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��� Do you ever crave a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day? And do you seek comfort food offered at a discounted price? Then you must check out Crab Alley Restaurant in West Ocean City. Local entrepreneur Bill Gibbs recently purchased the restaurant, and he plans to keep the establishment open year-round. Irresistible daily dinner specials, plus $4.95 lunch specials Monday through Friday, are sure to entice locals throughout the winter. Only offering the best in-season crabs to customers, Crab Alley will bring in fresh crabs�sized medium to jumbo�from North Carolina in the off-season.
��� On a recent Wednesday night when Ocean City enjoyed its first snowfall of the season, my BFF, Kathy Hayes, and I decided to brave the elements and dine at Crab Alley. Kathy told me that they have the best Cream of Crab Soup in town, and the weather outside called for hot soup. As soon as we entered the warm restaurant, its friendly manager, Kelli, greeted us with a smile. She led us through one large dining room, past the merchandise counter, and into a second big dining room filled with tall wooden booths. Kathy and I sat down and were introduced to Alicia, our knowledgeable server. Anxious to warm up, we ordered two glasses of Cabernet from the wine list. Then we looked around and admired the marine themed d�cor and wall murals. �I feel like we�re on a boat,� commented Kathy. The two dining rooms are even separated by an aquarium filled with artificial rainbow fish made from palm leaves.�
��� Alicia gave us a complete breakdown of the specials and most popular items on the menu. On Sunday, the restaurant serves up Cream of Crab Soup and a Crab Cake Sandwich for under $13. Monday presents Chicken and Dumplings for under $10, and on Tuesday all shrimp items are half price. Customers enjoy Oyster Stew with a Fried Oyster Sandwich for under $12 on Thursday. For those with a really big appetite, try the Prime Rib for under $18 on Friday and Saturday.
��� Wednesday brings a �buy one entr�e, get the 2nd at 1/2 price� discount. The special on that particular night was Seafood Marinara�pasta tossed with scallops, crab, mussels, and lobster meat, and served with 3 slices of fresh garlic bread and Caesar salad. �We should definitely order that,� said Kathy. The Fresh Catch of the Day was grilled Mahi Mahi, another tempting selection.� What are the most popular appetizers on the menu? Crab Dip and Japanese Shrimp. After Kathy and I skimmed over the appetizers menu, including Imperial Bagelettes,� Clams Casino, Smoked Tuna or Salmon, Wing Dings, Seafood Skins, Fried Shrimp, Oyster Rockefeller, Crab Balls, and Coconut Shrimp, we decided to try the Japanese Shrimp. The large shrimp are covered with Panko, flash fried, and served with a Thai chili sauce. Of course, we couldn�t forget the main reason we came to Crab Alley�their locally famous Cream of Crab Soup. In addition, the restaurant offers a complete raw bar.
��� Soups and salads on the menu include Maryland Crab Soup and Jambalaya�shrimp, scallops, chicken, and sausage in a Cajun concoction. Garden Salad and Tropical Salad are perfect for the light eater, and combinations of tuna, shrimp, and chicken salad complete the salad menu.
��� What is the most popular entr�e on the menu? Seafood Sampler�the best of the best fresh fish, soft crab, crab cake, clam strips, shrimp, and scallops served with a choice of two sides. What a bargain! Crab Alley presents a full menu of healthy fish, including Flounder, Stuffed Flounder, Tuna Steak, Mahi Mahi, and Salmon. Other Sea Specialties are Stuffed Shrimp, Scallops, and Fried Oyster Platter. Crab Alley�s Famous Triple Crab�soft shell crab, crab cake, and crab imperial served broiled or fried�is another delectable option.
��� Kathy�s eyes lit up as soon as she saw the �From the Steamer� menu. �We should get the Alaskan King Crab Legs,� she cooed. Blue Crabs (subject to availability), Lobster, and Shrimp are equally tempting. For Land Lovers, the restaurant features Filet Mignon, Chicken Breast, Fried Chicken, House Sirloin, and Rack of Ribs. Special combos of all Fish, Seafood, and Meats are available, and are very popular picks.
��� Great minds think alike. Kathy and I decided to order the Seafood Marinara special and the one-pound Alaskan King Crab Legs dinner. For our two sides, we chose the homemade Potato Salad and the vegetable of the day, green beans. And, yes, we shared everything. It wasn�t long at all before Alicia presented our appetizers. Kathy dug right into the Cream of Crab Soup. �The best,� she said. I was very impressed by the Japanese Shrimp. The sweet and sour Thai sauce is so tasty it�s addictive.� We didn�t want to spoil our appetites, but we ate every last bite of our starter dishes. When our entr�es arrived, we looked at each other in awe. Each portion really is large enough to feed three people. We cracked open the crab legs and dipped the huge chunks of pure meat in melted butter. Heavenly! Then, we tackled the Seafood Marinara. I counted more chunks of meaty seafood in the dish than pasta bites. The shrimp were large and delicious, and the combination of lobster meat, baby scallops, and mussels added the perfect blend of sweetness to the zesty marinara sauce. The side dishes are worthy of mention too. Fresh and homemade, the creamy potato salad is sublimely hearty. Our meals were also served with hot rolls and honey butter. We ate until we felt like we were going to burst.
��� Too bad we didn�t save room for dessert. Two fresh desserts are brought into Crab Alley daily, and the selections that day were Tiramisu and Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake. Yummy!
��� As much as we enjoyed the warm, quiet, cozy atmosphere on that cold winter night, Kathy and I said goodbye to the friendly staff at Crab Alley. Now that we know they have such affordable dinner bargains and lunch specials, including lunch entr�es, sandwiches, and wraps, we�ll definitely be back soon. The inviting restaurant is located directly on Golf Course Road in West Ocean City. For directions, call 410-213-7800.
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