As a customer for many years, I feel compelled to address a recent 1 Star review from a fellow McLean resident (May 24), since I was also there and observed what happened. First, I highly recommend making a reservation. There is a reason the place gets packed - the crabs and food are amazing, every time. Over 20 years I've never had a bad experience - and I go 1-2 times per month. There is a long table in the middle of the restaurant and sometimes mid-day they need to bring boxes of crabs through - so you may have to scoot your chair a bit once or twice if you are at that long table. On the flip side, you are getting fresh, live crab - no exceptions. Second, there was a very demanding couple seated by me, who treated the server arrogantly and skeptically from the start. I was appalled at the way the man reacted to a simple mix-up where the other server brought the crabs to the wrong table in error. Their server tried everything possible to calmly offer multiple options to correct the situation and apologies, and the customer became exceedingly loud and rude. I was so thankful when he finally stormed out, because it was so abusive. BL: Quarterdeck has the best blue crab you can find locally, wonderful and knowledgeable servers, and a menu with tons of variety and delicious food for everyone. I come here to celebrate special occasions, spend time with good friends + family, and to relax and have an amazing meal after a long work week. read more

Wow. We sat in the bar because the wait for a table was over an hour. I ordered the crab cakes. One fried and one broiled. You got two. My sides were hush puppies and potatoe salad. Everything was so delicious. My crab cakes had no filling. Pure crab meat. My spouse has blackened catfish with coleslaw and rice. I'm already looking forward to coming back. read more

I had the worst lunch experience today and will never return. Even though I arrived as the very first customer without a reservation, and there were plenty of empty tables, the receptionist seated my family just one yard away from the entrance. As a result, I had to watch countless people constantly walking in and out. To make matters worse, I had to physically get up and move out of the way more than five times just to let food delivery personnel pass. Spending over $220 for such a miserable and uncomfortable dining experience is completely unacceptable. ​ To top it all off, the service was a complete disaster overall. The table next to us was informed that the crab they ordered had been accidentally dumped at another table, and they were told they'd have to wait another 30 minutes or to get that food. The gentleman declared "I will not receive the food from another table". Furious at the situation, they ended up walking out. This used to be a really great restaurant--I have no idea how their service has become this terrible. read more

We had to eat in the bar because it was packed. We enjoyed the snow crab although some of the meat was really stuck to the shell or seemed nonexistent. It did lack seasoning. The fries were greasy and a little cold. Hush puppies were not bad. Service was slow but they were pleasant. There wasn't really a lot of ambience as the restaurant is small and a bit run down. read more

You are never disappointed when you come here for crabs. They are always cooked to order. I love the home feeling you get when you eat crabs here! The staff is always friendly. I do return here as much as I can! read more

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

The crab was awesome. Just as I had hoped for. Coming back from Vegas again this year.

Despite the bustling atmosphere, the service was exceptional. The hostess whose name, unfortunately, I cannot recall, was particularly welcoming and attentive. The mini crab cakes are a standout and come highly recommended. It's definitely not the typical crab cake with a bunch of filler and very little crab. This, you TASTE THE CRAB. We actually preferred this over the blue crabs. The chilled shrimp was a refreshing addition, especially with the hot weather. The blue crab was flavorful and satisfying, while the snow crab, though slightly on the salty side, was still enjoyable. Both, however, took a bit of work. The mussels were also quite tasty. The chicken wings were especially memorable, perfectly crisped edges that added great texture and flavor. Even the kids pepperoni pizza was decent. I would definitely recommend checking this spot out. We went for dinner and went back the following day for lunch. Reservation highly recommended, we were walk in, waited about an hour on a busy Friday evening. read more

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We were hungry for crab. We got a half dozen steamed crabs and devoured them. Onion rings on the side and a delicious coleslaw. Service was good. read more

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The food and service are great in this no-frills seafood restaurant. There's street parking so beware but still worth a trip. The setting is very casual and somewhere to hang with friends. I decided on something different and settled on this place. As mentioned, both food and service were great for me. I had the hush puppies for starters and the fried chicken sandwich, which both were delicious. read more

Quarterdeck - Hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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It's not cheap but the crabs are large and meaty. The atmosphere is pleasant, staff are friendly. Make reservations because they fill up fast. read more

Quarterdeck - Pre-Birthday celebration with loved ones! - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We were a party of four and we're very impressed with Quarterdeck. It was our mom's birthday and my husband was in a wheelchair and they were so accommodating and nice. Our server a nice looking young man I forgot his name was really on top of this game, so informed about the menu and guided us to make excellent choices everybody loved what they ordered. My only complaint was the price of the blue crabs. But it is early in the season, so hopefully that will come down this summer. read more

We snuck in just before the rush on a Friday night. First time here as I'm from San Francisco. One of the ladies at the hotel we stayed in recommended the Quarterdeck and am I glad! Good service and a VERY friendly staff complimented the great food. We had six in our group and ordered three entrees and a dozen blue point crabs. Plus outstanding clam chowder. If you come to DC be sure to eat here! read more

Such a great place! We stopped in here on a trip to DC and had a great time. It's a small place so we were glad to get a table without a reservation for lunch. We did a half dozen of the large blue crab with two side salads and that was enough for two people! Our waitress was so nice and showed up how to break the crab apart even though they were super hot. It has a very dive bar feel which for us was great! read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I'd definitely come back next time I'm in the DC area. It was easy to book a last minute reservation, and we came for dinner. Place was a house with a very cute and southern charm to it. We ordered hush puppies, crab dip, and medium blue crabs. Crabs come in medium, large, and extra large, but medium portion was enough for two. Service was great. I haven't had blue crab in a long time and the server saw me struggling, so he taught me how to eat a blue crab properly... kind of embarrassing, lol, but I needed it. read more

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The food was amazing, Oysters super fresh. Came back 2x days in a row. Cheap beer, oysters, and amazing service / old school seafood house vibes. What else could you want. read more

Quarterdeck - Oysters and beer - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Pricey but the food was great. Everything came out in a timely matter. Server was awesome and attentive read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This was my first time having this style of boiled crab, and it was a pretty enjoyable experience. What I got: Crab cakes- no filler, all crab. Solid. Half dozen of their smallest crabs- I was a bit concerned about finishing 6 crabs, but this was their smallest order size. It actually turned out to be quite manageable as blue crabs aren't that big if you're used to eating snow or Dungeness crab. They steam these to order and it takes 30-45 minutes for them to come out, so I recommend putting in your order right away. This preparation is super simple with Old Bay seasoning and clarified butter on the side, but it's very satisfying to eat. As a newb extracting all the meat and goodies inside the head takes some getting used to, but like anything, after a couple of repetitions you'll get the hang of it. A bit time-consuming to eat (took me about 45 minutes to get through all 6), but it's all part of the fun! This seems to be a popping spot locally, but I had no trouble getting a seat around noon at the bar as a solo diner. The atmosphere is no-frills and down-to-earth which I appreciated. Glad I made the trek over from DC! Next time I'll probably try their larger sizes of crab as I imagine you get more reward for your efforts. read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Really nice atmosphere on the patio. Stayed for 2 hours with crabs and drinks flowing. Always a fun time especially during summer. Will be returning. read more

You can expect the same great taste each visit, never fails! Top 1 Seafood Restaurant in Arlington. read more

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If I could can up the clam chowder and bring it home!! It was so creamy and hearty. Coming from the west coast we've had a good clam chowder in Monterey Bay, but after trying the one at Quarterdeck the bar has been lifted. We also had a Po'boy and that was a great choice too! Our waitress was very friendly, and the place itself felt like one of those hidden gems in a chill neighborhood; but boy is it popular, we came in at just the right time without a reservation and it filled up fairly quick. Great food and would definitely go back. read more

Quarterdeck - Fried oysters and shrimp Po'boy - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I've eaten here before, but today was full of dissatisfaction and disappointment. The crab they served us was extremely salty. For some reason, the crab at the other table didn't seem to have as much seasoning it was only ours. We lost our appetite, couldn't finish the dish, and had to wash off the excess seasoning at home. read more

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

Crabs was delicious as always. So were the waitresses . Crabs were heavy with lots of meat in them. These are my first crabs of the year. read more

Quarterdeck - 6 delicious jumbo crabs. I got the last one - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The food is delicious. The blue crab came out piping hot. They make them as soon as your order so if you know that's what you came for let them know asap. It can take about 30 minutes to steam. However, don't let that deter you because their apps are fantastic. The wings are seasoned well, crispy, meaty and tender. Have a few while you wait on your crab feast! The atmosphere is buzzing and lively. Lots of laughter. No flies or bugs in the outdoor seating area. Looks like they have huge fans strategically placed for warmer weather. Same with heaters. I was there during perfect temps and enjoyed the outside seating. I would definitely go back! read more

Great food and service, love this restaurant, must try. Better call for reservations. read more

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Food... Completely fresh. Service... Welcoming. Atmosphere.. unpretentious!! Loved it read more

Quarterdeck is an oasis of seafood a stones-throw from the Iwo Jima monument. I saw the rave review and decided to give them a try. We tried the mini fried crab cakes, fish and chips, and fried oysters platters. Our server was really friendly and attentive. The dining room was pretty tight and had way too many TVs going for suck a small space. The decor was stereotypical seafood shack - plastic shark and old bay paraphernalia everywhere. The fish was super fresh and well cooked. How fresh was it? They literally were bringing in a fresh batch of fish and crab as we were dining. The crab cakes were well cooked, moist, and nicely seasoned. The fish wasn't bartered like traditional British style fish and chips but instead fried in a thin cornmeal batter, which was still nice and crispy. The fries were okay. My girlfriend had onion rings and coleslaw with her oysters, which she liked. All in all, was this the best seafood I've ever had? No. Would I dine there again? Possibly. read more

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*BEWARE* quarterdeck clearly cooks their crabs in craque because it's been a couple of weeks and I can still taste them?!!?! All kidding aside- I brought my mom who was visiting from Wisconsin, and she was OBSESSED, and kept talking about how you could taste the ocean in "these balls" (crab balls. Quickly consumed before a photo could be snapped. And I mean QUICKLY). The crabs themselves were soooo succulent and for being size regular, they were large and in charge. This is my 2nd visit to quarter deck and I will 1000% be back for my next fix...I mean...meal..... read more

Quarterdeck - Crab cakes - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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My brother recently came back from Colorado and wanted to revisit The Quarter Deck for crabs. So glad went. Our server, Tish, was delightful and gave use great service. The crabs were great. And the hush puppies were perfect.Not so impressed with the fried oyster (too heavy on the breading) . The key lime pie was superb. Overall, it was a very good experience. read more

We were in the area for my sons birthday and he knew he wanted blue crabs so I looked at some places and this seemed to have a pretty good menu that I thought he would like. We had a 5:30 reservation and were about 15/20 minutes late but they held our table for us since it wasn't that busy. The crabs are steamed to order here so they do take a little bit to come out but we didn't mind since we ordered some oysters and crab balls while we waited. Everything tasted really fresh and good. My son and I shared oysters and crabs and my husband got the fish and chips. My son also got a kids pizza and ate everything. They didn't have extra large or jumbo crabs so we got the large but it turned out to be the perfect amount and they were very meaty. read more

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This place is everything you want in a Maryland seafood restaurant. The prices are fair and the service is great. They have a huge patio and the restaurant can get a little loud, but that's part of the experience. We had blue crabs, mussels, and hush puppies, and all were delicious! They have a good beer selection. As with most restaurants in the area, there is an automatic 20% gratuity. read more

We show the snow crab legs, a very large portion with hush puppies. Also, they made Mac and Cheese with Lobster! Fantastic. Great portions and tasty fresh food. Everyone was friendly. Atlas Bullpen Pilsner - from DC was very good. This is a must go to restaurant. Definitely coming back here. read more

Quarterdeck - Menu page 2 - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Good Yelp reviews matter! This pack is a gem. Neighborhoody, fantastic fish and chips (as good quality fish as I've had for fish and chips, frankly), fresh oysters (!), deep beer list, solid sides, definitely this place is a keeper. No trouble getting a table on the patio on a Monday night, plenty of parking around, and I ate and drank like a king for $42. Which, around these parts, is not common. Wonderful, knowledgeable, fast and friendly service (great job, Tisha!). Outstanding. No wonder the crowd around me look like they have been here before - they probably have... read more

Arrived at the desired time for our reservations and got seated quickly. On this particular day we're able to find 3 parking spaces close to the restaurant, compared to other parking experiences. The service was little shaky in the beginning but it got better towards the ends. The XL male crabs definitely lived up to their size, they were HOT and meaty. The shrimp was good as well. Even though it was kinda hot and we reserved the patio, luckily we had a lil breeze come thru to make it comfortable. read more

Quarterdeck - XL Males - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Always love coming here. The crabs are heavy and seasoned well. The crab dip is amazing! I always have a great experience. Came in around 8:30PM which kind of late but still was provided great service. When I'm in town this is where I stop no questions asked! read more

Quarterdeck - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Had the pleasure of dining here for a client event so it was a buyout. It's such a fun atmosphere and everyone enjoyed the indoor and outdoor seating. Our menu was corn, fries, hush puppies, shrimp, onion rings and crab. All the food was pretty good and learning how to eat crab maryland style was fun! Crab was delicious and I will be coming back again. Fun tidbit, Lizzo had just eaten there when she was in town on tour! read more

Quarterdeck - Crabs - Seafood Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I'm normally not a fan of eating with my hands but had heard great things about this restaurant so decided to give it a try. We were seated outside under the tent so everything is red, but I definitely enjoyed the crab which was flavorful and relatively easy to eat. The hush puppies were crisp and savory, and the wings were good too. Service felt a little disjointed but they were fairly attentive and it was busy. Would definitely consider coming back again. read more

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This place ain't cheap but it was good ! $246 with tip for three people! 1/2 dozen crabs! Slaw oysters . Mac and cheese! Alaska king crab! It was a good time ! Great staff ! Very busy and loud ! Crab balls is a must! Crab shack through and through! Great feel and outdoor seating! examen des cols bleus:x read more

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Have visited a few times. Food is always excellent. Service very good The crab cakes and any seafood is always good read more

Great food and the Service is always friendly. Dog friendly patio too. Perfect place to have a few afternoon drinks and enjoy the sunshine. read more

The place in the DMV for crabs. Didn't get the usual full crabs, which I recommend for your first time. Hush puppies are a greater starter. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Lobster Mac and cheese is amazing. Filled with ALOT of lobster, not overly cheesy, and extremely filling. Lobster roll was also generous portion of lobster and barely had any mayo. Corn was super fresh. Frozen drinks were very refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. read more

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