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Cheshire Crab
1701 Poplar Ridge Road, Pasadena
410-360-2220

Located on the Bodkin River in a quiet Pasadena neighborhood, Cheshire Crab is one of Anne Arundel County's best places for seafood. If you haven't discovered this well-liked restaurant and marina (Pleasure Cove) hiding by the Bay, put it on your list. You'll be pleased with the service, the selection and the very reasonably priced menu.

Relax in the indoor dining area, or choose the covered outdoor deck on a balmy day. The Cheshire Crab menu has four-star seafood selections. The place is most crowded when crabs are in season, and the reason is simple: it's the best place to crack some jumbo crabs with the all-you-can-eat specials.

Cheshire Crab is casual and simple with its décor, but the food is memorable. With appetizers like cherrystone clams, smoked fish, steamed spiced shrimp, seafood nachos and crab balls, you might be full before you even order an entree. There are many to choose from, including fried shrimp, crab cakes, BBQ shrimp and scallops, soft shell crabs, and Surf and Turf. Also available are salads, soups, pasta and chicken entrees. We suggest ordering the "Crab in a Blanket." Lump crab meat and peppers are sautéed with Cajun Alfredo sauce, stuffed in a pastry and covered in a creamy tomato basil sauce. To die for! The lunch menu offers light fare like sandwiches, burgers and salads.

Cheshire Crab is perfect for a family outing. Stop over on Sunday for their brunch, or bring the kids during the week--children eat free Monday through Thursday, with an adult entrée. If it's date night, happy hour (which packs them in nightly with $1 drink specials), live music and entertainment on the weekends keep Cheshire Crab the coolest crab house around.

-Alicia Clott