Gettin' crabby

Clemente's Maryland Crab House, in Sheepshead Bay

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Clemente's Maryland Crab House
Sheepshead Bay is a little slice of the Jersey Shore in Brooklyn. And although it lacks bare-chested men and a boardwalk, Clemente's gets into the right spirit with an outdoor tiki bar (which has been known to blast Journey tunes), harborside seating and staff enrobed in T-shirts bearing the not-so-subtle phrase, "Got Crabs?"

This is the place to go if you like getting your hands dirty. For a rare all-you-can-crack deal, $29.95 gets you an endless array of giant metal bowls teeming with crab. Diners can choose from the more traditionally mid-Atlantic dousing of Old Bay or the Italian style favored by New Yorkers, heavy on olive oil and whole garlic cloves. Corn on the cob and fries round out the meal. 

Avoid shellshock: Just don't share the love—each order is priced per person. The restaurant is also cash-only, but luckily there's an on-site ATM. (3939 Emmons Ave. between 28th and 29th Sts., Sheepshead Bay; 718-646-7373)

Mara's Homemade
Crawfish, the usual candidates for a spicy cayenne-spiked Cajun boil, aren't the only crustaceans in the gulf. Throughout the summer, Mara's Homemade gives our 10-legged friends the same tasty treatment.

These blue crabs, flown in live from Louisiana, are served three for $12. Breaking free of the corn-on-the-cob tyranny, Mara's provides ample opportunity to explore quirkier sides. Where else are you going to sample alligator fritters and crawfish-and-andouille cheesecake?

Avoid shellshock:  If you're dead-set on hard shells, avoid disappointment by calling ahead and ensuring the seasonal product made it onto the day's menu. (342 E. Sixth St. near First Ave., 212-598-1110)

The Hideaway
No one would go sniffing out crabs in ritzy Tribeca bars, but stranger things have been known to happen. This down-to-earth tavern provides the real deal. Owner Justin Palmer, a Virginia expat who was disheartened by the sorry state of NYC crab-dom, began flying up blue crabs to show his customers how it's meant to be done.

This year, the dinners take place on Sundays and Mondays, and crabs are being sold three per order at a price that hovers around $7 apiece. Tins of Old Bay are presented on the side so diners can control their own seasoning level. While you're at it, shake a little on your fries, too.

Avoid shellshock: Although it may seem like a wallet-buster at about $7 a pop, the crabs are hefty—not the little guys offered in most all-you-can-eat promos. More meat with less effort is a win-win situation. (185 Duane St. near Greenwich St., 212-334-5775)

City Crab
No, Park Avenue doesn't conjure coastal breezes, but this city slicker does live up to its name. Sometimes you want air conditioning, cloth napkins and a schlep-free experience, amenities that require looking past City Crab's corporate-chain vibe.

Competitive eaters will have to console themselves with a Maryland Martini (incongruously concocted form coconut rum, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice) and market-priced crabs by the pound for the time being. Currently, the restaurant is receiving sporadic bushels of blue crabs so there are no free-for-alls, but they do offer two-for-one discounts on weekends.

Avoid shellshock:  The buy-one-get-one-free offer isn't guaranteed every weekend, but if you sign up for e-mail alerts, they'll let you know when this special is available. (235 Park Ave. S. near 19th St., 212-529-3800)

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