More Maps

The Best Brunches Around Boston

Where to Eat and Drink Along the Boston Marathon Route

The 38 Best Restaurants Around Boston

More in Boston See more maps

A soft-shell crab dish at Moonshine 152

Tracking Soft-Shell Crab Sightings Around Boston

It's that time of the year

by Dana Hatic@DanaHatic May 13, 2016, 11:00am EDT

View as Map

A soft-shell crab dish at Moonshine 152

| Instagram

by Dana Hatic@DanaHatic May 13, 2016, 11:00am EDT

Soft-shell crabs are a rare delicacy on menus around town, popping up for a short season. Crab fans, check out these restaurants where soft-shell sightings have occurred so far this season to see where you may be able to snag a treat. (Note that these specials are fleeting; you won't necessarily be able to order these particular dishes, but this is meant to guide you to restaurants that have been known to go crab-crazy. Contact the restaurants directly to confirm availability.)

We will be looking out for soft-shell crab throughout the season and will update this ap periodically. Please send any intel our way.

While you're at it, stay in the spring spirit and check out the archives from Outdoor Dining Week to find some hidden patios, dog-friendly patios, and plenty more al fresco dining options in the Boston area. For a full list of open patios in and around Boston, consult this map.

Map points are arranged alphabetically.

Read More

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

51 Lincoln

Chef and owner Jeffrey Fournier shared this lovely photo of a soft-shell crab dish with yellow curry and jasmine rice. The restaurant is doing a "30 ways on 30 days" annual event, with a different dish featuring crabs each night throughout May and early June.

51 Lincoln St, Newton, MA 02461

Also featured in:

Alba

The soft-shell crew arrived at Alba in Quincy yesterday, and they were prepared crispy-style with spring ramps, lemons, and capers.

1486 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169

Also featured in:

Bisq

Bisq recently featured this soft-shell crab dish, made with dirty rice, guacamole, marinated red onion, and mango.

1071 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Deadhorse Hill

Head off the beaten path to this newly opened Worcester restaurant, where you'll find a "softshell crab Cantonese" dish made with pork ragu, ginger, and scallions.

281 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608

Island Creek Oyster Bar

These beauties popped up on Island Creek's Instagram page last week. The restaurant served the Maryland soft-shell crabs in tacos.

500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Also featured in:

Meritage Restaurant

Michael Rostafin, the chef de cuisine at Meritage, posted this glorious photo of a soft-shell crab dish served at the restaurant this week — the first of the year, he wrote.

70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

Also featured in:

MET Back Bay

MET is in the midst of its annual soft-shell crab festival, which runs until June 1. The crabs are served three ways: Meunière, fried, and sautéed. There are also soft-shell crab po' boys available.

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Also featured in:

Moonshine 152

Moonshine 152 has these guys ready to go — swing by for a taste of the soft-shell goodness they're cooking up. On May 12, it was Narragansett tempura-battered soft-shell crab with oranges, pea tendrils, and toasted sesame aioli.

152, Boston, MA 02127

Night Market

This spot for Asian street food added soft-shell crab to its menu, serving it up fried over rice. "Get 'em while they last," the restaurant posted on Instagram.

48 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Also featured in:

Puritan & Co.

Puritan tends to offer soft-shell crab specials each May, and this year is no different.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1166 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Also featured in:

Sarma

How's this for a special dish? Sarma cooked up some beer-battered soft-shell crab served with pickled pepper tarator.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

249 Pearl St, Somerville, MA 02145

Also featured in:

Strip T's Restaurant

How about a nice crabby patty? Strip T's is jumping on board with soft-shell crab season and has these crabs on the menu as a lunch special.

93 School St, Watertown, MA 02472

Also featured in:

Tapestry

It just opened, but Tapestry is already jumping on the soft-shell train with a crispy version served alongside avocado.

69 Kilmarnock St, Boston, MA 02215

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

The Tap & Trotter introduced soft-shell crabs to the menu last week, kicking off the occasion serving up the delicacies in tacos.

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Also featured in:

Wink & Nod

Pelekasis at Wink & Nod debuted a Greek-inspired soft-shell crab dish, made with Santorini fava, caperberry, green garlic, pickled rhubarb, and spruce mayo.

3 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116

Also featured in:

© 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

51 Lincoln

51 Lincoln St, Newton, MA 02461

Chef and owner Jeffrey Fournier shared this lovely photo of a soft-shell crab dish with yellow curry and jasmine rice. The restaurant is doing a "30 ways on 30 days" annual event, with a different dish featuring crabs each night throughout May and early June.

51 Lincoln St, Newton, MA 02461

Visit Website

Alba

1486 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169

The soft-shell crew arrived at Alba in Quincy yesterday, and they were prepared crispy-style with spring ramps, lemons, and capers.

1486 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169

Visit Website

Bisq

1071 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Bisq recently featured this soft-shell crab dish, made with dirty rice, guacamole, marinated red onion, and mango.

Open in Google Maps

1071 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Deadhorse Hill

281 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608

Head off the beaten path to this newly opened Worcester restaurant, where you'll find a "softshell crab Cantonese" dish made with pork ragu, ginger, and scallions.

Open in Google Maps

281 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608

Visit Website

Island Creek Oyster Bar

500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

These beauties popped up on Island Creek's Instagram page last week. The restaurant served the Maryland soft-shell crabs in tacos.

500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Meritage Restaurant

70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

Michael Rostafin, the chef de cuisine at Meritage, posted this glorious photo of a soft-shell crab dish served at the restaurant this week — the first of the year, he wrote.

70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

Visit Website

MET Back Bay

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

MET is in the midst of its annual soft-shell crab festival, which runs until June 1. The crabs are served three ways: Meunière, fried, and sautéed. There are also soft-shell crab po' boys available.

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Moonshine 152

152, Boston, MA 02127

Moonshine 152 has these guys ready to go — swing by for a taste of the soft-shell goodness they're cooking up. On May 12, it was Narragansett tempura-battered soft-shell crab with oranges, pea tendrils, and toasted sesame aioli.

Open in Google Maps

152, Boston, MA 02127

Visit Website

Night Market

48 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138

This spot for Asian street food added soft-shell crab to its menu, serving it up fried over rice. "Get 'em while they last," the restaurant posted on Instagram.

48 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Puritan & Co.

1166 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Puritan tends to offer soft-shell crab specials each May, and this year is no different.

1166 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Sarma

249 Pearl St, Somerville, MA 02145

How's this for a special dish? Sarma cooked up some beer-battered soft-shell crab served with pickled pepper tarator.

249 Pearl St, Somerville, MA 02145

Visit Website

Strip T's Restaurant

93 School St, Watertown, MA 02472

How about a nice crabby patty? Strip T's is jumping on board with soft-shell crab season and has these crabs on the menu as a lunch special.

93 School St, Watertown, MA 02472

Visit Website

Tapestry

69 Kilmarnock St, Boston, MA 02215

It just opened, but Tapestry is already jumping on the soft-shell train with a crispy version served alongside avocado.

Open in Google Maps

69 Kilmarnock St, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

The Tap & Trotter introduced soft-shell crabs to the menu last week, kicking off the occasion serving up the delicacies in tacos.

425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Wink & Nod

3 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116

Pelekasis at Wink & Nod debuted a Greek-inspired soft-shell crab dish, made with Santorini fava, caperberry, green garlic, pickled rhubarb, and spruce mayo.

3 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Related Maps