Finding A Plus Crab Restaurants Near Me

As a seafood lover, I’m always on the hunt for great crab restaurants in my area. Recently I came across A Plus Crab, which seems to be a small chain of crab-focused eateries. Naturally, I wondered “Is there an A Plus Crab near me?” I did some digging and here’s what I learned about these casual dining spots specializing in delicious crab dishes.

Overview of A Plus Crab

A Plus Crab is a small chain of about a dozen crab restaurants located mostly in Ohio with a few locations in Pennsylvania and Indiana. They specialize in crab cooked a variety of ways along with classic side dishes.

According to their website, A Plus Crab’s goal is to provide high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Their crab is flown in fresh daily and they use homemade sauces and seasonings. The menu includes the following types of crab:

• Snow crab legs
• King crab legs
• Dungeness crab
• Blue crab
• Soft shell crab

You can get them steamed, broiled, fried or in pasta dishes, sandwiches and more Sides like corn, potatoes, coleslaw and rice complement the crab entrees

Overall, A Plus Crab seems to offer good old-fashioned crab shack fare in a no-frills environment. The focus is on generous portions of crab, not fancy presentations. Next I’ll share what I found out about A Plus Crab locations.

A Plus Crab Locations Near Me

To find A Plus Crab restaurants near me, I first checked their website which lists all locations. There are currently 12 A Plus Crab restaurants:

• 5 in Ohio
• 3 in Pennsylvania
• 2 in Indiana
• 1 in Tennessee
• 1 in New York

Of these, 8 are in the Ohio cities of Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, Macedonia, Medina, Stow and Strongsville.

Next I searched for “A Plus Crab near me” on Google Maps to see the closest locations to my area. I also looked up reviews on Yelp and Facebook to gauge overall customer satisfaction.

There are 3 A Plus Crab restaurants within a 90 minute drive from me:

• Canton, OH – 47 min away, 4.5 stars on Facebook
• Stow, OH – 75 min away, 3.5 stars on Yelp
• Strongsville, OH – 80 min away, 4 stars on Yelp

The Canton location seems to be the best combination of good reviews and shortest drive. Many reviewers highlight the great value, friendly service and delicious, meaty crab. A few complaints mention smaller portions.

What to Expect on a Visit

Based on reviews, photos and the menu, here’s a peek at what I could expect during a visit to the Canton A Plus Crab:

Casual vibe – The decor looks fairly simple with wooden tables and nautical accents. Service may be friendly but basic. Many customers get takeout.

Big portions – Entrees feature a full pound of crab in most cases. Sides are a la carte but also sound generous. Prices are reasonable.

Extensive crab choices – The variety of crab cooking methods and menu options is impressive. Crab legs, soft shell, crab sandwiches, you name it.

Long waits – This seems to be a popular spot so I should be prepared to potentially wait 30+ minutes for a table. Calling ahead is recommended.

Hands-on dining – Crab legs and other shell-on options mean this is not a spot for clean, elegant eating. But for crab lovers, that’s part of the fun!

Limited beverages – Just soda and water here. Alcohol is not served, which adds to the casual, family-friendly vibe.

Overall, the Canton A Plus Crab sounds like just the type of unfussy crab spot I enjoy. Next I’ll share tips on what to order based on reviews.

Tips for Ordering at A Plus Crab

Here are some top tips for navigating the menu and ordering the best items at A Plus Crab based on customer reviews:

• Crab legs – Snow, king and Dungeness get raves. Go for a pound if very hungry. Get them steamed or garlic sautéed.

• Soft shell crab – A house specialty that many customers highly recommend, both fried and sautéed.

• Crab Alfredo – Their crab + pasta dish is rich and tasty according to many diners. Good option for non-crab eaters in your group.

• Fried seafood – The fried shrimp, clam strips and fish also get good marks if you want a break from crab.

• Slaw and rice – These basic sides are house-made and the perfect accompaniment to the crab.

• Watch portions – Appetizers and full entrees are large. Feel free to share and start small if you don’t have a huge appetite.

• BYOB – Since they don’t serve alcohol, bringing your own beer or wine is allowed, which is great for enhancing the experience.

• Call ahead – On weekends and busy times, calling ahead for takeout or to get your name on the waitlist is advised to avoid long waits.

How A Plus Crab Stacks Up to Other Crab Restaurants

Of course, A Plus Crab isn’t my only option for crab in my area. Here’s a quick comparison of A Plus Crab to some other popular local crab restaurants:

Captain Jack’s Crab Shack

• More upscale atmosphere with full bar
• Slightly higher prices
• Wider menu beyond just crab
• Better for a date night than family outing

Maryland Blue Crab House

• Specializes in blue crab from the Chesapeake Bay
• Traditional Maryland-style steamed crabs
• Limited menu but high quality
• Expect messier, hands-on dining

Red Lobster

• National family-dining chain
• More affordable prices
• Diverse menu including lobster, shrimp, fish
• Less of a local crabhouse vibe

A Plus Crab

• Casual, unfussy atmosphere
• Focus is on varied crab preparations
• Large portions for the price
• Better for crab devotees than date nights

For my preferences – casual vibe, generous portions and a focus on crab – A Plus Crab seems to come out on top for the quintessential local crab shack experience.

What To Do If There’s No A Plus Crab Nearby

Maybe you don’t have the luck to have an A Plus Crab in your neck of the woods. If this humble but tasty crab spot isn’t close to home, here are some tips to still get your fix:

• Check the map – New A Plus Crab locations seem to be opening, so check their website periodically for updated store openings.

• Look for similar spots – In your area, seek out highly rated casual crab restaurants that offer simple steamed and fried crab.

• Travel to the nearest one – Make a fun day trip or weekend getaway out of visiting the A Plus Crab nearest to you.

• Order online – Some A Plus Crab locations allow online ordering for takeout or delivery. Ship some crab to yourself!

• Copycat recipes – Recreate favorite A Plus Crab dishes like garlic crab legs or crab Alfredo at home.

• Request a location – Use the A Plus Crab site to formally request they open a franchise spot in your city.

• Petition other chains – Encourage national crab chains like Joe’s Crab Shack to open near you.

Where there’s a will (and taste for crab), there’s a way! Don’t let a lack of A Plus Crab in your area keep you from enjoying quality crab. With some effort, you can get your fix of their crabtastic offerings.

Final Thoughts

The Canton, OH location has excellent reviews and is less than an hour from me, making it my top choice for satisfying my crab cravings. I’m excited to try their garlic sautéed snow crab legs and soft shell crab soon.

While availability is still limited, A Plus Crab fills a niche for affordably priced, no-frills crab dining in cities where this cuisine was hard to find before. As a crab lover, I hope they continue expanding so more people can get in on these claw-some eats!