Review: Crab House Café

I was lucky enough to be treated to lunch at the Crab House Café for my birthday and I’m very happy to report that it lived up to my high expectations, after everything I’d heard and read about the restaurant!

Despite the grey weather, the restaurant was bright and airy. We sat at what the waiter called the ‘chef’s table’, as it was next to the kitchen pass and everything was well organised and handled professionally and cleanly.

The food was superb. We had a pre-starter of fish ‘crackling’ with apple purée, followed by bisque, which was rich and deep in flavour. The main event was fillets of sole stuffed with crab and finished with cheese. We had debated whether to go for one of the crab dishes (you can opt for half or a whole crab) and these were huge. I think it would have taken us all day to pick the crab meat! You get an enormous bucket in which to put the shells and I’m guessing that nothing gets wasted - the shells may well go into making the shellfish stock that gives the bisque its flavour.

I didn’t think I’d have any room for dessert, but hey ho! I forced myself(!) and we shared the Dorset apple cake, which was scrumptious.

Very friendly service and food on time. Not the cheapest, but for a special occasion, would definitely recommend a visit there! The empty plate says it all!