CITY ISLAND, BRONX
The Original Crab Shanty
Bibs on, garlic everywhere — City Island's crab house of record since 1977.
Since 1977, in a building that has been a silent-movie house and the island post office, the Crab Shanty has served City Island's defining meal: garlic-drenched hardshell crabs, Maryland-style crab cakes, and shore dinners that arrive with plastic bibs tied on without asking. The room is wood-paneled, loud, and completely unembarrassed about any of it.
Of the island's seafood halls, this is the one with the strongest neighborhood following — families who have been coming for decades, birthday tables, and first-timers being initiated into the garlic bread. Order whatever comes 'ya-ya' style and surrender the napkin count.
Editor’s tip
Get the garlic crabs and let them bring the free garlic bread refills — pacing yourself on the bread is the only strategy that matters.
Also in the neighborhood
Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.