5 great Bay Area restaurants for Dungeness devotees
The wait is over. After a monthlong delay in the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season, it’s time to rush to your favorite seafood restaurant. Remember, not everyone’s cracking, so call in advance to make sure it’s on the menu, whether as a boil, a crab cake or a whole, grilled beauty. Better yet, visit one of these five spots, from San Jose to Oakland and San Francisco.
Waterbar
This iconic San Francisco waterfront seafood restaurant is synonymous with sustainable seafood, Embarcadero views and top-notch service. The comprehensive menu features everything from oak-grilled swordfish to roasted shellfish platters and 15 featured oysters. For Dungeness devotees, Waterbar is offering whole and half crabs, grilled, oven roasted or chilled, as well as a Dungeness crab cocktail for $23. DETAILS >> Open daily for lunch and dinner at 399 Embarcadero, San Francisco; www. waterbarsf.com.
Sam’s Chowder House
This popular Half Moon Bay seafood restaurant and Surfrider Foundation member serves fresh, local and sustainable seafood following the guidelines of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Sam’s Chowder House is offering whole steamed Dungeness crab ($46, garlic-chili style optional) with two sides, such as Old Bay fries, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, Giusti Farms Brussels sprouts with smoked bacon and more. DETAILS >> Open daily for lunch and dinner at 4210 Highway 1, Half Moon Bay; www. samschowderhouse.com.
The Fish Market
This cozy South Bay seafood chain offers it all, from an oyster bar and sushi program to chowders, tacos and fish and chips. Local Dungeness crab has arrived on the menus at all four restaurants — in Santa Clara, San Jose, Palo Alto and San Mateo — and includes whole Dungeness crab that is either roasted or steamed and chilled. Cioppino fan? It’s on the menu year-round, but they’re subbing local crab into the recipe for the season. DETAILS >> Open daily for lunch and dinner at 1007 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose. Also in San Mateo, Palo Alto and Santa Clara; www.thefishmarket.com.
M.Y. China
With its exhibition kitchen, chef Martin Yan’s San Francisco eatery has become a destination for top-notch Chinese dumplings. But the Dungeness crab menu, which has expanded annually since 2012, is unique. This season, the two-pound crabs are available in seven preparations. Each celebrates a different Chinese province, from the wok-tossed salted egg yolk crab of Dongbei to the sweet tamarind crab from Guangxi. DETAILS >> Lunch and dinner served daily at Westfield San Francisco Centre, 845 Market St., Level 4; tastemychina.com.
alaMar Kitchen & Bar
This chef-driven, counter-service New American seafood spot in Oakland prides itself on local, seasonal ingredients and innovative, build-your-own boils. After 4 p.m., you can get that boil with fresh Dungeness crab, adding your choice of sauce, spice level (mild, hot, fire or inferno) and add-ons like andouille sausage. DETAILS >> Dungeness crab available after 4 p.m. only. Open for lunch and dinner at 100 Grand Ave., Oakland; www.alamaroakland.com.