Came here to get a seafood platter. We came on a slow afternoon. The ambiance was quiet and less hectic than an evening or weekend visit. We entered the carryout area, were greeted by a pleasant lady, and ordered the Jewel of the Sea seafood platter (with crabcake, shrimp and scallops) two sides (baked potato and veggie). Timbuktu has seating in this area to enjoy your food here and also has a liquor store to purchase packaged goods. There was also a large TV for viewing and an ATM onsite. You could also purchase bagged snacks and cold nonalcoholic beverages as well. They also have a dessert case with assorted sliced cakes and pies for purchase in addition to ready to go salads and sandwiches. Our food was ready in a decent amount of time. The platter looked good and upon tasting, all of the seafood fresh: the crabcake was a smaller version of what you would get in a traditional crabcake platter, but still delicious with low filler allowing the sweetness of the crabmeat to shine; the shrimp were broiled and fresh; the scallops were cooked perfectly with a great taste. The sides were good as well. All in all, a good platter to purchase when you want to expand on a traditional crabcake platter. read more

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We visited this location for my husband's birthday dinner. My husband really enjoyed his seafood combination platter, and our daughter loved her chicken pasta. My crab cake was flavorful and delicious. My steak was definitely overcooked, but to avoid ruining the birthday mood, I chose not to send it back. Overall, we had a wonderful time celebrating my King. The service was spot on--they even brought out a slice of strawberry shortcake for him in honor of his special day. Will definitely return. read more

I had high hopes for the crab cakes at Timbuktu. Sadly they were not good. First, our server was fantastic and I would rate him 5 stars and same with the hostess. The one star was all about the crab in the crab cake! After seeing all of the rave reviews on social media, we decided to give them a try. We started with the crab stuffed mushrooms which was the same crab they used in the crab cakes. They were not good. I knew with the first bite that this was not made with Maryland Blue crab. The taste and texture are very different. I confirmed with staff that the crab meat used in their crab dishes is imported from Venezuela. The meat is pasteurized in Maryland and then allowed to pass as Maryland crab... bad business if you ask me and that is so misleading for the people looking for the real deal. Maybe their other food is good but I won't be back. Thanks for a disappointing meal. read more

Food was alright - we tried the platter and it was a good amount of food, but it was lacking flavor. The fettuccine alfredo and pork ribs were probably the best part of our meals even though we got seafood as well. The ambiance is a bit over stimulating - a little old school inside with the interior design, with bright lights, a large mirror in the dining room, and flies kept flying around our food. Our server was very nice and on top of things. I went back for their comedy show in the basement section of the restaurant and it was a decent experience. Very diverse comedians. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

We hosted a dinner at this restaurant and it went great. The downstairs area was set up for a meeting and the staff was super attentive in serving about 50 people. You can probably go with a bit more people here before it gets uncomfortable. The A/V was a bit tricky at first, but once we got batteries for the controllers and an HDMI cable, we were off and running. Thanks to the staff for the help. I didn't organize the event, but while I was there, I just witnessed the people doing everything they could to tend to a bunch of hungry attendees. The food was good too! Chicken Alfredo, Ribs, and some warm crispy buns (who doesn't want that, right?). Excellent!!! read more

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While this is a local mainstay, the prices keep rising while the overall quality keeps dropping off. Everytime I come I feel like the waiters are surprised to see people and forgot how to do seating. Last time each course took forever to come out and it seemed due to a large private party. The seafood options are large and fresh, but I can't say it's anything particularly special anymore beyond that. The bread doesn't feel fresh, the desserts are pedestrian and likewise lacking anything unique. Atmosphere the lights are a haphazard mix, the chairs are old. The bathrooms were clean but had a truly horrible fake chemical scent I could barely breathe through. There's just no sense of comfort and being cared for. If you want to splurge for takeout I could say this is good, but if I want a special dinner out I'd go somewhere else. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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My husband suggested we go on a little Sunday Funday adventure being that we were in this area. He stated this place apparently had really good seafood and with the crazy weekend I had, felt like this would bring my spirits up and it did :)))))) He recommended I try the crab cakes and he should've told me to only get one...or a kids meal- these crab cakes were HUGE!!!!! Just delicious lump crab meat and it paired well with my baked potato and coleslaw. To start we had side salads and my salad was also delicious and fresh! My hunnie ordered the broiled snapper and his meal was also delicious. I would venture back here if we are ever in the neighborhood. Plus my favorite coffee shop is literally 10 mins from here...and I'm always looking for a reason to venture there :))))) Anyhoo staff were welcoming and friendly. Our server was attentive and pleasant as well. The restaurant was clean and not really busy on a Sunday afternoon. They offer a variety of meal deals from steaks to pastas. Tuesday nights KIDS EAT FREE... I wish they had hush puppies on the menu! Anyhoo- excellent food, service with a smile and some qt with my hunnie...a perfect place for a Sunday Funday adventure if you ask me. Happy Yelping! read more

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Timbuktu was the first time when I landed in Baltimore. I opted to sit at the bar and did wait a little while before I was greeted and provided a menu. For dinner I chose the platter which included scallops, shrimp, mini crab cakes and BBQ ribs. Along with my order I was served cubed feta cheese, cucumbers, olives, tomato, and lemons. Washing everything down with a Hennessey margarita. Very tasty! read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

Worth every penny! The crab cakes are ginormous and full of crab and the flounder fillet was bigger than my head, which is pretty big ( tears)-LOL. The restaurant was extremely clean, and the service was super friendly. This is definitely a spot. You should try out if you're visiting the city of Baltimore. My family and I had a great time. read more

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Picked this place for a friends get together and so glad we did. Food was super delicious! We ordered the Timbuktu Hors D'oeuvres Platter, an awesome offering of mini crab cakes (8), large shrimps(8), scallops (8) & 2 half rack of baby back ribs We also ordered calamari, crab soups, crab cakes and a mushroom & Swiss burger & fries ( someone was craving a burger ‍) Everything was perfectly scrumptious!!! Service was good, just a couple hiccups like some of the food took awhile, had to wait for the French fries but otherwise not a biggie. Restaurant is comfortable & clean , nothing fancy but go for the food, so yummy !!!! read more

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I went here for lunch. It was me and my family. Charlotte was my server. She was nice and informative. I purchased the Fried Seafood Platter, Rockefeller Oysters, and a strawberry margarita. My family enjoyed their food as well except my baby sister. She unfortunately found a eyelash in her food. They did remove her order, but she didn't want anything else. I also wanted to add that the outside of the restaurant is interesting. It looks like the restaurant share the parking lot with school busses and moving trucks....interesting. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Strawberry Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Fist time here, my fried and I heard about the restaurant from social media and referrals Menu attached Great service We came specifically for the crab cakes read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

The servers were very attentive and prompt. It's a large restaurant with ample seating and can accommodate groups. The portion sizes and variety of options is a plus compared to other seafood restaurants. We had the seafood pasta which is one if the few I've seen to have crab cake in it, a couple of shrimp would go well with it as it only comes with mussels. We also had the biggest seafood platter that comes with scallops, a stuffed shrimp, crab cake and shrimp. The scallops are ok but don't have the richest flavor so it might be better to get a different platter that has fish plus the option for fried shrimp or oysters. The crab cakes have the maximum amount of filler for me to still enjoy it, it's flavorful. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Seafood platter comes with two sides - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

I came here alone on a Friday evening during happy hour and was seated at the bar. At first glance, the restaurant has a standard layout. The bartender immediately got me a cup of water, handed me a menu and gave me some recommendations (the bartender did an awesome job of managing the bar and her seated section). I ordered mussels as an appetizer and fried flounder, fried shrimp and a large crabcake. My sides were steamed broccoli and fries. Also a had a couple of gin and tonic because I had to take advantage of happy hour. All the food was great and I was surprised at how huge my order was. Overall I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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Timbuktu Seafood Restaurant will always have a soft spot in my heart. This was one of my very first "date night" spots as a young woman -- back when seafood dinners felt like luxury and I was just stepping into my fine dining era. The crab cakes? PACKED with crab. No filler, not breadcrumbs pretending -- real, generous lumps of crab that make you understand why they're known for it. The decor gives classic nautical vibes -- very traditional seafood house energy. Now, let's be honest: the wait on Fridays and Saturdays can be long, but that's pretty expected for a DMV staple. And for whatever reason, the location always confuses my GPS. I don't know why, but every single time it feels like I'm circling the block questioning my life choices. Still, it remains a DMV classic and holds such a special place in my early "fine dining" memories. I've evolved GREATLY since those days -- but Timbuktu? She was part of the foundation. read more

Fantastic food and wonderful atmosphere! Drinks were strong = perfection. We went late and karaoke was happening and the music was fun and we sang along. Waiter was attentive and pleasant. Highly suggest this restaurant. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Stuff shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Timbuktu had been on my list for a while,especially since it's known around the DMV for its crab cakes So for Valentine's Day I figured it was the perfect excuse to finally try it. With so many seafood spots in this area, it's honestly hard to find crab cakes that are actually packed with real crab meat. We originally made reservations, but when we arrived around our scheduled time we realized the vibe was more casual than we expected, so we decided to change clothes and come back a little later. Parking was a bit tight ,but we still found a space. Even without a reservation, the wait was only about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad at all for Valentine's night. The restaurant itself is pretty large with what looked like three dining rooms, so there's plenty of seating. Some areas are brighter, others more dim, but overall the atmosphere is nice and comfortable. Our waitress was amazing,despite how busy it was. They start you off with complimentary bread and butter; it's standard bread, nothing memorable, but a nice touch. The Valentine's special had already sold out, but honestly I wasn't too pressed because I came for the crab cakes. I ordered the fried seafood platter with flounder, shrimp, a crab cake, and two sides (potato salad and house salad). My date got a broiled seafood platter with an 8-oz crab cake, stuffed shrimp, scallops, and two sides. Surprisingly, the sides were good! The house salad was fresh and flavorful, and as someone who's picky about potato salad, I have to admit theirs was really good. It leaned mustard-forward but in a good way. The shrimp tasted freshly breaded in-house, the fish tasted fresh, and nothing had that frozen flavor. But the true star of the show was the crab cakes. Absolutely delicious. Packed with lump crab meat, well-seasoned, and flavorful. Even fried, mine was still rich, tender, and full of crab. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Timbuktu, especially if you're serious about finding a quality crab cake in the DMV. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Fried Seafood Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

SHOCKING how badly the food has deteriorated!!! I waited years to order crab cakes from what used to be my all time favourite TIMBUKTU because the prices have become outrageous!! My order was over $80.00 and the CRAB CAKES WERE HORRENDOUS!!! I live around the corner and by the time (2minutes) I arrived home the crab cakes were ice cold and VILE - NOT AT ALL LIKE I remember them! Last time I EVER ORDER FROM TIMBUKTU!!! SO GROSS!!! I realized we have been invaded but the girl (who knew the order taker well) picking up her two subs, YAMMERING SO LOUDLY IN SPANISH MADE ME PLUG MY EARS!! Do they have ANY MANNERS? Glad I TIPPED NOTHING AS NO ONE DESERVED A PENNY!!! read more

We absolutely love Timbuktu! It's our go‑to spot for karaoke nights and family birthday celebrations, and every visit reminds us why. The staff is consistently warm, attentive, and genuinely committed to making each experience special. I recently hosted a birthday celebration for my husband, and Omar was phenomenal. He worked closely with me to personalize entrées for our 40 guests--surf, turf, lots of appetizers and everything in between. Every dish was delicious, beautifully prepared, and served with care. Anne and Charles are our favorite servers, but honestly, we've had wonderful experiences with every team member, from the dining room to the carry‑out staff. Timbuktu delivers great food, great service, and great energy every single time! read more

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If you are from Maryland and know the difference between good crab cakes and crab cakes made with filler and Venezuelan canned crab, you won't be happy here. The server was great and super attentive but she couldn't make up for the lackluster food and subpar crab cakes. Skip for sure. read more

Was one of my favorite places to get a crab cake,I dunno after my recent visit. The restaurant was busy, as usual. No complaints there. We were seated pretty fast and our server was polite and pretty good. We ordered some oysters (the waitress had no idea where they came from) for appetizer. They were good. We also ordered a steak and crab cake, and a seafood platter. For the most part the food was okay. The crab cakes that came out on both plates were extremely salty. You could not taste much more then the salt. The steak was ordered medium rare (warm pink center). It came served RARE (cold dark center). I asked to have the steak redone. They threw it under a heater for a few more mins and made it edible. Sorry to say, this might be my last time at this restaurant. read more

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I haven't been to Timbuktu in years. Even then I used to order from the carryout. I met with some girlfriends for lunch. We dined in and our server was very nice! I ordered from the appetizer menu and was highly satisfied. I also recommend the cream of crab soup. I ordered a bowl. PERFECTLY MADE! When I tell you there was chunks of crabmeat in every spoonful. So delicious. I am looking forward to my next visit. No complaints at all with plenty left over to take home. Definitely will be returning. read more

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One of my favorite spot to go to in Baltimore. The food is always a hit. Service is great. But unfortunately the atmosphere is dated. It's time to freshen up the joint read more

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Hands down, best crab cakes outside of Baltimore! Came here on a date and heard it was the best little known gem, and they weren't lying. Everything was great! Our server was super kind. While the decor and ambiance wasn't that fancy, the food was solid. read more

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Well I've been hearing about this place for several years, but because I live in VA I wasn't sure when I would be in the area to go give them a try. So a couple weeks ago I happen to be in the area and so glad I gave them a try. Now I didn't even think about trying what they were famous for...crab cakes. I decided to get oyster Rockerfella (no swine) and a lbs of the spiced jumbo shrimp with came with onions and potatoes. When I tell you those were some jumbo shrimp for real! Yas Yas Yas! They were steamed to perfection and seasoned really well. I didn't know the portions were going to be that big so I had to take a doggie bag home...lol Now the waitress put me on game and sold me a drink that wasn't on the menu. When I tell you it was on point! Oh yea! I can't remember the name but I believe it had Jameson or Jim bean in it and if you not careful could sneak up on ya! So I can't wait to give them a try again and this time try those crab cakes and get those shrimps again! read more

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This place needs an upgrade. It was on my bucket list. It looks old and the lighting was dark. The food tasted old. The crab cakes were real dry. The only thing good was the crab dip and I had. I won't be back read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Crab dip with rolls - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

Sorry I can't say anything stood out. My husband and I drove 2 hours to have a those meat packed crab cakes,and was thoroughly disappointed. They were filled and I mean filled with more bread crumbs or whatever it is they filled ther crab cakes with. I had to send it back. The young man that waited on our party must be new at waiting, our there trained to just get the orders to the right table. No water refilled no checking in to see if anything else was needed, removal of finished plates. The bathrooms are small and dark 3 stall for a very large seated restaurant. I'm sorry I was very disappointed, 2 years ago my sister came home with takeout and that was great . But as of right now I think this place if for the locals that taste buds are dead to good quality crab cakes. It's so not worth the price, they definitely need to work on the quality of their product because it's bringing down their brand. Good luck if you're thinking about eating here , I'd pick somewhere else. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Here's a look at the Crab Cake, this way see for yourself 80 % bread crumb - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

If you know, you know, just in case you don't... let me tell you! Attended a birthday dinner, it was an amazing event!! It was a seafood restaurant with the best seafood!! The menu offered other food options. The food was so delicious!! I had soft shell crab, stuffed with delicious crab meat. The service was a little slow, we were a party of 12, so no worries. The decor was nice. read more

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The service was great but the crab cakes were very disappointing, the crab meat was from Venezuela and tasted horrible. Waste of money.

Waither Bob was fantastic, but food was not at all was I was hoping for. Salmon was not cooked or seasoned. Sent salmon back to be cooked longer still came out under cooked. This was my third time here and still not happy. 3strikes your out Bob was great and needs to be recognized for trying to accommodate. read more

One of my favorite seafood spots. The crabcakes are authentic and very filling. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. read more

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The crab was amazing 5 stars for their crab cakes. Definitely a contender for the best crab cake in the state. Would have given full stars but the steak was over cooked and we were the only table that didn't get a side of bread read more

This is a review for the Lounge area. 1st time here came on a Tues. Afternoon referred by coworker. Waited 5mins for a menu. The vibe was out dated. Almost felt Maga vibes. Bartender was being overworked or vacant most of the time. Oriental shrimp was ok. Wont order again. The oysters were good size. I think they are Chesapeake Oysters. It took a while to get the check. Will I be back? To check out the dining area and see the truth about their crabcakes read more

This was my first time here and service was very slow. We were seated in the bar high top tables so the bartender was working the bar seat and high tops but she spent more time at the bar talking. Drinks were not good (lemon drop or rum punch). It was slow for a Sunday but the food took awhile to come out. For apps we opted for oysters which were a nice size and bam bam shrimp which were tasty. We ordered a crab cake sandwich and the platter that came with 2 crab cakes, scallops and I think shrimp? We didn't get bread until right before our food came out which we had to be waiting over 40mins. By the time the food came we just asked for to go boxes. While the crab cakes are large they were bland and had filler which was no bueno. Don't think I'll be going back which is unfortunate because was ranting and raving about the place but even he was disappointed. read more

The service was good. The food was ok. I used to love the crab cakes but I was disappointed with this time. The taste was good, a good size but a lot of filler. The salad was good and the mashed potatoes were very good. The restaurant is vey old and could use some upgrades. The bathroom was old and smell was unpleasant. read more

Came here on a Sunday around 6 with a reservation but it seemed pretty open enough to where a reservation wouldn't be needed. Tons of parking available Service was okay- wasn't too friendly but got the job done. Food, however, was phenomenal!! I thought I didn't like crab cakes (due to having some bad ones here in MD) and this was going to be my last time trying crab cakes and it was WORTH IT. I got the Timbuktu seafood pasta (in case I didn't like the crab cake, I would at least have some pasta to enjoy). But it was one of my favorite dishes I've had in MD. The crab cakes were delicious and so was the rest of the pasta! My husband got the grilled scallops and also really enjoyed those. The other 2 guests at the table got the Jewels of the Sea and they both loved their food! We also got the crab dip as our appetizer to share which came with Hawaiian rolls and it was also good. Not my favorite but still good. Cannot wait to be back here again for their crab cakes!! read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - 12 Scallops Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland

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Welp Yelp... If you like crabcakes and are in the area, this is a must go place! I don't think I've had better crabcakes. Honest. They are so big and they're not made with a ton of useless fillers. You're getting a lot of crab. They are delicious. I'm from Ohio and whenever I'm in Maryland I always hope that I get to go to crab House -- let me tell you: Timbuktu did not disappoint. The menu is extensive there's something for everybody and if you like crab this is the place to go. The decor is very New England. Lots of wood paneling. Kind of a cabinet feel. We sat in one of the back rooms. Our server was very attentive. We all got cupcakes. They were so big that most of us brought some of our dinner home and ate it for breakfast the next day. I would definitely wanna come back here and they have now set the standard to which all crabcakes will be compared to from now. If you're looking for crabcakes... Come here read more

It wasn't the worse crab cake I've ever had but it is by far the worst I've ever had in Maryland. Sat at the bar and service was horrible. Bartender took drink order and then disappeared for 20 minutes. Finally someone else came by and asked if she had been back and took my order when I said no. Crabcake was fishy and fries were disappointing. Draft beer tasted like the lines were dirty and haven't been cleaned in years. Definitely avoid this place. Locker was when I asked for my check the bartender asked what beer I had. There were two other people sitting at the bar and she couldn't remember what to charge me for. read more

If you are OK with a diner vibe of restaurant, but has the top quality of food then this is the spot for you. Atmosphere - dated, diner like, everything looks old but has its own characteristics. Food - top quality crabcakes, crab soups filled with chunks of crab meat , ribs falls off the bone, and portions are decent. Service - friendly, attentive Value - not cheap, but comparable for what you pay for this quality of food, I personally feel their food does deserve a slightly higher price, it's not super pricey I will say the pricing consider reasonable. Parking- lots Highly recommend by IG@WineDinenVacay read more

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3.5 stars... Had a local recommend this joint so I couldn't go wrong! I was looking for variety and local flavor so I chose the Jewels of The Sea Combo Platter. I had to catch a flight, so I couldn't take anything with me...this was so much food! Everything was perfectly prepared and the portion was great. Only negative was the dining room, dated and a bit stuffy/smelly. Good food, decent prices, just lacking on ambiance. read more

Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge - Jewels of The Sea Combo Platter - Seafood Near Me - Hanover, Maryland