Ok, it's been an annual tradition to go for steamed crabs at the Red Roost, a typical Eastern Shore crab house, on Mothers Day, for at least six or seven years now. It's a tradition that next year, we will break. And the shame of it is that is not the steamed crabs that were terrible. They were small, but adequately full and meaty. It is the absolutely unacceptable attitude we encountered from the time we checked in. The person who seated us was belligerent and nasty and turned more so when I suggested the table we were being placed at was not what I had requested when I had made my reservation. I suspect that this haughty young woman may have been the same person I spoke to on the phone, when I requested a larger booth, for four adults and two active young boys, along with an infant who needed a high chair. She told me "I am sure you will be fine wherever we PUT YOU. Prices have gone up. Not unusual, and crabs are pricey these days. But when you drop $300.00 for all you can eat crab feast and then almost have to BEG for a crab, then the price becomes unacceptable. We were charged for drink refills. The worst part happened as we paid the bill and prepared to leave, the server came over to the table and demanded the crab knives be counted, and enlisted everyone's help in accounting for them, even the men who had just washed their hands. The prevailing attitude from the staff was that we had stolen the tableware, when if we had been seated where I had requested, we could have kept a better eye on things, since the four year old was having a great time "helping" to clear up,the table, throwing masses of shells and paper towels in the table side trash can, which is where I suspect the "missing" knife may have gone to. Seriously, though.....if I just dropped 300 on dinner, why would we steal a ten cent knife or mallet? Red Roost just lost several customers over that one. Good business plan, y'all. Crab feasts are supposed to be about fellowship, and abundance, and friendly folks and generous servings of good food. None of those were evident at the Red Roost today. read more

I live in Salisbury and rarely go eat at seafood places only because it is cheaper to purchase them in Marion/Crisfield. Del. Power had a get together there so I went family and it was great. My waitress who by the way is getting married was the sweetest I have had at any restaurant in a while. She catered to us and never let the crabs run out which were delicious, I would definitely recommend this place. We took the van and found out they have a secret hideaway back by the water. Pictures were taken and we lounged in the hammocks and just stared at the sky..turned out to be a beautiful day and atmosphere. read more

The Red Roost used to be a family and friends regular go to restaurant. We have been going for over 30 years and seen a steady decline in the last few years. Yesterday will be our last visit. An all you can eat crab house should be the best at least at one thing - crabs! They were terrible, light, tasted like river bottom, some were mushy like they were dead before they were cooked. Local corn is at its peak right now - the Roost served corn that was tough and flavorless. A sad disappointment, extraordinarily expensive ($43.99 for the AYCE crabs) - the end of an era. read more

Great all-you-can-eat! Very friendly and informative staff! Our server, Nick, was precious! So attentive- never an empty glass or empty basket of food! Never disappointed here! read more

What a pity that this place has gone down hill since the Palmers owned it. It's pretty hard to screw up Alaskan king crab legs since all you have to do is steam them to warm them up but the last two times (yes, i gave them a second chance) they were just barely room temperature and not as easy to remove from the shells. I used to like the hush puppies but unfortunately the machine doesn't work properly and you would think that in 3 seasons they would have either had it fixed or replaced. The crabs are overseasoned (all the better to have you guzzle beer my dear) but the ribs are tasty. The menu dinners are the best bargain and well cooked so spend your money on those and go to the Old Mill or Ocean City for your pig-out! read more

We were able to cross the Wicomico River at Whitehaven Ferry and make it to this landmark restaurant for dinner. That saved us about 40 minutes driving from Princess Anne, but it closed at 7:30 so we drove back through Salisbury. The number of cars in the parking lot belied what a draw this place is even in the middle of nowhere. We had a "crab pot" which was great because we didn't have to choose from among our favorite shellfish dishes. The salads were huge and quite packed with more than the usually lettuce and fake croutons. The portion sizes are huge and the service was amazing. I can't remember the last time I had such an attentive server. Well worth the drive. We look forward to checking out the dock bar next time as the on.y thing missing from this experience was the water view. read more

This is where my crab and shrimp dreams come true! The crabs are PERFECTLY seasoned and always served freshly steamed. The prices are great as well! read more

Great crabs, great chicken and the coldest beer. Well worth the drive! Friendly employees.

Our server Nick on Friday night 9/27 was great!! He was very attentive and kept the crabs and shrimp coming without even being asked! Please ask for him if you come to the Roost! read more

12 May 2015 What type of restaurant is the "Red Roost"? It's a seafood restaurant in the middle of nowhere which offers its customer's a picnic bench or a booth to enjoy a relaxing night of enjoyment. A customer since 1999 and one that has visited other crab houses; the Red Roost is far from being your "typical" Eastern Shore crab house. As you arrive on the graveled parking lot of the restaurant you immediately smell steamed seafood being cooked and can't wait to get inside to see what specials are being offered for the evening. You're greeted immediately by a friendly smile and taken to your table that is wrapped with brown paper where the mess begins. If you have time before going to your table, stop by the bar for a cold drink. The bartenders will go out of their way to fix your drink of choice. If you have the "all-you-can-eat" dinner, bring an empty stomach....wow that is a lot of food for the money. The crabs are plentiful and spiced just right. If you're lucky while visiting the Red Roost, you might have the opportunity of seeing one of the ANNUAL out-of-state buses arrive. Yes, out-of-state...all the way from New York!! Now, if you're like us, when we take large groups (family &/or friends) to dinner, 8-15 people, multiple times & spending $600.00 plus each time throughout the summer, you tend to return to a restaurant that offers: good atmosphere, food, service, cleanliness, and reasonable prices, right? The Red Roost offers above your "TYPICAL" crab house entries, and more importantly....GREAT SERVICE!! Whether you're sitting at the bar talking with Jeff or Darrin, or having an OUTSTANDING server like Katie waiting on your table, you will truly be pleased with the friendly atmosphere of the Red Roost. Please don't take our 15 plus years of experience nor our over 500 visits as a testimony, please come visit this restaurant and decide for yourself. To the entire Red Roost staff....keep up the great job and the beer COLD! read more

This Eastern Shore landmark is the quintessential crab feast experience. After a nice ride in the country you will find it located in a renovated Chicken house near the Whitehaven ferry. Picnic tables covered with brown paper, and big heaps of boiled crabs just piled in the middle makes for a wonderful (messy) DelMarValous time. The classic crab feast usually includes fried chicken, Corn on the cob, "Shrimpies" (extruded shrimp finger food things) Hush-puppies, and big pitchers of Beer. Grab a mallet and get to work on that pile of blue crabs. In recent years the owners have started offering ribs, shrimp and Alaskan crab legs (served in all ya can eat bulk like the crab feast) for those who are easily defeated by the work of getting to blue crab meat. Purists like me tend to see it as a bit of heresy but it does make for a bigger party. Skip Lunch on the day you go. Your gonna need the room! Open seasonally from whenever the crabs starrt coming (Late March-April) till they stop (Early October) read more

I have been here many times I live in NJ and just finish dinner I was really disappointed this time around. The blue crabs and snow crabs was not great. The crab meat was mushy my girlfriend asked to change from Snow Crab to Blue Crab to see if it would be better but nope. I wonder if the size issue is due to the time of the year. I will come back in the summer to see if their is a difference. Service was good as always at the Red Roost. See you folks later this summer for another go around. read more

It's a fun atmosphere - old chicken coops converted into a restaurant - and a neat place to eat all-you-can-eat crabs. I have never ordered any entree off their menu because I only go there for the crabs. Like most places that serve AYCE crabs, the quality and size of the crabs is hit or miss. Naturally the heavier, larger crabs are reserved for the by the dozen purchasers. But it's AYCE, so if you get a light or bad one, toss it and get another from the pile. The basic AYCE crab special comes with AYCE corn on the cob, clam strips, fried shrimp, doughy balls with powdered sugar on top, and fried chicken. You'll see the extras before you'll see a crab. They know you're coming in hungry and wait for you to take the edge off that appetite before running out your first round of crabs. While I can't attest to the quality of their entrees, their clam strips and fried shrimp served with the AYCE crabs are of the frozen variety. I also had to do a double-take when I recently noticed their four piece fried chicken dinner with two sides is $16. That's quite a healthy price and profit for half a chicken and a small bowl of cole slaw, potato salad, fries or apple sauce. Since they close the end of October for the season, I guess they're trying to squeeze 12-months of income into only seven-months. But I personally think that many of the items sold at the various restaurants operated by Southern Boys Concepts, of which there are at least five, run on the high side. The service at Red Roost has always been good the times I have gone. It's worth the drive out into the country, if but only once, to experience Red Roost. read more

Good stuff- had crabs tonight for Memorial Day and they were amazing! Nice and fat and brought out by the tray full- Mellisa was our server and she's stellar! read more

What a great place to go have dinner! Staff is so friendly and helpful! The food is beyond amazing! If you like seafood the AYCE is the way to go, but if not the ribs are AMAZING. 10/10 place. I highly recommend it! Kid friendly environment also, game room for kids to play in. Go check it out!! read more

Memorial day the wife had promised me crabs, we called the old mill and they were closing in an hour so we went to the 'Red Roost which we try about once every three years and always sware we will never go back. The crabs were all paper shell full of water and barely warm. There were only about five tables with customers so I thought service would be much better. Each time we were only brought 4 or 5 crabs at a time, again warm and watery.After several rounds of this the waitress said if we wate about ten minutes they will steam a new batch per the manager because we were not the only ones complaining. About a fifteen minute wait she brought us the same barely warm paper shell full of water crabs. I called for the manager and got a woman with quite a smart alleck attitude who didn't seem to care if her customers were satisfied or not. I asked her why the girl would tell us they were making a fresh batch and then bring out cold crabs after all that waiting. she seemed to be offended that I didn't believe it was a fresh batch and asked what I wanted her to do about it. I informed her that any decent resturant would comp the meal since we were leaving hungry, but that I at least expected a discount. She gave us a lousy 10% discount and no apology. So for 76.88 thats with discount, WE left hungry after only eating some of the other stuff and 2 pepsi colas. From now on only the Old Mill read more

Where to begin, they have a shmoregiss board of great food all you can eat steamed blue crabs, fried chicken, sweet corn on the cob and clam strips. If there is a line it is worth the wait just grab a cold one at the bar. It is off the beaten path but I go here every time I come home to Salisbury, MD. read more

We were at the Roost tonight 03-16-2018 with 17 family members from 92 years old down to 10 years old. The AYCE steamed crabs were fantastic! Several ordered crab cake entrees and they were cooked to perfection! Broiled seafood platter, ribs and crab cake and Snow crab legs were all equally good! Our waitress was top notch....refills on drinks, crabs and other items kept her busy and she was more than up to the task!!! Thanks to everyone at The Red Roost for a great family evening! read more

This place is a hidden gem. Crabs are delicious. The location is pretty much in the middle of nowhere..but worth the trip.

It was bad... We went there in a large group spent over 4 grand and they made us wait over 90 minutes for our crabs. We had to complain several times to even see the manager. When the manager arrived (dark haired lady) all she did was apologize. We will not be back and we will be taking our annual business party elsewhere. read more

Wow, drove into the boonies to get here. Had seen MPT about the place and thought it would be great - what a huge disappointment. We got chicken, clams, shrimp, hush puppies and corn on the cob. I think they were all fried in the same old oil that sat there all week. Ugh. I couldn't even eat the chicken. It looked good but had no taste and was rubbery. Yuk. Of course my corn was rotten on the end with a big ole worm. But that happens so no big deal there. The table was sticky, the place stunk of rotten crabs. I sat looking into the kitchen which looked old and filthy. Won't be back here. Oh and those hush puppies tasted nothing like hush puppies. read more

This is the absolute best place to go for crabs. However, if you are planning to have your wedding rehearsal dinner here (like I did), soak your fingers in water or they will smell like crab on your wedding day! read more

All you can eat blue crabs, a mallet, some drawn butter, beer, paper towels and a garbage can at the foot of your table. Left full and happy. Don't go expecting table cloths and fine dining. read more

The food was excellent the atmosphere was very nice and the waitress was very friendly courteous and attentive. 5 stars.... The only one thing I found disturbing was the whole restaurant was empty and the hostess made a lady that had it a cane and could barely walk walk all the way back to the very back of the restaurant for a table they need to use their good judgment in these situations.....use some common sense.... read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The people are very friendly and will help you any way they can. The prices are very reasonable and if you walk out of there hungry, that's your problem. I just wish they would allow sharing of plates in the all you can eat section. What's the big deal as long as everyone bought some kind of food off the menu? You're still selling stuff. But then again, I don't own a restaurant. I will say the food here is outstanding! read more

Went today to "help celebrate" their 40 yrs...so disappointed! Waitress was pleasant enough...but we ordered seafood platters....27.99 each...and oysters fried 10.99...salads were awesome, I told them so...oysters were 5...good...platters were awful...half a flounder, 3 shrimp, crabcake...got 2 because they were out of scallops...broiled to nasty...no flavor at all...really dry...told the mng., never offered 10% off or nothing...so sad...never took my personal info for the raffle either...oh well...that was meant to help...but I don't think we'll be back. Nice out of the way place...no water to view...just marsh grass...maybe they'll get a new cook. read more

My family eats here every time we go to Ocean City. Compared to other places $30 for all you can eat crabs is cheap. I love the chicken and corn on the cob. I love this place not being so commercialized. I love, love, love the crabs and would eat there all the time if I lived closer. read more

My husband and I have been faithful, loyal customers for over 14 years. Crabs this year have been incredible so far. Due yourself a favor, grab family and friends and make the trek to Whitehaven.....it's worth the ride. May I also add, the staff cannot do enough for you and makes a great orange crush!!! read more

Ok for starters the corn that was first given to us was rotten black on the ends had to ask for more the hush puppies that came out tasted stale like they where cook in the am and where reheated in a microwave for us chewy bread like , then the steamed shrimp came out tasted over boiled , mushy and watery non edible not a good start ..... we really came for the crabs so we waited for our waiter .... brought out only 3 crabs at first,,, really 3 crabs ok so we eat these 3 they where good . Had to wait for waiter to come back around to ask for more finally brought me 3 more two out of the 3 where ok other was paper shell full of water , asked for more after waiting again waiter brought out 3 more of the same, so I waved waiter over and they apologized and said they would let the kitchen know so once again brought out more all wet soaked mushy crabs I could take every crab in my hand and crush it and squeeze the water out like a sponge... at this point of over an hour of this circus act I am over it paid and left I will never be back read more

Where to begin. We get there tonight and ordered our drinks and they took 10 minutes to arrive. I order a beer and the server forgot to even order it from the bar. We ordered the AYCE Snow Crabs and got the starter food and every bit of it was cold. Then our snow crabs come and they are cold and rubbery. They brought what was suppose to be hot ones out. They were also rubbery couldn't break them. I've given this place 2 attempts. And this was my final. Old Mill for me from now on! This place doesn't even deserve the one star I gave it!! And to top it off my wife and mother went to use the restroom where there was no paper towels or soap or toilet paper and on their way back they caught a glimpse of the kitchen and saw bugs on the floor and a server drop crabs on the floor and puck them up and serve them to another group of customers!!! Absolutely disgusting!! BOH will be called in the morning!! read more

I've been hearing about how great the food was at the Red Roost for many, many years so we finally decided it was time to try it. First the good news, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the sides which included delicious corn on the cob, excellent fried shrimp, clam strips and hush puppies. The chicken was good but the "crunch" was a bit to thick for my liking. Our waitress couldn't have been any better, she was always available when we wanted her. The beer was ice cold as well. Unfortunately the crabs which I was so looking forward to were a BIG disappointment. They were extremely small, too little seasoning for my taste, and most of what was served to us appeared to be reheated as compared to fresh steamed. Our waitress tried to bring us some larger crabs (perhaps she overheard us talking) but even those were not all that good. The cost for the AUCE was $35.99 which seemed a bit high, especially considering the quality (or lack of) of the crabs. I will not go back again simply because there are better, less expensive places to go that are a lot closer to us. read more