I’ve always been curious to learn more about this place, but it seems like every time I’m in the area or driving by it was closed. I decided it was time to find out more about it so I reached out to the manager and officially scheduled my visit. The building where Crab E’s stands today has a long and storied history in this area. It’s been an auto repair shop, it was a front for bootlegging illegal liquor during prohibition in the early 1900’s, and it’s been several different eateries. The property the old building stands on is part of the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Forever grant program. This grant acknowledges the importance of traditional seafood harvesting in Florida. The grant funds were used to acquire parcels of land to be directly used for the purpose of commercial harvest of marine or saltwater organisms by state licensed commercial fisherman, thus made it a perfect location for a seafood market. “Crab E” Bill Tiedge, opened the market and restaurant as we know it today back in 2011. Sadly, he passed away in September 2019, but his family plans to keep the place open and his dream alive!
Now let’s jump right in and see what this place has to offer and what I had to eat!
Front Entrance on Indian River Drive
Fresh Seafood Market
Dining Room
Riverfront Dining
“Not just any Cheeseburger” – The burger is grilled, then topped with your choice of American or Swiss cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and served with French fries, cucumber salad, and a pickle. The burger was perfectly cooked and still quite juicy. The bacon was thick and added a little crunch and smoky flavor when taking a bite.
Blackened Mahi Fish Tacos – Served in a flour tortilla, the tacos are topped with onions, tomato, shredded cheese, and cilantro. It was served with a side of their housemade chips and coleslaw. The fish was fresh and had good flavor. The blackened seasoning only added flavor and no heat. If you like things a little bit spicier, then I suggest you top them with their Cajun remoulade sauce for an extra kick!
Fried Wild Gulf Shrimp – The shrimp were breaded and fried till golden brown. Side dishes were sweet potato fries and cucumber salad. The two sauces on the side were tarter sauce and cocktail. The shrimp were perfectly fried, nice and crunchy, yet still tender inside. I’m not usually a fan of cocktail sauce, but this one was sweet, with just the right amount of horseradish flavor.
Grilled Mahi with a Pineapple Salsa – The fish was grilled to perfection, and just flaked apart when cutting into it. The pineapple salsa added so much fresh flavor to the dish! Sides were rice and asparagus spears.
Thomas Miller, known as “The Treasure Coast Foodie” and “The Foodie Guy,” is a celebrated food blogger, owner, and Editor in Chief of The Treasure Coast Foodie Blog, as well as the host and producer of Holy Grail Eats, where he spotlights one-of-a-kind restaurants and exceptional “Holy Grail” dishes. With ten years of experience, he has reviewed over 300 local restaurants, and his food photography captures the appetites of tens of thousands of followers each month. As the Official Foodie Insider for Visit Indian River County, Thomas champions local dining culture, sharing his insights with a loyal following of over 125,000. His expertise has also been featured in the luxe publication Coastal Drive Magazine. A Google Maps Level 8 Local Guide, Thomas has shared more than 4,000 photos, viewed over 100 million times, and his Foodie dining events rank among the Treasure Coast’s top culinary experiences.
