“All killer, and no filler.” That’s the way my dazzling friend, Todd DeHart described the famous “Fat Albert” Crab Cake that is a best seller at the Crab Bag. We visited the recently renovated restaurant on 130th Street and Coastal Highway on Monday night for a delicious seafood feast. Boasting one of the most discounted All-U-Can-Eat steamed crab meals in town, the Crab Bag is a two-story, open restaurant with outdoor and indoor tables. Another friendly face, Chip Ayers, is a manager of the restaurant, and he attentively served us and made tons of recommendations. He introduced us to the bartender, Hopper, and we were delighted to see our friend Liz working there too. Friendly staff and multiple dining areas aren’t the only impressive details at Crab Bag. The menu is never-ending.  When Todd and I started browsing through the pages and pages of hearty food options, we were astonished at how much the Crab Bag offers.
    Following Chip’s advice, the first items Todd and I ordered were the Hot Crab Toast and 10 Gator Wings. “Our secret Gator sauce is thick and full of barbeque flavor,” explained Chip. “It’s not unbearably burning like other hot sauces.” He also suggested the Mushroom Caps with Crab Imperial, which is served in a white wine garlic sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. And, he boasted that everything from the Raw Bar is excellent, including the Oysters, Spiced Shrimp, Clams, and Mussels. Other tempting appetizers at the Crab Bag are Jumbo Alaskan Crab Legs, Blackened Sea Scallops, Fried Oysters, Calamari, Fried Clams, Crab Dip, and Crab Leg & Shrimp combo.
    The Crab Bag serves classic munchies like Mozzarella Sticks, Chicken Fingers, Onion Rings, Jalapeño Poppers, Pizza, and Nachos. Plus, they offer Soups and Salads. Try the Cream of Crab Soup, New Orleans Jambalaya, or Steak House Angus Chili. Fresh Salads include Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad and Seafood Garden Caesar. New on the menu this year are Char-Grilled Kabobs. Vegetable, Chicken, Shrimp, and Tenderloin Kabobs are each served with Rice Pilaf.  “I’m glad to see they have a vegetarian option on their kabob menu,” noted Todd.
    We thoroughly enjoyed our appetizers. The Hot Crab Toast is a must-try. Each piece of crispy French bread is topped with lumpy crab imperial and creamy, melted Munster cheese. The Wings are large and meaty. Indeed, the house sauce is sweet and lip-smacking delicious. Even a sensitive eater like myself had no problem chowing down on the Gator Wings. Available in 5-piece, 10-piece, or 15-piece orders, the Gator Wings are served your way—mild, medium, hot, terminator, peanut, Chuck U, Old Bay, or sweet chili.
    Hungry? The Crab Bag presents huge Platters, each served with your choice of two sides. The “Nawleans” Platter, also known as “the Cajun kicker,” is a half-pound of lump crab cake served hot and spicy. Comprised of two jumbo snow crab leg clusters and a half-pound of large spiced shrimp, the Legs & Shrimp Platter is a tasty temptation.  Geared toward really big appetites, the Super Steamer Platter includes two jumbo Alaskan crab leg clusters, six oysters, six clams, one pound of mussels, and six large spiced shrimp. Other platters at the Crab Bag are Jumbo Snow Crab Leg, Soft Shell Crab, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Fried Clam, Fried Oyster, Sea Scallops, Large Gulf Shrimp, and Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial. Choices of side items are mashed potatoes, fries, rice, beans, and coleslaw, and you can create your own Seafood Platter.
    Of course, large platters aren’t the only meal options at Crab Bag. Sizzling Steaks, such as a Petite Filet Mignon and New York Strip, are ready to please meat lovers. Baby Back Ribs are char-grilled to perfection and available in half rack or full rack orders. BBQ Twin Chicken Breasts is another mouthwatering option, along with Pulled Pork BBQ and BBQ Chicken Breast Sandwich. The Billy Ray is toted as “bbq pulled pork at its best,” and served on hot French bread with melted provolone cheese and topped with coleslaw.
    Other popular menu options are the original New Orleans Style Poor Boys. Only $9.95, each is served stuffed in French bread, topped with melted provolone cheese, and available mild, medium, or hot. The Shrimp Poor Boy, Roast Beef Poor Boy, and Fried Oyster Poor Boy are so tasty, I decided to try the Shrimp Poor Boy. The Crab Bag prepares it with secret spices and sauces, which make the submarine-size sandwich drip with sweetness.
    Todd and I laughed over the New York Style Specialties on the Crab Bag’s menu. With names like Seinfeld, The Terminator, The David Letterman, and Oprah, each sandwich is overstuffed and oversized. Chip recommended The Hemmingway—turkey breast and roast beef topped with melted Munster cheese and crab imperial, grilled on rye bread. Which is my favorite? It’s the Mickey & Mallory—corned beef and pastrami with melted Swiss cheese, topped with coleslaw and Russian dressing on hot French bread. A variety of Deli Sandwiches are also available, made your way, along with an array of Black Angus Burgers, including Crab Imperial Burger, Bacon Cheese, the Southern Burger, and the Fat Albert Mess Burger—one pound black angus beef char-broiled, served double stacked with crisp hickory smoked bacon, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, raw onion, pickles, and mayo, with a pound of fries and free dessert. Can you eat all of it?
    Todd ordered the house specialty—the Fat Albert Crab Cake. A half-pound of lump crab is delicately seasoned with Crab Bag’s secret spices. “This reeks of awesomeness,” joked Todd as he devoured the broiled crab cake. I tasted it, and I agree 100%. “It’s like picking steamed crabs for two hours straight, in a sandwich,” he said. But for those of us who enjoy the summer tradition of picking steamed crabs, the Crab Bag offers an unbeatable All-U-Can-Eat deal. Take your time picking large crabs with sweet corn, fries, hush puppies, and cole slaw. Or, order crabs by the bushel or dozen, also available in carryout.
    The Crab Bag also offers a kid’s menu, keno, walls lined with countless flat screen televisions, and live entertainment.  It’s always happy hour at Crab Bag. Discounts at the bar are available all day and all night. Don’t miss acoustic performances by locally famous musician Chris Button each Wednesday. Check the Coconut Times weekly for entertainment line-ups this summer, and football specials in the fall. Eat in or carry out, seven days a week. Call (410) 250-3337 for details. See you at the Crab Bag!