I was expecting an epic crab cake since crabbing is listed as a main economic source for the island. But the sandwich had zero lump meat and little seasoning. I didn't even taste Old Bay which should be a staple ingredient used by all eating establishments on the Chesapeake. It was busy and the staff was hustling so we could make our ferry trip home but the fries we ordered didn't get done in time. Any restaurant first and foremost needs delicious food. If Lorraine's could leverage their crab industry to serve outstanding crab dishes such as crab imperial, au gratin, crab bombs, then it could become a destination worth visiting and retuning to. read more

We came to the Island on a Saturday afternoon. We stopped in a gift shop that gave us a tip to eat NOW at Lorraine's before the next ferry came in. I am glad we listened to the tip. We were sat immediately but soon after it 100% was full. Service was friendly and quick. We started with Crab Dip and hush puppies. Both were delicious. Lots of crab in the dip and a perfect dip to bread ratio. So important! Menu is of course heavy on seafood with a few other options and they had specials. I got the Coconut Shrimp special and the rest got flounder bites, Garlic Shrimp Special and a BBQ sandwich. The food itself was good. The Coconut Shrimp was perfectly fried and soooo good. I got a salad as a side and it was a generous portion with lots of fresh veggies. I tasted the macaroni salad and it was way to sweet for my taste. But the Garlic Shrimp was good and so were the Flounder Bites. Fortunately my friends shared. Don't wait on your check - go right up to the register. There is a bathroom and AC. Simply decorated and friendly service. It was a good 1st stop because then we walked off the lunch. read more

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Good food, good service and just a small walk from the boat drop off. The crab soup was great and so were the crab cakes.

The best thing I've ever eaten in my life is Lorraine's air-fried soft-shell blue crab! I can't wait to go back and enjoy those delicious delicacies!!! read more

5/5! With Lorraine's being one of the three restaurants on the island, we had to hit them all. Lorraine's was our first stop! The Food: Since Tangier is known for their seafood and softshell crabs, we had to order it! So I went with the "Crab Cake and Soft Shell combo". It came with one crab cake and two/three softshell crabs with fries. The crab cakes were huge and filled with crab meat. There was no filling besides crab, not something you usually see on the mainland. The crab cake was cooked very well and the softshell crab was fried to perfection. It was a very well portioned meal for the price. I left full and satisfied. We even came back a second time before leaving to have a good last meal. Had the "Soft Shell Crab Sandwich", "Cream of Crab Soup", "Scott's Crab Fries" and "Hush Puppies". Yes, it was a lot, but we wanted to try everything and it was absolutely delicious and worth it. The Service: Service was great! The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. The restaurant can be quite busy during peak lunch times, since some people arrive during those times. But it's well worth the wait. The Atmosphere: The restaurant was decorated very nicely and clean. A good amount of seating, but with it being one of three restaurants on the island, can be filled up fast. Overall, a 5/5! Delicious food, great service and clean restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

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Currently the ONLY sit down restaurant on the Island. (Tangier was hit pretty hard by the shutdown of tourism due to "the Vid" -- many businesses closed. Truly hoping that all the lovely reviews this year will see a resurgence to the Island and they are able to continue to recover!) It is an island of crab shacks so... come on, you need to order crab-related things here. The crab dip and crabby fries are delicious - every person we talked to recommended these items :) I am not a fan of soft-shelled crabs **gasp** (I know - the horror) ... so I can't comment on them directly, but the other visitors we ran into were raving about them. I ordered the flounder sandwich twice, the fillet was massive, a meal itself and very well fried, so if you aren't into fresh soft-shelled crabs, I recommend whatever fish fillet sandwich they have - they know how to prepare fish! Crabcakes are fried, not lump - I think that is a VA vs MD thing - not sure. I prefer lump so again I passed on that, but the other excellent items they have are coleslaw and macaroni salad. I know, weird thing to rave about, but every place I go the macaroni salad has overcooked noodles, too much mayo and no flavor and the coleslaw is a watery-flavorless mess... NOT HERE :) Both sides have a good balance of mayo to vinegar and the coleslaw is nice and peppery - just absolute kudos to whomever is making it. We ate here 4 or 5 times and got both sides with each meal. THAT. GOOD. It is a small place and it is the ONLY restaurant, so be prepared to wait during prime lunch and dinner hours - they have a lot of hungry people to feed :) **IMPORTANT TIP** If you are staying on the island on a Sunday -- EVERYTHING closes at 4 PM. Get your dinner with your lunch if you don't have groceries to cook for yourself. Lorraine's will even take your order at lunch, prepare it and deliver it or have it ready to pick-up before closing if you don't want to reheat. read more

This place is very busy, they have indoor dining but it's not a large area but the manage with the amount of people that come through. Our waitress was very patient taking our large groups order. I went in the summer so they do have air conditioner to cool you down from the humid heat. The food was hot and the fish was fresh. I loved the waffle fries they had cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top of them. They sandwich was served on a brioche bun with no condiments. They did offer condiments on the side, such as tartar sauce, marinara sauce, or mayonnaise, mustard or ketchup. I wish I would have asked for lettuce and tomato on my sandwich or just ate it without the beard. I enjoyed it either way and I would have it again. read more

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Freshest and most delicious seafood I have ever eaten. Crabby fries are to die for! Crab soup is excellent too! Limited hours, so be careful. We wanted to go back and have lunch before our ferry left on Monday, and when we arrived, their lunch hours had already ended. The quality of the food and the friendly service makes it well worth scheduling their limited hours around your schedule. If we return to Tangier for vacation again, this will definitely be in our plans. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Crabby fries tantalized my tastebuds and haunt my mind to this day. - New American Near Me

Finally made it to Tangier Island after living in VB for 20+ years! Lorraine's is the only restaurant open year round and you come to Tangier for the crab! Don't order anything else, there's a reason it's called the crab capital of the world! Our party of 4 was seated quickly and was brusquely greeted by our waitress. We all ordered the crab cake sandwich special which included crab soup. Essentially it was she crab soup with some old bay sprinkled on top. It was delicious. Crab cake was fried on a bun with some chips on the side. Minimal filler with sweet crab meat. Desserts were phenomenal and homemade-key lime pie and my first time trying Smith Island cake! A fudgy yellow cake that was moist and not too sweet! Heavenly. Service was not too friendly and they were busy but we didn't care. The food was good and we knew we were probably never coming back. I think they know that too. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - New American Near Me

Food was great especially the crabby fries, fish & chips, clam chowder, however, we could not get fresh same day caught softshell crabs for dinner. Brooke was a wonderful waitress! read more

As others have mentioned get the SOFT SHELL. The crabcakes are good, but they are VA style and fried - these are not lump crab meat style served in Baltimore or the general Delamarva area. Only full serve restaurant open year round, can be busy when the ferries come in. Staff is awewsome and friendly. Lemon meringue pie is also worth trying. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Soft shell sandwich - New American Near Me

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Recently, my girlfriend, myself and a group of friends traveled to Tangier Island for a day to check out an historic area. Initially, we planned to dine at Fisherman's Corner but found out they are currently in renovation. So we decided to place a reservation here at Lorraine's. A very wise choice (more on that later). For my meal, I ordered the shrimp and scallops combo with a side order of cream of crab soup. The soup was really good and full of crab meat. Very creamy and seasoned well I might add. Before they brought our entrees, they served us complementary cornbread. Now this type tasted very good, more like a cake-like texture. After finishing my crab soup, I felt kind of full and couldn't eat it all. So I had to take a little break before heading into the main course. Once my meal came to our table, I was amazed. As you can see in the picture, the shrimp are pretty big. So are the scallops. And the taste....phenomenal. Not heavily fried, but just right. And seasoned properly, which is what you want for seafood. As for reservations, it is best to set a table aside for your group. Given that the island is well known for tourists, seats will be taken probably 30 minutes depending on where the ferry comes from (we arrived from Reedville). And there are probably 30 seats in the whole place so make sure you're one of the first there. They are very welcoming and you'll definitely leave full. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Shrimp and scallops combo. Look at the size of the seafood!! - New American Near Me

Great food, wait time is always nice even when busy, & I go there almost everyday! I'm a local and it's my favorite restaurant :)

The food was good. The service was good The people were friendly and We had a great time. David, Silver Spring, MD read more

Going to Tangier Island has been on the wife's bucket list for a while - finally were able to make it work yesterday. Lorraine's was wonderful !! I knew I wanted to have some crabs (you don't have steak in Tangier !) and I usually have crab cakes - when Janice said I had to try the soft shell crab, she was a such a sweetheart I decided to give it a shot. She was absolutely right (thanks Janice !) Clean, perfectly cooked, and the perfect lunch for a great day in a place away from the rest of the world. Between the two of us, we also tried both the regular crab chowder and the vegetable crab chowder - both delicious. Give Lorraine's a shot, you won't regret it - read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - New American Near Me

We enjoyed our meal at Lorraine's! We arrived on Tangier on a Friday evening and Lorraine's was the only place open after 6pm (I'm glad something was!). Many locals were getting carry out meals and a few dined in as well while we were there. My husband and I split the crab cake meal and were pleased we shared - the crab cakes are quite large, as was the side salad we had, and we also got onion rings (that were very breaded) and we had plenty of food. Their entrees come with your choice of two sides, as well as some delicious corn bread - it was so good, I think it was my favorite part of the meal! The crab cakes came with cocktail and tartar sauces and I used the tartar sauce with my crab cake as it was slightly dry (but still good!). The service was excellent - our food came out quickly, our waters were filled frequently, and overall we had a good experience! read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Crab cake entree with onion rings (and salad - not pictured) - New American Near Me

On this remote island there are only a few dining options. Some offer only hot dogs, burgers, and pizza. Lorraine's offers regular meals and they are very good. I had perhaps one of the best broiled flounder ever, with a sweet cole slaw, plus 1/2 lb steamed shrimp. Delicious. My partner had the crab cake and although we've had better up in Annapolis and the middle Bay Area (more chunks of meat, less filler), it was good. It's a short walk from the ferry dock or the marina. Service is very good, too. Prices reasonable. Just remember this is a dry island. Unassuming ambience. Seat yourself. read more

Okay.. so this place came highly recommended to us from several others... keeping in mind it seems like everyone in the island area has there favorite crab shack of sorts... this got the most must go recommendations... So we take the ferry from Onancock to Tangiers and pay a nice lady named Claudia $5 for a fifteen minute island golf cart tour.. well worth it. A local all her life probably some 50 years.. she also gave us a flyer for Lorraine. So we looked at it from the outside and like most of the island shops.. it has been hit hard by storms. But still up to par and kept up as best as you can on a remote island. So in we go...and we order the Crab Bites with coleslaw fresh made. So I am not going to try to add words of merit here because nothing I can write will provide enough justice for the taste texture and Love put into these crab cakes which I can it describe as the WORLD'S BEST CRAB CAKES YOU CAN EVER HAVE... and the coleslaw was great too. Service warm and friendly... but they could have been mean rude and non existent and I would still go back and order the Crab cakes. Do not miss this joint and order the Crab cakes. Like none other. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Crab Bites more than yummy. - New American Near Me

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Definitely one of the best crab cakes I have had. The servers were friendly and everything came quickly.

two words: CRABBY FRIES amazing food! 1000000000% recommend for anyone going to tangier :)

Always a treat to visit Tangier Island. I called the day ahead to make sure they were opened and assured they were. Lorraine's is just the best! Sweetest owner and amazing food. Crab everything - fries, soup, appetizers, crab cakes, etc. Big portion sizes and all 5 of us cleaned our plates. The island is an absolute gift and highly recommended to visit. Food at Lorraine's is awesome. Super versatile menu - seafood, burgers, sandwiches, etc. Can't go wrong. read more

I've been here many times. The food has been great each visit. The crab cakes are meaty and well seasoned. But my favorite, the SOFT SHELL CRABS! I didn't used to like them much but after trying theirs I realized it's because others don't know how to prepare them. Jamie and the crew give great service and the food is excellent every time. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - View of Tangier Island by air as we were arriving. - New American Near Me

We went over from Reedville on the ferry to poke around the island and have lunch. After a tour with one of the ladies with golf carts group that awaited us as we got off the ferry, then browsing thru gift shops, we stepped in for lunch. Fortunately there was a table available. We were with another couple and their seventh grade girl, and her phone... (As a side note, I didn't have cell service, so I never figured I out what she was doing unless she was just stuck in a muscle memory loop?) I ordered the soft shell crab and crab cake platter, along w crab soup. Figured I had to get all the crab I could get while there... everything was outstanding! The waitress cheerfully answered my questions as I sought details of the soft shell crabs. Given the number of soft shell crab houses we see on the way in, I had to have some. I'd had them before but then they were kinda gross! As waitress told me, these are cleaned of anything that's not crabmeat. And they were perfect! So fresh, lightly battered and fried, just beyond my expectations! The crab cake was great and the crab soup was creamy, seasoned with Old Bay, and full of crabmeat! Others with me liked their meals, think they got flounder bites, sweet potato waffle fries, etc. The kid got chicken nuggets or something that sat on the table. I think it was a good appropriate kid's meal at a seafood restaurant not exactly for kids, but she's a 7th grade girl and had to abide by that code;) So the meals were expensive, think my bill for two was $70 after a tip. Regardless, figured this is when I'm at Tangier Island, what are you gonna do? Stop in here when on the island. I enjoyed my time there, seemed to be doing great business and try the soft shell crabs!!! read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Soft shell crabs and crab cake - New American Near Me

One of the best crab cake sandwiches ever! Of course it helps that you had to take a boat to the center of the Chesapeake Bay to get here but this place stands on its own with the quality of the food.... was a nice quaint place loaded with authentic Tangier Island integrity... Wish colbeer could be found somewhere on the island but that is what comes with the old way of Chesapeake livin'... read more

We ate here on our American cruise down the Chesapeake bay. I had ordered the crab cake but they had an extra order of soft shell crabs and I got them. The BEST soft shell crabs I've ever eaten. Hot. Crispy a little sea salt. I would take a trip there again just to eat them. Still thinking about them that's how good they were and I've eaten plenty over the years!!!!! read more

Great crab cake and softshell crabs. A little pricey but hey, you're on an island. The crab cakes are loaded with crab and the flavor was good. The cream of crab soup was excellent as well. Service was fast and friendly. There are only about 4 restaurants on the island so next time I'll try another! read more

We had originally planned on dining at Fisherman's Corner but there was a twenty minute wait and we had to get back on the ferry within an hour. So we walked across the street to Lorraine's. We arrived around 1:00, and there were about 10 tables occupied. Most of them had already received their food. There were two waitresses working both the floor and cash register. It took several minutes before anyone approached our table as one of the waitresses seemed preoccupied with a young man sitting at the counter while the other waitress was busy running food out to tables. We had already decided on trying Lorraine's Seafood Platter (even though the price was "whited-out" on the laminated menu) so we could have a bit of everything: fried flounder, soft shell crab, not-so jumbo shrimp, clam strips and crab cake. The entree included two sides. I chose onion rings and cole slaw. It also included cornbread. The stars of the entree were the flounder and soft shell crab. Both were lightly breaded, moist and flavorful. All other items, including the sides and cornbread were just okay. For you iced tea lovers, I would also like to note that they have neither sweet tea nor lemons. Don't be fooled by thinking the seafood will be great since Tangier is a fishing village. Our "okay" meal for two, which included two iced teas and two seafood platters, came to over $80. Eighty. Dollars. I'm accustomed to exaggerated pricing in tourist areas but this was ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that the service didn't warrant our customary 20% tip. On a positive note, the restaurant was clean. The platters were plentiful though disappointing and overpriced. read more

Lorraine's Snack Bar - Menu you receive at the marina - New American Near Me

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Took the trip over to Tangier Island yesterday... first time in about twenty years. Not much has changed - which is the island's unique draw - with the exception of a few more places to eat some really great fresh seafood and many more golf carts whizzing about. More about the seafood. Most people seem drawn to The Chesapeake House which may well have been the first and, for a very long time, the only restaurant on the island. You can pre-order and pay for their signature family-style meal when booking the ferry over. I've never eaten there, feeling a need to remove myself from the crowd of other tourists and also in the belief there must be something better out there. Both times I have followed obvious locals as they made their way to their favorite spot for lunch This trip I was again proven correct in my belief and well-rewarded with a yummy soft shell crab dinner at Lorraine's. The name here says "snack bar", but it's not. Lorraine's is a full-fledged restaurant with a substantial menu of great seafood dishes and a board with many daily specials. If you go to the world capitol of soft shell crab, that's what you eat! My partner and I both enjoyed the soft shell crab dinners and I also had a cup of crab soup which was the best I've had in quite a while. The food was great and both of us were so full we walked around the island to work off some of the calories. The only down side for some might be price. There were many price points on the menu and specials board, so you are bound to find something good to eat within your budget. Lots of sandwich options, but we wanted what we wanted and we did pay for it. Our dinner "specials" came with either the soup or two sides and I ordered the soup with the addition of fries. My partner had a baked potato and salad as her sides. A coke for her and tea for me completed the order. Bill came to $58 for the two of us. Special day, special trip and a special meal, so I'm not complaining. Just be aware of the "market price" offerings and ask your server if price is a concern. read more

Had a real good meal here! Awesome crab cake, cream of crab soup and apple cobbler! Very clean bathroom! read more

The staff was so friendly and the crab soup was out of this world! By far the best crab dish I had in the Chesapeake Bay area. I wish I would have had more crab dishes here. They really made this trip to the island special. read more

Absolutely the best fried soft crab I ever ate. Fresh from the shanty. Cleaned perfectly. The coating was light and not salty or greasy. They must keep the fryer grease really clean. This is soft crab heaven worth the time and $25 round trip cost to come to Lorraine's on Tangier Island from Onancock. Hint: check the ferry schedule! read more

Ate there last night. It was prom night and the prom couples, all dressed for a ball, paraded down the main st. (Main Ridge St) Lorraine's has taken over the restaurant right at the crossroads. It is a homey place and couples and kids from the island hang out. It is interesting to hear the different speech pattern of the locals as they socialised. Everyone is friendly on the island but with the hoards of day trippers it must be like living in an amusement park. Oh, the food. We had the specials - always a good idea in a small spot. Terrific creamy crab soup and crabcake sandwich. Lots of crab but not a notable preparation in my estimation. We shared the crab dip in fresh bread bowl - very nice. With two cokes the bill was $35. It was open until 8pm for the locals. We spent the night on our boat at the marina so the crowds had already left. read more

Lorraine's was an excellent stop for our fly-in lunch to Tangier. On this windy, cold March day, this was the only restaurant open on the island, with a large amount of locals populating the tables around us. Having grown up in Maryland (At the top of the bay, no less), I do have high expectations when it comes to anything seafood -- especially crab. That said, Lorraine's delivered! The crab cake and flounder platter was very good. The cake had a minimal amount of 'filler' was fresh, and excellently seasoned. The batter of the flounder was nice, but did get a little soggy (due to the lettuce upon which is was served, maybe pat that down after washing it next time). The service was warm but a little slow, so do take that into account during the slow season where the staff consists of 1-2 staff members. read more

We spent a rainy few hours on the island yesterday. Made it to Lorraine's before the whole ferry unloaded and was welcomed by friendly folk. Asked for and received large hot mugs of tea. Crab cake sandwich was fantastic! Almost pure crab. My husband's fried chicken did not have enough spice in the breading for him. (I know...seafood is the norm on an island, however he will always order fried chicken). Chicken Philly cheesesteak was awesome also. The best was the she crab soup. Great flavor and satisfying. We highly recommend this establishment. read more

We stopped in after a half day of wandering around the island and were treated to the best crab cakes I've ever had - bar none! Two of those and I had no need for dinner that evening. read more

Wretched service. If you have to catch a ferry and want to eat here arrive at least three hours in advance to be be able to sit down, order your food, and still make the ferry. Yes, I said three hours. Slowest place we've ever been to in our lives. And the staff/ownership doesn't care or won't apologize. They'll double down and blame you for being upset that they're so slow. read more

My girlfriend and I went on 6/14/15 while we toured the island for a bit. Being on a Sunday not all the restaurants we opened so we went here. We ordered clam strips to start. We both got the crab cake sandwich with homemade chips. The clam strips came out and I was surprised, they were big and fat. Most seafood places service small little pieces. I definitely recommend them. They were good. Crab cake sandwiches were good, but could have used some more spices for flavor. They didn't have a lot of filler like a lot of seafood places do, maybe this is because of their location. The chips did not look homemade, but rather out of a bag. Service was a little slow, but they were jamming. Everyone in the restaurant looked like they were off our boat. Check it out if you're on the island. read more

Took a trip to Tangier Island with mom and we decided on Lorraine's for lunch. We both had the Crab Dip in a Bread Bowl special and it was absolutely delicious. Our server Jaime makes the dip herself, and as she said, not much beats Tangier crab! read more

Went to Tangier on 8-18-19, decided to eat lunch at Lorraine's, my friend and I chose the crab cake and soft crab combo. The soft crabs were delicious but the crab cakes were the worst I have ever eaten. I make my own crab cakes and have eaten them in restaurants for the past 50 years, these were by far the worst, no flavor at all, not a hint of crab taste. read more

Pros: Chowders, soft crab sandwiches, and crab cakes are a must have! Friendly service that operates on island time. Cons: Gratuity forced onto parties larger than six. read more