Crabshack on the James

Jack Frost and crab stuffed salmon.Delicious food and drinks. Staff was really friendly and great with recommendations and ensuring my coworker and I were doing well. Appreciate the kindness.

**Restaurant Review: Crab Shack on the James**Nestled along the serene shores of the James River, **Crab Shack on the James** offers a laid-back, waterfront dining experience that's perfect for seafood lovers. The restaurant's prime location sets the stage for a relaxed meal, with beautiful river views and outdoor seating that makes you feel like you're on vacation. Whether you're watching the sunset over the water or enjoying the fresh air, the ambiance is a huge part of the appeal.The menu, as you might expect, is centered around seafood, with the crab dishes being the star of the show. The **steamed blue crabs** were fresh, seasoned perfectly with Old Bay, and meaty. For those who prefer something a bit less hands-on, the **crab cakes** were a standout - packed with lump crabmeat and minimal filler, they were flavorful and cooked to perfection.Beyond crabs, the **fried shrimp** and **oysters** were also delicious, crisp on the outside and tender inside. The sides are classic seafood joint fare--think hush puppies, coleslaw, and corn on the cob--all complementing the seafood well, though not particularly memorable on their own. The service was friendly, but during peak times, it can be a bit slow, which is understandable given the steady flow of diners. However, the staff was accommodating and pleasant, making sure we were well taken care of.Overall, **Crab Shack on the James** offers more than just good food--it's an experience. Between the casual riverside atmosphere and the quality of the seafood, it's a must-visit for anyone in the Newport News area craving authentic, unpretentious coastal cuisine. Just be prepared to get a little messy cracking those crabs!

Absolutely love this place. Idk why it has the ratings it has. Maybe it's the outside cats that live there or the fact it's attacged to a fishing pier. Either way it's pretty cool. You get such amazing views of the sunset over the water and you get to see the fish and dolphins swimming around under the sun. Very great place to bring kids because you can walk around the outside looking at wildlife. Service is pretty standard. The wait staff is a little younger, so there were a few mishaps, but they make up for it. We went with a group of 8 and the young lady handled it well. We ordered the stuffed flounder, stuffed salmon, fried talapia, crab dip, soft shell crabs, tuna steak, and salads. No one had anything negative to say about the food. The taste was all there. Parking is available, but since they share with the pier, if you go for dinner and the pier is full you will have to park a little bit away but it's not an issue. I would 100% recommend this place if you want some fresh seafood.

Food was good. Location was very good with a nice view. Service was amazing. Ashley was super friendly and so helpful.

So, true story - the Crabshack is one of the first restaurants I ever ate at 20 years ago when I moved here. Since then, I haven't been back much. It's one of those places that a few years goes by and I say, "I haven't been there in a while, it's a nice day and it would be cool to watch the sunset on the patio over the river!" And, then I try it again. And other than the sunset, it's a massive disappointment.On my recent visit, my friends and I ordered the crab dip, some oysters rockafeller, and the steamed shrimp special. The crab dip was bland and barely had any crab meat in it. The shrimp were over-steamed, so we struggled to get them out of the shells, and even when we could, they were terribly chewy. And then to top it off, the oysters had a ton of topping (which I guess some might like, but it totally overpowered the flavor of the oyster - you could barely taste it) AND I got not one, not two, but a THIRD hard piece of shell when I was trying to eat them. I should have quit after the first one, but I persisted and honestly, now I don't know if I'll ever eat stuffed oysters again.As if things couldn't get much worse, our waitress forgot half of what we asked her for, and we never got water refills although we asked several times. All that for a pretty hefty price tag when we got the check. I'm not kidding when I say McDonald's filet-o-fish might have been a better meal, and that's saying something since I haven't visited a McDonalds in years.My recommendation - come here for a cocktail and watch the sunset, then leave and eat dinner elsewhere.

Amazing view and great drinks on the water. Always a nice place to grab some appetizers and refreshing drinks as you gaze into the relaxing sunset. Service is prompt and efficient. Our server checked on us multiple times and we had a lovely time sipping and talking with our friends outside. The seating is solid wood benches, so it f you want a traditional table you would have to look indoors. But if you don't mind bench seats, then enjoy the bay breeze and fresh sea salt in the air. The hurricane drink was fantastic, sorry I didn't take a photo as I was too busy enjoying the view!

First visited this place many, many years ago. Was impressed with the food and the view then, and still impressed with both now.

Have been here before. Love the decor and location on the water. Sunsets are beautiful and our waitress was fantastic. The host could have been better by greeting us instead of talking to another coworker. The food, as usual, was delicious. Definitely recommend the Cake and Fried Oysters.

Many have recommended this place, so I took my family. I must say it was very disappointing. The food was cold, poorly cooked and not as ordered. Baked potatoes so cold they would not melt the butter they were served with. Food requested "medium" served "very well" and dry as shoe leather. Very few individuals dinning there and now I know why. We will not return.

Fried shrimp hardly had any batter and tasteless and clearly were not cleaned ! Oysters Rockefeller had no hollandaise only spinach . The coleslaw had a glop of miracle whip on top so I had to mix my own ? The only saving grace was the $2.50 draft beer And the sunset .