Virginia has a lot of coastline, and a lot of places claim to serve the best crab cake on it. Some of them are right.
This list covers seven restaurants, from the Virginia Beach oceanfront to a tiny Eastern Shore harbor town to the cobblestones of Richmond, where the crab cake is the reason to point the car in that direction. A few sit right on the water, one pairs crab with smoked barbecue, and one has been feeding island visitors since 1960.
Each stop brings its own style, so you can plan a whole weekend around them or just pick the one closest to home. Save this before your next road trip.
1. Waterman’s Surfside Grille, Virginia Beach, VA
Few crab cakes come with a front-row seat to the Atlantic, but that is exactly the deal at 415 Atlantic Avenue. Waterman’s sits right on the Virginia Beach oceanfront in a landmarked cottage decorated with black and white photos.
The crab cake here leans heavy on lump crab and light on breading, which is exactly how a Chesapeake crab cake should be. If you want to go all in, the broiled seafood platter pairs a crab cake with lump crab, scallops, and shrimp.
Start with the she crab soup. It is one of the dishes the kitchen is best known for, and hush puppies make a solid side for the table.
Brunch fans can try crab Benedict on Sundays, when doors open at 9 AM. Dinner reservations are recommended, and there is usually a wait on Saturday evenings.
Portions are generous, so plan on a takeout box.
2. The Shanty, Cape Charles, VA
Cape Charles has fewer than 1,500 residents, and on a summer Saturday it can seem like half of them are at The Shanty. The casual cottage eatery sits right along the marina docks on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
The crab cake has its own style compared to others around the bay, packed with local crab. Order it as the Crab Cake Sandy, which arrives with Old Bay fries that carry plenty of seasoning.
Crab dip is a strong opener, and the raw bar side of the menu covers local oysters on the half shell and local clams. Steamer buckets are here too.
The waterfront patio is the place to sit, and live music adds to the laid-back pace. Parking is usually easy, the kitchen runs daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, and dogs are welcome outside.
3. Riverwalk Restaurant, Yorktown, VA
History buffs already know Yorktown for 1781. Crab cake fans know it for a plate that is nearly all crab and almost no bread filler.
Riverwalk Restaurant sits at 323 Water Street along the York River promenade. The outdoor seating looks right over the water, and the setting leans a little upscale and romantic, which makes it a smart pick for an anniversary dinner.
The Riverwalk Crab Cakes are the headliner. The rest of the menu covers seafood, pasta, and steaks, with options like a seafood Cobb salad, a whole fish presentation, filet mignon, and grilled asparagus.
Timing matters here. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday and serves dinner starting at 4 PM the rest of the week.
Reservations are recommended, and free parking nearby keeps things simple.
4. Something Different Restaurant, Urbanna, VA
The name is honest. Where else can you order a crab cake with a side of brisket?
Something Different sits on Virginia Street in Urbanna, a small Rappahannock River town with an old oyster port past. The low-key spot blends Chesapeake seafood with smoked barbecue and Southern comfort food.
Crab cakes come as an entrée, a platter, or a panko crusted sandwich, and pairing one with green beans or sweet potato tots works well. The barbecue lineup includes tri-tip, pulled pork, ribs, and the kickin’ chicken.
The Southern Comfort sandwich stacks brisket with pimento cheese. Save space for chocolate or buttermilk pie.
Hours run Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, with Sunday service from 9 AM to 2 PM. It closes Monday and Tuesday.
5. Captain Groovy’s Grill & Raw Bar, Norfolk, VA
Shore Drive runs along Norfolk’s Chesapeake Bay beaches, and Captain Groovy’s gives that stretch a laid-back, wharf-themed place to eat.
Seasoning is what sets this crab cake apart. It carries a good crab-to-filler ratio and comes with a roasted corn and black-eyed pea relish that gives the plate a Southern twist.
The crab grilled cheese is the playful pick of the menu. Oysters, she crab soup, a bucket of clams, and Cajun étouffée round things out, along with fish tacos for lighter appetites.
There is a bar and patio, plus TVs for catching a game. Note the schedule, since the kitchen is closed on Sundays and opens at noon on Mondays.
Free parking is usually plentiful.
6. Bill’s PRIME Seafood & Steaks, Chincoteague, VA
Since 1960, Bill’s has been serving seafood on Chincoteague Island’s Main Street. That kind of staying power on a barrier island says plenty.
Here, go broiled. The broiled crab cakes are a local favorite, and the broiled seafood combo lets you add more of the catch to the plate.
The crab imperial is the other signature, rich and classic. Stuffed shrimp, smothered flounder, Seafood Norfolk, and a colossal lobster tail fill out the seafood side, while prime rib covers the steak half of the name.
The dining room is small and fills fast, especially Saturday evenings, so make a reservation. Bill’s is closed Wednesday, opens at 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and starts at noon Friday through Sunday.
It pairs nicely with a day exploring the island.
7. The Hard Shell, Richmond, VA
No water view? No problem.
Richmond’s Shockoe Slip brings cobblestone streets instead, and The Hard Shell brings the bay to them.
The upscale-casual tavern on East Cary Street runs a full raw bar alongside traditional seafood and steaks. Its crab cake dinner comes with an herb-forward green sauce and a choice of sides.
Crab lovers can build a whole meal here with crab cocktail, she crab soup, and the crab cakes. A poached lobster tail, pan seared local rockfish, and a lobster roll make good alternates, and middle neck clams come by the dozen.
Finish with key lime pie. Dinner and brunch reservations are recommended, and Sunday brunch starts at 10:30 AM.
For anyone in Central Virginia, this is the shortest drive on the list, and that counts for something on a weeknight.
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