Best Crab Cakes in Seattle?
 

We are headed to Seattle this coming week. We will arrive on Monday. Since we are from the midwest and don't have the advantage of fresh seafood, I would like to have a taste of the best crab cakes in Seattle. What would you suggest? Ray's, Etta's, Dahlia or is there another better choice?

Each restaurant will have a slightly different preparation. I believe Chandlers and Anthony's Pier 66 are two more place likely serving them.

I've not had them at Etta's, but go there frequently and they do a great job with everything! I'm sure they'd be good there.

I'd bet on Tom Douglas's restaurant for sure--Dahlia.

Are you sure Dahlia Lounge has crab cakes on the menu? I don't remember seeing them. Etta's does for sure.

Tom Douglas, of Dahlia Lounge and Etta's, has written a book titled, "I Love Crab Cakes": http://www.tomdouglas.com/products/cookbook.html

However, the crab cakes at Dahlia Lounge are too oily for me. I much prefer the Thai crab cakes at Flying Fish (a wonderful little restaurant that one Seattle Fodorite doesn't like).

Flying Fish is on 2nd Avenue in Belltown. I've never tried their crab cakes.

Another thought is to find crab somewhere that is not "cakes". Our famous local dungeness crab is so delicate, it's ashame to cover it up if the preparations are too heavy handed.

Here is a local restaurant critics' opinion on you topic: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/269869_rest12.htm

I see my link doesn't work here, but, if you Google "best crab cakes seattle," it is the first link that pops up, and it connects to the article.

If crab cakes are made properly, there is nothing heavy handed about them!! The crab is the star, not the breading. I don't even crumb mine when fixing them.

I've had them at Dahlia and was disappointed - in fact, I think mine are better. When it comes to seafood, I don't think you'll do better than at Ray's

Being from the east coast, when I think of crab cakes I think of Baltimore style, made with jumbo lump blue crab and very little filler.

How do the crab cakes in the seattle are differ. I figure they are made with dungeoness crab for starters.

I love crab cakes and order them out a lot. But I am usually disappointed too as I think my tend to be better as I use barely any filler.

KathyH

Dungeness is a very very delicate crab meat. I'd just go to Pike Place Market and buy a 1/2 pound and get a fork! I'm only half way kidding. Dungeness is $29.00/lb. at the moment.

Elliott's has pretty good crab cakes. They package them and sell at QFC (grocery store) so I've cooked them at home. They were not bad.

Hey, jumbo lump blue crab was $36 a pound around here for fresh last time I checked. That is why I only make them for special occasions.

And a container of crabmeat and a fork doesn't sound bad to me at all.
KathyH

I'm amazed that no one has tried to open a place at Pike Place that is the equivalent to Faidley's in Baltimore's Lexington Market.

repete~ Give us a clue. What does that mean?

I had them recently at Anthony's Pier 66 and they were delicious. Also highly recommend the sheered Ahi there.

did you mean seared ahi? not sure what sheered it?

I think Dahlia has the best, they are always on the menu (Dahlia and Etta's have the same owner so will be the same). there is very little filler in these.

Have fun in Seattle!

Dahlia and Flying Fish both have great food, the Softshell Crab is really yummy at Flying Fish. Enjoy Seattle! ***kim*** ((#))

Hi Suze:

What the Pike Place could use is a seafood market grill like Faidleys in Lexington Market in Balto.

Great seafood counter lunch options. Raw bar. Fish market.

Could be the best crabcake in the U.S. although that's a ongoing debate. Johnny Apple, however, the late great NT Times political writer and food icon, favors Faidley's and I haven't found better.

I love Pike Place but there's no place like Faidley's near by. Emmett Watson's isn't even close. Pike Place is a little too much tourist-driven and lacks a bit of local grit.

<i>Emmett Watson's isn't even close. Pike Place is a little too much tourist-driven and lacks a bit of local grit.&lt;/&gt;

Excellent observation. The grit is gone. I remember going downtown on the bus with my mother to buy a shopping bag full of corn for $1 and to buy poop spotted eggs from an old lady wearing a babushka.

Maybe it seems gritty to those who don't know the difference.

</i>

DH says the best crab cakes in Seattle are at our house. ;)

We use the &quot;new&quot; Etta's recipe from the book mentioned above. There is no &quot;filler&quot; in the cakes, just enough binder (mayo) to hold them together, plus some seasonings. The only breadcrumbs (fresh) are on the outside, for crispness.

I saute them in 1 tsp. butter on a non-stick griddle and they are crisp and not at all greasy.

They are good at Etta's too. I think at Dahlia Lounge they are only on the appetizer menu, which is fine because a small one is usually enough.

repete- you're so right! Faidley's at Pike's Place would be amazing. Especially if it was set up on the west side with a view of the Sound. I didn't try crab cakes in Seattle but the best crab cakes I've had were in the Washington and Baltimore area.

Paula-if you have time, check out the Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle; it is amazing. To get there: take the ferry from Pier 55? to West Seattle then take the free shuttle to Alaska junction. It is only 1.5 blocks to the bakery from where you are let off.

paula; forget the crab cakes, (they are not the speciality aruond here) and try some wild caught sockeye salmon....cooked right (grilled very rapidly) they are to die for...or shrimp, oysters, etc.

OK I did a little research for you all at lunch-time today.

Several of the fish vendors DO sell a &quot;crab cocktail&quot;. A plastic cup with sauce (or not) in the bottom and a big ole scoop of fresh crabmeat on top, plastic fork included. Both Central and Jack's featured these priced $6.50-7.50.

We were in Seattle in July. I ordered a crabcake at one of the nice restaurants along the waterfront--I do not remember the name. It was nothing like the crabcakes I am used to--we do not live too far from Baltimore. It was quite mushy. I agree, go for the wild salmon.

I love Faidley's in Baltimore's Lexington Market. When we go to Baltimore, lots of time my husband will drop me off at the back door, I'll run in and he will circle the block until I emerge with a couple of crab cakes. Then we drive somewhere along the water and have lunch. Crab heaven!
KathyH

Etta's.

There is a small counter place called Market Grill just north of the pig that does great fresh fish.

Apple at Faidley's ...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/enter...pple_3-22.html

Sorry for the long link. It's the video link that shows the dinner .. and crabcakes.

stormygirl, yes,I meant &quot;seared&quot;...:D
hope I can cook better than I spell!

enzian,

Can I have your recipe?

for the record, east coast crab and west coast crab are two different animals...they don't taste anything alike. I live in SEattle and don't like crab cakes here...