Captain Pell's Fairfax Crabhouse

I decided to give this restaurant a try after hearing it was a good spot to get some crabs. I was pleased to find that they had extra large crabs available for pick up. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating, although it can feel a bit crowded on busy days. The crabs may not have seemed as large as expected, but I assume that's due to the season. Overall, they tasted good with only a couple out of the dozen purchased having mushy meat. The seasoning was not too strong, which I appreciated.

Being in town for business, I couldn't resist ordering seafood with the famous East Coast crab. I opted for the "pick 3" option which included soft shell crab, crab cake, clam strips, and a small order of fries. Everything was delicious, although I felt it was a bit pricey for the quality. The crab cake was small, but the soft shell was large, so it all evened out. I would definitely like to visit this restaurant in person.

My fiancé and I went to this restaurant for dinner on Saturday. We were welcomed by two very nice gentlemen. We were seated in Betsy's section. As soon as we sat down, she greeted us with a warm smile and was very pleasant. She took our order promptly. Our drinks came quickly and my crab legs were delivered promptly. They were a good size for an all-you-can-eat option and were delicious! My fiancé ordered a seafood platter and his crab legs were huge and came in a very generous portion. We were very impressed.

Check your bag before leaving!!!! I asked for extra seasoning and my crabs had no seasoning on them, this visit. I did get a bag of seasoning before leaving, thankfully. Worth a try!! The staff is very professional and attentive. The service is fast; I ordered when I arrived and waited only about 10 minutes. The prices are reasonable for the area and the taste is pretty good. I ordered a dozen of the medium males and they were a good size. Most of them were very meaty; I only had one that was light and empty. The seasoning is very tasty! It’s not too salty and has some kick to it. It is not a rock salt blend. The seasoning did not reach the inside of the crab well, so the meat and “mustard” were bland. Being a Baltimore native, my expectations may be higher than most. All in all, great place to try. The restaurant is large and offers dine-in with an all-you-can-eat option. There is ample parking as well.

My family and me traveled to Washington DC area to visit family and attend a wedding. We wanted fresh seafood, my family recommended this place. At first I was think someplace on the waterfront but glad we came here. My daughter who never tried seafood before loved it.