Baltimore's favorite place for crabs, Obryckis crab house has been the place to go for steamed crabs for the past 50 years.
Located a little ways off from the Inner Harbor, the restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside it's brick walls are adorned with old pictures of Baltimore, and its long tables are covered with newspaper.
Although they have many other items on the menu, Obryckis specializes in steamed crabs and crab cakes. If you order steamed crabs, they will be dropped off at your table in a bucket, service isn't much of a factor here. Armed with a wooden hammer, a bib, and a strong will, you try your best to break open the shells to get the bits of meat inside. Ignore those signs and pamphlets about the "right way" of eating a crab. The process isn't very scientific, you smash and break open the shell however you want. And its all worth the effort, because crab meat is damn good.
Crab meat isn't exactly filling, you might consider ordering something else from the menu if you don't want to go home hungry. Crabs are expensive; expect to spend between 20-40 dollars.
Some Marylanders point out that the seasoning used by Obryckis is not the traditional "Old Bay" spice, but few object because whatever they use is just fine. Obryckis won't say what exactly goes into their secret seasoning, except for one ingredient, black pepper.
Maryland is well known as the place to get the best crab dishes. The species of crab that live in the Chesapeake and its tributaries are considered among the best by seafood lovers. Obryckis gets their crabs from the Carolinas, which isn't local, but more so than some other places which obtain them from overseas.
Time is running out if you are planning on visiting Obryckis. They are open seasonally, closing down from Nov. 17 to March 19 during the winter months when crabs are harder to come by.
However, they continue to offer crabs delivered via mail-order year round. Oprah Winfrey is one well known customer of this service.
In Baltimore, Obryckis is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to crabs. That is why they are quite busy, especially between May and September. Reservations are a very good idea. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner. If you're driving, parking is available at meters on the streets nearby.
