Hit Beaches after Hitting the Beach
Until two years ago, Jimmy Lynn’s Seafood (amazing hard shell crabs!) on Route One was the place for bushels of hot, spicy crabs. When Jimmy and Lynn announced they were retiring, many folks were bereft at losing their go-to crab supplier.
Well, good news. The site is now the home of Beaches Seafood Market and Restaurant, purchased by a local couple (Don and Lori Allan) who were frequent customers of Jimmy Lynn’s. And wisely, they had Jimmy and Lynn themselves take time out from a busy retirement to show them the ropes for steaming great crabs. Their Chesapeake Bay crabbers are the same, the spices remain perfect, and our go-to place for steamed crabs is happily still on our radar.
Accustomed to framed and signed football jerseys or other sports memorabilia on the walls, I love that Beaches has a signed and framed Jimmy Lynn’s shirt for their memorabilia. Nothing like celebrating your mentors.
Also, wisely, Beaches, at 18226 Coastal Highway, with a Lewes address, expanded the crab shack, added a small bar, and a back-room sit-down restaurant where you can dine on fresh seafood at affordable prices. In fact, the Maryland crab soup recipe at Beaches might just be the best on Delmarva. And as a delightful hold-over, Lynn’s famous cream of crab soup is still on the menu.
In addition to the indoor dining room, with big screen TVs and a full bar, there is outside patio seating which will be perfect this summer for crab feasts and other outdoor dining options. The Route One views aren’t much, but who needs to look around when there’s a giant pile of steamed crabs in front of your eyes? Not me.
Right now Beaches is open Wednesdays-Sundays and have some cool lunch and dinner specials. I sampled the delicious fried clam strips and fries ($8.98), the aforementioned crab soup ($5.95 for a generous bowl) and the Crabby Eggs (I think that was Lynn’s recipe, too), a deviled-egg variation with yummy crab ($6.95). I had the half-pound of steamed shrimp on two different occasions ($6 at Happy Hour!), and both times they were perfectly steamed and spiced.
Beaches has a special happy hour menu (dine-in 2-5 and all day Sunday) with those steamed shrimp, wings (5 for $3), many more menu items plus $3 domestic draft beer and $5 craft drafts, and $5 rail drinks and wine. The daily happy hour timing makes it perfect for a late lunch.
I love the idea that their happy hour is all day Sunday. Twice now we’ve wandered along Route One seeking lunch after our weekly Lowes ritual and alighted at Beaches. It’s becoming our new tradition.
Specializing in steamers, (crabs, of course) Beaches also features steamed oysters, snow crab clusters, little neck clams, mussels, and sea scallops. Their steamers and fryers are in use full-time, turning out steamed local seafood.
Now, in the pre-season, Beaches is offering $10 dinner specials for specific menu items. Regular dinner entrees include Fried Shrimp ($16.95), Fried Oysters ($15.95), Sea Scallops, crab cakes, flounder (each at $18.95), and a steamed seafood combo with shrimp, clams, and snow crab claws ($23.95).
Land lovers can also get chicken strips, burgers, and hot dogs, with fresh greens available for Caesar or garden salad.
While the surroundings are super casual, this is no fast-food emporium. The pace tends to be leisurely along with friendly wait staff and the neighborly new owners. With their signature spices and a mantra of Bringing Back Simple, Beaches, a true Mom and Pop operation, should find its niche nicely here at the beach.