Rascals Bbq & Crab House

09/16/08

Great Steamed Crabs!!! by John G. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

My Daughter and her Husband decided to take my Wife and I to a crab house to celebrate our 42nd. wedding anniversary. He used his GPS to find a place somewhat close to Philly. He found a place in Delaware called Rascals. When we arrived the place was clean, and the hostess was very welcoming. We asked her if the crabs were big. she said the crabs arrived at 4pm and were ??????Fat, Heavy Jumbo??????s??????. We asked our server what was a good appetizer, she recommended the appetizer combo. WOW! All I can say is, it fed all four of us. We also tried their homemade crab bisque, OUTSTANDING! It had big chunks of crab meat, and was very creamy. The crabs arrived at our table, fresh steamed. They were so hot, we had to wait a few minutes so that they could cool down! I must say, I have eaten crabs for over 40 years, they were as close as ??????Ocean fresh?????? as they could be. My son in law said the beer was ice cold. Needless to say we told all of our friends to go to Rascals for the best crabs ever! I highly recommend them for the fresh broiled seafood, also. We plan on going back in December.Our server told us they have fresh steamed crabs year round!

09/09/09

Fantastic Barbeque, and Big Fresh Steamed Crabs! 5 Stars!!!

by EdwardFeldman90 at Citysearch

My family, and I moved from Texas to New Jersey due to my job. We have eaten at many of New Jersey's fine restaurants, Some good, some so-so. We were sitting in a restaurant talking to another couple when the subject of Barbecue came up. My Wife was stating, since we moved to the East coast, we haven't eaten a decent southern meal. The couple recommended Rascals. They said they ate the beef brisket, and it was so tender, that they didn't need a knife!!! In Texas we know Beef brisket! Well we had to give it a go. Saturday evening we packed up and drove 1 1/2 hrs to eat at Rascals. I got to say....it was worth the trip!!! There was five of us, we LOVE it! The service was great, the place was very clean, and most of all the barbecue was amazing. I haven't had such good Q since I left Texas!!! My sons had fresh steamed Jumbo crabs. They were so big, they filled up, and took the rest home. I must say.....If you are ever in Delaware.....try Rascals, you will feel like licking the plate!!!

• Pros: Owner is there everyday. Super nice staff. Great food!
• Cons: I live over an hour away!

08/11/09

Great Casual Family Crab House!!!

by EdwardFeldman at Citysearch

My Family, and I have been dinning at Rascals since 1981. I remember this because the first time we ate there was my son's Birthday. He wanted crabs, so we treated him to his first time eating crabs! He was a very happy 10 year old that day! My friends,and co-workers also love Rascals. It is a wonderful family run business since 1965. Recently nine of us from work, the American Cancer Society, met there, and had a blast. We ate BBQ ribs, pulled pork, Steamed shrimp, and of course BIG heavy Louisiana steamed Crabs!!! I can honestly say the waitstaff are very efficient, and helpful. They have a very nice casual atmosphere at Rascals. I highly recommend Rascals for fresh seafood, and smoke BBQ.

• Pros: Smoked BBQ, Fresh Seafood, Crabs Year Round.
• Cons: Highly addictive!!!

08/03/09

LADIES WATCH OUT FOR THE TRASHY WAITRESS THERE!!!

by Sunrise74 at Citysearch

Our family has been going to Rascals for about 14 years. The food has always been great and we have never had a problem until recently!

My husband calls there almost every week, goes there with our kids, to pick up take out.

Recently a bleached blond waitress named "Chrissy" who works there took it upon herself to take my husbands phone number off their caller ID to find out his "status". Even after he told her he was married and not interested in her she continued to taunt him with her unwanted sexual advances!!!

We have told the owners about this and to our she surprise she still works there!

It's obviously not the family place it used to be.

• Cons: UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES

01/16/09

Anniversary dinner

by stephanieM333 at Citysearch

The meal was excellent. our server were very attentive but not over bearing. I had the crabcakes which were very good. I was told they make them with fresh jumbo lump crab meat. It shows, big chunks of sweet crab with no filler. My wife had a steak which she almost finished (unusual for her). She loved the homemade bbq beans. Prices are right in line of what the meal was worth. We live in Newark Delaware, we definitely will recommend this super find to all our friends.

• Pros: Very good food, super service, clean atmosphere.
• Cons: No lobster on menu.

12/14/08

Misprints on menu & bad service

by 1msrice at Citysearch

Bushel for the price of a dozen! The to go prices were much better, so I decided to eat in, and get to go as I leave. There were only about 12 customers in the restaurant. The menu stated beef ribs with a succulant description, so our palettes were ready! We started to order & the waitress said, oh, that's a misprint, they are pork. Ok, after the shock of the crab prices, not being able to enjoy beef ribs, I ordered buffalo wings & fries. Waitress comes back again, oh, we don't have chicken. normally I would have walked out, but I was hungry, so I searched the menu again. I asked about the size of thier salads & she assured me that they were really big & that I would not need to order anything else. Voila! I'll take it. lo & behold, here she comes again! they do not have the chicken for the salad & would I like them to put chicken fingers on it. I should have walked out, but my friends food was already ordered & I was looking at the big Voted Best in Delaware sign flapping outside. Salad came back with no cheddar cheese as stated on menu. She said, oh, thats another misprint, the salad was average size . By this time I was famished & tried to eat. The fries were cold on the inside & my friends corn on the cob was so tiny she could pick it up with 1 finger & was cold! The beef brisket had more fat on it thatn meat & tasted like they boiled it with no seasonings. The bar b q sauce was good. I am a secret shopper, therefore I stuck thru this entire ordeal.That was the worst meal by far that I have ever experienced in the 7 years that I have been a secret shopper. Fortunately for them, I was not on a mission,& will never visit this place again. One reviewer stated that the owner did not come out, the owner should have been ashamed come out & shut down the restaurant portion & only sell crabs (if they are as good as they say). Best in Delaware sign was a misprint too. Our meal should have been discounted or free!

• Pros: Barbeque sauce
• Cons: didn't wat was on menu & not tasty

08/26/08

Biggest, Fattest, Blue Crabs I ever eaten!!!

by lovetoeatcrabs at Citysearch

I never,ever wrote a food review about a restaurant so please bear with me. Let me start off by saying "If you are ever driving thru Delaware...EAT AT RASCALS!!!". I promise, you will be one happy crab eater. They have other items, such as the vast seafood offerings (Homemade crab cakes, soups, fresh fish), but they almost always have BIG, Jumbo crabs! I was raised in Maryland, and we ate crabs most of the year. Being 58, I guess I ate crabs for over 50 years. I would venture to say I ate more then my share! Let it be said.....Rascals has the best Blue Claw Steamed Crabs that me and my family have ever eaten. I was told the crabs are flown in fresh, daily from Louisiana, and are served year round. My son does not eat crabs, he lives in St. Louis, and he said Rascals in house smoked BBQ was GREAT! My Daughter had a huge Fire Cracker salad. She was very Happy. My Boss (my Wife) said the Crab Cakes were FANTASTIC! All in all, my Family and I highly recommend Rascals BBQ & Crab House in Delaware. I would like to add the service was also great! They make you feel right at home, even though we live in New England we will be back. If you get a chance, check them out. I hope this helps you when you are looking for a great place to eat Blue Crabs.

• Pros: GREAT CRABS, YEAR ROUND!
• Cons: My Family and I drive thru Delaware only twice a year.

06/05/08

Best Crabs!!!

by Love2EatOut7 at Citysearch

A group of 16 from work, met at Rascals Friday night. As soon as you enter, the place smells great! It reminds me of when I would visit my Mother, and walk into the house only to follow the wonderful smell coming from her kitchen. That is the way you will feel when you enter Rascals. We were sat promptly. The appetizers were huge! The crabs were bigger. Beer was ice cold. Need I say more? This place is a hidden treasure! We all loved it. We will be back. Highly recommend. A very special Crab house.

• Pros: Crabs were packed with sweet meat. Outdoor Patio!!!!
• Cons: I live in New York.

08/22/07

First and Last Time

by nimor at Citysearch

Finally Rascals' opened. Dropped by Sunday and they were out of Jumbo Crabs, but we were told the crabs are flown in daily and are 1st come 1st serve....We have been craving JUMBO crabs so, I called Tuesday and was informed the Jumbo Crabs would be arriving around 5pm. I inquired about reservations and if we could reserve a dozen ($59) and again was told 1st come 1 serve. No problem, I arrived around 6 and asked about the Jumbo Crabs, which I was told would be ready in about 1/2 an hour. I was waiting for my husband and enjoying the last 2 Mike's Hard Lemonade they had in the entire restaurant . There were 3 other tables in the restaurant when my husband arrived, we placed our order for one dozen Jumbo Crabs. About 10 minutes later our waiter came to us and stated "We have a problem" it seemed that there were only 8 dozen of the Jumbo Crabs and they were requested and going to be served to a large party coming in. I explained the situation that I called earlier and was told 1st come 1st serve, we were there 1st and our order was in before the large party arrived. He was sympathetic and said he would let the owner know. The waiter, not the owner, returned to inform us that they would see what they could do, but they couldn't make any promises. Having just re-opened my husband and I expected a little more professionalism in the handling of the situation, our money is just as good as anyone's money and above and beyond that insult, the owner should have done one of two things, ordered more than 8 dozen or had the decency to resolve the issue himself rather than through our waiter. The situation was left unresolved and we left to give our money to another "crab" establishment. I have been in the restaurant business for many years and what happened with our situation at Rascals is certainly not the way to treat a "first-time" customer during a grand opening, but I assure you that was our last time we will walk through the doors at Rascals. What a shame.

04/12/06

Fresh Quality Crabs

by evendorn at Citysearch

I have been eating blue crabs since I was a kid. I've tried all the tri-state area's crab joints and I always keep coming back to Rascals. Their sizes and freshness stand out from the crowd. I've been going here for a number of years and have yet to be dissapointed. They are currently under renovations now but I can't wait till they reopen this spring.

• Pros: Huge Crabs, Taste The Best, Get's Messy
• Cons: No one else has them, Get's Messy

06/12/04

Can't wait to go back

by ourgang60 at Citysearch

Looked for days on Citysearch to find the perfect place for some family and friends to meet. Wanted a place with decent food, service, beers, ambiance, and above all, wanted to feel comfortable and relaxed. After reading many reviews, settled on Rascals and it did not disappoint! First I called the restaurant with a couple of questions and the girl that answered the phone was very pleasant and helpful. Making a reservation about an hour before our arrival was not a problem either. When we first got there I loved the feeling of the place. Cozy, not cramped. Busy, not loud. The person I spoke to on the phone greeted us, and let us know it would be a few minutes until they could seat us. When she did seat us, it was to a booth where the table moved. If you have ever sat at a booth where the table did not move, you'll understand why this is appreciated. The skinny's could move it closer and the not so skinny's were given more room. Then there was the service. Our server was great. On top of things but not always interrupting, very helpful with the menu also. Only one small things bothered me. She didn't give her name, until asked. But that didn't detract from the very good service she gave us. The food: tried the wings per other reviews and while the were very good, I can't say they were the BEST I've ever had. I also didn't like the very thick blue cheese "sauce" served on the side. Taste was good, but like it thinner. We also ordered a pound of jumbo shrimp. OMG! The shrimp were HUGE! BBQ ribs at Rascals are fantastic. We also had steamed crabs. Unbelievable! Big fat crabs. All in all, can't wait to go back. Won't wait for a visit from family next time!!

• Pros: Nice, helpful staff, good food and brews.
• Cons: Want thinner blue chesse.