The Crazy Crab

I can’t decide if the food or service was better because they both were AWESOME! I had Tina as a waitress and that lady knows her stuff. The Bloody Mary was really really good and the mix was made in house. We had boiled shrimp as an appetizer and I had the shrimp and grits! They were perfect. Large portions and the grits were creamy. My friend had the seafood pot that was seasoned perfectly. Will definitely hit this spot up again.

We had a great lunch, I loved this place! Enjoyed the shy crab soup and then my sauteed scallops and crabcake was great. Both my companions also loved their meals and we were so glad a local recommended this place. Worth the $ 6 fee to get onto Sea Pines to dine here.

This was a really nice end to the day for a visit to Hilton Head Island on our most recent trip out that way. We came to this location at the lighthouse at Harbour Town on purpose because the golf course there is one of my all time favorite layouts and the lighthouse and surrounding shops are fun for a walk around.
It was by far our best dining experience while on the island! We got to witness a beautiful sunset right from our seats while overlooking the water. Our waitress was polite and helpful with the menu. Our food came in under 20 minutes and both loved the seafood. One of the favorites was the hush-​puppies that came as appetizers. We quickly devoured our basket and the waitress immediately brought more. We both were pleased with this meal and we will most definitely be returning any time we get back to the island.

Order the grouper fish sandwich, it was OK to over cooked and tasted frozen. But the gumbo was the best I ever had wish I had just gotten that and would have given 5 stars.

The service was great and so was the food! We had the spinach artichoke dip and it was bubbling when it arrived. The chips were fresh and crispy. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the fried flounder and shrimp combo. Both were very good.

The Crazy Crab has fantastic views of Harbour Town from their panoramic windows, but the food is just your regular touristy fare. Each dinner starts with free hushpuppies (a bonus over other restaurants nearby), and the one dish I HIGHLY suggest is the baked crab dip appetizer. Other than that, all of the boiled, broiled, and fried seafood is what you’ll see elsewhere. Regardless, we still stop in for a dinner each trip and will continue to go back.

Do NOT get sucked in by the view on the dock.
The food is better at red lobster and cheaper too !
I had the snow crab which was ok with two crappy red potatoes and a piece of corn that had been in water for who knows how long. Service was just ok.
Décor and menu need a huge update. Don’t waste your money.

The thing about the Crazy Crab is really the nostalgia factor. Honestly, the food is just ok, and the interior is a little shabby. but this place has been here so long it’s sort of an institution.
On my most recent visit on 9÷08÷2015, we arrived late after a day of boating. We were seated at 9:30 pm which is not great since they closed at 10. But our server Kelli was super sweet and did not rush us.
We started with calamari ($ 10.99). I got the grouper special ($ 26.99) and my sweetie went with the crab boil ($ 29.99) and a ceaser salad. I also had a glass of wine, which brought our bill to around $ 80.
Considering that we are in Harbour Town, this is really reasonably priced.

Food was just ‘OK’ — nothing out of the ordinary. Typical touristy atmosphere and food. What got me was the fact that you are allowed only one free refill on soft drinks. Seriously? The drinks probably cost them pennies and we spent $ 60 on lunch. We won’t be going back when we visit every year.

The food is average and the décor is very touristy. It looks like it was built in the 70s and has never been renovated. We came here while on a trip to Hilton Head and were staying at Sea Pines. If you’re in Sea Pines, check it out. Otherwise, it’s not really worth the drive and fee to enter Sea Pines. The Crazy Crab has potential, but it’s definitely overdue for a menu update and renovation. Other than our sever accidentally refilling a water with Sprite, she was great and extremely friendly!

Have been going to this place for years. I had forgotten they did not take reservations (or maybe they stopped?) but I was able to get a table immediately walking in at 6PM on a Friday.
The service was surprisingly attentive considering that we didn’t know what we wanted (we were surprised at getting seated so fast).
The hush puppies were not quite as good as I remembered – the onion flavor was a little overpowering. The shrimp cocktail was competent, but nothing special.
The Alaskan King Crab legs were delicious, although I was surprised that they came out cold (I’m guessing this is by design?). This did have the benefit of my not having to race against time to access the meat, though :)
I can’t speak for other dishes, but I have always had good experiences with the crab at this location.
Definitely worth a visit if you are in Harbour Town, and the wait is not too long.

Charged us more than what the menu price is. Talked to manager, he claimed price of shrimp went up and menus haven’t been updated. They should have told us at the time of order if price on menu is incorrect.

Tourist trap with overpriced food that’s just «ok».
I came here after reading reviews stating it is a must visit place– it was really a waste of time and money. I happily spend $ 150+ on meals for 2 when they are good. This place just wasn’t worth it. I had the captains platter which had a lobster tail (prob about 3 ounces at best), flounder, 2 shrimp and 1 scallop (which I thought was strange… Maybe the rest fell off the plate?) It was all just very average.
I started with the shecrab soup, which was the best part of my meal, (but I have had better at other places.) With so many excellent restaurants on Hilton head, I would recommend avoiding this place.

After an afternoon of shopping at HarborTown and South Beach, decided to come back to HarborTown and go to the Crazy Crab. Was a little nervous about how long we would have to wait having a party of 7; but got seated right away. Our service was excellent; our waiter continually replenished our drinks and food was served quickly.
As for the food; it was very good. Hush Puppies and Crab Dip were excellent. Fried seafood platters were very good; as were the broiled platters. Crab cakes were average (a lot of filler).
Would definitely recommend …

Meal was disappointing. We arrived and asked for a table for nine and were treated rudely by the «manager». Said we had to wait for our entire party. No issue with that, we get it. His attitude was terrible and reflects the rating others have given.
The food was so so. I had the low country shrimp boil. It was to come with sausage and I got 2 little slices. The potatoes were dry and overcooked.
My wife had the shrimp and grits and she enjoyed it.
Our server was helpful.

Very nice place to eat. Lunch was fast and good.
We ordered the flounder sandwich and fish and chips. Both were good.

I have been coming down to HHI for the past 5 years with my wife’s family. Eating at this restaurant is a tradition in their family. It starts with a 6 mile bike ride on the beach and ends with lunch at The Crazy Crab. As such, I can’t comment on the dinner menu as it is different. The lunch menu is largely sandwiches with a few platters thrown in.
Our most recent visit was on a Tuesday around 12:30. The main dining room was packed and a little noisy. We opted to head into the bar area like we normally do. I definitely recommend eating in here if it is crowded (assuming everyone with you is over 21). The bar area is a separate room off to the side. On this particular day there were just two gentleman at the bar and no one else. There are quite a few tables to sit at as well. After a few minutes the two guys left and we were the only ones there. I wish I could give a shout out to the girl behind the bar, but unfortunately I can’t remember her name! She was super friendly and made sure to keep our drinks filled for us. As we were the only ones in the bar she was very attentive. There is also a plus to sitting over there as that is where the bathrooms are located.
The food was good, but nothing to go crazy over. I had the fried grouper sandwich that came with cole slaw and fries. It was tasty, but I suppose it is hard to mess up fried food. Other members of our group got the fish tacos, chicken fingers, and crab cakes. Everyone enjoyed their meal. The prices are a little on the high side for a lunch menu (maybe it’s comparable for the area). Apps are $ 10, sandwiches run about $ 12 to $ 14, and platters are $ 15+.
Everything was good, nothing extraordinary, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be back next year!

Our family has been dining at The Crazy Crab at Harbour Town ever since the mid-​1980s when the restaurant first opened. It’s a Hilton Head tradition for us. The restaurant hasn’t changed much over the last 30 years. It’s still as I remember it as a child. We recently returned to introduce some new family members to the restaurant.
The Crazy Crab has two locations on the island. This one at Harbour Town inside Sea Pines Resort and another at Jarvis Creek off Business 278 on the northern end of the island. I ate at the Jarvis Creek location at least once, but don’t remember much of my experience there. My mom says this location at Harbour Town is better.
This is a traditional American seafood restaurant. The inside looks like an old ship complete with all sorts of old school nautical décor including ropes, oars, life rings, buoys, and fishing equipment. The restaurant is spacious with multiple dining areas. Aside from the bar, all seating is at tables (no booths). It’s a family-​friendly restaurant with tables fit for groups of various sizes. One side of the restaurant faces out towards the scenic walkway and dock at Harbour Town.
Our group of seven visited on a Monday night without a reservation and were seated immediately. If history is any indication, I recommend making reservations. The Crazy Crab is located in one of the most popular destinations on the island and is a tourist hot spot. The restaurant is a bit touristy as well, as you can buy stuffed animals and Crazy Crab T-​shirts inside.
At dinnertime, expect to spend about $ 10 per appetizer and $ 20 – 25 per entrée. Among other things, the Crazy Crab is known for their rich «She-​Crab» soup and crab legs. Aside from seafood of all sorts, they also serve steak (NY strip, ribeye) and chicken. I recommend sticking with seafood.
Here’s a rundown of what I tried on my last visit:
Seafood:
Half dozen oysters on the half shell
Broiled Sea Scallops — «large» east coast fresh scallops, rice, broccoli
Grilled Atlantic Swordfish marinated in sweet onions & herbs
Blackened Mahi Mahi — fresh Atlantic fillet
Broiled Local Grouper with house seasoning
Sides:
Baked potato
Broccoli
Rice
No meal at The Crazy Crab is complete without their signature hushpuppies. Dinner rolls and hushpuppies are complimentary. The free hushpuppies may very well be the best thing about the restaurant. They are phenomenal. The Crazy Crab’s hushpuppies are small and oblong. They are extra crispy on the outside and appetizing and moist on the inside. They are addicting, memorable hushpuppies. I’m still searching for a restaurant in Atlanta that serves hushpuppies like the ones here.
The oysters were small, but delicious. So delicious, we ordered more. One order comes with six oysters, but since the oysters were small, our server (Patrick) gave us extra oysters. I thought that was very nice of him. The oysters were fresh and succulent. They were served on ice with Lance crackers, cocktail sauce, and a mild horseradish sauce.
The sea scallops were A-​OK. 12 scallops are served in one entrée. I wouldn’t necessarily classify them as «large» like the menu does. They are more medium-​to-​small. Though I’m not sure how fresh they were, the quality seemed acceptable.
The grilled Atlantic swordfish was definitively disappointing. It was simply too salty, almost to the point of inedibility. I probably should have said something to our server, but didn’t. It was not enjoyable at all and was a fish that had to be forced down. At $ 22.95, I felt gypped.
The blackened mahi-​mahi fared better. The fish was tender and relatively flavorful.
Without a doubt, the fish that stole the show was the broiled grouper. The batter was soft, but not soggy, and light. The fish was fresh and delightful. It reminded me of the fried fish you get with fish and chips except not nearly has dense, heavy, nor greasy. If you like white fish, I highly recommend the broiled grouper.
The sides are run-​of-​the-​mill. The baked potatoes come with pre-​packaged sour cream, which is not to be confused with the ramekins containing tartar sauce. The vegetable of the day was broccoli. While I love broccoli, I thought it was a boring choice for vegetable of the day. The broccoli was tasty, in part because it was heavily buttered. I would have been happy (and healthier) without or with less butter. The rice side is fried rice with mini cubed carrots and peas. The rice was hard, but not terrible.
My parents enjoyed their dishes. My mom got the Broiled Seafood Platter which comes with shrimp, scallops, crab cake, and a fish fillet. My dad got the Steamed Seafood Pot which comes with half a Maine lobster, shrimp, snow crab legs, red potatoes, and corn on the cob! It looked quite satisfying. Photo:
As mentioned earlier, Patrick was our server. He was terrific — well spoken, knowledgeable, polite, and attentive.

I think people are in the bandwagon when reviewing this place. I do not believe that this place deserves a 2 star and I’ll tell you why.
Overall the serves was pretty good for the large group of 15 we had. We were seated relatively quickly and had out orders taken. Drinks were a little slow to arrive but timely enough with the number of drinks. The food was up and down. The majority of people in our group were kids who ordered off of the kids menus. The entrée ordered took a bit to arrive and were both good and bad. The Steamed Seafood Pot was the best thing out of everything while the Grouper was well overcooked and overdone.
All in all the place doesn’t deserve the harsh ratings that it is getting but the food is hit or miss and well overpriced. I think that if they had somewhat more reasonable prices that they could bring the ratings up might much higher.

This is a place where you roll up yourselves and get dirty. There are no niceties about Crazy Crab. Butter and Sour Cream are in packets on your table before you arrive. Hushpuppies and rolls are given to easy the wait.
The good– they are prepared to accommodate larger groups. They serve crab legs. The bad– you will be packed in like sardines and unable to hear everyone in your party. The wait will be very long.
I agree with another Unilocaler who said… leave the memories in the past and move on… this place is not worth a visit if you only have a week on the island. Much better food right outside the Sea Pines gates.