News Summary
Charleston is thrilled to announce the arrival of soft shell crab season, as restaurants prepare to showcase these culinary delights. Local eateries are gearing up with a variety of dishes featuring tender, crispy crabs. Diners are encouraged to explore their favorite spots and take advantage of this seasonal treat. From unique sandwiches to classic pairings, the options are plentiful. For seafood lovers, this is the time to indulge in delicious creations before the season ends. Mark your calendars and get ready to experience the flavors of Charleston’s soft shell crabs!
Charleston Welcomes Soft Shell Crab Season with Open Arms!
Hey there, Charleston foodies! The time of year we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived – the soft shell crab season is officially here, just as the pollen count starts to drop. As spring brings warmer weather, it also means delicious seafood delight awaits at our local restaurants, and you bet folks are buzzing about it!
Crabs That Make Your Mouth Water
Soft shell crabs are a big deal around here! With their tender, succulent meat and crispy exteriors, these delicacies are the star of the menu in many kitchens across the Lowcountry. Diners are already taking to social media and scouring menus to catch a glimpse of soft shell crab dishes as they start popping up around mid-March. Trust us, nobody wants to miss out!
One of the most anticipated contenders this year is Chef Thai Phi from Pink Bellies, an inviting Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of Charleston. Their signature dish, a fried crab sandwich served on a fluffy milk bun and topped with heavenly shrimp pate, tartar sauce, pickles, and dill, is set to make taste buds tingle. We’ve heard that Lowcountry Shellfish is delivering fresh catches to Pink Bellies this coming Tuesday, and we can’t wait to see how they turn it into pure deliciousness!
Spotting the Best Crabs
As the soft shell crab season unfolds, it has become quite the competitive sport among local eateries. Dear diners of Charleston are on high alert, eagerly searching the culinary scene to spot the most enticing offerings. Restaurants like The Grocery and FIG are well-known for being among the first places to showcase these crustaceans when the season kicks off.
But it’s not just Pink Bellies leading the charge—an extensive map is being rolled out, featuring local restaurants that are flaunting scrumptious soft shell crab dishes. It is expected to become an essential tool for enthusiasts keen on trying a little bit of everything!
Delightful Dishes Await
Eat your heart out with the variety of soft shell crab creations across Charleston. If you venture over to Cru Café, you’ll find creative rotating specials that celebrate the season, including buttermilk-fried soft shells paired with Asian broccolini and a farro salad. Meanwhile, at The Ordinary, diners can dig into a classic New Orleans-style barbecue soft shell crab that’s bound to spur cravings.
Don’t miss out on the wonders that The Darling Oyster Bar has to offer! Their tempura-fried softies are served alongside savory white sweet potato puree, asparagus, and oyster mushrooms, all drizzled with balsamic brown butter – a flavor bomb you won’t want to ignore!
For those seeking a taste of something unique, head over to Kwei Fei where they pair their soft shell crabs with wide noodles. Super intriguing, right? And if you’re in the mood for a spin on classic comfort food, check out the soft-shell crab “Big Mac” at Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co., making waves for the seventh year in a row.
Choices Galore!
From crispy cornmeal-crusted soft-shell crabs at Park & Grove to tempura-style softies lovingly cradled in lettuce wraps with spicy peanut sauce at Prohibition, options are endless! You can even add a soft shell crab to a juicy steak at Halls Chophouse for a culinary experience that’s truly over the top!
And if you’re feeling adventurous, check out various seafood markets around town, like CudaCo, Simmons Seafood, and Tarvin Seafood, offering take-home soft-shell crabs for those who prefer a home-cooked meal from the comfort of their kitchen.
As temperatures in Charleston rise to a sunny 64°F by day and dip down to 45°F at night, it looks like the soft shell crab season will only grow in popularity. Expect an explosion of participation from local restaurants as the days go by, and get ready for a flavor journey that will leave you craving more!
So, Charleston, get ready to savor some crabs! Mark your calendars and head out to explore what the soft shell crab season has in store for you. Happy eating!
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Additional Resources
- Eater: Charleston Welcomes Soft Shell Crab Season
- Post and Courier: Charleston Restaurants Serving Soft Shell Crabs
- Count on 2: Where to Get Soft Shell Crab in Charleston
- Eater: Soft Shell Crab Map of Charleston
- Garden & Gun: Make the Most of Soft Shell Crab Season
- Wikipedia: Soft-shell Crab
- Google Search: Soft Shell Crab Charleston
- Google Scholar: Soft Shell Crab Season
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Soft Shell Crabs
- Google News: Soft Shell Crab Charleston
