about, they had a great, diverse, playlist going the whole time. There was even a jukebox machine you could use to play a song of your choice. Overall this was a great dining experience, we will definitely be coming here again. If you come on a friday, come before 6! We came at about 5 and sat immediately, service was super quick, it started getting busy around 6:15. Don't overlook this place! read more

Crafty Crab - Fried Calamari and Fried Shrimp Basket - Seafood Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The food was outstanding, ambiance was perfect. We were totally amazed with server Kaya. We frequent several restaurants trying new foods. We have never seen a server as outstanding as Kaya. She took our entire order despite changes from the menu by memory, never writing anything down. Our meal came out just as we ordered. Amazing! Kaya continued every 5 minutes checking on us, making sure we were ok, weather our food was to our liking, and weather there was anything she could get us. Amazing! Kaya made our Mother's Day visit a real joy. Thak you so much Kaya. read more