Been going to Quarterdeck since they first opened in 1979. They never disappoint - cold beer and excellent food and service. We love their crabs and especially the Clam Chowder and the BLTs - w crispy bacon and coleslaw - and don't forget to put the JO Crab seasoning on it from their shaker. Recently Yesica has done an excellent job servicing us at the bar during the day. Plenty of parking out front. Just remember it's a Crab House and the entire staff does an excellent job serving its customers. Might take awhile - but the beer is cold. read more

First off, the service here was amazing. The server was kind and helpful. They made my family super comfortable and they were knowledgeable! We went on Black Friday just before the dinner rush and had really great crabs. They brought us buckets and crab mallets to make our adventure a little easier! They were packed with flavor, but were slightly overcooked. We were short a crab, but we never mentioned it. At the time we got to the end it was so filling we didn't even bother. It was my niece and nephews first time having a Maryland style crab picking session. We also got the Mac and cheese (which I have to admit was way too oily), and I forgot to get a photo. We also got salads, which were pretty standard salads. As for the location, it is hidden away on a small hillside in the suburbs of DC. There isn't a ton of parking. The restaurant is unassuming. It was frigid outside, but both the "indoor" patio, with heaters was warm, and inside the restaurant. The interior is a bit "cafe" ish, with standard 2-4-6 top tables. I would say they couldn't fit more than 100 people in these two rooms at once. But don't fret, there is an additional basement and bar area! The bathrooms are downstairs on the bottom floor, so this may be something to consider if you have anyone with special needs who cannot get up and down stairs. Overall, we will definitely go back, and appreciate the space and the food. It's pretty wonderful for a quaint crab house! I've already recommended it to other folks! read more

Quarterdeck - Large blue crabs - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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My brother and mom and I came for a seafood lunch. The Maryland crab soup was soo good. Lots of crab and the tomatos and carrots were perfect. The mussels were in a magnificent cream sauce. Spend that extra dollar and get a bonus helping of bread to sop up the sauce. Or else you'll be spooning it in. The fried oysters were good. The onion rings were crispy. The fish and chips was a generous portion and we left really satisfied. read more

Quarterdeck - The mussels appetizer. - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Fun local spot that is a bit of a dive. Had the shrimp and crab cake, which were both very good. Nice selection of beer on tap. Decent desserts, although they were a little small. Generally a fun place for a casual meal. read more

Quarterdeck - Crab cake and shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The crab was AMAZING! The crab cakes was pure crab with no fillers. Oysters were fresh and great. Service was quick and friendly. The Resturant was cool and quirky. read more

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An old standby, Quarterdeck serves fresh seafood in a casual environment with quick service. Never disappoints. read more

Quarterdeck - Caesar salad with mesquite shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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A cool beach-inspired restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The website recommended booking reservations (which we did and I'd highly recommend!) Since we came to try the crabs but given it's the end of blue crab season and a bit chilly outside, I feel our experience may have been limited by external factors. Food overall was really good and I'd love to return during a nice summer day! We ordered: hot Peel n Eat shrimp (8/10)- really fresh and tasty, loved the seasoning! Half dozen blue crab-medium (9/10)- Fresh fresh fresh blue crab, seasoning was slightly spicy Snow crab legs (6/10)- Fries as a side (8/10) Hush puppies as side (8/10) read more

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What a great little place right outside our nation's capital! If you are nearby and jonesing for some crab or other seafood fare, then look no further than Quarterback! This little hole-in-the-wall gem features some amazing seafood and drinks... and, if you are in the mood to watch your favorite sports game, they have some big TVs broadcasting your favorite local teams. As for food, definitely get the crab if in season (but be prepared to get messy). Other standouts include the fried shrimp (amazing) and mac & cheese! Oh, and I had food envy looking at the fried oysters, which are definitely on my radar for my next trip. As for drinks, i tried the Bloody Mary with shrimp and Old Bay, which I loved., However, my friends thought the frozen drinks were way too sweet and not very strong. The service, on the other hand, was all first rate! The wait staff were all amazing and were friendly and super knowledgeable about the menu and specials. Final thoughts = try this place out if you are looking for some yummy, fresh seafood!! But just be aware that the restaurant is more like a casual fish camp, which can be fun sometimes IMHO. read more

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Went here for a birthday lunch and it was the perfect spot for seafood lovers. Our group shared crab dip, buffalo shrimp, onion rings, hush puppies, blue crabs, and crab legs. The dishes came out a la carte as they were ready, so I recommend ordering a few appetizers to enjoy while waiting for the crabs (which took about 30 minutes or so to arrive). Our server, Alexis, was fantastic--attentive, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu. My favorites were the hush puppies, crab dip, and fish bites with fries--the sauce that came with the fish bites was delicious. The onion rings were also a hit. Overall, great service, tasty seafood, and a fun dining experience. I highly recommend a visit! read more

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The buffalo shrimp was extremely good ! It was very crispy and fresh ! Everyone loved the hushpuppies . Their service was a little slow to say they weren't super busy ! They do however cook everything to order . The building is super old and the restrooms are downstairs . I would go back as I want to try more things soon hopefully . read more

Quarterdeck - Buffalo shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Go hungry leave completely satisfied and full. A locals favorite and very well kept secret. But the word is definitely getting out thanks to Yelp. read more

Quarterdeck - Definitely deliciousness' - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Visiting DC and everyone on Yelp recommended Quarterdeck, even in their reviews of other places. So we Ubered over to VA and did it! Half dozen large blue crabs, 3 clusters snow crab legs, 1 dozen oysters, bowl of clam chowder, small garden salad. Everything was delicious and the wife said her crabs (blue) were the best she's ever had outside Louisiana. read more

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This is one of my go tos for crabs especially when I want them all year around. The staff is friendly and I love that they have everything available for you to enjoy your crabs. They also show the games etc on the televisions. This is perfect for all types of outings such as family, friends, date etc if you love seafood. This is a great spot. read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Delicious local place! We loved seeing the trays of crabs being served. Grilled shrimp, old bay buffalo wings, and haddock bites were all fantastic. read more

Quarterdeck - Oysters on the half shell - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Just ok, service wasn't the best. But they get really busy so it might just be a staff to patron ratio thing. The crab was delicious but so much work! We got half a dozen of the large blue crab, hush puppies, crabdip, coleslaw and corn! Overall, food was ok but it's not something I'd eat more than 1x Place is quite cramped inside, too. But it adds to the experience, very authentic with the emphasis on their seafood read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Overall, 3.5/5 but bumping to a 4/5 because of the "$1 oysters on Wednesdays" happy hour deal before 7 PM. Service is pretty slow and we had to constantly flag down our server if we needed anything. My friend and I were ready to down lots of oysters with their $1 oyster deal, so we ordered 18 oysters each. We could only order each oyster variety by half dozen increments, so we got the following (based on their availability): CHANU (1/2 dozen), BLACKBERRY (1 dozen), LOVE SHACK (1 dozen), and ISLAND CREEK (1/2 dozen). To be honest, we couldn't really tell which oyster was which, but we liked the ones that had a saltier brine (so probably the higher salinity variety). The horseradish and cocktail sauce that came with each order were essential. I appreciate that they were cleaned thoroughly before serving. We definitely got too greedy because we were pretty done with oysters after 14 of them. In the future, I'll limit myself to 12 oysters. I don't think the regular price (somewhere from 2.25 to 2.50 per oyster, depending on how many you order) is worth it, so I would only come back for them during their Wednesday happy hour. We were still pretty hungry afterwards, so we ordered a couple more things to share: MAC & CHEESE - 3.99 The cavatappi pasta (or corkscrew) had a soft texture that contained a good amount of cheese sauce and topped with Old Bay (?) seasoning. However, I thought the cheese sauce was a bit loose and bland and didn't have any cheese pull whatsoever. My friend did enjoy it a lot though, so this is more of a preference than actual critique. MINI CRAB CAKES - 19.99 Each order comes with three 1.5-oz lumps of crab cakes, which is pretty pricy. I did like that the crab cakes had more crab than other random ingredients and sauce mixed in. The tartar sauce was creamy and delicious with the crab cakes. It was good, but not sure if it was worth it. Quarterdeck is not a cheap meal if that's what you're looking for. If I come back, it'll be for their $1 oyster deal and nothing else. read more

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The food was delicious! Those Maryland crabs were seasoned to perfection! The fired oysters, crackles and shrimp were tasty! I will definitely visit again the next time I'm in the area! read more

Quarterdeck - Maryland 1/2 dozen crabs - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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First time here with a girlfriend who's been several times! Had reservations but when seated, it was mid table and the tables were all connected so not a lot of elbow room or personal space. We saw some empty open tables outside and were able to switch. Our server was attentive and very sweet. Our appetizers came fairly quickly and hot. The fried shrimp was huge and the mussels were excellent. Our crabs were steamed to order and came out piping hot! They were heavy and full of meat! Best crabs around! Everything was delicious and would totally recommend this place to anyone wanting some great blue crabs! read more

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Came here from RI to get blue crabs and really enjoyed this place. The outside patio was full, but we made a reservation and were seated quickly. Our server, Trez, was friendly and attentive. The crabs were hot when they came out, and they were seasoned well. The drinks were good & strong. Inside the restaurant, there was a room with an arcade look, and it was packed too. I'm glad I checked this place out! read more

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I'm usually a snow crab girly, but this spot might've converted me! The blue crabs were seasoned perfectly and super meaty, and the mussels were also delish. Service was just okay, but I gave grace since it was a packed house with only a few servers hustling around. The vibe is your classic indoor/outdoor seafood spot--nothing fancy. I loved that there are TVs both inside and outside, making it a great spot to catch football or basketball with friends. It's also an easy place to meet new people. read more

Quarterdeck - Blue crabs - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Not sure what happened to my first review over 11-years ago as that was the first time I had blue crabs and I had just moved to the DMV area. Will give them another try as it's been quite while and seem like they have improved their service and sitting area...we will see. read more

Quarterdeck - That's my half dozens mediums!! So tasty I wanted to slap my mama! Lol - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I hate that I have to update this review like this, but here goes... My group of 6 made reservations at Quarterdeck for 6pm, and was seated upon our arrival. At that moment, we immediately ordered our crabs with our server Tish, and as the menu states, the wait was as posted.. about 45 minutes. While we waited, we ordered appetizers and drinks to pass the time for the main event. Two orders of hush puppies, mussels, and a 1lb of shrimp later, we were pleased mostly with the beginning of our experience. Some times goes by, and slowly but surely.. our server Tish starts to become less attentive. If attentive at all, and I mean basic items like napkins and straws weren't provided nor would she return to ask if we needed anything. It had gotten to the point where we as a table have to continuously "excuse me?" to get her attention..... So for the first time here, myself and my group were growing frustrated with the service. Our first batch of crabs come at some point and the time seems to appear to improve, until.... our next batch of crabs (that we ordered as we were eating the first batch), took an HOUR AND A HALF to come out. ....and remember earlier how I said Tish was basically avoiding the table?... when we finally "excuse me?" to her again, this time to ask where our next batch were, what did she tell us?... that the establishment RAN OUT OF CRABS. Mind you, we're seeing other $12.. $8 soups and salads leave the kitchen...multiple times at that, yet our $100+ item for a table with a guaranteed 20% gratuity isn't a priority? Your solution was to tell us that?.. interesting Tish. So we asked to speak to a manager and we were then introduced to Justin. Justin 1,000% said that is not what the case was, them "running out of crabs" - and then begun the 'Quarterdeck fix it' era. After some additional bargaining and along the way being introduced to the owner, Courtney who was another gem of the night, we were given what we as table figured was a semi-fair adjustment for our extended stay at Quarterdeck. We arrived at 6p for reservations, and did not leave until 9:30..... Do with that information what you will. Not impressed, nor appreciative of Tish's "service" and lies (and I say lies with a S because she told other tables that crabs would be out within 35 minutes), but thank you to Justin and Courtney for trying to swing things around. read more

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Local vibe, great service, & delicious food! Quarterdeck had been around for decades. I remember coming here when I first moved to DC years ago. And, the service and food is consistently the still the same If you're looking for Maryland blue crabs that are fresh, meaty and of good size in the DMV, without doing long drives to the Maryland shore or dealing with crazy wait times and the crowds where it can take hours at local seafood markets or the wharf in DC.... this is your place. Instead, come here relax, have a couple of drinks and dive in on the star of the show ......Steamed Crabs! The service is always great... the staff is friendly & helpful with recommendations & instruction "how to" for the crabs! We started with the Crab Balls appetizer...the small crab cakes fried just a little with a Heineken beer. I must' admit one thing ...... the crabs here are little bit on the expensive side and are not cheap.....but you get what you pay for here and that's crabs of good size and steam to perfection! So when you come here..... don't hold back. You might as well go all out and take in the entire experience that comes with enjoying Blue Crabs by treating yourself to at least a half dozen of the "Large Crabs"--at minimum! During my recent visit, this is exactly what I did and enjoyed everything from beginning to end ......the She Crab Soup, Oysters on a Half Shell, & some well steamed-seasoned Half-dozen Large crabs! They were so good (excellent spice mix) and it was a lot of fun for all of us there in my party. Not to mention....when ordering the large, x-large or Jumbo crabs....you get more meat for all the work that you have to put! So why bother or waste time with the small or medium-size crafts ... just to save a few bucks. Imho lol In all, you can't go wrong with Quarterdeck The vibe is always great. There is both indoor and outdoor seating which is perfect when the weather is nice outside. The drinks are strong and the staff here work hard to make sure you enjoy the experience. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Love this spot!!! It's one of my family's favorite places for crabs . I'm not very keen of them so I ordered seafood pasta and boy was that sooo good. The parking is a little hard and it gets super busy but it's worth it in the end. The pastas sauce so amazing with shrimp, scallops and mussels. My daughter loved her salmon which is a big surprise because she's picky. The service was quick and we will definitely be back again. read more

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I came here wanting to try some crabs, but the crabs were a bit too pricey for me so I rolled with a crab cake sandwich (that pun would've been funny if I got a lobster roll). My sandwich was tasty, but definitely not cheap. Service was quick and efficient - I felt like our server was super in-tune with our needs. Honestly don't have much to write about - a good experience! read more

Quarterdeck - Crabcake Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This was my first time and everything was so good except for the crab soup. It was all vegetables and no crab so I switched to the lobster bisque which was tasty with chunks of lobster. Their crab balls were out of this world. We ordered seconds and also loved the crab dip and their french fries were good too. So many people were eating crabs all around us. Careful. Tip was already included. I've made that mistake before. read more

The food does not disappoint! I was part of a party of 7, and we had appetizers, fried shrimp, hush puppies, onion rings, mini crab cakes and the food was banging! Of course I had a crab or two and a lot of meat and tasty! The service was good and it was a Friday night and busy. We sat on the outside, under tent, fans are on, and a little warm. Will I go again? Yeah! We made reservations ahead for our party!! read more

Quarterdeck - Side Caesar Salad - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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After hearing how amazing the crabs are here I finally went to check them out for myself YES crabs are amazing I enjoyed every morsel Met some regulars who gave raving reviews Chris and Happi Nice atmosphere people were sociable Dinner wasn't that great crab cake mediocre Onion rings burnt to a crisp honey Mussels amazing we loved the sauce Crabs Bathroom yuk yuk yuk I did mention to staff but I never went back I was too scared Jessica horrible service forgot most things I requested barely came back to check on us maybe this poor lady was overwhelmed I'm not sure but if I ever returned I'd request not to be seated on her section We didn't have reservations which I didn't know they accepted but they were accommodating and sat us after 40 minutes I was grateful because it took over an hour to get there so I'd been really disappointed if we couldn't had gotten the chance to experience Quarterdeck after finally making my way there Parking was decent Prices are average read more

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Had to double back on this place and bring a fran. Again, no disappointment. More food than we could handle so we donated the crabs to the staff. I would eat here everyday if I wasn't fearful of cholesterol. It's small, quant, friendly staff, and some of the BEST seafood...FOOD I've had in a very long time. read more

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We make an annual trek here each summer for crabs, for my companions, and not crabs, me. The food is fine, nothing super exciting, but there are a lot of choices for those who don't want crabs, or seafood at all. I've had the burger several times and the turkey club, and they're both good and pretty inexpensive. My fellow diners enjoyed their crab cakes and salads. The crabs themselves are massive, and also expensive, so plan ahead on that, plus the time to eat them--this is a 2 hour meal if someone is ordering crabs. The atmosphere is very divey, but it's fun and sitting on the covered patio is nice--they have lots of fans going for warm weather. Part of the fun of coming here is bringing friends, so come with a group and enjoy! read more

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The large blue crabs were fresh, full of meat, and perfectly steamed with J.O. Crab Seasoning. You could really taste the quality--they weren't overcooked or watered down, just the right amount of seasoning and spice to let the crab flavor shine. The crab cakes were excellent--crispy on the outside, all lump crab on the inside, no unnecessary filler. You can tell they know what they're doing in the kitchen. These are the kind of crab cakes you hope to find but rarely do. The service was just as impressive. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without being overbearing. The staff made us feel welcome and gave great tips on how to get the most out of the crabs. You can tell they take pride in what they do. The atmosphere is definitely local and casual--a bit of a dive in the best possible way. Nothing fancy, just good food and good people. It's the kind of spot you'll want to come back to when you're craving no-nonsense seafood done right. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for authentic, well-seasoned crabs, great crab cakes, and friendly service without all the fuss. read more

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Always love grabbing crabs when I'm back in the DMV and I'm happy I went to Quarterdeck. There were a good amount of meat in each of the crabs and everything was seasoned perfectly. The old bay wings hit the spot too... will for sure be coming back next time I'm in town read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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What a great place for seafood. The restaurant is up on the hill where there's lots of beauty. It was very relaxing and the service was great. We had a delicious dinner and it was very entertaining for the kids to be able to draw all over the table. The lobster is delicious and cooked perfectly. You're missing out if you don't come here for a meal. read more

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I don't know how or why it took me so long to try Quarterdeck. After seeing countless reviews on social media, I finally had the chance to check it out--and the hype is real! From the service to the food, everything was excellent. I ordered the fried oysters as my appetizer, and my cousin had the crab dip, which she loved. There was a generous amount of crab meat, and even my little cousin couldn't get enough of it! For our main meal, we shared a dozen extra-large crabs. They were heavy, meaty, and seasoned to perfection--sweet and succulent! We chose to sit outside, as it was a beautiful day. I'll definitely be back! read more

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I made a lunch reservation for 11:30 am on a Saturday (March). Checked in and was immediately seated (no additional wait time). Luckily, the weather was nice since I had made outdoor/ patio reservations ahead of time. Our party specifically came to Quarterdeck to dine on the blue crabs. We placed our crab order 1st (since the cook time is ~45 minutes). We then ordered appetizers (mini crab cakes (order this!), New England clam chowder, and the garden salad to share). We also ordered the filet of fish sandwiches for the kids. All the dishes were delicious. Allow plenty of time for dining especially if you're going to dine on crabs. Definitely a great spot to check out for seafood. read more

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The Quarterdeck has the best steamed blue crabs in the DC area, no one else comes close; other places often steam them in advance, so you might get crabs that have been oxidizing for a while, but the Quarterdeck always steams the crabs when they are ordered. But don't sleep on their southern-style fried seafood either, especially the oysters. The staff is uniformly friendly and nice, and capable of handling the demands of the crowd on the most crowded weekend days during the summer and early fall. One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV. read more

Quarterdeck - Fish and chips, really good fries and fish. - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Great local spot is great. We enjoyed a nice bottle of white wine with our clam chowder and lobster bisque. Then I ordered the crab and shrimp entree. Loved the shrimp and hush puppies. The crab cake was good as well. Our server was super busy but the best! She was able to host serve tend the bar! I mean WOW!!! Love the vibe. read more

Quarterdeck - Bar - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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As a second time visitor, I will definitely return to dine again. I enjoyed the blue crabs, and peel-n-eat shrimp. To my dissatisfaction, the crab legs were salty and cold. Service was average, and the ambience resembled a rustic crab house. It would be great to have a second bathroom or stall for women. Overall, I recommend this restaurant. Hands down, and thumbs up! read more

There are not many crab houses left around the DC metro and this staple is a no frills neighborhood gem. Crabcakes, crabs, and sides are all delicious. It's such a random mix of people that come here to enjoy crab. Make sure you make a reservation as it is chaotic in the summer. read more

Quarterdeck - Crabcake - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Came for Mother's Day. Be sure to make reservations in advance because this place gets filled! It felt like we were eating at the beach but really this place was tucked away in the neighborhoods. All surrounded by apartments. Very odd place to be. Delish though!! We got oysters and jumbo crabs and some sandwiches to share. At this time it was $170 for dozen jumbo crabs and I would agree they were true jumbo and meaty! read more

Quarterdeck - Jumbo crab - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia