It was a beautiful Sunday so we decided to go out and grab a small bite and a drink. We weren't really sure where to go but decided to head into Carmines Crab Shack for a drink. We came in during happy hour (3-7). The happy hour menu looked great 1 dollar oysters, 5dollar bites, half-off drinks and bottles. We ordered a dozen oysters and a bottle of wine. The wine list wasn't extravagant but it was good enough for type of restaurant it is. The champagne/ sparkling list could definitely be improved. I'd recommend adding Domaine Carneros. It's an affordable (retails $35) sparkling wine that Is delicious! Anyway the oyster were great. They were blue point oysters. They were well shucked. I hate when oysters are shucked correctly and I'm spitting remains out of my mouth. I wish they had better sauces with them. Sauces that come with oysters are typically easy and cheap addition (mignonette sauce!) and the crackers were stale! The gentleman next to us ordered the 5 dollar buffalo chicken tenders that looked delicious! The conch fritters looked good as well. There was a couple at that bar that orders some type of white fish with vegetables and stuffed lobster. Their food smelled delicious. I'm slightly baffled with all the bad reviews because we thought this place looked like a cute place to pop in and grab a bite. Stay tuned for our next experience. And the service was great. Our server was nice and brought out everything we needed. And the bartender that came in later was very welcoming.
(5)
Julie P.
My disclosure.... aka Why I was an accessory to wasting $100+ on dinner. A family member wanted to repay us for a small favor & knowing we like Crabs invited us here. None of us had ever been & the couple taking us here aren't Yelpers (unfortunately). Wife and I read the reviews & even though the majority were negative we kept a positive outlook. Also, I would never say to someone that extended a dinner invitation - Sure! I'd love to go, but not to that crappy restaurant!" And in any case, I always keep an open mind. Just because another Yelper or Yelper(S) had a negative experience, doesn't mean it will be ours. But just to be safe, on the the way to the restaurant I reviewed the menu and saw a couple of "safe bets" i.e. dishes that are really so basic that if a restaurant messes them up...they shouldn't be in business..... Period! The Experience: Upon arrival a Gentleman standing at the front desk whom I assume was the Manager greeted us and promptly took us to our table. It was Sunday evening but on the early side (before 6pm) and there were only 2 other occupied tables. As we sat down someone literally slung menus on our table. They actually walked by so fast, without saying a word that I didn't know if it was a Waitress, the Manager, a Customer or a Squirrel. They weren't handed to us, they were thrown on the table in a pile. The Service: When our waitress, Kristine or Kristy did come to the table she was so fakely sugar sweet it came across as condescending. Every other word was "Hon", "Sweetie" or "Sugar". "Hon, do you want ketchup? Some may love this. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Through out our dinner she repeatedly delivered things to our table by reaching over a small dividing wall that separates booth seating from the table area we were in. Instead of walking an extra 6-8 steps to hand us our beverages individually, she handed them over the wall placing them all in front of my 84yr old in-law who then had to distribute them. She also did this with sugar we had to hunt her down for, extra napkins, an order of french fries she forgot and lemons we asked for. Keep in mind we were her only table at the time. Our food all came out at different times. Not once were 2 entrees delivered together. By the time my food came out, the first 2 served were on their last few bites. When finished we had to leave the table to find her for our check. She never came to the table to offer dessert. Not that we would've ordered it! The Food: My wife ordered Clam Chowder. She's originally from MA, has eaten Clam Chowder all over the country and honestly..... Considers herself somewhat of a Connoisseur. She said the Clams were obviously less than fresh - rubbery, chewy with a strong flavor & the soup itself was over seasoned and very salty. She ordered the Fried Whole Belly Clams for dinner and after the soup she was sorry she had. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fish itself was fresh but the oil they were fried in not so much. The pieces of fish were burnt on one side and it was horribly greasy. The Fried Clams my wife ordered were a total of 10 whole Clams on a HUGE mound of French Fries with 5 or 6 clam strips (pieces of clams). They appeared to be very dark but she said the few whole clams weren't bad. My MIL had Snapper with Mango Salsa. She said it tasted dry and it had about a Tablespoon of Mango Salsa. As far as I know Mangos aren't expensive or hard to come by. My FIL ordered the Warm Lobster Roll which is just chunk Lobster without the Mayo. He said it was fresh but I could see it was just 4 small pieces of Lobster on the roll. This is one place that I can honestly say without hesitation is WAYYYYYY over-priced. This is no place for anyone that's well acquainted with all the delicious, fresh, Seafood Florida has to offer and is served in most of the Seafood Restaurants here. For the prices charged here, not only should the portions be in-line with the cost but the food should be fresher and better prepared.
(2)
Jeff T.
I really was hoping for a better experience but here goes. Key takeaway: over-priced for quality and portions of the food. Arrived, very little customers which concerned us but It was a Monday night. We got seated quickly, friendly host. Waters and drinks came out, everyone seemed to be happy. coconut shrimp appetizer was good just not big enough for the price. Meals came out. Crab cakes were huge, but mostly breading. Would prefer to have had more lump crab meat for $30. For $200, we were in and out in 60 mins - felt rushed... Wasn't a huge fan. If the meals were $10 less I would have been happier. But not the experience I hoped for.... On to our next family restaurant here on Singer Island. Two strikes so far.. Last thing, the waitress was good. Very attentive but with very little customers it is hard to tell if this would be the case when they have a crowd.
(3)
Tonya H.
Grabbed a quick dinner and it was all good :). I opted to sit at the bar since I was flying solo. The bartender an older gentleman by the name of James I believe was wonderful. His customer service was 5 stars. They bring you some yummy corn bread as a starter and it's delicious. For my meal I had the Carmine' lobster roll and it was good. But I had to jazz it up a little with salt, pepper, and lemon. I like that the drawn butter was on the side. They do a great happy hour with $5 apps and 50% off of adult beverages in the bar area. The menu prices a bit on the higher side. For example my lobster roll was $22....but I will say it.was packed with lobster meat. Overall great experience and I shall return!
(4)
Kim F.
I'm giving it 4 stars for the ambiance and the service. But it was very quiet so, not quite sure what it would be like if it was busy. The food was pretty good too and I really don't have anything bad to say about the food, it's just that it wasn't exactly a five star experience. That would be reserved for somewhere extremely stellar. However I got the lobster roll and there was adequate amount of lobster and it was tasty, my daughter got the salmon BLT which came without the LT and it was okay. The server was surprised and brought the lettuce and tomato. We also got the calamari which was tossed in a sweet pepper sauce and I didn't prefer. I would rather prefer to dip the calamari in my own sauce without having it all over it. The server was a doll, he was really, really sweet and accommodating. He apologized for the no lettuce and tomato on the BLT. We also used our Groupon and let them know that in the advance. I had heard from other comments about bad experiences using the Groupon but we didn't have that. All in all, I would probably go back and try some other things on the menu.
(4)
Joanne L.
Great happy hour prices...fun place to meet a group of friends after work. Enjoyed a quick lunch during the work day, it's super close to my job. Hope to return again.
(3)
Peter S.
Disappointing to say the least!!! Had lobster 19.99 for 1 & 1/2 lb. Which is market rate but did not include anything!!! Salads were an additional 2.99 for what was a meager portion. Caesar lettuce and serving was meager!! Server asks if you want corn bread, served 4 pieces for 2 about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch. The pat of butter was bigger than the piece of bread. Lobster was under cooked and just ok. There are far better places in the area that offer the same sized lobster with sides at the same price. Expect that this another carmine's concept that will be short lived.
(1)
J L.
Three of us dined on Memorial Day. Despite being very understaffed, the wait staff, manager and kitchen did a spectacular job juggling it all and keeping their sense of humor. I had the creole shrimp with pasta - delicious! Only complaint was the fish and chips were a bit undercooked.
Horrible experience. Came here around dusk Easter Sunday hoping to get a quick burger from CG's to find that Carmine has revamped the place in to a Crab Shack. Sounds good, I don't eat enough seafood anyways. Initial impression is that place is pretty tight. Fun decor but their small tables are close together. The isles are extremely cramped and as far as the tables, a basket of condiments, paper towels, two glasses of water, and salt and pepper took up a majority of the table. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a dark and stormy, with Gosslings Rum of course, was on their cocktail list. I was then disappointed when the server told me despite a cocktail list they have no liquor licence. *sigh* C'est la vie. Here's where the disappointment begins. My fiance gets an iced tea and takes a sip only to get a mouthful of tea and a chip of glass! Really, glass?! Awesome. We alert the manager who gets a new glass. The server, however, expressed more concern for her well being than the manager who showed little interest and didn't hear from for the rest of the stay. Our appetizers quickly arrived. Both the crab and the conch fritters are made of a lot of filler with some meat. The Old Bay shrimp, ($13 I think) which I was really excited for, we're still in their shell. We asked for the check. So after my fiance drinks glass I'm getting to pay the full $45 bill plus a $9 tip. That's $45 for glass chips in the tea, having to peel and devein $13 dollars worth of shrimp, fried balls of filler and one glass of LandShark. We won't be back.
(1)
Christin R.
Great service, great food. The mussels were delicious! Crab shack has really improved since they first opened. I'll be back.
(4)
Judge M.
So disappointing, especially as all of Carmines other restaurants are exceptional. Had seafood stew and it was just a bowl of tomatoes peppers and onions with a slight fish smell. Friend had lobster bisque which was a bowl of cream containing no lobster meat. The spicy peal and eat shrimp were simply cold shrimp that had been microwaved w Old Bay. Oysters were terrible.there are a number of great seafood restaurants in the area,, some one please call Gordon Ramsey to come save this nightmare.
(1)
Robert M.
I went to the Crab Shack for dinner and was not disappointed! The moment I walked in I was greeted with a friendly smile by Richard the general manager who promptly sat us in Michelle's section. The drinks came quick and delicious and we couldn't go wrong with some yummy crab dip as a starter. The 3lb whole Maine lobster is the best deal in town at 34.99. It is so big it was actually hard to finish but somehow I managed! Our server Michelle was outstanding in both her knowledge of the menu and her easy going temperament and Richard the manager made our experience even more enjoyable with a few table checks. I will definitely be back for a wonderful dining experience sooner than later!!!!!
(5)
Jason N.
Very good seafood eatery. Our meal was delicious. I highly recommend the Cajun Alfredo and shrimp. The steamed mussels are also tasty. Nice indoor environment with decor of items you would see on a crab boat . This isn't a place to eat every day unless you have lots of money to spend daily or eat lightly. Over all check for and app if mussels, and entries of a Cajun shrimp Alfredo and a typical burger was $50. Still a good place to eat if your feeling for sea food. They can't beat Red lobsters biscuits but sure can beat their prices
(5)
Dani V.
Small portion size for the price and the food was unbearably bland. My friend asked for more seasoning and thy brought out a small soup bowl of Old Bay seasoning (I guess the kitchen staff knows how bland it really is!) Our server was attentive at first but was soon unable to divide her attention between our table of two and the only other table in the place. Good drink specials, but avoid the mojitos (suuuper pulpy). I wasn't too impressed with the quality of the seafood, the stone crab claws were definitely not fresh. I would expect much more from Carmine's!
(2)
Donna M.
We are locals and really enjoy going to Carmine's so we had to give it a try despite the bad reviews. However after coming tonight, I have to agree with the reviews and we will not be back. There are so many great local seafood places and this is not one of them. The restaurant itself is nice, but the food was bland and over priced. We ordered the blue crab dip for an appetizer and yes it had a lot of crab, but that's all it had. The flavor was missing and would not get it again. I had the mussels in the spicy marinara sauce and they were good, but not great. Looks like the cooks forgot to add spices and salt tonight as everything we had was bland.
(1)
Alex C.
Atmosphere is very cool but the food is not up to par. For this restaurant being apart of the "Carmine" brand I'm thoroughly disappointed. We ordered the crab dip (can see the crab, but there is no taste or flavor), conch fritters were greasy and tasted of old oil and we ordered the snow crab pot (could tell the crab was frozen and was super dry). Would defiantly not recommend.
(1)
V B.
I came here tonight and ordered the steamed snow crab. The plate that came out was a pile of disjointed crab leg pieces. Like segments. There was not one whole crab leg. It was like it had been ripped apart. Very weird and a real turn off. I sent it back and was presented with a new plate of crab legs that were in one piece but over-cooked, dry, brown, and salty! So gross I didn't eat them.
(2)
Kthao T.
I don't understand why this restaurant has such low rating. Its food are so fresh and delicious. I'm a picky eater, but I have to admit this restaurant has good food and polite customer service. Pricing is decent. Very satisfied!!!!
(5)
Ann M.
Good spot for a drink and appetizer during happy hour! Casual nice but not a have to kind of place.
(4)
Amp B.
I had the conch fritters they where kind of doughy and the Cajun shrimp linguine noodles were dry the drinks where on point
(2)
Victoria G.
Overall, the decor was probably the nicest part of the experience. Unfortunately, we found the food and the service far below what we expect at this price point. The sliders appetizer was inedible - the lobster slider, after one dry, fishy, cold and sour bite - just wouldn't go down. Thankfully the server did take this off our bill. It also took her three times to get more water in my daughters cup - we all spent more time without drinks than with. She didn't even tell the kids a drink came with their kids meal. Sad to say, I would definitely not recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Bob S.
Next door at the brewery, we hemmed and hawed over food. The constant delivery of food raised our curiosity...hmm we wondered. Hmmmmmm. Spoke to the deliveryer and put a phone order in. A limited menu was on the brewery table, I went buffalo chicken, a quick delivery and it was chow time...giddy up buffalo sammich. It was huge, chunks of blue cheese were laid to waste, and the bacon came from a good piggy. Nice. enjoyed, I'd do it again.
(4)
Rlobe B.
Terrible food. I got the ribs (allergic to shellfish) and hubby got the jambalaya. We're foodies who love to try new places and generally don't complain about things we don't like. We normally blame it on our personal taste not matching the chef's interpretation of a dish. Here, I got the first inedible ribs of my life. Terrible flavor and odd texture. I ate two bites. My husbands review of the jambalaya was that it is 'leftover seafood on Uncle Bens rice'. We won't be back!
Go there for 50% happy hour drinks at the bar. Had the $25 2lb lobster special which was great. Waitress was attentive, had several managers also double checking everything was OK
(4)
Meri C.
We tried this very new restaurant on its tenth day and were greatly disappointed. Just because the name Carmine is in the title, does NOT guarantee a good dining experience. We reserved a table and were taken at the requested time. The restaurant is attractively appointed with booths and tables. The crowd was large and noisy. We (4 diners) ordered an appetizer course first. We enjoyed delicious corn bread while waiting for the conch soup, conch salad, and baked clams. When this course arrived, we began eating the food. None of the dishes tasted outstanding-just average. Literally 3 minutes later, the main courses arrived. My mother couldn't finish her soup so it was removed. (no charge). She is always searching for the ultimate crab cake. These were not them. Instead of large chunks of crab, the meat was shredded finely. They were not crispy or well done. My son liked his lobster but said it was not special. I liked my main dish salad. Again, it was okay but I have had better Cobb salads. My husband had fried oysters and FFs. Again- just okay. There is no reason to return here. There are better places to go for seafood and fish. The kitchen is out of synch-for the prices they get, it should be professional. They are not newbies in the food service business.
(2)
D C.
Fun atmosphere, service was good, quality of food good, however, prices appear decent until you get your plate - portions very small. The $40 Alaskan King Crab was only a few legs - would rather pay $50 at a competitor and get a full meal. Same for the lobster roll at nearly $20 for a few pieces of lobster on a small bun - very disappointing. The coleslaw was so small - maybe a tablespoon served with your dinner - please how much is cabbage! For the price point - they need to work on the portion size.
(2)
John A.
Restaurant named crab shack should at least know how to cook them, not the case here. Blue claw crabs were mushy and watery, wife couldn't finish them. My lobster roll was lobster meat and mayo on a burger bun. Key lime pie was still frozen and not taken off the bill. Very bad first impression.
(1)
Timmy D.
Decided to try it out after seeing big crowds since it opened. Sat at the bar. Was practically ignored by bartender. Food came out quick but was just OK. Was very pricey for quality of food.
(3)
Dennis H.
Not a good experience. A dozen of the worst oysters I ever had. Dry. Hard to figure what happened here. The lemons presented were mushy like the were left out of frozen. First announcement from waiter was "ran out of garlic crabs" so my wife had to change direction. My snow crab was partially cold and needed to be sent back. Seemed like no pride here or good management. I gave this restaurant 3 attempts and it's gone downhill in just a few months. I won't be back.
(1)
Jeanne-Marie M.
I've been here 3 times and just can't see myself going back. I keep giving it a try because it's part if the Carmine's franchise, but even the sushi restaurant and market aren't what they used to be. The Maryland-style crabs don't taste anything like they do in Maryland. The Lobsters okay. Oyster were extremely thick, rubbery and tasted like they were a month old. Wait staff needs more training because when eating these messy foods, if you ask for extra napkins, they bring back one, and act like it was an imposition. Just not worth it at any price, but extremely disappointing given the high cost.
(1)
Tom K.
As good as any New England fish restaurant. Love the corn bread and lobster rolls. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)
Chris F.
Wanted crab and almost missed this place because of bad reviews. I actually took the time to join Yelp just to leave this.Service was excellent, Michelle could not have been better, she was great. This place is adorable, super clean and actually a great spot. The conch fritters were homemade and not some frozen crap and the crab, it fantastic. We had the all you can eat King it was like $42, and worth every penny. You could tell a lot went into the decor at this place, not a cheesy chain. Worth a second shot for those who reviewed it poorly, and definitely a great little spot if you like crab.
(5)
Pilar P.
Great New England seafood style restaurant . Amazing lobster roll, great stuffed shrimp.
(4)
Brian H.
Horrible! Everything about this place was horrible. No one was knowledgeable about the menu items and their "specials" we're just crabs that seemed like they had been cooked days prior and reheated. Also ordered the shrimp cocktail ... $15 for 4 medium sized shrimp, complete waste. It's amazing that someone with this much "restaurant experience" could screw up such an easy business model that is duplicated throughout the country like fast food chains. Either way I'll never go back. More than welcome to try yourself but you're really not missing out on anything special. And the 1-Star is bc I have to in order to post.
(1)
Gretchen J.
Pretty disappointing. Upon walking in at noon on a Saturday, there was no one to be seen. The staff was in the back, so we waited for them to come out to be seated. Compared to the other Carmines locations, the prices were much higher. $26 for 3 crabs, $4 draft beer, and the cheapest appetizer is $12. We dine out often, so we don't mind paying for good food. But then I read the Yelp reviews. Not good. Needless to say, we ordered a few beers and left. This restaurant is going to be hard pressed to draw a crowd with so many other options in the area. I hope they read these reviews. The music sucks too.
(1)
David B.
Great service -- they let me taste the beer I was considering before ordering. Oyster roll was good - not too much breading, meaty oysters, delicious roll. Free corn bread brought to the table!! Oysters Rock average -- too much spinach. Old bay shrimp very good. Kids menu overpriced. Chicken fingers good, Mac n Cheese delicious, fish fingers FANTABULOUS (according to my nine year old). Whoever was complaining about noise is insane. This place maybe too quiet!!!! Sunday night - older crowd?
(3)
Heather C.
Excellent seafood for the price. We had a platter with stuffed shrimp, snow crab clusters, and Alaskan King Crab. It was incredible. I enjoyed the casual atmosphere, and the service was great. I can't wait to get back!
(5)
Julie Z.
I went back for a second meal. I had lobster it was tasty but tough. It was probably frozen. My husband had all you can eat stone crabs and he was dissatisfied with his meal.
(3)
Joyce F.
The pros: nicely appointed and service good. The cons: cornbread was stale and requested another serving which was better. Food served cold even though very few people in restaurant at that time. Manager not helpful with a problem that arose and said rudely maybe it will be better NEXT TIME. Did not even offer a complementary cup of coffee at the end of the meal. Too many GOOD restaurants in the area to spend a lot of money at this one and not be satisfied.
(1)
Stefania V.
We came here for dinner. The service was lacking. The waitress was very nice but everything took forever and every time she came to the table she apologized and told us how ovetwhelmed she was. The ribs were ok. Kind of dry. The Caesars salad was good. Nothing special. The muscle pot was ok. I asked for the one with spicy tomato sauce but got the one with butter and garlic. Eh. I didn't finish it. The hamburger was "ok" to quote my son. French fries were nothing special and weren't hot. Definitely wouldn't go back.
(2)
Susan G.
We actually came by accident not knowing there was more than one Carmine's. We were a party of 4 and everyone loved what they ordered. I had a special of swordfish with lump crab accompanied with rice and mixed veggies. It couldn't have been better. My friends had different dishes with soft shell crabs and king crab legs. All were great and too large to finish. The service was excellent. I will definitely return again.
(4)
Becky M.
Food was excellent, as was the service! I had the blue crab special and being from Wyoming I don't very often have the opportunity to eat whole crab so the chef came to my table and showed me how to crack it open and eat it! Would definitely go back for a return visit! Every one at the table loved their food from the whole lobsters to the stuffed shrimp...and the conch fritters were fantastic.
(5)
Nelson S.
The sound level is an assault on your senses, The restraurant was 1/2 full as was the bar, yet I could not hear the reply when we asked was a party going on and could we seat outside. We left and went to Carmines Sea Food and Sushi and had a lovely mean. The noise level is just beyond tolerance and renders conversation all but impossible = no comment about food or service other than they were prepared to seat us for our 7PM reservation
(1)
Tiffany V.
The vibe is great, and the waiter was good. They even let me taste a beer before buying. But the food is WAY overpriced for the quality they are offering. We paid $50 for a dozen blue crabs that were literally sludge inside. After researching... It means they were cooked wrong, or frozen first. We won't be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brittany B.
It was a beautiful Sunday so we decided to go out and grab a small bite and a drink. We weren't really sure where to go but decided to head into Carmines Crab Shack for a drink. We came in during happy hour (3-7). The happy hour menu looked great 1 dollar oysters, 5dollar bites, half-off drinks and bottles. We ordered a dozen oysters and a bottle of wine. The wine list wasn't extravagant but it was good enough for type of restaurant it is. The champagne/ sparkling list could definitely be improved. I'd recommend adding Domaine Carneros. It's an affordable (retails $35) sparkling wine that Is delicious! Anyway the oyster were great. They were blue point oysters. They were well shucked. I hate when oysters are shucked correctly and I'm spitting remains out of my mouth. I wish they had better sauces with them. Sauces that come with oysters are typically easy and cheap addition (mignonette sauce!) and the crackers were stale! The gentleman next to us ordered the 5 dollar buffalo chicken tenders that looked delicious! The conch fritters looked good as well. There was a couple at that bar that orders some type of white fish with vegetables and stuffed lobster. Their food smelled delicious. I'm slightly baffled with all the bad reviews because we thought this place looked like a cute place to pop in and grab a bite. Stay tuned for our next experience. And the service was great. Our server was nice and brought out everything we needed. And the bartender that came in later was very welcoming.
(5)Julie P.
My disclosure.... aka Why I was an accessory to wasting $100+ on dinner. A family member wanted to repay us for a small favor & knowing we like Crabs invited us here. None of us had ever been & the couple taking us here aren't Yelpers (unfortunately). Wife and I read the reviews & even though the majority were negative we kept a positive outlook. Also, I would never say to someone that extended a dinner invitation - Sure! I'd love to go, but not to that crappy restaurant!" And in any case, I always keep an open mind. Just because another Yelper or Yelper(S) had a negative experience, doesn't mean it will be ours. But just to be safe, on the the way to the restaurant I reviewed the menu and saw a couple of "safe bets" i.e. dishes that are really so basic that if a restaurant messes them up...they shouldn't be in business..... Period! The Experience: Upon arrival a Gentleman standing at the front desk whom I assume was the Manager greeted us and promptly took us to our table. It was Sunday evening but on the early side (before 6pm) and there were only 2 other occupied tables. As we sat down someone literally slung menus on our table. They actually walked by so fast, without saying a word that I didn't know if it was a Waitress, the Manager, a Customer or a Squirrel. They weren't handed to us, they were thrown on the table in a pile. The Service: When our waitress, Kristine or Kristy did come to the table she was so fakely sugar sweet it came across as condescending. Every other word was "Hon", "Sweetie" or "Sugar". "Hon, do you want ketchup? Some may love this. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Through out our dinner she repeatedly delivered things to our table by reaching over a small dividing wall that separates booth seating from the table area we were in. Instead of walking an extra 6-8 steps to hand us our beverages individually, she handed them over the wall placing them all in front of my 84yr old in-law who then had to distribute them. She also did this with sugar we had to hunt her down for, extra napkins, an order of french fries she forgot and lemons we asked for. Keep in mind we were her only table at the time. Our food all came out at different times. Not once were 2 entrees delivered together. By the time my food came out, the first 2 served were on their last few bites. When finished we had to leave the table to find her for our check. She never came to the table to offer dessert. Not that we would've ordered it! The Food: My wife ordered Clam Chowder. She's originally from MA, has eaten Clam Chowder all over the country and honestly..... Considers herself somewhat of a Connoisseur. She said the Clams were obviously less than fresh - rubbery, chewy with a strong flavor & the soup itself was over seasoned and very salty. She ordered the Fried Whole Belly Clams for dinner and after the soup she was sorry she had. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fish itself was fresh but the oil they were fried in not so much. The pieces of fish were burnt on one side and it was horribly greasy. The Fried Clams my wife ordered were a total of 10 whole Clams on a HUGE mound of French Fries with 5 or 6 clam strips (pieces of clams). They appeared to be very dark but she said the few whole clams weren't bad. My MIL had Snapper with Mango Salsa. She said it tasted dry and it had about a Tablespoon of Mango Salsa. As far as I know Mangos aren't expensive or hard to come by. My FIL ordered the Warm Lobster Roll which is just chunk Lobster without the Mayo. He said it was fresh but I could see it was just 4 small pieces of Lobster on the roll. This is one place that I can honestly say without hesitation is WAYYYYYY over-priced. This is no place for anyone that's well acquainted with all the delicious, fresh, Seafood Florida has to offer and is served in most of the Seafood Restaurants here. For the prices charged here, not only should the portions be in-line with the cost but the food should be fresher and better prepared.
(2)Jeff T.
I really was hoping for a better experience but here goes. Key takeaway: over-priced for quality and portions of the food. Arrived, very little customers which concerned us but It was a Monday night. We got seated quickly, friendly host. Waters and drinks came out, everyone seemed to be happy. coconut shrimp appetizer was good just not big enough for the price. Meals came out. Crab cakes were huge, but mostly breading. Would prefer to have had more lump crab meat for $30. For $200, we were in and out in 60 mins - felt rushed... Wasn't a huge fan. If the meals were $10 less I would have been happier. But not the experience I hoped for.... On to our next family restaurant here on Singer Island. Two strikes so far.. Last thing, the waitress was good. Very attentive but with very little customers it is hard to tell if this would be the case when they have a crowd.
(3)Tonya H.
Grabbed a quick dinner and it was all good :). I opted to sit at the bar since I was flying solo. The bartender an older gentleman by the name of James I believe was wonderful. His customer service was 5 stars. They bring you some yummy corn bread as a starter and it's delicious. For my meal I had the Carmine' lobster roll and it was good. But I had to jazz it up a little with salt, pepper, and lemon. I like that the drawn butter was on the side. They do a great happy hour with $5 apps and 50% off of adult beverages in the bar area. The menu prices a bit on the higher side. For example my lobster roll was $22....but I will say it.was packed with lobster meat. Overall great experience and I shall return!
(4)Kim F.
I'm giving it 4 stars for the ambiance and the service. But it was very quiet so, not quite sure what it would be like if it was busy. The food was pretty good too and I really don't have anything bad to say about the food, it's just that it wasn't exactly a five star experience. That would be reserved for somewhere extremely stellar. However I got the lobster roll and there was adequate amount of lobster and it was tasty, my daughter got the salmon BLT which came without the LT and it was okay. The server was surprised and brought the lettuce and tomato. We also got the calamari which was tossed in a sweet pepper sauce and I didn't prefer. I would rather prefer to dip the calamari in my own sauce without having it all over it. The server was a doll, he was really, really sweet and accommodating. He apologized for the no lettuce and tomato on the BLT. We also used our Groupon and let them know that in the advance. I had heard from other comments about bad experiences using the Groupon but we didn't have that. All in all, I would probably go back and try some other things on the menu.
(4)Joanne L.
Great happy hour prices...fun place to meet a group of friends after work. Enjoyed a quick lunch during the work day, it's super close to my job. Hope to return again.
(3)Peter S.
Disappointing to say the least!!! Had lobster 19.99 for 1 & 1/2 lb. Which is market rate but did not include anything!!! Salads were an additional 2.99 for what was a meager portion. Caesar lettuce and serving was meager!! Server asks if you want corn bread, served 4 pieces for 2 about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch. The pat of butter was bigger than the piece of bread. Lobster was under cooked and just ok. There are far better places in the area that offer the same sized lobster with sides at the same price. Expect that this another carmine's concept that will be short lived.
(1)J L.
Three of us dined on Memorial Day. Despite being very understaffed, the wait staff, manager and kitchen did a spectacular job juggling it all and keeping their sense of humor. I had the creole shrimp with pasta - delicious! Only complaint was the fish and chips were a bit undercooked.
(4)Ken V.
We had dinner tonight, I ordered the Paella which is a Monday night special. the portion was small for the price. All the seafood was tiny, the lobster was minimal and hardly any scallops. My wife had the coconut fried shrimp appetizer as an entrée and we split the 3 small crab cakes to start things off. Corn bread was excellent !! We weren't completely happy but would try the place once more. I mentioned to the manager about the portion and he was receptive.
(2)Cory W.
Horrible experience. Came here around dusk Easter Sunday hoping to get a quick burger from CG's to find that Carmine has revamped the place in to a Crab Shack. Sounds good, I don't eat enough seafood anyways. Initial impression is that place is pretty tight. Fun decor but their small tables are close together. The isles are extremely cramped and as far as the tables, a basket of condiments, paper towels, two glasses of water, and salt and pepper took up a majority of the table. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a dark and stormy, with Gosslings Rum of course, was on their cocktail list. I was then disappointed when the server told me despite a cocktail list they have no liquor licence. *sigh* C'est la vie. Here's where the disappointment begins. My fiance gets an iced tea and takes a sip only to get a mouthful of tea and a chip of glass! Really, glass?! Awesome. We alert the manager who gets a new glass. The server, however, expressed more concern for her well being than the manager who showed little interest and didn't hear from for the rest of the stay. Our appetizers quickly arrived. Both the crab and the conch fritters are made of a lot of filler with some meat. The Old Bay shrimp, ($13 I think) which I was really excited for, we're still in their shell. We asked for the check. So after my fiance drinks glass I'm getting to pay the full $45 bill plus a $9 tip. That's $45 for glass chips in the tea, having to peel and devein $13 dollars worth of shrimp, fried balls of filler and one glass of LandShark. We won't be back.
(1)Christin R.
Great service, great food. The mussels were delicious! Crab shack has really improved since they first opened. I'll be back.
(4)Judge M.
So disappointing, especially as all of Carmines other restaurants are exceptional. Had seafood stew and it was just a bowl of tomatoes peppers and onions with a slight fish smell. Friend had lobster bisque which was a bowl of cream containing no lobster meat. The spicy peal and eat shrimp were simply cold shrimp that had been microwaved w Old Bay. Oysters were terrible.there are a number of great seafood restaurants in the area,, some one please call Gordon Ramsey to come save this nightmare.
(1)Robert M.
I went to the Crab Shack for dinner and was not disappointed! The moment I walked in I was greeted with a friendly smile by Richard the general manager who promptly sat us in Michelle's section. The drinks came quick and delicious and we couldn't go wrong with some yummy crab dip as a starter. The 3lb whole Maine lobster is the best deal in town at 34.99. It is so big it was actually hard to finish but somehow I managed! Our server Michelle was outstanding in both her knowledge of the menu and her easy going temperament and Richard the manager made our experience even more enjoyable with a few table checks. I will definitely be back for a wonderful dining experience sooner than later!!!!!
(5)Jason N.
Very good seafood eatery. Our meal was delicious. I highly recommend the Cajun Alfredo and shrimp. The steamed mussels are also tasty. Nice indoor environment with decor of items you would see on a crab boat . This isn't a place to eat every day unless you have lots of money to spend daily or eat lightly. Over all check for and app if mussels, and entries of a Cajun shrimp Alfredo and a typical burger was $50. Still a good place to eat if your feeling for sea food. They can't beat Red lobsters biscuits but sure can beat their prices
(5)Dani V.
Small portion size for the price and the food was unbearably bland. My friend asked for more seasoning and thy brought out a small soup bowl of Old Bay seasoning (I guess the kitchen staff knows how bland it really is!) Our server was attentive at first but was soon unable to divide her attention between our table of two and the only other table in the place. Good drink specials, but avoid the mojitos (suuuper pulpy). I wasn't too impressed with the quality of the seafood, the stone crab claws were definitely not fresh. I would expect much more from Carmine's!
(2)Donna M.
We are locals and really enjoy going to Carmine's so we had to give it a try despite the bad reviews. However after coming tonight, I have to agree with the reviews and we will not be back. There are so many great local seafood places and this is not one of them. The restaurant itself is nice, but the food was bland and over priced. We ordered the blue crab dip for an appetizer and yes it had a lot of crab, but that's all it had. The flavor was missing and would not get it again. I had the mussels in the spicy marinara sauce and they were good, but not great. Looks like the cooks forgot to add spices and salt tonight as everything we had was bland.
(1)Alex C.
Atmosphere is very cool but the food is not up to par. For this restaurant being apart of the "Carmine" brand I'm thoroughly disappointed. We ordered the crab dip (can see the crab, but there is no taste or flavor), conch fritters were greasy and tasted of old oil and we ordered the snow crab pot (could tell the crab was frozen and was super dry). Would defiantly not recommend.
(1)V B.
I came here tonight and ordered the steamed snow crab. The plate that came out was a pile of disjointed crab leg pieces. Like segments. There was not one whole crab leg. It was like it had been ripped apart. Very weird and a real turn off. I sent it back and was presented with a new plate of crab legs that were in one piece but over-cooked, dry, brown, and salty! So gross I didn't eat them.
(2)Kthao T.
I don't understand why this restaurant has such low rating. Its food are so fresh and delicious. I'm a picky eater, but I have to admit this restaurant has good food and polite customer service. Pricing is decent. Very satisfied!!!!
(5)Ann M.
Good spot for a drink and appetizer during happy hour! Casual nice but not a have to kind of place.
(4)Amp B.
I had the conch fritters they where kind of doughy and the Cajun shrimp linguine noodles were dry the drinks where on point
(2)Victoria G.
Overall, the decor was probably the nicest part of the experience. Unfortunately, we found the food and the service far below what we expect at this price point. The sliders appetizer was inedible - the lobster slider, after one dry, fishy, cold and sour bite - just wouldn't go down. Thankfully the server did take this off our bill. It also took her three times to get more water in my daughters cup - we all spent more time without drinks than with. She didn't even tell the kids a drink came with their kids meal. Sad to say, I would definitely not recommend this restaurant.
(1)Bob S.
Next door at the brewery, we hemmed and hawed over food. The constant delivery of food raised our curiosity...hmm we wondered. Hmmmmmm. Spoke to the deliveryer and put a phone order in. A limited menu was on the brewery table, I went buffalo chicken, a quick delivery and it was chow time...giddy up buffalo sammich. It was huge, chunks of blue cheese were laid to waste, and the bacon came from a good piggy. Nice. enjoyed, I'd do it again.
(4)Rlobe B.
Terrible food. I got the ribs (allergic to shellfish) and hubby got the jambalaya. We're foodies who love to try new places and generally don't complain about things we don't like. We normally blame it on our personal taste not matching the chef's interpretation of a dish. Here, I got the first inedible ribs of my life. Terrible flavor and odd texture. I ate two bites. My husbands review of the jambalaya was that it is 'leftover seafood on Uncle Bens rice'. We won't be back!
(1)Mark H.
What a disappointment. We came here to try it out because of the mixed reviews that are on Yelp and what friends had said. We both love seafood and with Carmine's name on it what could be wrong? Cocktails were fine, the calamari appetizer was very good and the service was average. The bad was the entrees. I had the skewered Seafood, which was the worse. For $21.99 you get 3 shrimp and 3 sea scallops on a skewer. For that price you would think maybe 2 skewers, but no only one. They could have at least cleaned the poop vein from the shrimp. My mate had the blackened Mahi, which was not very blackened and was sauté in a pan of butter. Dried out and tough to eat was her biggest complaint. When brought to the manager's attention, he stated that was the way they prepared it and he walked away. My advice is to stay away and let the snowbirds support this place. There are many other great local seafood places.
(2)Julie T.
Go there for 50% happy hour drinks at the bar. Had the $25 2lb lobster special which was great. Waitress was attentive, had several managers also double checking everything was OK
(4)Meri C.
We tried this very new restaurant on its tenth day and were greatly disappointed. Just because the name Carmine is in the title, does NOT guarantee a good dining experience. We reserved a table and were taken at the requested time. The restaurant is attractively appointed with booths and tables. The crowd was large and noisy. We (4 diners) ordered an appetizer course first. We enjoyed delicious corn bread while waiting for the conch soup, conch salad, and baked clams. When this course arrived, we began eating the food. None of the dishes tasted outstanding-just average. Literally 3 minutes later, the main courses arrived. My mother couldn't finish her soup so it was removed. (no charge). She is always searching for the ultimate crab cake. These were not them. Instead of large chunks of crab, the meat was shredded finely. They were not crispy or well done. My son liked his lobster but said it was not special. I liked my main dish salad. Again, it was okay but I have had better Cobb salads. My husband had fried oysters and FFs. Again- just okay. There is no reason to return here. There are better places to go for seafood and fish. The kitchen is out of synch-for the prices they get, it should be professional. They are not newbies in the food service business.
(2)D C.
Fun atmosphere, service was good, quality of food good, however, prices appear decent until you get your plate - portions very small. The $40 Alaskan King Crab was only a few legs - would rather pay $50 at a competitor and get a full meal. Same for the lobster roll at nearly $20 for a few pieces of lobster on a small bun - very disappointing. The coleslaw was so small - maybe a tablespoon served with your dinner - please how much is cabbage! For the price point - they need to work on the portion size.
(2)John A.
Restaurant named crab shack should at least know how to cook them, not the case here. Blue claw crabs were mushy and watery, wife couldn't finish them. My lobster roll was lobster meat and mayo on a burger bun. Key lime pie was still frozen and not taken off the bill. Very bad first impression.
(1)Timmy D.
Decided to try it out after seeing big crowds since it opened. Sat at the bar. Was practically ignored by bartender. Food came out quick but was just OK. Was very pricey for quality of food.
(3)Dennis H.
Not a good experience. A dozen of the worst oysters I ever had. Dry. Hard to figure what happened here. The lemons presented were mushy like the were left out of frozen. First announcement from waiter was "ran out of garlic crabs" so my wife had to change direction. My snow crab was partially cold and needed to be sent back. Seemed like no pride here or good management. I gave this restaurant 3 attempts and it's gone downhill in just a few months. I won't be back.
(1)Jeanne-Marie M.
I've been here 3 times and just can't see myself going back. I keep giving it a try because it's part if the Carmine's franchise, but even the sushi restaurant and market aren't what they used to be. The Maryland-style crabs don't taste anything like they do in Maryland. The Lobsters okay. Oyster were extremely thick, rubbery and tasted like they were a month old. Wait staff needs more training because when eating these messy foods, if you ask for extra napkins, they bring back one, and act like it was an imposition. Just not worth it at any price, but extremely disappointing given the high cost.
(1)Tom K.
As good as any New England fish restaurant. Love the corn bread and lobster rolls. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)Chris F.
Wanted crab and almost missed this place because of bad reviews. I actually took the time to join Yelp just to leave this.Service was excellent, Michelle could not have been better, she was great. This place is adorable, super clean and actually a great spot. The conch fritters were homemade and not some frozen crap and the crab, it fantastic. We had the all you can eat King it was like $42, and worth every penny. You could tell a lot went into the decor at this place, not a cheesy chain. Worth a second shot for those who reviewed it poorly, and definitely a great little spot if you like crab.
(5)Pilar P.
Great New England seafood style restaurant . Amazing lobster roll, great stuffed shrimp.
(4)Brian H.
Horrible! Everything about this place was horrible. No one was knowledgeable about the menu items and their "specials" we're just crabs that seemed like they had been cooked days prior and reheated. Also ordered the shrimp cocktail ... $15 for 4 medium sized shrimp, complete waste. It's amazing that someone with this much "restaurant experience" could screw up such an easy business model that is duplicated throughout the country like fast food chains. Either way I'll never go back. More than welcome to try yourself but you're really not missing out on anything special. And the 1-Star is bc I have to in order to post.
(1)Gretchen J.
Pretty disappointing. Upon walking in at noon on a Saturday, there was no one to be seen. The staff was in the back, so we waited for them to come out to be seated. Compared to the other Carmines locations, the prices were much higher. $26 for 3 crabs, $4 draft beer, and the cheapest appetizer is $12. We dine out often, so we don't mind paying for good food. But then I read the Yelp reviews. Not good. Needless to say, we ordered a few beers and left. This restaurant is going to be hard pressed to draw a crowd with so many other options in the area. I hope they read these reviews. The music sucks too.
(1)David B.
Great service -- they let me taste the beer I was considering before ordering. Oyster roll was good - not too much breading, meaty oysters, delicious roll. Free corn bread brought to the table!! Oysters Rock average -- too much spinach. Old bay shrimp very good. Kids menu overpriced. Chicken fingers good, Mac n Cheese delicious, fish fingers FANTABULOUS (according to my nine year old). Whoever was complaining about noise is insane. This place maybe too quiet!!!! Sunday night - older crowd?
(3)Heather C.
Excellent seafood for the price. We had a platter with stuffed shrimp, snow crab clusters, and Alaskan King Crab. It was incredible. I enjoyed the casual atmosphere, and the service was great. I can't wait to get back!
(5)Julie Z.
I went back for a second meal. I had lobster it was tasty but tough. It was probably frozen. My husband had all you can eat stone crabs and he was dissatisfied with his meal.
(3)Joyce F.
The pros: nicely appointed and service good. The cons: cornbread was stale and requested another serving which was better. Food served cold even though very few people in restaurant at that time. Manager not helpful with a problem that arose and said rudely maybe it will be better NEXT TIME. Did not even offer a complementary cup of coffee at the end of the meal. Too many GOOD restaurants in the area to spend a lot of money at this one and not be satisfied.
(1)Stefania V.
We came here for dinner. The service was lacking. The waitress was very nice but everything took forever and every time she came to the table she apologized and told us how ovetwhelmed she was. The ribs were ok. Kind of dry. The Caesars salad was good. Nothing special. The muscle pot was ok. I asked for the one with spicy tomato sauce but got the one with butter and garlic. Eh. I didn't finish it. The hamburger was "ok" to quote my son. French fries were nothing special and weren't hot. Definitely wouldn't go back.
(2)Susan G.
We actually came by accident not knowing there was more than one Carmine's. We were a party of 4 and everyone loved what they ordered. I had a special of swordfish with lump crab accompanied with rice and mixed veggies. It couldn't have been better. My friends had different dishes with soft shell crabs and king crab legs. All were great and too large to finish. The service was excellent. I will definitely return again.
(4)Becky M.
Food was excellent, as was the service! I had the blue crab special and being from Wyoming I don't very often have the opportunity to eat whole crab so the chef came to my table and showed me how to crack it open and eat it! Would definitely go back for a return visit! Every one at the table loved their food from the whole lobsters to the stuffed shrimp...and the conch fritters were fantastic.
(5)Nelson S.
The sound level is an assault on your senses, The restraurant was 1/2 full as was the bar, yet I could not hear the reply when we asked was a party going on and could we seat outside. We left and went to Carmines Sea Food and Sushi and had a lovely mean. The noise level is just beyond tolerance and renders conversation all but impossible = no comment about food or service other than they were prepared to seat us for our 7PM reservation
(1)Tiffany V.
The vibe is great, and the waiter was good. They even let me taste a beer before buying. But the food is WAY overpriced for the quality they are offering. We paid $50 for a dozen blue crabs that were literally sludge inside. After researching... It means they were cooked wrong, or frozen first. We won't be back.
(2)