The Blue Crab
High Street
Yarmouth I.O.W.
PO41 OPL
TeL:01983 760014
Vegetarian: Yes, Parking: Public car parks,
Wheelchairs: Not Easy, Loos:Average
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The Blue Crab High Street Yarmouth I.O.W. PO41 OPL TeL:01983 760014 Vegetarian: Yes, Parking: Public car parks, Wheelchairs: Not Easy, Loos:Average |
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Visited July 2007
After looking forward to a pleasant day sailing from Lymington to Yarmouth for lunch we were, yet again, forced to change our plans due to the British weather! Is summer here yet – or have we had it? Anyway, on a blustery, rainy Sunday in July, we decided to still go to Yarmouth but to take the ferry instead. (My fellow companions were able to make use of the 2 for 1 foot passenger day return voucher on the Wight Link website – worth looking at for Special Offers.)
We arrived at the Blue Crab restaurant which is tucked way down the High Street in Yarmouth directly opposite the Police Station. Due to the weather it was fairly quiet and we were shown to a table in the window. The two young waitresses quickly took our drinks order and advised us of the daily specials available. This is mainly a seafood restaurant so there were many seasonal additions to the menu.
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After giving us time to think, and then having repeated the specials to us our orders were taken. For starters all three of us chose their “Morton Bay Bug”, otherwise known as a Slipper Lobster or Rock Lobster and described as a small crayfish from the waters of Queensland and northern Australia (pics on left). We had never heard of these before and are always game to try new ideas so had no idea what to expect. When they came they looked like large crayfish (by British standards), they had big flat heads with no claws or pincers. We were shown how to break the heads off like large prawns and then found the white meat in the tail section to be very firm but tender and slightly sweet. The Bugs were served with hot garlic butter, side salad and lots of bread, and we all remarked how we’d definitely choose them again. |
For our main course two of us had their Blue Crab Fish and Chips. Today the fish was haddock which was fried in a very light but crispy batter, with beautifully fresh fish inside (pic 2nd left below). The chips were equally as good and a small side salad accompanied the meal. Our lady diner chose the Smoked Fish salad which was a medley of Smoked Salmon, Smoked Sprats and Smoked Mackerel, again with a side salad and bread or new potatoes (pic left below). All this was washed down with a very agreeable bottle of the house Muscadet.
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Even though we were fairly full we managed to find room for a sweet course. I had the Homemade Mango Sorbet which was light and refreshing after my filling meal (pic above right). My fellow diners both plumped for the Summer Pudding with ice cream which they said was very nice, not too sweet, and appeared to contain four different types of red fruit (pic 2nd right above).
At the front of the restaurant there is a small seafood takeaway counter called the Yar Bar which has lots of different types of seafood, crabs, salmon, lobster, etc to take out.
The restaurant had a slight nautical theme and the tables at the rear were in individual alcoves. The loos were a little on the small side and a wheelchair user would have problems as there were two steps up to the rear of the restaurant however the staff were helpful and friendly and I’m sure would have given every assistance possible.
For three diners our pre-meal drinks, three courses, and a bottle of wine our bill came to £82 which we thought was very reasonable. We were most impressed and would happily recommend this restaurant to others. (See menu below, its a bit wonky but this secret photography is not easy!)
Cost £ £ £ £ £
Yummy Factor 8½/10
Guest Review HC
| The higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. ( Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head ) |
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