Eat Chesapeake Bay Steamed Crabs

Quarterdeck Restaurant has been a fixture of the Fort Myer Heights neighborhood since 1979, built its reputation on seasonal Maryland blue crab feasts and cold beer, and has never needed to be more than exactly that. This is the real Chesapeake crab experience — paper-covered tables, wooden mallets, Old Bay-dusted shells piling up around you, and the unhurried understanding that this kind of meal cannot and should not be rushed. All crabs are steamed to order using a custom spice blend made by the J.O. Spice Company just outside Baltimore — heavy on the rock salt, light on the celery seed — and the kitchen won’t compromise on steaming time, which means plan on 45 minutes from order to table.  That wait is the point. Order a cold beer, start a conversation, and let the anticipation build.

The menu goes beyond crabs — grilled mesquite shrimp skewers, steamed mussels in white wine garlic butter, Caribbean jerk catfish, broiled lobster tail, and a much-loved signature crab dip round out the options — but regulars will tell you honestly that everything here is about the crabs. The all-you-can-eat option is the move for serious eaters, and the outdoor seating on a warm summer evening is one of the most enjoyable places in all of Arlington to spend two or three hours. Located at 1200 Fort Myer Drive, steps from the Rosslyn Metro. Reservations strongly recommended. Find hours and menus at quarterdeckarlington.com.