J’s Crab Shack (CT)
Article by Sam Dostaler and Stavros
At J’s Crab Shack the Connecticut seashore comes to Park Street in Hartford. When you first arrive at J’s just a mile or so off of I-84 near the corner of Prospect Ave and Park Street you aren’t really sure what to expect. As you enter the parking lot of a brick industrial building you spot in the back corner the blue metal roof that covers the Fish Market that is part of J’s. Then as you continue through the lot you come up to the brightly colored walls of the crab shack. Orange, yellow, blue, green, and grey colored pieces of painted on driftwood and a painted thatch roof make the restaurant look like it does belong on a sandy beach near the sound.
As you enter into the shack through the first door you find yourself at a decision point. Continue straight through the second door and you enter the fish market to find a large refrigerated display case stocked with fresh seafood to purchase. A big sign hangs above the fish counter that reads “Catch of the Day” and lists all that the market has to offer. There are thick tuna and swordfish steaks, large slices of salmon, jumbo scallops, and shrimp. Farther down the display are bins of clams and oysters and even trays of stuffed fish fillets ready for cooking. On the back wall of the market, there is a big marlin mounted right in the middle and a Mahi-Mahi hanging just to the left of that. One of the most surprising items in the market itself is nothing that comes out of the ocean, but the two functioning arcade games that are placed up against the wall between the market and the first dining room.
If when you first entered the J’s Crab Shack, formally known as Tinkers, and you chose to go through the door on the left instead you find yourself in the first of two dining rooms. This first dining room is the self-serve section of the restaurant. This side has a casual atmosphere and like any seafood shack on the shore, you walk up to the counter to place your order. You are then handed a receipt with a number on it, you find your seat and wait until one of the wait staff walks out of the kitchen with your food on a tray and announces your number.
As you sit and enjoy your meal you can admire the enormous mural on the wall that offers the perspective of a diver swimming through a wooden ship that sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor (possibly the sunken Essex whale ship?). As you peer through the broken hull of the wreckage you see many different sea creatures like sharks, whales, and other fish. In addition to the painting, there are two saltwater tanks.
The first is full of many different types of fish that continue to swim in circles throughout the duration of your stay. The second tank has two very large eels and only a handful of fish. If you visit the restaurant at the right time you may even get a chance to see Joe the owner feed the eels. He skewers chunks of cleaned fish on a long stick and then as the eels swim to the surface of the tank he places the fish pieces in their mouth.
If you are however looking for a more formal dining experience then travel through the open doorway in the front of the casual dining area. The second section of the restaurant features a full bar with available seating. This section also has a number of booths that provide a more private eating experience for you and your group. A server will come and take your order and wait on you for the remainder of your stay.
We at NESJ went to J’s Crab Shack on a Sunday just after 1:30 p.m. hoping to miss the lunch crowd. Although the restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived there was a steady stream of customers filtering in and out during the duration of our visit. In fact, by the time we left just over an hour later the number of customers had increased and a number of cars including one with two kayaks on the roof were filing into the parking lot looking for a meal.
There were four of us that made the trip to J’s and we each chose a different item on the menu to sample. Each choice (three seafood entrees and one chicken dish) were all very affordable and left us full and happy.
Stav’s Experience: The blue metal roof was the first thing that grabbed my attention when I pulled into the parking lot. The bright color that resembled ocean blue made me almost forget that I was over 45 miles away from the Connecticut coastline. I knew immediately that I wanted to go look at the fish available in the market to get a good idea of the quality of the food. My impression was that everything looked fresh and had the salty seawater aroma that seafood has.
After glancing at the menu I easily decided on the hot Lobster Roll with butter and the Shrimp and Whole Belly Clam Fried Combo as my meals of choice. The Lobster Roll was represented by big juicy chunks of warm tail and claw meat tossed in hot butter. I appreciate the simplicity of this recipe as it allowed me to really enjoy the taste of the lobster. The warm roll that it was served on was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and strong enough to hold its contents without falling apart.
The Shrimp and Whole Belly Clam Combo Platter featured big fried shrimp and bulbous whole bellies. The shrimp were delectable and the bellies of the clams tasted properly like seafood as they had that a slight salty taste to them. Both dishes came served with a heaping side of fries and a container of coleslaw. I recommend both entrees to help satisfy that seafood craving.
Sam’s Experience: I wasn’t sure what to expect as I drove to J’s Crab Shack, like most people when I think of Connecticut seafood I picture the shoreline, but the food and atmosphere made you forget that I-84 was just two minutes. Once you walk in the door you instantly feel the relaxed vibe of a seafood restaurant.
For my meal, I ordered the Strips and Shrimp Fried Seafood Combo and I wasn’t disappointed. The shrimp were large with a light batter and with each bite the shrimp popped in your mouth. With the shrimp came a small container of cocktail sauce that offered just enough flavor but wasn’t overpowering. The clam strips were lightly battered as well and the clams had an almost melt in your mouth effect. With the combo came french fries and coleslaw.
We also ordered the Chicken Tenders to get a taste of some of the non-seafood items on the menu. The tenders were cooked in a similar batter to the fried seafood and the chicken was very juicy. Served with barbecue sauce and french fries this meal offers a very nice alternative to seafood.
Notes: There is also a Kids Menu available along with a number of meals for the non-seafood eater in your group….J’s Crab Shack offers a number of beers on tap with many of them local to give the shack a local feel.