Crabcake Smackdown - G&M vs Faidleys - Jan 2008

Well, at least the Hudson crabs are the same crabs as Chesapeake crabs, and it doesn't sound like the meat is pasteurized, since they're picked in MD.  What surprises me is that the water quality in the lower Hudson is high enough to use the crabs.  I knew it was improving but I didn't realize it had improved that much.

seafarer john


A small crabbing industry is developing in the lower Hudson River - within sight of the towers of Manhattan.

Oh, I don't know, John. I've had other crustaceans from those waters but they always looked like this.

OK......here is the story on crabmeat used at G & M  and at Faidley's.

In off season, for crabs, G &M uses pasteurized crabmeat from Indonesia.  On season, they used  Maryland crab.

Faidely's used fresh  Maryland crab for all but  two months of the year.  At this time, they use  only pasteurized Maryland crab.

Greymo


I believe that the single crabcake platter was  about  $16.00  the night that we went there.  I  have  shipped  four of them  at  total cost  of  $86.oo  so  that is not that bad for shipping.  Think how much it would cost for gas to fill your car  a time or two!

I understand your logic, but you aren't quite comparing apples to apples.  The single platter also comes with two sides, which are not included with the shipped product.  Also, the two crab cake platter runs about $21/22?  Four cakes would cost about $50, for take-out, including tax and a small take-out tip. 

I am not saying that the shipping is unreasonable, just somewhat prohibitive to purchasing frequently.

mayor al


Don,  Please report back on the evaluation of G&M's mail order Crabcakes. I trust Michael's comments, but I would like to hear from others who use the net to order them. We have enjoyed them several times 'in person' but not since the fire and reopening. I guess another Baltimore trip is in order.

Mission accomplished.  We had two last night (sort of).  They each came in a plastic container.  We followed the instructions, which included the option of measuring the internal temperature for doneness, which I did.  I found them to be very good, although I claim no expertise.  My wife said they were wonderful. 
 
We also had some of the Baltimore-style crab soup, which I liked a lot.
 
When I said that we sort of had two, it was because our eight-month-old dachshund helped himself to half of mine when I was away from the little table that was out by the pool.  He liked them too!
 
Part of my order was a little sampler package that included a stuffed shrimp and a stuffed oyster, but I put those in the freezer for later this weekend.

MiamiDon
...our eight-month-old dachshund helped himself to half of mine...

The very definition of a Weinersnitchel!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..... can anyone find me a GOOD crab cake in CT!!!

LyndaB


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..... can anyone find me a GOOD crab cake in CT!!!

I cannot recommend any place in CT but you can mail order the G & M crab cakes.  I can vouch for their excellence both in the restaurant and as a shipped gift. 

Thank you,  I guess I will put that on my birthday wish list (July)

LindaB:
 
G&M Crabcakes Before:

 
 
G&M Crabcake After Cooking

Don, Those look Great !   But I have to think in "Mayor-sized Portions".

Here's my G&M Crabcake order !!

Any place beyond spitting distance of Chesapeake Bay is suspect in so far as crabcakes are concerned. You might get lucky once in a while outside that neighborhood, but never count on it.

Cheers, John 

John, If memory serves me... I think one of those plates was headed for you !

Al, If memory serves, I think you shortstopped my plate and I had to re-order...

And, that get together is a fond memory for all of us - our first "Meet&Greet . I believe.

Cheers, John 

First one in the "East" !  In 2004 the first one was in Rancho Cucamonga, CA on Superbowl Sunday in February. Then three weeks later the first Glee Club tour of Western Tennessee.  T H E N in April The  Crabfest Meeting  !
 

 
If you look closely you will see your lovely wife and yourself sitting as far from I-95 and Wandering Jew (and me) as you could get and still be in the room !! (over Kurt's Shoulder)
 

It looks like i95 is praying for divine intervention on a seat change.

Well, you know, someone has to sit next to The Travelin......errr......I mean.......WJ

In the latest WTOP poll, G & M is garnering only 10% of the vote and Faidley's wasn't even nominated.  I believe Faidley's was in the top 5 or 10 last year.
 
I consider myself lucky I have never had a bad crabcake at G & M.
 
http://wtop.com/?nid=812&sid=2023426#

On my recent trip to Baltimore, I tried a new (to me) place for crab cakes - Koco's Pub in northeast Baltimore.  First of all, let me tell you that Cousin Johnny gets his Roadfood nose from buffetbuster, and if he tells you a place is OK...well, it's probably a little better than OK.

I thought that the crab cakes were excellent - and maybe even better than my beloved G&M.  The only downside was the cost - I think that their crab cake platter, which included a potato and cole slaw was around $25.  G&M's DOUBLE crab cake platter runs about the same.  I don't usually eat two G&M cakes in one sitting, but they make for a nice snack on the plane or in the hotel later.  :)  Don't get me wrong - I didn't feel as though the crab cake wasn't worth the money.  I just thought it was a little pricey....and delicious.  Koco's is most definitely a tavern and not as kid-friendly as G&M, if that is important to you.

I also had crab cakes at Olive Grove, which is right up the road from G&M.  I have been told that it is the same family who owns both Olive Grove and G&M and the crab cakes are made from the same recipe, in the same style, etc.  To that end, I thought that they were good, but absent the long line at G&M, I would not choose Olive Grove over G&M - in fact, I did think that the crab cakes at G&M were better.  I didn't go to G&M on this trip, so that is going purely from memory - but, it seemed as though the Olive Grove crab cakes had a little more filler.

Anytime Cousin Johnny gets a day off, he is usually out exploring for good food.  Every place he has taken me to so far has been a real winner, although we weren't able to squeeze in Koco's last weekend.

Roz and I are are going to be in Baltimore in early November for a conference (her not me as I am sorta semi retired).
 
There seems to be some debate about the best crab cakes.  Al obviously likes G & M and so deos Buffet Buster.  We will be staying on the harbor at the Marriott.  Which crab cake is closer and the best.
 
Sincere thanks
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul
 Fraidley's is a stall in the Lexington Market Place downtown, much closer to the Harbor than G&M, which is on the far south side near BWI airport.  But Fraidleys is a stand-up and eat casual counter-eating place while G&M is a sit-down restaurant. I like the Crabcakes about equally, but give the vote to G&M for comfort and total menu options (and prices too).

mayor al


Paul
 Fraidley's is a stall in the Lexington Market Place downtown, much closer to the Harbor than G&M, which is on the far south side near BWI airport.  But Fraidleys is a stand-up and eat casual counter-eating place while G&M is a sit-down restaurant. I like the Crabcakes about equally, but give the vote to G&M for comfort and total menu options (and prices too).

 
Thanks Al.  G & M gets the vote for me.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul-
While I would gladly eat Faidley's anytime, I am squarely in the G & M camp.  Still, a visit to Lexington Market would definitely be worthwhile, especially since you will be so close.

Please report back and let us know how they were.

buffetbuster


Paul-
While I would gladly eat Faidley's anytime, I am squarely in the G & M camp.  Still, a visit to Lexington Market would definitely be worthwhile, especially since you will be so close.

Please report back and let us know how they were.

 
Roz's conference will be in November.  I will be with her but not in the conference.  The conference has something to do with her professional career. 
 
We are definately going to do the G & M thanks to you and Al's thoughts.
 
It will be couple of months before we get there but I will report our good fortune of visiting a place that so many have enjoyed.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I have tried the Crabcakes three different ways at G&M. All use the same ingredients, but the presentation makes them seem 'different'.
My first choice, and thus what I recommend for you at a meal-time, is the two Crabcake Dinner. You will be full, or have some to take back to the hotel to enjoy as a late-night snack, but it is the first choice for me. There is a photo at the top of this page of the two-cake dinner.

I also enjoyed a plate of steamed Oysters with a Crabcake filling (stuffed) on top of each mollusk. I think there were 6 large oysters in the order, each had a small scoop of the crab-stuffing broiled on top of the oyster. Very Good. I would get this for a shared appetizer if I were ordering some other seafood dish for an entree. Here is a photo of the Stuffed Oyster Plate. It is delicious !!!
 

Third, and my last choice for a Crabcake is the single Luncheon portion(sandwich?) One just doesn't do it for me, and adding bread is not the answer in my book. For the same reason I seldom order a steak sandwich !  I will eat a crabcake sandwich, but am more likely to dump the bread and eat it with a fork ! I guess this is an ok Lunch, but all of our trips (665 miles each way) have been with a crabcake dinner as a trip-reward, so the Double is our entree of choice !

I stopped at a restaurant, Timbuktu, quite by accident this week.  After I order, I ask the waiter why all the hubbub about this restaurant and he says they have best crabcakes in Baltimore, so i change my order and have some.  I really did think they were outstanding, better than G & M that I had visited twice and thought this place should be mentioned here.  I was not impressed by the ambience of the place, the menu itself seemed pretty average looking, but the food was definitely top notch and I was told this owner and the G & M owners had been partners and parted ways years ago.  www.timbukturestaurant.com

carlton pierre


I stopped at a restaurant, Timbuktu...I really did think they (crabcakes) were outstanding, better than G & M that I had visited twice and thought this place should be mentioned here. 

 
Ditto 

Well, the crabcakes are good but  when I went there  the carpeting was so filthy dirty  and  the  waitress was such a  complainer, that I did not enjoy my crabcakes at all.

I had a great waiter.  I did think the decor was awful and that's why I couldn't understand what all the hubbub was about when I got there.  The walls were lined with mirrors. And, the menu itself was just typical,nothing outstanding.  But, the food was excellent.