Published October 24, 2021

A birthday weekend brought me to the gorgeous crisp air of Lake George, New York. It had been years since I was back in town and I was excited to explore the area in the fall.

We arrived midday on Friday and grabbed lunch at 10 McGillis Public House — which was a hidden gem that made fresh and delicious food. We had poutine french fries with short ribs as an appetizer, and I had prawns in a pine nut and pesto cream sauce. It was amazing!

After lunch, we walked down Beach Road and got coffee from Sticky Buns Cafe, which is right across from the lake. I ordered a small caramel latte and a large chai tea. The barista — whose name I have forgotten — was fantastic and made us two hot, delicious drinks.

We walked down to the lakefront and claimed two evergreen Adirondack chairs.

It was late afternoon. Our drinks warmed us against the cool autumn breeze. Orange leaves hung above our heads, poking their fingers out towards the rich water.

A pair of men sat at the end of one dock casting their reels among the soft waves. In the distance, one boat bobbed across the water. Two dark haired children chased the mallard ducks that swam between the docks.

We passed the rest of the day exploring the many shops on Canada Street and exploring the Oktoberfest that shut down the main street with its vendors and beer tent.

Saturday Adventures

We spent all day Saturday at the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course and got back to town with enough time to catch a Steamboat tour of the lake. By the time we wrapped up, it was 6:30 and time to find a dinner location.

Saturday night was the busiest day for the Oktoberfest. Many more groups of young adults and families with children crowded the streets and sidewalks. We weaved through the crowds to visit Charlie’s for dinner. But by the time we arrived there was a 45-minute wait and we were worried we would have to rush to finish our meals before they closed.

We wandered back down Canada Street and browsed the menus from the sidewalk. We didn’t want Italian (since I can cook Italian at home), and wanted to avoid the loud bars.

Thus, we found ourselves outside Crabby Joe’s.

Crabby Joe’s Interior

Of course, I was hesitant to try a seafood restaurant without doing research beforehand, let alone a restaurant named Crabby Joe’s. I was worried this would be like the Applebees of Lake George.

However, we were hungry, the entire restaurant was packed, and there was no wait. So we found ourselves in the last two-person booth against the front window.

Crabby Joe’s had a bright and clean interior compared to other restaurants in the area which focused on the rustic style of the mountains and woods. 

I liked that Crabby Joe’s had a few decorative signs and fish decorations, but that for the most part their space had light wood, bright walls, and lots of lighting. Their bar even had a pretty brick backdrop and ample seating. 

Crabby Joe’s Menu

Our waitress came over right away to give us silverware, warm plates, and two large double-sided, plastic menus.

We already browsed the menu when standing outside. As a seafood lover, I could find a dozen dinners and apps that I would eat — the raw bar, soups, and classic appetizers like fried clams and steamers looked great.

Appetizers

Crab Cakes | $14.00

The crab cakes were the size of a small hamburger patty. They were crisp on the outside and served with lemon and a remoulade sauce.

I thought the crab cakes had a good amount of crab-to-filling and with the lemon and remoulade they had a nice flavor.

Bang Bang Shrimp | $12.00

10/10 I would order the bang bang shrimp again. This was a great portion for two.

I adored the crispy, crunchy breading on the outside. I was a little concerned that the sriracha would be too spicy for me, but in the end the shrimp only had a spicy aftertaste that wasn’t unbearable.

Entrees

Lobstah Roll | $25.00

If you can believe it, I’ve never had a lobster roll before! So when I saw this as an option on Crabby Joe’s menu I figured I would try it.

I was happily surprised! The lobster roll was packed with chunks of fresh meat, lightly coated in mayo. We also had a generous portion of crispy hot french fries and a cup of sweet coleslaw.

I added a sprinkle of lemon juice to my lobster roll. The meat was tender and the roll was packed! Eventually I got so full that I used my fork to eat the meat and left the roll behind.

Dessert

Even at 8:30pm, Crabby Joe’s was packed. The bar had couples watching sports on the flatscreen TVs, a group with a cackling woman snuggled in the far right corner. It was loud and difficult to hear one another across our table. Couples, groups of friends, and a few remaining families took up the dining room and outdoor patio. The same 2-3 servers ran around the room taking orders and carrying colorful margaritas and dishes.

We were in no rush. While we debated ordering the famous beignets for dessert, we decided to eat our leftover gelato from the Lake George Olive Oil Company that we had back at our room.

It took a while to find our waitress to get the check, but that was understandable given how busy the restaurant was.

My Recommendations

Overall, our visit to Crabby Joe’s in Lake George, New York was a 7/10 for the following:

• Decor and Design

  • I liked that Crabby Joe’s interior was branded with subtle sea creature/crab imagery. The bright orange walls, modern lights, and light wooden floors gave the space a clean, beachy feel without being dramatically sea-themed. I enjoyed that the restaurant was a break from the cabin, mountain-themed restaurants for the Adirondack area.

• Service

  • I’ve seen some terrible reviews online for Crabby Joe’s service and food, so I’m not sure how Crabby Joe’s is during other times of the year, but I would say that our service was decent/good. Our waitress was nice, she didn’t rush us, and she checked in a few times throughout our courses. I think the service dipped at the end of our meal when we couldn’t find our waitress to ask for the check (we waited at least 20 minutes before she came back). However, we weren’t in a rush and I was aware of how slammed the restaurant was, so I kept that in mind when forming an opinion.

• Food

  • I think this is a good seafood option in Lake George! All of our food arrived at the table hot and fresh. I loved the texture and flavor of the bang bang shrimp and our lobster rolls were fresh and packed with meat. I had a great first impression of Crabby Joe’s and would consider visiting it again when I’m in Lake George to explore the rest of the menu.

Have you been to Crabby Joe’s?

Do you have a favorite seafood restaurant in Lake George? Or a spot you’d recommend I’d visit? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

If you’d like to read my other New York Restaurant Reviews, click here.