Dining a la Carteret

Crab Shack, Salter Path

In a time where attitude is everything, inspiration can be gained from the Guthrie family of Salter Path, owners of the Crab Shack Restaurant. Like many families in that island community, they have proven that perseverance pays.

In 2005, Hurricane Ophelia disrupted lives in this quaint fishing village and destroyed many businesses, including the Crab Shack.

When fishing the waters of the Crystal Coast , and operating a restaurant to serve up that bounty has been your way of life for 30 years, your only option is to rebuild.  It’s what you know, and it’s what you do. 

Much to the delight of guests returning to the Crab Shack, the dining room is a little larger, the view of Bogue Sound a little broader, and the menu a little longer.  Don’t you worry; there are still plenty of crabs to go around. As always, steamed blue crabs are available by the dozen or half dozen. Snow crab and Dungeness crab legs are available by the pound.

In route to my visit at the Crab Shack, I started reminiscing about a time when I was much younger, and my brother lived just down the street from the Crab Shack. When I made that right hand turn off of Highway 58 by the Methodist Church , the memories came flooding back; my brother loved the casual, welcoming atmosphere of the Crab Shack, which still remains. 

As I entered, I was greeted with welcoming smiles and friendly hellos.  I don’t believe there will ever be a storm strong enough to wash that away.   

Once seated, I couldn’t help but notice the genial nods from other patrons in the restaurant.  The dining room was engulfed in neighborly conversation including those who identified themselves as being first-time visitors. 

As typical for any seafood restaurant on the coast, a large basket of warm hush puppies and tall glass of sweet tea was first to arrive at the table. I drink sweet tea every day, and am most capable of telling you where to find the best sweet tea in the county.  Usually it’s in my refrigerator at home, but the tea at the Crab Shack is even better. So good, in fact, I’m certain I drank more than four glasses of it. 

The hush puppies will get your attention as well. Moist and warm there is no need for butter on these pups.  You immediately think, “now these are good.”  Then you find yourself thinking there is something different about them, and you keep eating them trying to figure it out.  Hopefully you’ve figured it out before you reach the fourth or fifth hush puppy, or you will not have room for dinner. 

I’ll tell you what it is.  The hush puppies are sweet. Not sugary or dessert sweet, just a subtle hint of sweet, enough to make them stand out from the rest.

Enjoy, but don’t over indulge, especially if you have ordered shrimp or scallops panned in butter.  I remember thinking as a kid that “scallops panned in butter” sounded so grown up. 

Isn’t it amazing how as “grown ups” the simplest things bring us the most pleasure. That is truly the case here; fresh shrimp and scallops sautéed in a pan with a little butter and garlic pepper… absolutely delicious.  Were it not necessary for me to sample a few other menu items, I would have given in to selfish indulgence and told the cook to keep the scallops coming.

I also enjoyed the steamed shrimp. Again, freshness and simplicity; large fresh shrimp steamed with a little old bay seasoning.  The seasoning gives zest to the flavor of the shrimp.  Peeling and eating shrimp is fun, although a tad messy, and definitely adds entertainment to the conversation at the table.

If you don’t care to get your fingers dirty, then opt for the fried shrimp or scallops. The golden fried shrimp are accented well by either homemade tarter or cocktail sauce, and the fork tender scallops are a heavenly delight.

Thanks to the Crab Shack, I have discovered a guilt free way to enjoy crab cakes: crab bites. 

Crab bites are yummy, tiny, round versions of a crab cake that you can just pop in your mouth. Genius!  Before, I would never order crab cakes because, believe it or not, I could never eat them all.  Being a member of the “clean plate club,” the guilt from the left over food was too much for me. Not anymore!  Crab bites are available on the appetizer menu at the Crab Shack, though I’m sure they would be available as a meal or on a combination plate.

Combination plates at the Crab Shack are very customer friendly. Varieties of fried, broiled and steamed seafood are available on combination plates, which makes decisions and dinner a lot more interesting.

Oysters, clam strips, soft shell crabs, flounder, trout, catfish and lobster tails are available broiled or fried, when in season. 

Grilled seafood selections include tuna, grouper, mahi, salmon, scallops and shrimp kabobs. Steaks, chicken, hamburgers and barbecue are available for the non-seafood diners in your group.

An assortment of desserts including homemade lemon and key lime pies complete your meal, and coffee is only a cup away.

If you’re thinking about seafood for lunch or dinner, or you just need to be encouraged today, stop by the Crab Shack in Salter Path.  The Guthrie family and staff will make your dining experience memorable; it’s what they do.

Quick Bites

Crab Shack, Salter Path  

Quick Bites

Location: 144 Shore Drive , Salter Path

Phone: (252) 247-3444

Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.  Fall/winter hours may vary.

Reservations: Not required.

10/13/06

See the previously reviewed restaurants on the Restaurant Archive page

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