The Crab Shed in South Hams

Excellent menu and beautiful setting with professional and friendly service. We enjoyed a beautiful lunch here to celebrate a belated Mother's Day and we were not disappointed. We loved the ambience and decor which was classy, modern and bright. The menu offers creative dishes centered around their naamesake, crab. Every dish was delicious and the perfect size. We also enjoyed wonderful desserts. The service was prompt, attentive and very professional, whilst also being warm and friendly. Dogs are very welcome here which was wonderful for our three 4 legged friends. We will definitely return when we are next in Salcombe and we will highly recommend this place to everyone.

I couldn’t recommend this place enough - exceptional fresh seafood and super friendly staff. A must go to place in Salcombe - don’t forget to book as it gets super busy!!!!

Visiting area to met up with family. Had a lovely meal in the crab shed.

Fantastic food. Great service -extremely helpful we hadn’t booked and couldn’t have been more accommodating. Gave you plenty of information about choices from the menu and it didn’t disappoint. Food very fresh and the crab fries were just very different and extremely nice.

Passing by on a cold mid afternoon, we saw the sign for the restaurant clearly advertising 'coffees' which is what we wanted. On entering, a man with a beard came over to us and when we asked if we could just come in for coffee, he bluntly snapped 'no'. Of course it may be that they were too busy with lunch guests to accommodate us, but there is a way to handle this diplomatically. Don't waste your time with this stuck up pretentious eatery.

We had read Trip Advisor reviews, parked up in the large adjacent pay & and display, and booked a table for later that lunchtime We are so glad we did. It's a small, independent establishment, but everything was top notch, from meet & greet; explanation of the use of local ingredients & their providence; wine selection; to THE FOOD !!!!. When we booked our table, we saw the chef preparing the squid - and the lady at front of house told us about the squid risotto with so much passion, so that definitely had to be ordered. My wife had the risotto & I had dressed crab. The crab was excellent, but my wife's risotto was truly divine (well, the little she allowed me to taste was). She finished it all, and would have eaten more - and she was someone who wasn't that keen on squid (until now). Why did we only find the Crab Shed on our last day in the area.

The young girl that served us was very informative about the menu and made myself, husband and very well behaved dog feel welcomed. I had the Salcombe crab in garlic butter which was superb, my husband had the crab linguine and also really enjoyed it. If I had to give any negative it's very tight inside especially if you have a dog, the other waitress asked us to move our dog but where to? Other then this it was a great experience.

Wonderful meal and very friendly service🦀🦀

From the moment we stepped into The Crab Shack in Salcombe, we knew we were in for a treat. The warm, inviting atmosphere paired with the friendly and attentive staff set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. First, let's talk about the food. The Crab Linguine was a masterpiece of flavors, with perfectly cooked pasta perfectly complemented by succulent crab meat, all bathed in a rich, creamy sauce that danced on the palate with each bite. And the Slow Roasted Tomato Gnocchi? Simply divine. Each pillowy gnocchi was infused with the sweetness of slow-roasted tomatoes, creating a dish that was both comforting and gourmet. But what truly set The Crab Shack apart was the staff. From the moment we were seated to the moment we left, we were treated like royalty. Our server was knowledgeable, passionate, and attentive, guiding us through the menu with expertise and ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was nothing short of perfection. In summary, The Crab Shack in Salcombe not only delivered exceptional cuisine but also provided a dining experience that was second to none. We left feeling satisfied, delighted, and already planning our next visit. Thank you to the entire team for an unforgettable evening."

I cannot fault the food or service. We enjoyed garlic prawn scallops and bruschetta to start then shared a crab with hot garlic butter fries and bread and our daughter had the mozzarella and tomatoes pasta - all delicious fresh and well worth the money . Booking is essential! The wine selection pairs brilliantly with the menu.

We visited for lunch and had the most enjoyable couple of hours. The fish was fresh and tasted amazing. We had the plaice goujon special and the scallops for starters. We followed this by one of us having fish and chips, whilst I opted for the whole cracking crab with garlic butter. The crab was clearly on steroids as it was the largest crab that I've seen in my life ...it was HUGE and oh so delicious! I have added a picture to show the size of the crab ....as well as the 2 starters. I totally recommend the crab shack as a chilled, relaxed, friendly place...the food is superb, and the drinks to accompany chilled to perfection! Will definitely be back!

Fabulous place! Staff were super helpful and really kind, explained how to get the most from our fresh whole crabs. Tiny kitchen, and only 2 chefs but able to cope with gluten and dairy free, and offer me almost the entire menu. Definitely one to repeat next time we are in the area.

Staff informative & very professional to start. We had the plater. Crab was so good. Lobster was tasteless So the best was the Crab the bread and garlic butter gravy. Kind of a tick exercise really. But wow a drink each a sheared seafood plater for close to £200. And a service charge on the bill 20% not mentioned. I did expect a good buy. But nothing Lovely location & food served around us looked so good I should have had the crab linguine but left hungry. Sorry

What a lovely find. The food was stunning, lovely friendly service too. Highly recommend, booking is probably essential. Fab

I can't comment on the Crab Shed as I never got to try it. I placed an order on the Web page for a crab and go. Then, I tried to book a pick slot, but the webpage said there were none available. So I phone to say the webpage would let me book a pick up time. Only to be told ,we only do the Crab and go in November and December. Then I would suggest you only put it on the webpage when you're actually providing this service. Thanks for a very disappointed potential customer.

Best meal we’ve eaten in a long time. Lots of gluten free safe options. I have a special seafood crab risotto - TO DIE FOR. Still thinking about it - great chef Service a little inattentive

Spot great for casual dining however the restaurant is small and chairs very close together. Limited bookings as so small and quite cold

Really good seafood, knowledgeable and friendly service

Fantastic little place. Amazing food and great view and service. Will def return

Amazingly friendly, warm and welcoming. The scallops were to die for. The crack crab took me a little time to work through but every part was delicious. Highly recommended

Amazing food and lovely place to visit. If you like fresh seafood cooked to perfection this is the place. Service was excellent and very friendly

Great location opposite the boat yard, super friendly service, very knowledgeable staff and fantastic fresh scallops, mussels and crab dishes all sourced locally, finished off with a cracking chocolate tart, we're both foodies & have eaten at many restaurants but this was right up there, definitely recommend.

Had pre-booked and arrived on a wet and windy night. Got lost and we and dogs were soaked. A very lovely lady greeted us, took our wet coats and showed us to table. Food was delicious and the whole place has a lovely vibe despite weather! We have just invested in a camper van and hopefully will be back in the summer to experience it on a warm day. Lovely ladies serving us who could not have done more. I liked kitchen being integral to restaurant and seeing chefs in action. A real treat.

Great food and great service from friendly staff. Today’s hake risotto special was simply superb. Been coming here ever since it opened and it’s always excellent.

Salcombe has been a place I’ve visited for the last 40 years and eating out is a big part of my holiday! So we were delighted to find The Crab Shed an absolute gem! The food is amazing and the service was always great….I like to book my tables ahead as they get very busy so last weekend I began….. I was having trouble with the bookings online as it kept saying error so eventually I managed to speak to someone. Once she realised my problem she told me I’d been BLOCKED from the booking system! Obviously I was very shocked and asked why…. I was then asked do you pay the discretionary service charge we add to the bill…..I said no actually I don’t but I always leave a TIP! She said that’s why then as we have the POWER to block you in fact it’s the only power we have over you! I was in total shock to be honest that I couldn’t book and to be blocked because I didn’t pay the full discretionary amount! I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

Had the pleasure of eating here with my son and daughter in law best meal of the year loved every bit

Everything was sublime. Definitely going back.

Decided to come again for supper before we had even sat down for lunch! Not a big place, but was almost always full even midday on Monday lunchtime. That tells you something. Lovely view over the harbour. The crabs are obviously the star here, being landed and picked literally next door. Superb quality, and not hugely expensive compared to London prices. Crab bisque was lovely and rich. The potted crab was perfectly spiced. A special of Frito Misto had such light and crunchy batter. And the scallops also sublime, the local ones are very light touch and only available for a few months a year. All excellently and simply cooked. Crabs, both dressed and whole are super fresh and come with decent fries. Mussels from Fowey in Cornwall. Salads are also really good. Local lobster with garlic butter is also fantastic but I often think good crab can beat lobster. Awesome crab sandwich with mayo and lemon. Nice range of Salcombe Brewery beers and also wines that match well with the seafood. Only a few slight niggles. The bread could really do with being better. The wholemeal for the sandwiches is good, but the ciabatta with the crabs was a bit flabby. Crab shed fries are a lovely idea, but do end up a bit soggy. And parking. I know it not their fault, but the council are being ridiculous if they think they can enforce parking in an area with absolutely no signs or machine and expect you to know that the carpark outside is somehow part of the one all the way down the road separated by dozens of boats and a fence. But that doesn't detract from how brilliant this place is. Came three times in a week. Will be back as soon as we can. Thanks !

A must visit when in the area! Delicious seafood, super friendly service, lovely atmosphere. We had the bisque, scallops, lobster, dressed crab and lemon posset. Would maybe go for the clawed crab next time but was all delicious! Would highly recommend!

We are lucky enough to come for food at the Crab Shed frequently as we are local. It never disappoints! Great range of food cooked to perfection as always, there is nowhere else in Salcombe delivering the quality of food that you'll receive at the Crab Shed. Perfect for lunch or dinner with friends and family amidst the stunning Salcombe views. Staff are very attentive and always so polite. We look forward to coming for dinner here whenever we are down in Salcombe.

WOW! Everything about this place was 100% Great service, friendly and helpful staff and the food..... absolutely delicious 😋

What a brilliant experience. Came to Salcombe with teenage kids. Staff could not have been more accommodating or pleasant. Food was amazing and the environment is lovely. Staff make you feel like you’re eating with family. Will be back on our next visit.

Great sea food and nice views across the harbour

Lovely place, tasty food, friendly staff, good value serves for the price.

That was the best seafood plato we had in our lives. And we are seafood lovers. Very beautiful place with romantic views and delicious food.

Some of the freshest and tastiest seafood I have had the pleasure to taste. Lovely little restaurant in the fishing port.

Outstanding food yesterday evening, plump and juicy mussels, the finest I have ever tasted. The largest whole cracked crab. All fresh and utterly delicious - desperate to go back. Thank you to the team. Rate this restaurant outstanding.

A friend and I had booked lunch at a nearby salcombe hotel however they'd changed their menu substantially since summer and we wanted seafood. We stumbled upon the Crab Shed and what a delightful meal we had. I had the house special of a whole...

Probably the best crab in Devon

Great delicious food. Fresh and fabulous Amazing service . Attentive Just a wonderful location for lunch ! Highly recommend !

Are here 3 times on our trip to Salcombe - food superb- biggest mussels we have ever had. Service excellent- particularly James who was always very helpful and attentive. Also truly dog friendly

A relaxed gem of a restaurant. Only 24 covers inside so make sure you book. We dined on beautiful fresh sweet seared scallops in garlic butter and pea shoots followed by moules frites for my Husband and the special of sea bass fillets on garlic...

Brilliant. Fabulous food - crab bisque and bruschetta, scallops. Lovely staff. Very flexible approach. Tastefully decorated and lovely position - great atmosphere. 100% recommendation!

Delicious food, excellent service.

Gorgeous food and good service; worth a visit

we are here for 3 weeks and first restaurant to visit- Amazing- excellent staff and food and the luxury of good weather to sit outside- very dog friendly- excellent and timely service- will be back and cannot wait- another Salcombe restaurant which deserves good reviews...

3rd visit. Crab dishes excellent as always. We also had the crabby chips on the side this time which were ok but probably wouldn’t order again.

Τέλειο το φαγητό του . Ότι πήραμε ήταν γευστικότατο

This is a great place to eat, the food was so fresh and tasty, cooked to perfection. Friendly helpful staff.

Fresh, simply prepared food, allowing the seafood to speak for itself. Savoured every mouthful 🦀🦀🦀

So glad we have found this place! Delicious food and the staff are so friendly and informative. Would definitely recommend

Excellent meal of sea bass in a crab sauce. Necessary visit when in Salcombe. Expensive. Congenial hosts.

Superb sea food and excellent service. Bouillabaisse was amazing! It is unbelievable how the two chefs produce such great food in a tiny kitchen.

What a great find! Small, cute and THE most amazing crab 🦀. Qe had the whole crab with fries shared between 2. The crab was huge and the meat exceptional and I can be quite fussy on fish/meat. Lovely service- must go when in the area!

The location was easy to find. 2 car parks within easy reach. The serving staff were very attentive and showed equal measures of interest to every customer. The food was sooo delicious, we had a starter of garlic king prawns which was a fantastic choice (we had 6 prawns) though this was not a sharing dish, we did share. Then we went on the order the crab linguine and the catch of the day. The catch of the day was in a chowder and the taste of the fish impeccable. As stated, the service was very good, we did not have to ask about where our food was... All in all, I would completely recommend this place for a special occasion or a nice lunch or dinner out. I'll definitely be back.

Visited for a late lunch as part of a week away in Dartmouth. The staff were lovely and the food was just out of this world. Would not hesitiate to return and would 100% recommend eating here.

Our second visit this year. Great food, great view, friendly staff. We were lucky enough to be able to sit outside. Make sure you book a table

Amazing food and great service. I had the special which was Brill with samphire and capers. My partner had the crab and prawn salad. Both ladies who served us were friendly and gave good advice about the dishes and the wine. Not cheap but well...

A lovely spot for lunch and we shared the crab sandwich, which was brimming over with delicious crab meat and justified its hefty price tag! The picture sets the scene better than we could explain! Well worth a visit.

They've tried to squeeze too much into this tiny space. We came with a pram and had to enter/exit through a side door, meaning we had to ask tables to move for us to come through. The entire meal we had to move our empty glasses/plates to the end of the table for the team to take them away. Take out a table our two and everyone will have a lot better service. We would've stayed for desserts and a couple more bottles of wine if it wasn't such a nightmare for anybody to get out of our table to go to the toilet.

My brother in law had booked this up for my sisters 50th birthday. I am so glad he did. When we pulled up, it looked like a little shack in a car park, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot. I was so...

Amazing food (dressed crab for me and cod for my husband). The service was also excellent. Many thanks

We have visited the Crab Shed since it opened and last week enjoyed another great lunch. Terrific seafood on offer, friendly service at reasonable prices - what more could you ask for!

Amazing fresh fish, beautifully presented and full of flavour without being too rich so as to actually taste the fish. Quick delivery of food to the table. Service was brilliant. The two ladies who served us were welcoming and helpful. Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Definitely not pretentious. Highly recommend. We had the fruits de mer and the whisky and chocolate tart. The mussels were the stand out shellfish of the dish. Thank you

8 of us met for a reunion at the Crab Shed and had one of the best lunches I can remember. We loved sitting overlooking the harbour watching the boating activity. The food was superb, I think we sampled most things on the menu including...

Another regular for us - make sure you book. Service was attentive without over bearing and staff happy to recommend and advise Food was as always fabulous we both changed our mind several times Pricing spot on for a superb fish meal Specials always sell...

Went for a birthday lunch and wasn't disappointed. We had the crab shed bruschetta and potted crab for starters.. both excellent. We then shared a crab linguine as the portion size was big but fabulous flavours. Sundae and affogato for dessert rounded off an excellent...

Outstanding customer care , delicious food beyond our expectations served in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Booked for dinner. Greeted warmly and made to feel welcome. Good wine choice and reasonable value. Had scallops which were fantastic followed by crab salad and crab linguine. Lovely flavours and nicely presented. .Currently the best restaurant not in Salcombe by a mile! No cheap...

Staff really friendly and helpful, lovely views and the food was fantastic We had a really relaxed and enjoyable time, if your in Salcombe it's worth a visit, advise booking in advance they get really busy

Fantastic! Every dish perfectly cooked. Crab topped ships are just awesome. Great portions and excellent service by friendly staff. We loved it!

Friendly staff and amazing food. So glad we could get a table during our visit! Definitely recommended for seafood lovers.

A great experience, with excellent fresh fish. For me I had the dressed crab, yup yup! Thanks to the staff for accommodating us when we arrived early for our booking. Well handled in what I imagine can be frustrating situation for staff. Well done!

This will be our third meal at the crab shed Salcombe in the last 18 months. You have to book in advance to get a table. I booked on line. The menu is the same except a fish of the day. Everything from flavour to...

Just what it says. A Crab shed. Only small, but the most gorgeous seafood being cooked by the chefs. Need to book. Service was great. Very busy resturant Pricey! But we'll worth it.

You can't not enjoy this little place on the harbour! It is superb. And the fish and crab are as fresh as is possible because we saw the trawler arriving at 10pm with its catch. It's compact, friendly, welcoming and buzzing. You have to book as there are only limited tables inside. If you are going to have fish and chips this is the place. The crab was sensational and served whole, so be prepared to get mucky. The linguine was super fresh. It isn't overly expensive but equally it isn't cheap - but it is worth it

Amazing experience, staff were extremely friendly and helpful, knew everything about the menu, nothing too much trouble. The food was incredible, I had the full crab, which was very messy but so tasty. Staff were so attentive to ensure you knew what you were getting...

Very relaxed friendly service. Food was superb...I had the seabass risotto special in a cream sauce, which was delicious and my husband had the fresh fish bouillabaisse 😋 A good selection of wines to choice from too.

Loved our lunch at the Crab Shed. Best meal we had during our two week trip to Devon and Cornwall. I had the special squid ink, monkfish risotto. So delicious. Lovely, friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Book in advance.

Having a restaurant In this location was bound to be an easy winner with the local clientele being as they are. The guys running the show didn't relax and just let the obvious happen but put their heart and soul into providing a fabulous restaurant experience.

Incredible food and setting, and lovely staff. So glad we booked this while visiting Salcombe!

Table inside booked for 18:30 turned up only to be told our table was outside. A little chilly and breezy not overly happy. A young man turned up with blankets. The chill and wind was too much for me to endure. Suffice to say I did not wish to pay good money to be uncomfortable so we decided to leave. Perhaps in future if the restaurant wants to change the tables let clients know in advance. Very disappointed and let down by a lovely restaurant in the area. Customer service tonight from the maitre de was appalling. (When booking the ladies were great and very helpful). If only they had both been on duty!

Great food warm welcome and lovely atmosphere. Had warmed crab with crab chips and it was delicious. Restaurant is very busy so you will need to book. Staff very attentive and friendly with time to chat even thought really busy . Excellent vfm and we...

On a whim of decadence I visited this gem of a restaurant on what was a fairly overcast day with Number One and the ever amazeballs mutt. We ate outside and despite the cool weather, were treated to a great meal of crab, chips and bread. The food was amazeballs and staff friendly ( as is expected from the South Hams). Whilst the price was a little ' tourist tax' and I had a few palpitations to what body organ was being sold to medical research to finance it, it was actually pretty fairly priced and the experience worth while. Whether I'd take the remaining family there I'd a great question, but I sense those with Coutts cards don't tend to worry about these things! Definitely worth the experience..... but not somewhere I'd go every day.

What a lovely experience for a lunch. Both our starters and main courses were delicious, obviously a fish restaurant. The staff were very attentive and we were offered a table outside when we had finished our starters as other people had left and the weather...

I booked a table at the Crab Shed a week in advance of our visit, by which time there were very limited times available, giving an indication of just how popular this establishment is. We visited for lunch, and were greeted by attentive staff. The...

Amazing seafood. Everything was delicious but the dressed crab was particularly good.

We have been in salcombe 5 nights and managed to eat here twice but you need to book way in advance - the food is amazing and the team really helpful the muscles huge and the sea bass caught that morning couldn’t be more perfect

Had a very good lunch here with my kids. If you love crab and fresh seafood then you need to visit. Relaxed atmosphere and great friendly service.

Amazing food and service! Will definitely go back for more! Can’t beat it! I ordered the lobster and was not disappointed by the freshness and taste!

Been many times but it’s always great when somewhere stays consistently good. Thanks again to all the staff for an excellent meal - the whole crab was superb 😋

Great place for the best Crab I've ever had. Excluding 151.....

Fantastic seafood restaurant, great food, service and lovely location. Only downside is its quite small so book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Visited here twice and both times the seafood starter ( mussels and scallops )and main course dressed crab and bouillabaisse) were truly outstanding. Will certainly visit again.

Greeted with a smile, seated outside overlooking the bay, wow! Choose crab and whole plaice, did not disappoint, caught that morning, flavours were out of this world, so fresh, cooked to perfection❤️ Will certainly be returning to this fabulous restaurant, no wonder you are always...

Great food and excellent service - lovely meal thank you!

Fantastic food .. great location and attentive staff. We especially liked the mussels which were exquisite and linguine was a hot too. The dog friendly bit makes our life much easier.

Really good sea food really good food and really good service

I was really looking forward to eating at the crab shed as I had heard great things. It didn’t fully live up to the hype. I have to point out the staff were overly attentive, friendly, smiling and really helpful a very nice change to...

Crab was divine. Highly recommend booking in advance

A special treat for our table of 7. Everyone thoughally enjoyed our time here