Timbuktu Restaurant And Lounge

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

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...lolNow 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!

Our first trip back since moving out of state 18 months ago. Went on a Monday evening for the lobster special. Easy reservations for 6:30.It became clear that we were the wrong clientele for the establishment. Parties of individuals wearing sweatpants on the back of their thighs and screaming racial epithets across the table made for a disgusting experience.After waiting 90 minutes for our meal, I was informed that the restaurant was out of lobster. It was not surprising, as I watched one individual consume 7 in the time we waited.What was substituted was a broiled lobster tail which was so overcooked that neither a dinner knife or steak knife could cut. I immediately sent it back to the kitchen. I changed my order to the crabcake. A safe bet in season was far more disappointing in December as it was nothing but filler.Never again will I waste my time or money here. I return to North Carolina safe in the knowledge that I can get a properly cooked lobster from my neighborhood food truck.

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.

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.

I tried out some menu items at Timbuktu, a well-known seafood restaurant in the Baltimore area, and boy was it a treat! It's located minutes away from BWI and the shops at Arundel Mills. For starters, the staff was super helpful and very friendly. My server, Christiano, was one of the best waiters I think I have had the pleasure of being assisted by in very long time. He was polite and very attentive. He answered every question with a smile! (Very handsome with a wonderful accent too!) Another attendant, Charlie, came over and chatted for a while. He added laughs, jokes, and even more smiles to the table. I would definitely ask to be seated in either one of their sections when I return!This place is perfect for families! They also have a bar area that is perfect to grab a bite and a beer to watch the games. There is even a small section that serves as a liquor, /convenient store, where you can order carry out. Now let's get into what you really came here for. the food!If you cannot find something you like on this menu, let me hold your hand when I say this, the problem is YOU! This menu includes everything from steak, to burgers, to subs and fries, to wings, and of course, seafood.Here's what I had:-Half & Half Soup Bowl: A blend of MD style crab soup and cream of crab soup...This was surprisingly good because I am not a fan of MD style crab soup, but I absolutely loved this! (8/10)-Timbuktu Wings: The honey old bay was my favorite. They had the perfect amount of old bay seasoning, and they were fried crunchy, just like I like them. The honey garlic wings were good as well. I found myself licking the sauce off of my fingertips! (8.5/10)-House Salad: It's just your basic house salad with your choice of dressing. (7.5/10)-Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo: Often times, restaurants tend to serve (any type) of alfredo that has no taste to the noodles or sauce. This was different!!! Everything was seasoned; the chicken, the shrimp, the noodles, and the sauce, and the flavors blended together perfectly! (9/10)-Crabcake Eggrolls: It's like having a handheld crabcake. They come with a dipping sauce that is amazing!!! I would have loved to see these fried just a little bit harder, but they are very tasty, and I would definitely order them again! (8/10)-Jewels of the Sea: Seafood lovers, this is for you! This entree comes with one crabcake, one massive shrimp stuffed with crab meat, 4 shrimp, and 4 scallops. I might tell you a joke, but I'll never tell you a lie! This is a MUST HAVE! The portions are enough to fill up on while dining in and still have enough to take home. (10/10)-Lobster: Charlie was nice enough to crack and break down the lobster for me (because I wasn't going to do it lol) Those that know me know about my phobia. But the lobster was very good. Cooked and seasoned well. Be sure to ask for warm butter. (9/10)-Double Crabcake Entree: If you like crabcakes, this place is for you. Timbuktu has some of the BEST crabcakes in Maryland. There's is not a lot of filler. There crabcakes contain all lump crab meat. You can get them as an entree or a sandwich. I would suggest the entree. It comes with your choice of two sides. (10/10)-Key Lime Pie: The key lime pie is more on the tart side. If you like a sweeter pie, this might not be for you. Comes topped with whipped cream and a berry drizzle. (8/10)-Bread Pudding: Now, I am not a HUGE fan of bread pudding but if done correctly, I can tolerate it. This bread pudding was DELICIOUS! I tasted it before it was warmed up (I had to take pictures) but once they warmed it up, which is how it's served, OMG!!! It's so good and it's enough to share with the table. (9/10)I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience, and I will definitely be returned soon with my family.Be sure to check them out and don't forget to tell them, DANI SENT YA!

I got the lobster, which was overcooked. Staff was decently friendly. The overall vibe of the place was: Midwest diner in the 90s.

This was my first time visiting Timbuktu to try their famous crab cakes, and it did not disappoint! This is definitely one of the better crab cakes that I've had.Located a little off the beaten path, the space is huge with ample parking. We made a reservation on OpenTable, but it really wasn't necessary. They are definitely not even close to operating near full capacity. This would be a great restaurant to host a large party.We started with a dozen oysters as an appetizer ($15/six). Some oysters ate a little gritty and could've been cleaned better, but these Chesapeake oysters were huge and fresh. For the size, you're basically getting them at a happy hour price. I tend to find larger oysters to be on the chewier side, but these were just right!We were also served bread to start the meal, and the bread was delicious! It was warm and soft and came with butter. We also ordered soup. Between the Maryland Crab (think minestrone with crab) and cream of crab (think chowder), I preferred the cream of crab soup, and the bread is great for dipping. You can also order a half and half soup bowl (Maryland crab soup + cream of crab soup mixed into one bowl). I would order the soup again.For my entree, I ordered the seafood alfredo ($33). I was able to choose between penne and fettuccine pasta. Alfredos can be hit or miss but the flavor was good (just needed some cracked black pepper, but fortunately the salt and pepper shakers and additional condiments were already on the table). The seafood portion is quite generous - it's not hard to find the seafood in this dish. Instead of dinky bay scallops, you get full on sea scallops, jumbo lump crab, and meaty shrimp. This is a three dollar sign ($$$) establishment on Yelp, but you get what you pay for - the value is there.We were celebrating a birthday and the waitress was kind enough to bring out a slice of strawberry shortcake with a birthday candle. The slice of cake was the weak spot in an otherwise solid meal - the cake was dry and I prefer more fresh strawberries - but I appreciate the gesture.Every staff member that we interacted with were friendly and engaging. Service was a bit slow, but nothing outrageous. A football game was also playing at the bar - they do have happy hour specials during some games and they have lots of happenings and weeknight specials. I'll be back.

I had a great dinner here. Kind of odd eating here alone, but I enjoyed people watching. I came on a Tuesday evening and there was no wait, I was searing immediately without a reservation. The restaurant is clean, well-lit, and neatly decorated. I got some work emails done while sipping my wine and eating my salad. It wasn't too long until I got my entree. The crab cake here is definitely different than other places I had tried, because it has thick and large pieces of crab and barely any flour holding it together. This means the crab cake is mostly real crab, and it is very juicy and tender. It has very good texture and original flavor, perfectly paired with a little bit of sauce. I was too ambitious to order this entree, finished 70% and couldn't take the leftovers since I don't have a fridge while traveling. I bet this would've reheated well in the toaster oven. My server was very friendly and polite. The parking lot looked pretty packed by the time I was leaving, but the restaurant still have lots of seating. I wonder if this place ever gets busy. Will return if I am ever in the area! Best crab cakes I've ever had (and believe me I've had a lot).

This review is dedicated to my former coworker Bobby B. who I learned at last night's industry holiday party passed away in August. Went here one time on Monday, February 17, 2014, which was President's Day. The job I had here in 2013-2014 involved work travel pretty much everyday, but since it was a national holiday, there was little to no opportunity to work travel and was just in the office all day. Our manager treated the 3 of us on the team (+manager makes party of 4) to Timbuktu as he highly recommended. It was my manager's "treat". I use treat in quotes because let's be honest, it was the company's dime, and believe me even in 2014, this place was a lot more than a dime. We got the 2 crab cakes, which were huge. I believe it was $25 in 2014 dollars, which was a lot of money back in those days. One crab cake is good amount of food. Sometimes you get a crab cake, and it's kind of small, but this sucker was huge, and we got 2 of these huge scoops. I think this still be the best crab cake I've ever had, and I've had a lot of good crab cakes here in Maryland. The sides were good. I feel like I got my favorite "veggie" mac n'cheese & maybe like asparagus. I just remember it was all so good, and I was so full, I didn't even eat dinner that night. My one coworker (not the one who died) said he was at some event that night with his favorite pizza and he was full and couldn't eat anything.Interesting side notes:1. My former coworker, Bobby, who died in 2024. On Martin Luther King Jr Day 2014, the manager took us to Bobby's Burger at MD Live!, which is ironic because my coworker was Bobby. I'd write a review on them, but all the MD, VA, & DC locations closed. Now, the closest is in Atlantic City, NJ.2. Timbuktu has a camel logo and an Arabian north African theme although they're known for the crab cakes, which local Maryland fare. Also, Timbuktu is in Mali, but Timbuktu is often said as some far away place, a common idiom like that's far away, way out in Timbuktu. It's fairly isolated town & administrative area of the northern part of Mali.