Article 10

The Sand Crab Café

East Coast Meets West Coast

Writing & Photography by Janine Hobson

On January 6, 1988, Rita and Sandy Crabbe opened a little restaurant for the first time. Their idea was a simple one. They wanted to share the wonderful tastes of a little Florida restaurant where they had enjoyed an amazing meal with their daughter while she was in the Navy. 20 years later the people of San Diego are still enjoying the delightful concept that is the “Boil”. A Crab Boil is the idea that everything for a meal is cooked in one pot. Potatoes, corn, Louisiana sausage, crab, shrimp, and anything else that sounds good (like lobster and stone crab). This is going to be one of the most memorable meals you could have!

The interior is like walking into a seafaring dream. There are nautical decorations on every surface. From the walls to the ceiling, your eye is caught by things that are both entertaining and amazing. Who of us hasn’t wanted to go to sea when we were young? And the interesting thing is that a many of the decorations were donated by local people. I myself am donating two hats from two Navy ships.

The tradition of friends and customers donating seafaring decorations started in 1994 after a tragic fire almost caused the closure of this special restaurant. With finances being limited there was no room for decorating so the restaurant opened with just a few of the original decorations that had survived the fire. Many of the regular customers saw that the walls were bare and started bringing in nautical memorabilia. Then one thing led to another and the rest is history. Now The Sand Crab has the most interesting walls in San Marcos or Escondido.

There are a wide variety of choices on the menu. Start with 24 unique and delicious appetizers like Crab Cocktail or Hot Crab Dip (I have to have this every time), or you might try fried scallops. They are so good. With ten different “Boils” to choose from you are sure to find something special just for you. They offer Crab Cakes, Fish and Chips and even Roast Beef (for landlubbers). All of the Boils are served with sourdough bread and a bucket for the shells.

All of the food is prepared fresh daily and when it comes to seafood that is the only way to go. All of the fare is purchased from certified seafood vendors. This insures the safety and deliciousness of your dinner or lunch.

And speaking of lunch… Sand Crab has an outstanding lunch menu. My favorite is the Skippers Platter. A deep fried plate with fish, shrimp, scallops, oysters and chips. You even get a choice of soup, salad or coleslaw. If you like sandwiches this is the place to go. Offerings of Lobster Roll, Crab Roll, Crawfish or Oyster PoBoy are not sandwiches you see in too many places. If you like it spicy you might try the Louisiana Sausage PoBoy.

If you are in the mood for pasta, Sand Crab can accommodate you, with delights like Shrimp Scampi, Calamari or Chicken Parmesan to tempt your taste buds. Of course there are the usual Burger or Chicken sandwich offerings.

Rita and Sandy Crabbe wanted to convey their appreciation to all their customers for the 20 years of loyalty and support. Rita said, “We love having people come and visit us and sharing our restaurant with their friends and family.”

The price for lunch ranges from $ 6.95 to $ 12.95. Their lunch platters are delicious and there is a huge variety for the adventurous. They are generous in the fish here. They include soup, and salad or Cole Slaw. Dinner prices range from $ 9.95 to $ 29.95. The prices for the famous “Boil” run from $ 15.95 and up. Many of the Boils even have a price for two, which is a real bargain. Dinner entrees are ample, and you won’t go home hungry. They serve a variety of imported and domestic beers and wines. They also have a full bar.

Sand Crab is located at 2229 Micro Place, Escondido. The phone number is (760) 480-CRAB (2722) and the hours of operation are Monday thru Thursday 11:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. Friday they’re open from 11:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. Saturday they open at 12:00 noon till 10:00 p.m. Sunday they open at 12:00 noon till 9:00 p.m.

Lunch is served daily till 4:00 p.m. and the shellfish menu is served all day. They accept MasterCard, Visa and Discover Card. Oh, they take cash too. SMM

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