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Nab crabs for saltwater feast at Route 30 Seafood

If going out to dinner conjures crisp linen tablecloths and napkins, plates decked out like artwork and quiet background music, Route 30 Seafood in Jackson Township probably isn't the place for you.

Here, if you order the house specialty - steamed crabs - your tablecloth is old newspaper, your napkins are a roll of paper towels and you'll dine to the tune of snapping shells.

Sure, it's a messy night out.

But that makes it all the easier to lick the delicious Old Bay seasoning or melted butter from your fingertips.

Route 30 Seafood makes you feel just like you stepped into a beachside crab shack only locals frequent, without the hours-long drive to Ocean City, Md.

As soon as you step out of your car, you smell the saltwater and seafood. Boating rope winds along the walkway into the restaurant, where wide wood plank floors cover the sprawling dining rooms.

Three out of the four people in my family love steamed hard shells.

The children dance in their seats, hammers in hand, as the platter of crabs arrive.

My husband barely controls himself from doing the same. As for me, I love crabs, too. So long as it's already separated from the shell.

That's why Route 30 Seafood is one of our favorite places.

The children and my husband get their crab craving fix, without flinging crab shell pieces around my kitchen.

At the same time, I get to savor perfectly prepared dishes, such as flounder stuffed with crab imperial, broasted chicken, prime rib, tuna steak or steamed clams.

Or rather, I thought I'd be able to savor the steamed clams.

My 4-year-old, however, discovered that they're just as tasty as crabs with less work.

After piling through nearly a dozen on his own, he quipped, "They look disgusting, but taste delicious."

Can't argue with that, and, at $3.50 per dozen, I can't argue with the price, either.

Thanks to the restaurant's all-you-care-to-eat specials, reservations are a good idea.

Once you're there, the service is fast and friendly.

Open every day, Route 30 Seafood offers an all-you-can-eat deal of snow crab clusters, steamed shrimp, fried shrimp, Maryland crab soup, broasted chicken, prime rib and french fries, or steamed crabs, soup, broasted chicken and french fries for $31.95.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the all-you-can-eat deals include broasted chicken, broiled or fried haddock, choice of potatoes and coleslaw for $12.99.

Or opt for just the broasted chicken and potato, coleslaw and roll and butter for $8.95 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

- Beth Vrabel, for FlipSide
Click Here to see full article at www.flipsidepa.com