Bo Brooks Restaurant

If this review were based totally on service it would get one star. We were a party of two and came here on a saturday night after exploring the city. When we walked in the hostess asked how many and pointed to the right of the restaurant when you first walk in and suggested that we seat ourselves… o_​kay while giving her the side eye. Afterall maybe this was standard practice here but we quickly found this not to be true when the same hostess politely sat a party two tables away from us. To continue the lack of service our server was also a bar maid that knew nothing about the menu. For appetizers we decided crab dip but quickly changed our minds and opted for the crab pretzel since it was something we never had before, she said they already started it and its almost done. .really! In two minutes okay… more side eye. I guess that she no longer wanted to deal with disgruntled customers or had the experience to so she brought the big dawg in to handle us. The manager Jimmy was very knowledgeable, attentive and most importantly patient with us though I know that he was probably doing some side eying of his own. I got the crab dip burger and my other half got the lobster quesadilla. The food was really good and I wouldnt mind giving them another try if I were in the area. I love the fact that its right on the water.

boz brooks was by far the best restaurants we went too they catered to us they made sure all my wishes were met!!! seafood was great!!! then they brought him a complimentary sundae desert!!! he enjoyed everything i planned thus far!!!

I love coming here in the summertime and hanging out at the tiki bar! Great crushes, friendly staff and good food. I’ve only had appetizer items and oysters, but from what I’ve had I would definitely recommend this place.

Who is Bo Brooks? Hell if I know, I’m not from these parts! What I do know is that Balti folks are spoiled if they complain about the seafood offerings here.
So it’s a huge restie and a bit corporate but me thinks they have great seafood for super cheap. I loved the crab guacamole. They also have a huge ass pretzel topped with crab. Hello? and Yes! The calamari? Awesome. the steamed crabs? Yes, more please! The Chesapeake toast was decadent, filling, yummy and I’m thinking really bad for you!
We had a super nice server. I was here with a group of work folks and he kept up with our never ending drink orders like a pro!
I wouldn’t hesitate to come back to Bo’s. But who the hell is he?

Came here for my pre-​birthday dinner with my BFF. Haven’t been here in a while, but Bo Brooks did not disappoint. Ok, so you have to enter a parking lot with paid parking, which can be validated at the restaurant for a reduced price of $ 6, but you ARE eating at Bo Brooks, right? Anywhoo…
We entered the restaurant and were promptly greeted by the hostess and seated. It was a Tuesday and good for us not crowded. A server named Peter brought us water with lemon and suggested the crush drinks that were made with real juice and flavored vodka. My friend got the orange crush and l was a bit adventurous and got the grapefruit and jalapeño crush, which was excellent. We ordered the shrimp stuffers which were fried shrimp topped with lump crabmeat and covered in imperial sauce. Excellent! My friend got the mussels, which were good. We than decided to order some crabs, medium sized for $ 50 dozen and they were awesome. The crabs were hugh for mediums and perfectly steamed with the right amount of seasonings (l can judge a good seasoning by it not containing a bunch of salt AND it not making my skin itch after eating it…) to compliment the sweet meat packed inside those shells. Heaven! Our server, Jamie, was on point our entire meal, kudos to her. I didn’t have any room for dessert, but our meal was great. A perfect kick off to begin my birthday celebration!

Bo Brooks is great for groups because its huge and has a parking lot right out from that they validate partially for (although street parking is pretty easy to find on Boston street for free). I’ve had both good and bad experiences here with regard to the service.
This past Saturday, I went with a very large party and the server was extremely friendly and check up on us in the beginning. However, later on during our meal, she was very scarce and it was even difficult to refill our waters. I love their selection of crushes since they have a variety of different flavors. One of my favorite dishes of theirs is the crab pretzel which is a HUGE portion piled with crab dip and cheese. I also ordered the blackened scallops, which I was not a fan of. The scallops were way too salty and the dark sauce that came with it threw the flavor off (maybe it was some kind of tamarind sauce?).
A couple months ago, I had lunch with 2 of my friends where the service was seriously lacking. All of our food came out at different times, and I had ordered crabs, which they warned me would take approximately 30 minutes to come out. After both of my friends had finished their meals (an hour after we ordered), I still did not get any crabs. They were nice enough to dock it off the check and let me take them home anyway, but realistic wait times would have been nice.

Okay so this place lacks variety. I get the fact its seafood but I’m not really a fan… I will say their Caesar salad is the
I also really like the fried pickles. Service is A.L.W.A.Y.S SLOW… I’ve been here a few times for lunch on meetings and someone always has to get their food Togo after waiting to dine in… avoid this spot if you’re in a rush. My salad took 30 min.
Also check the ketchup! our table had old ketchup and it smelled awful. I’ll come back only for the Caesar salad and fried pickles… I’ll come a day before I need it so I can make sure its ready lol

Bo Brooks may have been the place to be in times past, but the glory days of their old fashioned menu is long over and most people seem to recommend this spot based on the waterfront view. An overcooked, over sodiumed first experience having boiled Maryland blue crab, I hope any future encounters with this dish will improve the bad taste left in my mouth.
+ Staff was quick to help.
+ Validated parking lot.
+ Cilantro Lime Corn: The only thing that came out perfectly steamed!
+ Garlic Bread: This came with the steamed clams and was the best thing I had. Chewy and dense but still tender, it was a great surprise. The clam juice we were meant to dip it in was inedibly salty, but the garlic bread was perfect on its own.
+ French Fries: Heavily battered and tasted like they were fried in the same basket as seafood, which is great if you like seafood. If you don’t like seafood, you should probably not be reading this review.
+/​-​Boiled Crab: The only size available that day was medium, so we ordered half a dozen. The first crab had a spongey consistency unlike any crab I’ve ever had, so it went straight to the bucket of shells after one taste. The rest of our crabs were fresh and cooked well, but the crust of seasoning was so heavy on some that it detracted from the subtle, sweet flavor of crabmeat.
— Cream of Crab Soup: Good crab flavor with strings of crabmeat. Unfortunately, too salty and became an unappetizing glue consistency after a few minutes.
— Steamed Clams: Rubbery little things overcooked to hard, salty morsels. The clam juice was more like the brine I make for my Thanksgiving turkey.
— Crab-​Dip Burger: I didn’t try this dish but my dining mate was unimpressed. Lobster and shrimp stirred into pink-​tinted gravy ladled over a hamburger, the verdict was the seafood would have been better served simply and on their own, to let their delicate flavors shine.

Terrible and slow service. The hostess was rude and asked if we had a reservation. We did not but literally there were maybe 10 – 15 tables occupied and the rest of the place was desolate. She said there was a 20 min wait. FOR WHAT 40+ tables were open you idiot! I flagged down someone who appeared to be a «manager» and mentioned the above then was promptly sat.
Service was so slow we waited almost 40 minutes for a crab pretzel and didnt have any flatware or smaller plates.
The only person that seemed to have any concern was the guy who came around to fill our water glasses. He was nice and tried to help.
The food was respectable and worth the price. I didnt order the crabs though but from what I saw they looked great and is the only reason why this place is getting 2 stars and not ending up on my sh! t location list.
I do not recommend this place at all.

The place to take visitors for a crab experience!
Pros: — nice view of the water
— relatively clean and nice atmosphere compared to other crab places
— you can try other menu than just steamed crab
— outdoor sittings (but make sure you are directed to the sun or facing the wind)
Cons: –they have a validated parking lot but it is limited to only two hours. Two hours can be tight as it takes some time to eat those crabs! We had to pay one time for extra 10 minutes!
— on the pricy end compared to other places
Recommended menu:
Of course their steamed crabs. Try to get the biggest size available at the time. It is totally worth it. Crabcake sandwich is a good deal if you want to try a crabcake since Crab cake entrée comes with two but more expensive. Also the half and half soup.

The Place:
The location was great! There is a pay to park lot right beside it, but the restaurant validates up to 2 hours. It is very spacious and the have outdoor seating. Even though there was a crowd, the atmosphere was very chill and relaxing. They also have an outdoor bar that is dog friendly.
The food:
I was too lazy for crabs, but did notice they were a popular order. They have 3 sizes-​med, large, and extra large. They looked good, but I decided to go with crab cakes. They are delicious! Two come with the order and a side of mashed red potatoes and mixed veggies (zucchini, asparagus, and squash). The crab cakes were decently sized. I also had the half dozen oyster appetizer. Normally, I’m no fan of oysters, but with horseradish sauce… I was hooked! So much so that I ordered another half-​dozen.
The service:
I thought since it was a holiday wknd that it would be crowded, but we were in and seated immediately. Initially, we chose the bar area, as it was first come, first seated. We asked to be seated outside and were lead to a table immediately. The staff were very attentive and accommodating and the service was great!
If you haven’t been, you need to go.

Go to eat where the locals recommend! That’s just what we did by going to Bo Brooks and we weren’t disappointed.
My husband and I went to Baltimore for blue crabs and wanted to hit up the best places to do so. Bo Brooks was recommended and we are so happy we went. The crab was amazing, as were the bloody mary’s and margaritas we had.

We came in for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Was able to get a seat by the window and looking out into the harbor.
We ordered the crab pretzel and stuff jumbo shrimp. Both were amazing. I felt they were a little skimpy with the crab dip on the pretzel, but it tasted great. And you only get four stuffed shrimp.
I ordered the po boy sand which and my friend got the shrimp dip burger. The po boy came with a ton of sauce — a bit too much for my liking. I’m used to chewer bread for my po boys, but overall it was alright. The shrimp dip burger looked and tasted good (so I was told).
Service was great, menu looked good, and the environment was beautiful. The prices seemed reasonable for the ambiance. I will say, since the room is so big, I can only imagine how loud it gets during a busy meal.
Also, they validate parking!

This place is always extremely busy and we have been turned away a lot of times. It is a little confusing finding the place but there is ample parking. I went here for my graduation dinner and come whenever my parents visit. Their XL crabs are good, though the Old Bay is too strong. For graduation, I came here with a big group and was urged to get a bunch of side dishes and appetizers. The cheesy pretzel was just bread with cheese on it, nothing special but filling. Corn was very pricey here. The mussels and clam dishes were great. The main attraction is crabs though, which are always a good time.

This place was very close to the interstate and longing for good crab I figured a side trip and a little rest would bed good.
When we drove up the parking lot was packed so that’s a good sign and although it was pay parking, the restaurant validated.
The tiki bar in the front of the restaurant was hopping with potential Über customers, you know… the drinkers. Walking into the restaurant it was very pretty wood with a nice inside bar. We immediately validated that parking ticket. When we asked for seating, The hostess looked at us like we had 4 eyes because we did not have a reservation. When I say the inside was not that busy, it was not that busy.
We did get a table and we had a really nice waiter — Doug. He asked us if we would like to put in an order for steamed crabs, well yes we would. I then asked if they had any extra large, nope, already sold out. Doug then told us they had large and medium crabs only. Ok, so my next question is the price. They don’t put the price on the menu. Doug said $ 75.00 for a dozen.
Holy Shitzky. My mouth hit the ground like a cartoon character. Is there some kind of crab shortage. I feel like this is some sort of crab conspiracy. My dream of crab for dinner just got blown up bigger than Hiroshima. I said well let us look at the menu and go take out a second mortgage.
Menu prices were high, so we opted for the more reasonable fish and chips. I did get the Cream of Crab soup and it was good, not great but good.
The fish and chips were some of the best we have ever had. Crispy, hot, fresh and in need of nothing but a dip in tartar sauce. Since I did not get the steamed crabs I ordered dessert. Brownie sundae (Doug said they make the brownies there), with ice cream. It also was very good, not great just good.
They did not have sweet tea here, bummer. They had unsweetened tea and only stevia and real sugar as sweeteners. If you want Splenda or Equal, bring you own.
I did inquire about the Smith Island Cake and was told it was golden cake with fudge between the layers. Inquiring further I found out they DO NOT MAKE THIS CAKE. It’s made for them by Juniors, as in a Juniors in Brooklyn NY. Oh please give me a break. I did not come here to eat some thing I can get 45 minutes from me. And, the original Smith Island Cake is 10 layers. The Juniors version is not 10 layers. This item should just be renamed vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.
Would I come here again, nope. But the fish and chips were good.

We had quite a lovely meal at Bo Brooks with excellent food and good service. Our group ordered a nice selection of appetizers and entrees, and enjoyed their patio for a few hours with great weather and nice views of the sunset!
His plate: fried calamari, fish and chips
Her plate: steamed clams, steamed shrimp (to share), more steamed clams
K+M: stuffed avocados, Old Bay wings, half dozen colossal crabs
The calamari was properly cooked and nicely seasoned, served with a good amount of lemon. The clams were well cleaned, not gritty at all, and still had great briny flavor. They were tender and cooked just the right amount. Some of the shrimp were a bit overcooked, but the fresh cocktail sauce made up for that.
I had a few crab claws from K’s pile and they were so perfectly cooked — tender, sweet, very meaty.
We each tried some of the cocktails, primarily the Pain Killer, Rum Punch, and Dark and Stormy. Our drinks tasted great, but I’m not sure how much alcohol was in them.

I tried to come here for happy hour and they said that you had to have a reservation at this location but we could sit outside at the tiki bar. According to other people I know that have frequented this location you don’t really have to have a reservation but they let in who they want. Sounds kind of discriminatory to me so be careful if you don’t look like majority of the demographic at this restaurant. Nevertheless, the food was tasty. I had the crab dip which had generous amounts of crab meat and old bay wings. The wings were a little on the salty side but were still great. As far as the drinks they don’t have much top shelf drinks but they were still pretty strong. Oh, and happy hour ends at 6:30 :/​. BUT this is a great location because it is right on the water.
Overall, idk if I would come back. The food was good but nothing out of the ordinary. If I do go back, it’s just to catch a breeze on the water.

Another wonderful night at Bo Brooks. It is recommended to call ahead and make reservation for a party bigger than four.
The steamed crabs are great and the view is even better. The service is right on. I like the smith island cake, thin layered cake with fudge and chocolate cover. The stuffed avocado is my favorite. The crab dip is too oily. Nice selection of white wine.

I was surprised to find only a 3 star rating, but granted I’m an out-​of-​towner so my crab Maryland crab experience is minimal.
We came in on a Sunday afternoon and we’re greeted well by the hostess and server that seated us outside. My friend got a mojito (nothing close to a mojito, but we’re accustomed to inauthentic cocktails by now) and I got an IPA the hit the spot.
Appetizers:
The Crab Dip. Holy Canoli Batman… this is really crabby! It’s served in a bread bowl, but the bread… it is heaven. Soft, fluffy, homemade taste, and the hole of the bread they carved out was drenched in butter and toasted with garlic. The flour tortillas they throw around it are a mistake. Don’t waste your calories on that, just rip and dip the bread.
The Crab Cake. As legit as they come. 90% crab meat ratio to filler. Perfect size, toasty outside, and succulent in the center. Asked for the garlic russet potatoes side (excellent) and the sautéed spinach (mediocre, no olive oil, garlic, nothing. Just water, but at least it was fresh and not frozen spinach)
The Crab. We got half a dozen of Large crabs. My recommendation is to order the largest you can because it’s a lot of work hacking at these babies. It can be frustrating when you’re only getting a tiny bit of meat per crab. Go with the XL, or the biggest on the market they have available. But the seasoning was great, the taste, and the whole experience.
The Service. We were attended phenomenally, our server, Payton, was on point even though he was swamped. Super friendly and took care of us. Even helped us out to find some good nightlife!
The Ambiance. The outdoor bar is happening. The inside is nice. The outdoor dining is very casual, looks a bit run down but we had a blast. You can even come with a big group which is great.
Overall, I would come back. Especially for that dip and the cakes… what an impressive surprise.

So, you’re an outsider in Baltimore and you are looking for the Baltimore crab experience? Well, Bo Brooks is the place for you!
Bo Brooks is a one-​of-​a-​kind experience, that as far as I can tell can only be had in Maryland. As you probably already know Maryland is very well known for its crabs and crab cakes In general. Bo Brooks delivers an authentic Maryland crab experience complete with fresh brown paper spread on your table with mallets to crack your crabs along with plenty of Old Bay seasoning to partake In your bucket-​o-​crabs-​massacre.
From what I understand both locals and out-​of-​towners feel the same way: Bo Brooks is the place to be if you have a crab craving.
Tip: They have multiple sizes of crab available to choose from. They have a limited amount of what they call «colossal» crabs. If you call ahead of time and get the right person on the phone when making your reservations you can sometimes reserve a set number of colossal crabs to ensure they are available upon your arrival. Go big!

Until recently, I possessed a secret shame. I claimed good olé Mur’lin as home, but I had never had a steamed crab. Not even one. It was with that in mind that I embarked on my mission to Bo Brooks.
The atmosphere was perfect. Sitting wharf side watching the yachts bobbing at sunset put us deep into the mood for seafood. The waitress was pleasant and insistent. We’d never had steamed crabs? We were going to — and we were going to love every minute of it. She was nice enough to show me and the Californian ray of Sunshine that accompanied me the correct way to break down a whole (large, even though we’d ordered and paid for medium) crab.
I have this thing about food on my hands. You can cover them in engine oil, paint or even wet cement with nary a complaint. A little raw egg, or wet shrimp, however, and things start to get dicey. I was expecting the worst when I realized how much finger work was involved. I gingerly picked up the first claw, got a whiff of old bay, and then instinct took over. Three crabs later, I came to my senses enough to take in the delicious carnage in front of me. This was a MEAL. The next time I collected myself, I was picking crab claw from my hair and grinning like I was on a boat with T Pain and Andy Samberg.
One thing I can’t forget to mention is the Angry Mallet. An appropriately named drink, it was a figurative and literal hit. The crab guacamole was worth getting too. On my latest trip, I was disappointed that there were very few crabs. DC had been covered in two feet of snow for a couple weeks, so I’ll give em’ a pass. Next time though, I’m going to need my steamed crab fix.