Costa's Inn

06/26/04

Great crab, interesting crowd

by tatumliv at Citysearch

I stumbles upon Costa's driving around the coast of Maryland and was delighted to learn it's one of the top rated crab shacks around. The steamed crab was fabulous as was the Cream of Crab soup. The greek salad was huge and very tasty too! The restaurant itself consists of a lot of four tables, many put together to form long tables, covered in crab paper and large screen tvs. It's bustling with an interesting mix of people shouting over the crab cracking. Each table gets its own trash bucket too. The service was very amiable and while not annoyingly watching your every move, they were there when you needed something. I highly recommend Costa's and keep going back myself.

• Pros: steamed crab, homemade soups, great service
• Cons: , need reservations, run out of jumbo crab

08/18/08

Disappointing experience--- mediocre to average crabs at best

by gltkar at Citysearch

I have been to Costas for crabs at least half a dozen times in the past few years and yesterday's experience was much less satisfying than in the past. We got 4 dozen of the 54's (which means $54 a dozen for a total of $208 for the crabs)- and many were missing claws, several were hollow when opened (ie very little meat), several had black lungs and blackened organs, and a few were sour/rotten as if steamed when already dead. Plus many of the crabs appeared to have barnacles on them- some of which had leeched into the crab thru the shell - into the back fin section which is usually the meatest. The waitress was good about trying to fix some of the issues but overall this experience was very disappointing. (in the past the crabs have been consistently heavy with all claws accounted for- whether attach or not to the crab.) I can understand you get what you get when ordering a bushel of crabs but we were paying $4.50 per crab. We are looking elsewhere for crabs since this experience. Not worth the premium cost for just an average to mediocre product.

• Pros: appetizers and entrees are good quality
• Cons: crabs are inconsistent and pricy

08/07/07

Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore

by pdelaney at Citysearch

Costa's is known for its crabs, but has crabcakes that take a backseat to none! The restaurant is clean, bright, and very family-friendly. Service is excellent and the food is consistently good. I have had crabcakes all over Maryland, and these are among the best. They use lump crabmeat that is both fresh, and completely devoid of shell. Unlike other places, their broiled crabcakes don't contain any discernable fillers, and in five trips here, I have never bitten into even a hint of a shell! The restaurant is decorated with local sports memorabilia including MD horseracing photos, and has a big screen TV so you won't miss any of the action.

• Pros: Crabs, Crabcakes, Friendly Service
• Cons: none

12/30/03

This Dundalk destination has two conflicting personas, and an even greater number of harmonious crab delicacies.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
A family-run business surrounded by strip clubs is bound to have a split personality. Costa's dim, smokey bar sits lottery-scratching customers on torn bar stools as a jukebox croons country. The Inn's cavernous dining hall places extended families around long tables in a clean well-lighted place. Both areas serve crabs and consider the wooden mallet a major dining utensil. But they feel worlds apart, despite swinging doors connecting one to the other.

The Food
Other businesses bemoan Maryland's shrinking crab industry--both in terms of the native crustacean's decreasing size and dwindling numbers. Costa's, on the other hand, flies in much of its clawed catch from Louisiana and the Texas gulf daily. Flavored with a secret recipe akin to the ubiquitous Old Bay Spice but subtler, soups, stuffed mushrooms and crab cakes never skimp on meat. Ordering other entrees like steak or pork chops here merits a crab mallet aimed at the head.

06/06/03

Can't Be Timid Here

by huskyduck at Citysearch

Just roll up your sleeves (better yet don't wear any sleeves) and get at that sweet succulent crab meat. Ask one of the servers to show you the proper way to eat a crab or you'll spend the whole night there. Your hands will smell like crab for about 36 hours after leaving this place.

• Pros: crab
• Cons: messy

08/25/02

Great Maryland style seafood!!!!

by oldhippieguy at Citysearch

The shrimp excellent! Crabs are steamed in the typicla Maryland way with a large amount of Old Bay seasoning. Not being used to the way the crabs are prepared up there, I was pleasantly surprised. I am from the South. Texas Gulf Coast to be exact. Crab cakes are FANTASTIC! Lots of crab with small amount of filler. Great restaurant. A little pricy though.