Costas Inn
4100 N Point Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21222
Costas Inn Menu
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Address :
4100 N Point Blvd
Baltimore, MD, 21222 - Phone (410) 477-1975
- Website https://www.costasinn.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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John K.
The surly waitress/bartender with short dark/gray hair was extremely rude. Not only did she criticize the food my friend wanted to order but she must not have optical insurance cause her eyes kept rolling at me and my friend all night as we placed our orders. I spent a lot of money and left her with a $10 tip... She was very ignorant and even coped more of an attitude. Maybe she would have had more if her customer service level was IP to par. I will not be back at least while she's here.
(1)Nicole W.
We came here for the first time after reading the reviews. It was very busy for a Sunday night, but we were seated within five minutes. The cream of crab soup was perfectly seasoned; no need for salt or pepper. I have a pet peeve about finding shells in my soup and I am glad to say I found none. Most reviews were on the crabs, but we voted to try their other foods. The chicken imperial seamed small, but was delicious. My boyfriend got the crab cakes and enjoyed them. My mother enjoyed their salad wedge. There only thing that was less than enjoyable was there cream of spinach. It was very bland and made more with cheese instead of a cream. Other all, it was a good place to eat and we will be returning to check out their steamed crabs!!
(4)Morgan T.
I came here with friends on Tuesday night for paint night. I got the soup cream of crab and loved it. Also got the unlimited pasta it's like going to olive garden it was amazing. I cant wait to go back and eat there again. Staff was amazing and pleasant. Atmosphere was amazing as well. Also I will also say to get the funnel cake sticks they were amazing I wish then I would have order 2 orders instead of one since everyone ate my order lol.
(5)Roz B.
Not a gorgeous place or water front dining, but the crabs are great and the place is a lot of fun.
(4)Heather R.
My boyfriend and I went here on our anniversary and it was the nicest place I've been to for steamed crabs. Great atmosphere. Friendly service and staff. Amazing crabs and little pricey but it's worth it.
(5)Josh R.
Worst salad salad I have ever had. Wilted lettuce and they made up for it with putting a whole onion and 2 thinly sliced pieces of tomato. Service was fair. But, couldn't get past the terrible food. I ended up leaving a note for the waitress explaining that the food was terrible. She had never asked how my meal was. Had I been asked and the manager had approached me I probably would have written a better review. And assumed it was only an occurrence and not a pattern. Needless to say I have to assume this is just the quality of food they serve here.
(1)Shane G.
First and foremost: you're not being served Maryland crabs. Secondly: they don't use Old Bay seasoning to steam said crabs. Need I say more?
(3)Dale R.
have eaten there many times. best crabs and great food. 2 thumbs up. had dinner with friends from Germany, they had a great Maryland experience with crabs cream of crab soup and cold beer. I have never sat in the dining room. I like being where the sights and sounds are.
(5)Jason L.
Food was excellent, staff was great. The owner came and chatted with us for ten minutes. Wonderful place.
(5)Kimberly E.
Went for the first time about a week ago and really enjoyed it. As some of the other reviews mentioned, the decor is just plain, nothing special. However, when it comes to the food, that's where the focus should be. I am a bit of a foodie, so it's hard for me to go places and really enjoy my meal when I feel like I could have done better at home. I know most reviews on here are for the crabs and other seafood. Instead, I chose their pork loin roulade, stuffed with bread stuffing (ok, it didnt taste like homemade stuffing) pecans, and cranberries. Simply put, it was delicious. I had baked potato and broccoli for my sides. The broccoli was steamed just the way I like it...with plenty of bright green color and enough crunch for satisfaction, unlike most places that overcook it to mushy pea green. My boyfriend had the crabs, and loved them of course. It was $68 for one dozen large crabs, & they were pretty heavy. My entree was reasonably priced around $16. Pitcher of domestic beer was around $10. The waitress was attentive and efficient, and the staff in general seemed to work like a good team. I wasn't planning on spending $100+ dollars that night, but birthday boy got what he wanted. I'd definitely visit Costas again.
(4)Gina C.
Food is delish, but it's one of the best places for crabs, hands down. Can be a little pricey, but they are worth it. The bar side is a very laid back atmosphere, and the dining room side is casual to business casual - business casual usually being the local business guys in khakis and polo shirts, having a few beers or drinks over a good meal. I should add that I took my husband to Costas for his first steamed crab experience (he is from New Jersey), so that should tell you this born and bred Marylander has faith in Costas' steamed crabs.
(5)Harry B.
My family went to the restaurant on 8/30/15 for large crabs. The waitress was friendly and very accommodating. The crabs and cream of crab soup were excellent. Crabs were well seasoned and hot. My brother and sister-in-law were from out of state and thought this was the best food they've had while visiting the Baltimore area on many occasions. Food was well worth the cost.
(5)Philip D.
Such an awesome place full of wonderful people! They do such a great job of making you feel like you are a part of the family here at Costas and their seafood is unmatched. Crab cakes are my favorite but you can't help but get something new every time you are here.
(5)Maria J.
Went here for an early Saturday dinner ~3:15 p.m. They had plenty of seating, but the host and waiters looked a little disorganized and harried. The bowl of Maryland Crab soup was very salty with little to no actual crab at all. Quite disappointed. You can order crabs by the dozen and by size, small crabs (~$48 going by memory), medium crabs (~$68), large crabs (~$86) and jumbo (or extra large) crabs (~$108). The waitress didn't tell us that - we had to fish that information out of her even though we said we've never been here before. They lay out a brown disposable thick paper over the table to lay the crabs onto and give out small wooden mallets for cracking the crabs. (Oh be careful, you can get a paper cut from the brown paper matts.) They do NOT unfortunately give out any bibs nor towelettes nor wet towels at the end of your messy crab meal. The ladies room only has two sinks and two stalls - I had to wait in line after my meal to wash my hands. Not a good set up for a place that primarily has customers coming in for crabs, and we were here early before the crowd came. The dining area floors are covered in rugs - terrible idea especially considering how many people throughout the day are smashing crabs with their mallets. Two people in our party ordered entres - one was some sort of seafood gumbo and another was a chicken parm (because he doesn't eat seafood). They received their meals and were finished well before my sis-in-law received her cobb salad and our order of crabs. So we just sat there watching them eat and they later sat there watching us eat our crabs. Really poor timing - crabs took a very long time to come out. Not sure why since cooking them doesn't take a long time and the place was not busy when we came in. The crabs themselves come out very hot are are coated with a VERY thick reddish dry rub. Overkill - they were EXTREMELY salty. I don't know what people see in this place. Everything was overdone with salt. Service is slow. I've had better crabs at many other places. Salt seems to be their primary and perhaps only seasoning they know of.
(1)Natalie K.
All I have to say is YUM! Went here for a belated birthday dinner and tried the jumbo size crabs. They are delicious! If you like crabs then come to this place.
(5)David W.
Awesome food!! Proprietary crab seasoning was outstanding. The calamari is a must!! Great service, what more can I say?
(5)Camille M.
Crab cakes were AMAZING. But, the crab imperial stuffed lobster tail was the star of the show.
(5)Kathryn T.
This is the first place that I have seen that charges you 9%Tax for a beer or any drink for that matter. Between the food and the drink that is 15% Tax!!!! Marylanders, you area not worth it.
(1)Ashley W.
To me, this place is just okay. Nothing special that keeps me coming back. Interior needs some updating. My soup was good. A lot of shells but it isnt crab soup without shells!
(3)Chuck J.
Went here last night and it was great for what it is. Its not fine dining but, the crab cakes and orange crushes are killer. Very good food, good people and decent prices. I would definitely drop in again.
(4)Erin S.
Nice casual spot for a seafood dinner. I've come here once for crabs and a few other times with family for regular food. The crabs here were good, but are overpriced compared to some of the smaller crab houses near my home. The regular fare is tasty! A few things that stand out... Maryland Crab Soup - This is VERY good and I am picky about this kind of soup. I was here last weekend and everyone else at the table got Cream of Crab. They regretted it after trying mine. (The cream of crab was more cream than crab.) The Maryland Crab soup was seasoned very well and really delicious. BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp - We get this appetizer every single time we come here. The shrimp are huge! VERY tasty dish, you'll be glad you ordered it. My boyfriend got the scallops which were great. It's a large serving too. His mother got the fried roughy sandwich which looked great. I had the oyster sandwich. I think i was expecting more of a oyster po boy, but the oysters were breaded a little too much for me to really taste the oyster. I probably won't order this again. On other occasions though, I've had the crab cakes which were great! Next time we come here, I will probably get those. The service is very friendly and there's lots of televisions around for watching sports. Nice, easy place to go if you've got family and want to go out for a stress-free dinner.
(3)Larry H.
You won't find the traditional crab shack picnic table seating at Costas Inn. I guess the regular square 4-top tables allow them to squeeze more customers into the same space. But the lack of that one minor tradition can be easily forgiven because Costas has been serving some of the highest quality steamed crabs and crab cakes available around Baltimore since 1971. One of the nice things about Costa's is that you can also reserve the number and size crabs you want in advance, which is nice. There's nothing more disappointing than showing up to a crab shack and finding out after your drinks are ordered that they're out of everything except smalls. Another non-traditional aspect of Costas is that they regularly fly in their crabs from Louisiana rather than using local crabs from the bay. That may be a downside for some, but it guarantees that Costas crabs are consistently big and heavy even when watermen on the Bay are having a hard time locating enough local crabs to meet the Baltimore area summer time demands. The real reason to go to Costas is for the steamed crabs. But if you happen to have someone in your party that's truly crab-picking-phobic, Costas also serves up their own in-house traditional Baltimore Pit Beef and Ocean City Thrasher-style french fries too.
(4)Karla W.
Excellent food!! We had the crab dip with breadsticks, seafood mac and cheese, and garden salad with blackened shrimp. Everything was good. Great lunch service.
(5)John K.
Costa's ? Can't say much for this establishment. My parents go down on Friday, July 3, 2015 to get a bite to eat. ( during daylight hours since it's such a safe society now a days )They are both in their mid 70's and while coming in my mother trips on the concrete and strikes her face against the sidewalk. Some customers went into the establishment to get some help and some ice and NO ONE comes out to help my parents! Not a single soul came out to render any kind of first aid or to check to see if my mother needed emergency assistance. Do yourself a favor- dine at a place that will take your safety into consideration... If a place doesn't care for your safety then they could care less about your dining experience!
(1)Ron H.
Ask what they have for steamed crabs then order the largest size they have. 2 guys can easily kill a dozen, so don't be afraid to order on the heavy side! The house made Old Bay-like seasoning is fantastc and you'll be licking your fingers between each pull of meat out of the shell. Plenty of tv's in the bar area, standard selection of beers on tap. If on the rare occasion they're out of crabs, the shrimp steamer app you can't go wrong with, if you're adverse to getting your hands dirty the bacon wrapped bbq shrimp is a nice alternative. For those who arent willing to get their hands dirty, the crab cakes shouldn't be missed. Just how good are these crabs? Costas ships nationwide and it's well worth it!!! I've been here with a group of 10, just a few friends and even by myself at the bar. They'll roll out some brown paper on the table, hand you a mallet and drop the crabs right infront of you. Staff is attentitive, friendly and constantly checking back in with you through the meal...Can't ask for anything more!
(5)Tiffany J.
My best friend and I went for crabs, our first time going to Costas. We were seated in the bar area which was cool, ordered a dozen of large crabs for $70 they were delicious!! Plus during Orioles games the crushes are $5, wish the server would've told us instead of seeing it on the bill.
(3)Dimitri F.
Super good crabs and crab cake! Staff was friendly and nice. I will definitely be back. Hostess was hilarious and satisfied every need of table placement. And the waitress something with an M. Was hotter than the steamed crabs.
(5)Ellie F.
I learned how to eat a whole crab! This from someone who's only ever done the crab leg thing before. It was not as disgusting as I feared. The meat was definitely worth it, too. This place is HUGE. We went on a weeknight and it was pretty empty, which was nice. The service was a bit spotty (read = inconsistent), but everyone seemed quite polite. The bar part of the building seems like a great place to hang out, watch a game, and put away some prime seafood.
(4)Terry R.
As a citizen of the great state of Dundalk, I'm required to eat at this establishment once a month. This time of year I find myself there once a week. I can honestly say that I have never left Costas disappointed. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. The crabs always impress and on those rare occasions that they have run out ... I go with the open face roast beef sandwich. It's crazy good. No matter what you decide for your entree .. do yourself a favor and grab a bowl of Maryland crab or cream of grab. They are the best crab soups I have ever tasted.
(4)Ann B.
AMAZING!!! We had a crab cake, French fries, and reserved one dozen large crabs. The seasoning is unique - not just old bay. Kind of a dive in appearance but top notch food and service!!
(5)Christina V.
Steamed crabs!!! Absolutely fantastic... when I was preggers, I wanted to spend a weekend in Baltimore pretty much to eat a huge tableful of crabs. Well, I got my wish here at Costas Inn. So awesome... we came in on a Saturday night with a full house and as crab-eating newbies (we are from Southern NY), we got a half order of crabs which we quickly devoured. We ended up getting another half order of crabs and really enjoyed it. The only thing that sucked is that it was soooo salty. I wasn't far enough in my pregnancy to have marshmellow puffy fingers yet, so it was definitely the bath of Old Bay that caused me to puff up like a balloon. But mama and baby were fine - and I had an unforgettable experience. Thanks, Costas Inn!
(5)LISA H.
This one is simple. I am a Marylander/Annapolitan and these were the best crabs I have eaten in years. Yep they were fat, sweet, yummy. Service was fine. We had tons of crabs, steamed shrimps, crab dip and pictures of beer.
(5)John B.
Can't imagine what you'd be doing ordering anything but seafood here. But I guess some people's imaginations do run wild. The colossal steamed shrimp probably weren't colossal. But they were awesome. Nice and sweet. If I had a platter of these set out for me at work, I could probably eat one every three minutes for the entirety of my workday. Steamed crabs were great, too. I'm cheap, so I just got a dozen mediums. For whatever reason, they threw in a few larger specimens, which I appreciate. More Old Bay and less salt than at my favorite place, Sambo's in Leipsic, DE. But you can't bring kids to Sambo's, and a little more spice is always all right. Crabs weren't too dry, either. My wife thought the French fries were "abysmal." Would it surprise you to learn that my kid and I ate the whole damn plate? I'd say they're better than "abysmal," but slightly less than "average." Salads OK. Ice cream sundae OK. Did I mention that one of the nicest things about having a kid is that you can eat like a pig under the guise of being a solicitous parent who likes to give his kids the occasional "treat"?
(4)Ken L.
Crabs are alright but not the best in town. I did like their appetizer platter of the shrimp prior to the crabs. Also did not like the fact that we had to ask twice for water and bread when everyone around us got theirs as soon as they sat down. 3.5 stars rounded up however will not return.
(4)Alice L.
Great Crabs, Great Beer Prices. We ordered a ton of crabs (they were CAKED with seasoning, so much so that we had to scrape them off) but they were gooood. Because they had so many size options, it was difficult to figure out how many to order. Sides were good. Overal, great experience. You got a mallet and brown paperlined table - it's on!
(4)Eric V.
I really liked this place until I was finished with my meal and I started talking to the staff. The crabs were good. Full and tasty, nice spice. The staff was friendly and attentive. I was alone and sat at the bar. They have full service at the bar so I ordered 6 jumbos and drank some cold beer with a side of fries. Everything was going well until I mentioned I was from Austin, Texas and one of the staff said; "these crabs are actually from your gulf. Isn't that ironic?" That made me mad. It was season in the Chesapeake Bay area and this place was getting crabs from the Gulf of Mexico?? I've been duped! Damn. I understand the crab season can be rough or fluctuate wildly but this was a good season and I was a little upset. I came to Baltimore on business and planned on eating some true Chesapeake Bay Blues only to be disappointed by something I could get in my hometown. Disappointed by the knowledge of their origin but not their taste, make sense? It's the principle. Ever been to a seafood restaurant that prints a fresh menu every day? All of their fish and shellfish have the location that the fish came from listed next to the dish. Oysters from P.E.I. - Halibut from Alaska - Littlenecks from Jersey - Dungeness from Washington... How about Blue Crab from Gulf of Mexico? I would have appreciated the knowledge ahead of time and now I know to ask these things since the global economy is shrinking our boundaries for local food. Ask the source of the food before you order. If they are truthful, you may be surprised! Yes it makes a difference. Yes they could have lied and I would not have known the difference. After that revelation, I thought I was charged too much money. I know they boast that they have crab all year long, but they should also be forthcoming where those crabs come from. If it is high season in Chesapeake yet you are sourcing your crabs from the Gulf of Mexico or somewhere else, I want to know why. Sorry Costas. I will not be back any time soon. The competition is too high so I will go to Cantler's, Nick's, Price's, or L.P. Steamer's first.
(2)Judivelly T.
Reservations strongly recommended in weekends. Crabs are the lowest price I've seen thus far in Baltimore. Lively atmosphere and a good spot for friends.
(4)Steve W.
Great seafood at good prices, sits between home and work...well, it used to. They closed RG (Beth) Steel, so I don't work there anymore. Still great food!
(4)Sarah L.
You've always been there for me Costas. GIANT steamed shrimp on New Year's Eve, punch-your-grandmother crab cake sandwiches, and amazing crab feasts with old friends and cold beer. Don't you ever change!
(5)Jason S.
Just arrived back in Maryland with my wife, who has never had steamed crabs before. Everyone said to try Costas, so we did. It was a Saturday night, they were packed, and I'm glad I made a reservation before arriving. We grabbed a drink at the bar (bartender was great), were seated relatively quickly, and within a couple minutes, our waitress came over to verify our order for a dozen large crabs and to take the rest of our order (which was just a bowl of soup each). The soup came out quickly, as did the crabs. Our waitress asked if we needed anything else, and we asked for water, butter and cocktail sauce. She said she'd be right back. About 10 minutes later, she came by to ask how things were. We again asked for water, butter and cocktail sauce. That was the last time we saw her for the next hour. We ended up getting our own water from the bar, never got our butter or cocktail sauce and never got noticed again until it was time to bring us the bill. My wife mentioned that we weren't happy with the service, and the waitress said that she was sorry, but that she had gotten stuck behind the bar helping out. Except that we were seated next to the bar, and knew that wasn't true. When my wife called her out on her lie, she just apologized, took our credit card and left. The crabs were fantastic, and if not for the atrocious service, this likely would have been a 5-star review. But, having to fight for water, not being able to fully enjoy our crabs without butter and cocktail sauce and then being lied to really detracted from our experience.
(2)Fracesca T.
We stop here often for crabs, but this week left a bad taste in our mouths! Firstly, we always appreciated the ability to call ahead and reserve your crabs. We gad to wait 45 minutes after our scheduled time, because the chef wasn't in and the steamer wasn't yet turned on. Then, we ordered maryland crab soup and oyster stew. Still a 20 minute wait! This was after they had been open for more than 3 hours! A large shell was in the oyster stew, almost causing the need for the heimlich maneuver for choking! The waitress apologized and told both the chef and owner. Neither apologized! When spending $150 for lunch, I expect more. Very disappointing!!!
(3)Brian U.
Yelp didn't disappoint with this place! It's an easy-going, casual restaurant with great crabs. If sitting in the dining room (there's an adjacent bar with lots of TVs and live music on the weekend), I would recommend making a reservation and reserving crabs. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the service. While not terrible, our waitress seemed disinterested and even sat down at a table with her friends for an extended amount of time! If the food wasn't so great, I'd give this place 3 or less stars.
(4)M C.
Best crabs ever!! When corn is in season, that's also very good. Their mac and cheese is perfect. We make trips to Baltimore JUST to visit Costas Inn. Definitely reserve your crabs when you make reservations. The whale size is their biggest and in my opinion, worth getting. You get more crab meat for all the efforts of getting it out of the shell.
(5)Ted S.
Worth the drive from B'mores NW 'burbs! I know it's a sin to get crabs in January, but I had friends visiting from Austin and Chicago and wanted them to have the full Baltimore experience! Before I talk about the food or the service - YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE GOING!! Our waiter told us that it's not unusual to show up and find out there are no crabs available (or none of the size you want). He said one call is all it takes for them to reserve crabs for you. It would have been very disappointing to show up and find out there weren't any crabs available. I didn't know what to expect from the staff since some reviews on here weren't too complimentary. I guess they didn't have Chuck as their waiter. He was friendly, very helpful and extremely attentive. I've been told the "other" menu items are pretty good, but had already decided we were going to have steamed crabs preceded by crab cakes. I thought any first-time visitor to Baltimore had to try these two items. I didn't go totally authentic - I passed on the Natty Bo for a pitcher of Yeungling draft. I think that the kitchen needs to replace it's crab cake scale. I'm certain the two 8-oz crab cakes were closer to 3/4 of a pound each. The seasoning was spot-on and the two cakes were beautiful. My complaints were minor - I love Captain's Wafers crackers, but as a purist I think you have to serve these with Saltines. Although the cakes had only the smallest amount of filler they would have been more appealing if there had been more large lumps of crabmeat. I think whoever prepared them was a bit overzealous in stirring the ingredients together. Then there were the crabs. Chuck told me they had 80's, 90's, 100's and 120's. If we wanted to wait 30 minutes or so there would be some 65's. Since this was going to be the first (and probably last) time my friends visited in Baltimore for crabs I suppressed a gasp and ordered the last dozen of the 120's. My friends were somewhat perplexed by the numbers identifying the crabs. I stammered something (I didn't want to tell them that the numbers were the price per dozen since I was buying dinner...). Telling them "the higher the number the larger the crab" seemed to be a simplified (and true) response. I've seen jumbo crabs before, but nothing like the crustacean pile that was slid onto our table! These had to be the biggest crabs I have ever seen. Luckily, they were also heavy and full of meat (and my friends liked them). All three of us can be big eaters and we had a bit of trouble eating 4 each. I'm not sure what seasoning blend Costas uses. I assume it's Old Bay-based and then doctored up a bit. They clearly add some coarse grain salt and probably some other spices. After 30+ years in Baltimore I think they were the best crabs I've ever had. Will look forward to heading back in the summer!
(5)Cindy C.
We visited last Saturday around 4:00 pm with reservations (but we were way ahead of the crowd) Our waitress was very nice and friendly. My cousin, who is a MD native now living in a seafood void in central GA was craving good MD seafood. SHe ordered some cream of crab to start and shared it with my hubby. They both found it to be way too salty! (Great cream of crab soup can be found at Annie's Paramount Steak in Grasonville or oddly at Red Brick Station in White Marsh) Hubby and cousin both ordered the seafood platter, sister ordered the crab cake dinner and I ordered the blackened chicken sandwich (I am the odd ball that does not care for seafood). Everyone enjoyed the meal but the crab cakes had to be sent back because they were each stone cold. Honestly my chicken was just warm but I was too hungry to send it back. I am the only one that indulged in dessert and chose the funnel cake fries. These were hot, sweet and delicious! With all of the high ratings, we really thought the meal would be amazing. But we found it simply good. I will, however, give it a second try because we may have just hit them on an off day.
(3)Rick S.
This is my go-to crab cake place. While the rest of the menu is pretty good, the Crab Cakes are excellent. It has become my favorite crab cake in town. Nice and meaty. not a lot of filler. And they run specials pretty much every day, I believe.
(4)Gail F.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night. We're not locals but I work with teachers in Baltimore and this place came highly recommended. The crabs were SOOOO much bigger than what we are used to here in Philadelphia/New Jersey. We ordered Large and they were indeed Large. We loved the no-nonsense setup...crabs right on the table (on top of brown paper), hammers, and a bucket on the floor. I have to say that there was a ridiculous amount of Old Bay on the crabs. But if you're into Old Bay like my boyfriend, they're perfect. He was in heaven. Me, I felt like I had no lips after an hour of eating. I'm sure you can request less Old Bay (or none at all). We are planning to head back down to Baltimore very soon just to go to Costas Inn, eat crabs, and come back home.
(5)C B.
The crabs were great, all full and heavy no bad ones and the beer was ice cold. Would go back for crabs again and again.
(5)Tracy R.
We came as a large party but made reservations ahead of time. They accommodated our party just fine. The place is pretty spacious. We had the large crabs which were pretty delicious. My one issue was they do an Old Bay overkill. I had to stop after my 3rd crab and take a break, my system is just not that use to all that salt. I was able to have another one after a mini break. I'd still recommend this spot, the baked on Old Bay was too much for me but others seem to like it.
(3)Mark S.
Crab soup; crab cakes and steamed fresh crabs are the specialties. This place also brings in blue crabs from the Gulf of Mexico, so you can take out-of-towners who need a steamed crab fix here all year round even when crabs are not in season locally. The walls are adorned with signed pictures of local notables like Brooks Robinson, Johnny Unitas and the Earl of Batimore; the great Earl Weaver. Even Kathy Lee Gifford has eaten here. Located not far from the Sparrow Point steel mills and the Golden Egg Shaped Towers of Dundalk (its a water treatment plant); it also features karaoke in the attached bar next door. That might put some off this fine Maryland seafood restaurant. Do not be fooled. This crab shack is very good. The menu is extensive enough that if you have a picky eater who does not enjoy Maryland blue crabs, there are steaks and sandwiches also available. Outstanding shrimp salad. But the main attraction here are the crabs. Worth the drive.
(4)Teresa M.
Wow! The experience my husband and myself just had at costas was out of this world ! Our waitress was right on top of our service every second, an the food was Devine ! I will defiantly recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone !
(5)Kevin H.
CRABS !!CRABS !!CRABS!! This place is freaking great! went here last week. Got 3 dozens. All gone!! hahaha. Came here during lunch which was great since there were not a lot of people. So it wasnt busy at all. Started off with well BEER!!! =) then maryland crab soup. It was good as a starter. Something light nothing heavy. Had some calamari too but didnt dig it too much. It was just another piece of food that will get in the way off the crabs. Then the crab dip. Man that was good but good thing i was sharing with other people or else that wouldve ruined it for me. The one thing i didnt mind getting more off though were the blue point oysters!! they were delicious!!!! If they had that for cheap I wouldve gotten a couple of dozens for it. Well enough of that. The main course of course were the crabs. I dont have anything to say about it except just go here and eat some!! its awesome. If only we didnt have to drive to NY that day we wouldve stayed there until dinner time. Stop reading and just go here!
(5)Gabrielle C.
I had the "pasta bar". Fettuccine Alfredo with baby shrimp. The meal came with a Caesar salad, and two breadsticks. I was not impressed as I hoped I would be. The Alfredo didn't have any flavor. I had to add Parmesan cheese and salt, which I never do. Caesar salad came with wilted lettuce and below average croutons. I took one bite of breadstick and was again disappointed. CiCi's pizza has better breadsticks. The shrimp were bigger than expected and not deveined. My toddler enjoyed them. The Blue Moon on tap was good but, not very cold. My boyfriend had the hot the roast beef platter and he very much enjoyed it. The beef was tender and the fries were plentiful. We ordered the three layer mouse for dessert.....out came a slice of chocolate fudge cake. Not at all what was ordered. Even the waitress said it's not mousse. It was not fresh and didn't taste good......so we sent it back. About 6 months ago I had the Alfredo and it was great. That is why we came back. They just dropped the ball tonight I guess. I'm surprised of the previous outstanding reviews. I don't see it at ALL! Bathroom wasn't even very clean..
(2)Mike S.
Best place hands down to get crabs in Baltimore. They take reservation and you can order your crabs ahead of time. We were going to go to LP steamers to try something new and different but they don't take reservations nor are you garnered crabs. Costas was a sure bet. The crabs are always ( been there 5 times in the offseason) fresh and tasty. The service is top notch meaning they take care of you and leave you alone when eating. It's not on the water nor is it fancy. If you want good crabs and great food this is the place.
(5)Mister M.
I'll keep it brief and to the point...after a whirlwind tour of a couple of other highly rated area seafood spots (with mixed results), we ended up at Costas Inn. Definitely a case of the best being saved for last!!! The decor was very simple, nothing pretentious about the place. Tables spaced far enough to feel comfortable making a mess (which we most certainly did) without embarrassment. The service was great! The hostess pretty much gave us our choice of seating since it was a little slow (early Wed. evening...picked up a bit after the dinner crowd kicked in). Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. At my request, she gave us a quick hands on demo on how to tackle whole crabs. She gave very good instructions...we got through ours like pros (ok, semi-pros!) The owner even swung by the table when he heard we were from NY and was glad to know that Yelp! was actually working for him! The point of this destination was to have the giant crab experience. Costas Inn did not disappoint (unlike Obrycki's, which was the original place we sought out for the crab fix but, they informed us that they did not have any hard shell steamed crab...then, in a very under-the-breath manner clarified, that they did not have enough crabs for non-reservation customers. I found that a bit suspect but, whatever, their loss...) We ordered some calamari to start things off. I went for the ice cold draft beer while my partner had a refreshing iced tea. It was a 90 degree day so, the drinks really hit the spot. The calamari came with two dipping sauces...one was a marinara sauce which was ok but, the other was this excellent sweet sauce!! We loved it so much we actually asked them for some to go, which they were very gracious in providing. Sweet! (literally) The main event was a half dozen large hardshell steamed crabs, smothered in Old Bay. Did I say, smothered...I meant, completely coated!!! It can be a bit overwhelming if you do a lot of finger or shell licking. I had to ease back on that activity after the 1st crab! LOL The crabs were definitely tasty but, it was about the whole experience. A very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere with good service and plenty of crabs. Good times!
(4)Christopher S.
Another great consistent lunch with a party of three. Both guests were from out of town so I recommended the Crab Cake, substitute Cole Slaw for fries. It went over extremely well. They were impressed (yes, hardly any filler in the Crab Cake). We all had the Maryland Crab Soup which must be the best in the world. I had the pit sausage sandwich which is a flat sausage patty cooked on a wood fired grill, smothered with peppers and onions. Superb!!! They recently decorated and took the interior from dive to eclectic. Its looking good with all of the Maryland artwork. Great service as usual.
(4)Mike S.
I love their crab seasoning. Better than Old Bay
(5)JANELLE E.
This is a little nugget in the area. Prices are a little higher than your casual family restaurant but the price is totally worth it. I have been were three times and each time have have left pleased. From the crabs to lobster to the ribs, delish! Setting is very casual with open almost cafeteria style seating, but still a great local spot.
(4)Janelle M.
Costa's Inn's crab cakes are the best I've had in a Baltimore restaurant. They have steamed crabs all year long, so I will definitely partake when I have an off-season crab craving. The side dishes aren't great. The mashed potatoes and potatoes au gratin were bland, and the Mac and Cheese was definitely Stouffers with melted cheese on top. Noooo!! But the entries make up for their poorly constructed sides. The chicken imperial and salmon topped with lump crab are delicious, and so are their crab stuffed mushroom caps and cream of crab soup. The Creme brûlée was just ok and tasted more like flan with burnt caramelized sugar on top. It's a seafood spot and not a 4-5 star restaurant so they shine where they should. I recommend their entrees; skip the dessert.
(4)Nakia S.
Great food great crabs!!!!!
(5)Haiku-Project H.
Baltimore's great 'cause Dumps like this are the best bet. Huge crabs served late, hon.
(4)Patrick D.
I live in the DC metro area. there are no crab houses that are worth mentioning where I live. About once every three months we head up to Dundalk to eat crabs and this is the place we always go to. It is nothing fancy just some of the best steamed crabs around. Always good sized. Service always friendly. And the game is always on the TV.
(5)Dov H.
Driving back up 95 after spending the day at the US Open at Congressional and sitting in traffic for 3 hours, the only thing motivating me was the thought of going to town on a dozen crabs dumped on the table and a pint of beer. Costas Inn fulfilled that wish in spades. Start off with a bowl of the Maryland Crab Chowder and move right along to a dozen medium sized crabs. Plenty of food for two people who hadn't eaten in 8 hours. Wash it down with a pint of Natty Boh. The staff was incredibly helpful and after what I'm sure was the six thousandth time of seeing and out-of-towner split a crab open like a moron came right over and showed me and my dad the right way. Slightly pricier than I would have expected, but well worth it. There is comfort in eating with your hands, getting filthy and having absolutely no one in the building offer the slightest bit of judgement. Maybe go slightly lighter on the Old Bay, but that's just me.
(5)Amy C.
My cousin gave me a gift certificate to Costas Inn for my last birthday and I finally used it (almost a year later). We went on a Thursday night--and in the dead of winter--so I wasn't surprised to find the seafood restaurant empty. Service was great and proportions are HUGE. I ordered the crab cake appetizer, crab dip, and a bowl of cream of crab. The bowl was a BIG mistake because it quickly filled me up. Needless to say, I went home with a doggy bag. Can't wait to come in the summer for steamed crabs!
(4)Ray B.
I had the Wednesday $16.96 steak special comes with two sides They have different specials Monday through Thursday look on Facebook. It came served cooked to perfection med rare just as I had ordered. I have eaten here many times before best crabs around. All the food is good. Crabs are expensive but they are full and you get your dollars worth. They also have cold crabs at a very cheap price if you don't mind taking them home to reheat.
(5)Heather M.
So I've been to Costas Inn a couple of times and both times... DELISH! I love that the crab is consistently big here and their sizing is way better than some other more touristy places. I've gotten the Jumbo and XL before and you definitely get more bang for your buck with these guys. Yea, they are more expensive but it's less work and more filling! Paid around $95 ish a dozen. You do have to pay $1 for butter but it's the REAL deal! Real butter, not that fake stuff that some places have. But you can get vinegar for free and it wasn't until my second time that you can choose what vinegar! They have white, red wine, and apple cider. The apple cider was my fav, then the white, and red last. You can probably share a butter with 2 people too. The service my first time around was meh. Always needed more beers and other stuff and she was never around. My second time,I went on off hours and the server was great. She checked up on us frequently and was very sweet. What is super great about this place is that you can call ahead and RESERVE your crab! Instead of showing up and seeing what they have, they let you actually call dibs on the bigger pieces. Got the loaded baked potato skin b/c it had a star next to it. Nothing special. You can make these at home so I suggest you skip right to the crab so you have more room! So get crackin'!
(5)Jarrod F.
The good; Came here with some friends today for the first time. We started with the cream of cream and Maryland crab soups both of which were delicious. I mean they were just filled with real chunks of crab which is like heaven in your mouth. For our main course Three of us ordered the jumbo lump crab cake platter and the fourth had a shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cakes were amongst the best I've ever had. In fact I'd say this bad boy is easily in the top three I've ever had. First of all, costas uses a ton of beautiful lump crab meat in their cakes with barely any filler. The cake itself is perfectly broiled with just the right amount of herbs and a salt component. The sides are nothing to write home about but then again they never really are at old school seafood restaurants like these (papas, G&m,etc). But I guess the point is to not distract from the superstar on the plate. Although I didn't try it, the shrimp salad did look very good. There were large shrimps and not a ton of mayo. The fries looked decent enough to to. The bad: I wish this place was a bit more bright, modern and inviting. The space is just very old and dated. I get that their not really too focused on attracting food snobs like myself but I think that for the sake of trying to appeal to a younger crowd costas should make an effort to at least get rid of the old carpet, cheesy chandeliers and horrendous table tops they have. With a few modern upgrades they could appeal to people like me who live in other counties but are willing to make the trek for such excellent seafood.
(4)Leesa T.
I will say the food is amazing but the service from one of the bartenders is just down right an asshole. No eye contact she is so snobby Like she is better then anyone there including customers. My biggest thing is they never Use an ice scoop. They use the glass you are about to drink out of. So broken glass in your drink anyone? They have a scoop right there for you to use but the laziness of the bartenders just don't give a shit. So when I was there the other day i took a pic of the ice bin and they had an open beer in the ice. Does anyone know how many germs are on the bottle? I can guess how many. I can't wait to drink my toxic germ infested vodka tonic with lime and many germs with ice. Yummm. I hope that someone reads this and can do something about this cause this is an ongoing issue there. Someone will one day get hurt or sick from these drinks.
(3)McKenzi H.
Alright, Costas visually may not please the eye, but the food is on point. Their cream of crab soup, chili, quesadillas, eastern shore grilled cheese, and Long Island open faced sandwich meals are just a few of the top dishes served here. The only downside is that their service can be a little spotty as far as how quickly you get the food, but it's worth the wait in the end.
(4)Deborah G.
Back to the Costa's Inn for a great seafood dinner. It's only April but Biggie Crab is back in town. After indulging in a great tasting Greek salad with huge chunks of fresh feta and cups of Maryland crab soup we shared a broiled crab cake platter. The crab cake was perfectly prepared- crispy on the outside and perfectly hot on the inside. The sides were fine - nice freshly steamed broccoli and a well done baked potato served with butter and sour cream on the side. But the hit of the evening was the six Biggie crabs that were placed on our kraft paper table cloth. What can I say when there are super crabs in late April that are just as good as anything I had last summer. These biggies were plump with fresh white chunks of crab meat. There was not a hollow one in the six pack. After devouring every bit of that meat, we were absolutely filled. We somehow found room to split one dessert, a custard filled Greek delicacy made by Mrs. Costa. This was a wonderful Baltimore style meal and we enjoyed it all. The service was good considering the place was absolutely packed with people including a 40- person birthday party for a 70-year old. In closing, "Can't wait to return for more of the wonderful seafood delicacies that are served at Costa's Inn.
(5)Liton K.
It says the business is Mon-Sat 8 am - 2 am on yelp but it actually opens 12noon, was disappointed at first as we got there too early. Food was good, seafood tasted as expected , although their crab soup and chili soup was beyond good !!! Service could be little better, servers wasn't attentive and doesn't seem happy and energetic. We were the first customer in that place and it seemed like we were the last customer. Overall, was pleased and hope their service gets better as its very important to run a successful business.
(3)Kristy A.
Family dinner with the inlaws. Really great place to have crabs. They were expensive but we'll worth it.
(3)Allison L.
I was here a few months ago and while the surrounding area left a little bit (ok a lot) to be desired, the restaurant was really good. Good food, good crab cakes, service was quick, clean, prices seemed in line with the quality. I don't really spend much time in Dundalk but I'd come back here again.
(4)Peter K.
I caught crabs again last week! I don't need to see a physician. S made a reservation for Costas Inn at its 11 AM opening. Mind you, this is not a reservation for space because no one (of sane mind and body) comes this early on a Saturday, but a reservation for inventory. We ordered 12 - 54's and 18 - 62's. The larger crabs didn't come in as promised so we settled for 30 - 54's (large) for a party of 5 diners. Sometimes I am put off by the ordering. The prices denote the size of the crabs you are eating (so $54 for a dozen large, $62 for a dozen extra large, etc). We ordered a 1/2 dozen raw oysters to start. Who doesn't appreciate Blue Points? Bring on the pitchers of Yuengling. We're going to be here for a while. Our waitress Stacey kept the good service flowing with our beer pitchers, napkins and dump buckets (for crab carcass). We were excited when the crabs came. All 30 came in one shot and Stacey just dumped them on our table. Hammer away! Although naysayers argue that crabs provide little meat for a lot of work, the Old Bay seasoned crabs are delicious. The naysayers don't like crabs or are just wimps. I like to get down and dirty; eating crabs here is worth the effort. We spent 3.5 hours at Costas Inn, occupied with unadulterated crab gorging. My thumbs were cut up a bit. After barely finishing the crabs, we ordered three desserts to share (see photos): apple pie a la mode, brownie a la mode, and carrot cake. The desserts were a nice finishing touch and were consumed with zero leftovers. This is A MUST TRY if you're in Dundalk (or even the Maryland area) and want to try blue crabs. Yes, there is absolutely nothing exciting in the area (I do not have any experience with the surrounding gentlemen's clubs). Please be prepared with a GPS or detailed maps when driving here. After I got home, I took a wonderful nap... until dinner. Ok one caveat: your fingers will smell like crab for at least a day because the juices creep into your pores. If you have an OCD of sniffing your fingers, this may be unpleasant to you. I leave you with a moment of Zen: Choose your friends wisely! Hey pop, meet my new friend! Can she ... ... ... . .. . . . . .. stay for dinner? : Damnit, son, I wish : | : I had an extra set of : | : claws, I'd give her : | : . 4 thumbs down. : | ... .... .. . . .. . . . | ---------------------- :. : | ( ) | O L D B A Y | :. | ( \ | | | seasoning | /\ . | \ \| | | | ( / @ @ ( ) | / \ ( \L | * * | -. \ \ __| |__ / | \ / ) | / \/ \ | | |__ \ / " \ / | \ ( ( | /------\ | / (_) /-| |-\ ,__, \ \ | `---' | ( / (_) / /-\ /-\ \ ( /__/\oo/\__ / ) \ | |- (.) / /-` ---' - \ \ _/\/__\/\_ \ |____________ |--\__() / \ _/ \_ _/ \_
(5)Mike S.
Costas is a no frills no nonsense crab house. $95 for a dozen of the biggest blue crabs I've ever seen satisfied the appetites of 4 skinny Asians. Plump, succulent, sweet, and covered in traditional old bay seasoning. If you're passing by Baltimore and only have time for one crab joint, stop by Costas for the best crab in town. You should also call in advance to reserve your crab since they use the daily catch and they do sell out.
(4)Andrew M.
If you are jonesing for Ocean City boardwalk people watching, the upper end zone in Ravens stadium and the patrons of the Costas Inn are neck and neck contenders for second best. The stadium boasts fights and vomit, while Costas weighs in with beer and crabs. Toss up. Make no mistake, these are pilgrimage worthy crabs. Costas Inn's dozen large crabs were perfect with a frosty pitcher after the above average appetizers. Acne prone bus boys efficiently zambonie tables and deck them out with fresh paper for the next excited guest. Squeaky clean bathrooms hook you up after you have finished the dirty deed. A huge benefit is you can reserve your crabs and your table in advance. If I'm driving 25 minutes to Dundalk or Essex, I'm not going to risk puny crabs and prolonged interaction with the locals.
(5)Irene F.
I have been to both Obrycki's and Cantler's Riverside Inn. I prefer Costas. I like that I can call ahead to reserve the best crabs. I like that they are big and meaty, and the price is reasonable. They have awesome onion rings, corn on the cob, fritters, and the perfect amount of old bay seasoning. It's clean and the service is fine. There are no tourists here- thankyouverymuch. For my annual trekk out for crabs- this is my joint.
(4)Faye H.
Call in your orders in ADVANCE! Party of 4 ordered 1 1/2 dozen of jumbo size blue crabs and one order of onion rings. The crabs were meaty and sweet. The seasoning gives it a little umph* to the flavor. So so good, price was very reasonable too. If you were to buy the crab home and cooked it yourself and get all the seasoning - it'd only save you about 10 percent the cost to eat it here at Costas Inn. Only down fall is how packed it gets at night and weekends, make sure to call in advance for the crabs, esp. if you want JUMBO or large sizes and large quantities... and you most DEFINITELY don't want anything less!
(5)Matthew C.
The best steamed crabs anywhere. Costas is not cheap, but the quality of the food is outstanding. The service is very friendly and efficient. The atmosphere features a lot of Baltimore memorabilia, and it's pretty casual. If you're looking for seafood, this is a good spot. If you're looking for steamed crabs, this is the best place anywhere.
(5)Matthew R.
In from west coast wanting the real MD crab experience...man, was this place great. Definitely out of the way, but really worth it. Family friendly, good service, great food.
(5)Mark D.
Costas is very much like a local townie bar/restaurant. If you are looking for a glitzy chain like place to eat, you should look elsewhere. But if you want to eat where the locals eat, you owe it to yourself to check out Costas. The restaurant is clean and the service is very friendly. We started out with potato skins and the crab cake. The skins were loaded with cheeze and very flavorful. The crab cake was moist and loaded with sweet crab. My daughter and I shared a dozen medium crabs. They were loaded with Old Bay seasoning. If you don't like a lot of Old Bay, you should ask them to go light on it. Personally I thought the crabs were crusted with the right amount of the seasoning, but I think my daughter thought there was too much. The spicyness of the Old Bay was a great contrast to the sweet and perfectly cooked crabs. The next time I am in the Baltimore area, I'll go back to Costas for another round of crabs!
(5)Anson T.
This restaurant markets itself as having great crabs all year long. When my girlfriend and I stopped in for lunch, they had NO CRABS! The service was so slow. You walk in and the sign says, please seat yourself. So we do and the servers walk by you and it takes over 5 minutes just to get a menu. Please keep in mind that they were not busy and had only 2 other tables to attend to.Portions were also very small!
(2)Karol S.
Heading north on the I-95 I looked on yelp to find a place to stop for lunch in Baltimore and found this place. It isn't pretty, it isn't fancy and don't dress up unless it's in a Ravens jersey--this place just has amazing crabs. Only about 10 minutes off the I-95 so a great stopping point. Will gladly return to take devour some more crabs.
(5)Jia Y.
Love this place for its seafoods(oyster , crabs and scallops)
(5)Patti M.
My friend and I went to Costas Inn last night for dinner after reading a review in the Baltimore Magazine. The crabs were selling for $75-$100 and they sold out. Crabs looked great but i wouldn't pay those prices, i'll wait til crab season. We decided to stay and try the crab cakes and we were happy we did! Crab cakes, fries, and the rolls were great. Cream of crab soup was ok, i've had better, once i added their old bay seasoning mix (which they have on the table!) and some pepper it was better. Service was very good, especially our hostess who answered all of our questions! I will return for another crab cake!
(5)Hung T.
Got the cream of crab, 1.25lb lobster with crab imperial, and cheesecake. Cream of crab is to die for. Really really good. Lobster was small and kinda chewy. A bit overcooked. Crab imperial was good. Cheesecake was ok, but by that time i was so stuffed. Did i mention it came with a baked potato with sauteed veggies?! STUFFED. I wanna try the crabs this summer.
(4)Janet C.
i dunno, with all the hype, i guess i just expected more. #1 they didn't have any crabs when we went. is it not crab season? i dont know. we wanted crab. =( #2 everything else was good, but not great. fish and chips, average. crab cakes... actually, the crab cakes were pretty good. there were two on the plate, and i shared with my sister. crab dip... oily and average. ambiance... definitely not fancy. more like lets-take-the-family-after-church. anyhoos... thats about it.
(3)Sherry B.
We consistently go to this "not-located-in-a-touristy-area" place to get the best steamed crabs every year. Ignore the slightly skeevy area they're located in (strip club down the street), and focus on the stuff that makes it a worthwhile trip. They feature all the necessities that make for an authentic and happy crab-eating experience: - indoors so no flies or hot humid weather to ruin one's appetite - brown paper topped tables - tons of paper towels/napkins at your table - individual wooden mallets for crab-bashing - buckets next to your table for shells - pitcher of ice cold water on table to wash down the spicy goodness - and of course...mountains of crabs that are super fresh, plump, juicy, and seasoned perfectly The "large" or "jumbo" crabs are worth it IMHO. Less work for more crab!
(5)Brian H.
We looked around several crab houses around Baltimore for Father's Day and Yelp seemed to suggest that Costas Inn was the best bet. We were not disappointed. We had great blue crabs, cream of crab soup and the calimari was also outstanding. The only suggestion I have is to go lighter on the Old Bay. It was a wee bit over seasoned and I was tired of it by the end of my meal. A very nice place if you want good crabs more than you care about ambience.
(5)Nilo K.
I came from Florida and found this restaurant highly recommended on a Chowhound board. The crabs were someone the best I've ever had. Succulent, sweet, and robust in flavor. Cream of crab soup was rich and flavorful, and crabcakes (fried) were also very tasty. The house seasoning on the steamed crabs was phenomenal. Service was very nice, although food preparation took some time. I would definitely recommend to my friends and others.
(5)Kathryn M.
Had a great dinner tonight. I had the rockfish imperial special. DELISH!!! Fish was tender and moist the lump, huge lump crab imperial was sweet and tasty. Melted in my mouth. My husband had the orange roughy Rockefeller. Both dishes came to the table hot. The waitress and staff were attentive as they came by the table. No one was above removing dirty dishes from the table. I don't think this will be our last visit.
(5)Asheley W.
One of my favorite places to get crabs in Baltimore. The prices are usually more reasonable than some of the other big name crab houses but their food is just as good. Menu is full of other options if you're not a fan of crabs, but it's definitely heavy on seafood. If you don't have to have your crabs steaming hot, call one morning around 11 and ask for cold crabs to carryout. They're usually left over from the night before but are still delicious (and usually only $12-$15 per dozen!). Pick them up, grab a case of beer, and sit out on the deck to enjoy the best of Baltimore in the summer.
(5)Adam N.
I don't know much about crab, but I researched crab spots before a weekend trip to Baltimore and costas supposedly has the freshest crab. It was wonderful. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff are helpful if you've never eaten crab in a crab house.
(5)Debbie C.
In town for business by myself and decided to take advantage of having a rental car and get out of the Inner Harbor area on my one free solo night. I had read reviews on this place, and seemed to be just what I was in the mood for. And it didn't disappoint! The place is totally no frills - in a good way. I felt like I was in the 1970's once inside, but I loved that. I ate on the dining room side, and it was very clean. The service was friendly and it feels like the type of place where "everyone knows your name." I decided to go for the Whole Maine Lobster special and a crab cake. I think I was full from salad and a roll before my meal even came! All the food is simple, not over thought or pretentious. Lobster was cooked well and a great deal for the price! I would have paid twice as much if I would have stayed in the Inner Harbor area for this meal. The crab cake was very good - but not as good as Faidley's (which I am hoping to have tomorrow). But I felt so guilty not finishing the crab cake. And since I am in a hotel, I couldn't even take it home to save it - I think it disturbed my server to see all that good crab go to waste. Maybe I should have taken it anyway....
(4)Sarah T.
The atmosphere here is typical crab house, paper on the tables, nothing fancy at all. There's a "dinning room" side and the bar side, only difference I could see besides the obvious bar was table size. If you have a large party opt for the dinning room. Either way make sure to get a reservation. The crabs come in different sizes and while we did go for the slightly more expensive, extra large it was well worth it. We were stuffed. Besides steamed crabs they do have a full menu and the stuffed mushroom appetizer is amazing, honestly the best I've had anywhere, ever. For fun on weekends you can dine in the bar side and enjoy the local karaoke singers!
(4)Jessica L.
Their crabs are some of the better ones I have had (I got the 35s). They are very "dirty" (the name MD gave for lots of seasoning). The only thing that I didn't like is when I asked for melted butter they didn't tell me it was 75 cents ( I found out when the bill came). I just think they should have told you when you ordered it. I also got this coconut and cinnamon friend ice cream- it was different then any other one I had had (it was like it the ice cream was between 2 pieces of french toast)- It had a caramel and raspberry sauce- except I didn't taste any coconut. I highly recommend calling ahead even if you are not getting crabs.
(4)Carl W.
a very good first visit. excellent crabs.
(4)Dominic C.
Probably the best place in the Baltimore area to get steamed crabs. I've eaten there several times and have not been disappointed.
(5)Ricky B.
The Wife and I went to Costas Inn today for our anniversary dinner. We don't get to go out to eat together more than maybe about once every couple of months. We typically go to our local fav. The Poplar Inn, but we tried Costas today (My first time...Wife had been a few times in the past) and I have to say it was a pleasant experience. I noticed that they only had 3 servers on the floor, and were BUSY at 1PM on a Sunday. The girls they have working there are attentive, and quick. Even though they each easily had 5 tables they were attending to, I could tell that they were keeping pace well. They made sure I had a refill of my Ice Tea on the table by the time I was done each time. I ordered the cream of crab soup, and I can say that the Cream of Crab Soup here is very good. Not as good as Poplar Inn (They are my favorite for MD and Cream of Crab Soup), but a very close 2nd! I also ordered the Crab Dip that my Wife and I shared. Again very good, but not the best around. I felt that while the Crab Dip was tasty, and a fair size portion that $12.50 was a tad expensive. However, it was very good. For entrees My Wife ordered their Gulf Shrimp, and I ordered the Steak Triantafulo(12 oz. New York Strip with baked Crab Imperial on top). The Steak Dish was Very Good. Good quality steak (Not as good as a quality steak house, but definitely a decent piece of meat), and the crab imperial on top was delicious. The side dishes here are good as well. My wife loved their chunky apple sauce, and the Mashed Potatoes with Gravy that I had were good too. I also had the coleslaw, and they use Sweet Pickles in their coleslaw which gave it a sweet flavor. I thought that was interesting. The ambiance can get a little loud in there, but overall it was not hateful. We did not eat steamed crabs here, but My wife has had them there before and she said they are EXCELLENT! About half the tables in the restaurant had patrons sitting at them chowing down on the steamed crabs. I can tell you that the presentation of their steamed crabs is GOOD. The decor of the restaurant is very modest, but clean. I have no complaints about the area as I'm use to it, and I'm local. North Point BLVD is perfectly safe. There's just not much to look at. I think what would make this a 5 star establishment IMO would be just a bit lower prices, and the food while it's GREAT...It's not out of this world AWESOME. Other than that great good, and great service! I will return again
(4)Barbara R.
Costas is my favorite restaurant in Baltimore since Haussners left town. I personally always opt to sit in the Bar side, but they have a separate comfortable Restaurant side as well. The creamed spinach souffle is to die for. Drinks are always well made and a good size for the $. Their crabcakes are Huge and delicious with only enough filler to keep them from falling apart. You can get just about anything though, not just seafood. My mom likes the hot beef sandwich with fries & gravy. Nice folks there too, staff and customers both.
(5)Sweet S.
Good crabcakes in a typical boondocks Maryland atmosphere. Mediocre beer and awful wine selection, but like I said, it's typical. Haven't had their seafood or steamed crabs, but their crabcakes are tasty. However, I suspect they aren't using local crab meat because the meat is a little bit tough and not quite as flavorful as it should be.
(4)Bill W.
The best crabs ,always full , the staff is full of personality, they treat you like family
(5)Jason M.
I've had crab cakes in pretty much every place in and around Baltimore and Costas Inn has some of the best I've ever had. If they have any filler I can't see it. My wife usually gets the shrimp salad sandwich which is huge, see can only finish half and every time she orders it she asks for a container so she can take it home to finish later in the day. The Maryland crab soup is probably the best I've had and all the side items are perfect. I especially love the mashed potatoes. Not sure what they put in them but they are just awesome. The service is great and I would recommend getting here when they open at 11 for lunch or make it a early dinner so you don't have to wait for a table.
(5)Larissa J.
New to Baltimore and was looking for somewhere with unbelievable crab cakes to take my aunt (an out of town guest) and this was listed as one of the top places. The crab cakes are delicious! Very little filler and you have the options of broiled or fried - and they were yummy! The only downside is the decor of the place - it has an open concept and is a step up from a diner but the food is delicious and the bar fully loaded! We were looking for specialty martinis but they only had a few wines and beers on the menu so we had to get creative ourselves. Over all a good meal at a good price.
(4)Hector M.
If you're into steamed crabs, this is the place for you. We ordered a dozen extra large blue crabs and the waitress came back with the necessary tools: a brown paper table cover, mallets, a bucket, and plenty of napkins. The crabs come out covered in Old Bay seasoning and its hammer time. After you crack your first two, you develop a system for optimal meat retrieval. Make sure your hotel has a refridgerator if you decide to take leftovers - thanks for nothing Sheraton Hotel (someone almost ended up with a hotel room drawer full of crabs)!
(4)Brian H.
Ok sure, great crab cooked just like they want it on the EAST coast(if you are from the Pacific Northwest, you may find yourself a little lost), BUT there are plenty of other reasons to drive out of downtown and find this little hole-in-the-wall. You'll have to rely on Kathy Lee Gifford on the crab cakes. What was the highlight of MY meal? The French Onion Soup! Quite possibly the best I have ever had! Who'd a thunk!?!? :-)
(5)Monika S.
Good spot to watch NFL games or baseball. Comfortable layout. Foods good especially the "cream of crab" soup. Rich and thick and crabby, lol. Just the way I like it.
(4)Ted S.
Worth the drive from B'mores NW 'burbs! I know it's a sin to get crabs in January, but I had friends visiting from Austin and Chicago and wanted them to have the full Baltimore experience! Before I talk about the food or the service - YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE GOING!! Our waiter told us that it's not unusual to show up and find out there are no crabs available (or none of the size you want). He said one call is all it takes for them to reserve crabs for you. It would have been very disappointing to show up and find out there weren't any crabs available. I didn't know what to expect from the staff since some reviews on here weren't too complimentary. I guess they didn't have Chuck as their waiter. He was friendly, very helpful and extremely attentive. I've been told the "other" menu items are pretty good, but had already decided we were going to have steamed crabs preceded by crab cakes. I thought any first-time visitor to Baltimore had to try these two items. I didn't go totally authentic - I passed on the Natty Bo for a pitcher of Yeungling draft. I think that the kitchen needs to replace it's crab cake scale. I'm certain the two 8-oz crab cakes were closer to 3/4 of a pound each. The seasoning was spot-on and the two cakes were beautiful. My complaints were minor - I love Captain's Wafers crackers, but as a purist I think you have to serve these with Saltines. Although the cakes had only the smallest amount of filler they would have been more appealing if there had been more large lumps of crabmeat. I think whoever prepared them was a bit overzealous in stirring the ingredients together. Then there were the crabs. Chuck told me they had 80's, 90's, 100's and 120's. If we wanted to wait 30 minutes or so there would be some 65's. Since this was going to be the first (and probably last) time my friends visited in Baltimore for crabs I suppressed a gasp and ordered the last dozen of the 120's. My friends were somewhat perplexed by the numbers identifying the crabs. I stammered something (I didn't want to tell them that the numbers were the price per dozen since I was buying dinner...). Telling them "the higher the number the larger the crab" seemed to be a simplified (and true) response. I've seen jumbo crabs before, but nothing like the crustacean pile that was slid onto our table! These had to be the biggest crabs I have ever seen. Luckily, they were also heavy and full of meat (and my friends liked them). All three of us can be big eaters and we had a bit of trouble eating 4 each. I'm not sure what seasoning blend Costas uses. I assume it's Old Bay-based and then doctored up a bit. They clearly add some coarse grain salt and probably some other spices. After 30+ years in Baltimore I think they were the best crabs I've ever had. Will look forward to heading back in the summer!
(5)M C.
Best crabs ever!! When corn is in season, that's also very good. Their mac and cheese is perfect. We make trips to Baltimore JUST to visit Costas Inn. Definitely reserve your crabs when you make reservations. The whale size is their biggest and in my opinion, worth getting. You get more crab meat for all the efforts of getting it out of the shell.
(5)Cindy C.
We visited last Saturday around 4:00 pm with reservations (but we were way ahead of the crowd) Our waitress was very nice and friendly. My cousin, who is a MD native now living in a seafood void in central GA was craving good MD seafood. SHe ordered some cream of crab to start and shared it with my hubby. They both found it to be way too salty! (Great cream of crab soup can be found at Annie's Paramount Steak in Grasonville or oddly at Red Brick Station in White Marsh) Hubby and cousin both ordered the seafood platter, sister ordered the crab cake dinner and I ordered the blackened chicken sandwich (I am the odd ball that does not care for seafood). Everyone enjoyed the meal but the crab cakes had to be sent back because they were each stone cold. Honestly my chicken was just warm but I was too hungry to send it back. I am the only one that indulged in dessert and chose the funnel cake fries. These were hot, sweet and delicious! With all of the high ratings, we really thought the meal would be amazing. But we found it simply good. I will, however, give it a second try because we may have just hit them on an off day.
(3)Rick S.
This is my go-to crab cake place. While the rest of the menu is pretty good, the Crab Cakes are excellent. It has become my favorite crab cake in town. Nice and meaty. not a lot of filler. And they run specials pretty much every day, I believe.
(4)Gail F.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night. We're not locals but I work with teachers in Baltimore and this place came highly recommended. The crabs were SOOOO much bigger than what we are used to here in Philadelphia/New Jersey. We ordered Large and they were indeed Large. We loved the no-nonsense setup...crabs right on the table (on top of brown paper), hammers, and a bucket on the floor. I have to say that there was a ridiculous amount of Old Bay on the crabs. But if you're into Old Bay like my boyfriend, they're perfect. He was in heaven. Me, I felt like I had no lips after an hour of eating. I'm sure you can request less Old Bay (or none at all). We are planning to head back down to Baltimore very soon just to go to Costas Inn, eat crabs, and come back home.
(5)C B.
The crabs were great, all full and heavy no bad ones and the beer was ice cold. Would go back for crabs again and again.
(5)Tracy R.
We came as a large party but made reservations ahead of time. They accommodated our party just fine. The place is pretty spacious. We had the large crabs which were pretty delicious. My one issue was they do an Old Bay overkill. I had to stop after my 3rd crab and take a break, my system is just not that use to all that salt. I was able to have another one after a mini break. I'd still recommend this spot, the baked on Old Bay was too much for me but others seem to like it.
(3)Mark S.
Crab soup; crab cakes and steamed fresh crabs are the specialties. This place also brings in blue crabs from the Gulf of Mexico, so you can take out-of-towners who need a steamed crab fix here all year round even when crabs are not in season locally. The walls are adorned with signed pictures of local notables like Brooks Robinson, Johnny Unitas and the Earl of Batimore; the great Earl Weaver. Even Kathy Lee Gifford has eaten here. Located not far from the Sparrow Point steel mills and the Golden Egg Shaped Towers of Dundalk (its a water treatment plant); it also features karaoke in the attached bar next door. That might put some off this fine Maryland seafood restaurant. Do not be fooled. This crab shack is very good. The menu is extensive enough that if you have a picky eater who does not enjoy Maryland blue crabs, there are steaks and sandwiches also available. Outstanding shrimp salad. But the main attraction here are the crabs. Worth the drive.
(4)Teresa M.
Wow! The experience my husband and myself just had at costas was out of this world ! Our waitress was right on top of our service every second, an the food was Devine ! I will defiantly recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone !
(5)Kevin H.
CRABS !!CRABS !!CRABS!! This place is freaking great! went here last week. Got 3 dozens. All gone!! hahaha. Came here during lunch which was great since there were not a lot of people. So it wasnt busy at all. Started off with well BEER!!! =) then maryland crab soup. It was good as a starter. Something light nothing heavy. Had some calamari too but didnt dig it too much. It was just another piece of food that will get in the way off the crabs. Then the crab dip. Man that was good but good thing i was sharing with other people or else that wouldve ruined it for me. The one thing i didnt mind getting more off though were the blue point oysters!! they were delicious!!!! If they had that for cheap I wouldve gotten a couple of dozens for it. Well enough of that. The main course of course were the crabs. I dont have anything to say about it except just go here and eat some!! its awesome. If only we didnt have to drive to NY that day we wouldve stayed there until dinner time. Stop reading and just go here!
(5)Gabrielle C.
I had the "pasta bar". Fettuccine Alfredo with baby shrimp. The meal came with a Caesar salad, and two breadsticks. I was not impressed as I hoped I would be. The Alfredo didn't have any flavor. I had to add Parmesan cheese and salt, which I never do. Caesar salad came with wilted lettuce and below average croutons. I took one bite of breadstick and was again disappointed. CiCi's pizza has better breadsticks. The shrimp were bigger than expected and not deveined. My toddler enjoyed them. The Blue Moon on tap was good but, not very cold. My boyfriend had the hot the roast beef platter and he very much enjoyed it. The beef was tender and the fries were plentiful. We ordered the three layer mouse for dessert.....out came a slice of chocolate fudge cake. Not at all what was ordered. Even the waitress said it's not mousse. It was not fresh and didn't taste good......so we sent it back. About 6 months ago I had the Alfredo and it was great. That is why we came back. They just dropped the ball tonight I guess. I'm surprised of the previous outstanding reviews. I don't see it at ALL! Bathroom wasn't even very clean..
(2)Mike S.
Best place hands down to get crabs in Baltimore. They take reservation and you can order your crabs ahead of time. We were going to go to LP steamers to try something new and different but they don't take reservations nor are you garnered crabs. Costas was a sure bet. The crabs are always ( been there 5 times in the offseason) fresh and tasty. The service is top notch meaning they take care of you and leave you alone when eating. It's not on the water nor is it fancy. If you want good crabs and great food this is the place.
(5)Mister M.
I'll keep it brief and to the point...after a whirlwind tour of a couple of other highly rated area seafood spots (with mixed results), we ended up at Costas Inn. Definitely a case of the best being saved for last!!! The decor was very simple, nothing pretentious about the place. Tables spaced far enough to feel comfortable making a mess (which we most certainly did) without embarrassment. The service was great! The hostess pretty much gave us our choice of seating since it was a little slow (early Wed. evening...picked up a bit after the dinner crowd kicked in). Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. At my request, she gave us a quick hands on demo on how to tackle whole crabs. She gave very good instructions...we got through ours like pros (ok, semi-pros!) The owner even swung by the table when he heard we were from NY and was glad to know that Yelp! was actually working for him! The point of this destination was to have the giant crab experience. Costas Inn did not disappoint (unlike Obrycki's, which was the original place we sought out for the crab fix but, they informed us that they did not have any hard shell steamed crab...then, in a very under-the-breath manner clarified, that they did not have enough crabs for non-reservation customers. I found that a bit suspect but, whatever, their loss...) We ordered some calamari to start things off. I went for the ice cold draft beer while my partner had a refreshing iced tea. It was a 90 degree day so, the drinks really hit the spot. The calamari came with two dipping sauces...one was a marinara sauce which was ok but, the other was this excellent sweet sauce!! We loved it so much we actually asked them for some to go, which they were very gracious in providing. Sweet! (literally) The main event was a half dozen large hardshell steamed crabs, smothered in Old Bay. Did I say, smothered...I meant, completely coated!!! It can be a bit overwhelming if you do a lot of finger or shell licking. I had to ease back on that activity after the 1st crab! LOL The crabs were definitely tasty but, it was about the whole experience. A very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere with good service and plenty of crabs. Good times!
(4)Christopher S.
Another great consistent lunch with a party of three. Both guests were from out of town so I recommended the Crab Cake, substitute Cole Slaw for fries. It went over extremely well. They were impressed (yes, hardly any filler in the Crab Cake). We all had the Maryland Crab Soup which must be the best in the world. I had the pit sausage sandwich which is a flat sausage patty cooked on a wood fired grill, smothered with peppers and onions. Superb!!! They recently decorated and took the interior from dive to eclectic. Its looking good with all of the Maryland artwork. Great service as usual.
(4)JANELLE E.
This is a little nugget in the area. Prices are a little higher than your casual family restaurant but the price is totally worth it. I have been were three times and each time have have left pleased. From the crabs to lobster to the ribs, delish! Setting is very casual with open almost cafeteria style seating, but still a great local spot.
(4)Mike S.
I love their crab seasoning. Better than Old Bay
(5)Janelle M.
Costa's Inn's crab cakes are the best I've had in a Baltimore restaurant. They have steamed crabs all year long, so I will definitely partake when I have an off-season crab craving. The side dishes aren't great. The mashed potatoes and potatoes au gratin were bland, and the Mac and Cheese was definitely Stouffers with melted cheese on top. Noooo!! But the entries make up for their poorly constructed sides. The chicken imperial and salmon topped with lump crab are delicious, and so are their crab stuffed mushroom caps and cream of crab soup. The Creme brûlée was just ok and tasted more like flan with burnt caramelized sugar on top. It's a seafood spot and not a 4-5 star restaurant so they shine where they should. I recommend their entrees; skip the dessert.
(4)Nakia S.
Great food great crabs!!!!!
(5)Haiku-Project H.
Baltimore's great 'cause Dumps like this are the best bet. Huge crabs served late, hon.
(4)Patrick D.
I live in the DC metro area. there are no crab houses that are worth mentioning where I live. About once every three months we head up to Dundalk to eat crabs and this is the place we always go to. It is nothing fancy just some of the best steamed crabs around. Always good sized. Service always friendly. And the game is always on the TV.
(5)Dov H.
Driving back up 95 after spending the day at the US Open at Congressional and sitting in traffic for 3 hours, the only thing motivating me was the thought of going to town on a dozen crabs dumped on the table and a pint of beer. Costas Inn fulfilled that wish in spades. Start off with a bowl of the Maryland Crab Chowder and move right along to a dozen medium sized crabs. Plenty of food for two people who hadn't eaten in 8 hours. Wash it down with a pint of Natty Boh. The staff was incredibly helpful and after what I'm sure was the six thousandth time of seeing and out-of-towner split a crab open like a moron came right over and showed me and my dad the right way. Slightly pricier than I would have expected, but well worth it. There is comfort in eating with your hands, getting filthy and having absolutely no one in the building offer the slightest bit of judgement. Maybe go slightly lighter on the Old Bay, but that's just me.
(5)Amy C.
My cousin gave me a gift certificate to Costas Inn for my last birthday and I finally used it (almost a year later). We went on a Thursday night--and in the dead of winter--so I wasn't surprised to find the seafood restaurant empty. Service was great and proportions are HUGE. I ordered the crab cake appetizer, crab dip, and a bowl of cream of crab. The bowl was a BIG mistake because it quickly filled me up. Needless to say, I went home with a doggy bag. Can't wait to come in the summer for steamed crabs!
(4)Allison L.
I was here a few months ago and while the surrounding area left a little bit (ok a lot) to be desired, the restaurant was really good. Good food, good crab cakes, service was quick, clean, prices seemed in line with the quality. I don't really spend much time in Dundalk but I'd come back here again.
(4)Peter K.
I caught crabs again last week! I don't need to see a physician. S made a reservation for Costas Inn at its 11 AM opening. Mind you, this is not a reservation for space because no one (of sane mind and body) comes this early on a Saturday, but a reservation for inventory. We ordered 12 - 54's and 18 - 62's. The larger crabs didn't come in as promised so we settled for 30 - 54's (large) for a party of 5 diners. Sometimes I am put off by the ordering. The prices denote the size of the crabs you are eating (so $54 for a dozen large, $62 for a dozen extra large, etc). We ordered a 1/2 dozen raw oysters to start. Who doesn't appreciate Blue Points? Bring on the pitchers of Yuengling. We're going to be here for a while. Our waitress Stacey kept the good service flowing with our beer pitchers, napkins and dump buckets (for crab carcass). We were excited when the crabs came. All 30 came in one shot and Stacey just dumped them on our table. Hammer away! Although naysayers argue that crabs provide little meat for a lot of work, the Old Bay seasoned crabs are delicious. The naysayers don't like crabs or are just wimps. I like to get down and dirty; eating crabs here is worth the effort. We spent 3.5 hours at Costas Inn, occupied with unadulterated crab gorging. My thumbs were cut up a bit. After barely finishing the crabs, we ordered three desserts to share (see photos): apple pie a la mode, brownie a la mode, and carrot cake. The desserts were a nice finishing touch and were consumed with zero leftovers. This is A MUST TRY if you're in Dundalk (or even the Maryland area) and want to try blue crabs. Yes, there is absolutely nothing exciting in the area (I do not have any experience with the surrounding gentlemen's clubs). Please be prepared with a GPS or detailed maps when driving here. After I got home, I took a wonderful nap... until dinner. Ok one caveat: your fingers will smell like crab for at least a day because the juices creep into your pores. If you have an OCD of sniffing your fingers, this may be unpleasant to you. I leave you with a moment of Zen: Choose your friends wisely! Hey pop, meet my new friend! Can she ... ... ... . .. . . . . .. stay for dinner? : Damnit, son, I wish : | : I had an extra set of : | : claws, I'd give her : | : . 4 thumbs down. : | ... .... .. . . .. . . . | ---------------------- :. : | ( ) | O L D B A Y | :. | ( \ | | | seasoning | /\ . | \ \| | | | ( / @ @ ( ) | / \ ( \L | * * | -. \ \ __| |__ / | \ / ) | / \/ \ | | |__ \ / " \ / | \ ( ( | /------\ | / (_) /-| |-\ ,__, \ \ | `---' | ( / (_) / /-\ /-\ \ ( /__/\oo/\__ / ) \ | |- (.) / /-` ---' - \ \ _/\/__\/\_ \ |____________ |--\__() / \ _/ \_ _/ \_
(5)Mike S.
Costas is a no frills no nonsense crab house. $95 for a dozen of the biggest blue crabs I've ever seen satisfied the appetites of 4 skinny Asians. Plump, succulent, sweet, and covered in traditional old bay seasoning. If you're passing by Baltimore and only have time for one crab joint, stop by Costas for the best crab in town. You should also call in advance to reserve your crab since they use the daily catch and they do sell out.
(4)Andrew M.
If you are jonesing for Ocean City boardwalk people watching, the upper end zone in Ravens stadium and the patrons of the Costas Inn are neck and neck contenders for second best. The stadium boasts fights and vomit, while Costas weighs in with beer and crabs. Toss up. Make no mistake, these are pilgrimage worthy crabs. Costas Inn's dozen large crabs were perfect with a frosty pitcher after the above average appetizers. Acne prone bus boys efficiently zambonie tables and deck them out with fresh paper for the next excited guest. Squeaky clean bathrooms hook you up after you have finished the dirty deed. A huge benefit is you can reserve your crabs and your table in advance. If I'm driving 25 minutes to Dundalk or Essex, I'm not going to risk puny crabs and prolonged interaction with the locals.
(5)Irene F.
I have been to both Obrycki's and Cantler's Riverside Inn. I prefer Costas. I like that I can call ahead to reserve the best crabs. I like that they are big and meaty, and the price is reasonable. They have awesome onion rings, corn on the cob, fritters, and the perfect amount of old bay seasoning. It's clean and the service is fine. There are no tourists here- thankyouverymuch. For my annual trekk out for crabs- this is my joint.
(4)Faye H.
Call in your orders in ADVANCE! Party of 4 ordered 1 1/2 dozen of jumbo size blue crabs and one order of onion rings. The crabs were meaty and sweet. The seasoning gives it a little umph* to the flavor. So so good, price was very reasonable too. If you were to buy the crab home and cooked it yourself and get all the seasoning - it'd only save you about 10 percent the cost to eat it here at Costas Inn. Only down fall is how packed it gets at night and weekends, make sure to call in advance for the crabs, esp. if you want JUMBO or large sizes and large quantities... and you most DEFINITELY don't want anything less!
(5)Matthew C.
The best steamed crabs anywhere. Costas is not cheap, but the quality of the food is outstanding. The service is very friendly and efficient. The atmosphere features a lot of Baltimore memorabilia, and it's pretty casual. If you're looking for seafood, this is a good spot. If you're looking for steamed crabs, this is the best place anywhere.
(5)Matthew R.
In from west coast wanting the real MD crab experience...man, was this place great. Definitely out of the way, but really worth it. Family friendly, good service, great food.
(5)Mark D.
Costas is very much like a local townie bar/restaurant. If you are looking for a glitzy chain like place to eat, you should look elsewhere. But if you want to eat where the locals eat, you owe it to yourself to check out Costas. The restaurant is clean and the service is very friendly. We started out with potato skins and the crab cake. The skins were loaded with cheeze and very flavorful. The crab cake was moist and loaded with sweet crab. My daughter and I shared a dozen medium crabs. They were loaded with Old Bay seasoning. If you don't like a lot of Old Bay, you should ask them to go light on it. Personally I thought the crabs were crusted with the right amount of the seasoning, but I think my daughter thought there was too much. The spicyness of the Old Bay was a great contrast to the sweet and perfectly cooked crabs. The next time I am in the Baltimore area, I'll go back to Costas for another round of crabs!
(5)Anson T.
This restaurant markets itself as having great crabs all year long. When my girlfriend and I stopped in for lunch, they had NO CRABS! The service was so slow. You walk in and the sign says, please seat yourself. So we do and the servers walk by you and it takes over 5 minutes just to get a menu. Please keep in mind that they were not busy and had only 2 other tables to attend to.Portions were also very small!
(2)Karol S.
Heading north on the I-95 I looked on yelp to find a place to stop for lunch in Baltimore and found this place. It isn't pretty, it isn't fancy and don't dress up unless it's in a Ravens jersey--this place just has amazing crabs. Only about 10 minutes off the I-95 so a great stopping point. Will gladly return to take devour some more crabs.
(5)Patti M.
My friend and I went to Costas Inn last night for dinner after reading a review in the Baltimore Magazine. The crabs were selling for $75-$100 and they sold out. Crabs looked great but i wouldn't pay those prices, i'll wait til crab season. We decided to stay and try the crab cakes and we were happy we did! Crab cakes, fries, and the rolls were great. Cream of crab soup was ok, i've had better, once i added their old bay seasoning mix (which they have on the table!) and some pepper it was better. Service was very good, especially our hostess who answered all of our questions! I will return for another crab cake!
(5)Jia Y.
Love this place for its seafoods(oyster , crabs and scallops)
(5)Hung T.
Got the cream of crab, 1.25lb lobster with crab imperial, and cheesecake. Cream of crab is to die for. Really really good. Lobster was small and kinda chewy. A bit overcooked. Crab imperial was good. Cheesecake was ok, but by that time i was so stuffed. Did i mention it came with a baked potato with sauteed veggies?! STUFFED. I wanna try the crabs this summer.
(4)Sherry B.
We consistently go to this "not-located-in-a-touristy-area" place to get the best steamed crabs every year. Ignore the slightly skeevy area they're located in (strip club down the street), and focus on the stuff that makes it a worthwhile trip. They feature all the necessities that make for an authentic and happy crab-eating experience: - indoors so no flies or hot humid weather to ruin one's appetite - brown paper topped tables - tons of paper towels/napkins at your table - individual wooden mallets for crab-bashing - buckets next to your table for shells - pitcher of ice cold water on table to wash down the spicy goodness - and of course...mountains of crabs that are super fresh, plump, juicy, and seasoned perfectly The "large" or "jumbo" crabs are worth it IMHO. Less work for more crab!
(5)Janet C.
i dunno, with all the hype, i guess i just expected more. #1 they didn't have any crabs when we went. is it not crab season? i dont know. we wanted crab. =( #2 everything else was good, but not great. fish and chips, average. crab cakes... actually, the crab cakes were pretty good. there were two on the plate, and i shared with my sister. crab dip... oily and average. ambiance... definitely not fancy. more like lets-take-the-family-after-church. anyhoos... thats about it.
(3)Brian H.
We looked around several crab houses around Baltimore for Father's Day and Yelp seemed to suggest that Costas Inn was the best bet. We were not disappointed. We had great blue crabs, cream of crab soup and the calimari was also outstanding. The only suggestion I have is to go lighter on the Old Bay. It was a wee bit over seasoned and I was tired of it by the end of my meal. A very nice place if you want good crabs more than you care about ambience.
(5)Nilo K.
I came from Florida and found this restaurant highly recommended on a Chowhound board. The crabs were someone the best I've ever had. Succulent, sweet, and robust in flavor. Cream of crab soup was rich and flavorful, and crabcakes (fried) were also very tasty. The house seasoning on the steamed crabs was phenomenal. Service was very nice, although food preparation took some time. I would definitely recommend to my friends and others.
(5)Kathryn M.
Had a great dinner tonight. I had the rockfish imperial special. DELISH!!! Fish was tender and moist the lump, huge lump crab imperial was sweet and tasty. Melted in my mouth. My husband had the orange roughy Rockefeller. Both dishes came to the table hot. The waitress and staff were attentive as they came by the table. No one was above removing dirty dishes from the table. I don't think this will be our last visit.
(5)Asheley W.
One of my favorite places to get crabs in Baltimore. The prices are usually more reasonable than some of the other big name crab houses but their food is just as good. Menu is full of other options if you're not a fan of crabs, but it's definitely heavy on seafood. If you don't have to have your crabs steaming hot, call one morning around 11 and ask for cold crabs to carryout. They're usually left over from the night before but are still delicious (and usually only $12-$15 per dozen!). Pick them up, grab a case of beer, and sit out on the deck to enjoy the best of Baltimore in the summer.
(5)Adam N.
I don't know much about crab, but I researched crab spots before a weekend trip to Baltimore and costas supposedly has the freshest crab. It was wonderful. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff are helpful if you've never eaten crab in a crab house.
(5)Debbie C.
In town for business by myself and decided to take advantage of having a rental car and get out of the Inner Harbor area on my one free solo night. I had read reviews on this place, and seemed to be just what I was in the mood for. And it didn't disappoint! The place is totally no frills - in a good way. I felt like I was in the 1970's once inside, but I loved that. I ate on the dining room side, and it was very clean. The service was friendly and it feels like the type of place where "everyone knows your name." I decided to go for the Whole Maine Lobster special and a crab cake. I think I was full from salad and a roll before my meal even came! All the food is simple, not over thought or pretentious. Lobster was cooked well and a great deal for the price! I would have paid twice as much if I would have stayed in the Inner Harbor area for this meal. The crab cake was very good - but not as good as Faidley's (which I am hoping to have tomorrow). But I felt so guilty not finishing the crab cake. And since I am in a hotel, I couldn't even take it home to save it - I think it disturbed my server to see all that good crab go to waste. Maybe I should have taken it anyway....
(4)Sarah T.
The atmosphere here is typical crab house, paper on the tables, nothing fancy at all. There's a "dinning room" side and the bar side, only difference I could see besides the obvious bar was table size. If you have a large party opt for the dinning room. Either way make sure to get a reservation. The crabs come in different sizes and while we did go for the slightly more expensive, extra large it was well worth it. We were stuffed. Besides steamed crabs they do have a full menu and the stuffed mushroom appetizer is amazing, honestly the best I've had anywhere, ever. For fun on weekends you can dine in the bar side and enjoy the local karaoke singers!
(4)Jessica L.
Their crabs are some of the better ones I have had (I got the 35s). They are very "dirty" (the name MD gave for lots of seasoning). The only thing that I didn't like is when I asked for melted butter they didn't tell me it was 75 cents ( I found out when the bill came). I just think they should have told you when you ordered it. I also got this coconut and cinnamon friend ice cream- it was different then any other one I had had (it was like it the ice cream was between 2 pieces of french toast)- It had a caramel and raspberry sauce- except I didn't taste any coconut. I highly recommend calling ahead even if you are not getting crabs.
(4)Carl W.
a very good first visit. excellent crabs.
(4)Dominic C.
Probably the best place in the Baltimore area to get steamed crabs. I've eaten there several times and have not been disappointed.
(5)Ricky B.
The Wife and I went to Costas Inn today for our anniversary dinner. We don't get to go out to eat together more than maybe about once every couple of months. We typically go to our local fav. The Poplar Inn, but we tried Costas today (My first time...Wife had been a few times in the past) and I have to say it was a pleasant experience. I noticed that they only had 3 servers on the floor, and were BUSY at 1PM on a Sunday. The girls they have working there are attentive, and quick. Even though they each easily had 5 tables they were attending to, I could tell that they were keeping pace well. They made sure I had a refill of my Ice Tea on the table by the time I was done each time. I ordered the cream of crab soup, and I can say that the Cream of Crab Soup here is very good. Not as good as Poplar Inn (They are my favorite for MD and Cream of Crab Soup), but a very close 2nd! I also ordered the Crab Dip that my Wife and I shared. Again very good, but not the best around. I felt that while the Crab Dip was tasty, and a fair size portion that $12.50 was a tad expensive. However, it was very good. For entrees My Wife ordered their Gulf Shrimp, and I ordered the Steak Triantafulo(12 oz. New York Strip with baked Crab Imperial on top). The Steak Dish was Very Good. Good quality steak (Not as good as a quality steak house, but definitely a decent piece of meat), and the crab imperial on top was delicious. The side dishes here are good as well. My wife loved their chunky apple sauce, and the Mashed Potatoes with Gravy that I had were good too. I also had the coleslaw, and they use Sweet Pickles in their coleslaw which gave it a sweet flavor. I thought that was interesting. The ambiance can get a little loud in there, but overall it was not hateful. We did not eat steamed crabs here, but My wife has had them there before and she said they are EXCELLENT! About half the tables in the restaurant had patrons sitting at them chowing down on the steamed crabs. I can tell you that the presentation of their steamed crabs is GOOD. The decor of the restaurant is very modest, but clean. I have no complaints about the area as I'm use to it, and I'm local. North Point BLVD is perfectly safe. There's just not much to look at. I think what would make this a 5 star establishment IMO would be just a bit lower prices, and the food while it's GREAT...It's not out of this world AWESOME. Other than that great good, and great service! I will return again
(4)Ray B.
I had the Wednesday $16.96 steak special comes with two sides They have different specials Monday through Thursday look on Facebook. It came served cooked to perfection med rare just as I had ordered. I have eaten here many times before best crabs around. All the food is good. Crabs are expensive but they are full and you get your dollars worth. They also have cold crabs at a very cheap price if you don't mind taking them home to reheat.
(5)Heather M.
So I've been to Costas Inn a couple of times and both times... DELISH! I love that the crab is consistently big here and their sizing is way better than some other more touristy places. I've gotten the Jumbo and XL before and you definitely get more bang for your buck with these guys. Yea, they are more expensive but it's less work and more filling! Paid around $95 ish a dozen. You do have to pay $1 for butter but it's the REAL deal! Real butter, not that fake stuff that some places have. But you can get vinegar for free and it wasn't until my second time that you can choose what vinegar! They have white, red wine, and apple cider. The apple cider was my fav, then the white, and red last. You can probably share a butter with 2 people too. The service my first time around was meh. Always needed more beers and other stuff and she was never around. My second time,I went on off hours and the server was great. She checked up on us frequently and was very sweet. What is super great about this place is that you can call ahead and RESERVE your crab! Instead of showing up and seeing what they have, they let you actually call dibs on the bigger pieces. Got the loaded baked potato skin b/c it had a star next to it. Nothing special. You can make these at home so I suggest you skip right to the crab so you have more room! So get crackin'!
(5)Jarrod F.
The good; Came here with some friends today for the first time. We started with the cream of cream and Maryland crab soups both of which were delicious. I mean they were just filled with real chunks of crab which is like heaven in your mouth. For our main course Three of us ordered the jumbo lump crab cake platter and the fourth had a shrimp salad sandwich. The crab cakes were amongst the best I've ever had. In fact I'd say this bad boy is easily in the top three I've ever had. First of all, costas uses a ton of beautiful lump crab meat in their cakes with barely any filler. The cake itself is perfectly broiled with just the right amount of herbs and a salt component. The sides are nothing to write home about but then again they never really are at old school seafood restaurants like these (papas, G&m,etc). But I guess the point is to not distract from the superstar on the plate. Although I didn't try it, the shrimp salad did look very good. There were large shrimps and not a ton of mayo. The fries looked decent enough to to. The bad: I wish this place was a bit more bright, modern and inviting. The space is just very old and dated. I get that their not really too focused on attracting food snobs like myself but I think that for the sake of trying to appeal to a younger crowd costas should make an effort to at least get rid of the old carpet, cheesy chandeliers and horrendous table tops they have. With a few modern upgrades they could appeal to people like me who live in other counties but are willing to make the trek for such excellent seafood.
(4)Leesa T.
I will say the food is amazing but the service from one of the bartenders is just down right an asshole. No eye contact she is so snobby Like she is better then anyone there including customers. My biggest thing is they never Use an ice scoop. They use the glass you are about to drink out of. So broken glass in your drink anyone? They have a scoop right there for you to use but the laziness of the bartenders just don't give a shit. So when I was there the other day i took a pic of the ice bin and they had an open beer in the ice. Does anyone know how many germs are on the bottle? I can guess how many. I can't wait to drink my toxic germ infested vodka tonic with lime and many germs with ice. Yummm. I hope that someone reads this and can do something about this cause this is an ongoing issue there. Someone will one day get hurt or sick from these drinks.
(3)McKenzi H.
Alright, Costas visually may not please the eye, but the food is on point. Their cream of crab soup, chili, quesadillas, eastern shore grilled cheese, and Long Island open faced sandwich meals are just a few of the top dishes served here. The only downside is that their service can be a little spotty as far as how quickly you get the food, but it's worth the wait in the end.
(4)John K.
The surly waitress/bartender with short dark/gray hair was extremely rude. Not only did she criticize the food my friend wanted to order but she must not have optical insurance cause her eyes kept rolling at me and my friend all night as we placed our orders. I spent a lot of money and left her with a $10 tip... She was very ignorant and even coped more of an attitude. Maybe she would have had more if her customer service level was IP to par. I will not be back at least while she's here.
(1)Deborah G.
Back to the Costa's Inn for a great seafood dinner. It's only April but Biggie Crab is back in town. After indulging in a great tasting Greek salad with huge chunks of fresh feta and cups of Maryland crab soup we shared a broiled crab cake platter. The crab cake was perfectly prepared- crispy on the outside and perfectly hot on the inside. The sides were fine - nice freshly steamed broccoli and a well done baked potato served with butter and sour cream on the side. But the hit of the evening was the six Biggie crabs that were placed on our kraft paper table cloth. What can I say when there are super crabs in late April that are just as good as anything I had last summer. These biggies were plump with fresh white chunks of crab meat. There was not a hollow one in the six pack. After devouring every bit of that meat, we were absolutely filled. We somehow found room to split one dessert, a custard filled Greek delicacy made by Mrs. Costa. This was a wonderful Baltimore style meal and we enjoyed it all. The service was good considering the place was absolutely packed with people including a 40- person birthday party for a 70-year old. In closing, "Can't wait to return for more of the wonderful seafood delicacies that are served at Costa's Inn.
(5)Liton K.
It says the business is Mon-Sat 8 am - 2 am on yelp but it actually opens 12noon, was disappointed at first as we got there too early. Food was good, seafood tasted as expected , although their crab soup and chili soup was beyond good !!! Service could be little better, servers wasn't attentive and doesn't seem happy and energetic. We were the first customer in that place and it seemed like we were the last customer. Overall, was pleased and hope their service gets better as its very important to run a successful business.
(3)Kristy A.
Family dinner with the inlaws. Really great place to have crabs. They were expensive but we'll worth it.
(3)Josh R.
Worst salad salad I have ever had. Wilted lettuce and they made up for it with putting a whole onion and 2 thinly sliced pieces of tomato. Service was fair. But, couldn't get past the terrible food. I ended up leaving a note for the waitress explaining that the food was terrible. She had never asked how my meal was. Had I been asked and the manager had approached me I probably would have written a better review. And assumed it was only an occurrence and not a pattern. Needless to say I have to assume this is just the quality of food they serve here.
(1)Philip D.
Such an awesome place full of wonderful people! They do such a great job of making you feel like you are a part of the family here at Costas and their seafood is unmatched. Crab cakes are my favorite but you can't help but get something new every time you are here.
(5)Maria J.
Went here for an early Saturday dinner ~3:15 p.m. They had plenty of seating, but the host and waiters looked a little disorganized and harried. The bowl of Maryland Crab soup was very salty with little to no actual crab at all. Quite disappointed. You can order crabs by the dozen and by size, small crabs (~$48 going by memory), medium crabs (~$68), large crabs (~$86) and jumbo (or extra large) crabs (~$108). The waitress didn't tell us that - we had to fish that information out of her even though we said we've never been here before. They lay out a brown disposable thick paper over the table to lay the crabs onto and give out small wooden mallets for cracking the crabs. (Oh be careful, you can get a paper cut from the brown paper matts.) They do NOT unfortunately give out any bibs nor towelettes nor wet towels at the end of your messy crab meal. The ladies room only has two sinks and two stalls - I had to wait in line after my meal to wash my hands. Not a good set up for a place that primarily has customers coming in for crabs, and we were here early before the crowd came. The dining area floors are covered in rugs - terrible idea especially considering how many people throughout the day are smashing crabs with their mallets. Two people in our party ordered entres - one was some sort of seafood gumbo and another was a chicken parm (because he doesn't eat seafood). They received their meals and were finished well before my sis-in-law received her cobb salad and our order of crabs. So we just sat there watching them eat and they later sat there watching us eat our crabs. Really poor timing - crabs took a very long time to come out. Not sure why since cooking them doesn't take a long time and the place was not busy when we came in. The crabs themselves come out very hot are are coated with a VERY thick reddish dry rub. Overkill - they were EXTREMELY salty. I don't know what people see in this place. Everything was overdone with salt. Service is slow. I've had better crabs at many other places. Salt seems to be their primary and perhaps only seasoning they know of.
(1)Natalie K.
All I have to say is YUM! Went here for a belated birthday dinner and tried the jumbo size crabs. They are delicious! If you like crabs then come to this place.
(5)Camille M.
Crab cakes were AMAZING. But, the crab imperial stuffed lobster tail was the star of the show.
(5)David W.
Awesome food!! Proprietary crab seasoning was outstanding. The calamari is a must!! Great service, what more can I say?
(5)Kathryn T.
This is the first place that I have seen that charges you 9%Tax for a beer or any drink for that matter. Between the food and the drink that is 15% Tax!!!! Marylanders, you area not worth it.
(1)Ashley W.
To me, this place is just okay. Nothing special that keeps me coming back. Interior needs some updating. My soup was good. A lot of shells but it isnt crab soup without shells!
(3)Erin S.
Nice casual spot for a seafood dinner. I've come here once for crabs and a few other times with family for regular food. The crabs here were good, but are overpriced compared to some of the smaller crab houses near my home. The regular fare is tasty! A few things that stand out... Maryland Crab Soup - This is VERY good and I am picky about this kind of soup. I was here last weekend and everyone else at the table got Cream of Crab. They regretted it after trying mine. (The cream of crab was more cream than crab.) The Maryland Crab soup was seasoned very well and really delicious. BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp - We get this appetizer every single time we come here. The shrimp are huge! VERY tasty dish, you'll be glad you ordered it. My boyfriend got the scallops which were great. It's a large serving too. His mother got the fried roughy sandwich which looked great. I had the oyster sandwich. I think i was expecting more of a oyster po boy, but the oysters were breaded a little too much for me to really taste the oyster. I probably won't order this again. On other occasions though, I've had the crab cakes which were great! Next time we come here, I will probably get those. The service is very friendly and there's lots of televisions around for watching sports. Nice, easy place to go if you've got family and want to go out for a stress-free dinner.
(3)Larry H.
You won't find the traditional crab shack picnic table seating at Costas Inn. I guess the regular square 4-top tables allow them to squeeze more customers into the same space. But the lack of that one minor tradition can be easily forgiven because Costas has been serving some of the highest quality steamed crabs and crab cakes available around Baltimore since 1971. One of the nice things about Costa's is that you can also reserve the number and size crabs you want in advance, which is nice. There's nothing more disappointing than showing up to a crab shack and finding out after your drinks are ordered that they're out of everything except smalls. Another non-traditional aspect of Costas is that they regularly fly in their crabs from Louisiana rather than using local crabs from the bay. That may be a downside for some, but it guarantees that Costas crabs are consistently big and heavy even when watermen on the Bay are having a hard time locating enough local crabs to meet the Baltimore area summer time demands. The real reason to go to Costas is for the steamed crabs. But if you happen to have someone in your party that's truly crab-picking-phobic, Costas also serves up their own in-house traditional Baltimore Pit Beef and Ocean City Thrasher-style french fries too.
(4)Karla W.
Excellent food!! We had the crab dip with breadsticks, seafood mac and cheese, and garden salad with blackened shrimp. Everything was good. Great lunch service.
(5)John K.
Costa's ? Can't say much for this establishment. My parents go down on Friday, July 3, 2015 to get a bite to eat. ( during daylight hours since it's such a safe society now a days )They are both in their mid 70's and while coming in my mother trips on the concrete and strikes her face against the sidewalk. Some customers went into the establishment to get some help and some ice and NO ONE comes out to help my parents! Not a single soul came out to render any kind of first aid or to check to see if my mother needed emergency assistance. Do yourself a favor- dine at a place that will take your safety into consideration... If a place doesn't care for your safety then they could care less about your dining experience!
(1)Chuck J.
Went here last night and it was great for what it is. Its not fine dining but, the crab cakes and orange crushes are killer. Very good food, good people and decent prices. I would definitely drop in again.
(4)Nicole W.
We came here for the first time after reading the reviews. It was very busy for a Sunday night, but we were seated within five minutes. The cream of crab soup was perfectly seasoned; no need for salt or pepper. I have a pet peeve about finding shells in my soup and I am glad to say I found none. Most reviews were on the crabs, but we voted to try their other foods. The chicken imperial seamed small, but was delicious. My boyfriend got the crab cakes and enjoyed them. My mother enjoyed their salad wedge. There only thing that was less than enjoyable was there cream of spinach. It was very bland and made more with cheese instead of a cream. Other all, it was a good place to eat and we will be returning to check out their steamed crabs!!
(4)Morgan T.
I came here with friends on Tuesday night for paint night. I got the soup cream of crab and loved it. Also got the unlimited pasta it's like going to olive garden it was amazing. I cant wait to go back and eat there again. Staff was amazing and pleasant. Atmosphere was amazing as well. Also I will also say to get the funnel cake sticks they were amazing I wish then I would have order 2 orders instead of one since everyone ate my order lol.
(5)Brian H.
Ok sure, great crab cooked just like they want it on the EAST coast(if you are from the Pacific Northwest, you may find yourself a little lost), BUT there are plenty of other reasons to drive out of downtown and find this little hole-in-the-wall. You'll have to rely on Kathy Lee Gifford on the crab cakes. What was the highlight of MY meal? The French Onion Soup! Quite possibly the best I have ever had! Who'd a thunk!?!? :-)
(5)Monika S.
Good spot to watch NFL games or baseball. Comfortable layout. Foods good especially the "cream of crab" soup. Rich and thick and crabby, lol. Just the way I like it.
(4)Barbara R.
Costas is my favorite restaurant in Baltimore since Haussners left town. I personally always opt to sit in the Bar side, but they have a separate comfortable Restaurant side as well. The creamed spinach souffle is to die for. Drinks are always well made and a good size for the $. Their crabcakes are Huge and delicious with only enough filler to keep them from falling apart. You can get just about anything though, not just seafood. My mom likes the hot beef sandwich with fries & gravy. Nice folks there too, staff and customers both.
(5)Sweet S.
Good crabcakes in a typical boondocks Maryland atmosphere. Mediocre beer and awful wine selection, but like I said, it's typical. Haven't had their seafood or steamed crabs, but their crabcakes are tasty. However, I suspect they aren't using local crab meat because the meat is a little bit tough and not quite as flavorful as it should be.
(4)Bill W.
The best crabs ,always full , the staff is full of personality, they treat you like family
(5)Shane G.
First and foremost: you're not being served Maryland crabs. Secondly: they don't use Old Bay seasoning to steam said crabs. Need I say more?
(3)Dale R.
have eaten there many times. best crabs and great food. 2 thumbs up. had dinner with friends from Germany, they had a great Maryland experience with crabs cream of crab soup and cold beer. I have never sat in the dining room. I like being where the sights and sounds are.
(5)Jason L.
Food was excellent, staff was great. The owner came and chatted with us for ten minutes. Wonderful place.
(5)Larissa J.
New to Baltimore and was looking for somewhere with unbelievable crab cakes to take my aunt (an out of town guest) and this was listed as one of the top places. The crab cakes are delicious! Very little filler and you have the options of broiled or fried - and they were yummy! The only downside is the decor of the place - it has an open concept and is a step up from a diner but the food is delicious and the bar fully loaded! We were looking for specialty martinis but they only had a few wines and beers on the menu so we had to get creative ourselves. Over all a good meal at a good price.
(4)Ron H.
Ask what they have for steamed crabs then order the largest size they have. 2 guys can easily kill a dozen, so don't be afraid to order on the heavy side! The house made Old Bay-like seasoning is fantastc and you'll be licking your fingers between each pull of meat out of the shell. Plenty of tv's in the bar area, standard selection of beers on tap. If on the rare occasion they're out of crabs, the shrimp steamer app you can't go wrong with, if you're adverse to getting your hands dirty the bacon wrapped bbq shrimp is a nice alternative. For those who arent willing to get their hands dirty, the crab cakes shouldn't be missed. Just how good are these crabs? Costas ships nationwide and it's well worth it!!! I've been here with a group of 10, just a few friends and even by myself at the bar. They'll roll out some brown paper on the table, hand you a mallet and drop the crabs right infront of you. Staff is attentitive, friendly and constantly checking back in with you through the meal...Can't ask for anything more!
(5)Tiffany J.
My best friend and I went for crabs, our first time going to Costas. We were seated in the bar area which was cool, ordered a dozen of large crabs for $70 they were delicious!! Plus during Orioles games the crushes are $5, wish the server would've told us instead of seeing it on the bill.
(3)Dimitri F.
Super good crabs and crab cake! Staff was friendly and nice. I will definitely be back. Hostess was hilarious and satisfied every need of table placement. And the waitress something with an M. Was hotter than the steamed crabs.
(5)Ellie F.
I learned how to eat a whole crab! This from someone who's only ever done the crab leg thing before. It was not as disgusting as I feared. The meat was definitely worth it, too. This place is HUGE. We went on a weeknight and it was pretty empty, which was nice. The service was a bit spotty (read = inconsistent), but everyone seemed quite polite. The bar part of the building seems like a great place to hang out, watch a game, and put away some prime seafood.
(4)Terry R.
As a citizen of the great state of Dundalk, I'm required to eat at this establishment once a month. This time of year I find myself there once a week. I can honestly say that I have never left Costas disappointed. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. The crabs always impress and on those rare occasions that they have run out ... I go with the open face roast beef sandwich. It's crazy good. No matter what you decide for your entree .. do yourself a favor and grab a bowl of Maryland crab or cream of grab. They are the best crab soups I have ever tasted.
(4)Ann B.
AMAZING!!! We had a crab cake, French fries, and reserved one dozen large crabs. The seasoning is unique - not just old bay. Kind of a dive in appearance but top notch food and service!!
(5)Christina V.
Steamed crabs!!! Absolutely fantastic... when I was preggers, I wanted to spend a weekend in Baltimore pretty much to eat a huge tableful of crabs. Well, I got my wish here at Costas Inn. So awesome... we came in on a Saturday night with a full house and as crab-eating newbies (we are from Southern NY), we got a half order of crabs which we quickly devoured. We ended up getting another half order of crabs and really enjoyed it. The only thing that sucked is that it was soooo salty. I wasn't far enough in my pregnancy to have marshmellow puffy fingers yet, so it was definitely the bath of Old Bay that caused me to puff up like a balloon. But mama and baby were fine - and I had an unforgettable experience. Thanks, Costas Inn!
(5)LISA H.
This one is simple. I am a Marylander/Annapolitan and these were the best crabs I have eaten in years. Yep they were fat, sweet, yummy. Service was fine. We had tons of crabs, steamed shrimps, crab dip and pictures of beer.
(5)John B.
Can't imagine what you'd be doing ordering anything but seafood here. But I guess some people's imaginations do run wild. The colossal steamed shrimp probably weren't colossal. But they were awesome. Nice and sweet. If I had a platter of these set out for me at work, I could probably eat one every three minutes for the entirety of my workday. Steamed crabs were great, too. I'm cheap, so I just got a dozen mediums. For whatever reason, they threw in a few larger specimens, which I appreciate. More Old Bay and less salt than at my favorite place, Sambo's in Leipsic, DE. But you can't bring kids to Sambo's, and a little more spice is always all right. Crabs weren't too dry, either. My wife thought the French fries were "abysmal." Would it surprise you to learn that my kid and I ate the whole damn plate? I'd say they're better than "abysmal," but slightly less than "average." Salads OK. Ice cream sundae OK. Did I mention that one of the nicest things about having a kid is that you can eat like a pig under the guise of being a solicitous parent who likes to give his kids the occasional "treat"?
(4)Ken L.
Crabs are alright but not the best in town. I did like their appetizer platter of the shrimp prior to the crabs. Also did not like the fact that we had to ask twice for water and bread when everyone around us got theirs as soon as they sat down. 3.5 stars rounded up however will not return.
(4)Alice L.
Great Crabs, Great Beer Prices. We ordered a ton of crabs (they were CAKED with seasoning, so much so that we had to scrape them off) but they were gooood. Because they had so many size options, it was difficult to figure out how many to order. Sides were good. Overal, great experience. You got a mallet and brown paperlined table - it's on!
(4)Eric V.
I really liked this place until I was finished with my meal and I started talking to the staff. The crabs were good. Full and tasty, nice spice. The staff was friendly and attentive. I was alone and sat at the bar. They have full service at the bar so I ordered 6 jumbos and drank some cold beer with a side of fries. Everything was going well until I mentioned I was from Austin, Texas and one of the staff said; "these crabs are actually from your gulf. Isn't that ironic?" That made me mad. It was season in the Chesapeake Bay area and this place was getting crabs from the Gulf of Mexico?? I've been duped! Damn. I understand the crab season can be rough or fluctuate wildly but this was a good season and I was a little upset. I came to Baltimore on business and planned on eating some true Chesapeake Bay Blues only to be disappointed by something I could get in my hometown. Disappointed by the knowledge of their origin but not their taste, make sense? It's the principle. Ever been to a seafood restaurant that prints a fresh menu every day? All of their fish and shellfish have the location that the fish came from listed next to the dish. Oysters from P.E.I. - Halibut from Alaska - Littlenecks from Jersey - Dungeness from Washington... How about Blue Crab from Gulf of Mexico? I would have appreciated the knowledge ahead of time and now I know to ask these things since the global economy is shrinking our boundaries for local food. Ask the source of the food before you order. If they are truthful, you may be surprised! Yes it makes a difference. Yes they could have lied and I would not have known the difference. After that revelation, I thought I was charged too much money. I know they boast that they have crab all year long, but they should also be forthcoming where those crabs come from. If it is high season in Chesapeake yet you are sourcing your crabs from the Gulf of Mexico or somewhere else, I want to know why. Sorry Costas. I will not be back any time soon. The competition is too high so I will go to Cantler's, Nick's, Price's, or L.P. Steamer's first.
(2)Judivelly T.
Reservations strongly recommended in weekends. Crabs are the lowest price I've seen thus far in Baltimore. Lively atmosphere and a good spot for friends.
(4)Steve W.
Great seafood at good prices, sits between home and work...well, it used to. They closed RG (Beth) Steel, so I don't work there anymore. Still great food!
(4)Sarah L.
You've always been there for me Costas. GIANT steamed shrimp on New Year's Eve, punch-your-grandmother crab cake sandwiches, and amazing crab feasts with old friends and cold beer. Don't you ever change!
(5)Kimberly E.
Went for the first time about a week ago and really enjoyed it. As some of the other reviews mentioned, the decor is just plain, nothing special. However, when it comes to the food, that's where the focus should be. I am a bit of a foodie, so it's hard for me to go places and really enjoy my meal when I feel like I could have done better at home. I know most reviews on here are for the crabs and other seafood. Instead, I chose their pork loin roulade, stuffed with bread stuffing (ok, it didnt taste like homemade stuffing) pecans, and cranberries. Simply put, it was delicious. I had baked potato and broccoli for my sides. The broccoli was steamed just the way I like it...with plenty of bright green color and enough crunch for satisfaction, unlike most places that overcook it to mushy pea green. My boyfriend had the crabs, and loved them of course. It was $68 for one dozen large crabs, & they were pretty heavy. My entree was reasonably priced around $16. Pitcher of domestic beer was around $10. The waitress was attentive and efficient, and the staff in general seemed to work like a good team. I wasn't planning on spending $100+ dollars that night, but birthday boy got what he wanted. I'd definitely visit Costas again.
(4)Gina C.
Food is delish, but it's one of the best places for crabs, hands down. Can be a little pricey, but they are worth it. The bar side is a very laid back atmosphere, and the dining room side is casual to business casual - business casual usually being the local business guys in khakis and polo shirts, having a few beers or drinks over a good meal. I should add that I took my husband to Costas for his first steamed crab experience (he is from New Jersey), so that should tell you this born and bred Marylander has faith in Costas' steamed crabs.
(5)Jason M.
I've had crab cakes in pretty much every place in and around Baltimore and Costas Inn has some of the best I've ever had. If they have any filler I can't see it. My wife usually gets the shrimp salad sandwich which is huge, see can only finish half and every time she orders it she asks for a container so she can take it home to finish later in the day. The Maryland crab soup is probably the best I've had and all the side items are perfect. I especially love the mashed potatoes. Not sure what they put in them but they are just awesome. The service is great and I would recommend getting here when they open at 11 for lunch or make it a early dinner so you don't have to wait for a table.
(5)Roz B.
Not a gorgeous place or water front dining, but the crabs are great and the place is a lot of fun.
(4)Heather R.
My boyfriend and I went here on our anniversary and it was the nicest place I've been to for steamed crabs. Great atmosphere. Friendly service and staff. Amazing crabs and little pricey but it's worth it.
(5)Jason S.
Just arrived back in Maryland with my wife, who has never had steamed crabs before. Everyone said to try Costas, so we did. It was a Saturday night, they were packed, and I'm glad I made a reservation before arriving. We grabbed a drink at the bar (bartender was great), were seated relatively quickly, and within a couple minutes, our waitress came over to verify our order for a dozen large crabs and to take the rest of our order (which was just a bowl of soup each). The soup came out quickly, as did the crabs. Our waitress asked if we needed anything else, and we asked for water, butter and cocktail sauce. She said she'd be right back. About 10 minutes later, she came by to ask how things were. We again asked for water, butter and cocktail sauce. That was the last time we saw her for the next hour. We ended up getting our own water from the bar, never got our butter or cocktail sauce and never got noticed again until it was time to bring us the bill. My wife mentioned that we weren't happy with the service, and the waitress said that she was sorry, but that she had gotten stuck behind the bar helping out. Except that we were seated next to the bar, and knew that wasn't true. When my wife called her out on her lie, she just apologized, took our credit card and left. The crabs were fantastic, and if not for the atrocious service, this likely would have been a 5-star review. But, having to fight for water, not being able to fully enjoy our crabs without butter and cocktail sauce and then being lied to really detracted from our experience.
(2)Fracesca T.
We stop here often for crabs, but this week left a bad taste in our mouths! Firstly, we always appreciated the ability to call ahead and reserve your crabs. We gad to wait 45 minutes after our scheduled time, because the chef wasn't in and the steamer wasn't yet turned on. Then, we ordered maryland crab soup and oyster stew. Still a 20 minute wait! This was after they had been open for more than 3 hours! A large shell was in the oyster stew, almost causing the need for the heimlich maneuver for choking! The waitress apologized and told both the chef and owner. Neither apologized! When spending $150 for lunch, I expect more. Very disappointing!!!
(3)Brian U.
Yelp didn't disappoint with this place! It's an easy-going, casual restaurant with great crabs. If sitting in the dining room (there's an adjacent bar with lots of TVs and live music on the weekend), I would recommend making a reservation and reserving crabs. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the service. While not terrible, our waitress seemed disinterested and even sat down at a table with her friends for an extended amount of time! If the food wasn't so great, I'd give this place 3 or less stars.
(4)Hector M.
If you're into steamed crabs, this is the place for you. We ordered a dozen extra large blue crabs and the waitress came back with the necessary tools: a brown paper table cover, mallets, a bucket, and plenty of napkins. The crabs come out covered in Old Bay seasoning and its hammer time. After you crack your first two, you develop a system for optimal meat retrieval. Make sure your hotel has a refridgerator if you decide to take leftovers - thanks for nothing Sheraton Hotel (someone almost ended up with a hotel room drawer full of crabs)!
(4)